Innovation Policy in Wales - the Case of the Innovation Network Partnership,

The aim of the research paper is to complete an evaluation of the Innovation Network Partnership in Wales. To date evaluation of the Innovation Network Partnership has tended to have a quantitative bias. Typically, evaluation reports have focused upon participation rates, network management, and network event design and delivery. This paper attempts to evaluate the less tangible products of the Innovation Network Partnership. The evaluation is to be achieved via research into the relationship between forms of social capital, such as bonding and bridging social capital, and levels of innovative activity present at the Innovation Network Partnership. To achieve the project aim mixed methods are employed. A positivist stance is adopted to measure the innovation outcomes from the Innovation Network Partnership. To explore the impact social capital has upon innovation the approach adopted is a positivist statistical analysis of social capital influences and a phenomenological interpretation of stakeholder views relating to the extent social capital constructs and their impact on levels of innovation. The quantitative evaluation of the Innovation Network Partnership indicates varying degrees of success in terms of the forms of innovative activity being successfully promoted. Arguably, activity at the Innovation Network Partnership contributes to higher order, less tangible objectives of creating virtuous circles of social capital. In particular, evidence of bridging social capital is exposed and found to be positively statistically associated to innovation outcomes. The research will be of academic and practical significance, contributing to the body of understanding of the role of innovation policy/programmes to support innovative activity. The paper will offer a unique evaluation of the Innovation Network Partnership. The exploration of the wider network outcomes is likely to be of benefit to both policy makers and Innovation Network Partnership managers. It is understood that a research into the impact social capital has upon levels of innovation activity is yet to be undertaken for the Innovation Network Partnership in Wales.