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Agricultural Innovation Networks:

Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan

Tugrul TemelISNAR

November 17, 2000

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An Outline

Motivation Objectives Concepts, Definitions Information gathering Methodology Discussion Conclusions and

Recommendations

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Motivationof the Project

To smoothly transit to market economy

To establish an enabling institutional structure

To promote agricultural development, to reduce food insecurity and poverty

New technologies are not developed, although advance knowledge and highly skilled and educated labor exist

Science and R&D are no longer the only source of innovation but rather agents’ interactions organized around a common knowledge base

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Objectivesof the project

describe and analyze the existing AIN

set the key priorities for the AIN

recommend changes in the AIN

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Concepts and Definitions

National innovation system A network is a collection of interlinked

sectoral clusters A sectoral cluster is a group of

institutions and organizations organized around a common knowledge base.

An agricultural innovation network is the set of agents that interact in the development, diffusion, and application of new technologies.

Institutional, organizational, and technological innovations

An innovation possibility curve (Said Ahmad, 1966)

NARS and AKIS

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Tools for information gathering

Events analysis to characterize the most recent innovations

Interviews with agents in the AIN

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Methodology:A Graph-Theoretic

Approach

To establish an AI matrix to characterize agents’ interactions

To identify clusters and networks of agents relevant to AIs

To identify the source-sink of an innovation and pathways in between

to detect areas lacking linkages and information

to develop innovation strategies (or pathways) for setting priority

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Discussion

Which agents should be included in the study?

How would you design interviews?

What other methods would be more suitable?