Technology measurement in statistics and beyond: reviving technological innovation concept

The agenda related to the emergence, diffusion, and use of technology becomes more and more influential in terms of its economic and social impact. Society can no longer progress without new equipment, algorithms, production and logistics processes. The importance of technology-driven changes has been fully recognized by practitioners and become the focus of contemporary innovation policies and business strategies worldwide. These reinforce the demand for statistics and indicators relevant to the analysis and decision making on the development, diffusion and use of technology. However, actual examples of such statistics remain scarce and are poorly integrated into international and national frameworks for measuring R&D and innovation. This chapter argues for the need in systematically designed and internationally harmonized approaches to statistical measurement of technology. It provides an overview of available technology statistics cases and describes the scope of indicators required for policymaking and, more broadly, for development studies.