Use of human resource data for analysis of the structure and dynamics of the Swedish innovation system

Data on employment of scientists and engineers is used to map and analyse the structure and dynamics of the Swedish innovation system. Such data offer better coverage of technological resources in small industrial firms, non- manufacturing firms, and parts of the public sector than more traditional S&T indicators. While restructuring of industry causes serious problems for the development of meaningful time-series data and for the study of mobility of individuals, data which identifies individuals might be a vehicle for analysing the restructuring process. There are large differences in mobility patterns between sectors, and the evidence is that mobility of PhDs was a weak mechanism for knowledge exchange between large firms in technology-intensive industries and those in more traditional industries. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.