Unveiling Innovation: Using Innovation Biographies in Evaluation Practice – A Reflection

Abstract

A wide range of RTI funding measures are implemented at regional level in European Structural and Investment Funds programmes. During the 2014- 2020 funding period, the Berlin European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme included direct funding for R&D projects by companies conducted in collaboration with research institutions, support for innovative start-ups through venture capital funds as well as the establishment of application labs and validation centres at research institutes and universities. A multi-year, accompanying evaluation (2016-2024) was conducted on behalf of the Berlin Managing Authority for the ERDF programme.

In this evaluation, the use of innovation biographies represented a novel approach. This new research approach allowed the reproduction and analysis of the entire process of knowledge generation and application in specific innovation processes of companies, universities, and non-university research institutions. A total of 23 innovation biographies were created and analysed in a joint manner in accordance with the impact pathways of the theory of change.

From the perspective of a policy maker, the results of this analysis demonstrate the interplay between various funding measures and the influence of external factors on innovation processes. The innovation biographies present an authentic portrayal of the extended periods of time required for the outcomes of funding to be realised.

The contribution presents insights gained through the utilisation of this qualitative approach in evaluation with illustrative examples. This method is particularly suited to map the complexity of innovation processes at the micro level. Consequently, the paper contributes to the advancement of R&I policy evaluation frameworks and methods.