Reflexive Stimulation or Disjointed Incrementalism?

Are national technology and innovation policies becoming obsolete under the con-ditions of an increasing internationalization of science, technologies and industry? The paper supports the argument that despite globalization and Europeanization, national technology and innovation policies remain the most important and effec-tive level of governance in this area of policy. The argument will be elaborated in four steps: firstly, the paper presents a brief overview of the discussions and con-troversy concerning the future governance of technology and innovation policies. Secondly, the effects of changing general conditions on national policies are dis-cussed, especially the policy implications of the development of new technologies, of the internationalization of industry and of the growing importance of public dis-courses. Thirdly, the relations between the national and the European level of gov-ernance are analyzed and an answer is given to the question why there has not been a significant shift of competencies and resources from the national to the European level until now. Against this background and with a special view regard-ing the German case, the paper finally analyses strategic reorientations, new ele-ments and instruments of the national technology and innovation policy and dis-cusses their impact on science, industry, and society