Transformation in innovation policies from neo-classical economics to evolutionary economics and its development in Turkey

Today, the core determinant of a country's sustainable economic growth and welfare level is the ability to innovate. Economists have set forth the role played by technological innovations in the process of economic growth resulting from increased productivity. Thus, great importance has been given to policies aimed at enhancing the ability of countries to create innovation. As a result, the studies on the analysis and effective design of innovation policies have become widespread in the literature. Within the scope of this research, the innovation policies implemented in Turkey are analyzed using the theoretical framework of Neo-classical and Evolutionary approaches. In this context, the policy documents regarding the Five-Year Development Plans and the Supreme Council of Science and Technology meetings are examined. Firstly, the determinations are made concerning Turkey's technology and innovation policy orientation in twelve Five-Year Development Plans for the period of 1963-2028. Then, for the same purpose, twenty-nine Supreme Council of Science and Technology meeting decisions between 1989 and 2016 are reviewed. As a result of this analysis, it is determined that innovation policies in Turkey have been generally designed based on the neo-classical approach. The views suggested by the evolutionary approach toward innovation policies have been included in policy documents in a limited way. Given that Turkey has not already sufficiently develop its innovation capacity, it is clear that the future policy design should be based on the principles of the evolutionary approach rather than the neo-classical approach. As a consequence, making the national innovation system effective, policy mixes and mission-oriented policies have been of great importance to improve Turkey's innovation capacity. More importantly, public entrepreneurship in certain technology areas will be an important complementary in this process.