Measuring the impact of innovation intermediaries: A case study of tekes

Abstract

Innovation intermediaries are believed to have a beneficial influence on innovation processes, but as there are no universally accepted metrics of intermediary performance it is difficult for these organisations to provide the evidence of their contributions. We present a general-purpose methodology for measuring the impact of innovation intermediaries that applies across all types of intermediaries. We demonstrate the methodology by assessing the impact of the Global Access Program (GAP), which is made available to Finnish firms through Tekes, an intermediary organisation whose mission is to enhance Finnish industry through technology and innovation. Our findings show that the GAP program has had an impact on the performance of participating firms in terms of revenue growth, exports, new international customers, and employment growth. Consistent with our expectation that impacts on firm performance are a consequence of earlier impacts on firm resources and capabilities, we find a statistically significant relationship between the immediate impact of strategic information and advice, and information and advice on new markets, and longer term impact on firm performance.