| Abstract
| - The monitoring of developments in advanced materials technology is a complex task which engages a broad spectrum of competences. The paper examines the intellectual and organizational aspects in a national policy perspective, focusing in particular on developments in structural materials R&D. After a brief explanation of the concept of monitoring, the main cognitive and institutional features for the monitoring enterprise are explored. It is suggested, in conclusion, that effective monitoring of domestic and international developments requires highly ‘distributed’, through well-integrated, multi-level efforts, where government agencies perform the functions of network catalysts and supplementary, high-level technology scanners.
|
