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Technology, Innovation and Productivity

This research programme is part of the Centre for International Economics and Competitiveness and addresses the diffusion of new technologies, innovation, productivity and competitiveness.

Current research is on:
  • The economic impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) industries.
  • Determinants of ICT diffusion at country, industry and enterprise levels.
  • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), technology intensity and productivity spillovers.
  • Determinants of the location choice of multinational firms in the ICT sector.  

This research programme focused on two themes in 2008:

(a) The Economic Impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT): Research in this area has taken place as part of an international research project funded by the European Commission’s Institute for Prospective Technological Studies. The research team includes international and national experts from eleven European countries. Research in 2008 focused on an in-depth analysis of the consequences of ICT use and globalisation on regional economies (ESRI WP 233, 2008).

(b)  International Diffusion of New Technologies: Research in this area is part of an international research consortium led by the ESRI in co-operation with nine leading universities and research institutes in Europe, funded under the EU 6th RTD Framework Programme. Multinational enterprises play a major role in the internationalisation of R&D and the diffusion of new technologies. Our research shows that on average, the location choice of R&D foreign affiliates is driven by the size of  market potential, agglomeration economies, R&D intensity and proximity to centres of research excellence (ESRI WP 306).

Future Research

Building on current work, future research will focus on:
  • Innovation in services and productivity growth.
  • ICT, structural change and productivity growth.
  • Demand and supply effects of ICT diffusion.
  • Entrepreneurship, innovation and productivity growth.
  • ICT, R&D and innovation complementarities.
  • Science, R&D and innovation policy.
  • The contribution to research and productivity of public institutions, particularly through post-graduate education, life-long learning, research-intensive universities, and collaboration between public and corporate research.

Programme Coordinator: Iulia Siedschlag

Other members of staff currently working in this area include: Stefanie Haller, Sean Lyons, Edgar Morgenroth, Gavin Murphy, Frances Ruane, Richard Tol,  Donal Smith and Xiaoheng Zhang.


ESRI research in Technology, Innovation and Productivity is linked to research in International Economics, Macroeconomics, Competition & Regulation, Education, Labour Markets and Migration.