Learning two coins one-side-trick Interaction of social science and policy – On the importance of policy learning

The paper outlines a systemic based approach to policy learning – to the development of policy making capabilities and competences – and the role of social science and related policy analysis to the policy making process. The accompanying essay, Hauknes and Koch (R-18-2003), outlined some paradoxes and implications of these that the authors have observed in the interaction of industrial and other economic policy systems with social scientists and researchers supporting policy making in these areas. The paper argued for the need of an improved understanding of the communication process and the concomitant coevolution of competences and capabilities. The purpose of this note is to outline an approach to these issues – to policy learning. The framework outlined below has been used in a small scale research project on policy learning within the framework of a large scale European project on the supply and use of innovation services in Europe, RISE – RTOs in the service economy, see Hales et al (2001). The project was partially funded by the European Commission within the Framework Programme. Support is gratefully acknowledged.