Beyond Innovation Metrics: A Qualitative Study of Norway’s Innovation Performance

Abstract

This paper examines how innovation performance is perceived within Norway's national innovation system. As innovation increasingly recognized as a key driver of economic and societal transformation, numerous international measurement frameworks and innovation performance indices have emerged. Despite this growing focus, scholars remain divided on how to define and evaluate innovation. In light of Norway's need to diversify its economy and amid rising domestic criticism of its innovation performance, this study addresses concerns about the limitations of global indices and advocates for a contextualized approach that transcends standardized measurement frameworks. To achieve this, the study employs an interpretive and constructivist methodology to explore how various Norwegian stakeholders perceive and assess innovation. Drawing on qualitative interviews with actors from different backgrounds, it investigates how innovation is defined in context and identifies factors that are perceived to either support or hinder it. The analysis uncovers three recurring constraints: systemic misalignment among policy and institutional actors, cultural norms that discourage risk-taking and ambition, and a lack of urgency stemming from reliance on natural resources. While perspectives on what innovation entails may differ, a shared concern regarding underperformance emerges. We argue that evaluating innovation performance should be improved by considering how innovation is conceptualized within its context through the lens of actor perspectives. These insights can enhance understanding among stakeholders and lead to more effective policies that promote innovation within Norway's specific context.