Charles Edquist | |
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Born | |
Nationality | Swedish |
Other names | Charles Edqvist |
Alma mater | B.A. in Lund University MA in University of California at Berkeley Ph.D. in Lund University |
Occupation | Researcher |
Known for | Innovation, Systems of Innovation Approach, Swedish Paradox, and Innovation Policy |
Website | www.charlesedquist.com |
Charles Edquist is a Swedish researcher in Innovation, one of the founders and the first Director (2004-2011) of CIRCLE (the Centre for Innovation Research and Competence in the Learning Economy) at Lund University, Sweden, and the holder of the Ruben Rausing Chair in Innovation Research at CIRCLE. Some of his most noted research contributions have been on the ‘Systems of Innovation approach’, the ‘Swedish Paradox’ and ‘Innovation Policy’. His early contributions to the ‘public procurement for innovation’ literature are among his most cited works to date.
He studied for his BA in Statistics, Economics and Economic History at Lund University, Sweden, and followed this with an MA in Economics at the University of California at Berkeley, USA, and a PhD in Economic History at Lund University. His docent (habilitation) qualification was obtained at Umeå University, Sweden.
Edquist has been the Holder of the Ruben Rausing Chair in Innovation Research at CIRCLE, Lund University, Sweden since February 2003. He also held a Chair at the University of Linköping from 1987 to 2003. He worked at UC Berkeley (1973–74 and 1991–92), SPRU (Sussex), CRIC (Manchester), ISEG (Lisbon) and, more recently, IFRIS (Paris) from Oct 2011 to May 2012.
As Director of CIRCLE, he facilitated the expansion of the research staff from zero to forty researchers representing 15 disciplines from diverse cultural backgrounds (12 nationalities). By 2011, CIRCLE had developed into one of the largest European centers for research and policy advice in the fields of innovation, research policy and entrepreneurship.
His work has influenced innovation policy and strategy in Sweden and Europe, a result of his stints as an advisor, on various occasions and durations, to governments, international organizations and firms including the OECD, UNIDO, EU, UNCTAD, ILO, UNDP, UNESCO, and the Finnish Government; Swedish organizations such as VINNOVA, Nutek, and the Ministry of Industries; and firms such as SAAB Aerospace, Astra-Zeneca, Volvo Trucks, and Sweco Eurofutures. During 2011-2012, he was a Member of the Research Policy Advisory Committee to the Swedish Government chaired by Sweden’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Jan Björklund.[1][2]
One of his current projects is the Rausing Project on Innovation Processes and Policies. It addresses theoretical, empirical and policy-oriented dimensions within innovation systems, and focuses on the determinants, consequences and the measurement of innovation; it also deals with the theory, rationales, objectives, instruments and practices of innovation policies.
In September 2013 his paper with Prof. Susana Borrás received the best paper award at the biannual conference at the Atlanta Conference on Science & Innovation Policy (http://www.atlantaconference.org/), at The Georgia Institute of Technology.
On February 24, 2015, Charles was appointed to become a member of the Swedish National Innovation Council, with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven as chair.[3][4] The Council consists of 5 government ministers and 10 external members from different sectors of society.