The OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2011 draws on the latest internationally comparable data to explore the challenges faced by OECD and other leading economies as repercussions from the recent financial and economic crises continue to be felt. It presents indicators traditionally used to monitor developments in science, technology, innovation and industry, and complements them with experimental indicators that provide new insights into areas of policy interest.

This volume is the result of a collective effort by the Economic Analysis and Statistics Division (EAS) of the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry (DSTI), under the guidance of Alessandra Colecchia, with contributions from Laudeline Auriol, Brigitte van Beuzekom, Catherine Bignon, Agnès Cimper, Hélène Dernis, Rebecca Freeman, Fernando Galindo-Rueda, Chrystyna Harpluk, Pedro Herrera-Gimenez, Sandrine Kergroach, Elif Köksal-Oudot, Guillaume Kpodar, Vladimir Lopez-Bassols, Valentine Millot, Toshiyuki Misu, Pierre Montagnier, Vincenzo Spiezia, Mariagrazia Squicciarini, Julien Vavasseur, Fabien Verger, Colin Webb, Bo Werth, Norihiko Yamano and Shiguang Zhu. The contributions of Marcos de la Torre (EPO) and Carmen López-Illescas (CSIC), while on secondment to EAS, were greatly appreciated. Brigitte van Beuzekom supervised the preparation of statistics and figures. Andrew Wyckoff provided overall guidance and comments.

Today, the world’s economies are facing some extraordinary challenges. While the effects of the recent economic downturn are still being felt, new pressures are stretching many governments’ ability to instigate a recovery and national debt levels and unemployment remain high. The pace and scale of globalisation is unprecedented. Its distinctive features are increasing international trade, deepening economic integration, especially in emerging economies, and greater geographic fragmentation of production processes generating ever more complex global value chains. In this new geography of growth, international competition from new players is eroding the lead of more established economies. Environmental pressures challenge the sustainability of development models. Longer life expectancy is putting a greater strain on the capability of health systems to meet the needs of an ageing population.