Knowledge intensive service activities and innovation in the Norwegian software industry - Part project report from the OECD KISA study

Abstract

This report is the first of three studies of the use of knowledge intensive service activities (KISA) in innovation in specific industries. The report consists of the Norwegian part of an OECD study which includes several other countries. The main focus is on KISA in the software industry in Norway. One of the main objectives of the study is to provide insights into how software firms maintain and develop productive and innovative capabilities through utilisation of KISA, provided by internal and / or external sources. However, the ultimate objective of the KISA project proper, i.e. the study of the three specific industries, is to inform government policy and programs on how to use KISA in building innovation capability of firms and organisations across various industries and sectors in the economy. Typical examples of knowledge intensive service activities provided both internally and obtained by external input in firms and organisations include: R&D, management consulting, IT services, human resource management, accounting and financial service activities, marketing and sales, project management, organisational activities, training etc.