The field of science policy and innovation studies (SPIS) is now approximately 50 years old. From humble beginnings involving just a handful of researchers in late 1950s, it has grown to become a significant field of intellectual activity involving several thousand researchers. Some of its contributions have had a major impact on neighbouring social science disciplines as well as on policy or management practice. It is therefore timely to look back and to analyse more systematically what has been achieved, in particular to identify the main intellectual contributions made by researchers in the field.

About Ben Martin

Ben martin is Professor of Science and Technology Policy Studies, and Director of SPRU from 1997-2004, one of the world's leading research institutions in the field of science and technology policy research. SPRU has some 40 academic faculty and covers a wide 'waterfront' in relation to policy for, and the management of, science, technology and innovation. It received a 5A rating in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. Besides being highly regarded in the academic community, SPRU's research has had a major impact on policy in the UK and overseas. SPRU also has a large and thriving Graduate School with 60 MSc students on the four MSc programmes, and 70-80 doctoral students.

Ben Martin has published seven books, seven monographs and official government reports, and approximately 50 refereed journal articles, and produced 170 other reports and papers. He is an Editor of Research Policy, and an Editorial Adviser to Scientometrics, Research Evaluation, Social Studies of Science, Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, and Technological Forecasting and Social Change.

In 1997, John Irvine and he were awarded the Derek de Solla Price Medal for Quantitative Science Studies. He helped set up the UK Technology Foresight Programme and was a member of the Foresight Steering Group from 1993 to 2000. He is currently a member of the Technical Opportunities Panel (TOP) of EPSRC.