The topic of this chapter is the rationale for innovation policy in advanced market economies. Since innovation and its associates, invention and the diffusion of innovation, play such a central role in the performance of modem economies, indeed they constitute a defining element in the claim that they are knowledge-based, it is hardly surprising that this rationale should be an indispensable part of economic policy more generally. The Barcelona accord on research and development (R&D) spending^ suggests how important this issue is for European governments, and raises the question of whether policy frameworks and instruments exist to reach the objectives of this accord. In particular, will it be possible to protect any sustained increase in innovation expenditures from the effects of diminishing marginal returns in the short run and in the long run^? We shall argue that new perspectives are needed on innovation policy if innovation is to be stimulated in Europe while avoiding the spectre of diminishing returns. We also suggest that the traditional rationale for innovation policy, market failure, is flawed in its understanding of the innovation process and, more fundamentally, flawed in is understanding of the wider process of competition in the modem world. The reasoning behind this claim is that processes of innovation depend on the emergence of innovation systems connecting the many actors engaged in the innovation process, and that these systems are essentially self organizing. Innovation systems do not exist naturally, but have to be constmcted, instituted for a purpose, usually but not uniquely to facilitate the pursuit of competitive advantages by firms. To ^ To raise European R&D to 3% of GDP by 2010 with at least two-thirds of this contributed by industry. ^ Diminishing returns to the economic payoff, not diminishing returns to the growth of scientific and technical knowledge.

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RESUMOCiência, tecnologia e política de inovação desempenham um papel cada vez mais importante no contexto do desenvolvimento das sociedades modernas. Este artigo procura rever a racionalidade da política de inovação analisada sob as lentes do nosso enfoque institucional sobre processos evolucionistas mostrando como estes últimos influenciam a acumulação e a disseminação do conhecimento. A nossa pergunta principal é se podemos contribuir para aperfeiçoar o processo de auto-organização do sistema de inovações. A identificação de ausência de componetes ou elos perdidos entre os diversos blocos deste sistema de inovações pode ser a resposta afirmativa à nossa pergunta. PALAVRAS-CHAVECiência e Tecnologia; Sistema de Inovações; Auto-organização; Processos e Instituições; Conhecimento CÓDIGO JEL O30"A country's eminence in a field of science is not a good guide to its economic strength and growth."Carter, C. e Williams, B. (1964:197).

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A simple and robust method is described for the formation of the complex of boron with curcumin.The sensitivity of the method is 6.0 to 6.5 x 1 0 -5 ~g . p e r sq. cm by Sandell's definition. Formation of the complex is believed t o be quantitative under the conditions used, and some evidence is given for a ratio of boron to curcumin of 1 to 3.Methods are outlined for determining boron in some metals, compounds and organic materials.