Science policy and the challenge to the welfare state

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Abstract
The future of the Scandinavian model of a welfare state hinges upon the capacity of these nations to promote and to tap the resources of science and technology; this is a prerequisite for policy innovation in a low growth economy and for industrial innovation in an increasingly competitive international environment. In this paper the emergence and evolution of science policies in Scandinavia is outlined. Present dilemmas of these policies are traced. Throughout Scandinavia science policy has been more firmly placed on the political agenda in the 1970s. A growing number of demands, hopes and fears are focused upon it. In particular the development of the Swedish doctrine of sectoral science policy is examined. This doctrine tries to establish linkages between research and policy objectives. But it has increasingly given rise to counter‐productive effects and imbalances. This is gradually being recognised by policy‐makers. But the basic thrust of the paper is that these imbalances and dilemmas will persist and will be difficult to reconcile with the traditional conception of the Scandinavian welfare state.