Mr William Blankley is a director in the Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (CeSTII) unit. He holds an MSc with distinction from the University of Cape Town (UCT), and an MBA from the UCT Graduate School of Business. Before joining the HSRC in July 2002, he worked as manager of the Strategic Advice Unit of the National Research Foundation (NRF), where he was involved in research, reporting and advising on a wide variety of issues in science and technology and the national system of innovation. He has 15 years' experience in business management, R&D management, innovation, science and technology indicators, and strategic advice, preceded by ten years' senior level experience in marine biological research and fisheries management. His projects include work with the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, Statistics South Africa, the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI), the European Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). He managed the NACI-commissioned project on the mobility of R&D workers, which was published as Flight of the Flamingos. He is currently responsible for the South African Innovation Survey, which is being undertaken in line with the European Union's Fourth Community Innovation Survey. His research interests include science and technology (S&T) policy analysis, S&T indicators, R&D and innovation surveys, strategic planning, feasibility studies, public understanding of science. William Blankley is the senior author or co-author of 22 journal articles, has been the main author or editor of three books, and has contributed chapters to six books and four international conference proceedings. |
