Stimulating construction innovation in Singapore by developing the national system of innovation

The complexity of the relationships between the government, national institutions and enterprises often hinder the understanding of the factors that promote industrial innovation. The main aim of this study is to investigate the factors within the National System of Innovation (NSI) that promote construction firms to innovate. This study found two main driving forces of construction innovation within the NSI: firms' profit maximization objectives and consumers' satisfaction with constructed products and services. Geographically, this study investigated 17 countries. An NSI model, developed from qualitative systems thinking, was validated through statistical analysis and in-depth interviews with 21 experts. The results indicate that the profit maximization goal of construction firms is a driver of innovation and also a preserver of innovation strategies. In addition, national institutions should facilitate the development of industrial research to strategic application. Hence, to optimised the NSI, interactions among clusters of construction enterprises, national innovation infrastructure, and the quality of linkages between both, should be strengthen.