This evaluation compares the different traits of patent from national and private R&D programs through analyzing 96,253 patents assigned in Korea in 2006. Based on these analyses, national R&D programs are evaluated if they induce or encourage technological innovation activities of R&D agents in an effective and rational way. We make four categories for evaluating technological innovation activities of R&D agents: novelty in technological innovation sector, inducement of technological innovation, facilitation of cooperation among R&D agents, and diversity in R&D cooperation agents.

The results are as followed; first, National R&D programs have encouraged R&D agents’ technological innovation activities in new technological sectors. Second, National R&D programs have not succeeded in encouraging innovation activities of R&D agents which have never had patent rights yet. Especially, semi-medium sized firms which have never had a patent right succeeded to have their first patent right assigned rather in private R&D program than in the National R&D programs. In other words, it is found that National R&D programs have not provided proper technological opportunities for semi-medium sized firms which lack innovation capabilities. Third, National R&D programs encourage cooperation for technological innovation among R&D agents more than private R&D programs do. Fourth, in terms of diversity in cooperation agents, cooperation among heterogeneous R&D agents such as universities, firms and government supporting research institutes is raised more positively in national R&D programs than private R&D programs.