TIPS Pietrobelli IND POLICY Gaborone 9 Dec 2008.pdf

5. Business Development Services (BDS)‣ A role in stimulating demand of new services from firms.This requires anticipating tacit, unexpressed needs ­incollaboration with firms­ and convincing them of theirrelevance for future competitiveness‣ An alternative: help BDS Centres act as “network networkfacilitators”;‣ But in poorer countries, a Centre is often bound tooperate on its own, and should first improve its skills andcapabilities;‣ Evaluation is difficult but necessary (quantify benefits,costs, impacts, and repeat evaluations regularly).c.pietrobelli@uniroma3.itCREI, University Roma Tre24