Koen De Backer is a Senior Economist in the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry (STI). His work focuses on the links between globalisation and STI in a broad sense, and their direct effects on government policy: global value chains, trade in value added, R&D internationalization and open innovation. He holds a PhD from K U Leuven (Belgium) and a Master of Business Administration from K U Leuven/UCI(USA). Previously he held post-doctoral positions in Barcelona and Leuven, was professor at the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School and acted as advisor to the Minister of Economic Affairs in Belgium (Flanders).