National Innovation Systems in the Visegrad Countries

Abstract

THE AIMS OF THE PAPER

This paper undertakes a comparison of post-socialist countries on the basis of their national innovation systems, as well as their emerging innovation policies. The main focus of the study is the Visegrad group, with some general remarks concerning Slovenia, the Baltic countries, and South-Eastern Europe.

METHODOLOGY

The paper is based on a synthesis of available international studies, supplemented with comparative statistics.

MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS

Innovation systems in the Visegrad countries show a stagnant or lagging dynamic in comparison with leading innovators. In addition to state-financed innovation activity, business innovation also shows considerable weakness, greatly affected by the dominant “dependent market economy” development model. Endogenous innovation capacities are weak, and do not represent the global state-of-the-art. Innovation policy struggles with significant weaknesses and low efficiency. Competitive support schemes redistribute resources to already successful innovators, without encouraging a catching-up process. The weakness of the regional and local tier in public policy leads to the increase of territorial polarisation.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Innovation policy should meet real demands, with support systems tailored to serve the catching-up of domestic enterprises. Grants should take into account the different needs of different actors, and undertake their activities in a territorially differentiated manner.

Acknowledgements: This publication/research has been supported by the European Union and Hungary and co-financed by the European Social Fund through the project EFOP-3.6.2-16-2017-00017, titled "Sustainable, intelligent and inclusive regional and city models".