Science, technology, and innovation for economic competitiveness: The role of smart specialization in less-developed countries

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Smart specialization (SS) is a policy concept that has gained significant momentum in Europe despite a frail theoretical background and implementation difficulties. These challenges become critical in the case of less-developed economies that often lack regional autonomy, a strong STI base, and local capabilities to identify and sustain such SS strategies. Combining elements from evolutionary economics and the export-led literature, I propose a framework that anchors the role of SS in the national innovation policy of such laggards, as a complementary avenue for improving competitiveness and growth. Moreover, to assist policy makers in lagging regions or countries, I advance a diagnostic tool to identify potential areas for SS, and also address the systemic and the regional-sectoral bottlenecks in these domains. I exemplify the use of this tool in the case of Bulgaria by using a large battery of quantitative and qualitative indicators from publicly available data. This type of investigation may be useful for other less-developed economies to kick-start this process and identify prima facie SS candidates.

The Role of Specialisation in the Export Success of Polish Counties in 2004-2015

“…Firstly, similarly to Krammer (2017), it takes under consideration export as an account of international competitiveness. One can image other facThe Role of Specialisation in the Export Success of Polish Counties in [2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009][2010][2011][2012][2013][2014][2015] | 105 tors contributing to it, witnessed e.g.…”

“…With the use of three indicators (number of export destinations, total value of exports and the weighted synthetic indicator of the above two, indicating the preference of higher export volumes combined with large number of destinations) the position of a region is analysed in the flow of goods. Krammer (2017) proposed an analytical or diagnostic tool for the investigation of priority areas in exports that are suitable for the inclusion in the smart specialisation strategy of a country. The exemplified candidate areas in exports for Bulgaria had high potential for benefiting from the fundaments of smart specialisation strategy.…”

“…SS usually reveals itself in a region's export profile, assessed for instance with the use of revealed comparative advantages (RCA) (Krammer, 2017). SS is a relatively new concept that has been applied to regional development and to the allocation of the EU structural funds.…”

Research & development and regional smart specialisation: do they matter for productivity?

“…The link between competitiveness and innovation, in the form of scientific discovery has become even more important in the wake of the recent economic crisis. This can be seen in policies of more and more countries which are becoming focused on securing sustainable sources of economic growth (Krammer, 2017). Research and innovation are important for sustainable development of a country in various ways.…”

Vývoj přírodovědného vzdělávání v České republice od roku 1989

“…Tato krize přetrvala do počátku 21. století a její existence byla vnímána decizní sférou, například Evropskou komisí (EC), jako velmi závažná, neboť přírodní vědy a na ně navazující výzkum nových technologií byly a jsou jedním ze silných předpokladů úspěchu a konkurenceschopnosti zemí (blíže viz např. Gago et al, 2004;Krammer, 2017). Hledání cesty z této krize pak bylo předmětem zájmu odborných skupin od počátku 21. století (viz dále).…”