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Successfully providing expertise on innovation policies in the EU and in Central and Eastern Europe

Professor Slavo Radosevic’s research explores innovation processes and ‘technology upgrading’ in emerging and transition (i.e. post-communist) economies.

Grey pipelines and concrete construction and girder crane on grey sky. Tractor Belarus on the dusted soil. Old plant renovation.

28 April 2022

Professor Slavo Radosevic’s (UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies) research has applied and developed theoretical understandings of technology-based growth in the emerging and transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union.

In a 2018 journal article ‘Technology upgrading of middle-income economies: A new approach and Results’, Professor Radosevic and Professor Yoruk outlined their new conceptual framework ‘technology upgrading’, defining it as the process of enhancing technological capabilities of firms, sectors, regions or countries. 

Between 2014 and 2020 Professor Radosevic assisted the EC Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy in evaluating 'smart specialisation' strategies in Bulgaria, Slovakia and Slovenia and also worked directly for the Croatian government. The Secretary to a Government Office in the Slovenian Ministry of Economy described his advice as being among ‘the most useful comments I have ever received to a programming document - and I am working on this for the last 15 years’. 

According to a Head of Unit in the EC Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy, ‘Radosevic’s work was particularly influential in shaping the conclusions that the European Commission drew about the need to adopt a specific approach to innovation in less developed Member States, in its Communication [to the European Council and Parliament] on Smart Specialisation and accompanying working document’ Communication twice (pp. 24, 32) refers to research by Professor Radosevic in the context of increasing realisation that the smart specialization strategies in 2020-2027 period should strengthen the role of inter-regional and global value chains. 

Research synopsis

Successfully providing expertise on innovation policies in the EU and in Central and Eastern Europe 

Professor Slavo Radosevic’s research explores innovation processes and ‘technology upgrading’ in emerging and transition (i.e. post-communist) economies. It has influenced perceptions of policymakers and international organisations, with particular reference to developing smart specialisation policy and assessing the success of innovation policy, including for: The European Union (EU); United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE); Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the World Bank. Radosevic’ research impacted the design and shaping of innovation policy across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Former Soviet Union (FSU). 

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