UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, 7th Annual International Postgraduate Conference

Inclusion Exclusion

16-18th February 2006

Thursday 16 February 4:30 – 6:00: Panel C1: Global Integration and Development

Inga Ulnicane (University of Latvia): ‘Europeanization of research, technological development and innovation policy in central and eastern Europe’

The aim of the proposed paper is to analyse impact of the European Union on development of national research, technological development and innovation (RTDI) policy in new member states from Central and Eastern Europe. Development of RTDI policy is one component of national strategies for catching-up, increasing economic competitiveness and building knowledge-based economy.

During the 1990s research and development systems of Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) underwent transformation from socialist Science and Technology Systems to Western type innovation systems. At the same time, integration of Central and Eastern European countries in EU RTDI policy initiatives began. In the early 1990s, EU Framework Programmes were first opened for a limited participation of CEECs. During the last decade these countries have been gradually integrated in other EU RTDI policy initiatives (e.g., European Research Area, Trend Chart, etc.). EU initiatives have offered additional political, intellectual and financial resources for RTDI in Central and Eastern Europe.

The proposed paper will address questions of EU impact on national RTDI policies in new member states and appropriateness of EU RTDI policy for building knowledge-based economy in CEECs. Issues of EU impact and appropriateness for new member states are particularly important taking into account differences in economic structures and development between old and new member states. EU RTDI policy is largely oriented towards high-tech sectors, which is appropriate for strong company sector with developed ties to scientific sector. However, in new member states company sector still is rather weak and rarely has developed ties to scientific community. Thus, attempts of new member states to copy EU approach ignore needs of majority of local companies in CEECs, mostly, small and medium sized enterprises. Such policy approach may foster creation of "islands of excellence", while excluding majority of companies.

The paper undertakes multidisciplinary approach building on innovation literature and Europeanisation approach. Following the Europeanisation literature (e.g., Cowles et.al. 2001), this paper argues that the impact of EU policy at national level largely depends on domestic factors, i.e., pre-existing institutions, relative strength of stakeholders from science and business communities and strategy of national government. Thus, to a large extent domestic institutions and actors define whether resources provided by EU RTDI policy will be used at national level to enhance narrow high-tech oriented policy or broad enterprise oriented innovation policy.

The paper will test this hypothesis through in-depth case studies of two CEECs - Latvia and Hungary –, which have some different and some similar domestic factors. Case studies will draw on interviews with policy-makers, analysis of relevant legal and policy documents, statistics, etc.