Innovation policies in the Mediterranean area: Towards a Mediterranean system of innovation

Abstract

The contribution of this paper has both theoretical and policy relevance. It is one of the first exploratory studies of the Mediterranean system of innovation built on the concept of innovation systems. The paper provides a brief literature review and discussion of some data on innovation and research studies in the Mediterranean area. Our analysis suggests that a Mediterranean research and innovation community, capable of competing and integrating itself at a global level, still needs to be developed. Building successful knowledge networks across the region and a cooperative innovation system that could improve the competitiveness of the overall area have become important targets, since Mediterranean countries have to compete internationally. In this context, after exploring the situation of the area and the main theoretical approaches to the topic, this paper shows that the contribution of the European policies for the development of innovation networks in the Mediterranean moves toward a Mediterranean system of innovation.