Science–industry links in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States: conventional policy wisdom facing reality

Abstract

This paper analyses the factors behind widespread policy failure to support science-industry linkages in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. We explain this failure as being due largely to uncritical application of conventional policy wisdoms in the context of ‘catching up’ and ‘laggard’ economies. Our argument is based on evidence on knowledge-intensive enterprises in CEE and CIS countries and analysis of the innovation policies of these regions. Our conclusion is that support for science-industry linkages in CEE/CIS should be balanced by efforts to strengthen the ‘actors’ involved (existing large and small firms, universities and public research organizations) and reinforce other linkages in the respective national innovation systems, and especially knowledge links between domestic and foreign firms.