Small country strategies in complementing national innovation systems

Abstract

The objective of the work is to highlight the features of national systems of innovation (NSI) in small countries and seek similarities in the ways the small countries try to mitigate the size-related weaknesses. These countries experience lack of resources due to small size or brain drain and struggle with allocation of resources and skewed economic structures. Specialisation in and internationalisation of private research and development as well as cooperation between actors are investigated as a means to amend limited resources in small European countries. It seems that the level of internationalisation varies between the countries but in specialisation they share a trend. Small countries are more likely than larger entities specialised in their research and development investments in the knowledge intensive business services (KIBS). This is quite logical as the KIBS are often seen as parallel and complementary knowledge infrastructures supporting the public sector-based innovation system.