Analyzing the root of regional innovation performance in the European territory

• Autor(a) principal: Lopes, João M.
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Silveira, Paulo, Farinha, Luís, Oliveira, Márcio, Oliveira, José
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/5761
• topic: Regional Innovation Performance; RIS3; Regional Innovation Systems; Regional Innovation Scoreboard; European Innovation Scoreboard; Regional Innovation Policy; Innovation

Regional innovation performance is an important indicator for decision-making regarding the implementation of policies intended for regional development. However, regional development policies have led economies to very different competitive positions in matters of innovation. To address these issues, this paper aims to identify the variables that most contribute to the positioning of economies in terms of performance innovation in Europe. The data for this study were collected at the Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS). We use a quantitative methodology, through a multivariate statistical technique (Discriminant Analysis). The results suggest that specific innovation strategies explain the competitive positioning of economies within each group of countries. It was possible to demonstrate that economies with Leader classification show greater comparative robustness in the variables “SMEs with Product or Process Innovations”, “SMEs with Product or Process Innovations”, “R&D Expenditure Public Sector” and “Population with Tertiary Education”, constituting an effective instrument of innovation policy. Furthermore, it was possible to show that the economies belonging to the Modest group do not have a competitive advantage in any of the variables under study, thus providing a reflection opportunity for policymakers at this level. The present research identifies which variables are most relevant to the classification considering the regional innovation performance in Leader, Strong, Moderate, and Modest. Several suggestions were given to companies, policy makers, and higher education institutions in the sense that the regions where they operate can improve their innovative performance, which may help to a change in their current classification.