Can the National Innovation Systems of the New EU Member States Be Improved?The authors acknowledge financial support from the EU 6th Framework Programme (project CIT5- CT-028519,<i>U-Know),</i>the Estonian Ministry of Education (target funding T0107) and the Estonian Science Foundation (grant 5840).

Abstract

This article outlines the main directions of the development of national innovation systems in the new EU member states as catch-up economies emerging from a period of systemic change. Attempts simply to copy the experience of the high-income economies in building national innovation systems are misconceived. That experience needs to be adapted to the specific conditions of catch-up countries with a unique systemic heritage. The dominant linear innovation model should be replaced as a basis for thinking and policy making by an interactive, learning-based approach. Catch-up economies such as these need to improve significantly their levels of innovation diffusion management and networking. A symbiotic approach to the balance of high- and low-tech industries is needed. Managerial and organisational competence is at least as important as technological competence.