Technology Upgrading of Eastern Europe: Past and Present

Talk by Slavo Radošević (School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London) as part of the Research Seminar Series of the IOS Economics Department.

The presentation aims to test my approach in the ‘Grand Synthesis’ & ‘Work in Progress’ book. The point of departure is that innovation is not only techno-economic but also social and political processes. By taking this neo-Schumpeterian perspective, I address four issues. First, East European transition, post-transition, the innovative enterprise and the industry landscape. Second, building innovation systems or (mis)alignment of different parts of the national innovation systems. Third, key alignment for catching up: EE/fSU between foreign and domestic-led modernization. Fourth, the evolution of meanings of ‘transition’ and lessons. The argument builds on my 2022 Research Policy paper and subsequent research.