Title: Regional development and EU research policy

Authors: Fabienne Corvers, Peter Nijkamp

Addresses: European Commission, DG Research, SDME 02/123, B-1049 Brussels, Belgium. ' Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Free University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, NL-1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract: The globalisation of economic life has far-reaching implications for the position of regions in this new world order and hence for any regional development policy. Creating better competitive conditions in order to reduce regional disparities has become an essential element of the current regional development policy. Consequently, an innovation policy has become an essential and intricate part of a regional policy in a modern network society. A closer look at Europe reveals the striking differences in R&D investments among the European regions and cause policy-makers great concern, given the enabling role of R&D in creating innovations and sustaining competitiveness. In order to address this concern, the European Commission has made an attempt to bring two hitherto distinct EU policy areas – regional policy and research policy – together. This paper intends to outline these new ideas, position them from the perspective of modern growth theory and assess the implications for regions and policy-makers.

Keywords: EU regions; regional development; RTD; innovation policy; RITTS/RIS; community research policy; research and development; European Union; globalisation; development policy; regional policy; policy making; economic growth.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTPM.2004.006073

International Journal of Technology, Policy and Management, 2004 Vol.4 No.3, pp.193 - 209

Published online: 31 Jan 2005 *

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