Possibilities of knowledge-based development in the lagging regions of the EU
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15170/MM.2020.54.KSZ.I.03Keywords:
lagging regions, knowledge-based development, regional policyAbstract
THE AIMS OF THE PAPER
Nowadays, the knowledge-based development as a goal is getting more emphatic inside the European Union. The growth of innovation and so the productivity is important not only for the developed regions but for regions lagging behind. However, the practical experiences show that the lagging regions have to face many challenges in this field. The aim of the paper is to show the hindering factors and also the supportive recommendations in relation to the catching up process of the underdeveloped regions.
METHODOLOGY
The methodology used in the paper is literature review. The factors which hinder the knowledge-based development in the lagging regions and also the developmental suggestions given for them are collected from the scientific literature.
MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS
Based on the literature, the barriers of the knowledge-based catch up can be defined as the lack of skilled human capital, weak entrepreneurship, insufficient institutional environment, risk of lock-in, low return of R&D expenditures and in many cases the history of the region. Many suggestions have been formed in order to solve these problems, e.g. the development of absorption capacities, formation of a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, the improvement of the institutional environment, the implementation of a place-based innovation policy and the development of the skills of all actors of the regional innovation system.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Despite their significant deficiencies, also the lagging regions should seek to reach the knowledge-based development. Since they face specific challenges, it is not sufficient to imitate the good practices of developed regions, but they should adjust their regional policy to their available capacities.
Acknowledgements: This publication/research has been supported by the European Union and Hungary and co-financed by the European Social Fund through the project EFOP-3.6.2-16-2017-00017, titled "Sustainable, intelligent and inclusive regional and city models".
