Steliana Sandu

Impact of R&D and Innovation on High-tech Export☆

Abstract Economic recovery and the re-launching of sustainable economic growth in EU, particularly in countries such as Romania, are to a large extent sustained by the stimulation of exports and, especially, high-tech exports. Different authors have proved, in theoretical as well as empirical approaches, the relation between some indicators of innovation performance and volume and performance of high-tech exports. In this paper, we intend to assess, at the European level, the relationship between medium and high-tech exports, on one hand, and some of the main determinants of innovation, on the other hand. The volume of research-development expenditure, both public and private, the human resources employed in knowledge intensive activities or the propensity for international commercial relation have been assumed as important causal factors for increasing high tech export in EU countries. The results of the econometric analysis conducted in this paper confirm a causal relationship between the independent variables mentioned above and the EU high-tech exports level. The specific variations at country level are also displayed. Research results also confirm a positive correlation between total R&D expenditure volume and the level of high-tech exports, with variability between countries. The influence of private R&D expenditure on high-tech exports is stronger than public R&D expenditure. Under current European and national policies for increasing the intensity of R&D funding, raising the average EU level of R&D expenditure to the target of 3% of GDP, and particularly the EU average of private R&D expenditure to 2% of GDP, may significantly boost exports and competitiveness. Romanian export policy and R&D and innovation policy should be correlated in order to maximize effects in both policy fields.

Smart Specialization Concept and the Status of Its Implementation in Romania

Abstract Smart specialization, a relatively new concept, has been actively promoted as an important tool for the Europe 2020 Strategy. It stands as a key solution for avoiding dissipation of the EU research funds and for focusing the research, innovation, human and financial resources on those innovative sectors which are highly performant, socio-economically important or attractive for investors. Given the novelty and complexity of this concept, more theoretical and methodological consideration should be given to further concept clarification, for the use of policy makers and for its effective implementation in various countries, each of them with its R&D and innovation background and economic context. This paper aims to survey the literature of the field in order to relieve theoretical and methodologic elements addressing their application in Romanian context, with an assessment of implementation opportunities and of necessary instruments, according to Innovation Union objectives.

Market of R&D Results in Romania

Abstract The theoretical and methodological approach, as well as the empirical analysis of the market of R&D face major challenges stemming from the high diversity of determinant factors, functional mechanisms, the dimension and structure of R&D demand and supply on one hand, and the necessity to find a relevant indicators system for the quantitative and qualitative assessment of demand and supply, on the other. Issues such as the public nature of the research results, the specific obstacles in the commercialization the R&Ds supply, the operation mode and regulatory mechanisms of this market, intellectual property rights, the degree and forms of state involvement in supporting public and private research are still subject of public debates This paper aims to contribute to the description of the dimensions and of the tendencies of the market of R&D in Romania and to show imbalances between supply and demand. Outlining the particularities of the science market, in general, and in Romania, in particular, the paper highlights the main determinants that contributed to the current position of the market of science in Romnania in European landscape, the main aspects of the knowledge transfer from the institutes of research and development towards industrial companies and the obstacles that blocked the relationship between supplier and users of the scientific results.

The R&D and Innovation Systems in Romania and Bulgaria in the EU Context☆

Abstract Once the economic upsurge ended and the crisis settled in, the decisional behaviour regarding research, development and innovation in the public as well as private sectors deflected the upward trend of innovation performance indicators for both Bulgaria and Romania. While the overall innovation index for EU27 kept a positive growth rate, the evolution of the input and output innovation indicators for both countries along 2009 have downgraded their relative position amongst the EU countries. Therefore, in 2010, Bulgaria and Romania were screened out from the “catching-up countries” and moved back in the “modest innovators” cluster, where they have hovered until now.

How Soon Could Romania Close the R&D Gaps against EU-28?

Abstract Increasing EUs Gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) at 3% of the GDP is one of the five EU headline targets included in Europe 2020 strategy. Higher R&D investments in member states, as well as the design and implementation of adequate national research and development policies should not only reduce disparities with respect to R&D, but also foster economic growth and stimulate convergence. Romanian national strategies also acknowledge R&D as a priority sector, given its potential to increase labour productivity, competitiveness and economic growth, but up to now there is low convergence of the Romanian R&D system with the European one. In this context, our paper aims to assess the time required to close the gaps in research and development between Romania and the EU by means of catching-up computational methods. We analyze the likelihood of equalizing EU average using data on various indicators in the R&D field over 2005-2012. The necessary growth rate to achieve this goal is estimated under different scenarios: pessimistic, realistic and optimistic. We found that the time span required to fill the Romanian R&D systems gaps against EU varies between 5 and 25 years, depending on the indicator considered. Unfortunately, there are also R&D indicators for which the gaps got larger over 2005-2012, therefore catching-up is unlikely on the short run. As regards the Summary Innovation Index, efforts to equalize EU-28 average would be considerable since Romania should increase its annual SII rhythm of growth by four times, even in the pessimistic scenario of 30 years time horizon.