This paper examines whether there are differences in private R&D investment performance between the EU and the US and, if so, why. The study is based on data from the 2008 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard. The investigation assesses the effects of several very distinct factors that can...

R&D as well as the entire innovation process are likely to be affected by the current crisis. Apart from changes in R&D spending, as any crisis usually provides also chances it may stimulate a new wave of networked / open innovation and in this regard lead to 'creative destruction' as Schumpeter...

The diversity of technological activities that contribute to growth in labour productivity is examined in this paper for manufacturing and services industries in eight major EU countries. We test the relevance of the two major strategies of technological competitiveness (based on innovation in...

Based on an original data set with information of a representative portfolio of among the largest 304 Research and Development (R&D) investing companies over the 20032006 period, the overall analysis, except in a few cases, gives some robust evidence of a positive relationship between top...

The importance of SMEs in Europe's innovation process can be seen in both the academic and the political arena. Adopted in June 2008, the 'Small Business Act' for Europe reflects the Commission's political will to recognise the central role of SMEs in the EU economy and was the first to put in...

Under the influence of the Lisbon Strategy (2000), the Barcelona '3%' objective (2002) for more investment in research in Europe and the renewed Lisbon Strategy (2005), increased attention has been paid by both policy-makers and researchers to the origin of the EU-US R&D investment gap, which...

The objective of this study is to provide an analysis of the importance of design - defined as the procedures, choice of elements and technical preparation to implement a new product - and R&D investments as drivers of European firms' innovation performance. In addition, it specifically analyses...