engleski

Fostering the national innovation system through triple helix collaboration: the case of Zagreb

Catching up countries with low or moderate innovation performance, such as Croatia, tend to focus on top-down approach and centralised implementation of innovation policy instruments. Given the limited resources and knowledge, there is usually a strong rationale for such an approach. This paper explores opportunities for a more bottom-up approach based on co-ordination of different projects which entail an evolving collaboration of research institutions, companies and local administration. The paper provides an overview of the innovation policy and challenges within the national innovation system in Croatia, which is followed by an analysis of triple-helix collaboration in the City of Zagreb. Initial results indicate that local triple helix initiatives in key cities/regions, which exploit and develop existing resources and linkage, can contribute to bridging the gap between science and industry, foster an increased number of proposed and implemented RDI projects and enable a stronger ecosystem for innovative start-ups. Too strong reliance on external financing may lead to suboptimal choice of projects and increase regional disparities within a country. The development of the start-up population is not necessarily strongly linked to RDI, as their development patterns tend to differ and their founders and investors may face shorter time horizons.

Croatia, innovation policy, national innovation system, smart specialisation, triple helix

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