ICT Research and Innovation Trends in EEMS (as seen in the Reports on ICT R&D in the EU)∗

The IPTS has been publishing data on ICT R&D on an annual basis since 2005 and its latest report of 2011 indicates the weakness of the ICT industry and its R&D in several Eastern European Member States (EEMS). Our macro and microeconomic analyses show that EEMS ICT shares in EU ICT totals are systematically below the EEMS economic weight. Particularly, the EEMS are lagging behind the rest of the EU in BERD, GBAORD, among top R&D investors, R&D intensity, and patents (all related to ICT). What is, on the other hand, optimistic is the fact that the share of the EEMS in EU ICT production has been steadily increasing and that the growth of ICT BERD in the EEMS is much bigger than in the EU15. Moreover, the share of EEMS ICT companies in the top EU ICT R&D has doubled since 2004