INSTITUTIONS, INNOVATION AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Year 2012, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 199 - 224, 01.06.2012

Will Barlett Muris čıcıc Besim ćulahovıc

Abstract

 The paper investigates the institutional framework supporting policies to promote knowledge transfer
from universities to the business sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The paper surveys the institutions and
system of higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, its research and innovation capacity, reviews policies
towards knowledge transfer and innovation, including the institutional framework to support technology parks
and industrial clusters, and sets out a set of policy conclusions and recommendations. Based on in-depth analysis
of the institutional and policy realities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the paper identifies three key deficiencies in
the knowledge transfer system. Firstly, the level of innovative activity is highly skewed towards the public sector
in research institutes and universities. Secondly, policies to support technology parks and business incubators
have failed to generate substantial spin-off activity. Thirdly, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been far less successful
than other countries in the region in its policies to develop technology networks and innovation clusters. The
paper concludes that future success in knowledge transfer policies will depend upon improvements to the
institution setting, on an increased ability of universities and the business sector to collaborate in technology
networks and innovation clusters, and on a greater mobility of researchers between the two sectors. The direction
that BiH science and technology policy should take is to emulate elements of the science and technology policies
that have been pursued in more advanced neighbouring transition countries.

Keywords

Institutions, Knowledge Transfer, Bosnia and Herzegovina

INSTITUTIONS, INNOVATION AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Abstract

The paper investigates the institutional framework supporting policies to promote knowledge transfer
from universities to the business sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The paper surveys the institutions and
system of higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, its research and innovation capacity, reviews policies
towards knowledge transfer and innovation, including the institutional framework to support technology parks
and industrial clusters, and sets out a set of policy conclusions and recommendations. Based on in-depth analysis
of the institutional and policy realities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the paper identifies three key deficiencies in
the knowledge transfer system. Firstly, the level of innovative activity is highly skewed towards the public sector
in research institutes and universities. Secondly, policies to support technology parks and business incubators
have failed to generate substantial spin-off activity. Thirdly, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been far less successful
than other countries in the region in its policies to develop technology networks and innovation clusters. The
paper concludes that future success in knowledge transfer policies will depend upon improvements to the
institution setting, on an increased ability of universities and the business sector to collaborate in technology
networks and innovation clusters, and on a greater mobility of researchers between the two sectors. The direction
that BiH science and technology policy should take is to emulate elements of the science and technology policies
that have been pursued in more advanced neighbouring transition countries.

Keywords

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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