Regional technology policy and innovation systemsA comparative study of German and Spain

Abstract

The paper pays special attention to the preconditions for the development of a more effective model of technology policy. The last part of the paper comments the transferability of the German model to technologically weaker economies like Spain or Eastern European countries. One of the main conclusions of the paper is that countries like Spain, Portugal or the East European ones have to start to fulfil some of the preconditions which implies the need for a long term policy and profound changes in the existing system of innovation. These countries should focus their policy efforts on improving their existing industrial structure in its technological dimensions.