The spatial interrelations of research and technological development and competitiveness in the Visegrad countries

Abstract

In regional studies, place-based and endogenous regional development and regional competitiveness became a major focus accompanied by an emphasis on the local application of research and development. On a similar note, one of the most important means of the renewed EU cohesion policy is the institutional decentralization of research and development and the strengthened support of scientific activities, also acting as the central focus, for instance, for the regional innovation strategies for smart specialization (RIS3). In our study, first, we look at the definition of regional competitiveness and the related interpretation frames. Next, we focus on models of competitiveness and propose a renewed pyramid model of regional competitiveness as a synthesis of the endogenous regional growth approach and development theories. Afterward, we proceed to the competitiveness analysis of 93 NUTS 3 level regions of 4 East-Central European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) conducted by principal component analysis methods based on statistical data tables. We studied the spatial connection between research and development and county competitiveness along our renewed pyramid model. In all the four countries, we handled capital cities together with their neighboring counties as common standalone entities, and we also combined seven metropolitan counties in Poland. Echoing the widespread, relative definition of regional competitiveness, we mostly compared counties with each other. Based on our results, we differentiated four county competitiveness types. In determining the main competitiveness types of the Central and Eastern European regions we extensively drew upon the findings of Gyula Horváth, who carried out significant work in this field.