Regional innovation strategies in the Czech Republic

Abstract

The concept of innovation has become a development mantra in fierce global competition of these days. Competition is not limited to firms it is relevant also for territories. Not surprisingly, a number of support tools were developed to reinforce the position of territories and their actors in innovation processes. Clusters and regional innovation systems belong to the most important of them. However, both are rather underdeveloped in the CEE countries, including Czech Republic. Facing this situation, a number of Czech regional authorities (Regions) took measures to stimulate process of cluster and regional innovation system (RISs) creation. Strategic planning in the form of regional innovation strategies has become an overarching concept in this way. Eleven Czech Regions have elaborated RISs so far and analysis of these documents became the main goal of this article. The main findings of the article point at an increasing quality of RISs in the Czech Republic. Moreover, some common and some differentiated features of RISs were identified. However, several problems of RISs, perceived as a crucial barrier towards real regional innovation system, were stressed.