Spatial distribution of R&D expenditure and patent applications across EU regions and its impact on economic cohesion

• Main Authors: Carmela Martín, Carlos Mulas-Granados, Ismael Sanz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AECR 2005-06-01
• Series: Investigaciones Regionales - Journal of Regional Research
• Subjects: Spatial Distribution; EU Technology Policy; economic cohesion; Convergence; Technology Indicators
• Online Access: http://www.aecr.org/images/ImatgesArticles/2007/03%20Martin_Mulas_Granados_Sa.pdf

This article explores the spatial distribution of regional technology indicatorsin the EU over the last decade and its impact on cohesion. Thus, we find thatpublic R&D spending and patent applications have converged among regions duringthe nineties. On the other hand, private R&D activities have diverged, as a result of anasymmetric expansion during the second half of the nineties. We show that when thedispersion of public R&D across regions diminished in the second half of the nineties,income disparities at regional level also decreased. Therefore, while technologypolicy based on efficiency criteria should remain as a policy tool for economicgrowth, this policy should be counterbalanced by R&D funds to the least developedregions to maintain economic cohesion.