The Problem
The problems of restructuring the R&D
and innovation systems of the post-socialist countries of Central and Eastern
Europe (CEE) have so far been treated as marginal within the overall institutional
transformations that are taking place in these nations. R&D systems
have been perceived mainly as liabilities or tax burdens, rather than assets
on which economic recovery and future growth might be based. Science,
technology, and innovation have either been regarded as relatively unimportant
aspects of the transition process or have been left to take care of themselves.
Most of the transitional countries lack the
institutional capability for sophisticated policy making on S&T and
innovation and for building consensus among policy makers, corporate decision
makers and members of the research community on S&T and innovation
policy issues. There is relatively little recognition of the growing importance
of knowledge and continuous life-long learning as the bases for economic
success in the 21st century. Changing this situation will be difficult,
time-consuming, and expensive, but it must be done if the economies of
these nations are to develop the scientific and technological foundations
for sustained innovation and long-term economic growth.
Mission
It was in recognition of these concerns, that
the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Innovation
Research Center (IKU) of Budapest University of Economics and Public Administration
established the Center for Innovation Policy Research and Education for
Central and Eastern Europe in 1999.
CIPRE is an international, English speaking
organization that is intended serve several important purposes:
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To provide a setting where researchers and policy
makers from the nations of Central and Eastern Europe can pool their resources,
expertise, and knowledge to advance the state of science, technology and
innovation policy in this region.
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To serve as a mechanism through which scholars
and practitioners from the European Union, North America, Japan, and other
industrial nations can share their expertise with colleagues and students
from the CEE nations.
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To as a means of disseminating the latest
and most advanced ideas and methods in S&T and innovation policy throughout
the nations of Central and Eastern Europe.
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To help researchers and experts in the CEE nations
overcome their isolation and reach the critical mass necessary to offer
a high quality training programme for mid-career people as well as graduate
education at the Master’s and PhD levels.
Finally, it will also help to strengthen up-to-date
thinking on policy matters, and to develop advanced knowledge management
capabilities.
Program
To accomplish these goals, CIPRE is undertaking
a coordinated program of training and research, including mid-career seminars
for industrial and government executives, policy fellowships for young
scientists and engineers, graduate programs for educating S&T policymakers,
and studies of policy issues of special importance to the Central and Eastern
European nations. The aim of all these activities is to develop and strengthen
the innovative capacities of the CEE countries in order to enhance their
international competitiveness and economic performance. In addition, CIPRE
will serve as a forum for collaboration with countries outside the region
dealing with similar problems.
Organization
CIPRE is located in central Budapest. It uses
the existing facilities of the Innovation Research Center (known by its
Hungarian initials as IKU) at the Budapest University of Economics and
Public Administration and draws upon a network of collaborators in Europe
and North America, as well as other parts of the world. It is developing
partnerships with appropriate organizations in Poland, the Slovak Republic,
the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, the Baltic countries, and other
CEE countries, and collaborative agreements with related organizations
in Western Europe and North America.
The co-directors
of CIPRE are Dr. Annamaria Inzelt, Director of IKU and Dr. Albert H.
Teich, Director of Science & Policy Programs at AAAS. Both are
internationally-recognized scholars in science, technology, and innovation
policy. A high level International
Advisory Board provides guidance for the Center. The members
of this committee are listed below. Modest initial support has been
obtained from the NATO
Program on Science and Technology Policy and Organization, from UNESCO,
and from the Hungarian Industry Foundation. |