Regional innovation systems:: How to assess performance

ZABALA-ITURRIAGAGOITIA J. M., VOIGT P., GUTIERREZ-GRACIA A. and JlMENEZ-SAEZ F. (2007) Regional innovation systems: how to assess performance, Regional Studies 41, 661 -672. This paper applies a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) rnethodology to the evaluation of regional innovation system performance based on information provided by the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) for 2002 and 2003. Those European regions ranked in the EIS as showing better performance in high-technology areas are ranked somewhat differently according to DEA. The results of the present study show that the higher the technological level of a region, the greater is the need for system coordination. Where this is lacking there is a loss of performance efficiency compared with other similar regions. Policy-making in relation to Regional Innovation Systems (RIS) has in the past depended on systemic analysis. Here, a methodology is proposed that combines quantitative and qualitative analyses to enrich the knowledge base for future policy decision -making.