Towards Effective Regional Innovation Systems in Korea

효율적인 지역혁신체제 구축전략

Nowadays the role of region has been increased, as knowledge, science and technology become important in economic development. This paper argues that a system approach is needed to enhance regional S&T capabilities. Under the this approach, we can identify a concept of regional innovation systems as sub-systems of a national innovation system. This paper investigates Korean regional innovation systems based on R&D budget of regional governments. According to this paper, Korean regional governments' R&D investment is very insufficient. There were no co-relationship between regional governments' fiscal autonomy from the central government and their R&D investment. This paper argues that such a poor investment will restrict the future development of Korean regional innovation systems. Therefore, this paper suggests some strategic options for the development of regional innovation systems as follows. First, regional governments should increase their R&D budget. Second, their R&D efforts should be related with their specific industrial sectors. Third, they should target not only to create new promising industrial sectors but also to enhance technological capabilities of existing sectors. Fourth, their target group should be small and medium-sized enterprises. Finally, regional governments should adopt small and incremental approach to improve their innovation systems.