East Eurooe Innovation Still Far Behind West

摘要

The torrent of political events across Europe-beginning with the fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago and extending to European Union enlargement in 2004 and again in 2007-has brought huge change to the region, not only economically but also scientifically, and with some pain. For many former Eastern Bloc countries, the transition from a closed centralized economy to a free market one has been a daunting challenge that has impeded not only their economic performance but their innovation capabilities as well.