The JKEM INSTITUTIONS , INNOVATION AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

The paper investigates the institutional framework supporting policies to promote knowledge transfer from universities to the business sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The paper surveys the institutions and system of higher education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, its research and innovation capacity, reviews policies towards knowledge transfer and innovation, including the institutional framework to support technology parks and industrial clusters, and sets out a set of policy conclusions and recommendations. Based on in-depth analysis of the institutional and policy realities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the paper identifies three key deficiencies in the knowledge transfer system. Firstly, the level of innovative activity is highly skewed towards the public sector in research institutes and universities. Secondly, policies to support technology parks and business incubators have failed to generate substantial spin-off activity. Thirdly, Bosnia and Herzegovina has been far less successful than other countries in the region in its policies to develop technology networks and innovation clusters. The paper concludes that future success in knowledge transfer policies will depend upon improvements to the institution setting, on an increased ability of universities and the business sector to collaborate in technology networks and innovation clusters, and on a greater mobility of researchers between the two sectors. The direction that BiH science and technology policy should take is to emulate elements of the science and technology policies that have been pursued in more advanced neighbouring transition countries.