2011年-世界发展银行全球_Romania_-_Functional_Review___Research_Development_and_Innovation_Sector_107页_2mb

Romania Functional Review Summary

Core Content

This report presents a functional review of Romania's Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I) sector, commissioned by the Government of Romania and the European Commission as part of a broader assessment of public administration's role in national growth and EU convergence. The review was conducted through extensive data analysis, literature research, and three missions to Bucharest in 2011. It highlights the systemic weaknesses in Romania's RD&I framework and proposes policy reforms to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency.

Main Points

• RD&I System as a National System: The RD&I system is not treated as a unified national system but is fragmented across various ministries and stakeholders, lacking a coherent governance structure.
• Low R&D Investment: Romania's R&D investment is below international standards, with a significant portion coming from public funds. The private sector's contribution is minimal, and there is a lack of focus on applied research aligned with national economic priorities.
• Ineffective Commercialization: The commercialization of public research is weak, with poor coordination between public research institutions and the private sector. Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) are under-resourced and have unclear mandates.
• Brain Drain and Limited Innovation: There is a significant brain drain of Romanian researchers, with many working abroad. The private sector is not effectively utilizing domestic research outputs, and the country lags in patent applications and scientific output.
• Need for Institutional Reform: The report calls for the establishment of a strong national oversight body to coordinate RD&I activities, align public funding with national priorities, and improve the investment climate for innovation.

Key Challenges

• Fragmented Governance: The RD&I system is not governed as a single sector but is spread across multiple stakeholders with poor coordination.
• Misaligned Funding Priorities: Public funding is often directed towards basic research rather than applied research, which is more relevant to the current and future economic structure.
• Weak Commercialization Infrastructure: There is a lack of mechanisms to effectively transfer public research into marketable products, with TTOs and IP regimes being inadequate.
• Low Private Sector Involvement: The private sector is not adequately involved in or supported by the RD&I system, despite its potential to drive innovation and growth.
• Brain Drain and Career Prospects: Romanian researchers are emigrating in large numbers due to poor career prospects, limited compensation, and a lack of innovation-friendly environments.

Key Recommendations

1. Improving Governance of the RD&I System

• Strengthen National Oversight: Revive the National Council for Science and Technology Policy and expand its mandate to include innovation.
• Integrate Stakeholders: Establish a multilateral coordinating body under MERYS/NASR to ensure coherence in RDI standards and performance.
• Transparent Funding Allocation: Use clear performance indicators and international evaluators to improve transparency and reduce conflicts of interest.

2. Improving the Management of Public R&D

• Reduce Redundant Institutes: Close or privatize underperforming RDIs based on national priorities and performance assessments.
• Predictable Funding Mechanisms: Implement performance-based funding for certified RDIs to ensure more reliable and effective resource allocation.
• Empower RDI Managers: Provide RDI managers with incentives and support to meet performance goals and enhance collaboration with the private sector.

3. Accelerating the Transmission of R&D

• Strengthen TTOs: Enhance TTO capabilities through better funding and training to promote commercialization and collaboration.
• Update IP Legislation: Align IP laws with European standards to clarify invention ownership and reduce legal uncertainties for investors.
• Support Early Stage Innovation: Introduce proof of concept grants and other financial instruments to support early-stage technology development.

4. Encouraging the Demand for R&D

• Improve Investment Climate: Enhance access to new technologies, credit, and foreign competition to encourage R&D investment.
• Foster IP-Based Startups: Create specialized programs and agencies to support IP-based startups and SMEs in innovation.
• Leverage MNEs: Attract MNEs by improving the IP environment and reducing legal risks, which could lead to knowledge spillovers and job creation.

Conclusion

The review concludes that Romania's RD&I system is in a silent crisis, with negative implications for competitiveness and growth. To address this, the country must restructure its RD&I governance, realign public funding with national priorities, and create a more supportive environment for private sector innovation. The report emphasizes that RD&I should be seen as a means to "put ideas into useful form and bringing them to market," rather than an academic or isolated activity. The proposed reforms aim to make RD&I a central pillar of national policy and economic strategy.