ABSTRACT
Two contrasting forces currently characterize innovation policy in EU countries. On the one hand, public support of innovation is needed to reach the targets of the Europe 2020 strategy (European Commission, 2010). On the other hand, the recent economic crisis spurs governments to control their public debts and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their economic policy actions, including support for innovation. In this scenario, the evaluation of innovation policies is of great importance: by taking stock of the outcomes of previous supporting schemes, policy makers can better calibrate current actions and plan future ones.
