ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the polarisation of innovation performance and the concentration of high-tech firms and employees in CEE regions. The expansion of higher education in CEE has resulted in the establishment of new universities, but while some ‘mid-range’ universities play a cornerstone role in regional development, there remain enormous gaps between metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions. Innovation here is negatively affected by the migration of qualified graduates, and by the lack of innovative small and medium-sized enterprises. The innovation performance of CEE regions is also evaluated by using the Regional Innovation Scoreboard, identifying the regions where high-tech firms and employees are concentrated.
