INNOVATION PERFORMANCE AND THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF INNOVATION CLUSTERS AT THE LEVEL OF LAGGING-BEHIND REGIONS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

The present study establishes the relationship between the innovation performance of enterprises in the lagging-behind regions in Central and Eastern Europe and the regional potential for development of innovation clusters. It assesses performance in innovation at the level of lagging-behind regions in Central and Eastern Europe, based on the 2019 Regional Innovation Scoreboard. The development potential of innovation clusters shall be determined on the basis of the Cluster Stars indicator (European Cluster Observatory). The results of the study highlight a positive link between innovation performance and the development potential of innovation clusters. Regions with a greater number of innovation clusters, but also those that have a higher potential for developing these clusters, enjoy greater innovation performance. Innovative organisations that are part of these clusters stimulate all cluster members to develop their innovative practices and new products/services.