Biotechnology in central and eastern Europe: An overview of performance and policy systems

This chapter provides an overview of recent biotechnology developments in ten CEE countries which joined the EU in 2004 and 2007. The overview covers the period 2002-2005 and considers these countries' performance in biotechnology as well as their policies and funding for biotechnology research and commercialisation. The chapter presents data and indicators of biotechnology performance, the arrangements for policy-making, the funding of biotechnology research and a discussion of the policy characteristics likely to support the development of biotechnology S&T systems. Findings show that countries are developing capabilities in biotechnology which contributes to a competence to absorb and utilise the knowledge that is being created in the rest of the world. There is a trend to focus on research related to pharmaceutical biotechnology and its applications. However, this strategy has limited potential to support economic growth in countries which lack a strong pharmaceutical sector. The study concludes that CEE countries are more likely to gain economic benefits from their biotechnology research by identifying and supporting several areas of biotechnology research relevant to strong economic sectors within their countries.