Súčasný stav a perspektívy výskumu a vývoja na Slovensku
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN SLOVAKIA: CURRENT STATE AND PROSPECTS

Summary/Abstract: This paper consists of three parts. The first part has described current situation in research and development in Slovakia, considering recent developments in the trans-formation process and an international ranking of Slovakia in this field. The next two parts have outlined both basic assumptions underlying long-term scenarios and future prospects for research and development in Slovakia up to 2015. One could say that the unique historical opportunity of the years of 1989–1998 to promote a very efficient transformation of research and development (hereafter referred to as „R&D“) system has, at least partially, been wasted in Slovakia. The performance of all actors involved in transformation processes was very far from the highest quality of R&D system and was almost totally dominated by short-term approaches. There was no actor able to design and implement long-term strategic thinking and comprehensive po licy in the field of R&D. Transformation of the R&D system has not created a quantitative and qualitative improvement in the ranking of Slovakia on the global scene. Moreover, budget tensions, insolvency in the business enterprise sector and brain drain somehow diminished the competitive edge. However, changes are not dramatic and Slovakia still has a relatively good ranking in comparison with the countries of European periphery (e. g. Greece, Portugal). Nevertheless, it is true to say, that part of the R&D potential has loosen its former value due to geopolitical changes and strategic position of former Czech and Slo-vak Federation since 1989 (split of Council of Mutual Economic Assistance (Come-con) and that of Warsaw Pact). An interpretation of the Slovak R&D system basic characteristics takes into account the impacts of structural determinants, and observes the current situation through an international „focus“. It starts from the hypothesis that R&D in the advanced market economies is the criterion for the Slovak R&D functioning. Thus the greater analytical value lies in interspatial difference comparisons, mainly with advanced countries of a similar size like Slovakia. A more detailed comparison of Slovakia’s data with those of other countries indi-cated that the number of R&D personnel was not over-staffed in 1998. This can be supported by a comparison of researchers per 1000 labour force in the SR. However, from the structural point of view, the government sector is still over-staffed. As far as expenditures are concerned, the volume of Slovakia’s expenditures is very low com-pared with the small advanced economies and it could be expected that, in real terms, its real value would be even lower (due to the overestimation of SKK purchasing power parity compared with US $). In the performance structure, there is again a high share in the government sector and a low share in the higher education sector.

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