CHALLENGES OF INCREASING THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RELEVANCE OF ROMANIAN R&D AND INNOVATION.
CHALLENGES OF INCREASING THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RELEVANCE OF ROMANIAN R&D AND INNOVATION.

Summary/Abstract: The topic of this paper is of special importance in the current context, when Romania has to cope not only with the effects of the economic and financial crisis but also with the EU Lisbon Agenda 2020 challenges, presented by the European Commission on the 3rd of March 2010 and recently adopted by heads of state and government leaders. Improving research-development and innovation activities is a central issue in reaching the Agenda 2020 objectives. The present situation is different from the one ten years ago when the previous Lisbon Strategy 2010 was launched. This new global landscape is to try not only the 2020 Europe Strategy, with its central point research-development and innovation but also the functioning of the economy in various member states, including Romania. Therefore, it is a dire need nowadays that the research, development and innovation activities at all levels be understood as instruments able to design solutions to economic and social challenges, even for recovery the economic growth. Based on the studying a vast specialized literature, the present paper asserts that the congruence between scientific activity’s results and their ability to specifically address the needs of the society it serves, depends on various factors concerning the scientific knowledge providers, knowledge potential users, knowledge infrastructure and environment. The purpose of this paper is to analyse and assess how challenges related to the provision of inputs for research activities are addressed by the national research system, especially in the new condition of economic crisis. Its actors have to ensure and justify that adequate financial and human resources are most appropriately mobilised for an efficient R&D operational system, having in view the time horizon required until the effects of the R&D investment become visible by increasing R&D system performance and, also, for transferring the knowledge results into economy. Another aim of the paper is to analyse and assess specific barriers faced the circulation of the financial flows and research results: weak relation between university and industry, financing and barriers that must be overcome by business sectors, low absorptive capacity of knowledge users etc. Depicting the current strengthens and weaknesses of R&D mechanisms the authors intended to offer a scientific basis for decisionmakers answers to the major challenges of 2020 Lisbon Agenda.

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