Catalonia's S&ampT and Innovation Policies

Since the first autonomous elections of 1980, Catalonia’s government has recognised the importance of investing in R&ampD and innovation for the economic growth, industrial diversification and social welfare of the region. Yet the development of a comprehensive innovation system has experienced vicissitudes and been slow to emerge. Over the last three decades, Catalan approaches to S&ampT and innovation policies have evolved under the influence of several factors whose interdependence may continue to orient these policies and the innovation performance of the region in the future: