Innovation Economics Department

The mission of the Department is to provide support for the design of effective innovation policies through analytical and research expertise that strengthens research capacities, economic development, and social progress.

Research conducted by the Innovation Economics Department is focused on analysing and improving innovation processes in the economy, with particular emphasis on the role of innovation in enterprise development, innovation policies, and the functioning of the broader innovation ecosystem. The Department’s activities include research on factors influencing innovativeness, growth, competitiveness, digital transformation, and investment readiness of small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups, as well as the role of knowledge, cooperation, and learning in innovation processes. Particular attention is devoted to analysing the design, implementation, and effects of support instruments at national and regional levels. The Department actively monitors contemporary trends and the new paradigm in innovation policy, particularly in the area of transformative innovation policy, which aims to trigger systemic change and address complex societal challenges through mission-oriented and coordinated approaches. In this context, the Department explores how science, technology, and innovation policies can strategically guide the development of entrepreneurship, start-up ecosystems, and innovative enterprises.

The topics addressed by the Department are of particular importance for Serbia, the Western Balkans region, and Southeast Europe—small and open markets facing structural reforms, rapid technological change, pressures from global competition, and demographic challenges. In such an environment, innovation becomes a key mechanism of economic development and a driver of productivity, digital transformation, and the green transition. The Department provides an analytical and methodological foundation for policies that promote innovative modernisation of the economy, strengthen competitiveness, and build research and innovation capacities aligned with European standards. Our research aims to translate global innovation trends, from advanced digital technologies to decarbonisation, into applicable and sustainable recommendations for Serbia and the region, contributing to the development of a dynamic and resilient innovation ecosystem.

The Department’s research has a strong applied component and directly contributes to public policy making by supporting ministries, public agencies, and international organisations in designing strategies, programmes, and instruments to stimulate innovation, science, and sustainable development. At the same time, it contributes to the advancement of academic knowledge through research projects, publications, the improvement of methodological approaches, and international cooperation. Research results also have a significant impact on the business sector through analyses of companies’ innovation capacities, digital transformation, the energy transition, and competitiveness, while evaluations, consultations, training, and knowledge transfer strengthen the broader professional community, building bridges between research, practice, and decision-making processes.

The Department undertakes a wide range of activities, including the implementation of national and international research projects, the preparation of analytical studies, strategies, evaluations, and methodological frameworks, as well as the development of composite indices and advanced analytical tools. An important part of its work also includes the organisation of scientific events, active participation in international networks and academic initiatives, such as COST Actions and European research networks, as well as publishing scientific papers, professional reports, and evidence-based recommendations. Through cooperation with ministries, research institutions, the business sector, and international organisations, the Department actively contributes to strengthening the national and regional innovation system.