Institutions for Knowledge Intensive Development

^{This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 734712.}

• Horizon 2020 Grant No. 734712
• 2017–2021
• Project Leader: Aaro Hazak
• Funding: 1,318,500 EUR
• Consortium: Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia, coordinator), University of Lausanne (Switzerland), National University of Laos (Laos), Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (Vietnam) and Royal University of Law and Economics (Cambodia)

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Aims

The project seeks to understand micro level incentives and macro level institutional pathways to encourage and facilitate knowledge creation and absorption in emerging economies, with some particular focus on the economic and regulatory environment in South-East Asian transition economies. We seek to study the mechanisms, regulatory incentives and challenges in transferring knowledge into economic value. Moreover, we aim to identify and outline capable regulatory measures to address market frictions and inefficiencies on the path towards a knowledge economy.

The project seeks to obtain novel research results by using frontier empirical research methods; develop excellence oriented academic cooperation with South-East Asian universities; and contribute to R&D capacity building at these partners based on European academic values and economic transition experiences. Promoting of the project results through intersectoral knowledge transfer is an important task. We aim to contribute to social innovation through policy suggestions, and to a paradigm shift regarding the role of institutions in transition processes.

The project is a joint effort of Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia) and University of Lausanne (Switzerland) economics and law researchers with transition studies experience from Eastern Europe, and their fellow researchers from the National University of Laos (Laos), Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (Vietnam) and Royal University of Law and Economics (Cambodia) with thorough insight into the institutional context in their societies.

Work Packages

The project comprises six Work Packages managed by TalTech and UNIL researchers:

1. Institutional factors behind the knowledge intensity gap between frontier knowledge economies and transition economies (Leader Prof. Aaro Hazak)
2. Regulation and incentives supporting development towards a knowledge economy (Leader Prof. Kadri Männasoo)
3. Efficiency in the financial sector and financing of R&D investments and innovation in changing regulatory and economic environment (Leader Associate Prof. Karin Jõeveer)
4. Regulatory aspects, transfer of knowledge and ICT-enabled solutions (Leader Prof. Tanel Kerikmäe)
5. Training in core academic competencies in economics, law and empirical research (Leader 2017-2018 Prof. Karsten Staehr; from 2019 Prof. Aaro Hazak)
6. Knowledge transfer workshops (Leaders Prof. Andreas R. Ziegler and Prof. Katrin Nyman-Metcalf).