Do EU-Funded ICT RTD Policies Really Matter? An Empirical View from the Regions

This paper provides evidence of a positive correlation between participation in the European ICT-RTD Programmes, the innovation capacity of the EU regions and the growth of regional value added adjusted by worked hours. We also offer additional support to the findings of previous studies concerning the rationale of the geographical concentration of innovation activities in some core areas of Europe. This evidence calls for a further integration of EU ICT-RTD policies at regional rather than national level, particularly encouraging the participation of regional organizations in multiple and related instruments.