National Research and Innovation Policy the Case of Greece: A Benchmarking Exercise to Assist Evidence-Based Policies on Research, Innovation, and Technological Entrepreneurship

Greece has made considerable effort to develop and implement a concise research and innovation policy during the last decades aiming at a knowledge-intensive economy. New legal frameworks and funding schemes are introduced, funding increased, but evaluation of impact is implemented marginally. The landscape in the early 2020ies has little in common with that in the late 1970ies. The active participation of Greece to the European Union’s framework programs and the European institutions’ prioritization of research and innovation increased the impetus for the policy makers at national level and for an informed policy in this field. Nevertheless, the data are relentless in the demonstration of the effectiveness of the policies. Despite the efforts deployed, Greece continues to lag most European countries, pairing mostly with its neighbors. This proves a strong need for improvement of the efficiency and effectiveness of the policies. It shows that politicians and policy makers are ill prepared to face the new challenges in global competitiveness. Greece is not the only case in this position.