Sitányi, L. (2008). Economic development and innovation environment in the Balkan region. Modern Geográfia, 3(1), 1–13.
This paper gives an overview of the economic paradigms, innovations, co-operating systems and clusters that make regions successful in our post-industrial society. As an example I have mainly selected the experiences of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) gained in the development of the post-industrial economies, as we assume that their experiences are largely relevant in the Balkan region. The modern state should not simply subsidize the competitiveness of its own national economy, as its competitiveness mainly depends on the underlying innovative environment, the so-called ‘innovation milieu’ (CAMAGNI, P.R. 1992) and the national innovation system, which binds the system together. Therefore at a national level it is indispensable for the development of innovation that theeconomic policy makers create a coherent national innovation system.