The RECORD Experimental Map: innovative research organisations in European accession countries: Budapest, January 2004

This Experimental Map is the first application of the RECORD Benchmarking Manual, which was designed for benchmarking the activities in scientific research organisations, the institutions that play a central role in a country's innovation system. The book contains empirical information (survey results and case studies) on research institutions of Central and Eastern Europe, showing how the fashionable term of the 'centres of excellence' can be treated in practice in this region of the European Research Area. The main message of the experimental map is that the internationally competitive and innovative research organisations are few in number in these countries and with the help of the Benchmarking Manual the most important gaps in the management of these organisations can be identified in order to learn and improve performance.