Diversidades de sistemas de inovação e implicações nas políticas regionais: Comparação das regiões do algarve e da andaluzia

The importance of the regional level for the implementation of innovation policies has been generalized in parallel with greater theoretical attention to the notion of regional innovation systems. Despite the theoretical development and extensive application of the concept in the European Union's regional programmes, it remains ambiguous. This article, based on a comparison between two border regions, the Algarve in Portugal and Andalusia in Spain, illustrates the limits to which interventions to support regional innovation may be subject. Both NUTS II regions have similar levels of economic development, measured by GDPpc, albeit a distance apart in other dimensions. This comparison helps in understanding the difficulties of replicating policies based on best practices and the need to give greater attention to regional governance when constructing strategies for innovation.