Unveiling the dynamics of Hungary’s innovation performance

Csaba Deak; Baibhaw Kumar; Csaba Debreczeny; Balazs Deak

doi:10.18778/1231-1952.33.1.01

Authors

Csaba Deak University of Miskolc, Faculty of Materials and Chemical Engineering https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2160-7472
Baibhaw Kumar University of Miskolc, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Informatics https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0466-0711
Csaba Debreczeny Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9597-9406
Balazs Deak Óbuda University, Innovation management Doctoral school https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8826-2595

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1231-1952.33.1.01

Keywords:

European Innovation Scoreboard, Global Innovation Index, innovation performance

Abstract

This article investigates Hungary’s growing status as a moderate innovator in the European Union, examining why it lags behind leaders like Denmark and emerging performers like Estonia. While previous research has focused on composite scores such as the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), this study combines these indicators with a Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach to evaluate innovation efficiency. The study covers the period from 2016 to 2023 providing a temporal analysis of Hungary’s innovation deficit relative to the EU average, as well as a comparative assessment with chosen EU equivalents. The paper identifies systemic slackness in Hungary’s innovation ecosystem, notably in terms of converting R&D inputs and human capital into concrete innovation outputs.

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