How to improve the national innovation systems of catching-up economies?

The article outlines the main directions of the development of national innovation systems in the new EU member states as the catching-up economies coming from the systemic change. Attempts to copy experience of high income economies in building their national innovation systems are not appropriate and adaptation to systemic change specific aspects are needed. Critically important is to increase the learning capacity of the whole society. It requires detection of the major path-dependency problems of national innovation system and implementation of appropriate policy instruments. Dominating linear innovation model based on thinking and policy making should be replaced by the interactive learning based system. Innovation diffusion management and network should be improved. A balanced approach between high and low tech industries is needed. Next to the technological competence the improvements in managerial and organisational competence are requested.