EVALUATION OF R&D INDICATORS IN THE REGIONS OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Research and development (R&D) play a key role in the generation of new knowledge, products and technological processes. Based on theoretical and empirical approach, the present paper aims to evaluate R&D indicators and the research potential of the regions of the Czech Republic. Attention is paid to the comparison of R&D indicators in the period 2011-2015 and to selected R&D indicators by sectors of performance. The highest potential for research and innovation is observed in the capital city of Prague, as opposed to the Karlovy Vary region, with the lowest. The comparison of the R&D by sectors of performance showed a dominant position of the business enterprise sector in the majority of regions. By means of cluster analysis, the regions included in the evaluation of the research and innovation potential were divided into four clusters based on their internal similarity. The results showed the most marked differences across all clusters in the number of patents granted per 100 thousand inhabitants. The least notable differences were then found in R&D expenditures per researcher in the government sector in two clusters, and in three clusters in R&D expenditures per researcher in the higher education sector.