The Impact of Innovation on Regional Economic Development in Kosovo

Session

Management Business and Economics

Description

This study takes a closer look at how innovation influences regional economic development in Kosovo, highlighting its crucial role in boosting business efficiency, creating jobs, and narrowing regional gaps. As a transitioning economy, Kosovo grapples with ongoing institutional, infrastructural, and financial hurdles, which makes innovation a vital force for achieving sustainable economic and social advancement. The research employs a mixedmethod approach, blending theoretical insights with real-world data gathered from 52 businesses across various regions and sectors. For the quantitative analysis, SPSS was utilized, applying statistical tests like Chi-Square, Kruskal-Wallis, and correlation analysis to explore the link between innovation practices and business performance. The results show that while companies are generally aware of the significance of innovation, they still face major challenges due to insufficient institutional support, limited financial resources, and a lack of collaboration between academia and industry. Innovation efforts tend to be more concentrated in economically developed areas, leaving rural and less developed regions lagging behind, which exacerbates regional inequalities. The study underscores the necessity for stronger institutional frameworks to promote research and development, create financial tools to support startups, and foster multi-sector partnerships that encourage innovation and knowledge sharing. It's crucial to enhance public policies that align innovation with regional development strategies to ensure inclusive and balanced economic growth. These findings add to the academic conversation on innovation-driven regional development and provide practical insights for policymakers, universities, and businesses aiming to boost Kosovo’s competitiveness in both regional and global markets.

Keywords:

Innovation, Regional Economic Development, SMEs, Research and Development, Public Policy, Knowledge Transfer, Kosovo

ISBN

978-9951-982-41-2

Location

UBT Lipjan, Kosovo

Start Date

25-10-2025 9:00 AM

End Date

26-10-2025 6:00 PM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2025.425

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Oct 25th, 9:00 AM Oct 26th, 6:00 PM

The Impact of Innovation on Regional Economic Development in Kosovo

UBT Lipjan, Kosovo

This study takes a closer look at how innovation influences regional economic development in Kosovo, highlighting its crucial role in boosting business efficiency, creating jobs, and narrowing regional gaps. As a transitioning economy, Kosovo grapples with ongoing institutional, infrastructural, and financial hurdles, which makes innovation a vital force for achieving sustainable economic and social advancement. The research employs a mixedmethod approach, blending theoretical insights with real-world data gathered from 52 businesses across various regions and sectors. For the quantitative analysis, SPSS was utilized, applying statistical tests like Chi-Square, Kruskal-Wallis, and correlation analysis to explore the link between innovation practices and business performance. The results show that while companies are generally aware of the significance of innovation, they still face major challenges due to insufficient institutional support, limited financial resources, and a lack of collaboration between academia and industry. Innovation efforts tend to be more concentrated in economically developed areas, leaving rural and less developed regions lagging behind, which exacerbates regional inequalities. The study underscores the necessity for stronger institutional frameworks to promote research and development, create financial tools to support startups, and foster multi-sector partnerships that encourage innovation and knowledge sharing. It's crucial to enhance public policies that align innovation with regional development strategies to ensure inclusive and balanced economic growth. These findings add to the academic conversation on innovation-driven regional development and provide practical insights for policymakers, universities, and businesses aiming to boost Kosovo’s competitiveness in both regional and global markets.