The Fifth Globelics Conference, held in Saratov, Russia, from 19 to 23 September 2007, marked a significant expansion of the Globelics network into Eastern Europe. Hosted by Saratov State Technical University, the conference adopted the theme “Regional and National Innovation Systems for Development, Competitiveness and Welfare: The Government–Academia–Industry Partnership,” emphasizing the importance of collaboration among public institutions, universities, research organizations, and industry in fostering innovation-led development. By bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from a wide range of countries, the event strengthened Globelics’ growing international community while extending discussions on innovation systems to new regional contexts.
The conference highlighted the idea that sustainable development depends on the ability of different institutional actors to work together rather than operating independently. Throughout the sessions, participants explored how governments can create supportive policy environments, how universities and research institutes contribute to knowledge production, and how firms transform knowledge into innovation and economic value. This systemic perspective underscored that competitiveness and social welfare are mutually reinforcing objectives when innovation policies encourage cooperation, learning, and institutional capacity building.
As one of the founders of the Globelics network, Bengt-Åke Lundvall continued to play a central role in shaping the intellectual direction of the conference. Drawing on his influential work on National Innovation Systems, Lundvall encouraged participants to view innovation as a process rooted in interactive learning, knowledge exchange, and institutional relationships rather than as a purely technological phenomenon. His contributions reinforced the conference’s broader objective of understanding how innovation systems can promote inclusive and long-term development across different national settings.
The successful organization of the conference reflected the close collaboration between the Globelics network and Saratov State Technical University. Local coordination was led by Vazgen Rubenovich Atoyan and Tatyana Nikolaevna Odintsova, whose efforts enabled the participation of scholars from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Their work transformed Saratov into an international meeting place for researchers interested in innovation policy, technological change, and regional development, reinforcing the university’s role within the global innovation studies community.
One of the most memorable moments of the conference was the tribute paid to Richard Nelson, whose pioneering research fundamentally shaped the field of innovation studies. A special session recognized his longstanding contributions to the development of the National Innovation Systems framework and its influence on both academic research and public policy. His work continues to provide one of the principal theoretical foundations for understanding how institutions, technological capabilities, and learning processes contribute to economic development.
Alongside these discussions, participants presented empirical research addressing a wide variety of topics, including regional innovation systems, university–industry partnerships, entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer, technological capability building, industrial development, and innovation policy. Case studies from both developed and developing economies demonstrated that effective innovation systems depend on strong institutional linkages, continuous learning, and policies capable of adapting to different economic and social contexts. These comparative experiences enriched the debate by illustrating multiple pathways toward innovation-driven development.
Beyond its academic programme, the conference further consolidated the collaborative spirit that distinguishes the Globelics network. The exchange of ideas among scholars from different disciplines and regions generated new research partnerships and reinforced the network’s commitment to interdisciplinary and internationally connected research. By encouraging dialogue between academia, government, and industry, the conference strengthened Globelics’ mission of advancing knowledge that can inform more effective development policies.
The Fifth Globelics Conference therefore demonstrated that innovation is not solely the outcome of scientific or technological advances, but rather the product of sustained cooperation among institutions and societal actors. Through its focus on partnership, learning, and institutional collaboration, the meeting contributed to a deeper understanding of how innovation systems can simultaneously enhance competitiveness, promote social welfare, and support sustainable development across diverse regional and national contexts.