Leigha Scjelderup
Title: DYNAMICS OF THE ARMENIAN INNOVATION SYSTEM: A FUNCTIONS-BASED ANALYSIS IN CATCHING-UP CONTEXT
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Erkki Karo
Opponent: Dr. Margit Kirs
Defense: 21 January 2025
Abstract: Innovation systems (IS) enable nations to navigate the challenges and opportunities of technological transformation. Although Armenia has identified high-tech development as a promising pathway for achieving economic resilience as it transitions from a centralized to market economy, structural weaknesses in the country’s national innovation system (NIS) challenge this vision. This thesis investigates the dynamics of Armenia’s emerging AI sector through the lens of the functions of technological innovation systems (TIS) framework, a processed-based approach better suited to transition context than the structure-oriented NIS model. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study leverages stakeholder interviews to evaluate the pattern and functionality of the emerging AI TIS and its potential to facilitate technological catch-up. The findings indicate that despite the sector’s strategic potential, its growth is constrained by national fragmentation and underdeveloped institutional capacities. These results contribute to a more nuanced understanding of potential policy interventions and provide theoretical insights for adapting the functions of TIS framework to similar contexts.
Keywords: National Innovation Systems (NIS), Technological Innovation Systems (TIS), technological catch-up, transition economies, social capability, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
