Divided We Fall Behind. Why a fragmented EU cannot compete in complex technologies

Pierre-Alexandre Balland, Valentina Di Girolamo, Florence Benoit, Julien Ravet and Alexandr Hobza

No 2608, Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) from Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography

Abstract: Fragmentation in the European Union's R&I system is increasingly acknowledged as a major hindrance to its performance. However, theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence remain scarce. This paper introduces a novel complexity-based approach to analyse the competitiveness costs of R&I fragmentation, focusing specifically on hub connectivity as a key metric. Using a comprehensive dataset combining patent records (OECD REGPAT) and scientific publications (OpenAlex) from 2000 to 2023, we examine R&I networks across multiple spatial levels and technological domains. Our analysis identifies three critical findings. First, the European R&I system is much more fragmented compared to the US, with major European hubs showing notably weaker interconnectivity than their US counterparts. Second, we demonstrate that hub connectivity becomes particularly crucial for complex technologies and scientific fields. Third, we find that there is an efficiency gap between the US and Europe in all domains, but it is most pronounced in complex ones, resulting in a substantial competitive disadvantage in strategic sectors. These findings have significant implications for European innovation policy and suggest the urgent need for targeted interventions to enhance cross- regional R&I collaboration in complex technological and scientific domains.

Keywords: Research Fragmentation; Economic Complexity; Inter-Regional Connectivity; Innovation Networks; EU Competitiveness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-05, Revised 2026-05
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