Abstract
This study examines regional disparities in Romania’s research and innovation capacity by assessing three complementary dimensions: research and development resources, higher-education-related human capital, and research, development and innovation infrastructure. Composite indices were constructed for Romania’s eight NUTS 2 development regions using the non-compensatory Mazziotta – Pareto method and official secondary data provided by the Romanian National Institute of Statistics and the Ministry of Education and Research.
The results reveal a pronounced concentration of RDI-related resources, human capital and institutional infrastructure in Bucharest-Ilfov, which ranks first across all three dimensions. The West Region also records above-average scores, while the South-East, South-Muntenia and South-West Oltenia regions consistently occupy the lower positions. Their low scores across all three indices indicate cumulative and mutually reinforcing weaknesses in R&D resources, human capital and research infrastructure, rather than isolated deficits in a single dimension. The North-West Region displays a notable mismatch between its comparatively strong human capital base and its weaker R&D resource position.
The findings highlight the persistence of substantial territorial disparities in Romania’s RDI capacity, which generally correlate with regional economic inequalities, and support the need for differentiated regional policies.
The results reveal a pronounced concentration of RDI-related resources, human capital and institutional infrastructure in Bucharest-Ilfov, which ranks first across all three dimensions. The West Region also records above-average scores, while the South-East, South-Muntenia and South-West Oltenia regions consistently occupy the lower positions. Their low scores across all three indices indicate cumulative and mutually reinforcing weaknesses in R&D resources, human capital and research infrastructure, rather than isolated deficits in a single dimension. The North-West Region displays a notable mismatch between its comparatively strong human capital base and its weaker R&D resource position.
The findings highlight the persistence of substantial territorial disparities in Romania’s RDI capacity, which generally correlate with regional economic inequalities, and support the need for differentiated regional policies.
Cuvinte cheie
regional disparities
research and development
human capital
RDI infrastructure
Mazziotta–Pareto Index
Romania
Istoric articol
Publicat
31.08.2026
Informații autori
Citare recomandată
Andrei - Codruț Albă, Claudia - Daniela Albă (2026). Regional Disparities in Romania’s Research and Innovation Capacity: A Mazziotta – Pareto Index Approach. Constantin Brâncuși University of Târgu Jiu Economics Series, 2(1), 524–537. https://doi.org/10.65631/jes.4.2026.47
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