The place of innovation in the research-development-innovation system of the Republic of Moldova

The private sector is the key player in the national economy, implementing innovations in practice. In order to determine the place of innovation in the research, development and innovation (RDI) system in the Republic of Moldova, a comparative analysis of national RDI systems in 39 countries was carried out, focusing on the involvement of the private sector in RDI. Five relative scientometric indicators were used in the analysis: gross domestic expenditure on RDI (% of GDP); researchers per million population; share of researchers in the private sector; share of private sector expenditure on RDI; share of work carried out by the private sector in total volume. On the basis of the data obtained, the ranking of RDI systems was developed and the place of the Republic of Moldova in terms of the innovation component in this ranking was determined. As the RDI system is an institutionalized system at the state level, the paper presents the current regulatory framework governing scientific and innovation activity, which will hopefully change the situation in the medium and long term.