Innovation and Liberalization in the European Defence Sector - A Small Country Perspective

This book investigates the ongoing liberalization of the European defence market and explores how companies can respond to these changes by adjusting their innovation and internationalization strategies. Traditionally, the EU defence sector has been fragmented into several weakly integrated and highly protected domestic markets which often leads to the duplication of innovative efforts, rising production costs and an overall lack of competitiveness. Using a variety of methods including case studies, econometric analyses and agent-based modelling, the authors reveal that liberalization will provide new and relevant opportunities for European defence companies. However, any potential benefits will only be realized if private firms perceive that a full and well-coordinated implementation process is in place. Traditionally, the EU defence sector has been fragmented into several weakly integrated and highly protected domestic markets which often leads to the duplication of innovative efforts, rising production costs and an overall lack of competitiveness. This book investigates the ongoing liberalization of the European defence market and explores how companies can respond to these changes by adjusting their innovation and internationalization strategies. Using a variety of methods including case studies, econometric analyses and agent-based modelling, the authors reveal that liberalization will provide new and relevant opportunities for European defence companies. However, any potential benefits will only be realized if private firms perceive that a full and well-coordinated implementation process is in place. As a whole, the book provides an original assessment of innovation policy in the context of EU defence and security market liberalization. In addition to those studying innovation, European and security studies, this unique book is an indispensible reference for practitioners and policy makers dealing with EU defence and security market liberalization.

1. Introduction 2. The Defence Sector and Industrial Policies: Background, Stylized Facts and the Liberalization Scenario 3. What Explains the Export Performance of Firms in the Defence Industry? 4. Defence Companies’ Response to EU Liberalization: A Comparative Study 5. A Simulation Model of the European Defence Industry 6. Policy Scenario Analysis: Small Countries in a European Perspective 7. Conclusions and Policy Implications Index