Attempts to Survey Innovation in the Hungarian Service Sector

A survey of innovation in the service sector presents a great challenge even to the advanced economies and the Hungarian attempt is among the first to test internationally harmonised innovation surveys whilst focusing on the service sector as it functions in a transition economy.
The primary conclusion of this feasibility study is that a subject-oriented survey can be used to examine the service sector in Hungary. Analyses of the survey findings drew our attention to several factors hampering innovation in the Hungarian service sector. Besides insufficient funding, a lack of trained professionals is an important factor. The system is weak in network-type co-operation. The role of foreign investors is controversial - do they truly connect Hungarian companies into international networks or not?