The Resilience of the Romanian R&D System

Based on the available literature on the concept “resilience” , the paper looks into the resistance capacity of the Romanian research and development (R&D) system confronted with the profound and frequent transformations after 1990, its ability to mitigate the consequences of the various shocks, and to surpass the aftermath of the more recent economic crisis. The national mechanisms and regulations that steered this system before 1990 were thoroughly replaced, in compliance with the requirements of the market economy, as well as the legislation and practice in the EU. The recurring interventions designed and implemented by very numerous policy-makers in the last 26 years have had a positive but also a negative impact on the R&D system institutions, employment, funding and sources. At the same time, they altered the speed and efficiency of the knowledge and technology transfer to the economy and the society. Yet, it is apparent that, despite multiple and various shocks and crisis, the Romanian R&D system has proven its resilience, its capacity to recover and adapt to new circumstances. This paper emphasizes the vulnerabilities of the R&D system, as well as the pillars that have ensured and will secure its resilience and endurance.