Composite indicator ECAICI and positioning of Georgia’s innovative capacities in Europe-Central Asia Region

ECAICI indicator introduced in the present article enables to analyze innovative capacities dynamics of the ECA region (by The World Bank classification) countries in 1996-2010. Thorough research reveals four leading unobservable factors, affecting innovative processes in ECA region. These factors may be referred as Knowledge creation, Economy sophistication, Knowlege Absorption-Diffusion, Human Capital Production. We show that there is a close link between ECAICI indicator and other well-known innovation indicators and show also that there is a close link between ECAICI indicator and GDP per capita. Indicator ECAICI may be applied as an instrument for innovative capacities assessment and analysis. Presented brief analysis of current innovative capacities of Georgia, carried out by means of this indicator serves as illustration of the fact. ECAICI indicator may prove to be useful and interesting also for other post-USSR countries.