INSTITUTIONAL LOCK-INS AND INNOVATION FAILURE IN TRANSITION ECONOMIES: EVIDENCE FROM UZBEKISTAN’S EXPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16537475Keywords:
Transition economy, institutional lock-in, innovation policy, export infrastructure, Triple Helix, public-private partnership, RegTech, digital integration, Uzbekistan, export-oriented innovation.Abstract
Despite significant investment in innovation infrastructure, Uzbekistan shows limited progress in export diversification and innovation outcomes. This study attributes the gap to institutional lock-ins—centralized governance, poor inter-agency coordination, and weak collaboration mechanisms. Using Institutional Theory and the Triple Helix framework, case studies from the textile, logistics, and agro-processing sectors reveal that innovation barriers stem not from lack of resources, but from systemic rigidity. The paper recommends institutional reforms, sector-specific innovation hubs, and the adoption of RegTech tools to enhance adaptive capacity and foster export-oriented innovation.
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