The Hungarian companies adapted themselves to the changing conditions – they survived changes of the market and owners –, they kept regenerating, growing, and at the same time, they cut back the former research institutions, departments and they didn’t even make use of the knowledge of the existing research yards. For this reason, Hungarian enterprises are not considered to be innovative. The suspicion that one reason for this contradiction is that the different participants do not agree in the interpretation of innovation, arises inevitably.

The authors discuss some characteristics of the transition following the political transformation of 1989-1990 in Central Europe. The conclusions are supported by empirical studies of the authors in the research, development and innovation (RTDI) sector. It is expressed, that the progress of the (re-)construction of the market economy has been experienced in some sectors, also resulting the improvement of efficiency. However these processes are rather differentiated, and have hardly started in other sectors (due to efforts of actors interested in the conservation of the previous status quo). Finally it is discussed, whether European or “global” (American) patterns should be followed though the transition.