This article gathers some answers on the present situation of innovation in Asturias. Answers are offered from a critical, constructive, and open view. Special attention deserves Asturias’ role within the ERA (European Research Area).
What is the situation of innovation in Asturias? What is Asturias’ contribution to the whole Spanish, as well as European, innovation effort? What the main aspects of the Regional Innovation System are? The Asturias Regional Innovation System is capable to integrate within the ERA? The firms based in Asturias are innovative?

Recently, a consensus has emerged about the relevance of the regional aspects in the innovation schemes. So, the concept of Regional Innovation System has evolved in the literature. If innovation emerges within a system, we need to analyse its components, its relationships, and the consequences of those interactions.

The regional government supports the idea that innovation is a key element of firm competitiveness. So, it has a strong R&D policy. As a result (also derived from the enthusiasm about the innovation culture within firms and institutions), the Basque Country has attained high scores in R&D expenditure (related to the Spanish average), but is still far from the European figures.

Research quality is based on the procedures used by researchers. To boost research quality implies to improve continuously research practices. The objectives of this effort are as follows: to guarantee research products and results, and to assure the reliability of the research.

The accreditation of higher education is an external audit about quality assurance within universities. So, people can trust in their output, i.e., the diplomas granted by them.

The Madrid regional Government (through the Universities and Research General Directorate), has sponsored one of the highest tech-developed research networks in Europe: The Madrid Research TIC Network “REDIMadrid”. The “Madri+d for Knowledge” Foundation is the responsible for its implementation, management, and development.