Noun

1. The perceived failure of European countries to translate scientific advances into marketable innovations.
   • 2006, Maurice Kogan, Transforming Higher Education http://books.google.com/books?id=tnNIYxVT5dgC, ISBN 140203489X, page 174:

   "... the research policy paradigm was already well embedded in a competitiveness/innovation oriented understanding and an understanding of the so-called European paradox, that is, the conjecture that EU member states play a leading global role in terms of top-level scientific output, but lag behind in the ability of converting this strength into wealth-generating innovations."