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This article draws lessons from the level of development and governance systems of innovation policy in the thirteen European Union (EU) candidate countries concerned. In particular, the article addresses the question of whether the design and implementation of an innovation policy can only take place in mature market economies or whether innovation policy can be designed and implemented in the context of imperfect national innovation systems. It is argued that a variety of innovation policy governance models coexist in the EU. Diversity is observed with regard to ministry- or agency-led policies, the degree of responsibility at regional level, and the strength of inter-ministerial co-ordination mechanisms. The authors conclude that there is no one-fits-all system of innovation governance. The degree of maturity in policy in the candidate countries is uneven, with Estonia, Hungary and Turkey appearing as the leading countries. Though with a number of caveats, the paper offers a positive response to the question if the candidate countries can learn from innovation policy developments in the EU. The main challenge for a successful benchmarking exercise in the innovation policy is to develop policy learning capabilities in the candidate countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]