By means of this article we want to demonstrate some problems concerning the common practise of identifying 'best practise examples' of Regional Innovation Systems [RIS], the pitfalls of an iso-lated consideration of the Scoreboard indicators in terms of assessing RIS' performance, and the complementary possibilities of an efficiency approach in this regard. Exemplary we have illus-trated the differences of both approaches empirically (RIS in Europe for year 2002 and 2003; RIS in Spain considered in depth). Thus, we recommend to complement both indicators. That provides a appropriate way to identify 'best practise regions' in terms of RIS since both the amount of resources allocated to a certain RIS as well as the way they are used has to be taken into account.