Key Areas
for  Knowledge Economy
  Country Knowledge Strategies (280):
 
Many advanced developing economies have already successfully transitioned to an active knowledge based economy. Countries including Finland, U.K., Scotland, and the Netherlands have developed sound strategies to effect change and benchmark progress. They now serve as guides to other countries that have set out on the task of having a similar transition towards a more knowledge-based economy. This folder has information related to how some countries have developed concrete strategies to harness Knowledge for Development.
  About Knowledge Economy (247):
 
There are many points of view of what the knowledge economy is. Some argue that we have a knowledge economy because knowledge is more important than before as an input “sidelining both capital and labor” as Peter Drucker has expressed it. Others argue that the knowledge economy is one where knowledge is more important as a product than it has been. A third point of view is that codified knowledge is now more significant as a component of economic relations, and finally, the fourth school of thought argues that knowledge economy rests on changes in information and communication technologies. This key issue contains articles that seek to explain the knowledge economy as a concept and the use of knowledge economy as a framework for economic development.
  Knowledge-based Industries (186):
 
  Innovation Systems (260):
 
  Measuring the Knowledge Economy (146):
 
  Financing Innovation (116):
 
  Skilled Labor Migration (81):
 
  Governance (229):
 
Governance is broadly defined as the traditions and institutions by which authority in a country is exercised. In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in the consequences of governance for development. There is a large volume of evidence to indicate that governance matters, in the sense that there is a strong causal relationship from good governance to better development outcomes such as high per capita incomes, lower infant mortality, and higher literacy.
  Technology Transfer (185):
 
  Clusters (58):
 
  Indigenous Knowledge (78):
 
  Science and Technology (862):
 
Technical progress and the move towards a knowledge-based economy are increasing the demand for skilled labor and spurring an upgrading of skills. With the rapid pace of technology turnover, there is a well perceived need for high quality scientific and technical research with widespread commercial applicability. The movement of science and technology personnel between sectors and across national borders is also becoming an important necessity for technology transfer to help encourage more effective cross-fertilization of ideas and generate newer initiatives.
  Knowledge Management (258):
 
  Innovation Policy (269):
 
The concept of the 'innovation system' has now become accepted as a key element in national competitiveness. At a time of flux and continual change, there is a need for evaluating trends in national innovation policies. Analyzing and benchmarking and disseminating good practice in the field of innovation policy will help improve and inform future approaches in this area. Some of the key focus areas include intellectual property rights, innovation financing, and the creation of more new technology based enterprise.
  Research and Development (414):
 
  Intellectual Property Rights (236):
 
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) were created to facilitate innovation, promote use of new knowledge and disseminate new knowledge to others. However, there is a debate on whether or not the current IPR regime achieves these objectives, and who is benefiting from the current IPR regime. Here you will find resources on intellectual property issues, particularly as it relates to policy implcations for developing countries.
  Education and Training  (459):
 
As knowledge as a factor of production becomes more important, so does higher education. Countries need to meet an increasing demand for higher education, and simultaneously, the quality of knowledge generated within higher education institutions, and its accessibility to the wider economy, is becoming increasingly critical to national competitiveness. Needless to say, meeting an increasing demand with higher quality education is a challenge. This Key Issue seeks to provide resources that examine the issues related to higher education reform and policy, shed light on the higher education requirements for the knowledge economy, and bring to the forefront the various initiatives and reforms many developing countries have embarked on to reform their higher education systems.
  E-Business (86):
 
E-commerce is a new way of doing business, available to companies of all sizes, to create new relationships and extensions to existing business built on relationships, networks and webs of activities. However, given its general complexity and the attendant risks associated with a nascent field, much of e-commerce has evolved in restricted pockets in the developed world. The challenge for applications of e-commerce in the developing world revolve around redefining complex business paradigms in the context of the special needs of the applications in the development context.
  ICT Infrastructure (648):
 
Unless a country is adequately equipped with infrastructure that can facilitate effective communication and dissemination and processing of information, a country can not take advantage of the new Knowledge Economy. What are the lessons learned in terms of ICT infrastructure building? What are the necessary requirements for facilitating universal access? What is the state of connectivity around the world? These are some of the questions the content under this key issue seek to answer. ICT infrastructure is here defined broadly and includes radio, TV, telephone, Internet, e-mail and computers. If you can not find what you are looking for here, also try the Key Issue on ICT Policy, Laws & Regulations and the ICT for Development topic page: http://www.developmentgateway.org/ict
  ICT Policy and Law (300):
 
Effective ICT policies and regulations are needed to foster an environment conducive to building an ICT infrastructure as well as leveraging ICTs for knowledge creation and dissemination. What are emerging policies and regulations in the ICT domain that affect dissemination of information and knowledge? What are the lessons learned in communication and information policy? These are some of the questions content under this Key Issue seeks to answer. If you can not find what you are looking for here, also try the Key Issue on ICT Infrastructure and the ICT for Development topic page: http://www.developmentgateway.org/ict
  Country Assessments (284):
 
E-readiness indicates the degree to which a community is ready to participate to the Internet era. Many countries have already conducted e-readiness studies, while several more appear to be considering e-readiness studies with the support and encouragement of international donors. Some related issues include avoiding duplication, arriving at the best methodologies, and moving from assessment to action.