Contours and conflicts in scale: Science, knowledge and urban development

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 715-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim May ◽  
Beth Perry

Increasing attention is being focused upon the roles of cities in knowledge-based development in the context of debates around the relationships between science, technology and innovation and economic growth. The article argues that underlying assumptions and expectations of knowledge, space and place are important in understanding the content and form of responses within different places. The example of the English Science Cities is drawn upon to highlight issues over dominant knowledge-based discourses and the potential for alternative responses to be formulated. Pressures for knowledge-based success are mediated through national contexts, informed by existing paradigms and assumptions, and their effects are varied according to governance structures. Without proper political consideration of the dynamics between knowledge, science and place, more inclusive and sustainable initiatives for knowledge-based growth will not be forthcoming.

Author(s):  
Cristina Chaminade ◽  
Bengt-Åke Lundvall

Scientific advance and innovation are major sources of economic growth and are crucial for making development socially and environmentally sustainable. A critical question is: Will private enterprises invest sufficiently in research technological development and innovation and, if not, to what degree and how should governments engage in the support of science, technology, and innovation? While neoclassical economists point to market failure as the main rationale for innovation policy, evolutionary economists point to the role of government in building stronger innovation systems and creating wider opportunities for innovation. Research shows that the transmission mechanisms between scientific advance and innovation are complex and indirect. There are other equally important sources of innovation including experience-based learning. Innovation is increasingly seen as a systemic process, where the feedback from users needs to be taken into account when designing public policy. Science and innovation policy may aim at accelerating knowledge production along well-established trajectories, or it may aim at giving new direction to the production and use of knowledge. It may be focused exclusively on economic growth, or it may give attention to impact on social inclusion and the natural environment. An emerging topic is to what extent national perspectives continue to be relevant in a globalizing learning economy facing multiple global complex challenges, including the issue of climate change. Scholars point to a movement toward transformative innovation policy and global knowledge sharing as a response to current challenges.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 185-198
Author(s):  
Michiel Van Oudheusden ◽  
Nathan Charlier ◽  
Pierre Delvenne

Drawing on a documentary analysis of two socioeconomic policy programs, one Flemish (“Vlaanderen in Actie”), the other Walloon (“Marshall Plans”), and a discourse analysis of how these programs are received in one Flemish and one Francophone quality newspaper, this article illustrates how Flanders and Wallonia both seek to become top-performing knowledge-based economies (KBEs). The article discerns a number of discursive repertoires, such as “Catching up,” which policy actors draw on to legitimize or question the transformation of Flanders and Wallonia into KBEs. The “Catching up” repertoire places Flanders resolutely ahead of Wallonia in the global race toward knowledge, excellence, and growth, but suggests that Wallonia may, in due course, overtake Flanders as a top competitive region. Given the expectations and fears that “Catching up” evokes among Flemish and Walloon policy actors, the repertoire serves these actors as a flexible discursive resource to make sense of, and shape, their collective futures and their regional identities. The article’s findings underline the simultaneity of, and the interplay between, globalizing forces and particularizing tendencies, as Flanders and Wallonia develop with a global KBE in region-specific ways.


Author(s):  
Juliana Krieger de Oliveira ◽  
Antônio Martins de Oliveira Júnior ◽  
Beatriz Augusta Ferreira Santos

Innovation has been pointed out as one of the main tools for the countries' economic development facing globalization. For economic growth to happen in an egalitarian way, it is necessary to strengthen, expand, consolidate and integrate a country's research and innovation capacities, that is, strengthening its National Science, Technology and Innovation System. In this system, it is primordial that t there is a close relationship between research institutes, ST & I developers, and companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), considered to be key players in the socio-economic development of countries. Brazil already presents initiatives that seek to strengthen relations and encourage the development of technology among these actors. This article aims to discuss the relationships between the CT & I sector and its relations with SMEs, especially in Brazil, so that together they allow the development of the economy. For this, a brief literature review was carried out, which was structured in: Relation between ST&I and the national development, where will be treated some countries experience and where brazilian hystorical process will be shown; The importance of SMEs for a country economic growth, where the relations between ST&I and SME will be treated and also its indicators. Despite the innovation power for the development of the countries economies is in constant discussion, it is still a need for discussion between companies and SMEs as a fundamental relation for the growth of companies and consequently for the socio-economic growth, since as SMEs are today driving forces for development. For the central dialogue current in Brazil, the proceedings of these countries between ST & I and companies are required.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (04) ◽  
pp. 1750024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khee Giap Tan ◽  
Randong Yuan ◽  
Sangiita Wei Cher Yoong

Among the economies in the Eastern coastal area of mainland China, Jiangsu has stood out in terms of its rapid and sustained economic growth since 2000. The province has done exceptionally well in terms of competitiveness indicators, catching up quickly with the leading Greater China economy of Taiwan. Such convergence has triggered much academic and policy interest in terms of understanding the driving factors that have enabled Jiangsu to catch up with Taiwan. In this context, this paper empirically analyzes the factors that have caused the convergence between the two economies from 2000 to 2011 by employing Geweke Causality analysis. By decomposing and examining the linear feedback between economic growth and vectors of variables capturing investments in infrastructure, human capital, science, technology and innovation activities, this paper confirms the important role played by those factors in the convergence between Jiangsu and Taiwan in recent years.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 545-578
Author(s):  
Ata Heshmati ◽  
Seyed Mehran Dibaji

Announcing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a historic agreement dissolving international sanctions against Iran has raised hopes for Iranians to restore their role in the global economy, which could lead to a significant change in the status of the national science, technology, and innovation system. This article discusses the changes in policy structure and the impacts of the sanctions on Iran’s scientific performance. We shall also examine the past intensive increasing trend and some recent drawbacks in science and technology outputs of Iran in terms of various scientometric and innovation-oriented indicators. We aim to show how the emerging opportunities can transform Iran’s economy into a knowledge-based economy and what challenges this country is facing to reach this goal.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 669-692
Author(s):  
Tariq Mahmood Ali ◽  
Adiqa Kausar Kiani ◽  
Khaleel Malik

An important question often asked is what are the determinants of science, technology and innovation (STI)? Is STI a measurable quantity? How can it be measured in quantitative terms? To answers                                                          these questions, a Science, Technology and Innovation Index (STII) has been developed for top 100 economies of the world on the basis of GDP, to evaluate, determine and measure the overall scientific, technological and innovative capacity and readiness of a country. The STII relies on four dimensions, each built around two or three pillars, each of which is composed of individual indicators, for a total of 44 STI indicators. The STI index is the average of aggregate of four dimensions. The economies are ranked on the basis of STII values and classified into six groups: i.e. leaders, potential leaders, dynamic adopters, slow adopters, marginalized and laggards. For more meaningful assessment of the STI capacities of nations, it captures the achievement gap of individual countries with the highest achiever. A comprehensive analysis into the strengths and weaknesses in different dimensions of STI capability of eight East - South Asian countries is also provided. The results show that there are significant dispari¬ties between developed and developing nations in STI capacity and its various aspects. STI capacity and achievement gap analysis of individual countries provides useful information for STI policy makers to furnish their STI policies for increasing national capacity, and readiness to participate in the knowledge based economy.


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