Description
Book SynopsisThis major book presents case studies of ten small country national systems of innovation (NSIs) in Europe and Asia, namely, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden and Taiwan. These cases have been carefully selected as examples of success within the context of globalization and as 'new economies' where competition is increasingly based on innovation.
To facilitate comparative analysis the ten studies follow a common structure, informed by an activities-based approach to describing and analysing NSIs, which addresses the critical issues of globalization and the consequences of innovation for economic performance. The final chapter compares 'fast growth' and 'slow growth' countries, concentrating on issues of innovation policy. The results illustrate the usefulness of an activities-based approach to studying NSIs, point to distinctive national roles within an increasingly differentiated international division of labour and address the key themes of 'selectivity' and 'coordination' in innovation policy.
This valuable book presents one of the most significant, comprehensive and comparative country studies of NSIs in the last decade. It will have great import and should be widely read by every serious student and scholar of innovation studies.
Trade Review'What are the challenges that small countries face concerning innovation and what are the effects of globalization on their innovation systems? In this very interesting, rich and timely book, Edquist and Hommen compare ten different small national innovation systems from the Asia Pacific and Northern Europe that are rather advanced in their development. The answers that the authors give are convincing and relate not only to the unique characteristics of each national system that shapes innovative activity, but also to some commonalities that exist across these countries.' -- Franco Malerba, Bocconi University, Italy
Table of ContentsContents: Preface 1. Comparing National Systems of Innovation in Asia and Europe: Theory and Comparative Framework Charles Edquist and Leif Hommen PART I: FAST GROWTH COUNTRIES 2. The Rise and Growth of a Policy-driven Economy: Taiwan Antonio Balaguer, Yu-Ling Luo, Min-Hua Tsai, Shih-Chang Hung, Yee-Yeen Chu, Feng-Shang Wu, Mu-Yen Hsu and Kung Wang 3. From Technology Adopter to Innovator: Singapore Poh Kam Wong and Annette Singh 4. Towards Knowledge Generation with Bipolarization NSI: Korea Chaisung Lim 5. High Growth and Innovation with Low R&D: Ireland Eoin O’Malley, Nola Hewitt-Dundas and Stephen Roper 6. From Trade Hub to Innovation Hub: Hong Kong Naubahar Sharif and Erik Baark PART II: SLOW GROWTH COUNTRIES 7. Reconsidering the Paradox of High R&D Input and Low Innovation: Sweden Pierre Bitard, Charles Edquist, Leif Hommen and Annika Rickne 8. Low Innovation Intensity, High Growth and Specialized Trajectories: Norway Terje Grønning, Svein Erik Moen and Dorothy Sutherland Olsen 9. Challenged Leadership or Renewed Vitality? The Netherlands Bart Verspagen 10. Not Just Nokia: Finland Ville Kaitila and Markku Kotilainen 11. An NSI in Transition? Denmark Jesper Lindgaard Christensen, Birgitte Gregersen, Björn Johnson, Bengt-Åke Lundvall and Mark Tomlinson 12. Globalization and Innovation Policy Leif Hommen and Charles Edquist Appendix: Statistical Bases of Comparison for Ten ‘Small Country’ NSI Pierre Bitard, Leif Hommen and Jekaterina Novikova Index
