ABSTRACT
Our chapter examines the evolution of institutional structures that support knowledge capabilities in the growth of natural resource based industries. We argue that institutions promoting the interaction between enabling and receiving sectors are fundamental to science based and innovation driven growth in resource based economies. Fundamental to these institutions is an attitude that applies the idea of useful knowledge to the natural environment. Such attitudes develop over long periods of time and are historically contingent. Our focus is on the history of two resource based economies, Australia and Norway, both of which have been highly successful but within different geographic and social contexts.
