ABSTRACT
Innovation is often understood exclusively in terms of the economy, but it is definitely a result of human labour and ingenuity, and of the relationships among individuals and social groups. Some societies and governmental structures are clearly more successful than others: they act in divergent ways, fostering innovation and employment, and they utilize varied opportunities from different fields of research, from new products and from their educational systems.
Thus, innovation varies fundamentally between countries, and public policies – in matters such as energy technology, environmental technologies, facing climate change, and advancing conditions of life – can be determined according to different societies’ needs.
This volume brings together a range of world experts to compare countries and continents and help develop a fuller picture of innovations and their social basis. It will be of interest to researchers in regional studies and economics, as well as labour unions, practitioners, and policy makers.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|2 pages
Introduction
chapter 1|30 pages
About socio-economic development, technology and government policies
part II|2 pages
General perspectives on divergent innovation
chapter 2|14 pages
Skilled labour and continuing education
part III|2 pages
Labour and innovation
chapter 5|23 pages
Diversity as innovation and opportunity
chapter 6|29 pages
Postsecondary education and the development of skilled workforces
chapter 7|18 pages
Underemployment of middle-skilled workers and innovation outcomes
part IV|2 pages
Divergent strategies and problems of new technological powers in a changing global situation
chapter 9|31 pages
South Korea as a new player in global innovation
part V|2 pages
Science-based and technology-based opportunities
chapter 11|36 pages
New manufacturing trends in developed regions
chapter 13|25 pages
Contextualisation of innovation
part VI|2 pages
Conclusions