ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book offers an analysis of the varieties of the national system of innovation concept that have been adopted by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) to deal with the policy challenges of strengthening small and medium firms. It provides a general picture of the environment for SMEs, pointing out their relative importance and strength in BRICS. The book focuses on Russia examines the consequences of immersion in the global economy without an adequate legal and institutional framework to shield the development of Small and Medium Enterprise. It highlights the need for more detailed analysis using both regional and sectoral innovation systems perspectives. The book shows that the major challenge to successful policy implementation is linked to the weak articulation among the diverse initiatives and agencies in charge of policy execution, leading to fragmentation and dispersal of policy initiatives.
