ABSTRACT
Technological learning by firms has been influenced by several institutional factors which were very difficult to change. From innovation surveys, the attitude towards risk-taking and accepting failure was rather negative, though it has improved overtime. Also, from a more recent global entrepreneurship survey, Thais ranked very high in terms of willingness to start new businesses. As most capitalists in Thailand have been overseas Chinese, the innovation management style is analysed. In addition to private firms, we elucidate the attitudes of policymakers, especially technocrats in the economic development and S&T development spheres. They differ from those in other East Asian countries, resulting in differences in policy contents and implementation. The important issue of the evolution of intellectual property right regimes is highlighted. Again, the Thai case is different from those of more advanced East Asian countries, leading to different impacts on firms’ technological learning.
