Despite the unprecedented development and growth of knowledge during the 20th century, the evolution of a peaceful 21st century will depend on our ability to address the challenges of prosperity, sustainability, and security. From these challenges, this collection seeks to devise a research agenda to help us to understand better the knowledge-based economy.

Science and technology have acquired increasing importance in the development of contemporary societies. Governments, firms, universities, and research laboratories all take part in the process of building what has been conceptualized as national and/or regional science and technology systems. The actions of these key players and the interactions between them determine the impact of science and technology activities and, more generally, of innovation strategies on the well-being of nations. One of the most important challenges in maximizing this impact is to understand and manage the complex processes that underlie world-class science and technology research, commercialization, and management. In addition, knowledge integration in key subjects is required to enhance economic wealth, shared prosperity, and social and cultural enhancement. In this context, this volume also addresses such important topics as policy and strategies for global sustainable development.

The essays in this book examine the role of education and the university in economic development. It is the contention of the contributors that knowledge--ideas and skilled and educated people--are increasingly important for economic development. How to promote inclusive development--the process of development that includes every citizen in any country--has become a wide-ranging puzzle.

After framing the problems associated with globally integrated learning processes from the perspective of science and technology policies, the essayists look at the role of the university in the knowledge economy drawing examples from the United States, Japan, and Portugal. They then review the role of innovation in the industrial policies of a variety of countries, look at systems of knowledge creation and diffusion, and conclude with commentary on the roles of public planning and policy in the achievement of sustainable development. This wide-ranging examination of knowledge and development issues will be of value to scholars, researchers, and policy makers involved with economic growth and development.

IC2 is a research institute which is active in developing programs in a variety of areas, from possible pricing strategies on the Internet to approaches to aid insurance regulators. This book examines the strategies and applications developed to forward these programs.

What can research contribute in the way of innovative approaches to deal constructively with the burgeoning problems related to juvenile delinquency? How can the Internet and the World Wide Web be used to advance health care? How should the services of the Internet be priced when the US government ceases its support? These are some of the questions addressed in this volume illustrating the impact of IC2.

The book is divided into three sections: the first examines new programs being developed by IC2; the second looks at new methodologies; and the third reviews new science. The research topics covered point to potential ways of bringing research into practical use. This book will be of interest to scholars and researchers interested in the improvement of management and social policy issues.

As we move further into the 21st century, increasing emphasis is being placed on the importance of technology transfer. Through new research and practices, scholars, practitioners and policymakers have made great strides in broadening our understanding and ability to implement technology transfer and commercialization processes. The fruit of that research is collected in this timely volume. Technology transfer is a dynamic area of study that examines traditional topics such as intellectual property management, the management of risk, market identification, the role of public and private labs, and the role of universities. This volume reflects on how government, business and academia influence technology transfer in different countries and how the infrastructure of a country enhances technology and contributes to each country's overall economy. Interpreting and adopting the processes of technology transfer and commercialization - or, building innovative ecosystems - is critical to seeing success in this digital age. Those leading the surge toward building innovative ecosystems for technology transfer are the fellows of the Institute for Innovation Creativity and Capital (IC2 Institute) at The University of Texas at Austin. Global in its scope of solving market economy problems, for this volume the Institute has focused its lens on accelerated knowledge-based development. Here, scholars from 13 countries come together to critique technology transfer from each of their respective nations. The results of their contributions lend innovative insight to exactly how different nations are working to maximize technology transfer and commercialization in uncertain times. Those with an interest in commercialization and technology transfer, from students to scholars, practitioners to policymakers, will find this important collection of great value. Contributors: J.P. Avila, M. Bravo, J.S. Butler, J. Camilleri, C.P. Carbonara, A. Caruana, U. De Haan, M. Fukushima, K. Gachigi, D.V. Gibson, B. Golany, P.G. Greene, M. Heitor, R. Hodgson, B.-J. Kang, C.M. Kiamba, M.F. Korpi, P. Kukubo, M. LeGare, D.-S. Oh, M.P. Rice, N. Rogalev, D. Trzmielak, L. Xue, L. Zhou

The 21st century is widely considered a time when value will be based on knowledge and human capital. This book explores the "new economy" in essays by scholars and researchers from around the world who look at local, regional, national, and transnational patterns that might be successfully employed elsewhere. The volume begins with a section devoted to regional economic development, learning networks, and systems of innovations. Trends and opportunities for science, technology, and innovation policies are examined. The book concludes with an analysis of corporate strategies for the knowledge-based economy. This is a major, much-needed resource for scholars and policymakers involved with economic development and public policy.