Asia in the Global ICT Innovation Network

Production and innovation activities are being re-distributed across the world. The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are proving the major engine of global growth, being less impacted by the financial crisis than developed economies or able to recover more quickly. Asia in the Global ICT Innovation Network takes a close look at the information and communication technologies (ICTs) landscape, not only in two BRICS countries, India and China, but also in South Korea and Taiwan. The book documents the size of the ICT sector for each of the selected countries, and assesses their R&D expenditure and its place in the international innovation network. The selected countries play a major role in shifting patterns of international trade and global value chains. The countries offer different historical profiles, with reforms dating back from the nineties for “Chindia and earlier policies for the “dragons , with later reforms focusing on IT. The book accounts for their specificity, and emphasises the fact that the four countries have achieved impressive results in terms of economic growth. The ICT sector was a major contributor to this growth and led a pioneering role for other sectors. This title consists of three parts: ICT in emerging economies, covering China and India; the return of the dragons, covering South Korea and Taiwan; and Network knowledge and trade, covering regional networks of R&D centres, India as an S&T cooperation partner, Asian countries in the global production network, and Asia in the process of internationalisation of ICT and R&D. Provides a well-supported look at the ICT sector in Asia, an area where extant literature consists mostly in a scattering of articles in various and heterogeneous journals Focuses on innovation Speaks to a growing interest in the role of emerging countries in ICT innovation

In less than a decade, mobile technology has revolutionized our cultures, societies, and economies by impacting both personal and professional aspects of human life. Mobile technology has therefore become the fastest diffusing technology in history, expanding and transforming existent possibilities by making technology accessible and ubiquitous. Emerging Perspectives on the Mobile Content Evolution seeks a better understanding of the centrality of mobile content in the recent and coming evolution of both the ICT ecosystem and the media industry. This publication appeals to a broad audience within the interdisciplinary field of media studies, covering topic areas such as journalism, marketing and advertising, broadcasting, information management, media management, media economics, media- and technology-related public policies, media sociology, audience/consumption studies, and arts. This publication presents a multi-disciplinary discussion through a collection of academic chapters covering topics such as mobile communications and entrepreneurship, reflection on wearables and innovation, personal and mobile healthcare, mobile journalism and innovation, and behavioral targeting in the mobile ecosystem.

The development of the information technology (IT) industry in the Asia Pacific region faces two challenges. Firstly, can its established physical, technical, regional and governance infrastructures be adapted to meet the challenges embedded in the set of products and processes created by the IT industry? Secondly, as this adaptation evolves, which cities and regions will be best suited to connect to or lead global responses to these challenges? The chapters in this book have set out to explore these questions, providing details of change in a range of aspects of the IT industry such as mobile phones, software services, and flat screen design in regions in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India, China and Australia. The book also outlines the policy responses of national and regional governments in Singapore, India and China and India. These case studies provide a basis to understand effective strategies which could be formulated for the future. This book’s originality emerges from the fine detail provided about firms, in particular regions and cities, from research carried out by young scholars in the past two years. This makes it very useful for readers keen to understand the recent changes in this dynamic industry in a fast growth part of the world, and it will also help to shape thinking by policy makers on policy settings that can be applied.

This book promotes the creation of advanced knowledge-based economies driven by innovation networks and the continuous development of human capital and capability. It provides valuable insights into the growing emergence of knowledge-based industries of the Asia Pacific, and highlights research on: modes of creativity and innovation; intellectual property; the components of national innovation systems such as firms, education and training; knowledge and technical infrastructure; and public policy. The Asia Pacific region is currently in the process of transforming from being the manufacturing centre of the global economy to a centre of innovation for the knowledge economy, with the successful IPO of Alibaba in 2014 being a prime example of this shift. From a neo-Schumpeterian perspective, the region is increasingly engaged in shortening and intensifying cycles of innovation. The historic agreement at the Beijing APEC meeting between China and the US to radically reduce carbon emissions indicates that one imperative of this innovation is to contribute to sustainability. The fact that the US Government is moving away from this historic commitment, while the Chinese Government is endorsing the commitment, indicates an emerging opportunity for Asia to lead the world technologically in a vital industrial sector of the future.

Multinational Corporations and the Emerging Network Economy in Asia and the Pacific delves into the ongoing rise of a global economy anchored in a web of inter-firm production networks and the role played by multinational corporations in the process. It considers the strategies and business models corporations have adopted lately to face today’s highly competitive global markets, especially outsourcing and offshoring, focusing on the modalities observed in Asia Pacific and the Pacific Rim at large. Since their inception, corporations have undergone a series of fundamental changes; each has corresponded to a given era of industrial development and has given rise to a particular type of government policy response. The book addresses these timely issues and other such as the transformation of global production networks into global innovation networks, the link between corporate and national innovation strategies and movement up the global production value chain, and the fragmentation of production and the resulting increase in component and sub-assembly trade in the region. It also takes up the emergence of multinational corporations from developing countries and the efforts aimed at forging basic rules of corporate social responsibility and developing sound institutions for building a working framework of corporate governance in the Pacific. Written by some of the region’s most eminent and influential economists and political scientists, this volume will appeal to students and scholars working in the field of Asia Pacific studies as well as to businesspersons and policymakers taking decisions in the region.

This book examines how theoretically optimal concepts actually get implemented in the hard terrain of emerging Asia. It gleans lessons from five Asian countries \2014 Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka \2014 based on their experiences with expanding ICT connectivity. It reports the findings of a cutting-edge 3000+ sample demand-side survey of telephone use at the "bottom of the pyramid" in India and Sri Lanka. It considers the problem of expanding connectivity from different angles: that of the user, the operator, the policymaker, the regulator, and civil society. And it sheds light on a range of situations and technologies, like telephone use in post-conflict regions of Sri Lanka, Wi-Fi deployment in Indonesia, and universal service obligations in India.

East Asian economies of the 1980s and much of the 1990s were among the most competitive exporters of manufactured products and were also able to sustain growth rates far higher than those of other countries, developing or industrial. However, the economic crisis of 1997-98 impacted the economies of these countries. Although recovery began fairly quickly in some countries, others have yet to regain their growth momentum. 'Can East Asia Compete?' looks at whether or not East Asia can restore its near magical performance, or is its competitive strength beginning to wane. This volume argues that East Asian countries have far from exhausted their growth potential. However, future competitiveness will depend on much greater innovative capability in manufacturing and services, innovativeness that is grounded in stronger institutions, improved macroeconomic policies, and closer regional coordination. 'Can East Asia Compete?' clearly summarizes the issues currently being debated and provides guidance to East Asian economies on how to deal with the policy concerns that lie ahead.

Innovation Networks in Knowledge-based Firms explores corporate strategic management in an information and communication technology (ICT) environment, and illustrates the significance of new business models based on 'boundary innovation' management through broadband networks as fixed and mobile wireless infrastructures. The author bridges theory and practice and provides international scope; he seeks to make transparent the mechanisms behind the processes that generate product and service innovation in ICT industries, such as search and advertising (Yahoo, Google), music distribution (Apple iPod) and gaming (Sony Playstation, Nintendo DS). He develops new business models based on 'boundary innovation' management and explains the innovation networks formed via three types of knowledge innovator - platform, process, and content. These knowledge innovators play an important role in merging different technologies (including ICT) and business models to develop new business value chains and new industries that span various industrial fields.Highlighting new theoretical and managerial insights and implications in the realm of ICT, this book will be invaluable to academics, students and practitioners with an interest in business, management, ICT and high-tech industries.

In recent years, China 's leaders have taken decisive action to transform information, communications, and technology (ICT) into the nation's next pillar industry. In Networking China , Yu Hong offers an overdue examination of that burgeoning sector's political economy. Hong focuses on how the state, in conjunction with market forces and class interests, is constructing and realigning its digitalized sector. State planners intend to build a more competitive ICT sector by modernizing the network infrastructure, corporatizing media-and-entertainment institutions, and by using ICT as a crosscutting catalyst for innovation, industrial modernization, and export upgrades. The goal: to end China's industrial and technological dependence upon foreign corporations while transforming itself into a global ICT leader. The project, though bright with possibilities, unleashes implications rife with contradiction and surprise. Hong analyzes the central role of information, communications, and culture in Chinese-style capitalism. She also argues that the state and elites have failed to challenge entrenched interests or redistribute power and resources, as promised. Instead, they prioritize information, communications, and culture as technological fixes to make pragmatic tradeoffs between economic growth and social justice.

Explores the key elements and issues of knowledge management in both a conceptual and an applied manner.

Over the past two decades, projects supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) have critically examined the ways in which information and communications technologies (ICTs) can be used to improve learning, empower the disenfranchised, generate income opportunities for the poor, and facilitate access to healthcare in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. Considering that most development institutions and governments are currently attempting to integrate ICTs into their practices, it is an opportune time to reflect on the research findings that have emerged from IDRC’s work and research in this area. “Connecting ICTs to Development” discusses programmatic investments made by IDRC in a wide variety of areas related to ICTs, including infrastructure, access, regulations, health, governance, education, livelihoods, social inclusion, technical innovation, intellectual property rights and evaluation. Each chapter in this book analyzes the ways in which research findings from IDRC-supported projects have contributed to an evolution of thinking, and discusses successes and challenges in using ICTs as tools to address development issues. The volume also presents key lessons learned from ICT4D programming and recommendations for future work.

This book investigates the real process of unleashing the power of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) through Open Innovation and strategic choices. It covers the most important aspects of ICT in a nutshell and details the road to the future through business innovation. ICT, of which telecom and IT constitute the core, is currently permeating and transforming every sphere of life, ranging from commerce, manufacturing, education and healthcare, to agriculture, banking, governance, media and entertainment. Today, telecommunication and ICT, in general, are essential to a country’s economic development and competitiveness as recognized both by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Due to the powerful, disruptive and rapid forces unleashed by ICT tsunami, organisations not only struggle to harness the potential of ICT but can also be overwhelmed by the changes, complexity, competition and regulatory environment it brings up. This book provides a clue to organisations on how to sustain and succeed by leveraging ICT in absence of extensive in-house expertise across the breadth and depth of these areas. The driving theme of the book is about opening up organizational and business models, by presenting an integrated roadmap to a future with ICT, by co-opting, cooperating and competing with other organisations. Constructing the right strategy and building the necessary social capital for open innovation through collaboration with partners, government, academia and users (Quadruple Helix Model) are essential steps in such a process.

'Middle East' (West Asia) perspectives on technology innovation leadership bring new voices to the technology innovation discourse in international development. The approaches of technology innovation leaders in this collection demonstrate commitment to building sustainable futures among the communities in which the authors live. There is a scarcity of technology innovation perspectives from within 'Middle East'( West Asia) perspectives and the initiatives and endeavors of the innovation leaders in this book have global appeal. Other developing community innovators are inspired to compete globally as they explore future oriented sustainable innovation solutions that are context specific. Innovation and technology leadership in areas such as e-government and e-commerce are national priorities for countries such as Saudi Arabia. While there is a dense literature available on innovation diffusion in other developing community contexts (for example South Asia, the Asia Pacific region, Africa and Latin America), this book fills the gaps in the literature on 'Middle East' (West Asia) perspectives on innovation technology diffusion in developing community contexts. The book emphasizes the unique leadership perspectives and approaches of pioneers who boldly embrace "e-solutions" in government, commerce, education and environment. "e-Solutions" refers to the increasing use of multiple new communication technologies to innovate and produce meaningful change within developing communities. Contributors to this book respond to specific grassroots issues through a critical examination and investigation of key research questions from the perspective of developing communities who are committed to building sustainable futures. In unique and creative ways, they respond to the needs of communities that they know well and who are part of their lived realities. It will also inspire other developing communities to aspire to their highest potential in seeking creative solutions. (Imprint: Nova)

Internationalization and Managing Networks in the Asia Pacific consists of theories and analysis in sections that are related to network management, the power of business networking and the significance and role that business networking plays in propelling organizations towards international business, especially in Asia. Moreover, it includes stakeholder theory and applications of relevant theories to assist in identifying key stakeholders in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The first section contains various fascinating headings, such as analysis of stakeholders’ needs, negotiation techniques with stakeholders, relationship management with stakeholders and the role of network management in expanding international business within Asia. The second section emphasizes internationalization theories and empirical evidence with case studies of Asian multinational companies that have succeeded in expanding abroad, such as Singaporean, Taiwanese, Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian companies. These help provide guidelines of analysis for the adaptations these companies made to internationalize successfully, market penetration strategies used for the AEC and international expansion of Asian companies across countries in Asia and other continents. In addition, an included debate provides information on the applications of business networking and internationalization theories, best practices and development policy recommendations, along with a discussion of the role of the public sector in supporting overseas expansion of the private sector. Consists of two interesting and important topics about network management and internationalization Focuses on the role of Asian companies, including international activities Includes case studies and empirical evidence from works by researchers and experts on network management and international business expansion Provides policy advice to the public sectors within Asia on formulating and implementing policies Offers insight into the role of the public sector in supporting international business activities of the private sector

In Asia, Distance Education (DE) is providing major solutions in the areas of education and training. DE methods that are standard in other parts of the world, however, have yet to demonstrate their full potential in Asia. Covering nine DE projects by 39 researchers from 13 countries, this book analyses the DE scenario in Asia, the successes, the failures and the reasons behind them. This book is a unique collation of the results of studies of educational technologies across an extensive network of Asian countries. It also provides a useful snapshot of DE's development in Asia in the early years of the 21st century. The surveys reported cover different DE contexts, methodologies, and levels of generalisability, and add to the existing scholarship on the subject by providing previously unavailable, firm evidence about DE's prospects in Asia. The contributors give important recommendations that can be translated into practical and political actions to help solve critical socio-economic problems of Asia as well as other parts of the world.

This book analyses the determining factors behind productivity and innovation amongst Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore, and within the context of South East Asia, in order to offer recommendations for increasing productivity and aiding economic growth. SME firms are an influential driver of economic growth in advanced world economies like the USA, Germany, Japan and South Korea. Throughout the 2000s, Singapore experienced a decline in economic growth which was linked to decreasing productivity in its SMEs. The decline triggered a transformational policy by a Government intent on forging a ‘high skill–high productivity’ future. Given substantial evidence that low productivity growth occurred in sectors where immigrants dominated the workforce, the seeds of recovery focused on improving productivity and innovation amongst SMEs in those sectors. Hence, this book investigates the factors determining productivity amongst SMEs across the manufacturing sector. It utilises personal interviews with global experts and CEOs, combined with primary data collected from a major international Delphi survey, and interviews with 215 SME owners and managers in Singapore. This data helps us to better understand how these productivity-enhancing factors can be used to increase performance amongst SMEs. By investigating the nature and process of total factor productivity in Singapore’s SMEs, this book tells the policy story behind the revolution. To provide a comparative analysis, Singapore’s story is placed within a South East Asian context. The unfolding narrative contains important lessons for policy makers and industry globally, as they assess the strategic choices available to them for improving productivity and innovation. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of innovation and productivity, as well as economic development officers, government policy advisors, SME business managers and sustainable businesses.

Standards are everywhere, yet go mostly unnoticed. They define how products, processes, and people interact, assessing these entities’ features and performance and signaling their level of quality and reliability. They can convey important benefits to trade, productivity, and technological progress and play an important role in the health and safety of individual consumers and the environment. Firms’ ability to produce competitive products depends on the availability of adequate quality-support services. A “national quality infrastructure” denotes the chain of public and private services (standardization, metrology, inspection, testing, certification, and accreditation) needed to ascertain that products and services introduced in the marketplace meet defined requirements, whether demanded by authorities or by consumers. In much of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, national quality infrastructure systems are underdeveloped and not harmonized with those of their trading partners. This imbalance increases trade costs, hinders local firms’ competitiveness, and weakens overall export performance. The objective of Harnessing Quality for Global Competitiveness in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is to highlight the need to reform and modernize the institutions in the region toward better quality and standards. The book ties in with much of the work done in the World Bank on the business environment, trade facilitation, economic diversification, and enterprise innovation. The countries in the region can improve this situation, revising mandatory standards, streamlining technical regulations, and harmonizing their national quality infrastructure with those of regional and international trade partners. Most governments will need to invest strategically in their national quality infrastructure, including pooling services with neighboring countries and stimulating local awareness and demand for quality. Specifically for the countries of the former Soviet Union, the restructuring process will need to improve governance, thus eliminating conflicts of interest and providing technically credible services to the economy.