Introduction [Technological Change and Economic Catch-up: The Role of Science and Multinationals]

The book focuses on the role of public research institutions in helping to promote the processes of technological and economic catch up in developing areas, and of local policy in fostering local science-technology linkages with incoming foreign-owned multinationals. The underlying idea is that public research, educational and political institutions as well as private corporations are key actors in technological and economic processes since they may reinforce (or reverse) local virtuous (vicious) cycles by providing capabilities in basic research, the training of highly skilled labour, and networking connections with scientific and professional communities (and therefore access to knowledge and contacts) in other parts of the world.