The rise of Asia in the global knowledge-based economy in the last decade is closely associated with the rise of knowledge institutions of higher learning and scientific research. Even in the midst of an economic down-turn, public policies of the leading economies of Asia continue to assign a very high priority to promote institutions of higher learning and research. In a way, this is closely associated with the success of knowledge-based industries first in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan; and in recent years in China and India. Three features stand out and are indicative of the trend. The first is the tremendous growth of “human and knowledge capital” made possible by teaching and research excellence in the leading universities. Historically speaking, most leading universities in Asia have been performing these roles so as to make an impact on their societies and economies. However what is of significance is the development of a second feature of coupling teaching/research with innovation and at the same time forging university–private sector links with various actors in national systems of innovation (NSI). Universities are being re-positioned as frontiers of innovation in this NSI, given that most new technologies (biotechnology, nano, new materials, ICTs etc.) have become science-based. The third is the impact of globalization or globalization of innovation and the emergence of “new knowledge sites” now extended to the Asian region.

This is a networking collaborative project involving fifteen STS scholars in the Asia-Pacific region. These scholars will contribute country case studies which will result in an edited volume.

PI & Co-PI(s): Venni Venkata Krishna & Seeram Ramakrishna