One
of the most important continueing themes in research
in science and technology policy has been the search
for improved and practical understanding of the processes
of technological innovation. Concern for the promotion
of research and for the identification of means of
capturing the results of that research and using them
in practical form has distinguished science and technology
policies of industrialised and developing countries
alike.
The
Subject of technological innovation is of interset
to all who are concerned with the development and
application of science and technology policies. It
is of interest to the institutions performing research
who hope to see their outputs put to practical use
and hope to see them lead to real benefits. It is
of interest to governments who, by and large, have
become the principal financiers of the activities
of research and who make these investments in order
to promote their economic and social goals. It is
of interest to enterprises who exist in an increasingly
competitive world and who are called upon to provide
goods and services to do increasingly sophisticated
tasks.
The
persent set of case studies emerges from the joint
interest of a variety of Indian institutions, of the
Government of India and of the International Development
Research Center (IDRC, New Delhi) in trying to better
understand what has happended within the indian scientific
community as various important institutions have tried
to respond to the needs of India's economic and in
dustrial development. what has emerged is a fascinating
set of case studies showing some of the different
problems faced by institutions which are different
in their origins and which seek to produce products
which can play their role in very differnt markets.
The richness of this collection of case studies springs
from its diversities. there are cases taken from laboratories
that are entirely governmental. There are those which
spring from the private sector and those of origins
which are mixed.
One
of the pervasive themes, how ever, is the importance
of government regulations and government policies
in creating environments which will either help or
hinder the process of domestic technological innovation.
Research
in itself is inherently a risky business. These case
studies demonstrate that the risks become even greater
when research is undertaken not simply for the pursuit
of new knowledge but when it is Supported in order
to promote some positive change in the economic or
social life of a country. Success is difficult to
obtain, being conditioned by so many factors beyond
the control of the research. And so in this collection
there are studies which some will characterise as
"Success stories" while others may be characterised
as "failures" Since the particular technological
goal may not have been fully achieved.
It
is hoped that the book will prove useful to the scientists,
innovators, Policy markets, R&D administrators,
industrial houses and research institutions.
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