THE INFORMATION INDUSTRY,MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND URBANISATION IN THE ASIAN PACIFIC COUNTRIES: A RESEARCH AGENDA

The production of information has been accepted as a new economic factor for urbanisation, particularly in the industrialised world. It creates new urban employment opportunities, changes urban spatial patterns, transforms demographic structures and social patterns. This ‘new’ production activity has been introduced into the Asian Pacific region — often by multinational corporations — and now begins to make its presence felt in major cities. This paper investigates the nature of the information industry in general, the role of multinational corporations and attempts to understand especially the effects of international information demand on Third World urbanisation. More specifically, it attempts to assess their relationship to urbanisation in the Asian Pacific countries. Lastly, it hopes to formulate areas and issues for further research.     

Diffusion of R&D within the Australian Wine Industry

The Australian wine industry's popular image as a leader in R&D can indeed be substantiated. Its oenological and viticultural innovation and technical expertise have set new international benchmarks. The coordination of this R&D has ensured that the industry remains at the leading edge. However, the findings of this paper also substantiate concerns that this R&D is concentrated in what appears to be a South Australian R&D 'epicentre'. Regions and wine operators not connected to this epicentre can be disadvantaged. This paper examines the diffusion of R&D to regional operators and suggests mechanisms for improvement of the current structure.     

Turning loose the invisible hand: New Zealand's information technology policy

Abstract

Information technology (IT) policy in New Zealand has closely paralleled the broader economic policies that have prevailed in the country. Until the mid‐1980s, economic policy was inwardly oriented, marked by high trade barriers and heavy government regulation. In 1984, the Labor government responded to a balance of payments crisis with a radical program of economic liberalization. By the end of the decade, this process had fundamentally altered the New Zealand economy through deregulation, privatization, and public sector reform.

IT policy likewise moved from protectionism and centralized control to almost pure laissez faire. Tariffs on computer hardware were lowered from 40% to 10%. Government computing was moved from a central data processing bureau and placed under the control of individual departments. In terms of IT production, the government has refused to provide any significant incentives or subsidies to the fledgling software industry, feeling the industry should succeed or fail on its own.

Under laissez faire policies, New Zealand has become a heavy user of IT, ranking behind only Japan in the Asia‐Pacific region for IT spending as a percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). It has also had some success as a producer and exporter of software. However, the hands‐off approach to the industry is likely to prove problematic in an international environment in which many countries have explicit strategies to improve their infrastructure for IT production and/or directly subsidize the industry. New Zealand is unlikely to become a hardware producer, but it has a number of endowments favoring software production, particularly its well‐educated, English‐speaking workforce. However, it faces obstacles, such as a small domestic market, distance from international markets, and a shortage of venture capital. Although software may be a potential growth industry in the ailing New Zealand economy, it is unclear whether the industry can thrive without at least some government support. Even the government now seems to be considering this possibility, and is considering the creation of an IT unit within the Ministry of Commerce.     

The international telecommunication regime in the information age

This paper examines recent changes in the international telecommunication regime. The concept of an international regime comes from the field of international relations. Although it is not universally accepted, one of the most widely supported definitions describes an international regime as, ‘implicit or explicit principles, norms, rules, and decision‐making procedures around which actors’ expectations converge in a given area of international relations'.¹ The ‘given area’ of concern here is telecommunication. Telecommunication and the principles, norms, rules and decision‐making procedures which are relevant to it at the international level—which have been studied extensively by communications and development economics scholars²—have only rarely been the focus of international relations scholars.³ The objective of this paper is to use tools from the study of international relations to explore subject matter that has more frequently been the focus of scholars in communications, development economics, and information economics.     

Innovation–export linkages within different cluster models: a case study from the Australian wine industry

This paper examines innovation and export linkages within different levels of cluster development. The aim of the paper, using empirical data from the Australian wine industry, is to demonstrate that the association between innovation and export activity intensifies as the cluster develops. Dividing wine clusters into ‘innovative’ (highly developed) and ‘organised’ (less developed) models, the paper uses selected core indicators of innovation and export activity to explore levels of integration within each model. This integration is examined in the context of Porter’s theory of ‘competitive advantage’, showing how these lessons can be translated to industry clusters in general.     

Engineering Organization and the Scientist in World War I: The Search for National Service and Recognition

Abstract

When the United States entered World War I in 1917, there was no elaborate framework for providing scientific advice to the government. Engineers and scientists struggled to find an appropriate mechanism, but the former found themselves subordinated to a scientific community which sought to dominate emerging structures. At stake was not merely the credit for helping win the war, but also an advantage in the coming postwar definition and expansion of industrial research. Scientific leaders sought advantage by making a distinction between ‘engineering research’ and engineering practice, and claiming jurisdiction over the former.     

English Spelling Reform

Abstract

Knowledge is the wealth of nations, and language is the main social technology by which knowledge is communicated. An efficient orthography is therefore of great importance. English, as the principal international language of the early twenty‐first century, has much to offer the world, but its spelling is archaic and dysfunctional. Technically, the reform of English spelling would not be difficult, but there are very major political obstacles in the way. The benefits of spelling reform would greatly exceed the costs, and a ‘Big bang’ approach to reform is required. The present article outlines a technical solution and the way in which reform could be implemented.     

The concept of a university of the world

Abstract

Long‐distance education is now possible because of advancements and improvements in international telecommunications. This paper sets forth the concept of a “University of the World” in which students use computers, radio, and television to take courses in their chosen discipline and, in return, receive course credit and even academic degrees. The author describes the concept, its educational goals and objectives, the availability of courseware, the impact of global instructional technology, and questions of cost and technological capability. The organization, governance, funding, and operation of the University of the World are also described, including remarks on the benefits of membership and the functional value as seen from the student's perspective.     

Innovation,Skill Needs and Training in a Rural Community

Abstract

Difficult challenges face the Gannawarra Shire in northern Victoria, including competing increasingly in global markets, environmental degradation and changing consumer preferences. Education, training and skill development are one way of addressing the challenges. A survey of 68 enterprises (distinguishing between growing, consolidating and declining enterprises) suggested, inter alia, that innovation is an essential element in Gannawarra’s response to the challenges it faces and that enterprises requiring more training differ significantly from those requiring different types of education and training. The ‘story’ of Gannawarra’s challenges and its efforts to address them provide insights which are likely to be useful elsewhere.     

Environmental Management,Structure, Networks and Information Exchange: The Case of a Tasmanian Pulp and Paper Mill

Pulp and paper is a major impact industry, in which environmental impacts can be seen to be complex, diverse and characterised by uncertainty and interdependence. A greening process within this industry requires wide ranging environmental knowledge. Also fundamental are effective networks for information exchange and greening is therefore dependent on changes to such networks. This study investigates the issue of how greening occurs, focusing on the process at the Fletcher Challenge New Zealand integrated pulp and paper mill situated in Tasmania, Australia. It was seen that effective greening within this industry relies on information processing capabilities to access external and internal knowledge and skills, and that this is fundamentally dependent on structural arrangements. Appropriate organisational structure and external networks are therefore essential for accessing information and facilitating its dissemination and integration, thereby enhancing the firm's ability to address environmental concerns. The study highlights interaction between the formal change process, one which sought limited change, and an informal change process that continued greening the company beyond the official aims. The reasons for this are located in the power of informal information exchange.     

NEW MATERIALS TECHNOLOGY: ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN LOST OPPORTUNITY?

Three megatechnologies will dominate the last decade of the 20th Century: Information Technology, Biotechnology and New Materials Technology. New materials have been the least well publicized, yet they play a crucial precursor role in most other technological innovation. Developments in materials science now give us the ability to design so-called ‘advanced materials’ from scratch for specific purposes. They have a wide variety of applications. In addition, new materials technology extends the notion of choice in the production process and as such it has major implications for engineers, designers and managers.

Australia is in theory well-placed to take advantage of the materials revolution in terms of natural resources, environment and existing research strengths. But although some impressive and useful work has been done by the Department of Science in targeting fruitful areas for future research, an international comparison of materials R&D and a review of what the Australian government and private sector has done so far suggests that Australia once again is doing too little too late.     

Trademarks’ relatedness to product and service innovation: A branding strategy approach

The use of trademark data in innovation studies is still limited because as yet no guidelines exist to ascertain which trademarks relate to innovation. This paper proposes that a branding strategy approach may help to identify innovation related trademarks. Companies use distinctive branding strategies for innovation and these branding strategies have important consequences for the design of new trademarks and their application scope. Based on a sample of Benelux and Community trademarks, we find that trademarks for brand creation relate more often to product innovation. In addition, we find negative effects of a trademark’s industry scope on its relatedness to product innovation, and of a trademark’s geographic scope on its relatedness to service innovation. Our findings bear several key implications for further research towards identifying innovation-related trademarks from a branding strategy perspective.     

An International Perspective on I&C Policies: Recent Developments and Future Prospects

The last few years have seen unprecedented growth in information and communication technologies (I&C) and products, which has led to a robust growth in the whole world, and especially in the United States. Euphoria was such that the term 'New Economy' was coined about 4 years ago, and was taken to mean almost the same as 'New Technologies', mostly information and communication technologies. These technologies are truly global. They are important instruments for further globalisation, and for reducing the international digital divide; they offer important opportunities for further world economic growth. There is increasing competition in their operation, which brings great benefits to customers in the form of reduced prices and new applications. International co-ordination of standards, trade and regulatory frameworks is increasingly necessary. PTOs and other operators need to keep constantly abreast of developments in various international fora, especially the ITU, the WTO and the OECD.     

Research and data-sharing policy in Sweden – neoliberal courses,forces and discourses*

ABSTRACT

The discourse of openness has proved to be a very powerful instrument for promoting new research policies and the (neoliberal) reforms of higher education in all so-called ‘advanced economies’. It has triggered positive democracy-, transparency-, and accountability-related associations when used in the context of politics, fair resource distribution when used in the sphere of public service, and free access to information and knowledge when used in the field of science and higher education. At the same time, international research shows that university autonomy is increasingly being attacked, reduced, and marginalized by the same policies. Power instances outside academia impose new criteria, such as ‘accountability,’ ‘performance,’ ‘quality assurance,’ and ‘good practice.’ They also impose ideas about what good research is, which scientific method is to be prioritized, and what good data are. The process of the de-professionalization, polarization, and proletarianization of the academic profession is increasingly affecting academia. However, none of this has much in common with the open-access discourse. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how this discussion applies to Sweden. Courses, forces, and discourses of the national research infrastructure development policy in general, and qualitative data preservation policy in particular, are described and deliberated.     

What can bibliometrics tell us about changes in the mode of knowledge production?

One of the most influential contributions to the fields of science policy research and science and technology studies during the last 20 years was The New Production of Knowledge by Gibbons et al. (Gibbons, M., Limoges, C., Nowotny, H., Schwartzman, S., Scott, P. and Trow, M. (1994) The New Production of Knowledge: The Dynamics of Science and Research in Contemporary Societies, Sage, London). The authors argued that over recent decades a different form of knowledge production has emerged, one which they termed ‘Mode 2’. In this, knowledge is produced in the context of application, generally on the basis of transdisciplinary research efforts, by a heterogeneous range of institutional actors, who are subject to wider social accountability and more diverse forms of quality control than in the traditional ‘Mode 1’ knowledge production. Although there have been a number of attempts to examine the claims of The New Production of Knowledge empirically, the evidence is, at best, rather ambiguous. The study reported here analyses highly cited publications in the field of bibliometric research to establish whether the themes of those publications and, more specifically, the changes in these themes over the last 20 years, provide any evidence of a growing incidence of Mode 2 knowledge production. The paper concludes that there is some evidence that bibliometrics, as a field of research, has exhibited a shift towards Mode 2 knowledge production over the last two decades. In addition, it would seem to have played a part in a similar shift across science more generally, offering policy-relevant tools and analyses, helping scientific research to respond to increased demands for accountability, and contributing to changes in the approach to the quality assessment of research. At the same time, and perhaps inadvertently, it may have contributed to bringing about changes in publication and citation practices as more and more authors seek to maximise their ‘score’ on one or more bibliometric indicators.     

The changing patterns of China’s international standardization in ICT under techno-nationalism: A reflection through 5G standardization

The U.S.-China dispute surrounding 5G motivates further examination on China’s approach to international standardization. While China’s challenges with various standard initiatives to the global standards regime peaked in the 5G dispute have attracted public interests, scholarly approach to the dispute is still limited. We place the dispute in the context of China’s long-standing attempts for international standardization in ICT sectors. With enhanced economic power, China has pursued for pushing indigenous technologies into international standards, which has been a core part of its national science and technology (S&T) policy. This paper examines China’s international standard initiatives from the perspective of techno-nationalism. Our literature review identifies three pillars of techno-nationalism: state empowerment, growth orientation, and global connection. Then we investigate three cases of WAPI, TD-SCDMA and 5G and discuss how the patterns of developing international standards have varied in the framework of techno-nationalism. Over time, China’s international standard initiatives based on techno-nationalism have strengthened global connection and growth orientation, with increasing proximity to techno-nationalism of the Western style. In particular, China’s aspiration for growth orientation was much enhanced with the 5G standard initiative, compared to WAPI or TD-SCDMA, as it aims to be the first mover in the 5G race. Overall, our study suggests that China’s national S&T policy has been moving from the ‘catch-up’ to the ‘first-mover’ strategy, but the transformation continues to take place in the framework of techno-nationalism.     

新兴市场国家标准化与创新互动赶超模式及路径研究:以印度、南非为例

随着新兴市场国家在国际经贸、政治和科技领域扮演着越来越重要的角色,以标准的形式参与全球创新竞争的实践引发了国际社会的关注。印度和南非的标准与创新互动赶超实践,揭示了不同类型标准下的不同创新模式及各自不同的赶超路径。这为包括中国在内的新兴市场国家提升创新与标准化能力,理解和参与全球价值链的分工与治理提供了理论支撑和有益的借鉴。在实证分析印度和南非的标准化与创新互动赶超案例的基础上,总结了印度疫苗业最低质量安全标准、南非酒业的品类削减标准,以及医疗信息业的兼容及接口标准,分别通过证明、规模和协调模式来推动创新。在互动赶超路径上,印度疫苗业在识别出发展中国家基础疫苗短缺这一机会的基础上,将国际采购视作技术学习和创新的需求工具,并通过标准化将国际采购标准内化成国家产业政策;南非酒业是通过削减品种、科学种植、现代工艺酿造、严格酒标管理;而南非医疗信息业则是通过创造一个吸引子,构建一套自适应系统的层级结构型标准体系,并利用网关来克服基础设施的异构性。研究发现,在标准化与创新的互动赶超过程中,政府、企业、科研机构、行业协会等各主体扮演着不同,且协同的角色;协同之外,政府和行业协会的合作支撑尤为重要;企业的创新战略重点,取决于标准化在互动创新中的机制定位。     

‘TRIPs‐plus’ patent privileges—an intellectual property ‘Cargo cult’ in Australia

This article challenges the desirability of implementing more than the minimum patent standards required by Australia’s commitment to the World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (so‐called ‘TRIPs‐plus’ measures). We argue that there has not been an adequate analysis of what the various TRIPs‐plus measures actually are under the Patents Act 1990 (Cth), and that these measures have not been subjected to a competition analysis as required by the Competition Principles Agreement. This is, we contend, reminiscent of ‘cargo cult’ as Australian policy makers appear to reason that the most developed nations have benefited from innovation with TRIPs‐plus measures, and so with similar measures, those same benefits will accrue to Australia.     

Accessibility,Disability, and Inclusion in Information Technologies: Introduction

Abstrat

The inclusion of informatics supporting trans‐border data flows (TDFs) in research and action related to the New World Information Order is essential. Documents prove the fact that information has been treated by developing countries as a critical element in the establishment of a New International Economic Order.

The author calls for the recognition of TDFs as an integral element of the debate over information. Such issues as free flow of information, national sovereignty, and dependent development are addressed. In the conclusion, it is argued that the International Telecommunication Union is well equipped to expand its domain of jurisdiction to TDFs in coordination with a maturing Intergovernmental Bureau for Informatics.     

深化开放中产业技术依赖与锁定效应——基于我国葡萄酒产业的实证

本文梳理了技术变迁路径依赖或“锁定”的发生过程与形成机制;以中国葡萄酒产业1998-2014年相关数据为样本,运用数据包络分析法测度葡萄酒产业技术进步状况;通过构建计量模型,讨论深化开放中中国葡萄酒产业技术锁定效应及要素资源传导机制。研究表明：（1）中国葡萄酒产业全要素生产率平均增长速度为12.40%,整体技术水平是提升的,生产率增长是技术进步与技术效率变化共同作用的结果;（2）进口贸易对要素资源（物质资本、人力资本）导向作用十分明显。葡萄酒进口每增加1%,物质资本和人力资本的使用分别增加0.35%和0.143%,出口贸易对要素资源配置的弱化作用明显,中国葡萄酒产业国际竞争力低下。（3）葡萄酒产业发展中存在明显的技术锁定效应,且人力资本是技术效率和全要素生产率锁定的主要影响途径。要素资源的提高将有利于中国葡萄酒产业摆脱开放中锁定效应的影响。