The concepts of technology and innovation have many definitions. The term is broad and has many facets in the academic and business world. Let’s take a look at a few of them:
The United States was a technology and innovation leader 70 years ago, but today, it’s lagging behind its major competitors. Policymakers are likely to hear from their constituencies, which might prevent innovation or protect incumbents from competition. The rule of law, property rights, patent protection, free trade, and various incentives for investment are some of the policies in place. In many cases, light-touch regulations and incentives to invest have also been implemented.
While few countries create frontier technologies, all countries need to prepare themselves for them. To do this, the Technology and Innovation report 2021 has developed a readiness index. It consists of five building blocks. Economies in Northern America, Europe, and South Asia are the most ready, while sub-Saharan Africa and developing countries are not as prepared. To improve the odds of a successful future in technology and innovation, countries must implement effective national governance and strengthen the global framework of STI for development. Finally, citizen activism must be encouraged to keep SDGs as the guiding principles for all decisions.
Developing employees to manage technology and innovation is an essential aspect of technology and innovation management. In a dynamic environment, more effort is needed to improve employee skill sets. In addition to fostering entrepreneurial skills, technology and innovation management also requires careful management of risk and uncertainty. Achieving this balance between short-term efficiency and long-term effectiveness is essential. The management of technology and innovation requires strong dynamic capabilities to deal with the challenges posed by new technologies and competitive environments.
ITIF’s work focuses on the critical issues at the intersection of technology and policy. Its publications highlight the issues that governments need to address in order to foster technological progress. This group is supported by corporate, foundations, and individual contributors. ITIF has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid. Its research and analysis are of high quality. And ITIF is committed to a high standard of research and editorial independence.
A more proactive approach is needed in promoting science and technology collaboration between the U.S. and Japan. These countries need each other in order to maximize competitiveness and innovation. Furthermore, their collaboration can improve accountability. In the meantime, it will be better to keep the innovation edge over China rather than to slow down its progress. To achieve this, both governments should seek adequate investment, a light regulatory touch, and increased strategic alliance cooperation. This will make both nations better positioned to compete with one another.
Moreover, China’s 5G technology is a growing threat to U.S. national security. If Huawei and China have a strong hand in the competition for technological innovation, the Chinese could dominate a number of countries while the U.S. and Japanese firms might not have the same ability to compete. In addition, Chinese firms could develop high-tech networking equipment that would make critical infrastructure safe from cyber-attacks. In addition, China has a less open economy than other G20 countries.