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Arab regional systems of innovation: characteristics and implications

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  • Nour, Samia

    (UNU-MERIT, and Faculty of Economic and Social Studies, Khartoum University)

Abstract

This paper employs both the descriptive and comparative approaches and uses the definition of systems of innovation used in the literature to discuss the systems of innovation in the Arab region. We explain that the two common characteristics of poor Arab regional systems of innovation is apparent from both the poor subsystems of education, S&T and R&D and ICT institutions across the Arab countries and the heavy concentration of R&D activities within both public and universities sectors and very limited small contribution of the private sector in R&D activities. We find that the major implications are the poor performance of the Arab region in terms of S&T indicators, local technological capabilities, technology achievement index, increasing technological and knowledge gap and distance between the Arab region and the other advanced regions in the world and poor integration in the global knowledge economy. Therefore, the major policy implication from our analysis is that it is essential for policy making in the Arab region to confirm commitment to enhance the institutions and systems of higher education, S&T, R&D, technological infrastructure, ICT and scientific cooperation to build the Arab regional systems of innovation and to achieve economic development in the Arab region.

Suggested Citation

  • Nour, Samia, 2011. "Arab regional systems of innovation: characteristics and implications," MERIT Working Papers 2011-058, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2011058
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    File URL: https://unu-merit.nl/publications/wppdf/2011/wp2011-058.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Samia Satti O. M. Nour, 2002. "ICT Opportunities and Challenges for Development in the Arab World," WIDER Working Paper Series DP2002-83, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    2. Nour, Samia Satti O. M., 2005. "Science and Technology Development Indicators in the Arab Region: A Comparative Study of Gulf and Mediterranean Arab Countries," UNU-INTECH Discussion Paper Series 2005-03, United Nations University - INTECH.
    3. Rasiah, Rajah, 2002. "TRIPs and Capability Building in Developing Economies," UNU-INTECH Discussion Paper Series 2002-01, United Nations University - INTECH.
    4. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),, 2004. "Arab Human Development Report 2003: Building a Knowledge Society," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9789211261578.
    5. Joan Muysken & Samia Nour, 2006. "Deficiencies in education and poor prospects for economic growth in the Gulf countries: The case of the UAE," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(6), pages 957-980.
    6. Kevin Morgan, 1997. "The Learning Region: Institutions, Innovation and Regional Renewal," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(5), pages 491-503.
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    Cited by:

    1. Samia Nour, 2015. "Overview of Knowledge Economy in the Arab Region," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 6(4), pages 870-904, December.
    2. Nour, S., 2014. "Challenges and opportunities for transition to knowledge-based economy in Arab Gulf countries," MERIT Working Papers 2014-030, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    3. Nour, S., 2014. "Transition to a knowledge-based economy in Saudi Arabia," MERIT Working Papers 2014-029, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    4. Samia Nour, 2014. "Regional Systems of Innovation and Economic Structure in the Arab Region," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 5(3), pages 481-520, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Education; S&T; R&D; Systems of innovation; Arab region;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General

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