Knowledge Economy, Innovation and Technology
Many countries are already seizing the opportunities provided by the twin forces of globalization and technology and are seeking new ways to boost growth and competitiveness. By building on their strengths and by carefully planning investments in human capital, effective institutions, relevant technologies, and competitive enterprises, countries can capitalize on the knowledge era and make an effective transition to the knowledge economy.
A recent high-level conference, organized by the World Bank MENA region, with the World Bank Institute�s Growth and Crisis Practice, together with the Tunisian government and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) on �Building 21st Century Knowledge Economies for Job Growth and Competitiveness in the Middle East,� took place in Tunis, December 1-3, 2009. It was opened by former Tunisian President, Zine Elabidine Ben Ali, and was attended by over 100 experts and high-level dignitaries from across the MENA region. The outcomes of the conference were substantial: after rich discussions and debates, the conference participants adopted the Tunis Declaration � an important step in moving the countries of the region toward Knowledge Economies.
The high-level 7th FEMIP conference, organized by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and hosted by the Republic of Tunisia on 15 March 2010 in Tunis was dedicated to the theme �Research, Development and Innovation, Keys for a Sustainable Development in the Mediterranean�. The event was honored to have the presence of the Prime Minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi, as well as several other distinguished speakers, and brought together government officials, members of organizations supporting innovation and representatives of the private sector and international financial institutions. The topics that were addressed detailed the necessary steps to consolidate a suitably structured innovation chain to successfully create and develop a favorable environment for research, development and innovation (RDI), namely: the institutional framework governing the development of RDI; business strategies for the development of RDI; the role of networks in the consolidation of an innovative Mediterranean economy and supporting tools and funding for innovative companies.
The two programs in the Knowledge Economy, Innovation and Technology cluster are designed to foster innovation through the active use of instruments such as science parks, technopoles, and incubators for small and medium enterprises. They aim at training and coaching policymakers and local authorities. The programs will share regional and international experience to create a better environment for innovation and territorial development. These activities will provide a platform for the sharing of experiences, policy strategies, case studies, and analytical tools to benchmark countries� progress on the knowledge economy.
More about the programs:
- Financing innovation projects
- Territorial Development and Information Society (ISI@MED)
- Knowledge Economy for Growth and Employment in MENA
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