>>Still, Mansfield would suggest that you can save a lot of money
>>trying to select and adapt technology from Europe for Africa, as
>>compared with trying to invent everything anew.
>
>Yes, likely; but one should also assume that all the required
>information about the said technology is available. What is not always
>the case

  OK!

>Also a number of authors, including, quoting from memory, Prof.
>Fonseca, at the OECD Development center conference on knowledge
>industries and development, many years ago (80's ?), stress that
>assimilation of technology requires that the entire process be
>conducted on site. The benefits of transfer and adaptation can thus
>last only when accompanied by an effort towards creating conditions
>for local production of knew knowledge and tools.

Maybe it takes a village to innovate. Innovation on site becomes a
lot easier if the schools have done a good job. It becomes easier if
policies are in place that allow innovators to profit from successful
innovations. It becomes easier to succeed in ICT innovations if the
folk producing and transmitting electric power do their work well,
and those responsible for the telephone network, and indeed those
responsible for roads. It actually becomes easier if others in the
community are setting an example by innovating successfully.
In the United States, we are increasingly concerned that an
underclass does poorly in school and in life because their (local)
culture tells them that focusing on knowledge is selling out to "the
man". The local production of and demand for knowledge are probably
also enhanced by a local culture that values knowledge!

John Daly
Nearby Mon Nov 21 13:05:52 2005