The book develops the idea that a shift in the techno-economic paradigm creates opportunities for the rise of new firms, industries and countries to technological leadership, making the adoption of an adequate national system of innovation fundamental to success in such changes. This task is supported by a case study of how the Japanese System of Innovation has responded to the advanced materials revolution of the last two decades as well as diffusion of the information technology paradigm.

The book develops the idea that a shift in the techno-economic paradigm creates opportunities for the rise of new firms, industries and countries to technological leadership, making the adoption of an adequate national system of innovation fundamental to success in such changes. This task is supported by a case study of how the Japanese System of Innovation has responded to the advanced materials revolution of the last two decades as well as diffusion of the information technology paradigm.

Recognizing that a capacity to innovate and commercialize new high-technology products is increasingly a key for the economic growth in the environment of tighter environmental and resource constraints, governments around the world have taken active steps to strengthen their national innovation systems. These steps underscore the belief of these governments that the rising costs and risks associated with new potentially high-payoff technologies, their spillover or externality-generating effects and the growing global competition, require national R&D programs to support the innovations by new and existing high-technology firms within their borders. The National Research Council's Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy (STEP) has embarked on a study of selected foreign innovation programs in comparison with major U.S. programs. The "21st Century Innovation Systems for the United States and Japan: Lessons from a Decade of Change" symposium reviewed government programs and initiatives to support the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises, government-university- industry collaboration and consortia, and the impact of the intellectual property regime on innovation. This book brings together the papers presented at the conference and provides a historical context of the issues discussed at the symposium.

Long-awaited reforms in technology policy and corporate strategy are now taking place in Japan. This book asks whether it is the programme of reform or the will and ability to implement reforms which is new.

'National Systems of Innovation' presents a new perspective on the dynamics of the national and the global economy. Its starting point is that the international competitiveness of nations is founded on innovation. Which role do different parts of the national system play in determining the long-term dynamics of the economy? What is happening to the coherence of national systems of innovation in an era characterised by far-reaching internationalisation and globalisation? These and other issues are addressed in this volume. Available for the first time in paperback, the book is an invaluable resource for scholars and policy-makers.