The Convention establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization was signed in Stockholm on July 14, 1967. This book has been written to commemorate the 25th anniversary of that event.

Globalization is one of the most significant developments of our time. But which elements of contemporary globalization and forms of autonomy are novel and which are merely continuations of long-standing trends? This book brings together a distinguished group of scholars who focus on historical moments that involved the establishment or protection of autonomy, moments that inevitably involved friction. By examining the dialectic between globalization and autonomy at historical junctures ranging from the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1720 to the meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev that led to the end of the Cold War, this volume provides novel insights into the changes overtaking our contemporary world.

This book combines the concept of technological capabilities from the development literature with an explanation of the specifics of these capabilities in industrial areas affected by new biotechnology. This provides a framework of analysis for the modern bioprocessing industry in Mexico. The necessity to go beyond mastery of imported technologies for these industries is discussed. More generally, the absence of core-scientific capabilities at the firm-level and other country-specific factors deter the potential for developing countries to catch-up in biotechnology.