Interactive Learning or Technology Transfer as a Way to Catch-Up? Analysing the Wind Energy Industry in Denmark and India
By Kari Kristinsson and Rekha Rao
from Industry & Innovation Vol 15 Issue 3 June 2008, pp. 297 - 320
"This paper uses sectoral systems of innovation framework to examine the relationship between technology policy and industrial development by comparing the emergence of the wind energy industry in Denmark and India. Since the late 1970s Denmark has led the development of a global wind energy industry and in 2004 wind energy supplied 18.8 per cent of Denmark's electricity consumption. India was however a late entrant that managed in a few years to establish itself as the fifth largest producer of wind energy in the world. We suggest that India's unique policy of “interactive learning” with international and especially Danish actors, instead of imitation of foreign technology policies and institutions, was a substantial contributor to India's success in developing their wind energy industry. "

Foreign investment innovation: a review of selected policies
By Ruth Rama
from Journal of Technology Transfer Vol 33 No 4 Aug 2008, pp. 353-363
"Whereas foreign investment innovation (FII) has become increasingly common, after decades of debate it is still unclear whether it is desirable for the home country or for the company’s host country. This paper reviews articles from three complementary economic and business traditions which investigate this phenomenon and propose policies based on facts: the economics of technological change tradition, the international business (IB) tradition, and the line of research on international technology transfers. Articles in line with these strands of theory complement each other because they approach different aspects of complex events while explaining FII and its effects on host and home countries. Host countries obtain maximum benefits from FII when affiliates import foreign technology, purchase their inputs in the host country and enjoy product and technological autonomy vis-à-vis the parent. Different types of MNEs, affiliates and foreign R&D units have different potentials for transferring technology to host countries and provide different scope for policies. The authors recommend that governments encourage direct vertical linkages between MNEs and domestic suppliers who could reap the benefits from foreign knowledge. However, some important success factors remain exogenous to governments. As for indigenous MNEs, it is a matter of controversy whether governments should always stimulate them to conduct research in foreign locations or, alternatively, incentive them to stay at home. The need for additional evidence is still considerable in many respects. "

New Structures, New Strategies: CSIRO’s Changing Role in Australian Innovation,
By Garrett Upstill and Thomas H. Spurling
from Prometheus Vol 26 Iss 2 June 2008 , pp. 141 - 152
" CSIRO's role in Australian innovation has evolved over the years in response to changes in the external environment and within Australia's national innovation system. The process of organisational change has been characterised by a series of restructurings—in 1978, 1988, 1996 and 2001—and accompanying shifts in the organisation's strategic directions. In this paper we look at the process of organisational change in an historical context, looking at the evolving external environment, the legislative and management background, and the shifts in the organisation's strategic directions. The change process is interpreted from a punctuated equilibrium perspective. We propose that discontinuous, rather than continuous change, is the way that a complex and diversified organisation like CSIRO adjusts to a changing external environment and, moreover, that independent public reviews have an important role in this process. In the light of major changes in the Australian and scientific landscapes over the past two decades we suggest it is time to look again at CSIRO's role and the sustainability of its internal management arrangements. "

Community Participation in Australian Science and Technology Policy: The Case of Nanotechnology
By Jeff Harwood and Renato Schibeci
from Prometheus Vol 26 Iss 2 June 2008, pp. 153 - 163
"Nanotechnology is widely considered to offer enormous competitive advantages to those countries that possess the knowledge and capacity to harness its potential. As in many other countries, Australia's nanotechnology policy is in its infancy and lags international research in the field. We examine the role of community engagement in the development of nanotechnology in Australia, and argue that if Australia is to establish a sustainable nanotechnology policy, then it must broaden its perspective and more carefully consider the social, ethical and environmental aspects of nanotechnology. We support the goal of shared economic growth through technological advancement; however, this seems unlikely as long as the Australian government persists with what is essentially a technical and socially exclusive approach to stimulating innovation in nanotechnology. While opposition to nanotechnology is still 'thin on the ground', it is starting to emerge and the Commonwealth and State governments would do well to treat it with respect. "

Eco Investor [e-journal]
"Focuses on environmental investment - in businesses undertaking or commercializing environmentally positive activities including renewable energy, recycling and waste management, technology breakthroughs and enhancements, eco-design, eco-tourism, and other eco-positive products and services." - website.
Click here to access.

The Management of technological innovation : strategy and practice [book]
Author: Mark Dodgson

"Examines the ways [the management of technological innovation] create and deliver value for firms through innovation networks and communities, research and development, innovation in products, services, operations and processes, and the commercialisation process." - preface.

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Edging towards bioutopia : a new politics of reordering life & the democratic challenge [book]

Author: Richard Hindmarsh

"How civil society is addressing this important issue of the environmental release of genetically modified organisms in Australia and challenges us to question whether the democratic control of technology is within the grasp of modern society." - foreword.

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To Paradise and Beyond
By Peter Meredith
from Griffith Review Edition 20 Winter 2008, pp. 61 - 82
"Peter Meredith reports on the practical dilemmas of providing enough water for Queensland's growing population."

Waking from the Dream
By Brendan Gleeson
from Griffith Review Edition 20 Winter 2008, pp. 11 - 46
"Brendan Gleeson argues that climate change will force an urgent reassessment of the real costs and benefits of city living."

Some Sectoral and Global Distributional Issues in Greenhouse Gas Policy Design
By John Freebairn
from Agenda Vol 15 No 1 2008, pp. 13 - 28
"This paper argues it will be welfare-improving at a national level to auction tradable
greenhouse gas permits, and , at an international level, for first-world countries to
bribe third-world countries to join a cooperative solution."

The Global information technology report 2007-2008 : fostering innovation through networked readiness [book]

Authors: INSEAD & World Economic Forum

Measures the extent to which 127 economies are "networked ready" and also contains a series of articles on ICT and innovation.

Now available in Library & Research Services' Reference Collection.

Water licensing and services [e-book]
Author: Western Australia. Parliament. Legislative Assembly. Economics and Industry Standing Committee

Examines WA’s water licensing system, the impact of the National Water Initiative, and more general issues about water resource management.

Click here to access.

Measuring sustainable development [e-book]

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

Papers from a conference "focused on developing indicators and metrics for measuring sustainable production for use by business and policy makers." - page 7.

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Innovation and entrepreneurship in biotechnology, an international perspective : concepts, theories and cases [book]

Authors: Damian Hine & John Kapeleris

"Explores both the theoretical and practical aspects of entrepreneurship in the biotechnology industry, focusing on the innovation processes underpinning success for new biotechnology firms." - cover.

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Developments in fibre technologies and investment [e-book]
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Provides a broad overview of developments in optical fibre technologies in the last mile and considers the role of government in the stimulation of the roll-out of these networks.
Click here to access.

Australia’s natural gas : issues and trends [e-book]
Author: Mike Roarty, Australia. Dept of Parliamentary Services. Parliamentary Library
"Looks at characteristics of natural gas, units of measurement, Australia’s gas reserves and resources, the coal seam gas sector, industry gas pipeline developments, natural gas consumption incorporating supply, demand and export projections, natural gas prices, industry gas pipeline developments, and environmental issues and contains a summary of recent regulatory issues." - page 2.

Sustainability accounting and accountability [book]
Edited by: Jeffrey Unerman, Jan Bebbington and Brendan O’Dwyer

Explains how the "techniques of sustainability accounting and accountability have the potential to be powerful tools in the management, planning, control and accountability of organizations for their social and environmental impacts." - page 3.

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Knowledge policy : challenges for the 21st century [book]

Authors: Greg Hearn & David Rooney

"Illustrates how the production of knowledge has become central to economic life, and that competitiveness in the 21st century market place is characterized by the ability to translate scientific and technological knowledge into innovation. " - cover.

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The Art of digital branding [book]
Author: Ian Cocoran

Covers the pivotal role the colour schemes and menu formats play in the perception of an online brand, and how to encourage and retain traffic flow through competitions, vouchers, and giveaways, moderated forums, or subscription-based membership.

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A Cool Look at Global Warming (journal article)
By Don Aitkin
from AQ Vol 80 No 1 Jan - Feb 2008, pp. 4 - 11
"Australia is faced with two environmental problems of great significance. They are how to manage water in a dry continent that may be moving into another long dry period, and how to find acceptable alternatives to fossil based energy within a society that is used to cheap plentiful energy. Global Warming could be seen as a distraction from these two important issues.This article discusses the reasons for the stridency of the Global Warming claim and finishes with a renewed plea for focus on real and imminent environmental problems."