The least developed countries report 2007 : knowledge, technological learning and innovation for development / prepared by the UNCTAD Secretariat

The least developed countries (LDCs) are a group of countries (presently 50 States) that have been officially identified by the United Nations as "least developed" in the light of their low income, weak human assets, and high economic vulnerability. UNCTAD, in past LDC Reports, has taken the view that the key to sustained economic growth and poverty reduction in LDCs is the development of productive capacities and related creation of productive employment. The Least Developed Countries Report 2007 corroborates this view by focusing on knowledge accumulation, technological learning and the ability to innovate as vital processes toward genuine productive capacity development in these countries. Knowledge is becoming more and more important in the global sphere of competition and production. In this context, there is a danger that LDCs will be increasingly marginalized if they do not enhance the knowledge content of their economies and achieve economic diversification through learning and innovation. The Report shows that the current pattern of technology flows to LDCs through international trade, foreign direct investment and intellectual property licensing does not contribute to narrowing the knowledge divide. Sustained economic growth and poverty reduction are not likely to take place in countries where viable economic re-specialization would remain impossible in the absence of significant progress in technological learning and innovation capacity-building.
Introduction: Why technological learning and innovation matter for LDCs -- Building technological capabilities through international market linkages -- National policies to promote technological learning and innovation -- Intellectual property rights and other incentive mechanisms for learning and innovation -- Addressing the international emigration of skilled workers -- Knowledge aid.

xiii, xv, 189 p.

At head of title: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Geneva.
Includes bibliographical references.

9789211127171 English print
9789213123355 Spanish print
9789212123417 French print
0257-7550 English print
2225-1723 English electronic
1010-8157 Arabic print
2959-5258 Arabic electronic
0257-8107 French print
2414-7249 French electronic
0257-8115 Spanish print
2412-4893 Spanish electronic