Background

In the past couple of decades, innovation has been an important source of productivity growth, poverty reduction and economic growth in developing Asia. Looking ahead, a continued strong innovation performance will be necessary to further reduce poverty and to provide opportunities to developing Asia's citizens through inclusive growth.

Today, innovation goes beyond R&D and involves a growing range of ways of creating new value and improving products and processes. It involves a growing range of countries, including new global players like China and India. It can also enable countries to seize the benefits of global value chains at the local level.

In this context, a stronger innovation performance could help developing Asian countries rebalance their economies towards domestic and regional demand. The global financial crisis has demonstrated that the export-oriented growth model focused on US and EU markets can no longer be relied upon to sustain the region's economic growth, as consumer spending from these economies may remain sluggish over many years to come.

Innovation is also key to sustainable development. Climate change is a global challenge that can only be addressed effectively through massive innovation. Pricing of environmental externalities, such as carbon emissions, will be an important trigger for the development and diffusion of green technologies and innovations. At the same time, investment in long-term research and innovation will be needed to develop breakthrough technologies that private initiative alone will not undertake.

This round-table will deal with the following issues relating to innovation: (i) innovation today; (ii) innovation for balanced and sustainable growth; (iii) making innovation work for development; (iv) seizing the benefits of the global value chain at the local level; (v) green growth, innovation and technological transfer; and (vi) international cooperation for innovation.

This round-table will be organized in co-operation with the OECD, building on the longstanding partnership for other activities.

Outputs

1. Better understanding of how innovation policies can promote more balanced and sustainable growth.
2. Policy recommendations for innovation policies.
3. Closer cooperation among key stakeholders handling this issue.
4. Presentation materials and summary of proceedings to be uploaded on ADBI website (6 weeks after the event)

Participants

The participants of this roundtable will include mid- to senior-level officials from industry and technology, and economic planning ministries, from the following ADB member countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, PR China, Philippines, Taipei,China, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Viet Nam. In addition, government officials from interested OECD countries, and relevant representatives from business, labor and research communities, will be invited.

Partners

The roundtable is being organized in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).