The World Economic Forum's recent Global IT Readiness report notes that, while there is much evidence that ICT is driving innovation, the two are not always properly connected. It goes on to stress that innovation needs to be open and needs to exploit the global talent pool:-

"National competitiveness is based not only on how the firms at the top of the pyramid perform, but also on the performance of those at the bottom. However, most innovation policies in developing nations are designed for globalized firms or sophisticated startups."

The report also notes how the participative web (social and collaborative technologies) is reducing barriers to participation and bringing new opportunities. Elsewhere it has been noted how such Creative and open engagement is a key reason why free and open source software can innovate so well.

Kaufmann's law applies evolutionary principles to technology innovation and explains the combinatorial explosion of technologies we are seeing today. Notably, as useful technologies emerge, we should also expect  (and appreciate) technology failures as an important part of the system. Experimentation is seen as an important aspect of innovation. We should be prepared for the hard work and increased risk involved in seeking innovative solutions to the world's big problems.

Feedback to: Paul Matthews