Implications for Science, Technology and Innovation - Essay Example

Implications for Science, Technology and Innovation s [Issue Implications for Science, Technology and Innovations Introduction The following essay relates to the crucial and one of the significant issues of the 21st Century, that is, the implications for science, technology and innovations. How the research work contributes towards the enhancement of the remarkable technologies What implementations should be considered in order to promote the explorative processes in various disciplines of science so as to produce a momentous advancement in the innovative field of science However, in order to embark on the implications for science, technology and innovation, it is imperative to understand the background of the subject matter. What Is Meant By Technology And Innovation According to Gagel (1997), "Technological literacy has proven to be an unexpectedly complex and difficult task." Technology, the amalgamated form of two Greek words consists of "Techne" meaning "craft" and Logia meaning "saying." Technology and innovation goes hand in hand. However, the innovative course of action is not constrained to the advanced technologies alone. The innovations being introduced in diversified disciplines of science such as biotechnology and nanotechnology, however, are not recognized while conversing on the theme of technological developments. Innovation is dependent upon the implementation of a certain technology and both the aspects are deemed important while considering the benefits and advantages that they impart to the society in general and in boosting the economy of a country in specific. Furthermore, research strategies and knowledge dissemination are the key factors for promoting the technology and innovation. Therefore, it is exceedingly important to engage individuals and the concerned government in carrying out research in various spheres of life. These varying innovative processes play a key role in building strong industry-science linkages. A strong collaboration between the innovation and science systems is considered important while achieving the beneficial targets from the individuals occupied in carrying out the research work, both in the public and the private sectors. Moreover, it contributes towards the awareness of science and technology amongst the masses with the recognition of the significance of innovation. Specialized patents pertaining to research and exploration should be introduced by various policy originators in order to upgrade the scientific disciplines of learning. Moreover, mutual efforts in the National and International research should be encouraged to produce advancements in technology and innovation. Science And Innovation Goes Together With the demanding necessities created in the business and civil society, the field of science cannot be discussed apart from innovation. The science-innovation linkage serves to recognize and derive solutions pertaining to the economic troubles. Research work plays a significant role in strengthening the science-innovation linkages. The public and private sector-based businesses produce great technological advancements by promoting science-based innovations. The Government should also participate in strengthening the science-innovation linkages by funding the research being carried out by the government and the Non-Government organizations. The Government should also encourage various scientific laboratories to conduct research work on the unexplored horizons and to employ erudite researchers for training purposes. Science and technology finds its roots in the basic research. Therefore, the need of the time is to enhance the condition of research being carried out by providing a balanced system of grants and resources to the public and private organizations. Science And Technology Knowledge Stream From Industrial Research to Academic Research The comprehension and learning obtained from the research can be widely utilized by the industries for achieving its desired goals. The respective research comprises of the technological knowledge being available from the university and the Government laboratories also being termed as the academic research. The following industry-academy research linkage is of immense significance, contributing towards the progress in the technological spheres. These industry-academia research linkages are of diversified kinds differing in the extent of the particular linkage and in the nature of the interactions (Wickstead, 1988). However, a limited investigation has been conducted in determining the contribution of academic research towards the innovation in the industrial processes. Statistical estimates suggest that the contribution of the academic institutions towards innovation is between 5 to 20 percent of the total (Rothwell, 1977). Barnes and Edge (1982) have also produced an article emphasizing on the fact that the secret of the understanding of the contribution of academia towards the industrial innovation lies behind the literature being composed on the science-technology relation. Innovation After going through the propositions being put forth by various critics, several questions may develop in the readers' minds pertaining to the existing communications between the industrial innovations and the research methodologies as it is evident from the above-mentioned statements that the technology and innovation are dependent upon the basic research. The first and the foremost area to be considered is the knowledge stream flowing between the technology or the industrial sector and the academic sphere. While promoting such interactions, one should always keep in view the requisites of the innovating organization and hurdles and obstacles that might be created while perceiving the contributions being made by the research academic circles. The second most significant issue to be taken into consideration while implying research for the developments in the technological field, for instance in the industrial fields, is the knowledge of its condition, that whether the sector requires information to be perceived from outside the firm or not (Fowler, 1984). The third fact portrays the characteristic of the knowledge flow or the conducted research. The knowledge flow, no matter how unique and remarkable it is, cannot be deemed of worth until and unless it is utilized in the formulation of new products and innovation. The respective studies form the foundation for the categorization of the technological inputs to inventive RD&D, in what forms and ways are they influential on an organization's pioneering activities and what would be their resources The answers to these questions act as the indicators for the determination of the impact of research on innovation and the amount of participation by a certain firm. Other important key factors playing a significant function in determining the extent of research implementation towards science, technology and innovation are the nature of the industry-academia linkage and the awareness of the channels from which the concerned research information has to be derived. Areas/Spheres For The Utilization Of Technology-Academia Research Linkages For The Endorsement Of Remarkable Innovation The analysis of the innovations in the technological and scientific fields are examined by determining the types of knowledge perceivable from various sources, the gains and advantages which are being imparted by them and the influences generated by the academic sources on the companies' inventive actions. The following four spheres are mostly examined while studying the utilization of technology-academia research linkages for the endorsement of remarkable innovation. These four areas of interest are the networking and keeping abreast of academic research; general and specific assistance; access to specific expertise; and public relations and goodwill (Senker, Faulkner, Velho, 2004). One of the most significant and the foremost area is the field of general and specific assistance. It comprises of the discussions and consultations, which aids in promoting the industry-academic linkages. It opens the doors for the researchers to provide their services explicitly, offering solutions accompanied with experimentations. Technology, Economic Growth And Income Levels After having a look at the quotation being quoted by Hicks, "In contrast to natural disasters like the recent tsunami, this is a slow-developing trend and one that's hard to see from inside the United States. We're still a very competitive country, but it's important to look at the long-range implications of these benchmarks. Maintaining our leadership role in science and innovation is critical to economic strength and national security" (Becker, 2005), one can truly suggest that the technological developments are also recognized for impacting the economic growths and income levels by influencing the human capabilities. The technological innovations can directly increase the human abilities through inventions and discoveries being made in the spheres of agriculture, medicine and communication skills. Moreover, it also produces growth in the economic curves and income charts by augmenting the efficiency of employers and the firms where they are being employed. However, not every scientific field development co-relates with the economic advancements. One of the areas of learning and research that contributes significantly is the field of agricultural research (Thirtle, 2003). While the innovations are not being based on income values, technologies seem to be influenced by varying income levels. In addition to these technology-innovation linkages with one another, the technological progress pertaining to a particular scientific aspect may also affect another technological advancement. For instance, inventions and discoveries in the field of genetics and bioinformatics have opened doors for innovations in the pharmaceutical and molecular medicinal industry. A Sample Study: Implications For EU Research And Innovation Policy The implications for the EU Research and Innovation Policy were introduced in the year 2004 which put forth a number of objectives to be fulfilled in order to enhance the prospects for R&D. The main aims and objectives were the introduction of new innovation policies that also co-relates with the economy. The second objective was the deliverance of the examination and research being carried out on the service sectors, encompassing a variety of sectors, for instance, RTD development factors, infrastructure, management practice and connections of EU with International states. Technological Change and Innovation are Becoming More Dependent on Basic Research It is true that technological change and innovation are becoming more dependent on basic research. Technical change and innovation varies significantly from non-technical change. The reason being that technology requires precision, accuracy and exactness. For example, a GPS system requires the synchronization of data from its orbital satellites. Wrong information from any one of the satellites will adversely affect the GPS system reliability. Therefore, extensive research is carried out so that none of the satellites will malfunction. Every thing in the world is now dependent on technology and systematic methodologies. Be it ordinary door alarms, electrical appliances or smart cards. Therefore, basic research today has become mandatory for the survival of technical thought. If basic research comes to a halt in any field then there will be an end to scientific advancement and subsequently to the progress of mankind. For example, if advancement in the field of telecommunications comes to an arrest then the communication bridge, which joins one end of the world to another, will be broken. Similarly, if the advancement in the field of integrated circuits (ICs) used in the computers is stopped then development in the field of information technology will come to a standstill. Integrated circuits are important to us because they are used in our cellular mobile phones, laptop computers, and vehicle tracking systems and even in space shuttles. In short, they are required in every field of our lives. But, all of these have come about due to an extensive process of research. However, it should be noted that technology today is not limited to the field of electrical appliances (as it originally was), information technology or space shuttles. In fact, it has also become the lifeline of major developments in medicine, administration and in almost every aspect of our daily lives. The reason behind the dispersion of technology to numerous other fields is simply research. It has opened numerous horizons for mankind. In today's world even to carry out research one needs technical assistance. For example, a researcher no longer needs to out into the field in search of the required data. He/She can now sit in the comfort of their homes and use the Internet for the processes of data collection. In addition, a researcher is no longer required to manually fill out papers worth of data in order to analyze and examine his/her work. Technological advances in the form of data analysis software are now available to do make the job easier. Research and technology are both complementary to and obligatory for one another. Research cannot progress without technological advancement and neither is technological advancement feasible with out the processes of basic research. Basic Research in Most Fields is Becoming Progressively More Specialized and Capital Intensive Research has become more specialized because the general public has come to trust and rely upon it. People today want to have prior knowledge before putting themselves to any task. Whether it is reading the label of a cereal box to find out its nutritional value or whether it is the purchase of real estate; research is mandatory in every field. Today's consumer is an aware customer. Every consumer requires information before buying a product. But, the information that one customer requires is very likely to be different from the information that another necessitates. With the progression of time basic research has become more accurate and precise. As a result, the more exact the finding, the more capital intensive it is. For example, in the field of medicine, cancer treatment requires monetary resources without which the research process will be halted. In addition, a research project may require years or even decades to complete, hence, proper and sufficient monetary resources are a must. Research has become a complete profession, a way of life. People today are paid to do conduct research for numerous projects. The fees of student in some universities are waived if they agree to do research on behalf of their institution for a specific number of hours. The more capital is put into a research project the more refined it is likely to be. This will in turn result in the reliability of the research and development thus carried out. Hence, it is true that basic research in most fields is slowly but steadily becoming progressively specialized and capital intensive. Conclusion Therefore, this brings us to the conclusion that the more investment that is made in a particular research project, the more reliable it's outcome will turn out to be. In order to meet the demands of today's intelligent and aware customers, the products and services rendered to them need to be reliable. This is only possible if the basic research carried is accurate and precise. And only if the research is exact can technological advancement in any form can take place. Bibliography B. Barnes and D. Edge (1982), The interaction of science and technology, in B. Barnes and D. Edge (eds) Science in Context: Readings in the Sociology of Science, Open University Press, p. 147-54. Becker, T.J., (2005), Innovative Edge at Risk: Asian Countries Gain Prominence in Science and Technology as the U.S. Loses Ground, Georgia Institute of Technology. Brody, William R., (2005), What happened to American innovation The key is investing in education and research, Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. D. Fowler (1984), University-industry research relationships, Research Management January-February, 35-41. Gagel, C. W. (1997) Literacy and Technology: Reflections and Insights for Technological Literacy, Journal of Industrial Teacher Education, Spring Issue 1997, Volume 34, Number 3, Bemidji State University. R. Rothwell (1977), The characteristics of successful innovators and technically progressive firms, R&D Management, 7: 191-206. Segal Quince Wickstead (1988), Universities, Enterprise and Local Economic Development: An Exploration of Links, Report for the Manpower Services Commission, HMSO, and London. Senker, Jacqueline, Faulkner, Wendy, Velho, Lea., (2004), Science and technology knowledge flows between industrial and academic research: a comparative study, The School Of Social and Political Studies. Thirtle, C., L. Lin, and J. Piesse, 2003. "The Impact of Research-Led Agricultural Productivity Growth on Poverty Reduction in Africa, Asia, and Latin America," World Development, Vol. 32, No. 12, pp. 1959-1975. Read More