ABOUT THE BOOK

The drivers of productivity and competitiveness are increasingly shifting from efficiency and quality to innovation and entrepreneurship. It is important to note, however, that rather than replacing the former, the latter are being added, similar to the addition of another layer of excellence. With the proliferation of products in the marketplace and rapidly shortening life cycles, it is vital to have efficient production as well as new products and services. Even as the more economically advanced countries progressively increase their innovative capabilities, it is necessary for them to continue to improve their infrastructure and processes. Conversely, developing countries should commit resources to innovation while striving to strengthen their basic infrastructure and efficiency. The EU, USA, Australia, and others have been making strenuous efforts to devise and implement innovation strategies and programs. Similarly, some APO members have developed innovation blueprints and initiatives.

Realizing the importance of innovation, the APO organized a fact-finding mission in May 2007 to gain an in-depth understanding of the subject. The five-member mission visited France to attend the OECD Forum 2007 on Innovation, Growth, and Equity and met representatives of the Global Competitiveness Network of the World Economic Forum and Institute of Management Development in Switzerland.

As a follow-up to the fact-finding mission, the APO formed an Expert Group on Innovation and Competitiveness comprising selected national experts from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Republic of China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. The experts were responsible for formulating a common framework and strategy to harmonize the innovation efforts of member countries. Three meetings were held in Langkawi, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian Productivity Corporation and SPRING Singapore were the implementing agencies for the respective venues.

The kick-off meeting held in Langkawi deliberated on issues involved in the formulation of a regional innovation framework and strategy for the APO. The follow-up meeting in Singapore refined the framework and innovation strategies by country clusters and identified role model countries to provide guidance on innovation and competitiveness. The findings of the expert group were shared at a forum of more than 100 stakeholders in the productivity movement in APO member countries. There was a call for open innovation and effective utilization of potential resources through global coevolution. The principle of formulating an appropriate innovation framework based on country clusters and stage of development of APO members was affirmed.

The APO wishes to thank all contributors to this report, especially the seven-member Expert Group on Innovation and Competitiveness. In particular, we are grateful to Professor Park Sang Chan, the chief expert, for leading the group and overall research effort, and to Dr. Lee Loke Chong, expert group member, for his help in reviewing and editing this volume.

Shigeo Takenaka
Secretary-General
Tokyo, March 2009