by Seeram Ramakrishna (National University of Singapore, Singapore) & Daniel Joo-Then Ng (National University of Singapore, Singapore)

Foreword (32k)

This book provides a brief overview of the recent trends in innovations. Early inventions/innovations that began in Asia (i.e., compass, paper, gunpowder and printing) spread to the Atlantic (Europe and USA) by land and sea routes. However, with population growth, economic expansion, availability of skilled researchers and lower cost of research in Asia Pacific, there has been a shift in innovation activities in this region.

There has been a discernable trend of innovation (R&D) in countries like Japan, Korea, China, India and Singapore. This book attempts to create awareness of this trend and hopes to motivate business leaders and policy makers to take advantage of this shifting trend, as well as to encourage more global collaboration in innovations to face societal challenges in the 21st century.

• History:
  • Asians are no Strangers to Original Thinking and Innovation
• Enablers:
  • R&D Investments
  • Universities
  • Young Minds and Human Resources
  • Openness and Broader Access to Knowledge
  • Open Innovation Practices of Companies
  • Test Bedding Innovations and Setting New Benchmarks
  • Innovators
• Influencers:
  • Population Growth
  • Economic Growth
  • Climate Change
  • Water
  • Energy
  • Urbanization
  • Ageing
  • Healthcare
  • Food Supplies and Nutrition
  • Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
• Spoilers:
  • Inequity
  • Protectionism
  • Conflicts