Innovation for Development: The Case of Jordan

Abstract

The competitiveness of nations is nowadays not determined by single companies, but innovative activities of entire industries and branches (OECD, 1997). Stimulating research and innovation can be considered as one of the major tasks of a national approach to increase the wealth of a domestic economy. It aims at different objectives, like economic growth, full employment, and positive balance of payments from international trade (GTZ, 2009). Jordan's NIS is still underdeveloped and not working efficiently. The innovation system still suffers from weak and lack of coordination between its components. In order to build a national innovation system in Jordan, there is a need to be opened up to global knowledge, reform of universities and R&D organizations, upgrade R&D infrastructure, establish an incubation system, and focus on premier universities as key knowledge institutions. As well, Jordan need to develop human resources, promote ICT, build national innovation policy, and build knowledge network.