World Bank Institute and Infoshop hosted a book launch for "Building Knowledge Economies Advanced Strategies for Development" , November 15, 2007.

In many parts of the world, knowledge is being put to work to accelerate and deepen the development process, promoting innovation and helping to generate wealth and jobs. This book discusses advanced development strategies that take into account education, innovation, information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, and the prerequisite economic and institutional regime.

Presentation

Building Knowledge Economies: Advanced Strategies for Development, Jean-Eric Aubert (PDF,  682Kb)

Watch B-Span's video coverage of the event here.

Chair

Rakesh Nangia, Acting Vice President, World Bank Institute
Mr. Nangia is the World Bank Institute’s (WBI) Acting Vice President and Director of Operations. The latter position he assumed in September 2006 and he was appointed Acting Vice President of WBI in March 2007. In his more than 20 years in the World Bank, Mr. Nangia’s career has spanned a wide range of countries and positions, including development work in Africa, East Asia, Eastern Europe and South Asia. In addition, he has also worked in the Corporate Secretariat and Central Accounting. Immediately prior to his current position, Mr. Nangia served as Manager, Portfolio and Country Operations, in Vietnam. Mr. Nangia attended the Indian Institute of Technology, the University of London, and Harvard University and holds degrees in business administration and engineering.

Presenter

Jean-Eric Aubert, Lead Specialist, World Bank Institute's Knowledge for Development Program
Mr. Aubert is Lead Specialist at WBI's Knowledge for Development Program, which carries out knowledge economy studies and provides policy advice for developing countries. Based in Paris, he coordinates WBI offices in Paris and Marseilles. Prior to joining the World Bank in 2000, Mr. Aubert worked at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry), leading Science and Technology country reviews and flagship publications. He has also been a consultant for a number of international organizations including the European Commission and UN bodies (including UNIDO, UNESCO, UNCTAD, and UNU). He has been an author or editor of more than 30 publications and published a number of articles on science and technology policy, social sciences and cultural issues.

Commentator

Shahid Yusuf, Economic Adviser, Development Economics Research Group, World Bank
Mr. Yusuf is the Team Leader for the World Bank-Japan project on East Asia’s Future Economy. He was the Director of the World Development Report 1999/2000, Entering the 21st Century. Prior to that, he was Economic Adviser to the Senior Vice President and Chief Economist (1997-98), Lead Economist for the East Africa Department (1995-97) and Lead Economist for the China and Mongolia Department (1989-1993). Mr. Yusuf has also served the World Bank in several other capacities. Mr. Yusuf has written extensively on development issues, with a special focus on East Asia. His most recent publications include: How Universities Promote Economic Growth, co-edited with Kaoru Nabeshima (World Bank 2007); Dancing with Giants, co-edited with Alan Winters (World Bank 2007); China’s Development Priorities, co-authored with Kaoru Nabeshima (World Bank 2006); Post-Industrial East Asian Cities, co-authored with Kaoru Nabeshima (Stanford University Press 2006); and Under New Ownership, co-authored with Kaoru Nabeshima and Dwight H. Perkins (Stanford University Press 2005). He has also published widely in various academic journals.

World Bank Institute Hosted a Videoconference Consultation in Africa on Building Knowledge Economies, October 23, 2007.

For more information on this event, please contact Justine White (jwhite@worldbank.org) or Laurent Porte (lporte@worldbank.org)