Creating Regional Wealth in the Innovation Economy: Models, Perspectives, and Best Practices

Foreword

By Mary Harney TDDeputy Prime Minister and Minister for Enterprise,Trade and Employment of Ireland

Despite the recent economic downturn, there is little doubt that the “New Economy” in the form of knowledge-based enterprises competing in a global marketplace will continue to be the mainspring of economic growth and the opportunity for increasing living standards into the future. Therefore, a rigorous examination of the factors that enable regions to create wealth and compete in the global economy through successful adaptation to the New Economy is to be welcomed.

We in Ireland are very conscious of the fact that our recent economic growth has been largely driven by the high-technology sector, which has provided both a significant ...