The Role of the State: BRICS National Systems of Innovation
The Role of the State: BRICS National Systems of Innovation
Editors: Mario Scerri, Helena Lastres
Publisher: Routledge
Publication Year: 2012
Edition: 1st Edition (first volume in the BRICS Innovation Systems series)
About this Book
The Role of the State: BRICS National Systems of Innovation is the first volume in a major research series examining how Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are shaping their national systems of innovation. Edited by Mario Scerri and Helena Lastres, this book provides an in-depth and comparative analysis of the ways each BRICS country builds, manages, and evolves its innovation structures—and, crucially, the central role the state plays in this process.
The volume argues that innovation in emerging economies cannot be understood without recognizing the active role of the state in funding, coordinating, and steering technological and scientific development. Through contributions from leading scholars and original country-level data, the book highlights how historical trajectories, institutional arrangements, developmental priorities, and industrial strategies intersect to shape each nation’s innovation system. From India’s post-independence state-driven modernization efforts to Brazil’s long-term institutional investments such as BNDES, and from China’s rapid shift from resource-based growth to innovation-centered development to Russia and South Africa’s ongoing challenges, the chapters illustrate both shared patterns and unique national pathways.
Beyond empirical analysis, the book raises important theoretical considerations about the future of innovation system theory, particularly for emerging economies facing inequality, resource constraints, and structural transformation. The insights and policy recommendations presented here make this work essential for researchers in economics, development studies, political science, and innovation policy, as well as for policymakers and practitioners seeking to understand how state-led innovation strategies can support equitable and sustainable development across the BRICS.
Table of Contents
List of Abbreviations
List of Figures
List of Tables
Foreword — Ben Turok
Preface
Introduction: BRICS National Systems of Innovation — Jose É. Cassiolato, Maria Clara Couto Soares
1. The State and the Architecture of National Systems of Innovation — Mario Scerri, Helena M. M. Lastres
2. Brazil — Priscila Koeller, José Luis Gordon
3. Russia — Tatiana Kuznetsova
4. India — V. V. Krishna
5. China — Lv Ping
6. South Africa — Mario Scerri
About the Series Editors
About the Editors
Notes on Contributors
Index
