Elias G. Carayannis Bücher

The book critiques the notion that social ideas can be universally applied, arguing they are deeply rooted in specific historical and cultural contexts. It warns against the dangers of using context-free concepts, which can lead to ineffective ideologies. Highlighting the shortcomings of the dominant Western intellectual framework, it calls for a reexamination of these paradigms to address current existential crises. Advocating for inclusivity and recognition of diverse beliefs, it serves as a vital resource for scholars in economic growth, political science, and innovation.

“Epistemic governance” refers to the cognitive and knowledge-related paradigms that underlie a social system. In this volume, the authors apply the concept to higher education. In a comprehensive review of recent literature, they define key terms and concepts, arguing that a good, effective and sustainable governance of higher education is not possible unless the epistemic structure and knowledge paradigms of higher education are addressed directly. Effective governance of academic institutions is particularly important, given their essential role in generating and disseminating knowledge. The authors consider the practical and policy implications of the epistemic approach for promoting quality assurance, quality enhancement, and quality management of higher education, and their impact on university administration and academic career development.

In the 21st century, intangible resources such as knowledge and social capital have become as necessary to the modern economy as coal, diamonds, and oil were to the past. This shift from product-focused to service-focused economies necessitates a drastic re-thinking of the ways in which we support the mission and business of economic development on a global, regional, and national scale. In order to effect and sustain a positive change, innovation and knowledge networks need to be connected to every aspect of life, from the private and domestic, to the corporate and the global. This book integrates a wide variety of perspectives and treatises on mutually adaptive and complementary processes of knowledge generation, diffusion, and transfer within organizations and industry, addressing both the what and how to questions of knowledge management in a conceptual as well as an applied manner. It should be of strong interest to science and technology policy makers, research and development managers, business decision makers, and students of innovation and knowledge dynamics alike.