Knowledge-Based Economy
Introduction
The production, dissemination
and use of information technology have become a crucial factor for enhancing
economic growth, job creation, competitiveness and welfare.
Country-wise, the pace of this new type of economy expansion
has varied. Countries of the UNECE region have taken
the lead and are reaping the benefits of accumulated research
and development potential and accelerated innovation.
Activities
Under this programme, the UNECE provides information
and contributes to raising ICT awareness of member States - particularly
countries with economies in transition - regarding the emerging
type of economy, decisively dependent on the inputs of human
capital and on innovation.
Information and communication technologies (ICT)
have played a leading role in the process of economic and
social change mentioned above. On the one hand, the ICT
industry has become a major source of innovation and accounted
for strong investment and employment growth. On the other
hand, the diffusion and uptake of ICT by other major sectors
has resulted in enhanced growth and productivity of the
economy as a whole.
The UNECE examines the issues of information
and communications technologies as well as their economic
impact under its sub-programme on Digital Economy Development.
It undertakes the analysis of the impact of the emerging digital
economy on the societies of member countries, related opportunities
and challenges to economic development and social progress.
The sub-programme aims at assisting member States in using
ICT, capturing economic gains accruing from that use, facilitating
their integration into the emerging global knowledge-based
economy, as well as assisting them in assessing their readiness
for the knowledge-based economy. The main activities under
this sub-programme are:
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