Norbert Csizmadia
02/05/2024 09:00
English historian Ian Morris, examining the development of East and West over the last 15.000 years, has found that the course of history has changed along the latitudinal lines, i.e. it has been determined by geography. If the most innovative regions, global centres and countries are plotted on a map, they are located on the same geographic band. Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, South Korea - aka the KIDS countries - and three Chinese global centres, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xinjiang. This is the future axis of the new Eurasian era.
What the KIDS countries have in common is that they are small countries that have built the world's most innovative nations in 50 years, are poor in natural resources and have become great in knowledge, innovation and technology, and have taken advantage of their geographical location to develop an important transport hub. South Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and China draw on their intellectual and cultural wealth. These patterns are also valuable because the exponential growth of intellectual resources is ultimately driving the modern economy and society towards sustainable development.
What do these countries on the innovation axis have in common? They have a long-term vision. All today's successes are built on a particularly strong vision. Behind that vision is a strong set of values, based predominantly on traditional values. Respect for the family, valuing knowledge and talent, religion, a strong sense of nationhood, helping the community and the world, living in harmony with nature. They combine the traditional with the modern. Values from ancient sources and modern thinking work together. They are always researching new technologies. They focus on education to put their universities at the forefront of the world, and even build research parks next to their universities. This is combined with early identification and support for talent and creativity, first in the family and then in the education system.
Recognising that health and quality of life is the leading industry in the 21st century, they are getting into everything from biotechnology to beauty and aiming for the top spot. They will give priority to culture, music and the visual arts as the future becomes increasingly culture-based. Their competitiveness is built on a fusion of technology, innovation and education, and uses new smart technologies. It supports industries such as the creative economy, the green economy, new financial technologies and biomedicine. Money spent on the R&D sector and education is not seen as an expense but as an investment.
And finally, they make smart use of innovation in geographic space. These areas are also global hubs of innovation, with the world's best airports, busiest ports and best infrastructure.
Shenzhen is the best example of how a visionary growth strategy can transform a former fishing village into a world-leading technology hub in 30 years, a global metropolis of 13 million people, a hub for talent, where innovation and technology development are not only a priority, but also livability and sustainability.
The author is a geographer and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Pallas Athene Domus Meriti Foundation and the John von Neumann University Foundation