Innovation, competence building and social cohesion in Europe. Towards a learning society

Book abstract:

It is commonplace in our cliché driven communications to hear the phrase 'knowledge is king', but the cliché does not tell us king of what, or indeed if it is a kingdom of power where knowledge is the key to control. But knowledge is a dynamic and old knowledge is soon overtaken by new knowledge, so we must open ourselves to this process and enter the 'learning kingdom' or as the authors of this work describe it, the 'learning economy'.

The contributions to this work arise from the Fifth Framework Programme for RTD of the European Union and present a new focus for economic and social development - the building of a learning economy. The work is organised in four parts and each part opens with an introductory note. Parts one and two deal with innovation at the policy and institutional levels. Competence and social cohesion are the focus of parts three and four respectively. These are seen as the essential propellants towards a learning society: innovation, competence and social cohesion.

The book will interest to scholars, students, researchers and policy makers engaged in science and innovation and technical change.