Science and technology policies in networked environment

Knowledge Economy has become a key concept in international discurse to accelerate economic and social development in any country around the world. Knowledge Economy or knowledge-based economy refers to building knowledge base of economy that generates economic growth, employment, exports and productivity and enhances social and regional development. These outputs can be achieved through long-term investment in knowledge base of economy, meaning investment in education system, science and technology and research and development. This means a systemic approach in any country to build their innovation system both at the national level and at the regional level. In this paper I will compare science and technology policies, and other related policies, in building national innovation system as a knowledge base for economy in Finland and South Africa. The objective is to compare these economies as knowledge economies by focusing on policies, and what are the similarities and differences between policies in these countries.