Title: Economic development and industrial structure

Authors: Carlo De Benedetti

Addresses: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Olivetti S.p.A., Ivrea, Italy

Abstract: In the two centuries since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution a pattern of cycles of innovation has become apparent. The emerging trend is-not deindustrialization, but rather a third phase of industrialization. But dealing successfully with the present difficult stage of transition between old and new technologies will require structural adaptation in industry. The key is mobility: of the workforce, of financial resources, of merchandise, of technological advances, and of industry itself through new forms of collaboration and integration among companies outside of a purely local framework. An important agent for this change is the emergence of entrepreneurs and professional managers who see the problem of development in a wider, global context; but they must carry their message beyond the boundaries of industry to society at large.

Keywords: industry; innovation; economic development; industrial structure; entrepreneurship; Olivetti; technology management; mobility; research; collaboration; integration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1987.026126

International Journal of Technology Management, 1987 Vol.2 No.1, pp.35 - 44

Published online: 27 May 2009 *

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