Building the Knowledge Society - Department of Communications ...

8 Building the Knowledge Society Information Society CommissionThe importance of broadband connectivity to the knowledge society will be no less significantthan that of electricity to 20th century industrial development. Broadband investment musttherefore be guided by a clear sense of its importance as a key 21st century infrastructure,and a key determinant of future socio-economic development, both nationally and regionally.(b) The Innovation ChallengeIn the globalised knowledge society, sources of sustainable competitive advantage increasinglydepend on knowledge-based innovation. Continuous market-driven innovation is the keyto competitiveness, and to economic growth. This requires not only a strong science andtechnology base, but equally importantly are the capacities to link fundamental and appliedresearch, to convert the results of that research to new products, services or processes, andto bring these innovations quickly to the market.The key role of information and communication technologies in this context will be asfacilitators of innovation – including innovation in public sector organisational and servicedelivery arrangements.(c) The Skills ChallengeThe emergence of the knowledge society means an ever-increasing demand for a well-educatedand skilled workforce across the whole economy. The countries that succeed in the 21st centurywill be those with citizens who are creative, adaptive and skilled. Investment in people andskills is vital not only for children and young people. The skills required for many conventionaloccupations are changing rapidly, and it is estimated that 80 percent of people who will be inour workforce in 10 years time are in the workforce already. Lifelong learning must become akey public policy focus, and highlights the mutually reinforcing importance of the economic andsocial strands to successful knowledge society development.General familiarity with digital technologies throughout society, and ready availability of the newskills needed by high-tech and knowledge-based enterprises, is becoming critical to supportinginnovation and underpinning sustainable economic development. And the knowledge society inturn can deliver better jobs and higher standards of living to support enhanced social prosperity.It is imperative that we foster a learning environment that supports and facilitates the processof adapting to ongoing change.