This is one reason Acer is building Aspire Park, a multi-function industrial park which includes an innovation center housing 200 software companies. There young talents can develop their dreams and change the culture. For example, in the U.S. a performing arts group can flourish for a few years if it produces just one hit show. With a very limited domestic market, they cannot afford to take risks. This is not a friendly environment for innovation.
Innovation requires the time and resources for trial and error.
Less wealthy countries should devote their limited resources to projects involving brainpower, such as software applications or unique cultural products. As long as the performance level is world-class, the market will extend as well. Instead of focusing on certain technological disciplines, we should train our students as well as employees to think independently. Personal computers or online learning cannot give our students an innovative education if the content is still old-style repetitive drills. Continuous job training cannot take us anywhere if the emphasis is still on fastfood-style discipline.