The book examines the conditions for successful high-technology policy from theoretical and empirical perspectives. It enhances the predominant national systems of innovation approach to innovation policy with concepts based on new developments in the governance of complex systems and processes. The conceptual framework of complex networks and systems is used to examine national policy approaches in countries that have created environments conducive to high-technology industries as well as individual high-technology sectors, such as biotechnology, alternative energy, and aerospace. Theoretical and empirical contributions are synthesised into lessons for high-tech policy and further research.

Johannes M. Bauer is a Professor in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media at Michigan State Univesity. He is also the Co-Director of the Quello Center for Telecommunication Management and Law at Michigan State University. Dr. Bauer joined Michigan State University in 1990 after receiving his doctorate in economics from the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, Vienna, Austria. From 1993 until 1998, he directed the Institute of Public Utilities and Network Industries at the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management at Michigan State University. He taught and researched as a visiting professor at the Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands (2000-2001) and the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, China (2002). His work was published in the leading journals in the field, includingTelecommunications Policy, Information Economics and Policy, Communications& Strategies,Telematics& Informatics, andInfo.

Volker Schneider is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Konstanz (Germany), where he holds the Chair of Empirical Theory of the State. He received a PhD from the European University Institute in Florence (Italy), and he was research fellow at the Max-Planck-Institute for the Study of Societies in Cologne (Germany) between 1986 and 1997. He has written on policy networks, politics and policy of technology, government-business relations and the evolution of governance structures. In a long term perspective he is work complexity, governance and network theory. He edited several books. Among them areOrganized Business Interests in ChangingEnvironments (with J. Grote and A. Lang),Governing Interests:Business Associations Facing Internationalization (with W. Streeck, J. Grote, and J. Visser), andPrivate Organisation in Global Politics (with K. Ronit).

Achim Lang isAssistant Professor at the University of Konstanz (Germany). He studied public policy and management at the University of Konstanz and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain). He holds a doctoral degree in political science for his study on the evolution of sectoral business associations. Achim Lang held research positions at the University of Konstanz, the University of Cologne and the Darmstadt University of Technology. He authoredDie Evolution sektoraler WirtschaftsverbändeundInformations- und Kommunikationsverbände in Deutschland, Großbritannien undSpanien. He editedOrganized Business Interests in Changing Environments (with J. Grote and A. Lang).

Introduction.- Part I: Theories and Concepts of Innovation Policy.- Part II: National Systems of Innovation and High-tech Policies.- Part III: Sectoral Perspectives on Innovation Policy.- Part IV: Conclusions