Last week I was at a fascinating conference on Advancing Knowledge and the Knowledge Economy. Held at the National Academy of Science main building here in Washington, it focused on the transformation of knowledge:
Knowledge assumes many forms and behaves in anomalous and unpredictable ways. Unlike the tangible resources of the industrial economy, there is little shared understanding of knowledge as an economic factor despite its immense importance in the global economy. Yet the knowledge-based economy, conventionally measured by the composition of the workforce, is in flux. It is plainly characterized by an explosion of data and codified knowledge, propelled by a revolution in information and communication technologies, but the changes go much deeper.Abstracts are available at the conference website; the actual papers and presentations are not yet up, but should be available soon. The website also contains a link to a couple of relevant OECD papers (OECD being one of the major sponsors).
The generation of knowledge is traditionally conceived as a process internal to single entity. But it is increasingly a product of networked entities, often differently situated yet motivated to find new solutions to specific problems, needs, and circumstances - and, in many cases, to reveal these solutions to others. Enabled by technology, knowledge moves quickly within these networks - across firms, institutions, borders, and distances. While scientific research has long been characterized by unfettered circulation of discoveries and the ability to build instantly on these discoveries, distributed models are gaining importance and becoming essential to the larger fabric of the knowledge-based economy.
One aspect of knowledge very much in play at the conference was serendipity. Throughout the two days, I picked up little gems of insight and information that were not part of the speaker's main message. Rather than try to summarize the presentations, I will be posting these tidbits over the next few days.
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