Creating Regional Wealth in the Innovation Economy: Models, Perspectives, and Best Practices

Part V. High-Tech Islands of Taiwan and Israel

At first blush, it seems odd to group Taiwan and Israel together. They have different races, religions, and histories, and are on opposite ends of the farthest geographic limits of Asia.

Yet, in the Innovation Economy, Taiwan and Israel are kindred lands and spirits. Both have:

• Defied circumstances of history and achieved physical survival and economic prosperity despite great adversity. They are in perpetual danger from larger, cumbersome enemies (mainland China for Taiwan and the Arab societies for Israel).

• Created through wars in the mid-20th century. Because each society was developed through immigration in the last half of the 20^th century, they do not have entrenched long-standing “sunset” industries ...