With Asia’s Technology Star Rising, Is It Finally Poised to Overtake the West?
The last two centuries have seen the dominance of the West in the field of technical invention and technological innovation. Starting from the 19th century Industrial Revolution and running through the 20th century Space Age and now the 21st century Computer and Telephony Age, industrialized Europe, the United States, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have led the way in practically all walks of technological competitiveness. For many observers the surprise here has been why economically advancing countries such as India, China and Brazil continued to trail behind. But they need not worry, because the new century so far has seen a slow and steady shift in technological influence from the West to the East. In particular, the last 40 years have seen the dominance of the “old” advanced economies of the West (and Japan) being successfully challenged by developing Asian countries. The most prolific movers and shakers in the field of technology may have started as the Japans, South Koreas and Ta
