Protecting knowledge

Developing countries have become technologically more sophisticated. The share of high-technology exports for developing countries has been increasing rapidly in recent years, driven mostly by China, but also other Asian countries. High-technology exports are products with high research and development intensity, such as in aerospace, computers, pharmaceuticals, scientifi c instruments, and electrical machinery.

Data provided by the World Bank and studied by the Commission on Growth and Development show that in the case of services, world trade is still dominated by the United States and the European Union. Notwithstanding India8217;s growing exports of services, the share of developing countries has in fact declined.Knowledge-based commercial services include information technology , communications, insurance, financial, and other services. They, however, do not include transportation and travel.

The Commission points out that though developing countries have become more important innovators, income from innovation, however, is still dominated by industrialised countries.