IIMA Business: The Black Box: Innovation

What policies should India pursue for fostering innovation? Taking the perspective that all policies that influence technology-related choices of firms should be considered part of innovation policy, the book analyses the impact on innovation of various policies, including those related to industry, trade, R&D, foreign direct investment, intellectual property rights, start-ups and higher education. It brings together conceptual and empirical literature from diverse intellectual streams to analyse the linkages between innovation and public policy. Combining insights from the disciplines of economics and management, the book highlights the complexity of policy choices, identifies certain focus areas and argues for consistency across various policy instruments to create an appropriate environment for innovation in India.

Rakesh Basant is professor of economics and JSW Professor of Innovation and Public Policy at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. His teaching and research have focused on public policy and regulation, firm strategy, innovation, intellectual property rights and entrepreneurial business models. He is well published in the areas of competition policy, technology strategy, industrial clusters, innovation-internationalization linkages, incubation models in higher education and industry-academia partnerships. He was a member of the Sachar Committee that wrote a report on the social, economic and educational conditions of Muslims in India. In continuation of this work, part of his current research focuses on affirmative action and other issues related to caste and religion in India. He has taught at universities abroad and worked as a consultant to several international organizations.