Opportunities for knowledge-based development: capabilities, infrastructure, investment and policy

Developing countries must find innovative ways of combining their existing experience and skills with the production and consumption of information and communication technology-related products and services in order to benefit from the potential advantages for social and economic development. The new applications can be employed as 'tools' for development, but their effective use requires substantial investment in both the technical and the social infrastructure. The potential of information and communication technologies to create opportunities for catching up or forging ahead exists but applications must be consistent with the distinctive information and knowledge systems within each developing country and their development priorities.