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Challenges and opportunities offered by a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy

By Becky McCray

That quote is from a Namibia, Africa, news report, but it applies equally to small biz survival.

“To take on the challenges and opportunities offered by a knowledge-based and innovation-driven economy, Namibians need to make a transition by changing and adjusting their basic attitudes, values and beliefs,” Minister of Education Nangolo Mbumba said….

In his view, everyone must recognise that in a globalised knowledge-based economy the greatest resource for innovation and economic growth resides within a country’s classrooms.

“To create a new generation of innovators, we in Namibia must call for qualified teachers in every math and science classroom. The government recognises that independent scientific research provides the foundation for innovation and future technologies. We should thus promote public and private partnerships that will translate new ideas into marketable technologies,” he said.

In some remarkable ways, our small and declining towns are much like developing countries. We face some of the same challenges in workforce issues, government investment, education, and corporate investment.

Are you prepared to change your basic attitudes, values and beliefs in order to meet the challenge? Innovation is the only way to survive. What have you done innovative today?

Technorati tags: [innovation] [small biz] [small business] [Namibia] [Africa]

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About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.
  • Zoom Towns: attracting and supporting remote workers in rural small towns - December 10, 2020
  • In an economic crisis, spend your brainpower before your dollars - November 25, 2020
  • Video: How to fill empty car dealership buildings for the holidays - November 6, 2020
  • How has 2020 changed the challenges rural small towns face? Tell us here - October 20, 2020
  • The Idea Friendly Method to surviving a business crisis - October 6, 2020
  • Join me for the Rural Renewal Symposium online Oct 13 - September 26, 2020
  • Cheap placemaking idea: instant murals - September 11, 2020
  • Refilling the rural business pipeline - July 7, 2020
  • Huge vacant buildings: grants to renovate? - June 9, 2020
  • Economic self defense for small towns  - June 7, 2020

February 1, 2006 Filed Under: workforce

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