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This book argues that ideas and values are not easily applicable and transferable to all situations and that the necessary condition for an idea, which is conceived in one context, to be effective elsewhere, is that it must be stripped from its original context and become value-free. Because ideas are products and consequences of distinct historical experiences and cultural evolutions, they retain specificities that cannot be co-opted into other contexts. Therefore, past economic growth models based on one formula have failed as they have not taken into consideration historical, political, and social complexities. Ideas that are value-neutral have measurable results, and as such their very nature of adaptability breeds innovation. Examples of successful transfer of ideas are innovation-related processes, such as scientific knowledge and technical know-how, derived from work-based practice that describes how something should be (e.g. international accounting standards). Supported through a detailed examination of case studies, the framework used in this study is based on the encompassing definition of innovation as a process of dynamic change that has three dimensions: socio-economic, socio-political and socio-technical. These cases emphasize that modernization, economic growth, and development are not single acts of change, but rather, a constant and unending process where maintaining one´s own identity and tradition is the determining factor. his seminal work is essential reading for researchers of innovation and knowledge transfer, economic growth and development study, and political science.

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Dr. Elias G. Carayannis is Full Professor of Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, as well as co-Founder and co-Director of the Global and Entrepreneurial Finance Research Institute (GEFRI) and Director of Research on Science, Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, European Union Research Center, (EURC) at the School of Business of the George Washington University in Washington, DC. Dr. Carayannis´ teaching and research activities focus on the areas of strategic Government-University-Industry R&D partnerships, technology road-mapping, technology transfer and commercialization, international science and technology policy, technological entrepreneurship and regional economic development.
Dr. Ali Pirzadeh has more than 20 years´ experience as an Economist in the fields of Development Economics, Institutional Economics, Macroeconomics, and Transitional Economies. He has taught, researched, and worked with universities, government institutions and international organizations in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Middle East. Mr Pirzadeh received his PhD in Economics and MS in Economics from University of Washington in Seattle, WA, his M.A. in Sociology from University of Massachusetts, and his M.Ed. in Education from Suffolk University in Boston, MA.
Denisa Popescu is a Senior Officer with the World Bank Group. Ms. Popescu led and worked on initiatives in data and information management, enterprise architecture and use of information technologies for development (institutional set-up and business processes design, digital government). Ms Popescu received her Ph.D. in Business Administration from George Washington University in Washington, DC and M.S. in Sociology from University of Massachusetts and her M.S. in Political Science from Suffolk University in Boston, MA. Ms. Popescu primary research focus is on, global governance and knowledge transfer, institutional development information integration, big data, ontologies and semantics.

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