Role of Innovation in the Development of ICT Software Enterprises in Palestine

Imad A. Khatib

Renewable Energy and Environment Research Unit, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, State of Palestine..

DOI: 10.4236/ajibm.2013.35060                

Abstract

The ICT sector in Palestine is growing in quantity and scope of works endorsed by the governmental institutions. ICT enterprises working on software development related works have started two decades ago. Some of these enterprises have scored success on national and regional levels. The ICT software development enterprises are so much important in the national innovation system as they are not only delivering goods but providing diversity of services and tools used in the process of knowledge generation and implementation and the knowledge-based-economy. In an effort of assessing the innovation levels in the Palestinian software development enterprises, the community innovation survey questionnaire has been translated, tailored and used on a representative sample. Analysis of the innovation survey questionnaire brings promising results that need to be carefully studied. It is found that most enterprises are innovators and having high potentials. However, potentials are found to be fragmented as national directive policies are not yet developed. For the development of the sector, public-private-academic partnership is needed.

Keywords

ICT Enterprises; State of Palestine; Software Development Enterprises; Community Innovation Survey

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	“The Palestinian Economic Bulletin,” Palestinian Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS), the Portland Trust, No. 72, September 2012.
[2]	World Bank, “The Palestinian Economy and the Prospects of Its Recovery,” Economic Monitoring Report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, No. 1, December 2005.
[3]	World Bank, “Sustaining Achievements in Palestinian Institution—Building and Economic Growth,” Economic Monitoring Report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, September 2011.
[4]	“The Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement (Oslo II), Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,” Washington DC, 28 September 1995.
[5]	The Portland Trust, “Palestinian Economic Bulletin,” No. 34, 2009.
[6]	Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PSBS), “On the Eve of the International Population Day 11/07/2012,” PCBS Publications, 2012.
[7]	German Society for the International Cooperation (GIZ), “Final Report: Palestinian ICT Private Sector 3-Years Strategy and Development Plan,” 2012.
[8]	http://www.pita.ps/directory
[9]	N. Atyani and S. Ali, “Problems of Mico, Small, and Medium Enterprises in Palestine,” Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute (MAS), 2009.
[10]	S. Vania, “The return of the prince of Denmark: A Survey on Recent Developments in the Economics of Innovation,” The Economic Journal, Vol. 114, No. 496, 2004, pp. F312-F332. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0297.2004.00225.x
[11]	C. Carter and B. Williams, “Investment in Innovation,” Oxford University Press, London, 1958.
[12]	K. Pavitt, “Sectoral Patterns of Technical Change: Towards Taxonomy and a Theory,” Research Policy, Vol. 13, No. 6, 1984, pp. 343-373. doi:10.1016/0048-7333(84)90018-0
[13]	Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), “Oslo Manual,” 1st Edition, Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris, 1992.
[14]	Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), “Oslo Manual,” 2nd Edition, Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris, 1996.
[15]	Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), “Oslo Manual,” 3rd Edition, Organization for the Economic Cooperation and Development Paris, 2005.
[16]	Enterprise and Industry, “European Innovation Progress Report 2008,” The European Commission, 2008.
[17]	Eurostat, “The Community Innovation Survey 2008 (CIS2008), the Harmonized Survey Questionnaire,” 2008.
[18]	I. Khatib, L. Tsipouri, Y. Bassiakos and A. Haj-Daoud, “Innovation in Palestinian Industries: A Necessity for Surviving the Abnormal,” Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 2012. doi:10.1007/s13132-012-0093-8
[19]	H. Etzkowitz, “The Triple Helix’ University-Industry— Government Innovation in Action,” Rutledge, New York, 2008. doi:10.4324/9780203929605
[20]	E. Carayannis and D. Campbell, “‘Mode 3’ and ‘Quadruple Helix’: Toward a 21st Century Fractal Innovation Ecosystem,” International Journal of Technology Management, Vol. 46, No. 3-4, 2009, pp. 201-234. doi:10.1504/IJTM.2009.023374
[21]	E. Carayannis and D. Campbell, “Triple Helix, Quadruple Helix and Quintuple Helix and How Do Knowledge, Innovation and the Environment Relate to Each Other? A Proposed Framework for a Trans-Disciplinary Analysis of Sustainable Development and Social Ecology,” International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2010, pp. 41-69. doi:10.4018/jsesd.2010010105