Natural Resources, Innovation and Development is the third Globelics Thematic Review, edited by Allan Dahl Andersen, Björn Johnson, Anabel Marín, Dave Kaplan, Lilia Stubrin, Bengt-Åke Lundvall, and Raphael Kaplinsky. The review challenges the long-standing assumption that dependence on natural resources inevitably limits economic development. Instead, it demonstrates that countries rich in natural resources can achieve sustained growth and industrial diversification when they build strong innovation systems, develop technological capabilities, and implement effective public policies.
The review addresses three central questions. First, can natural resource-based economies achieve long-term development? Second, what mechanisms explain successful resource-intensive development paths? Third, what policies can governments adopt to strengthen these processes? Drawing on historical and contemporary evidence from both developed and developing countries, the authors argue that natural resources should be viewed not as fixed comparative advantages but as dynamic sectors capable of generating technological learning, innovation, and industrial upgrading.
A key message of the review is that successful resource-rich economies continuously invest in knowledge creation and capability building. Innovation does not occur only in high-technology industries; mining, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and energy sectors also generate significant technological advances when firms collaborate with universities, research institutes, suppliers, and government agencies. These interactions create learning opportunities that stimulate productivity improvements, new technologies, value-added industries, and economic diversification. Rather than remaining exporters of raw commodities, countries can develop sophisticated industries linked to their natural resource base.
The authors also examine the role of public policy in avoiding the so-called “resource curse.” Resource abundance alone does not guarantee development; outcomes depend on institutions, governance, education, research capacity, and industrial policies that encourage innovation and long-term investment. The review highlights experiences from countries such as Norway, Australia, Chile, and several emerging economies to illustrate how resource wealth can support broader structural transformation when accompanied by strong innovation systems and effective institutional coordination.
Another important contribution is the integration of natural resource economics with innovation systems theory. The review argues that environmental sustainability, technological change, and industrial development should be considered together rather than as separate policy areas. Responsible management of natural resources requires continuous innovation that improves productivity while reducing environmental impacts and creating new economic opportunities. This perspective broadens traditional resource policy by emphasizing learning, collaboration, and capability accumulation as the foundations of sustainable development.
Natural Resources, Innovation and Development demonstrates that natural resource sectors can become engines of innovation rather than barriers to development. By combining innovation systems thinking with industrial and environmental policy, the review provides a comprehensive framework for transforming resource wealth into diversified, resilient, and inclusive economic growth. It remains a key reference for researchers and policymakers interested in resource-based development and innovation policy.
