South Korea is developing Busan as a world-class city specializing in digital content, with the latest ICON2009 hosted there by Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency (BIPA). Gamers, animation industry, other digital content and CG people from 15 countries were all there.

According to Companiesandmarkets.com, the 2008 value of the carbon market is USD $126 billion, an increase of over 1000% in 3 years. Whilst all estimates can be debated and there’s too many nuances for a pithy response, the bottom line is: there’s money in that carbon!

Diversification of products and accessing offshore markets are two key needs for Indian start-ups. That’s a key message from “Envisioning the Wired SME” conference, organized by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) and IndiaMART.com, at the Sheraton, Saket, in New Delhi on Saturday.

Eurail has expanded Eurail pass sales into the Chinese market, a significant indicator that European tourist destinations expect greater numbers of Asian and Chinese inbound tourists. Eurail passes offer favourable rail transit prices, and are also an enabler of travel and cultural exhange.

Could manufacturing abuses caused by the need for ever-cheaper products be a partial catalyst for a reversion to local manufacturing? According to China Labor Watch’s latest investigation of five Wal-Mart supplier factories reveals not a single factory has implemented Wal-Mart’s basic standards, and with wages at rates as low as $0.44/hour, questions about the desperate need for change have to be asked.

Are high house prices good or bad for innovation? It seems the RBA are saying house asset inflation is good for Australia, perhaps mainly based around housing stock shortages. Our Executive Director, Christopher Hire, takes a look at property prices impact on innovation, and how they may prevent tomorrow’s employers – today’s start-ups – emerging.

The nature of innovation is shifting, but our society is stuck in old paradigms of innovation. Our Executive Director, Christopher Hire, examines what a Creative Age of innovation may mean and the opportunity it gives all of us, …

What is the real reson transport isn’t improved in Victoria, Australia? And how should we align politicians incentives to make sure it is done faster?

China and South America will be forming closer banking and trade ties, backing the importance of the South American region in innovation economics.

There may be some surprises in the Transparency International’s 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), a measure of domestic, public sector corruption. Whilst war zones are among the worst, kick-backs, crony capitalism and nepotism means some Western countries fare less well than you might think. It seems institutions and process matter. Read more…

The first-ever World Expo held in China will run from May through October 2010, and is expected to attract 70 million visitors – more than any Expo in 150 years of Expo or World Trade Fair history. And it’s a big opportunity for U.S. and Chinese business as well…

The change away from coal &/or to more sustainable use of coal may take time, but this U.S. Medical Report increases pressure on the coal industry to “clean-up”. On the other hand, a large and complex transition for the people of mining communities. It’s a complex issue, but so were the challenges of the 19th century world.

An often over-looked application of renewables in communication infrastructure is being addressed – renewable energy mobile phone base stations and networks. Read more…

Well when the management consultants say it, it must be close to mainstream. Deloitte calls for manufacturing back to the U.S. in the report, and indeed local manufacturing is critical for the development of innovation. In our view, the internet, fuel prices and supply chain improvements have disrupted cost dynamics, meaning manufacturing of a different sort may be here to stay. Read Deloitte’s take here…

Corporate news, yes. But significant as the march of enterprise-focus Chinese cities continues. This is Kunshan, between Shanghai and Jiangsu Province, now working to grow as a centre of global Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) – and thus a newer service focussed element to Chinese innovation segments.

The recent International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) conference in Cairo, quoted World Bank research linking each 10% increase in internet to a 1.3% increase in economic growth.

Government 2.0 in Australia is happening. And it represents a once in a life-time reform opportunity, so what does it take… instant messaging, government-wide wikis? Hear from the Government 2.0 Taskforce… What about cultural reform? Are government innovators punished? And, of course, 2thinknow comments…

Research ties between Old World (Europe) & New World (Australia & USA) are important. If you’re from Germany in Australia, please support this research.

One of the active Victoria Bushfire tweeters tell the story in his own words.

NEW! An open-source ethos Melbourne Innovation Club. For Generation X & Y. The price of admission? Ideas & ideas alone!