.
For the world’s developed nations, technology has continued to push the boundaries, providing limitless opportunity for the future. The rest of the world however, faces a different outlook, with a vast technological gap that only threatens to continue to widen. The World Economic Forum, in conjunction with INSEAD and Cornell University, recently released the Global Information Technology Report 2015, examining the Networked Readiness Index. By evaluating a country’s ability to use and control information and communication technologies (ICTs), the report provided rankings and benchmarks for 143 nations.
Claiming the number one spot, Singapore exhibits a clear understanding of technology usage, from government to business and social applications. With a large number of individual technology users, as well as government usage, Singapore has seen a steady benefit to the economy, knowledge-based jobs, and technology-integrated education. From a geological perspective however, Singapore’s information dominance is somewhat isolated in comparison to the technological powerhouses of Europe.
Whatever the Western European approach to technology may be, it is undeniably producing results. Reigning champion Finland moved down to 2nd place, with Sweden 3rd, the Netherlands 4th, and Norway 5th, all unchanged from the previous years benchmark. Within the top 10, only the United States (7th) and Japan (10th), provide a departure from the European continent. This begs the question then, what is Europe doing right? A common trait among the ICT elite is the connection between education, policy, and economic development. Nations such as Finland greatly profit from supporting technological innovation in order to provide comprehensive benefits.
The story isn’t all perfect though. Developed countries and regions may be experiencing the prosperity of the technological age, but emerging economies are unable to make nearly as much progress. Countries like Chad and Burundi, making up the very bottom of the benchmark, have seen a noted decrease in technological usage and overall Networked Readiness Index. Most heavily located throughout parts of Africa, these nations have very limited access to the Internet and other technology resources. As a consequence, what little technological gains can be made have little impact in comparison to the immense progress of the developed world. This informational chasm only continues to grow, and has even begun to reach into more technologically capable countries as well.
While Russia and some Middle Eastern nations have seen significant technological growth, other emerging countries such as China, India, and Brazil are remaining stagnant at best. With increasingly industrialized markets and economies, these countries must account for the growing divide between commerce and the citizen. Industry is no doubt a key factor in the journey to a fully developed nation, but the access to information by the general public cannot be forgotten. Technology usage in education and government is just as essential as promoting economic growth. High-Income countries like the United States and those in Europe have a strong balance between individual, government, and business usage.
The report does illustrate however, that many emerging nations have made significant strides in promoting ICT as a way to bring people and commerce together, and reduce the technological gap that can so easily emerge. Eastern European countries such as Estonia (22nd) and Malta (29th) sit comfortably amongst their western counterparts, a signal of increased commitment to technological advancement. In addition, Gulf Countries, including the UAE (23), Qatar (27), and Bahrain (30) have maintained their positions over recent years, in tandem with other developed nations. It appears then, that despite different economies and international governments, increased technological utility has yielded positive results for those countries willing to adopt the current revolution.
The largest challenge for the future then, is how to bridge the widening gap between the connected countries, and those that lack even basic technological access. ICT continues to grow, leaving developing nations behind. It is apparent that ICT is an inherent part of belonging to the 21st society, requiring increased effort and investment to ensure the entire world is digitally connected.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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Connected Globe: The World Economic Forum’s List of the Most Technological Countries in the World
World map superimposed with information data text
June 2, 2015
For the world’s developed nations, technology has continued to push the boundaries, providing limitless opportunity for the future. The rest of the world however, faces a different outlook, with a vast technological gap that only threatens to continue to widen. The World Economic Forum, in conjunction with INSEAD and Cornell University, recently released the Global Information Technology Report 2015, examining the Networked Readiness Index. By evaluating a country’s ability to use and control information and communication technologies (ICTs), the report provided rankings and benchmarks for 143 nations.
Claiming the number one spot, Singapore exhibits a clear understanding of technology usage, from government to business and social applications. With a large number of individual technology users, as well as government usage, Singapore has seen a steady benefit to the economy, knowledge-based jobs, and technology-integrated education. From a geological perspective however, Singapore’s information dominance is somewhat isolated in comparison to the technological powerhouses of Europe.
Whatever the Western European approach to technology may be, it is undeniably producing results. Reigning champion Finland moved down to 2nd place, with Sweden 3rd, the Netherlands 4th, and Norway 5th, all unchanged from the previous years benchmark. Within the top 10, only the United States (7th) and Japan (10th), provide a departure from the European continent. This begs the question then, what is Europe doing right? A common trait among the ICT elite is the connection between education, policy, and economic development. Nations such as Finland greatly profit from supporting technological innovation in order to provide comprehensive benefits.
The story isn’t all perfect though. Developed countries and regions may be experiencing the prosperity of the technological age, but emerging economies are unable to make nearly as much progress. Countries like Chad and Burundi, making up the very bottom of the benchmark, have seen a noted decrease in technological usage and overall Networked Readiness Index. Most heavily located throughout parts of Africa, these nations have very limited access to the Internet and other technology resources. As a consequence, what little technological gains can be made have little impact in comparison to the immense progress of the developed world. This informational chasm only continues to grow, and has even begun to reach into more technologically capable countries as well.
While Russia and some Middle Eastern nations have seen significant technological growth, other emerging countries such as China, India, and Brazil are remaining stagnant at best. With increasingly industrialized markets and economies, these countries must account for the growing divide between commerce and the citizen. Industry is no doubt a key factor in the journey to a fully developed nation, but the access to information by the general public cannot be forgotten. Technology usage in education and government is just as essential as promoting economic growth. High-Income countries like the United States and those in Europe have a strong balance between individual, government, and business usage.
The report does illustrate however, that many emerging nations have made significant strides in promoting ICT as a way to bring people and commerce together, and reduce the technological gap that can so easily emerge. Eastern European countries such as Estonia (22nd) and Malta (29th) sit comfortably amongst their western counterparts, a signal of increased commitment to technological advancement. In addition, Gulf Countries, including the UAE (23), Qatar (27), and Bahrain (30) have maintained their positions over recent years, in tandem with other developed nations. It appears then, that despite different economies and international governments, increased technological utility has yielded positive results for those countries willing to adopt the current revolution.
The largest challenge for the future then, is how to bridge the widening gap between the connected countries, and those that lack even basic technological access. ICT continues to grow, leaving developing nations behind. It is apparent that ICT is an inherent part of belonging to the 21st society, requiring increased effort and investment to ensure the entire world is digitally connected.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
