"he concept of National Innovation Systems (NIS) has been gaining intellectual and practical coherence over a number of decades, enjoying initial strong adoption by OECD and developed countries, and more recently becoming the focus of increased attention as a means to address some of the more profound issues for developing nations. As the divide(s) between the developed and developing world becomes increasingly stark, econo - mists and policy makers view NIS as having great potential both as a source of understanding of the roots and primary causes of the gulf in economic development, as well as a powerful conceptual framework that can produce policies and institutions capable of bridging that gulf..."