Since the 1980s, modern knowledge, information, and communication technologies have significantly transformed our lives and economies. These advancements have led to new working methods, innovative business practices, and different relationships between firms and knowledge institutions like universities. However, a paradox remains: these profound changes are often not reflected in official productivity data. Nobel Laureate Robert Solow (1987) famously observed, “You can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics,” and this observation remains relevant today. Although activities such as research and development (R&D) drive innovation and are critical to productivity growth, the relationships among knowledge generation, innovation, and productivity are complex rather than linear. In the mid-twentieth century, it was commonly believed that these connections were straightforward, with the expectation that competitive markets would optimise knowledge creation, leading to innovation and productivity gains. Today, we recognise that this is not the case; various factors—such as institutions, culture, the banking system, labour relations, and shared ownership models—interact in intricate ways, influencing these relationships.

Moreover, the rise of modern technologies has contributed to a widening income and wealth divide among different social groups, often reflecting geographical and regional discrepancies. Although many technologies are widely available, their economic benefits tend to favour specific groups or areas over others, which highlights the characteristics of the ‘knowledge economy’. This term refers to sectors dominated by the production and exchange of intangibles, such as knowledge assets and the information derived from them. As these intangibles gain importance, their role in shaping economic dynamics has grown, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic accelerated digitalisation, advancing at about 25 times the previous pace. In just a few months, digitalisation levels reached what would have taken 3 to 4 years to achieve pre-pandemic (McKinsey Global Institute, 2020). This rapid shift is likely to disrupt traditional innovation processes and blur the lines between manufacturing and service innovation as the knowledge economy continues to evolve. Early adopters of the digital economy have experienced significant productivity gains from their investments during this period. In summary, while the advent of modern technologies has transformed the economy and created new opportunities, it has also revealed complexities in the relationships between knowledge, innovation, and productivity. The paradox of seeing the impact of technology yet struggling to find evidence of it in productivity statistics remains. The increasing divide in income and wealth emphasises the need to understand these dynamics better, as they will continue to shape our economic landscape. Thus, as we move forward, it is crucial to explore the multifaceted interactions that underpin innovation and productivity in the context of modern knowledge-based technologies. This understanding could help bridge the gap between the potential of the knowledge economy and the actual productivity gains it delivers.

In this conference track, we are aiming at receiving research that examines the knowledge-related linkages and mechanisms between technology, knowledge diffusion and adoption and productivity. Contemplating new methodologies that consider the role of private sector firms, public and private research institutions, research teams and market and location environments in which different forms of research and technology could be applied or commercialised. Specifically, we are interested in the application of new methodologies to explore the pathways and transmission mechanisms linking research, technology, and productivity.