Competition for Technological Leadership

In the year 2000, European Union governments announced a long-term strategic commitment to transform the European economy into the most competitive, dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world. Technology is an integral part of the new economy and of the EU's strategy for economic development. This text deals with the development of infrastructure in the mobile communications, transport, space and radio sectors. It sets out to explain the conditions under which the EU, and in particular the European Commission, makes policy choices to support large-scale technology infrastructures, and why EU political intevention in seemingly similar infrastructure projects varies. Answering this question will provide insights into the political economy underpinning the ambitions to transform the European economy into the most competitive in the world. This study of EU political intervention in support of advanced technology should be interesting reading for advanced students and academic researchers of international political economy, international affairs and political science. It should also appeal to journalists, policymakers and analysts with a special interest in EU high technology policy.