Culture and technological progress in the context of European integration: new challenges

Abstract

The present paper deals with new challenges for changes in the European cultural, technological and economic space in the context of globalization, European integration and the creation of knowledge-based society and knowledge economy. The main attention is paid to the development of the high technology sector in the European Union, as well as to the impact of technological advances on the changes in the European cultural space. The author of the present article characterizes the main trends in the creation and development of the high technology sector, especially – under conditions of European integration and the creation of knowledgebased society. The author describes the original theoretical concept of the creation, development and further modernization of the high technology sector, based on the priority to initiate synergy effects. The essence of this theoretical concept–orientation to the multifaceted interaction between different cultures, different organizational systems, institutions and societal groups representing different activities, functions, interests, as well as different sectors of economy and societal life, different industries and spheres of production, manufacturing and services. The ideas of networking and rationalization of various regional cultural and economic systems, as well as the ideas of the development of regional and interregional high technology oriented clusters are discussed. These ideas are presented in the context of technological progress related problems and the creation of knowledge-based society and knowledge economy. It is suggested that the development of high technology sectors and the increase in efficiency of various national and regional economic systems could be defined as a critical preconditions for successful cultural development and creation of modern knowledge-based economy both in the whole European Union and in individual countries.