The software industry represents a good example. As a general purpose technology, software has applications throughout the economy and society. It also has relatively low entry barriers and is likely to remain highly relevant in the future. As depicted in figure I.3, the national vision, strategies and government policies influence the development of the system. In fact, in most countries that have successfully managed to nurture domestic software capabilities and a competitive software industry, active government involvement was instrumental, especially at the early stages of development (chapter I).