Dhaka, Feb. 6 -- What are the development options for natural resource-poor, densely populated countries? Of course, human competence is the answer. Naturally, in less developed countries, the process begins with the commercialisation of labour. With the given local and international market, commercialisation of labour may cause such countries to graduate from hunger to low middle-income status. The next target for sustaining growth is creating economic value from knowledge and ideas. Such countries are advised to borrow and make investments in education and research. There is thus an urgency to rationalise R&D investment to realise the new growth phase.

The belief in R&D investment for creating jobs for graduates and driving economic gr...