Economic growth and social progress are based on institutions, ideas, and community learning. Communities, creativity and local ideas drive the collective prosperity of nations. They attract and retain investment as well as creative, talented people. Institutions are the conduit through which ideas are formed and flow, from government labs, firms (small and large), universities, and agencies, providing community services and developing the notion of ''constructed advantage''. This brief paper will discuss institutions and technology from the perspective of classical debates on science and society; from the perspective of institutions, innovation policy, governance and information; and by briefly alighting on the cases of cities, smaller nations and international institutions.