Well yeah. This isn't a game like Civilization where countries lagging behind have to develop the steam engine while everyone else is on space age tech. You can put solar panels in Africa today.
If you talk strictly about technology, you may be right. But I wonder if technological advancement without organic societal advancement may be even detrimental. Something along the lines what Isaac Asimov said: "The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom."