UNU-MERIT Lectures

This video contains lectures presented at the GLOBELICS 2009 DAKAR conference of October 6-8, 2009.

GLOBELICS (Global Network for Economics of Learning, Innovation, and Competence Building Systems) is an international network of scholars who apply the concept of "learning, innovation, and competence building system" (LICS) as their framework and are dedicated to the strengthening of LICS in developing countries, emerging economies and societies in transition. The research aims at locating unique systemic features as well as generic good practices to enlighten policy making relating to innovation, competence building, international competitiveness, regional development, labor market and human capital development. In an increasingly global and knowledge-based competition, management strategies need to be based upon an understanding of these framework conditions and the public policies which seek to regulate the environment.

The 2009 conference was organised by CRES-UCAD in Dakar and UNU-MERIT. Please visit the conference website at: globelics2009dakar.merit.unu.edu

Dr. René Kemp, senior researcher at UNU-MERIT, speaks at the "Environment and Energy Innovation in Economic Dynamics" conference which took place in Rome at the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei on 21-22 May 2009. The conference was organised by Fondazione Edison.

Dr. Kemp's presentation is entitled: "Innovation, environmental policy and lock-in effects: Perspectives on the transition towards a greener economy".

Unfortunately, the slides in this video presentation are difficult to read. The accompanying slides can be downloaded from: kemp.unu-merit.nl/docs/200905_rome.ppt

Abstract:
In Europe the term environmental technology is superseded by the broader concept of eco-innovation in recognition of the shifting attention to product change and changes in product chains. Issues of resource efficiency, the closing of material loops and alternative systems of provision are discussed under the new label of eco-innovation. Eco-innovation is also the stated aim of government. It is part of the Sustainable development strategy and the economic growth strategy of the European Commission because of the assumption of offering a ‘double win’. In his presentation paper Dr. Kemp examines national and international patterns in eco-innovation and policy efforts towards eco-innovation in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is interesting because it has developed a transition approach for dealing with issues of lock-in. At the heart of the energy transition project are the activities of transition platforms. In these platforms individuals from the private and the public sector come together to develop a common ambition for particular areas, develop pathways and suggest transition experiments. The approach is viewed as successful in stimulating business to look beyond technical fixes and incremental innovation.

If you wish to learn more about Dr. Kemp's research, please visit his website at: kemp.unu-merit.nl

On Monday 20 April UNU-MERIT welcomed Dr. Janez Potočnik, the European Commissioner for Science and Research, who delivered a lecture ‘Will Science and Research Survive in Times of Economic Crisis’.

About the speaker:
Dr Janez Potočnik is a Slovenian politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Science and Research. He was formerly Slovenia's Minister for European Affairs.

3rd Charles Cooper Annual Memorial Lecture

Abstract:
The talk assesses the performance of the S&T system in South Africa since 1994 and identifies current areas of strength and weakness. This assessment is situated within a broader context of South Africa’s overall economic trajectory. Prof. Kaplan then outlines the government plan for S&T over the next decade and critically assesses this plan in the light of the forgoing assessment.

About the speaker:
David Kaplan has extensive experience in working with an in government. He has been engaged in a wide variety of work for a number of government departments particularly the Departments of Science and Technology (DST) and Trade and Industry (dti). He was Chief Economist at the dti, 2000-2003 and is currently Chief Economist (part-time) in the Department of Economic Development and Tourism in the Western Cape. He has served for four years as a member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI). With support from the IRD in France, he established the South African Network of Skills Abroad (SANSA) a network to engage in South Africans located abroad in utilising their skills to support development in South Africa.

At UCT, David Kaplan founded the Science and Technology Research Center (STPRC) in 1994 with the support of the IDRC (Canada). Together with two colleagues, he established the Development Policy Research Unit in 1995. He was Director of the STPRC and the DPRU for much of the period 1995-2000, before joining the dti.

David Kaplan is concerned with policy-oriented research, particularly in the fields of industrial and technology policy. The critical concern is how government and business collectively develop policies and strategies that can best enhance development. There is a strong interest in Science and Technology and especially how government policy can serve to enhance innovation on the part of businesses. Research on innovation within South African companies and how this is affected by the policy environment is a central thrust of his research and teaching at the GSB.

About the Charles Cooper Lecture series:
Charles Cooper is the founding director of the Maastricht-based United Nations University Institute for New Technologies, UNU-INTECH (now UNU-MERIT). In recognition of his immense contribution to our understanding of the role of technology in economic development - and the pivotal role he played in forging close ties between UNU-INTECH and MERIT, UNU-MERIT launched the Charles Cooper Memorial Lecture Series in January 2007. The lecture series will contribute to better public understanding of science, technology and innovation in the development process.

3rd Charles Cooper Annual Memorial Lecture

Abstract:
The talk assesses the performance of the S&T system in South Africa since 1994 and identifies current areas of strength and weakness. This assessment is situated within a broader context of South Africa’s overall economic trajectory. Prof. Kaplan then outlines the government plan for S&T over the next decade and critically assesses this plan in the light of the forgoing assessment.

About the speaker:
David Kaplan has extensive experience in working with an in government. He has been engaged in a wide variety of work for a number of government departments particularly the Departments of Science and Technology (DST) and Trade and Industry (dti). He was Chief Economist at the dti, 2000-2003 and is currently Chief Economist (part-time) in the Department of Economic Development and Tourism in the Western Cape. He has served for four years as a member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI). With support from the IRD in France, he established the South African Network of Skills Abroad (SANSA) a network to engage in South Africans located abroad in utilising their skills to support development in South Africa.

At UCT, David Kaplan founded the Science and Technology Research Center (STPRC) in 1994 with the support of the IDRC (Canada). Together with two colleagues, he established the Development Policy Research Unit in 1995. He was Director of the STPRC and the DPRU for much of the period 1995-2000, before joining the dti.

David Kaplan is concerned with policy-oriented research, particularly in the fields of industrial and technology policy. The critical concern is how government and business collectively develop policies and strategies that can best enhance development. There is a strong interest in Science and Technology and especially how government policy can serve to enhance innovation on the part of businesses. Research on innovation within South African companies and how this is affected by the policy environment is a central thrust of his research and teaching at the GSB.

About the Charles Cooper Lecture series:
Charles Cooper is the founding director of the Maastricht-based United Nations University Institute for New Technologies, UNU-INTECH (now UNU-MERIT). In recognition of his immense contribution to our understanding of the role of technology in economic development - and the pivotal role he played in forging close ties between UNU-INTECH and MERIT, UNU-MERIT launched the Charles Cooper Memorial Lecture Series in January 2007. The lecture series will contribute to better public understanding of science, technology and innovation in the development process.