The IPL newsletter: Volume 3, Issue 44

Identifying emerging generic technologies at the national level: the UK experience

M. Keenan, PREST.

Taking the UK Technology Foresight Programme as an example, this paper sets out to describe the processes used to obtain a list of prioritized generic ‘themes’. It shows that several difficult choices have to be made, often requiring an assessment of opposing and synergistic tendencies. In the case of the UK Programme, a number of decisions seemed to be taken without adequate regard to some of the consequences. This resulted in the identification of generic themes that were, for the most part, subsequently ignored. This paper sets out to explain how this state of affairs came about, and points to possible lessons for those intending to embark upon similar exercises.

Unveiling the Texture of a European Research Area: Emergence of Oligarchic Networks under EU Framework Programmes

S. Breschi S., Cusmano L. CESPRI

Contributing to the recent debate about targets and effectiveness of network policies at the EU level, this paper presents a detailed analysis of the large R&D network that has emerged over Framework Programmes. Using social network analysis and graph theory the authors find a network that is both dense and pervasive, branching around a large “oligarchic core”, whose centrality and connectivity strengthened over programs. With this structure the degree to which this network responds to EU broad policy objectives of competitiveness and cohesion is examined along with the implications for recent programs aimed at shaping a European Research Area.

Universities: Working in Partnership

This briefing, prepared by the Government of Quebec’s Conseil supérior de l’éducation, reports on the effect of partnerships on the future development of Québec’s universities. After looking at how partnerships affect the mission of universities, as well as the type of supervision universities provide for partnership projects and how research and training partnerships are integrated with other university activities, the Conseil concludes that  partnerships should be intensified, citing several positive impacts partnerships have on universities’ missions.  The Conseil also recommends that support should be provided for their implementation, and that partnerships should be managed more closely to take into account the fundamental mission of the universities.

From Industry to Advanced Services – Perspectives of European Metropolitan Regions

Dortmund, 27-31 August, 2002

This year’s Congress of the European Regional Science Association focuses broadly on regional economic issues. Themed sessions include regional competitiveness, innovation and new technologies, regional and urban planning, sectoral changes and new markets, demographic trends and regional policy.

Doing Business in the New European Economy

Toronto, 28 August, 2002

SMART Toronto, in partnership with the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance and ITAC Ontario, have organized this breakfast session focused on doing business in the New European Union. With Dr. Wolfgang Fürniss, Brandenburg’s Minister of Economic Affairs, as keynote speaker emphasis will be on the state of Brandenburg, one of Europe’s up-and-coming centers of technological innovation.

Softworld 2002

Charlottetown, 8 September 8, 2002

This four-day event, themed “Where Great Ideas are Born” will not only include IT focused industries, but will explore business possibilities in the Media/Film, Education/e-Learning, Health, and Aerospace/Energy and Food/Hospitality sectors, all sectors which are providing lots of opportunities for IT companies. Participants include buyers, sellers, and facilitators from over 30 countries.

Cities And Regions In The 21st Century

Newcastle upon Tyne, 17-18 September 2002

To mark their 25th year, the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS) has organized this conference to critically examine current debates in urban and regional development studies and the prospects for cities and regions over the next quarter century. Issues to be discussed include: the way in which cities and regions shape – and are shaped by – the activities and experiences of their citizens; territorial differentiation of life chances and access to services within, and between, cities and regions; the application of theories of clusters, innovation systems and knowledge-based development to the understanding of regional dynamics and their translation into policy and the revived interest in cities as motors of their regional economies.

Europe’s Regions Shaping the Future – the Role of Foresight

Brussels, 24 – 25 September, 2002

Involving various Commission Services, European organizations, and policy makers and experts from Member States and Candidate Countries, the conference aims at contributing to the networking of regional decision-makers, as well as foresight practitioners, promoters and stakeholders throughout Europe’s regions. The first day is dedicated to inserting regional Foresight in a broader context and presenting concrete results already achieved in this field in different European regions. The second day will actively engage both promoters and sponsors of regional foresight and, practitioners and stakeholders to develop ideas for new activities to harness the potential of Foresight to contribute to the Lisbon goals.

Seventh International S&T Indicators Conference

Karlsruhe, 25-28 September 2002

This conference, organized by The Fraunhofer ISI and the University of Karlsruhe, will look at whether appropriate indicators can clarify the debate on knowledge societies and the broad, radical conversion of modes of knowledge production that are claimed to accompany the shift. The main themes to be addressed include: trends and challenges in the development of novel, advanced S&T Indicators; validity and adequacy of S&T indicators; indicators reflecting modes of knowledge production; combination and integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches; and S&T Indicators for the assessment of policy effects.

International Conference on Quality and Innovation

Waterloo, 22-23 October, 2002

Sponsored in part by the University of Waterloo and the American the Society for Quality, this conference brings together academic researchers, government and business leaders, and professionals to discuss and promote ideas in the areas of quality and innovation.  Topics include innovation management, leadership for innovation, quality management and continuous improvement, quality culture and business ethics, creativity and e-business.

CITO’s Knowledge Network Conference – Where People in Technology Converge

Ottawa, 24 October, 2002

This conference aims to further CITO’s mandate of facilitating partnerships and knowledge exchange between industry and academic members. The conference is a forum for over 200 of Ontario’s leading researchers and innovators to identify significant emerging technologies and explore the issues, opportunities and challenges they present to both the research and business communities. Among the highlights of this year’s conference: interactive research strategy sessions, research presentations by current and upcoming innovators in communications, information technology and digital media and commercialization workshops. Dinner keynote speaker will be Bill Lishman.

Knowledge And Economic And Social Change: New Challenges To Innovation Studies

Manchester, 7-9 April, 2003

The purpose of this conference is to bring together the innovation studies community to focus on the current developments in the global economy, in technologies, and in political systems that are continuing to pose new challenges to analysis. Topics include: the increasing importance of the role of knowledge in the operation of the global economy; and the qualitative change in the conditions under which knowledge is exploited to create wealth, to improve the quality of life, and to move towards a sustainable ecosystem, economy and society. The conference is organized by Advances in the Economic and Social Analysis of Technology and the Institute of Innovation Research.