Thursday 29 December 2016

CfP: Globelics Academy 2017: 12th International PhD School on Innovation and Economic Development | Tampere, Finland | 15-26 May

Globelics Academy 2017: 12th International PhD School on Innovation and Economic Development

15-26 May 2017

Venue: University of Tampere, Finland


 

Call for Applications | Deadline: January 20, 2017

 

The Aim of the Globelics Academy

The aim of the Globelics Academy PhD School is to support the training of PhD students who utilize the innovation systems approach in context of emerging or developing economies in their dissertations. The Academy brings together frontier researchers in innovation with PhD students from developing countries in order to inspire and qualify their work as well as to help them to join high quality research networks in their field of research. The Globelics Academy aims at improving students' ability to undertake theoretically informed and policy-relevant empirical work on issues related with innovation in firms and societies, and its relationship with economic development. The Globelics Academy originates from and is connected to the world-wide research network Globelics (www.globelics.org) bringing together scholars working on national systems of innovation.

 

The Content of the PhD School

PhD training will be based on scholarly lectures and presentations from the PhD students. Student presentations are expected to focus explicitly on students' own on-going research, its methodological challenges and contribution to the advancement of knowledge on innovation. Lecturers for 2017 include professors form Globelics network, whose names will be confirmed soon (see webpages of previous years for example). In addition, other activities including policy lectures, panel discussion, workshops, social activities and visits to relevant "sites of innovation" are part of the program.

 

Further Details

Thursday 22 December 2016

Call for Nomination: NIAS-DST Training Programme on "Science Policy and General Management" | 6-17 February | NIAS Bangalore

NIAS-DST Training Programme on "Science Policy and General Management"
6-17 February 2017
at National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore, India

Invitation for Nomination
The broad theme for the two-week NIAS-DST training programme to be held during February 6-17, 2017 is "Science Policy and General Management" with 'Energy Security and Sustainable Development' as the core theme. Consistent with the mission of NIAS, this training programme emphasizes the development of leadership qualities through the integration of multidisciplinary knowledge. The thematic focus of this year's training programme will be particularly suited for those with an interest in energy technologies and sustainable development. 
One of the largest research concentrations at NIAS is the Energy and Environment Policy Programme, which is a unique group in the country with a comprehensive approach to address energy challenges. Here researchers from natural sciences and engineering work in collaboration with those from the humanities and social sciences in developing comprehensive technology and policy solutions to India's persistent energy problems.
India's projected economic growth and demographic expansion highlights the twin challenges faced by policymakers to increase energy supplies while also seeking to minimize the environmental impacts of energy development. For the past two decades India bas been facing a significant tightening of its energy supplies causing obstacles for development and growth. Energy planning and development in India also suffer from the fragmented nature of policymaking in the State and Central governments resulting in suboptimal outcomes. While public resistance is increasingly proving to be a challenge for industrial development, energy projects face peculiar difficulties due to differing distributions of costs and benefits among various stakeholders and perceptions thereof.
What should be the optimal energy mix for a large country like India that can address these goals? How can India address the supply problems of coal, oil, and natural gas in the short and medium term? What are the technically and economically feasible limits of renewable and nuclear energy penetration in India? How can India's energy security goals be met while also not compromising its national security and foreign policy interests? Finally, how will the country address inequality of energy access arising out of poverty and geography? The choice of topics for discussion in the training programme will provide orientation and in-depth analysis of various national energy challenges. 
The objective of this training programme is to expose participants to various local, national, and international issues affecting India's energy development in the medium and long term. In addition, the training programme will also enhance planning skills relevant for science and technology administrators, and in particular, to offer views of the broader scientific, economic, social and cultural milieu in which the Indian Scientific enterprise could develop in this century.
About 20 eminent speakers and researchers will be addressing the participants on various topics during the two-week programme, which will also have two public lectures, an industrial site visit, and a cultural outing during the weekend break. The general format of the speaker sessions is a presentation for 45 minutes followed by lively discussions for 45 minutes. We encourage all participants in our courses to interact as widely as possible with the speakers and continue discussions during coffee and lunch breaks. Engaging in a broader conversation during this training programme is expected to enrich the participants and expose them to issues beyond their narrow domain expertise.


For Inquiry Contact: National Institute of Advanced Studies | Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bengaluru 560012 | Email: dst.spgm2015@gmail.com, rethinaraj72@gmail.com, niasdst.mdp@gmail.com | URL: www.nias.res.in

Last Date for Nomination: 9th January 2017.

New Book | A Practical Guide to Responsible Research and Innovation: Key Lessons from RRI Tools | by RRI Tools Consortium, 2016

A Practical Guide to Responsible Research and Innovation: Key Lessons from RRI Tools
by RRI Tools Consortium, 2016, www.rri-tools.eu.

About the Book
This quick guide explains what responsible research and innovation really means and why it is so important for modern society. It explores RRI through the lens of the RRI Tools project and provides practical examples of its implementation through a number of case studies (page 15) and an overview of the RRI Toolkit structure and main contents (page 33). A selection of 'How To' guidelines (page 37) explains how to apply RRI to specific situations, including policy, research and business contexts. Finally, this guide provides five recommendations (page 51) that can help to make all types of research and innovation more responsible. This document explains how RRI Tools has laid the groundwork for more responsible, acceptable, and ethical science and technology development in Europe — in the pursuit of a better, more sustainable and more equitable world. 

Table of Contents
Introduction
Shaping the future: A Responsible Research and Innovation policy brief
Learning from example: RRI Showcases
The RRI Toolkit structure
Hands on: How To implement RRI 
5 golden rules for achieving RRI
Minds on, hearts on: reflecting and looking ahead


About the Authors
The RRI Tools Consortium project has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no. 612393. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC) License.



Monday 19 December 2016

New Book | The Politics of Innovation: Why Some Countries Are Better Than Others at Science and Technology | by Mark Zachary Taylor, OUP, 2016

The Politics of Innovation: Why Some Countries Are Better Than Others at Science and Technology
by Mark Zachary Taylor, Oxford University Press, 2016, Paperback, 441 pages, ISBN: 9780190464134.

About the Book
Why are some countries better than others at science and technology (S&T)? Written in an approachable style, The Politics of Innovation provides readers from all backgrounds and levels of expertise a comprehensive introduction to the debates over national S&T competitiveness. It synthesizes over fifty years of theory and research on national innovation rates, bringing together the current political and economic wisdom, and latest findings, about how nations become S&T leaders. Many experts mistakenly believe that domestic institutions and policies determine national innovation rates. However, after decades of research, there is still no agreement on precisely how this happens, exactly which institutions matter, and little aggregate evidence has been produced to support any particular explanation. Yet, despite these problems, a core faith in a relationship between domestic institutions and national innovation rates remains widely held and little challenged. The Politics of Innovation confronts head-on this contradiction between theory, evidence, and the popularity of the institutions-innovation hypothesis. It presents extensive evidence to show that domestic institutions and policies do not determine innovation rates. Instead, it argues that social networks are as important as institutions in determining national innovation rates. The Politics of Innovation also introduces a new theory of "creative insecurity" which explains how institutions, policies, and networks are all subservient to politics. It argues that, ultimately, each country's balance of domestic rivalries vs. external threats, and the ensuing political fights, are what drive S&T competitiveness. In making its case, The Politics of Innovation draws upon statistical analysis and comparative case studies of the United States, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Turkey, Israel, Russia and a dozen countries across Western Europe.

Table of Contents
Cardwell's Law
1 Introduction: The Puzzle of Cardwell's Law
2 Measuring the Black Box
3 Cardwell's Law in Action
How Do Nations Innovate?: Policies and Institutions
4 Does Technology Need Government?: The Five Pillars of Innovation
5 "Why Nations Fail": Capitalism, Democracy, and Decentralization
6 How Nations Succeed: Networks, Clusters, and Standards
Why Do Nations Innovate?: Creative Insecurity
7 Technological Losers and Political Resistance to Innovation
8 Creative Insecurity: Olson's Nemesis
9 Critical Cases of Creative Insecurity
10 Conclusion: Creative Insecurity and its Implications
Appendices-Definitions, Measurement, and Data
A1 The Great Definitions (Non-) Debate
A2 A Brief History of Measurement
A3 Tour of Innovation Measures, Data, and Sources

About the Author
Mark Zachary Taylor is Associate Professor of Political Science, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA.


Saturday 17 December 2016

New Book | Trinity for Development, Democracy and Sustainability | by RIS, India, 2016

Trinity for Development, Democracy and Sustainability
by Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, India, 2016, ISBN: 8171221238.

Preface
What evolved as a partnership among India, Brazil and South Africa at economic fora in late nineties eventually emerged as IBSA - a strong grouping of democracies from the South. The coming together of these countries provided a major impetus to the very idea of South-South Cooperation (SSC). In the beginning of this century, the Trinity from the South represented leading economies in the respective continents and represented complementary strengths and capabilities that could be exploited for mutual benefit. The shared political and economic history and similar development experiences provided further heft needed for the broad base of the engagement. 
The brief history of this grouping is extremely rich and needs to be preserved and be proud of. It has to be protected from associated angularities and external influences. IBSA partnership has great potential to make a major contribution to the economic development of the three subregions across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In this regard, issues such as IBSA and global governance, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), S&T cooperation, IBSA Trust Fund, among others, assume great significance. Keeping this perspective in view, RIS has brought out this Report. 
The Report has been prepared by the RIS Research Team and focuses on the current facets of IBSA in terms of global-strategies, protagonism on SSC, social sector commitments, S&T cooperation and collaborative strategy to achieve SDGs, IBSA Trust Fund and its effectiveness. 
...
I am sure the Report would serve as an important policy research reference by all policymakers, academics, practitioners and other stakeholders associated with deepening development cooperation among IBSA countries in the broader context of promoting SSC and implementation of SDGs Agenda.
Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi | Director General, RIS

Contents
Foreword by Ambassador Shyam Saran, Chairman, RIS
Preface by Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General, RIS
I. IBSA and Global Geo-strategies
II. Brazil, India and South Africa: Key Proponents of South-South Cooperation
III. IBSA Fund for Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger
IV. S&T Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Beyond in IBSA
V. Sharing of Social Sector Experiences in IBSA: Way Forward
VI. IBSA: Health Sector Cooperation Past, Present and Future

Friday 16 December 2016

New Report | BIMSTEC, The Road Ahead | by RIS, India, 2016

BIMSTEC, The Road Ahead
by Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, India, 2016, ISBN: 81-7122-122-X.

About the Report
The present Report is the outcome of a Consultation that RIS organised in the context of BRICS outreach to BIMSTEC on 27 September 2016. The meeting deliberated on important issues of trade, investment and regional value chains and connectivity in regard to people to people contacts and BIMSTEC, BRICS and global governance. It contains an introductory chapter which highlights the key issues for strengthening economic cooperation among BIMSTEC countries alongwith brief contributions from eminent commentators in the field.
We are sure the academicians, stakeholders, policymakers and practitioners would find the publication interesting and a useful reference for future course of action for promoting economic development cooperation in the BIMSTEC sub-region.

Table of Contents
Foreword by Ambassador Shyam Saran, Chairman, RIS
Message by Sumith Nakandala, Secretary General, BIMSTEC
Preface by Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General, RIS
1. Overview: BIMSTEC Bay of Bengal Vibrant Community
2. Rejuvenation of BIMSTEC | Sumith Nakandala
3. Strengthening BIMSTEC Secretariat | Seshadri Chari
4. Challenges before BIMSTEC | Preeti Saran
5. Trade, Investment and Regional Value Chains | S. K. Mohanty
6. Multi-Dimensional Connectivity | Ram Upendra Das
7. Challenges to a BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement (FTA): A Sri Lankan | Janaka Wijayasiri
8. Energy Security in BIMSTEC Region | Jyoti Parikh
9. People to People Contacts | Baladas Ghoshal
10. Challenges in People to People Contact | Fahmida Khatun
11. BIMSTEC and Global Governance | Samir Saran

Thursday 15 December 2016

New Book | India and Sustainable Development Goals: The Way Forward | by RIS, India, 2016

India and Sustainable Development Goals: The Way Forward
by Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, India, 2016.

About the Report
India along with other countries signed the declaration on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, comprising of seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Sustainable Development Summit of the United Nations in September 2015. RIS through its work programme on SDGs in collaboration with UN in India pursued a rigorous research agenda to explore various facets of India's negotiations, adoption and implementation of SDGs.
As part of the work programme, RIS launched a special paper series on each of the 17 SDGs and two cross cutting themes – technology and finance authored by eminent experts in the related subjects. This publication is a compilation of the thematic papers and addresses key issues like: achievements under the respective/related MDG targets; remaining gaps in fulfilling targets under the respective/related MDG; philosophy and concept of the respective SDG and the targets; and implementation framework to be adopted by India in fulfilling the goal.
This Volume would be found useful by all those who are working for successful implementation of SDGs agenda, particularly from the point of view of India. 

Table of Contents
  • Message by Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Hon'ble Minister of External Affairs
  • Foreword by Amb. Shyam Saran, Chairman, RIS
  • Preface by Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General, RIS
  • End Poverty in All Its Forms Everywhere | Shahid Ahmed
  • Hunger and Food Security Concerns for India | Bharat Ramaswami
  • Health for All by 2030: An Indian Perspective | T. C. James
  • India's Steadfast Approach to Quality, Equity and Inclusion in Education: Views from Experts | Based on deliberations at the National Consultation on Road to Sustainable Development Goals: Focus on Health and Education held on 9-10 February 2016.
  • Gender Equality: Achievements, Gaps, Future Challenges and Implementation Framework to be adopted by India | Nirmala Buch
  • Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation | Indira Khurana
  • Where are we on the Missing MDG – Energy? | Kaushik Ranjan Bandyopadhyay and Kasturi Das
  • Enabling Sustainable Development: Challenges to Job Creation in India | Santosh Kumar Mehrotra
  • Industrialisation, Innovation and Infrastructure for Achieving SDGs in India | K.J. Joseph
  • Trade, Infrastructure and Inequality: A Cross Country Analysis |Saikat Sinha Roy and Rudra Prosad Roy
  • Incorporating Resilience and Inclusiveness in Policy Framework of Urban Development: Indian Case | Amitabh Kundu
  • Sustainable Consumption and Production | Nitya Nanda
  • Sustainable Development for Climate Action | Samir Saran and Vikrom Mathur
  • Marine Resources and the Challenges to Sustainability | Balakrishna Pisupati
  • Sustainable Management and Use of Terrestrial Ecosystem | Oommen V. Oommen and K. P. Laladhas
  • Peace, Justice and Institutions to Ensure "No One is Left Behind" | Amitabh Behar
  • Means of Implementation: An Indian Perspective | Sachin Chaturvedi, Sabyasachi Saha and Pratyush
  • Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM): A Review of the Current Proposals and Way Forward | K. Ravi Srinivas
  • Financing for Development: Emerging Modalities | Rathin Roy

Wednesday 7 December 2016

Indian "National Student Startup Policy" 2016 is launched

National Student Startup Policy 2016
by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), 2016.

About the Policy
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee launched the National Student Startup Policy on November 16, 2016 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The National Student Startup Policy, formulated by AICTE, aims to create 100,000 technology based student start-ups and a million employment opportunities within the next 10 years. The policy plans on achieving this by developing an ideal entrepreneurial ecosystem and promoting strong inter-institutional partnerships among technical institutions. It emphasizes the much-desired need for an appropriate startup policy to propel the youth of India through and beyond the 21st century.

1. The Preamble:
An analysis of Indian entrepreneur profiles reveals that 32 years is the average age of entrepreneurs and that only 6 percent of them are women. Interestingly enough, the majority of start-up entrepreneurs in the country have a background in MNCs (multinationals) and Indian tech companies (35 percent and 27 percent respectively, from a sample of the report). Only 13 percent of start-up founders have absolutely no experience in the field before launching their ventures (NASSCOM Report). 
Student (owned) start-ups have started to contribute towards market expansion and job creation. Most of the student (owned) start-ups have evolved from technology courses instead of other liberal studies or social sciences disciplines. In recent years, a few technological and entrepreneurship development institutions have initiated efforts to design Start-up Policies for student ventures on their campuses.
AICTE took up the task of designing the 'Start-up Policy for AICTE Approved Institutions' to increase the efforts of institutions as they prepare students for entrepreneurship. AICTE's Start-up Policy would outline roles of the AICTE, Academic Institutions, and TBI (Technology Business Incubators) in creating student entrepreneurs. 

2. Vision:
To create 100,000 tech-based start-ups (student owned) and a million employment opportunities within the next 10 years (2025). This would be done by developing an ideal entrepreneurial eco-system and promoting strong inter-institutional partnerships among technical institutions. 

3. Mission:
To help create a larger number of student-driven, on campus start-ups that will add to economic and social value. To achieve this, the below mentioned strategies would be applied:
- Teaching students and encouraging them to take up entrepreneurship as a preferred career choice 
- Preparing students for successful launching of their start-ups
- Re-orienting academic curriculum and pedagogy with a strong focus on Start-ups
- Developing customized teaching and training materials for start-ups and engaging them in pre-startup activities
- Capacity Building Programmes / Activities for faculty as well as trainers.
- Mentoring start-ups to become sustainable.


Tuesday 6 December 2016

Contracting for Technology Transfer: Patent Licensing and Know-how in Brazil | UNU-MERIT Working Paper

Contracting for Technology Transfer: Patent Licensing and Know-how in Brazil
by Catalina Martinez & Pluvia Zuniga. UNU-MERIT Working Paper Series, 2016, No. #2016-065.

Abstract: Using contract level data, we study the relation between the inclusion of know-how in cross-border patent licensing agreements and the contractual terms used by firms to deal with moral hazard risks. We use official data on international technology contracts with patent licensing terms registered by affiliated and unaffiliated parties before the Department of Technology Transfer of the National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI) in Brazil between 1996 and 2012. We find that contracts between unaffiliated parties involving know-how transfer show distinctive contractual and technology features compared to the rest: (i) they involve younger but lower quality technologies (compared to contracts without know-how); (ii) they are more prone to up front lump-sum payments than royalty or combined payments (royalty and fixed); and (iii) they are more likely to be accompanied by the licensing of other IPRs, in addition to patents, such as trademarks. 

Keywords: patent licensing, know-how, trademarks, technology contracts, Brazil 



New Book | The Ethics of Invention: Technology and the Human Future | by Sheila Jasanoff

The Ethics of Invention: Technology and the Human Future
by Sheila Jasanoff. W.W. Norton & Company, 2016, 320 pages, ISBN: 9780393078992.

About the Book
We live in a world increasingly governed by technology—but to what end?
Technology rules us as much as laws do. It shapes the legal, social, and ethical environments in which we act. Every time we cross a street, drive a car, or go to the doctor, we submit to the silent power of technology. Yet, much of the time, the influence of technology on our lives goes unchallenged by citizens and our elected representatives. In The Ethics of Invention, renowned scholar Sheila Jasanoff dissects the ways in which we delegate power to technological systems and asks how we might regain control.
Our embrace of novel technological pathways, Jasanoff shows, leads to a complex interplay among technology, ethics, and human rights. Inventions like pesticides or GMOs can reduce hunger but can also cause unexpected harm to people and the environment. Often, as in the case of CFCs creating a hole in the ozone layer, it takes decades before we even realize that any damage has been done. Advances in biotechnology, from GMOs to gene editing, have given us tools to tinker with life itself, leading some to worry that human dignity and even human nature are under threat. But despite many reasons for caution, we continue to march heedlessly into ethically troubled waters.
As Jasanoff ranges across these and other themes, she challenges the common assumption that technology is an apolitical and amoral force. Technology, she masterfully demonstrates, can warp the meaning of democracy and citizenship unless we carefully consider how to direct its power rather than let ourselves be shaped by it. The Ethics of Invention makes a bold argument for a future in which societies work together—in open, democratic dialogue—to debate not only the perils but even more the promises of technology.


About the Author
Sheila Jasanoff is professor of science and technology studies at Harvard Kennedy School. She is the author of many books on technology, most recently Science and Public Reason and Designs on Nature. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

New Book | The New ABCs of Research: Achieving Breakthrough Collaborations | by Ben Shneiderman

The New ABCs of Research: Achieving Breakthrough Collaborations
by Ben Shneiderman. Oxford University Press, 2016, 336 pages, ISBN: 9780198758839.

About the Book
The problems we face in the 21st century require innovative thinking from all of us. Be it students, academics, business researchers of government policy makers. Hopes for improving our healthcare, food supply, community safety and environmental sustainability depend on the pervasive application of research solutions. 
The research heroes who take on the immense problems of our time face bigger than ever challenges, but if they adopt potent guiding principles and effective research lifecycle strategies, they can produce the advances that will enhance the lives of many people. These inspirational research leaders will break free from traditional thinking, disciplinary boundaries, and narrow aspirations. They will be bold innovators and engaged collaborators, who are ready to lead, yet open to new ideas, self-confident, yet empathetic to others.
In this book, Ben Shneiderman recognizes the unbounded nature of human creativity, the multiplicative power of teamwork, and the catalytic effects of innovation. He reports on the growing number of initiatives to promote more integrated approaches to research so as to promote the expansion of these efforts. It is meant as a guide to students and junior researchers, as well as a manifesto for senior researchers and policy makers, challenging widely-held beliefs about how applied innovations evolve and how basic breakthroughs are made, and helping to plot the course towards tomorrow's great advancements.

About the Author
Ben Shneiderman is a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Founding Director (1983-2000) of the Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory at the University of Maryland. His development of user interfaces such as the highlighted clickable link for the web, small touchscreen keyboards, and information visualization concepts earned him membership in the National Academy of Engineering.

Table of Contents
Guiding Principles
1: Combining Applied and Basic Research: ABC Principle
2: Blending Science, Engineering, and Design: SED Principle Blending
Science, Engineering & Design
3: What Science Contributes: Persistence in Understanding the World
4: What Engineering Contributes: Devotion to Focused Innovations
5: What Design Contributes: Fresh Thinking to Serve Human Needs
Research Lifecycle Strategies
6: Choose Actionable Problems that Address Civic, Business & Global Priorities
7: Apply Observation, Intervention, and Controlled Experiments
8: Form Teams with Diverse Individuals & Organizations
9: Test Ideas and Prototypes with Realistic Interventions
10: Promote Adoption & Assess Impact
Making it Happen
11: Why change is hard, but possible
12: Recommendations for action

IITD Lecture "Cycles of Invention and Discovery: Rethinking the Endless Frontier" by Prof. Venkatesh Narayanamurti | 8 December


Speaker: Prof. Venkatesh Narayanamurti
Benjamin Peirce Research Professor of Technology and Public Policy at Harvard

Date: December 8, 2016 | 5:30 pm

Venue: Seminar Hall, IIT Delhi
Abstract:
In this talk I will reflect om the genesis of the Information and Communications revolution and through an analysis of the hard case of Nobel Prizes in Physics to show that the causal direction of scientific discovery and radical invention are often reversed. They often arose in a culture of so called "applications oriented research" in industrial laboratories and will use those examples to enumerate the key ingredients of highly successful R&D institutions. My views have been shaped by my own personal experiences in industrial research, U.S National Laboratories and research intensive universities. By exploring the daily micro-practices of research, I will show how distinctions between the search for knowledge and creative-problem solving break down when one pays attention to how path breaking research actually happens. I will highlight the importance of designing institutions which transcend the 'basic-applied' dichotomy and contrasting them with models of the classic but still influential report Science, The Endless Frontier. The need for new integrative institutions to address global challenges such as climate change and alternative energy sources will be discussed.

About the speaker:
Venkatesh Narayanamurti is the Benjamin Peirce Research Professor of Technology and Public Policy at Harvard. He has served on numerous advisory boards of the federal government, research universities and industry. He was formerly the John L. Armstrong Professor and Founding Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Professor of Physics and Dean of Physical Sciences at Harvard. From 2009 to 2015 he served as the Director of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program at the Harvard Kennedy School. He has a Ph D in Physics from Cornell University and a Honorary DSc from Tohoku University. He is the author of more than 240 scientific papers in different areas of condensed matter and applied physics. He lectures widely on solid state, computer, and communication, and energy technologies, and on the management of science, technology and public policy. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and an elected member of the U.S National Academy of Engineering and of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences. He served as the Foreign Secretary of the U.S National Academy of Engineering from 2011 to 2015.


New Book | Cycles of Invention and Discovery: Rethinking the Endless Frontier | by Venkatesh Narayanamurti & T. Odumosu.

Cycles of Invention and Discovery: Rethinking the Endless Frontier
by Venkatesh Narayanamurti and Toluwalogo Odumosu. Harvard University Press, 2016, 176 pages, ISBN: 9780674967960.

About the Book
Cycles of Invention and Discovery offers an in-depth look at the real-world practice of science and engineering. It shows how the standard categories of "basic" and "applied" have become a hindrance to the organization of the U.S. science and technology enterprise. Tracing the history of these problematic categories, Venkatesh Narayanamurti and Toluwalogo Odumosu document how historical views of policy makers and scientists have led to the construction of science as a pure ideal on the one hand and of engineering as a practical (and inherently less prestigious) activity on the other. Even today, this erroneous but still widespread distinction forces these two endeavors into separate silos, misdirects billions of dollars, and thwarts progress in science and engineering research.
The authors contrast this outmoded perspective with the lived experiences of researchers at major research laboratories. Using such Nobel Prize–winning examples as magnetic resonance imaging, the transistor, and the laser, they explore the daily micro-practices of research, showing how distinctions between the search for knowledge and creative problem solving break down when one pays attention to the ways in which pathbreaking research actually happens. By studying key contemporary research institutions, the authors highlight the importance of integrated research practices, contrasting these with models of research in the classic but still-influential report Science the Endless Frontier. Narayanamurti and Odumosu's new model of the research ecosystem underscores that discovery and invention are often two sides of the same coin that moves innovation forward.

About the Authors
Venkatesh Narayanamurti is Benjamin Peirce Research Professor of Technology and Public Policy at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Harvard Kennedy School.
Toluwalogo Odumosu is Assistant Professor of Science, Technology, and Society and Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia.

Table of Contents
1. Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges
2. Boundaries in Science and Engineering Research
3. The Basic/Applied Dichotomy: The Inadequacy of the Linear Model
4. The Origins of the "Basic" and "Applied" Descriptors
5. The Discovery–Invention Cycle
6. Bell Labs and the Importance of Institutional Culture
7. Designing Radically Innovative Research Institutions
8. The Need for a Radical Reformulation of S&T Policy
9. Moving Forward in Science and Technology Policy

Tuesday 29 November 2016

New Report | Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2016: Recent Trends and Developments | by UN-ESCAP

Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2016: Recent Trends and Developments

by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, UN-ESCAP, November 2016, ISBN: 9789211207323.

 

Foreword

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes international trade as a generator of inclusive economic growth. It adds value to economies, provides foreign exchange earnings to help finance development and enables job creation, all of which contribute to poverty reduction. Taking advantage of its dynamism, diversity and labor markets has enabled Asia and the Pacific to be competitive in international markets. This is evidenced by the rise in the region's share of global trade and participation in associated value chains.

Like elsewhere, however, the Asia and Pacific region has faced protracted global headwinds since 2007, which has impacted the trade sector and its prospects. This latest Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2016 highlights that the region's trade flows are wavering amid continued sluggish global economic and trade growth, downward movement of world commodity prices and an uncertain policy environment. These outcomes come at a time when the need for trade growth to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is critical.

Even though regional trade did gain some momentum during 2010-2014, the nominal value of Asia and Pacific exports and imports in 2015 experienced a major slump of 9.7 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. Sluggish growth in trade is expected to continue through to the end of 2016. Forecasts, presented in this Report, do offer hope for a rebound in trade, more so in value, but growth in exports and imports in volume terms will be around 2.2 per cent and 3.8 per cent, respectively.

To its credit, most of Asia's exporting economies have decoupled from the economic cycles in traditional exports markets, like the United States and the European Union, by not only diversifying their export markets but also through boosting domestic consumption and the services sector. Notwithstanding, the region has the potential to lead by example and revitalize its trade momentum, which will be critical to ensuring our future is sustainable and that our societies are more equal.

Concurrent to trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to developing countries have also slowed. FDI flows and regional integration policies have been adversely affected by populist sentiments which have been growing globally. In Asia and the Pacific, growing discontentment with liberalization has to a certain extent been influenced by the inequitable distribution of the benefits of liberalization and rising inequalities. In this context, it is of little surprise that a number of new restrictive trade measures, particularly in G20 countries, were implemented in 2016.

This year's edition of the Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report (APTIR) does, however, reveal positive news. With a share of 40%, the Asia-Pacific region is still the largest goods exporting region globally. The region's share in commercial services trade continues to strengthen and restrictiveness of services trade has not increased in the region's economies. Furthermore, the region's active actions towards international investment liberalization helped greenfield FDI inflows grow much faster than the global average. Significant progress was also witnessed in the region's efforts to decrease trade costs, illustrated by the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific. A significant number of economies in our region have also already ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, with the 12 remaining Asia-Pacific economies on track to ratify the Agreement soon.

In addition to these developments, Asia and the Pacific also witnessed the first signs of some consolidation among the preferential trade activities in the region. Nevertheless, after the results of the recent United States election, it appears that at least one of the mega-regional agreements signed in 2016, has an uncertain future. This is disappointing, and represents a considerable loss in terms of time and costs for the countries that were involved in negotiating this agreement. Moving forward, these developments may, however, allow the region's economies to focus more on South-South integration and enable them to promote trade and investment linkages suited to their development aspirations.

I recommend the Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2016: Recent Trends and Developments to all Governments, development partners and other stakeholders. Together with 5 sub-regional and almost 30 country trade briefs, this Report offers comprehensive evidence that will help in the introduction of well-informed trade and investment trends and policies across the region. Given that the short-term prospects for international trade are not promising, the changing patterns and prospects outlined in this Report highlight that achieving the 2030 Agenda will require the continued and dedicated efforts of our region's economies to create a strong, vibrant and enabling environment for international trade and investment.

 Shamshad Akhtar | Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations | Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

 

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Merchandise Trade Still in Trouble?

Chapter 2. Trade in Commercial Services Sliding Downhill

Chapter 3. Foreign Direct Investment Makes a Modest Come-Back

Chapter 4. Trade Facilitation in Asia and the Pacific: An Update

Chapter 5. Regional Trends in Trade Policies: Building Taller Fences?

Chapter 6. Preferential Trade and Agreements: An Update

Chapter 7. International Trade in a Digital Age

Monday 28 November 2016

CfPs: International Conference on "Knowing Nature: The Changing Foundations of Environmental Knowledge"| 25-27 May 2017 | Renmin University of China, Beijing

International Conference on "Knowing Nature: The Changing Foundations of Environmental Knowledge"

25th to 27th May 2017

Renmin University of China, Beijing, China

Co-sponsored by the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, and the Center for Ecological History, Renmin University of China, Beijing, in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin.

Call for Papers
Who knows nature best? Over the past 10,000 years competing communities of knowledge have evolved, each with formalized standards and processes.  Peasants have competed against craftsmen, religious leaders, and urban experts. In modern societies based on science and technology, the claims to knowledge have changed even more dramatically, although scientific knowledge still competes with other bodies of knowledge. And always, who gets to define knowledge can have profound consequences for the natural world. 
For our conference we seek proposals that examine what has been seen and understood as measurable, speculative, safe or unsafe and how scale (of landscapes, research projects etc.) can affect knowledge production. We welcome proposals on the rise of new fields of knowledge about nature and the environment and their search for disciplinary and institutional stability. Our conference will seek to move beyond simple dichotomies (modernity vs. tradition, science vs. religion, folk wisdom vs. urban ignorance), to develop comparisons that cross national boundaries, and to bring neglected parts of the globe and time into view.
Our keynote speaker will be Dagmar Schäfer, managing director of the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin, and author of The Crafting of the 10,000 Things: Knowledge and Technology in Seventeenth-Century China (University of Chicago Press, 2011).
This conference is open to all ranks of scholars, from graduate students to senior professors. Paper proposals should be one-page long (or about 300 words) and include a title and a one- or two-page CV. 
Send proposals to conference secretary Agnes Kneitz, Assistant Professor of History at Renmin University at this address: a.kneitz[at]ruc.edu.cn.  The deadline for consideration is 1st January 2017
Successful proposals will be announced around 1st February, and complete drafts of papers (minimum of 5,000 words in English or the equivalent in Chinese characters) will be required by 1st May 2017. All papers will be circulated to the participants in advance and will not be orally presented during the conference. 
The members of the selection committee include Mingfang Xia, Director of the Center for Ecological History and Senior Professor in the School of History, Renmin University of China; Helmuth Trischler, Head of Research at the Deutsches Museum, Munich, and Co-Director of the Rachel Carson Center; and Donald Worster, Hall Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus, University of Kansas, and Distinguished Foreign Expert, Renmin University.
The organizing chairperson for the conference is Professor Shen Hou, Deputy Director of the Center for Ecological History and Associate Professor of history at Renmin University.
Travel expenses for scholars living outside of China will be reimbursed by the Rachel Carson Center. Scholars living within China should depend on their own universities for covering travel expenses. For all participants, hotel accommodations for four nights and all meals will be covered by Renmin University of China.
Following the conference we will organize a group field trip to the Great Wall as a site and symbol of what Joseph Needham called "science and civilization in China."

Sunday 27 November 2016

New Book | A Voice for Science in the South | edited by Daniel Schaffer

A Voice for Science in the South
Edited by Daniel Schaffer. World Scientific Publishing, 2015, hardcover, 252 pages, ISBN: 9789814740425.

About the Book
Science in the developing world has experienced historic change over the past 30 years. Nations that lacked resources for even basic science have since developed world-class research centres. Men and women who previously had no chance of pursuing scientific careers in their own countries now thrive in home-grown universities and laboratories dedicated to scientific excellence.
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) has been front and centre during this remarkable transformation. A Voice for Science in the South tells the story of TWAS through the eyes of 11 eminent scientists associated with the Academy. They speak of the organization's challenges and triumphs, and describe what TWAS has meant for their careers and the careers of thousands of scientists in the developing world. They also explore the challenges that lie ahead for TWAS and, more generally, for science in the South. It is a story of unprecedented global change and an account of what must be done to ensure that all nations can share in the benefits that emerge when science is woven into the fabric of society.

Table of Contents
Present in the World (José I Vargas)
A Centre for Excellence (C N R Rao)
Fulfilling the Promise (Jacob Palis)
Making It Happen (Mohamed H A Hassan)
Minding the Gaps (Ana María Cetto Kramis)
Opening Doors (Adnan Badran)
Full Engagement (Zakri Abdul Hamid)
The Odds of Success (Keto Mshigeni)
A Life of Change (Yu Lu)
Moving Ahead Together (Roseanne Diab)
For Generations to Come (Maria Corazon A De Ungria)



More About this Book | by Edward W. Lempinen | TWAS Newsletter
Key TWAS leaders reflect on the history of science in the developing world – and the history and future of TWAS – in a new book. In 11 inspiring essays, TWAS leaders detail the Academy's triumphs and challenges in advancing science for the developing world.
Thirty years after the first TWAS General Meeting, a new book explores the Academy's past and future in a series of essays by TWAS leaders and prominent Fellows from the developing world. "A Voice for Science in the South" serves as window into one of the most significant changes of our era: how nations once trapped in poverty have invested in science, technology and education to drive development and improve human conditions. The book "will serve as a lasting reminder of the commitment that motivated Abdus Salam, Paolo Budinich and the others who founded the Academy and guided its work for the first 30 years," writes TWAS President Bai Chunli in the Foreword. "Though the world may change, their ideals remain constant. At the same time, this volume reminds us of the hard work and creativity that will be required to build on their legacy, so that TWAS remains an effective leader and advocate for science in the service of human progress."
"A Voice for Science in the South" was edited by Daniel Schaffer, the former TWAS public information officer, and published by Singapore-based World Scientific. In an introductory essay, Schaffer reflects on the vision and commitment of Salam, the Pakistani physicist who founded the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in 1964 and won the Nobel Prize in 1979. Following that reflection are essays by four pioneering TWAS leaders: former Presidents José I. Vargas of Brazil; C.N.R. Rao of India; and Jacob Palis of Brazil; and longtime Executive Director Mohamed H.A. Hassan of Sudan. "A Voice for Science in the South" also features essays by:
  • TWAS Fellow Ana María Cetto Kramis of Mexico, who has played a globally influential role in supporting women in science;
  • TWAS Fellow Adnan Badran, who served as prime minister of Jordan during a distinguished career of scholarship, political engagement and diplomacy;
  • Zakri Abdul Hamid, a TWAS Fellow who serves as science adviser to the government of Malaysia, a member of the UN Secretary-General's Science Advisory Board, and founding chair of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services;
  • Keto Mshigeni, a TWAS Council vice president and one of Africa's preeminent natural scientists, known for his research into seaweed and mushrooms as food sources; 
  • TWAS Fellow Yu Lu, a renowned Chinese physicist who served as the first permanent member of the ICTP scientific staff;
  • Roseanne Diab, a TWAS Fellow and executive director of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa; and 
  • TWAS Young Affiliate Maria Corazon A. De Ungria of the Philippines, head of the DNA Analysis Laboratory at the University of the Philippines.

Wednesday 23 November 2016

New Book | Modi Doctrine: The Foreign Policy of India's Prime Minister | by Sreeram Chaulia, Bloomsbury, 2016

Modi Doctrine: The Foreign Policy of India's Prime Minister
by Sreeram Chaulia. Bloomsbury India, 2016, Hardcover, 268 pages, ISBN: 9789386141156.

About the Book
Since becoming India's prime minister in 2014, Narendra Modi has been a tour de force in foreign policymaking. A vastly experienced administrator who has held key public positions as chief minister of an Indian state for more than a decade and now as prime minister, he has always seen value in foreign affairs and devoted special attention to it with his unique entrepreneurial flair and coherent set of ideas. Every realm of Indian foreign policy commercial diplomacy, defence diplomacy, diaspora outreach, cultural diplomacy, geostrategy and soft power has been transformed by him with a sense of destiny not witnessed in recent memory. Indians and people the world over have noticed his star presence and are asking questions like:
  • 'Why is he investing so much time and energy into promoting India's international relations and global image?
  • What are his vision and goals for India's role in the world'?
  • What kind of distinct techniques define his approach to foreign policy?
  • How is he changing India's self-understanding and preparing it for world affairs?'
This book provides the answers by delving into the mind and method behind Narendra Modi's avatar as India's diplomat-in-chief. It argues that under his able watch, India is heading toward great power status in the international order.

About the Author
Sreeram Chaulia is Professor and Dean at the Jindal School of International Affairs, O.P. Jindal Global University, in Sonipat, India. He is an eclectic political scientist specialising in both international security and international political economy. He is a contributing editor of People Who Influenced the World (Murray Books, Adelaide, 2005) and the sole author of International Organizations and Civilian Protection: Power, Ideas and Humanitarian Aid in Conflict Zones (I.B. Tauris, London, 2011) and of Politics of the Global Economic Crisis: Regulation, Responsibility and Radicalism (Routledge, New Delhi, London and New York, 2013). He received education from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University; University College, Oxford University; The London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. He is a leading opinion columnist for Indian newspapers- the Economic Times and the Asian Age- on world affairs and a commentator on international current issues on radio and television in India and abroad. He has worked as an international civilian peacekeeper in the warzones of Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

Related Books 



Monday 21 November 2016

Bill Gates on Technology and Transformation | in "NITI Lecture Series - Transforming India"

NITI Lecture Series - Transforming India : Transforming Ideas to Transforming India

Bill Gates on "Technology and Transformation"

NITI Aayog aims to build strong States that will come together to build a strong India. As the government's premier think-tank, we view knowledge building & transfer as the enabler of real transformation in the States. To build knowledge systems for the States and the Centre, NITI is pleased to announce the launch of "NITI Lectures: Transforming India".
The second lecture in the high-powered NITI Lecture series was delivered by Bill Gates, Co-Founder, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on the November 16th, 2016. The theme of the lecture was 'Technology and Transformation'. Outlining the global shifts that impact the nation's development, the lecture discusses India's many advantages, its potential to address existing challenges and the opportunities that lay ahead by using technology and innovation as levers for transformation.
Through this lecture series, NITI Aayog aims to bring policy makers, academics, experts and administrators of global repute to India, for the benefit of policy makers in States and the Centre. This is aimed at learning from global experience in development and good governance. The Transforming India Lecture Series was inaugurated on August 26th, 2016 by the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The first keynote address - India and the Global Economy - was delivered by the Hon'ble Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Shri Tharman Shanmugaratnam.


CfP: International Conference & One Day Methodology Workshop on Scenarios & Models in Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services | 14-16 February | Hyderabad, India

International Conference and One Day Methodology Workshop on Scenarios and Models in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
14-16 February 2017
Organized by Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Hyderabad, India

Call for Papers

The Division for Sustainable Development Studies (DSDS) at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies is organizing an international conference on Scenarios and Models in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services jointly with the Centre for Economics, Environment, and Society (CEES) Bangalore, as part of the project on "Biodiversity and Ecosystem Scenarios Network (ScenNet)" supported by the Belmont Forum through the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India during 15th to 16th February 2017. The conference shall address scenarios and models of biodiversity and ecosystem services with special reference to drivers of change. The plenary speakers of the conference include renowned scientists and co-chairs of the methodological assessment of scenarios and models of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), Bonn, Germany. Sub themes of the conference are related to scenarios and models pertaining to marine and terrestrial ecosystems with a focus on (a) direct and indirect drivers including climate change, invasive species, institutional and demographic issues etc.; (b) values covering economic and non-economic benefits of ecosystems and biodiversity; (c) impact of ecosystem services on good quality of human life and (d) national policies and sustainable development goals. Abstracts of papers (250 words) have to be submitted before 30th November 2016 and full paper (maximum 8000 words) before 30th December 2016 to the conference committee convenor, Dr Jeena T Srinivasan (jeena@cess.ac.in). Approximately 35 papers will be selected for oral presentation in the conference after peer review. A maximum of 100 participants are expected to participate in the conference. Registration form for the conference can be downloaded from CESS website www.cess.ac.in.
A pre-conference Methodology Workshop on the same topic will be organized in collaboration with the Indian Society for Ecological Economics (INSEE) for building capacity of early career researchers/teachers/ M.Phil/Ph.D students on 14th February 2017. The workshop aims to carry out a systematic review methodological tools used in Indian and international contexts to quantify or qualify scenarios of biodiversity and ecosystem services according to different environmental and societal driving forces. The workshop is co-ordinated by Dr Jyothis Sathyapalan and Prof M Gopinath Reddy. A maximum of 25 conference participants whose papers are accepted for oral presentation will be selected for the workshop. All participants who are interested to join the workshop must mention it separately in the conference registration form. In addition, limited seats will be available for MPhil/Ph.D. scholars working on both natural and social sciences who are in early stages of their work. Such students are encouraged to apply with a concept note and curriculum vitae on or before 30th December 2016. Academic competence and potential of the concept note will form the basis of selection in this case. All selected outstation candidates will be provided with travel support and local hospitality during the event. Researches are also encouraged to contact the Principal Investigator of the ScenNet project Dr Jyothis Sathyapalan (sjyothis@cess.ac.in) and contribute to the database on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Scenarios in India.

Tuesday 8 November 2016

New Book | The Logic of Sharing: Indian Approach to South-South Cooperation | by Sachin Chaturvedi

The Logic of Sharing: Indian Approach to South-South Cooperation
by Sachin Chaturvedi; Cambridge University Press, & Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, 2016, ISBN: 9781107127920. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781316422748

About the Book
India's development cooperation programmes reflect the broad principles that inform Indian foreign policy in general. In essence they reflect sovereign equality and belief in friendly relations with all countries, parricularly India's neighbours coupled with opposition to colonialism and a continued commitment to the amplification of human freedom and the creation of equitable conditions for the peaceful and harmonious developrnenr of nations. Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi underlined that while rhe juxtaposition of peace and prosperity is not a contrivance for establishing moral prospects, the two conditions are indissolubly linked. Such pragmatism is evident in the genesis and evolution of India's development cooperation policy. 
Independent India has a history of successful cooperation with other developing countries. The extension of Indian resources and experrise to the global South, which dates back to the early 1950s, became institutionalised under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) established in 1964. Although the scale of India's development cooperation has been modesr, it has expanded along with the country's emergence as a rapidly growing economy, at a time when development assistance available from other major emerging economies has also been growing significantly.

About the Author
Sachin Chaturvedi is Professor and Director General at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), a New Delhi-based autonomous Think-Tank. He was Global Justice Fellow at the MacMillan Center for International Affairs, Yale University. Chaturvedi works on issues related to development cooperation policies and South-South cooperation. He has also worked on trade and innovation linkages with special focus on WTO.

Table of Contents
Foreword | Shyam Saran, Chairman, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS); Sujata Mehta, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Section I. Policy and Institutional Framework
1. Genesis and Evolution 
2. The Development Compact
3. Institutional Framework
Section II. Country and Regional Case Studies
4. Nepal: Evolving Framework and the Success of Communities
5. New Vigour in Africa: Ethiopia and Mozambique
6. Entrepreneurship Development in Laos and Cambodia
7. Exploring Niches in CIS: Experiences in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan
Section III. Summing Up
8. The SSC and Global Imperatives
9. Expanding Frontiers, New Trends and the Way Forward


Related Book
Chaturvedi, Sachin & Mulakala, Anthea (2016). India's Approach to Development Cooperation. Routledge, 2016, ISBN: 9781138947733.

Monday 7 November 2016

New Book | Social Science Research in India: Status, Issues, and Policies| ed by S Thorat & S Verma; OUP

Social Science Research in India: Status, Issues, and Policies.
Edited by Sukhadeo Thorat & Samar Verma; Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2016. ISBN: 9780199474417.

About the Book
Social science research has a vital role in enriching societies, by generating scientific knowledge that brings insights - even enlightenment - in understanding the dynamics of human behaviour and development. For social sciences to realize their potential in shaping public policy, it is imperative that the research ecosystem is dynamic and vibrant; the institutions governing it are robust and effective; and those producing quality research are strong and well governed.
This volume elaborates on various dimensions of social science research in India, presenting a strong case for designing a comprehensive national social science policy which can meaningfully strengthen and promote a research ecosystem for improved public policymaking in the country. Addressing issues like lack of funding, availability of data, infrastructure, and quality of research output, it will serve as a national benchmark and reference database for social sciences in India.

About the Editors
Sukhadeo Thorat is Chairman, Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi and Professor Emeritus, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Samar Verma is Senior Program Specialist, International Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada, Asia Regional Office, New Delhi.