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

Download Full-text PDF (Open Access)

CfPs | CCI National Conference on the Economics of Competition Law | 2-3 March 2017 in New Delhi

CCI's National Conference on the Economics of Competition Law 

2-3 March 2017 in New Delhi

Call for Papers

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is organizing the second annual two-day National Conference on the 'Economics of Competition Law' on 2-3 March 2017 in New Delhi. Papers are invited from Economists on the following

broad themes:

• Market definition and measuring market power
• Economics of cartels and collusion
• Economics of abuse of dominant position
• Economic analysis in merger review
• Any other theme related to enforcement of the Competition Act, 2002.

Interested scholars are invited to send an abstract of 100 words and an extended abstract of 1,000 words of original research papers along with their bio-data and professional contact details to ecoseminar@cci.gov.in. The last date for submission of abstract is 5th September 2016. Authors of the accepted papers will be invited to present their papers in the conference. Depending on the quality of submissions, some papers may be considered for publication by the CCI. The authors of the selected papers will be considered for honorarium. Those from outside Delhi/NCR would also be eligible for reimbursement of TA/DA on the submission of original bills and invoices. For details please visit http://www.cci.gov.in.

CSIR-NISTADS Vitarka/Policy Debate on India's Current Agricultural Trade Policy is not Water Sustainable | 24th August | IIC New Delhi

Vitarka: A CSIR-NISTADS Outreach Programme for Inclusive Policy Debate

Topic: "India's Current Agricultural Trade Policy is not Water Sustainable"

Date: 24th August 2016 at 6:00 PM (Tea: 5:45 pm)

Venue: India International Center, Seminar Hall 1, New Delhi

Online Register Vitarka session at CSIR-NISTADS

NISTADS is planning a small group discussion comprising maximum 30 participants from various section of the society. Participation in Vitarka is by invitation based on direct invitation or selection from requests received through web registration. Kindly register on NISTADS website for participation by 20th August 2016. Email from NISTADS will be sent by 22nd August 2016 to the participants whose participation is confirmed.

About Vitarka

An active and inclusive public debate can make significant contribution to policy formulation and policy advocacy. CSIR National Institute for Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS) is launching a public discussion forum Vitarka. The primary goal of Vitarka is to engage the public in policy debate for techno-socio-economic transformation, especially through S&T intervention.

Vitarka is planned as an open environment platform for informed and participative discussion. Vitarka sessions will be organized at India International Centre (IIC).

CSIR-NISTADS invites public and all stakeholders for their views, contribution and participation in this techno-socio-economic developments initiative. Vitarka will greatly benefit from your contribution and participation. The topics planned under Vitarka can range from Clean Water, Carbon Taxes, Energy, GM Crops, and Stem Cell Research to Space Mission and Nuclear Policy.

Background Note
Eliminating hunger and malnutrition has been a pertinent challenge for India since Independence. Despite the tremendous growth and phenomenal industrial and economic performance, India is still home to 190.7 million under nourished people (FAO and UN, 2014, The State of Food Insecurity in the World), a quarter of all undernourished population in the world. Moreover, projections of India’s population reaching 1.6 billion by 2050 (UN, Department of Economics and Social Affairs, June 2013, World Population Prospect) shall entail much higher food requirements than today. It is of highest priority for India to ensure secure access to food by every one of its citizens, now and for the future. Climate change, resource constraints, distribution and storage are some concerns that threaten India’s food security. 
Agriculture, the soul of food security, is a highly intensive resource sector. Agriculture accounts for 70 percent of total global freshwater withdrawals, making it the largest user of water. At the same time, the food production and supply chain consumes about 30 percent of total energy consumed globally (FAO 2011, Issue Paper: Energy-smart Food for People and Climate). Food security is related to the nexus between water and energy, and while water and energy are required for irrigation, energy is vital for water access, and water is critical for energy production. While water scarcity in the region increases, food price hikes and food access become grave concerns for many. A balance is crucial for the nexus approach. Agriculture is undeniably a resource intensive sector and this fact comes along with a need for efficient and effective management of finite resources, in order to ensure long term sustainability of agriculture and thus food security for all.
India is poised to lose its entire available water supply within 500 years if its current food export policy continues, a new method of calculating “virtual water” flow through trade has shown. India, in contrast, is a net exporter of water through agricultural products and the new analysis claims: “This can lead to a slow but irreversible loss of water sustainability”. India’s main exports are cereals, tea, coffee, cashew nuts and sugar, which all require vast amounts of water. The analysis concludes that the net virtual water export alone can severely impact on a nation’s long-term water sustainability. 
Water shortage in India is not merely because of bad monsoon. Water is now a policy challenge. Several countries have started analysing water demand and supply in the context of agricultural, trade and industrial policies. India and China are the world's biggest countries (in terms of population) and their water policies are the subject of global studies. Studies of Stockholm Water Institute and International Water Institute (available on the internet) show that China is managing its water resources better. Rainfall in India is 50 per cent higher than that in China, but India's water resources are 67 per cent of those of China's and per capita water availability is declining faster than that in China.
Looking at the exploitation of groundwater, river water and other water resources, India needs a comprehensive policy change on its water usage. This is essential because India hosts a massive virtual water trade at the domestic level, which involves the cultivation of crops like cotton, sugarcane and paddy in low rainfall areas of north-west and their supply to eastern states.
Through this debate, we would like to address the following questions:

• What policy interventions (trade, investment, natural capital, climate) are needed to build co-ordination among water, energy and food sectors to address the issue of resource conflicts?
• What are the technology solutions in agriculture that can support in attaining optimum efficiency and utilisation of resources along with the balance in the nexus? Are there market mechanisms required to mainstream such technologies?
• What are the strategies needed to prevent incoherence of macro policies with local problems of resource availability and usage?
• How can farmer ensure efficient use of resource keeping the Water-Energy-Food nexus in perspective?

Further Details

Dr. Mohammad Rais

Coordinator: Vitarka-NISTADS Outreach Programme (NOP)

CSIR-NISTADS, Pusa Gate, K.S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi 110012, India

T: +91-11-25843052 (office)

E: mohammad_rais[at]hotmail.com; rais[at]nistads.res.in

http://nistads.res.in/index.php/outreach-programme/vitarka

New Book | Innovation and Its Enemies: Why People Resist New Technologies | by Calestous Juma

To be released soon
Innovation and Its Enemies: Why People Resist New Technologies
by Calestous Juma. Oxford University Press, New York, Hardback, 432 Pages, ISBN: 9780190467036.Description: The rise of artificial intelligence has rekindled a long-standing debate regarding the impact of technology on employment. This is just one of many areas where exponential advances in technology signal both hope and fear, leading to public controversy. This book shows that many debates over new technologies are framed in the context of risks to moral values, human health, and environmental safety. But it argues that behind these legitimate concerns often lie deeper, but unacknowledged, socioeconomic considerations. Technological tensions are often heightened by perceptions that the benefits of new technologies will accrue only to small sections of society while the risks will be more widely distributed. Similarly, innovations that threaten to alter cultural identities tend to generate intense social concern. As such, societies that exhibit great economic and political inequities are likely to experience heightened technological controversies.
Drawing from nearly 600 years of technology history, Innovation and Its Enemies identifies the tension between the need for innovation and the pressure to maintain continuity, social order, and stability as one of today's biggest policy challenges. It reveals the extent to which modern technological controversies grow out of distrust in public and private institutions. Using detailed case studies of coffee, the printing press, margarine, farm mechanization, electricity, mechanical refrigeration, recorded music, transgenic crops, and transgenic animals, it shows how new technologies emerge, take root, and create new institutional ecologies that favor their establishment in the marketplace. The book uses these lessons from history to contextualize contemporary debates surrounding technologies such as artificial intelligence, online learning, 3D printing, gene editing, robotics, and drones. It ultimately makes the case for shifting greater responsibility to public leaders to work with scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to manage technological change, make associated institutional adjustments, and expand public engagement on scientific and technological matters.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Gales of Creative Destruction
2. Brewing Trouble: Coffee
3. Stop the Presses: Printing the Koran
4. Smear Campaigns: Margarine
5. Gaining Traction: Farm Mechanization
6. Charged Arguments: Electricity
7. Cool Reception: Mechanical Refrigerated
8. Facing the Music: Recorded Sound
9. Taking Root: Transgenic Crops
10. Swimming against the Current: AquAdvantage Salmon
11. Oiling the Wheels of Novelty

About the Author
Calestous Juma, Professor of the Practice of International Development and Director of Science, Technology, Globalization, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University.
Calestous Juma, a national of Kenya, is an internationally-recognized authority on the role of science, technology and innovation in economic development. He is Professor of the Practice of International Development and Director of the Science, Technology, and Globalization Project at Harvard Kennedy School. He directs the Agricultural Innovation in Africa Project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and serves as Faculty Chair of Harvard's Innovation for Economic Development executive program. Juma is a former Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and Founding Director of the African Centre for Technology Studies in Nairobi. He was Chancellor of the University of Guyana and has been elected to several scientific academies including the Royal Society of London, the US National Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, the UK Royal Academy of Engineering and the African Academy of Sciences.


Related News: Why do people resist new technologies? History might provide the answer | by Calestous Juma

Further Details

UNESCO Science Report: Towards 2030 | A world report mapping Science, Technology and Innovation

UNESCO Science Report: Towards 2030

by UNESCO. United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization, Paris, 2015, ISBN: 9789231001291.

Summary: The UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030 provides more country-level information than ever before. The trends and developments in science, technology and innovation policy and governance between 2009 and mid-2015 described here provide essential baseline information on the concerns and priorities of countries that should orient the implementation and drive the assessment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the years to come.
There are fewer grounds today than in the past to deplore a North-South divide in research and innovation. This is one of the key findings of the UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030 launched on 10 November 2015.  For two decades now, the UNESCO Science Report series has been mapping science, technology and innovation (STI) around the world on a regular basis. Since STI do not evolve in a vacuum, this latest edition summarizes the evolution since 2010 against the backdrop of socio-economic, geopolitical and environmental trends that have helped to shape contemporary STI policy and governance.  Written by about 50 experts who are each covering the country or region from which they hail, the UNESCO Science Report: towards 2030 provides more country-level information than ever before. The trends and developments in science, technology and innovation policy and governance between 2009 and mid-2015 described here provide essential baseline information on the concerns and priorities of countries that should orient the implementation and drive the assessment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the years to come.

Table of Contents
Foreword | Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO
Perspectives on Emerging Issues

• Universities: increasingly global players | Patrick Aebischer, President, Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
• A more developmental approach to science | Bhanu Neupane, Programme Specialist, Communication Sector, UNESCO
• Science will play a key role in realizing Agenda 2030 | Opinion piece based on a policy brief prepared by the Scientific Advisory Board of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Science for a sustainable and just world: a new framework for global science policy? | Heide Hackmann, International Council for Science and Geoffrey Boulton, University of Edinburgh
• Local and indigenous knowledge at the science–policy interface | Douglas Nakashima, Head, Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems programme, UNESCO

Global Overview

• A world in search of an effective growth strategy | Luc Soete, Susan Schneegans, Deniz Eröcal, Baskaran Angathevar and Rajah Rasiah
• Tracking trends in innovation and mobility | Elvis Korku Avenyo, Chiao-Ling Chien, Hugo Hollanders, Luciana Marins, Martin Schaaper and Bart Verspagen
• Is the gender gap narrowing in science and engineering? | Sophia Huyer

A closer look at BRICS Countries

• Brazil | Renato Hyuda de Luna Pedrosa and Hernan Chaimovich
• Russian Federation | Leonid Gokhberg and Tatiana Kuznetsova
• India | Sunil Mani
• China | Cong Cao
• East and Central Africa | Kevin Urama, Mammo Muchie and Remy Twiringiyimana
• Latin America | Guillermo A. Lemarchand
• South Asia | Dilupa Nakandala and Ammar Malik

Download Full-text PDF (Open Access)

Innovation and Global Intellectual Property Regulatory Regimes: The Tension between Protection and Access| by N Syam and VM Tellez| The South Centre Research Paper No. 67, June 2016

"Innovation and Global Intellectual Property Regulatory Regimes: The Tension between Protection and Access"
by Nirmalya Syam and Viviana Munoz Tellez | The South Centre Research Paper No. 67, June 2016.
Abstract: The objective of the paper is to assess the global intellectual property (IP) regimes centred on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as the expansion of the scope of IP regimes through bilateral trade and investment agreements, from a development perspective. It will also focus on African efforts to engage with these regimes, including African proposals for rule-making in policy areas of interest to the region such as protection of biological resources and traditional knowledge and an enlarged scope for geographical indications. The implications of rules in these areas for innovation in the region will be explored. Finally, the paper discusses the arrangements that would provide an appropriate intellectual property regime to complement Africa's regional integration programmes such as the proposed Continental Free Trade Area and Treaty commitments.

Download Full-text PDF

EU JRC Technical Reports on Smart Specialisation Strategies in Europe | Research and Innovation | SDG9

EU JRC Technical Reports on Smart Specialisation Strategies in Europe | Innovation | SDG9
S3 Policy Brief Series (published between 2013 and 2016)

• The Goals of Smart Specialisation (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 01/2013)
• Smart Specialisation Programmes and Implementation (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 02/2013)
• Universities and Smart Specialisation (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 03/2013)
• A Policymakers Guide to Transnational Learning in Smart Specialisation (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 05/2014)
• Regional Branching and Smart Specialisation Policy (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 06/2014)
• The Role of Science Parks in Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 08/2014)
• Smart Specialisation and Innovation in Rural Areas (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 09/2014)
• Inter-regional Collaboration in Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) (S3 Working Paper Series, No. 06/2014)
• Developing Danube R&I Projects across Borders: How to Make the Joint Use of EU-Funds a Reality? (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 10/2014)
• Synergies between EU R&I Funding Programmes. Policy Suggestions from the Launching Event of the Stairway to Excellence Project (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 12/2014)
• Monitoring Mechanisms for Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 13/2015)
• Research and Technology Organisations and Smart Specialisation (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 15/2015)
• How Outward-Looking is Smart Specialisation? Results from a Survey on Inter-Regional Collaboration in Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3) (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 16/2016)
• Universities and RIS3: the case of Catalonia and the RIS3CAT Communities (S3 Policy Brief Series, No. 18/2016)

       

European Commission's Guidebook Series: How to Support SME Policy from Structural Funds

European Commission, Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry launches "Guidebook Series: How to Support SME Policy from Structural Funds". Presently the series includes eleven guidebooks related to innovation in SMEs and availability of structural funds for SMEs. Each guidebook deals with a specific area of SME policy and includes examples of recent projects. A general guide provides an overview of the whole process.

The titles published so far in the "Guidebook Series: How to Support SME Policy from Structural Funds" (Download each Guidebook by clicking on individual title):

1. Building Entrepreneurial Mind-sets and Skills in the EU: A Smart Guide on promoting and facilitating entrepreneurship education for young people with the help of EU structural funds
2. Using Standards to Support Growth, Competitiveness and Innovation
3. Facilitating Transfer of Business
4. The Smart Guide to Service Innovation: How to better capitalise on service innovation for regional structural change and industrial modernisation
5. Regional implementation of the SBA – Small Business Act for Europe
6. How to Use Structural Funds for SME & Entrepreneurship Policy
7. Supporting the Internationalisation of SMEs
8. Public Procurement as a Driver of Innovation in SMEs and Public Services
9. Fostering Business Angel Activities in Support of SME Growth
10. Improving Resource Efficiency in SMEs
11. Smart Guide to Cluster Policy

These guidebooks will surely be useful to SMEs operating in the emerging countries and BRICS nations.
  

Critical Reviews of Indian National Intellectual Property Rights Policy, 2016

Indian National Intellectual Property Rights Policy, 2016, receives mixed reactions from the policy analysts, activists, industry experts and scholars of innovation studies. Some of the observations have appeared in the following online articles:

Original Texts 

• Indian National Intellectual Property Rights Policy, 2016 | Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion: Government of India | May 12, 2016 | Download

 Critical Reviews

• India releases National Intellectual Property Rights Policy. by Anasua Mukherjee Das | Current Science | October 2016 | Download.
• Market Impacts of Patent Reforms in Developing Countries. by Aparajita Goyal | World Bank Blog July 2016 | Download. 
• India-US Relations: The IPR Conundrum. by N K Singh | India Foundation Blog | July 2016 | Download. 
• Indian National Intellectual Property Rights Policy, 2016: Some Highlights. by Anasua Mukherjee Das | The Nationalist | July 2016 | Download.
• National IPR Policy and Innovation. by Reji K. Joseph | Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi, 2016 | Download.
• Who Will Gain From the National IPRs Policy?. by Dinesh Kumar Abrol | Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi, 2016 | Download.
• Making Quality Medicines Affordable: An Interview with CIPLA CEO. by Catherine Jewell | WIPO Magazine | August 2016 | Download.
• National Intellectual Property Policy Suffers from a Lack of Conceptual Clarity. by Srividhya Ragavan, K. Subramanian | IndianExpress.com | June 11, 2016 | Download | The best aspects of the document are contained in the third objective discussing the legal and legislative framework.
• The Wrong Incentive: The National Intellectual Property Rights Policy Must Be Opposed. by Dinesh Abrol | Economic and Political Weekly | 11 June, 2016 | Download.
• Why New IPR Policy Is Inadequate: Pressure from US Is Unstated Reason. by K M Gopakumar | Economic and Political Weekly | 21 May, 2016 | Download.
• National Intellectual Property Rights: Patently a Missed Opportunity. by Achal Prabhala & Sudhir Krishnaswamy | The Hindu | May 25, 2016 | Download
• India's New IP Policy: A "Bare" Act? by Shamnad Basheer | SpicyIP.com |  June 6, 2016 | Download
• Modi's New Intellectual Property Rights Policy Will Only Benefit Players with Deep Pockets. by Anubha Sinha | The Wire | May 21, 2016 | Download | The new policy fails to enact a balanced regime and instead is tilted in favour of rights-holders.
• Why You Just Can't Have a One-Size-Fits-All IPR Policy. by Sushila Ravindranath | June 13, 2016 | Financial Express | Download | The National IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) policy was released on May 11. This 38-page document will give directions to the government to promote 'creative and innovative India'.
• India Calls for Flexibilities in Intellectual Property Rights to Combat AIDS. by PTI | IndianExpress.com | June 10, 2016 | Download
• Ahead of Prime Minister Modi's Visit, Doctors Without Borders Urges India to Put People's Health Before Pharmaceutical Profits. by Doctorswithoutborders.org | June 02, 2016 | Download | India must resist pressure from US lawmakers and pharmaceutical industry groups to block access to key medicines for millions of people worldwide.
• At EU-India Summit, India Must Defend Its "Pharmacy of the Developing World". by Doctorswithoutborders.org | March 29, 2016 | Download | MSF urges Indian Prime Minister not to cave into pressure from EU to accept trade deal that could prevent millions of people from accessing lifesaving medicines.
• Wither Away the Pressure on India's Patent Law. by  Saradindu Bhaduri | Vikalp | December 21, 2014 | Download
• Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation: MNCs in Pharmaceutical Industry in India after TRIPS. Sudip Chaudhuri | Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi, 2014 | Download.
• Strengthening Intellectual Property Rights Globally: Impact on India's Pharmaceutical Exports. by Jaya Prakash Pradhan | Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi, 2006 | Download.
• Public Health Perspective on Intellectual Property and Access to Medicines: A compilation of studies prepared for WHO | by Carlos M. Correa. The South Centre, Geneva, 2016, ISBN 9789291620470 | Download.
• Intellectual Property and Access to Science | by Carlos M. Correa | The South Centre Research Paper No. 69, July 2016 | Download