Before joining UNU MERIT in August 2007, Anant Kamath was an MPhil scholar at the Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum, India. He also holds an MSc in Economics from the Madras School of Economics, India, and an undergraduate degree in Economics, Sociology and Political Science.
His PhD research is on the use of particle swarm modelling to understand low-tech learning. The study, using particle swarm modelling, simulates a model of technological
progress due to defensive innovation within ‘low-tech’ small firm clusters,
i.e., those incapable of sophisticated R&D. In the model, the swarm (cluster), on simple interactions between
boundedly rational particles (small firms) following behavioural rules, evolves
through technology search space. The modelling is informed by empirical study
of coir clusters in Kerala, India, which survive on defensive
innovation. This study shows how simple defensive innovation by individual firms generates
emergent properties at the cluster level, understanding the mechanics and
dynamics of learning and technological progress in seemingly
unsophisticated small firm clusters.
His MPhil dissertation was an attempt to understand, through a Systems of Innovation perspective, a dilemma within India's technical education system – of the best S&T trained manpower moving towards non-S&T disciplines and careers – which has severe repercussions on India's Core-HRST, R&D manpower, and long term innovative capability. The study illustrated a case of IIT Madras revealed the incentive structure at the grassroot level that leads to this phenomenon.
