Prof. Dr. Shyama V. Ramani


Professorial Fellow

Research group(s):
5. Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Sustainability Transitions (coordinator)

Shyama Ramani's research focuses on the relationships between technology, innovation and their governance for inclusive development. Her work examines the role of technology and innovation in conjunction with actor (government, firms, citizens, public laboratories, NGOs etc.) engagements  to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to gender equality, sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, education and climate change. Her earlier work revolved around three core themes: the impact of the national system of innovation on the creation of industrial competence; the use of patent and publications statistics as indicators of competitive position and comparative advantage for investment; and the creation of incentives for cooperation and coordination. Her methodology is varied, ranging from contextual analysis and case studies to the use of game theory.  Dr. Ramani holds a PhD in economics from Cornell University, USA.  She is also serial academic social-entrepreneur who has also co-founded a profit unit (Tecknowmetrix, France) as well as non-profits/charities (Sti4Change; S4S and FIN Trust in India).




Selected publications by Shyama V. Ramani


Articles (journal, professional, popular)
Tomai, Maria, Shyama V. Ramani & Georgios Papachristos, 2024, How Can We Design Policy Better? Frameworks and Approaches for Sustainability Transitions, Sustainability, DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020690, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , Suma Athreye, Maximilian Bruder & Abhijit Sengupta, 2023, Inclusive innovation for the BoP: It's a matter of survival!, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 194(122666), More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , 2021, How should policymakers tackle ‘wicked’ problems? From designing solutions to building legitimacy, UNU-MERIT Policy Brief(1)
Rousselière, Samira, Shyama V. Ramani & Damien Rousselière, 2021, The organizational choice of technology transfer mode: Theory and application to the genetically modified plant industry, Managerial and Decision Economics, Online, DOI: 10.1002/mde.3320, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & Mhamed-Ali El-Aroui, 2020, On application of the precautionary principle to ban GMVs: an evolutionary model of new seed technology integration, Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Online: 1-24, DOI: 10.1007/s00191-020-00694-4, More information
Urias, Eduardo & Shyama V. Ramani, 2020, Access to medicines after TRIPS: Is compulsory licensing an effective mechanism to lower drug prices? A review of the existing evidence, Journal of International Business Policy, Online: 1-18, DOI: 10.1057/s42214-020-00068-4, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , 2019, On consortium driven sanitation interventions to end open defecation: insights from an Indian village study, Innovation and Development, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , 2018, Steering the course of innovation: towards sustainable development, UNU-MERIT, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & Eduardo Urias, 2018, When access to drugs meets catch-up: Insights from the use of CL threats to improve access to ARV drugs in Brazil, Research Policy, 47(8): 1538-1552, DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2018.05.008, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , Rushva Parihar & S. Sen, 2017, On Nudging MNE Toward SDG1: A policy perspective, International Business and Management, 33, DOI: 10.1108/S1876-066X20170000033005, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , Ajay Thutupalli, Mhamed-Ali El-Aroui & P. Kumar, 2017, MNE Led new market creation in emerging countries: The case of Bt cotton, International Business and Management, 33, DOI: 10.1108/S1876-066X20170000033006, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , Timothée Frühauf & Arijita Dutta, 2017, On Diarrhoea in Adolescents and School Toilets: Insights from an Indian Village School Study, The Journal of Development Studies, 53(11): 1899-1914, DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2016.1277017, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , Ajay Thutupalli & Eduardo Urias, 2017, High-value hi-tech product introduction in emerging countries: The role and construction of legitimacy, Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 20(2): 208-225, DOI: 10.1108/QMR-01-2017-0034, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , Shuan SadreGhazi & Gupta Suraksha, 2017, Catalysing innovation for social impact: The role of social enterprises in the Indian sanitation sector, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 121: 216-227, DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2016.10.015, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , Dutta Arijita & Hajra Gitanjali, 2016, On incidence of diarrhoea among children in India: Can the Gordian knot of complementarities be cut?, Economic and Political Weekly, 51(22): 121-129, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & Ajay Thutupalli, 2015, Emergence of controversy in technology transitions: Green Revolution and Bt cotton in India, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 100: 198-212, DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2015.06.018, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & Eduardo Urias, 2015, Access to critical medicines: When are compulsory licenses effective in price negotiations?, Social Science & Medicine, 135: 75-83, DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.04.023, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , S.E. Reid & Jorge Niosi, 2014, Bionetworks vs. nanonetworks: A comparison of diffusion rates of emerging technologies, International Journal of Biotechnology, 13: 90-104, DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2014.059649, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & Vivekananda Mukherjee, 2014, Can breakthrough innovations serve the poor (bop) and create reputational (CSR) value? Indian case studies, Technovation, 34: 295-304, DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2013.07.001, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , S.E. Reid & Jorge Niosi, 2014, Bionetworks vs nanonetworks: A comparison of diffusion rates of emerging technologies, International Journal of Biotechnology, 13(1/2/3): 90-104
Ramani, Shyama V. & Samira Guennif, 2012, Explaining divergence in catching-up in pharma between India and Brazil using the NSI framework, Research Policy, 41: 430-441, DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2011.09.005, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & S.E. Reid, 2012, The harnessing of biotechnology in India: Which roads to travel?, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 79(4): 648-664, DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2011.12.008, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , Shuan SadreGhazi & Geert Duysters, 2012, On the diffusion of toilets as Bottom of the Pyramid innovation: Lessons from sanitation entrepreneurs, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 79(4): 676-687, DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2011.06.007, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & Samira Guennif, 2012, Explaining divergence in catching-up in pharmaceuticals between India and Brazil using the NSI framework, Research Policy, 41: 430-441
Ramani, Shyama V. & Vivekananda Mukherjee, 2011, R&D cooperation in emerging industries, asymmetric innovative capabilities and rationale for technology parks , Theory and Decision , 71: 373-394, DOI: 10.1007/s11238-009-9184-9, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & Vivekananda Mukherjee, 2011, R&D Cooperation, Asymmetric Technological Capabilities and Rationale for Technology Parks, Theory and Decision, 71(3): 373-394, DOI: 10.1007/s11238-009-9184-9, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , Suma Athreye & Dinar Kale, 2009, Experimentation with strategy and evolution of dynamic capability in the Indian Pharmaceutical sector, Industrial and Corporate Change, 18(4): 729-759
Ramani, Shyama V. , Mhamed-Ali El-Aroui & M. Carrere, 2008, On estimating a knowledge production function at the firm and sectoral level using patent statistics, Research Policy, 37: 1568-1578
Ramani, Shyama V. & M.L. Cabon-Dhersin, 2007, Opportunism, trust and cooperation: A game theoretic approach with heterogeneous agents, Rationality and Society, 19(2): 203-228
Ramani, Shyama V. & M.L. Cabon-Dhersin, 2006, Can Social Externalities Solve the Small Coalitions Puzzle in International Environmental Agreements?, Economics Bulletin, 17(4): 1-8


Book chapters
Ramani, Shyama V. , Cristina Garcia Santos, Maria Tomai & Eduardo Urias, 2022, Insights for Policy Design to Attain SDG 11: A critical review of the literature, in: Edited By Shyama V. Raman, Hiroshan Hettiarachchi, SDG11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Routledge, India, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & René Kemp, 2020, Solution design through a stakeholder process as a new perspective for Environmental Economics with illustrations from Indian case studies, in: eds. Mathias, Ruth, Research Agenda for Environmental Economics, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, United Kingdom, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789900057.00017, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , 2017, MNE Led New Market Creation in Emerging Countries: The Case of Bt Cotton, in: Shyama V. Ramani, Thutupalli, A., El-Aroui, M. A., & Kumar, P, Multinational Enterprises and Sustainable Development, Emerald Publishing Limited, UK, DOI: 10.1108/S1876-066X20170000033006, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , 2017, On Nudging MNE Toward SDG1: A Policy Perspective, in: Shyama V. Ramani, Rushva Parihar and Shankhajit Sen, Multinational Enterprises and Sustainable Development, Emerald Publishing Limited, UK, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , Ajay Thutupalli, Tamas Medovarszki, Sutapa Chattopadhyay & Veena Ravichandran, 2017, Women Entrepreneurs in the Informal Economy, in: Colin C. Williams, Anjula Gurtoo, Handbook on Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries, Routledge, London
Ramani, Shyama V. & Adam Szirmai, 2014, Innovation in India: The Challenge of Combining Economic Growth with Inclusive Development, in: S. Ramani (ed.), Innovation in India: Combining Economic Growth with Inclusive Development, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, DOI: 10.1017/CBO9781139794640.002, More information
Notten, Ad & Shyama V. Ramani, 2014, Co-patenting Networks in Nanotechnology: A Comparison of South Korea and Germany , in: Shyama V. Ramani (ed.), Nanotechnology and Development: What’s in it for Emerging Countries?, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, DOI: 10.1017/CBO9781139794664.004, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , S.E. Reid & Roger Coronini, 2013, On nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoproducts: Why everyone wants to join this game? , in: Ramani, S, Nanotechnology and Development: What's in it for Emerging Countries?, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, DOI: 10.1017/CBO9781139794664.001, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , Nupur Chowdhury, Roger Coronini & S.E. Reid, 2013, On India’s plunge into nanotechnology: What are good ways to catch-up? , in: Ramani, S, Nanotechnology and Development: What's in it for Emerging Countries?, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, DOI: 10.1017/CBO9781139794664.008, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & Jorge Niosi, 2013, Nanotech after biotech in emerging economies: Déjà vu or a new form of catching up? , in: Ramani, S, Nanotechnology and Development: What's in it for Emerging Countries?, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, DOI: 10.1017/CBO9781139794664.009, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & D. Vinck, 2013, How is a regional technology cluster created?: Insight from the construction of the nanotech cluster in grenoble , in: Ramani, S, Nanotechnology and Development: What's in it for Emerging Countries?, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, DOI: 10.1017/CBO9781139794664.003, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & Shuan SadreGhazi, 2012, Where is the toilet please?: The sanitation sectoral innovation system in rural India , in: Ramani, S. (ed.), Innovation in India: Combining Economic Growth with Inclusive Development, Cambridge University Press\, Cambridge, DOI: 10.1017/CBO9781139794640.011, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & Samira Guennif, 2012, The secret behind India’s success in pharmaceuticals: Seizing the right windows of opportunity , in: Ramani, S. (ed.), Innovation in India: Combining Economic Growth with Inclusive Development, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, DOI: 10.1017/CBO9781139794640.007, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , 2012, Concluding remarks , in: Ramani, S. (ed.), Innovation in India: Combining Economic Growth with Inclusive Development, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, DOI: 10.1017/CBO9781139794640.013, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & Samira Guennif, 2012, Catching up in the pharmaceutical sector: Lessons from case studies of India and Brazil, in: Malerba, F., Nelson. R. (eds), Economic Development as a Learning Process: Variation Across Sectoral Systems, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK, More information


Books (monograph or edited volume)
Ramani, Shyama V. (ed.), 2014, Nanotechnology and Development: What’s in it for Emerging Countries?, Cambridge University Press, New Delhi, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. (ed.), 2014, Innovation in India: Combining Economic Growth with Inclusive Development, Cambridge University Press, UK, More information


UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Ramani, Shyama V. , 2017, Role of WASH and Agency in Health: A study of isolated rural communities in Nilgiris and Jalpaiguri, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2017-020
Ramani, Shyama V. , Ajay Thutupalli, Tamas Medovarszki, Sutapa Chattopadhyay & Veena Ravichandran, 2013, Women entrepreneurs in the informal economy: Is formalization the only solution for business sustainability?, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2013-018
Ramani, Shyama V. , Timothée Frühauf, Arijita Dutta & Huub Meijers, 2012, Determinants of the prevalence of diarrhoea in adolescents attending school: A case study of an Indian village school, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2012-059
Daems, Rutger, Edith Maes & Shyama V. Ramani, 2011, Global Framework for differential pricing of pharmaceuticals, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2011-054
Ramani, Shyama V. , Nupur Chowdhury, Roger Coronini & Susan Reid, 2011, On India's plunge into Nanotechnology: What are good ways to catch-up?, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2011-020
Mukherjee, Vivekananda & Shyama V. Ramani, 2011, Voluntary agreements and community development as CSR in innovation strategies, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2011-016
Ramani, Shyama V. & Vivekananda Mukherjee, 2010, CSR and market changing product innovations: Indian case studies, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2010-026
Guennif, Samira & Shyama V. Ramani, 2010, Catching up in pharmaceuticals: a comparative study of India and Brazil, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2010-019
Ramani, Shyama V. , Shuan SadreGhazi & Geert Duysters, 2010, On the Delivery of Pro-Poor Innovations: Managerial Lessons from Sanitation Activists in India, A revised version of this working paper is published as : Ramani, Shyama V. , Shuan SadreGhazi & Geert Duysters, 2012, On the diffusion of toilets as Bottom of the Pyramid innovation: Lessons from sanitation entrepreneurs, Technological Forecasting and S, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2010-018
Ramani, Shyama V. , 2008, Playing in Invisible Markets: Innovations in the Market for Toilets to Harness the Economic Power of the Poor, UNU-MERIT Working Paper 2008-012


Research reports
Ramani, Shyama V. , Ajay Thutupalli, Eduardo Urias & Rushva Parihar, 2015, A refinement of framework model of interlinkages of MNEs in emerging countries for measuring their contribution towards MDGs, for "A Framework Model on MNE’s impact on global development challenges in emerging markets", Grant agreement no: 612889
Ramani, Shyama V. & Rushva Parihar, 2015, Linkages between sanitation, health and poverty reduction, for "A Framework Model on MNE's impact on global development challenges in emerging markets", Grant agreement no: 612889


Conference contributions
Ramani, Shyama V. , Shuan SadreGhazi & Geert Duysters, 2009, Taking Innovations to the Poor: Lessons from Sanitation Activists in India, 7th GLOBELICS International Conference, 6-8 October, Dakar, Senegal, More information


Briefs
Ramani, Shyama V. , Pranav Shankar Kaundinya, Natalie Perné & Serdar Turkeli, 2023, Building Resilience to Flooding, UNU-MERIT Policy Brief, April 25, 2023, DOI: 10.53330/TLGW9214, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , 2021, How should policymakers tackle ‘wicked’ problems? From designing solutions to building legitimacy, This is the first in a policy brief series that will examine societal problems from a solution design perspective. It presents the frameworks that will be applied to examine consequential challenges with deep shades of wickedness such as COVID-19, open defecation, climate change and violence against girls and women etc.in future briefs, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. , Sutapa Chattopadhyay, Ajay Thutupalli & Howard Hudson (eds.), 2013, Women in the Informal Economy: Experiments in Governance from Emerging Countries, Women entrepreneurs in the informal economy need business engagements with other women (and men) that offer ‘spaces’ for dialogue to learn and build business capabilities. While formalization of entrepreneurial activity is favourable under some circumstances, it can be detrimental under others, necessitating a case-by-case evaluation, More information


Other (editorship, media appearance, keynote, etc.)
Ramani, Shyama V. & Serdar Turkeli, 2018, SITE4Society Event No: 2, The Lab, UNU-MERIT, Meet the Entrepreneurs and Intrapreneurs of Maastricht who are contributing to the SDGs, More information
Ramani, Shyama V. & Serdar Turkeli, 2017, SITE4Society Event No: 1, The Lab, UNU-MERIT, More information


UNU-MERIT