Why Do We Need Theory and Metrics of Technology Upgrading?
Slavo Radosevic, University College of London
This paper discusses why we need theory and metrics of technology upgrading. It critically reviews the existing approaches to technology upgrading and motivates build-up of theoretically relevant but empirically grounded middle level conceptual and statistical framework which could illuminate a type of challenges relevant for economies at different income levels. It conceptualizes technology upgrading as three dimensional processes composed of intensity and different types of technology upgrading through various types of innovation and technology activities; broadening of technology upgrading through different forms of technology and knowledge diversification, and interaction with global economy through knowledge import, adoption and exchange. We consider this to be necessary first step towards theory and metrics of technology upgrading and generation of more relevant composite indicator of technology upgrading.
About the speaker
Slavo Radosevic is Professor of Industry and Innovation Studies at the UCL where he has been also director of School of Slavonic and East European Studies. He has worked at University of Sussex SPRU as researcher and before 1992 he worked as researcher in Croatia. He also had significant policy making experience in Croatia and ex-Yugoslavia at the highest policy level. His main research interests are in science, technology, industrial change, foreign direct investments and innovation policy in central and Eastern Europe (CEE). He has published extensively in international journals in these areas and has edited several volumes on these issues. He is author of “International technology transfer and catch-up in economic development’, Edward Elgar, 1999. He favours empirically oriented and policy relevant research projects, based in neo-Schumpeterian economics. He acts as an expert for the EC, OECD, UNESCO, UNIDO, World Bank, UNECE and Asian Development Bank and for several governments in CEE. He has been involved in evaluation of innovation capacities of the several CIS economies. He is currently research director of the UCL Centre for Comparative Study of the Emerging Economies. He is also special advisor of the EU DG Commissioner for Regional Policy. He is currently working on the issues of the EU smart specialization policies and leads the book project on this topic.
Venue: Conference room (room 0.16 & 0.17)
Date: 14 January 2016
Time: 12:30 - 13:30 CET
