New Journal Article "Incremental innovations, information contagion, and path dependence: the case of drinking water purification technologies in urban India" | by N Talat & S Bhaduri, CSSP JNU

Incremental innovations, information contagion, and path dependence: the case of drinking water purification technologies in urban India

Nazia Talat  & Saradindu Bhaduri

Industrial and Corporate Change, 2017, DOI: 10.1093/icc/dtx010

Abstract: Recent scholarship on technological path dependence has questioned the credibility of many previous studies for basing their analyses on cases settled in the past. Such cases often do not provide adequate insights into the historical contingencies, nature of incremental innovations, and the type of feedback mechanisms between consumers and producers of technologies. In addition, most of the cases dealing with path dependence focus on firms as users of technology, and miss out on the influence the consumers may have in shaping path dependence. We take the case of water purification technologies in India, where the technologies are still evolving, and analyze the path dependence implications of their evolution by taking the case of urban households with piped water supply. Using patent data, scientific studies, as well as interviews with firms and individuals, we analyze how through various incremental innovations and information contagion, reverse osmosis technologies demonstrate the features of path dependence, leading, possibly, to lock-in.

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CfPs: International Conference on Engaging Canada and India: Perspectives on Sustainability | 11-12 May 2017 | IHC, New Delhi, India

International Conference on Engaging Canada and India: Perspectives on Sustainability

11-12 May 2017

Organized by Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi

Venue: India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India

The Institute

The Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute is a bi-national organization that promotes understanding between India and Canada through academic activities and exchanges. Its broad-based initiatives support the creation of bi-national links between academia, government, the business community and civil society organizations by funding research, faculty and student exchange, conferences, workshops and seminars. With a membership of over ninety leading Indian and Canadian universities and research institutions, the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute has facilitated greater collaboration between Indian and Canadian institutions in the humanities, social sciences, arts, science & technology, legal education, and management studies. The Institute, as part of its mandate, has also supported research on sustainable development and other United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

THE CONFERENCE

Sustainability is a multifaceted concept. It is only with a deep understanding of the nuances of our social fabric can we internalize and put it to practice. The most commonly quoted definition of sustainability is from the United Nations Bruntland Commission Report, which says "sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." In a broader sense, sustainability can be conceived as the physical development and institutional operating practices that meet the needs of present users without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, particularly with regard to use and waste of natural resources. Sustainable practices support ecological, human, and economic health and vitality. Sustainability presumes that resources are finite, and should be used conservatively and wisely with an understanding of long-term priorities. The discourses today about sustainability also addresses the consequences of the ways in which resources are used. Simply put, sustainability can be viewed as sustainable development which intertwines the four disciplines of ecology, economics, politics and culture. The bedrock of these is entrenched in education. The role of institutes of higher learning is, thus, very critical in developing an understanding as to the way it impacts sustainable practices. With an aim of creating a global culture of sustainable development, the United Nations has been setting an agenda for achieving the desired end goals through the drafting of measurable targets. Referred to as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, it aims to bring in governments, businesses and civil society together on one platform. In addition to that, even the Paris agreement on climate change has changed the dynamics of global affairs. Some of the prominent goals include provision of quality education, incorporating better practices in infrastructure, innovation and industry, making positive climate change impacts, focusing on clean energy and achieving targets on good & general well-being. Through this conference, it is intended to invoke debate and conduct deliberations in the area of contributions that institutes of higher learning have made or are making through continuous change and adaptation of these goals into the curricula. The conference also aims of to bring out the latest pedagogical as well as practical aspects that are being introduced in India and Canada towards fulfilling our commitments for the creation and sustenance of a sustainable global society.

OBJECTIVES

The broad areas identified for deliberations in the Conference will focus on how perspectives in 'Sustainability' have been shaped in India and Canada in the areas of humanities and social sciences, business and management, law and also in science and technology. Through this intersection of several fields of knowledge, the conference shall endeavor to explore the development of our understanding of sustainability through the varied yet connected lenses. 

FOCUS AREAS OF THE CONFERENCE 

Theme 1: Sustainable Societies

Theme 2: Economic Sustainability and Business & Management

Theme 3: Social Sustainability and Law

Theme 4: Sustainable Technologies

Theme 5: Environment, Climate Change and Sustainability

Theme 6: Public Health

Theme 7: Indigenous Practices

Theme 8: Gender

CALL FOR PAPERS

Papers are invited from faculty, post-doctoral researchers, and doctoral students from Shastri member institutions, as well as faculty/researchers from non-member institutions that discuss the result of their research and the impact it has in developing partnerships, linkages, learning methodologies, and socio-cultural narratives that empower interdisciplinary research. The papers could be the outcome of research funded by the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute or by other agencies/universities/research institutions/Independent research. We particularly encourage submissions that develop inter-disciplinary themes.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Abstracts of the proposed paper in about 400 words should be sent to Ms. Anju Taneja by email at anjut@sici.org.in. The last date to receive the abstracts is 02-04-2017. Authors must indicate the focus area for which they would like their paper to be considered. The abstracts will be reviewed and a selection will be made by SICI. Scholars whose abstracts are selected will be intimated by 10-04-2017. The full original papers (unpublished till date) should be submitted by 05-05-2017. Papers presented at the Conference would be considered for a publication on a blind external review.

Travel and Accommodation: Economy class air-fare within India, and local accommodation in New Delhi, will be provided to outstation scholars whose papers have been selected for presentation at the Conference. Travel and accommodation arrangements/reimbursements will be done according to the travel and accommodation policy of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute. We encourage and allow virtual presentations as well.

Further Details

New Book | Reverse Glass Painting in India | by Anna L Dallapiccola, Niyogi Books

Reverse Glass Painting in India

by Anna L Dallapiccola; Niyogi Books, 2017, Hardback, ISBN: 9789385285349, INR 1495.00.

About the Book

Reverse glass painting is a fascinating yet comparatively unknown facet of Indian art that flourished in the mid-19th century. Painted by Chinese and Indian artists, these 'exotic' paintings in luminous colours were much favoured by royal patrons, and also by prosperous landowners and city merchants in colonial India. The themes ranged from portraits of rulers, their families, nobles, dancers and courtesans, to landscapes and a wide variety of religious subjects drawn from the Puranas and the Epics. Many of the portraits are set in western style settings and offer a charming insight into tastes and lifestyle of the western educated urban elite in mid-nineteenth and early twentieth century India.

Over a 100 colour images highlight the rare gems of reverse glass painting from numerous private collections in India.

About the Author

Anna L. Dallapiccola, Professor of Indian Art at the South Asia Institute of Heidelberg University (1971–1995) was appointed Honorary Professor at Edinburgh University, and regularly lectured at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. She was Visiting Professor at  De Montfort University, Leicester until 2004. She was closely involved in the Vijayanagara Research Project (1984–2001)

​Further Details

New Book | Demonetisation Decoded: A Critique of India's Currency Experiment | by Ghosh, Chandrasekhar, & Patnaik

Demonetisation Decoded: A Critique of India's Currency Experiment

by Jayati Ghosh, C. P. Chandrasekhar, Prabhat Patnaik. Routledge India, 2017, Hardback, ISBN: 9781138080713, INR 350.00. 

About the Book

On the night of 8 November 2016, at 8:15 pm, India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, announced in a televised broadcast to the nation that with effect from midnight, currency notes of denominations Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 would no longer be legal tender. In one stroke, this involved the de-recognition of over 86 per cent of the value of Indian currency in circulation with only four hours' notice.

This important book provides a quick and concise explanation of the goals, implications, initial effects and the political economy of this major demonetisation move by the Government of India. It clarifies key concepts and offers astute economic analysis to guide the reader through the various claims, arguments and critiques that have been made; highlights the complexities of the processes that have been unleashed; and examines the likely outcomes in the long term as well as those that are immediately evident.

Timely and lucid, this book will interest students and researchers in the fields of economics, finance, management, law, politics and governance as well as policy makers, legislators, civil society activists and the media.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 

2. The Purported Logic of Demonetisation 

3. Design and Implementation of Demonetisation 

4. Initial Outcomes 

5. Macroeconomic Consequences 

6. Inventing a New Utopia 

7. Conclusion

About the Authors

• Jayati Ghosh is Professor at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
  
• C. P. Chandrasekhar is Dean, School of Social Sciences, and Professor at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
  
• Prabhat Patnaik is Emeritus Professor at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
  

​Further Details

CfPs: 15th Globelics Conference 2017 | 11-13 October | Athens, Greece

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15th Globelics Conference 11-13 October 2017 National Technical University of Athens, Greece  The Globelics International Conference 2017 The 15th Globelics Conference will be held in Athens, Greece. It will be hosted by the Laboratory of Industrial and Energy Economics (LIEE) at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), the oldest (established in 1837) and most prestigious Greek academic institution in the field of Technology and Engineering. Athens will be the first European city to host the Globelics Annual Conference. This was considered as an opportunity to highlight the challenges for a country hit by the recent economic crisis. Innovation and competence building in the context of industrial and institutional change can be of great importance when envisaging a strategy out of the crisis. The conference will combine plenary sessions, presentations of research papers in parallel tracks, thematic panel sessions or special sessions, poster presentations, a book presentation session and debate,exhibition on industrial research in Greece, innovative start-ups presentations, sightseeing and cultural events, as well as artistic and culinary exhibitions. Background Globelics is a worldwide network of more than 2000 scholars engaged in research on how innovation and competence building contribute to economic and sustainable development. The network is open and diverse in terms of disciplines, perspectives and research tools. Globelics is a platform for cooperation and interactive learning. It was conceived at the very beginning of the new millennium. Inspired by the work of Christopher Freeman and Richard Nelson, the network was initially built on conversations among scholars in the South and in the North and developed by economists and experts on innovation systems. Over time the network has integrated expertise from a wider social science background and experts on broader aspects of development. One of its main activities is the Annual Globelics Conference, which brings together over 400 leading and young scholars from all over the world. The Conference also aims at building research capacity and orienting research toward the local challenges of the host country.  Conference Theme The main conference theme for Globlelics 2017 is Innovation and Capacity Building in the context of financialisation and uneven development of the global economy: new roles for the state, productive sector, and social actors. The conference invites papers addressing the role of different types of actors such as the State, local authorities, continental entities, knowledge institutions, productive political and social actors in shaping innovation and capacity building so as to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth. In particular, it aims to explore whether we need new approaches to study inequality in the age of globalization as there are widening disparities within countries, regions and social classes. The conference will also consider the need to tackle new challenges related to innovation and capacity building in addition to our systems of innovation approach. The conference also welcomes papers studying how systems of policies can be implemented at different levels and across different countries to innovate out of the crisis. Conference Tracks Accepted papers will be organized around parallel paper tracks encompassing: 1. University relationships with industry and society: the developmental university 2. Indigenous knowledge, informal sector, innovation and development 3. Gender, innovation and development 4. Science, technology, innovation policy and development 5. Intellectual property rights, open innovation and development 6. National, continental and regional innovation system 7. Technological infrastructure and technological capabilities 8. Sectoral innovation system, systemic industrial policy and development 9. Innovation systems, networks, global value chains and foreign direct investments 10. Entrepreneurship and innovation management in companies, organizations, government and local authorities 11. Agricultural innovation system 12. Science, technology, innovation and the sustainable development goals 13. Creative industries, smart cities and economic development 14. Innovation, financialization and the global crisis: what kind of policies and strategies are needed? 15. Innovation studies: Empirical methodologies, data requirements, indicators, different approaches and methodologies Paper submission: We encourage scholars at scientific institutions, universities, enterprises and public sector institutions to take this opportunity to present their work to leading scholars in the field of innovation and development. We especially encourage young researchers to submit papers. Papers for oral presentations and poster presentation must be written in English, and the selected ones must be presented at the conference in English. Submission of full paper (in PDF) not exceeding 12,000 words (including notes, tables, appendices, list of references, etc.) should be made from 1st until 30th April 2017 via the online submission form available at the Conference website: www.liee.ntua.gr/globelics2017. Papers must be submitted no later than April 30, 2017. The selection of papers is based on a peer review process that focuses on relevance, academic quality and originality. Globelics reserves the right to use available software to control for plagiarism and to take appropriate action in such cases. Travel support: Faculty members and PhD students from developing countries with accepted papers to the conference can apply for travel support. Application for travel support must be submitted at the same time as submission of paper. Further information on procedure for application of travel support will be available on the conference website. Contact Details: For further information on the conference organization please consult our website. If you have any questions that cannot be answered using the website, please send an e-mail to: athens.2017@globelics.org Further Details

Call for Papers: 4th INDIALICS Conference 2017: Innovation for Sustainable Development: Perspectives, Policies and Practices in South Asia | 2-4 November 2017 | JNU, New Delhi, India

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The 4^th INDIALICS Conference 2017

Innovation for Sustainable Development: Perspectives, Policies and Practices in South Asia

 

Dates: 2^nd to 4^th November 2017

 

Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

Call for Papers & Research Proposals

In the last few decades, technological and organizational innovations have played a pivotal role in transforming the economies and societies of the South-Asian countries, setting them at the frontiers of science and technology advancement. Various policies and institutional arrangements have been restructured and created to achieve global competitiveness and faster economic growth. However, along with high economic growth, there is increasing inequality and exclusion as well as over-exploitation of natural resources. The emerging challenge, therefore, is to accomplish equilibrium between economic growth and social justice, through innovative and sustainable practices.

Drawing inspiration from the existing narratives and discourses, the 4^th Indialics conference is thematised as "Innovation for Sustainable Development: Perspectives, Policies and Practices in South Asia". This conference will explore the nature, determinants and direction of innovation and new pathways for meeting future challenges in the context of sustainable development with specific reference to South Asia. We posit that the challenges cannot be seen as isolated from each other but interconnected and require social, institutional and policy innovations, political processes and the interconnections between these. The conference will reflect on challenges and opportunities in fostering innovation for socio-economic development and sustainability.

Key Conference Themes will include:

• Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture/ (including Food Security, Farmers' Innovation)
  
• Global Value Chains and Innovation Systems
• Sanitation and Waste Management
• Climate Change Adaption, Mitigation, and Resilience
• Gender, Technology and Innovation
• Innovation in the Informal Economy
• Indicators for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)
• R&D and Technology Transfer; University-Industry Linkages
• Innovations in Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
• IPR, Standards & Regulations in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI)
• Foresights and Futures for Technology
• Responsible Innovation

 Important Dates:

·         Deadline for Extended Abstract: 20th April 2017

·         Notification of Acceptance of Extended Abstracts: 20th June 2017

·         Last Date for Submission of Full Papers: 20th September 2017 (for Selected Abstracts).              

Format for Extended Abstract/Research Proposal (around 1200 words): Paper proposal should preferably include following subsections (a) Purpose (b) Design/Methodology/Approach (c) Findings (d) Implications (e) Originality/Value (f) Keywords (maximum 5). The extended abstract should not have been published earlier in any form. Authors of the accepted abstract will be invited to present their work at the conference. Papers by young scholars are particularly encouraged. The author(s) are expected to follow above format for submission. All submissions should be submitted online.

Form for Submission of Extended Abstract:  http://bit.ly/2lmF9tO

Organizer:

This conference is being organized by the Centre for Studies in Science Policy (CSSP), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi.

Convener of the Conference: Saradindu Bhaduri, Chairperson, CSSP.

Coordinators: Sujit Bhattacharya (CSIR-NISTADS) and Dinesh Abrol (ISID)

All communications regarding the INDIALICS2017 should be addressed to:

Email: indialics2017@gmail.com.

Dr Anup Kumar Das, CSSP, Room #228, SSS-I, JNU, New Delhi 110067. Tel. +91-11-26738906.

Hashtag for Social Media: #INDIALICS2017

Further Details

CSSP Open Workshop - Indo-French Perspectives on Digital Studies | 15th March, at JNU Convention Centre

Open Workshop

Indo-French Perspectives on Digital Studies

 

An IFRIS – JNU Initiative

Organised by the Digital Studies Group, New Delhi

 

Wednesday, 15th March, 2017

Committee Room No. 108, Convention Centre

Jawaharlal Nehru University

New Delhi-110067

 

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Introductory Session 9:00am – 9:30am

Introductory Remarks: Saradindu Bhaduri, Chairperson, CSSP, JNU.

Introduction to Indo-French Partnership: Madhav Govind, CSSP, JNU.

Marine Al Dahdah, Paris Descartes University, CEPED, Paris - CSH-Delhi.

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Session 1: Open Access 9:30am – 11:00am

Chairperson/Discussant: Rajiv Mishra, CSSP (JNU)

Speaker 1: Marianne Noël, CNRS-LISIS, Paris               

Speaker 2: Anubha Sinha, Centre for Internet & Society, New Delhi

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Tea Break 11:00 am- 11:30 am

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Session 2: Materiality of the Digital: People, Spaces, Infrastructures 11.30 am – 1:00pm

Chairperson/Discussant: Vidya Subramanian, HT, New Delhi.

Speaker 1: Ravi Sundaram, CSDS-Sarai, Delhi.

Speaker 2:  Rajarshi Dasgupta, Centre for Political Studies, SSS, JNU  

Speaker 3: Aurélie Varrel, French Institute of Pondicherry, CNRS-CEIAS.

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Lunch Break 1:00 am to 2:00 pm

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Session 3: Digital Governance and Databases 2:00pm-3.30 pm

Chairperson/Discussant: Khetrimayum Monish, CIS Delhi,.

Speaker 1: Eric Dagiral, Paris Descartes University , CERLIS, Paris.

Speaker 2: Ravi Shukla Head, India-SDC, Netvision Corporation Singapore
and Independent Researcher on IT and society. 

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Tea Break  3.30 pm to 4:00 pm

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Concluding Session: Synthesis  4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Speaker: Mathieu Quet, CSSP (JNU), IRD-Paris

CSSP Talk "Technological Roots of Structural Imbalance in the Indian Economy" by Prof Vinod Vyasulu | 15th March 2017, 11:00 a.m.

Centre for Studies in Science Policy

School of Social Sciences, JNU

Invites you to

                                                               

A Talk on

Technological Roots of Structural Imbalance in the Indian Economy

 by

Professor Vinod Vyasulu

O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, India

 

Venue:  Room No. 227, 2^nd Floor, SSS-1

Date:    Wednesday, 15th March 2017

Time:   11:00 a.m.

 

Abstract: Over the years, there has been a growing imbalance in the structure of the Indian economy. While the share of agriculture in the economy has dropped from around 66% fifty years ago, to about 15% today, the share of people dependent on this sector has still remained at around 60%. This is one indicator of poverty. I propose to look at the technological roots of this imbalance in this presentation.

About the Speaker: Professor Vinod Vyasulu earned a PhD from the School of Business Administration in the University of Florida. He has taught in the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and XLRI, Jamshedpur. He was Director of the Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad, and held the RBI Chair in the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore. He also had a stint as Economic Adviser for Small Scale Industries in the National Small Industries Corporation, Delhi. He was Director of the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies in Bangalore. Currently he is Professor and Vice Dean, Jindal School of Government and Policy in Sonipat. He can be contacted at vvyasulu@jgu.edu.in.

 

All are welcome to attend the lecture.

Coordinators, CSSP Lecture Series