Thursday 30 June 2016

Call for Proposals | BRICS STI Framework Programme | Coordinated Call for BRICS Multilateral Projects – Pilot Call 2016

BRICS STI Framework Programme
Coordinated Call for BRICS Multilateral Projects – Pilot Call 2016


Call for collaborative multilateral basic, applied and innovation research projects is open until: 25 August 2016


The BRICS STI Framework Programme aims to support excellent research on priority areas which can best be addressed by a multinational approach. The initiative should facilitate cooperation among the researchers and institutions in the consortia which consist of partners from at least three of the BRICS countries.
As part of the initiative the following research funding organizations from the BRICS countries have agreed to jointly establish a new scheme for funding multilateral cooperative activities:
Brazil: National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)
Russia: Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) | Ministry of Education and Science (MON) | Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR)
India: Department of Science and Technology (DST)
China: Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
South Africa: Department of Science and Technology (DST) | National Research Foundation (NRF)

Aim of the Joint Call and Thematic areas
: Collaborative multilateral basic, applied and innovation research projects in the following thematic areas can be submitted in response to the call:
(a) Prevention and monitoring of natural disasters
(b) Water resources and pollution treatment
(c) Geospatial technology and its applications
(d) New and renewable energy, and energy efficiency
(e) Astronomy
(f) Biotechnology and biomedicine including human health and neuroscience
(g) Information technologies and high performance computing
(h) Ocean and polar science and technology
(i) Material science including nanotechnology
(j) Photonics

Download Call Announcement

Download Joint Application Form




General Course on Intellectual Property (DL101) | Free eLearning Course by WIPO Academy - Distance Learning Program

General Course on Intellectual Property  (DL-101)
Free eLearning Course by WIPO Academy - Distance Learning Program


Overview: This course provides an in-depth view of the fundamentals of IP law, and is considered as indispensable to pursue more advanced courses of study on specific areas of IP law. Self-assessment tools are strategically placed throughout each module to assist participants with gauging their respective levels of knowledge and progress, as well as their ability to apply the concepts and facts presented within the course. Academic support is provided throughout each module by experienced tutors who are expert practitioners in the field of IP.
Curriculum
The DL-101 course is comprised of the following modules and final exam:
Module 1: Introduction to IP
Module 2: Copyright
Module 3: Related Rights
Module 4: Trademarks
Module 5: Geographical Indications
Module 6: Industrial Design
Module 7: Patents
Module 8: WIPO Treaties
Module 9: Unfair Competition
Module 10: Protection of New Varieties of Plants
Module 11: Summary and Discussion on Intellectual Property Rights
Module 12: IP and Development - The WIPO Development Agenda
Final Exam and Certificate: The final exam for this course is comprised of a series of multiple choice questions. A fixed amount of time is allocated for participants to complete and submit the exam on-line. Participants are contacted regarding modalities for accessing the final exam approximately one week prior to the deadline for completion of the DL-101 course. Participants who pass the DL-101 final exam are awarded an electronic certificate of course completion.
Eligibility: This course is open to individuals who are/will be employed in the field of administration of intellectual property rights; those seeking general knowledge of IP; and those who generate various forms of IP and seek a deeper understanding of the effective management and protection of IPRs.
To be enrolled before: 17 July 2016
Course Dates: 18 July to 29 August 2016
Duration: 55 hrs

Further Details and Free Registration

Wednesday 29 June 2016

Asian Productivity Organization (APO) offers several eLearning Courses/ MOOCs on Climate Change and Green Productivity

The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) offers several eLearning Courses/ MOOCs on Climate Change and Green Productivity

Self-learning e-Course on Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation: Basic Course
Course Objectives
- At the end of this course, participants are expected to have a basic understanding of climate change science, impacts, and mitigation measures.
Introduction: Depending upon the needs of APO members and relevance of subject areas, the APO develops self-learning e-courses and offers them on its e-learning portal. These courses are developed based on the APO's experience and knowledge accumulated over years of organizing capacity-building projects in its focus areas. In 2011, the APO conducted a highly successful pilot self-learning e-course on the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001) that received positive feedback and drew more than 2700 participants. In 2013, the APO implemented two self-learning e-courses on Integrated Management Systems and Material Flow Cost Accounting. Our climate is changing and the reality is some of the most dynamic cities on the planet are most vulnerable to the impacts these changes will bring. Climate change is the one of the biggest global challenges the human race has ever faced. Global unquenchable demand for energy from fossil fuels is changing the atmosphere, and in turn changing our climate. Climate change is already affecting the physical surface of the earth, the environment that provides our life support, our food supply, economy and society. These changes will accelerate over the next few decades. In line with the APO's Green Productivity program, this course offers an introduction to multi-disciplinary perspectives on climate change to comprehend how climate change affects people as an individual, as a member of local community, as a citizen of country and as a member of the global community. In this course participants will explore the science of climate change; the impacts of climate change; current methodology to alleviate these impacts and the future measures to adapt to climate change.
To be completed before: 31 October 2016
Course Code: 16-IN-06-GE-TRC-A-4 Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation: Basic Course
Further Details and Free Enrollment

Self-learning e-Course on Green Productivity and the Environmental Management System (ISO 14001)
Course Objectives
- At the end of this course, participants are expected to have a basic understanding of EMS (ISO 14001)
- Participants will be able to contribute to developing the structure and process of EMS.
- Participants will also be able to contribute to establishing, operating, and maintaining EMS in organizations.
Introduction: Depending upon the needs of APO members and relevance of subject areas, the APO develops self-learning e-courses and offers them on its e-learning portal. These courses are developed based on the APO's experience and knowledge accumulated over years of organizing capacity-building projects in its focus areas. In 2011, the APO conducted a highly successful pilot self-learning e-course on the Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSAS 18001) that received positive feedback and drew more than 2700 participants. In 2013, the APO implemented two self-learning e-courses on Integrated Management Systems and Material Flow Cost Accounting. This is the first course on GP & EMS being offered in 2014. The EMS is the part of the overall management system that addresses the impact of an organization's activities, products, and services on the environment. An EMS allows an organization to identify and take control of the environmental impacts that it generates and is a tool to improve the efficiency of organizational activities, products, and services so that they will benefit the entire organization. Improved relationships with suppliers and customers can result from the consistent management and reduced environmental impacts of organizations. The APO has been organizing a number of projects related to the EMS and ISO 14001.
To be completed before: 31 October 2016
Course Code: 16-IN-06-GE-TRC-A-5 Self-learning course on Green Productivity and the Environmental Management System (ISO 14001)
Further Details and Free Enrollment

Self-learning e-Course on Productivity Tools and Techniques (Basic)
Course Objectives
This is an entry-level course designed to equip productivity practitioners with fundamental productivity concepts, principles, and tools. At the end of the course, participants are expected to be able to:
- Identify, use, and explain basic productivity tools and other approaches to improve productivity;
- Adopt an integrated productivity framework to diagnose productivity problems and develop and implement solutions; and
- Provide training, consulting, and promotional services to NPO clients.
Course Code: 16-IN-06-GE-TRC-A-1 Productivity Tools and Techniques (Basic)
To be completed before: 30 September 2016
Further Details and Free Enrollment

Self-learning e-Course on Productivity Tools and Techniques (Advanced)
Course Objectives
To equip participants who took the basic course with advanced productivity improvement principles, tool, techniques, and approaches. Successful participants are expected to be able to provide advice and deliver promotional, training, and consulting services on advanced productivity techniques and organizational excellence. At the end of the advanced course, productivity practitioners are expected to be able to:
- Identify problems and implement solutions for achieving organizational excellence;
- Identify and use appropriate tools and techniques leading to organizational excellence;
- Develop a framework, strategies, and action plans for achieving excellence and competitiveness at the organizational level; and
- Provide advice and deliver promotional, training, and consulting services on advanced productivity techniques to organizations.
Course Code: 16-IN-06-GE-TRC-A-2 Productivity Tools and Techniques (Advanced)
To be completed before: 30 September 2016
Further Details and Free Enrollment

Self-learning e-Course on Material Flow Cost Accounting (ISO 14051)
Course Objectives
- At the end of this course, participants are expected to have a basic understanding of Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA).
- Participants will also be able to contribute to establishing, operating, and maintaining MFCA in organizations.
Introduction: MFCA, developed in Germany in the late 1990s and since adopted widely in Japan, focuses on tracing waste, emissions, and nonproducts and can help boost an organization's economic and environmental performance. It is one of the major tools of environmental management accounting (EMA). EMA is a set of procedures used within corporations and other organizations for linking environmental considerations with economic objectives. Today, organizations cannot ignore the environmental aspects of their activities. Consequently, they seek management tools to link concern for the environment with economic considerations. MFCA is a management tool that promotes the efficient use of materials more effectively, contributing to reductions in waste, emissions, and nonproducts. MFCA increases the transparency of material flow, which is a key to successful problem-solving and improvement. To standardize MFCA practices, a working group of the ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental Management, developed ISO 14051, which complements the ISO 14000 family of environmental management system standards, including life cycle assessment (ISO 14040, ISO 14044) and environmental performance evaluation (ISO 14031). The standard was published in the second half of 2011. This course will cover the basic concept of MFCA and enhance the understanding of ISO 14051.
Course Code: 16-IN-06-GE-TRC-A-3 Self-learning e-Course on Material Flow Cost Accounting (ISO 14051)
To be completed before: 31 October 2016
Further Details and Free Enrollment

Useful eBooks on OpenAccess | Open Access | Open Access–Opportunities and Challenges: A Handbook | Science Dissemination using Open Access

eBooks on Open Access

Open Access
by Peter Suber. MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series The MIT Press, USA, 2012, ISBN: 9780262517638.

About the Book
The Internet lets us share perfect copies of our work with a worldwide audience at virtually no cost. We take advantage of this revolutionary opportunity when we make our work "open access": digital, online, free of charge, and free of most copyright and licensing restrictions. Open access is made possible by the Internet and copyright-holder consent, and many authors, musicians, filmmakers, and other creators who depend on royalties are understandably unwilling to give their consent. But for 350 years, scholars have written peer-reviewed journal articles for impact, not for money, and are free to consent to open access without losing revenue. In this concise introduction, Peter Suber tells us what open access is and isn't, how it benefits authors and readers of research, how we pay for it, how it avoids copyright problems, how it has moved from the periphery to the mainstream, and what its future may hold. Distilling a decade of Suber's influential writing and thinking about open access, this is the indispensable book on the subject for researchers, librarians, administrators, funders, publishers, and policy makers.

Table of Contents
1 What Is Open Access?
2 Motivation
3 Varieties
4 Policies
5 Scope
6 Copyright
7 Economics
8 Casualties
9 Future
10 Self-Help



Open Access – Opportunities and Challenges: A Handbook

by the European Commission and the German Commission for UNESCO, 2008, ISBN: 9789279066658.

About the Book
The handbook aims to provide information about the opportunities and challenges offered by Open Access, and to present a wide array of issues and positions under debate. The English version of the handbook is a translation of the handbook in German, published by the German Commission for UNESCO in 2007.

Table of Contents
Introduction: Quo vadis, Knowledge Society?
Chapter 1: Definition and Origin of Open Access
Chapter 2: An Introduction to Three Publication Models
Chapter 3: Implementing Open Access Models
Chapter 4: Political Perspectives
Chapter 5: International Context



Science Dissemination using Open Access: A compendium of selected literature on Open Access
edited by Enrique Canessa and Marco Zennaro, ICTP - The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy, 2008. ISBN: 9295003403.

About the Book
Open Access means aims to remove restrictions that exist on the access to articles and knowledge to the world-wide scholarly community, in particular to those in developing countries. Scientists in these countries still have difficulty in publishing their work due to the lack of access to the network, to their institutional economic difficulties or to the lack of awareness of available Open Access solutions. The visibility, usage and impact of researchers' own findings can increase with Open Access, as does their power to find, access and use the work of others. This book aims to guide the scientific community on the requirements of Open Access, and the plethora of low-cost solutions available. A compendium of selected literature on Open Access is presented to increase the awareness of the potential of open publishing in general. The book also aims to encourage decision makers in academia and research centers to adopt institutional and regional Open Access Journals and Archives to make their own scientific results public and fully searchable on the Internet.

Table of Contents
Part 1: Selected Literature
Part 2: Software
Download Full-text PDF (Open Access)


Tuesday 28 June 2016

Just Released "India's Approach to Development Cooperation" edited by S Chaturvedi & A Mulakala

Just Released:
India's Approach to Development Cooperation
edited by Sachin Chaturvedi, Anthea Mulakala. Routledge, 2016, ISBN: 9781138947733.

About the Book
India is emerging as a key player in the development cooperation arena, not only because of the increasing volume and reach of its south-south cooperation but more so because of its leadership and advocacy for the development of a distinctly southern development discourse and knowledge generation.
This book traces and analyses the evolution of Indian development cooperation. It highlights its significance both to global development and as an effective tool of Indian foreign policy. Focussing on how India has played an important role in supporting development efforts of partner countries in South Asia and beyond through its various initiatives in the realm of development cooperation, the book tracks the evolution, genesis, and the challenges India faces in the current international context. The contributions provide a rich mix of academic and government, policy and practice, Indian and external perspectives. Theory is complemented with empirical research, and case studies on countries and sectors as well as comparisons with other aid providing countries are presented.
The book is of interest to researchers and policy makers in the field of development cooperation, the role of emerging powers from the South, international development, foreign policy and global political economy.

Table of Contents
Introduction | Sachin Chaturvedi and Anthea Mulakala
1. Shaping Indian Development Cooperation: India's Mission Approach in a Theoretical Framework | Saroj Kumar Mohanty
2. The Role of Aid in India's Economic Development: Finance, Capacity Building and Policy Advice | Manmohan Agarwal
3. India's Development Cooperation through Capacity-Building | Kumar Tuhin
4. Towards Health Diplomacy: Emerging Trends in India's South-South Health Cooperation | Sachin Chaturvedi
5. India's Credit Lines: Instrument of Economic Diplomacy | Prabodh Saxena
6. Civil Society Organisations and Indian Development Assistance: Emerging Roles for Commentators, Collaborators and Critics | Emma Mawdsley and Supriya Roychoudhury
7. Prosper Thy Neighbour: India's Cooperation with South Asia | Bishwambher Pyakuryal and Sachin Chaturvedi
8. The India-Afghanistan Development Partnership | Gulshan Sachdeva
9. India's Evolving Blueprint for Cooperation with Africa | Ruchita Beri
10. Chinese Perspectives on India's Development Cooperation | Xiaoyun Li and Taidong Zhou
11. Australian and Indian Development Cooperation: Some Similarities, More Contrasts | Stephen Howes and Jonathan Pryke
12. Conclusion | Anthea Mulakala and Sachin Chaturvedi

About the Editors
Sachin Chaturvedi is the Director General at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi, India. His research focuses on issues related to development cooperation policies and South-South cooperation.
Anthea Mulakala is Director, International Development Cooperation at The Asia Foundation where she leads the Foundation's work on Asian Approaches to Development Cooperation. She has written and published on the changing development and aid landscape, conflict dynamics in Asia, and on the Malaysian political economy.

Saturday 25 June 2016

BRICs and Beyond | by Goldman Sachs Global Economics Group, 2007 | A classic book on BRICS Economies

BRICs and Beyond
by Goldman Sachs Global Economics Group, the Goldman Sachs, USA, 2007.
Abstract: This is a collection of research papers on the BRICs phenomenon and its impact on the global economy. The Goldman Sachs Global Economics Department released book titled "BRICs and Beyond" in 2007. This book compiles their research on the BRICs - Brazil, Russia, India and China - and the changing nature of the global economy. It is now six years since they coined the term 'BRIC' in their Global Economics Paper, 'Building Better Global Economic BRICs', published on November 30, 2001. Since then, these countries' equity markets have seen a remarkable increase in their value: Brazil has risen by 369%, India by 499%, Russia by 630%, and China by 201%, using the A-share market, or by a stunning 817% based on the HSCEI. 

Table of Contents
Section One: The BRICs
Chapter 1: India's Rising Growth Potential
Chapter 2: Russia: A Smooth Political Transition
Chapter 3: Will China Grow Old Before Getting Rich?
Chapter 4: China's Investment Strength Is Sustainable
Chapter 5: The 'B' in BRICs: Unlocking Brazil's Growth Potential
Chapter 6: You Reap What You Sow: Our 2006 Growth Environment Scores
Chapter 7: Why the BRICs Dream Won't Be Green
Chapter 8: Why the BRICs Dream Should Be Green
Chapter 9: Building the BRICs: Infrastructure Opportunities
Chapter 10: Women Hold Up Half the Sky
Section Two: Beyond the BRICs
Chapter 11: The N-11: More Than an Acronym
Chapter 12: Current Answers (and Questions) about BRICs and the N-11
Chapter 13: Beyond the BRICS: A Look at the 'Next 11'
Chapter 14: The GCC Dream: Between the BRICs and the Developed World
Section Three: The New Global Markets
Chapter 15: Bonding the BRICs: The Ascent of China's Debt Capital Market
Chapter 16: Bonding the BRICs: A Big Chance for India's Debt Capital Market
Chapter 17: Is Wall Street Doomed?
Chapter 18: Sovereign Wealth Funds Highlight the Changing World
Chapter 19: Globalisation and Disinflation: Can Anyone Else 'Do A China'?
Chapter 20: BRICs and Global Commodities Markets
Chapter 21: Food, Glorious Food: Agricultural Commodities


Exim Bank of India invites Applications for "BRICS Economic Research Award 2016"

Exim Bank of India BRICS Economic Research Award 2016
Export-Import Bank of India invites applications from doctoral researchers of BRICS countries for 'BRICS Economic Research Annual Award'.
Objectives: Stimulating advanced research on economics related topics of relevance to the member nations of BRICS.
Eligibility: Nationals of any of the five member nations of BRICS, who have been awarded a doctorate or accepted for the award of a doctorate from a recognized university.
The Award: The Award consists of a citation and prize money of INR 1.5 Million (approximately USD 22000).

Research and Development in BRICS: An Insight | Exim Bank Occasional Paper

Research and Development in BRICS: An Insightby Exim Bank of India, Occasional Paper No. 168. Export-Import Bank of India, Mumbai, November 2014.
Executive Summary: The basic precept under which the BRICS has been forged as a formal association is to become a more constructive and progressive group in the developing world. BRICS grouping is important for its members in terms of their portrayal of creating for themselves an important role on the global stage. This is underlined by the members sharing a different but common perspective on the global economic order, and a desire to wield greater influence over the rules governing international business and trade. The five economies combined currently hold less than 15 percent voting rights in both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, yet their combined strengths are predicted to surpass that of G7 economies in size by 2032. This perhaps was the fundamental point which also gave shape to the idea of a BRCIS Development Bank. With various rounds of discussions having already taken place, it is expected that the member economies would forge important agreements for investments in multiple areas, such as infrastructure, governance, domestic institutions, social programs, and production. The BRICS as a whole is well endowed with a portfolio of wealth – huge agrarian economies, enormous natural resources, a burgeoning services sector, significant human resources, and an ambitious manufacturing sector which is poised to become the hub for the entire world. All these factors provide ample incentives for the BRICS economies to collaborate together and enhance trade among themselves, and also with the rest of the world. ... Globalisation of Research and Development (R&D) has been accelerating since the last few decades through a combination of forces. These include: growth in R&D in emerging economies; off-shoring and outsourcing of R&D to developing regions by developed countries; improved level of collaboration between R&D institutions and end-users of R&D; and growing commercialization of R&D. In the commercial sector, innovation capabilities tend to follow the wealth created by manufacturing, catalyzed by accelerating product development cycles and sometimes by regulation. A country's focus on R&D can be broadly gauged through a set of parameters like research and development expenditure as a percent of GDP, number of researchers (per million people), scientific and technical journals / articles published, and share of high-technology exports as a percent in manufactured exports...

Table of Contents
1. Emergence of BRICS in International Trade
2. Progress of BRICS in Research & Development
3. Patents & Industrial Designs in BRICS
4. Research & Development Policies in BRICS: Possible Case of Cross-Learnings
5. Research & Development Incentives in BRICS
6. Strengthening Research & Development Capabilities of India

Download Full-text PDF (Open Access)

Friday 24 June 2016

Making Sense of MOOCs: A Guide for Policy-Makers in Developing Countries | A New Book for MOOC Developers and Policymakers

Making Sense of MOOCs: A Guide for Policy-Makers in Developing Countries
published by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), France, and Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada, June 2016, ISBN: 9789231001574.
Abstract: The Guide is designed to raise general awareness amongst policy makers in developing countries as to how Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) might address their concerns and priorities, particularly in terms of access to affordable quality higher education and preparation of secondary school leavers for academic as well as vocational education and training. With very few exceptions, many of the reports on MOOCs already published do not refer to the interest and experience of developing countries, although we are witnessing important initiatives in more and more countries around the world.
Download Full-text PDF (Open Access)




Thursday 23 June 2016

Call for Papers on STI for SDGs | UNU-MERIT Workshop in New Delhi, India | 19-20 November 2016

Call for Papers on STI for SDGs

United Nations University (UNU-MERIT) Workshop in New Delhi, India

November 19-20, 2016

Please find attached a call for papers for a conference on the role of science, technology and innovation for the attainment of the SDGs. This call concerns a two day conference. The first day focuses on the perspectives of practitioners, while the second day concerns academic research.

Day 2: November 20, 2016

Technology, Innovation and Governance for attainment of the SDGs

Call for Papers

In a general sense, technology refers to a practical application of science to address a particular product or manufacturing need in the form of a specific process that produces a product or service. Innovation refers to novelty in terms of quality, product, design, process or organizational routine.

Exploiting technology and promoting innovation for economic growth as well as socioeconomic development is a challenge for all developing countries. Here governance is key. The national system of innovation of any country comprises a complex mesh of actors such as the State, firms, public laboratories, institutions, NGOs, civil society and consumers and even nature. Governance involves setting the rules of the game, with monitoring and incentives – so that collective welfare may be maximized. As with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for astute exploitation of existing technologies, promotions of useful innovations and efficient governance designs for attainment.

Thus, we call for papers addressing any issues related to the following that touch upon attainment of one or more SDGs:

  • Technology usage or redesign
  • Innovation creation, adoption, diffusion
  • Governance of delivery platforms, multi-stakeholder consortiums, public private partnerships, sanitation drives, government programmes

Papers must validate their arguments through evidence. Qualitative, quantitative or theoretical methodology can be deployed but final arguments must be validated by evidence. Please send your papers to Rushva Parihar parihar@merit.unu.edu. Attendance is free but registration is required. To register – click on this link – fill the form and submit: http://goo.gl/forms/7G2agTsJOX

  • Deadline for submission: September 30.
  • Email confirmation of result: October 15.
  • Title Page should include full contact details. Selected Papers will be published as part of the UNU-MERIT working paper series and/or as a Special Issue of an international journal.

Organization Committee: Prof. Shyama V. Ramani and Rushva Parihar, UNU-MERIT (Netherlands). 

CfPs: National Workshop on Opportunities and Challenges for Regional Innovation System | 6-7 October | CSIR-NISTADS, New Delhi, India

National Workshop on Opportunities and Challenges for Regional Innovation System

6–7 October 2016 | CSIR-NISTADS, New Delhi, India

Call for Papers

CSIR-National Institute of Science, Technology and Development Studies (NISTADS) is organizing a national workshop on regional innovation system and relevant issues. The workshop would consist of a mix of invited and contributed papers along the following themes. The workshop intends to provide valuable insights for policy makers and scholars to underscore the interventions that can strengthen regional innovation system.

Workshop Themes

  • Innovation System – A National Perspective
  • Indian Regional Innovation System
  • Regional Innovation System – International Perspective
  • Regional Innovation System – Case Studies
  • CSIR Impact in Promoting Regional Innovation System
  • Pressing Problems of India and imperative for S&T Intervention

Key Dates

  • Deadline for submission of extended abstracts 25 July 2016
  • Communication of acceptance of abstracts 10 August 2016
  • Submission of full paper 15 September 2016
  • Conference dates 6–7 October 2016

Extended Abstract: Extended abstract (of around 500 words) should be submitted outlining the main research questions and their relevance to policy, conceptual framework, methodology and empirical base of the paper by 25 July 2016. Abstract acceptance will be communicated by 10 August 2016. Authors of the selected abstracts will be required to submit full papers by 15 September 2016.

The papers should not have been published earlier in any form. Authors of the accepted papers will be invited to present their work at the workshop and their expenses on travel and accommodation will be covered. Young research scholars are encouraged to submit their work.

Format of Extended Abstract: Extended Abstract should be under following sub-heads: (a) Purpose, (b) Design/Methodology/Approach, (c) Findings, (d) Implications, (e) Originality/Value, (f) Keywords (maximum 5). All submissions should be sent through email at istipworkshop2016@gmail.com. Details of the workshop will be given at NISTADS.res.in.


Further Details

UNESCAP Publications on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development

Harnessing Science, Technology and Innovation for Inclusive and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific
published by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Bangkok, May 2016, ISBN: 9789211207187.
Abstract: Business as usual is not an option if the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are to be met. The scale and depth of the goals require a radically different and disruptive approach—the essence of innovation—along with significant scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements. Science, technology and innovation (STI) have the potential to increase the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of our efforts to meet the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda and create benefits for society, the economy and the environment. Despite consensus on the transformative potential of STI, there remains a lack of clarity on how best to effectively implement it for inclusive and sustainable development. To address this gap, ESCAP member States requested the ESCAP secretariat to provide guidance on harnessing the potential of STI. By explicitly including STI in both the Sustainable Development Goals and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the United Nations has made a commitment to support countries in their efforts to harness STI for inclusive and sustainable development. The role of ESCAP, as the regional arm of the United Nations, is to cross-fertilize the vast regional experience and expertise and to facilitate knowledge sharing of sustainable innovation and technology solutions for collaborative action. For STI to be effectively implemented for inclusive and sustainable development, it is critical to first chart the practical steps needed for balanced and integrated development. This 2016 publication makes an important contribution to these deliberations.
Download Full-text PDF (Open Access)

Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific: Policy Approaches for Least Developed Countries
published by United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Bangkok, May 2016, ISBN: 9789211207293.
Abstract: Despite consensus on the transformative potential of science, technology and innovation (STI), there remains a lack of clarity on how Least Developed Countries (LDCs) can effectively implement it for inclusive and sustainable development. This publication highlights four key innovation policy options which have the potential to enable LDCs to reap the benefits of innovation in a cost-effective manner. First, LDCs must mobilize all available talent towards sustainable development if the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda are to be met. Second, the rule of law and STI are inextricably linked. An enabling environment that encourages and protects risk-taking, and a secure investment climate are vital components of an innovation system. Third, it will be critical to incentivize investment from sources such as foreign direct investment (FDI) and impact investment and align all available sources of STI finance towards sustainable development. Fourth, creating open and inclusive innovative knowledge economies will be critical. Enabling international mobility, international technology transfer and participating in the regional and global innovation agendas will support national innovation capacity development.
Download Full-text PDF (Open Access)

Wednesday 22 June 2016

United Nations releases "World Investment Report 2016 - Investor Nationality: Policy Challenges"

World Investment Report 2016 - Investor Nationality: Policy Challenges
published by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Geneva, June 2016, ISBN: 9789211129021.

Preface: In 2015, global flows of foreign direct investment rose by about 40 percent, to $1.8 trillion, the highest level since the global economic and financial crisis began in 2008. However, this growth did not translate into an equivalent expansion in productive capacity in all countries. This is a troubling development in light of the investment needs associated with the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals and the ambitious action envisaged in the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change. This latest World Investment Report presents an Investment Facilitation Action Package to further enhance the enabling environment for investment in sustainable development. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda calls for reorienting the national and international investment regime towards sustainable development. UNCTAD plays an important role within the United Nations system in supporting these endeavours. Its Investment Policy Framework and the Road Map for International Investment Agreements Reform have been used by more than 100 countries in reviewing their investment treaty networks and formulating a new generation of international investment policies. Regulations on the ownership and control of companies are essential in the investment regime of most countries. But in an era of complex multinational ownership structures, the rationale and effectiveness of this policy instrument needs a comprehensive re-assessment. This Report provides insights on the ownership structures of multinational enterprises (MNEs), and maps the global network of corporate entities using data on millions of parents and affiliates. It analyses national and international investment policy practices worldwide, and proposes a new framework for handling ownership issues. This latest edition of the World Investment Report is being issued as the world embarks on the crucial work of implementing the landmark 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. The key findings and policy recommendations of the Report are far reaching and can contribute to our efforts to uphold the promise to leave no one behind and build a world of dignity for all. I therefore, commend this Report to a wide global audience. Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations

BRICS Countries Fact Sheets: Brazil, RussiaIndia, China, South Africa

Download WIR2016 Full-text PDF


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.

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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)


       

Tuesday 21 June 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.
  

Sunday 19 June 2016

India unveils National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP)

India unveils National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP)

In the Plan document, Prime Minister Narendra Modi describes the significance of the Plan: "The aim of the plan is to make India disaster resilient. It will help to maximize the ability of the country to cope with disasters at all levels by integrating disaster risk reduction into development and by increasing the preparedness to response to all kinds of disasters. The Plan takes into account the global trends in disaster management. It incorporates the approach enunciated in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which is an agreement under the auspices of the United Nations to which India is a signatory." This national plan is prepared in continuation of the National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Hazard Risk and Vulnerability - National Profile
3 Reducing Risk; Enhancing Resilience
4 Preparedness and Response
5 Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance
6 Recovery and Building Back Better
7 Capacity Development - An Overview
8 Financial Arrangements
9 International Cooperation
10 Maintaining and Updating the Plan
Annexure-I: List of NDMA's Disaster Management Guidelines
Annexure-II: Hazard Vulnerability Maps for India
Earthquake Vulnerability Zones of India
Flood Vulnerability Zones of India
Wind and Cyclone Vulnerability Zones of India
Glossary

National Disaster Management Plan, 2016. An open access publication of the National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India, May 2016, New Delhi. Download.



Tuesday 14 June 2016

Call for Nominations for Participation in BRICS Young Scientist Conclave 2016 | September | Bengaluru, India |

BRICS Young Scientists Conclave 2016
September 2016
Venue: National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, India


Targeted participants
  • Young bright scientists/ engineers/ technologists/ innovators/ techno-entrepreneurial start-up professionals/ science journalists-educators-science, literacy and popularizing professional / legal specialists on translational aspects of research and technology integration in society-market / researchers in the age group of 22-35 years. There is a provision to include exceptionally talented individuals from the BRICS nations, outside the age group 22-35 years.
  • Open to science, engineering, and allied disciplines

Timeline
Applications shall be accepted through nominations by each BRICS STI nodal Ministries/ organizations and the last date for receiving applications/nominations is 15th July 2016. The format for submitting the Application and nominations is at (Annexure-2).

Funding Arrangement
The food, accommodation and local transport will be provided by the organizers for their stay during the conclave (to be borne by DST, India). The International air travel related expenses (airfare, medical insurance, visa fee etc) shall be met by respective nominating BRICS STI Ministries/ organizations.

Last date for receiving applications/nominations: 15th July 2016

Application Form and Further Details

Interesting Books on BRICS Economies | Emerging Economies | The Global South

Structural Change and Industrial Development in the BRICS
Edited by Wim Naudé, Adam Szirmai, and Nobuya Haraguchi. Oxford University Press, 2015, ISBN: 9780198725077.
Overview
: This book provides a unique and timely analysis of the role of structural change in the economic development of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) with a consideration for the role of industry, and in particular manufacturing. The emergence of BRICS reflects an ongoing change in the international economic order. BRICS now account for very substantial part of global GDP, global manufactured value added and global manufactured exports. The book examines their economic experiences and structural change in BRICS over the past three decades, identifying both differences and commonalities, and deriving lessons for other industrializing countries. Section I contains comparative studies focusing on the commonalities and differences of the experiences of BRICS. Section II includes six country studies providing a more detailed analysis of the long-run experiences of each of the countries. Section III consists of a set of seven thematic studies focusing on specific topics such as global value chains, the role of transnational corporations in the food chain, the role of foreign versus domestic investment, the role of domestic versus foreign demand in economic growth the diffusion of environmental energy technology and the similarities, and the differences in industrial policies pursued in the five countries. The book contains a summary chapter that provides an integrated perspective of the various contributions from the point of view of poverty reduction and development. It asks, whether the patterns of structural change and industrial development that BRICS experienced, had an impact on poverty outcomes, and if so, what where the channels and the consequences?
Further Details


The BRICS and Coexistence: An Alternative Vision of World Order
Edited by Cedric de Coning, Thomas Mandrup, and Liselotte Odgaard. Routledge, 2014, ISBN: 9781138787759.

Overview: The grouping consisting of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) was initially meant to be nothing more than clever investment jargon referring to the largest and most attractive emerging economies. However, these countries identified with the BRIC concept, and started to meet annually as a group in 2008. At their fourth summit in 2011, they added South Africa to become the BRICS. By then the BRICS had fully morphed from investment jargon to a name for a new economic and political grouping that had the potential to challenge the unipolar hegemony of the United States and its Western allies. This work analyses the extent to which the concept of coexistence explains the individual foreign policies of the BRICS countries. The editors define coexistence as a strategy that promotes the establishment of a rule-based system for co-managing the global order. It recognizes that different states may legitimately pursue their own political and economic interests, but they have to do so within the bounds of a rule-based international system that ensures the peaceful coexistence of states. The BRICS and Coexistence addresses the political dimension of the emergence and influence of the BRICS in the international system and will be of interest to students and scholars of Politics, Development and International Relations.
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The Rise of the BRICS in the Global Political Economy: Changing Paradigms?
Edited by Vai Io Lo, and Mary Hiscock. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2014, ISBN: 9781782545460.

Overview: Taking an interdisciplinary approach, Vai Io Lo and Mary Hiscock, together with scholars and researchers from around the world, investigate the rise of the BRICS and assess the extent of their further development and influence from the perspectives of economics, international relations and law. Brazil, Russia, India, and China are expected to become the world's most influential economies, surpassing the current richest economies, by the middle of the 21st century. With the inclusion of South Africa in 2010, the BRICS span across four continents, creating an abundance of geopolitical clout, in addition to their potential economic dominance. This book examines the economic developments of individual BRICS countries, the current politico-economic condition of the BRICS vis-à-vis non-BRICS countries or groups, and the potential of the BRICS to bring about changing paradigms in the global political economy. This book is an essential resource for academics, researchers and students who are interested in the rise, development and impact of the BRICS economies. It will also be of interest to economists, political scientists, and specialists in international trade and investment.
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Emerging Markets and the Future of the BRIC Nations
Edited by Ben L. Kedia, and Kelly Aceto. New Horizons in International Business series, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2015, ISBN: 9781783479757.

Overview: In 2008, it appeared that the BRIC nations' economies would continue to provide growth opportunities for businesses of all kinds. After a decade of unprecedented growth, however, Brazil, Russia, India, and China have unexpectedly slowed. In this innovative book, expert contributors diagnose and examine the factors that might be responsible for the changing trends in the BRIC and other emerging market economies and that may determine the future course of these economies and their prospects for sustained growth. This volume offers valuable insights into a wide range of issues pertaining to emerging economies that demand the attention of researchers and practitioners. In particular, contributors explore topics such as the importance of innovation, internationalization trends of emerging market firms, sustainability and social issues, market liberalization and entrepreneurship, consumer behavior and customer relations. Rigorous scholarly research, including empirical work, and perspectives from emerging markets make this an essential resource for doctoral students, business academics and executives, and politicians and policy makers involved in developing nations and their economies.
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The BRICS: A Very Short Introduction
by Andrew F. Cooper. Oxford University Press, 2016, ISBN: 9780198723394.

Overview: In the wake of the post-Cold War era, the aftermath of 9/11, the 2008 global financial crisis, and the emergence of the G20 at the leaders level, few commentators expected a reshaping of the global system towards multipolarity, and away from the United States. And yet, the BRICS - encompassing Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - has emerged as a challenge to the international status quo. But what is its capacity as a transformative force? And can it provide a significant counter-narrative to the Western-dominated global order?
In this Very Short Introduction, Andrew Cooper explores the emergence of the BRICS as a concept. Drawing on historical precedent, Cooper provides a contemporary analysis of the BRICS' practice and influence as a forum and a lobby group in advancing a distinctive but amorphous agenda amongst global politics.
About The Series: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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