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TRCFS & CSLG organises a public lecture by Dr. Sanghamitra Chakravarty

TRCFS & CSLG organises a public lecture by Dr. Sanghamitra Chakravarty

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TRCFS & CSLG organises a public lecture by Dr. Sanghamitra Chakravarty
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Transdisciplinary Research Cluster on Frugality Studies(TRCFS)
&
Centre for the Study of Law and Governance
Jawaharlal Nehru University


Invite you to a Public Lecture on

 

"Exploring Frugality and Direction of Innovation in the Medical Device Sector in South Africa through a Development Lens"

 

by

Dr. Sanghamitra Chakravarty
(Postdoctoral Researcher, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Technical University, Delft)

 

Venue: Conference Room, Centre for the Study of Law and Governance (CSLG), JNU.
Date: Tuesday, 23rd January 2024 | Time: 3:00pm - 5:00 pm

 

Abstract: The direction of innovation has several developmental implications but is relatively much less studied as compared to its rate. This is even more so with respect to developing countries. With the accumulation of technological capabilities in the Global South, low-middle-income countries are seeking to build strong sectoral innovation systems not only in informal and low technology areas, but also technology intensive sectors. However, the current global innovation dynamics suggest that the path towards developing such capabilities and truly benefitting from their accumulation is riddled with many challenges. Using an exploratory case study analysis of the emerging medical device sector in South Africa and combining a capabilities approach to inclusion with fresh empirical evidence, this research studies how innovations from low-middle-income countries can influence the direction of innovation. Theoretical foundations for this analysis are drawn from innovation studies, frugal innovation, and development scholarships. Grounded in these literatures, the direction of innovation is conceptualised to be inclusive when it leads to accumulation of capabilities both at individual and firm level. The study discusses the key innovation actors and linkages between them, and the nature and processes of innovation generation, production and diffusion. Further it explores the challenges of the South African medical device sector and its relationship with the broader national innovation system. The study illustrates how despite South Africa’s high biomedical research capacity, pockets of innovation excellence and sophisticated manufacturing base, there are many challenges which make direction of innovation towards inclusion fragile and difficult to achieve. It shows the important role of the state and multilateral organisations in enabling a more inclusive technological change.


All are welcome to attend the Lecture.

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.