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Technology and Innovation for Development
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:02:04
Abstract
Technology and Innovation contribute to sustainable development if institutional framework conditions create the right incentives. The course discusses the challenges associated with technological change from an interdisciplinary and practice-oriented perspective taking into account legal, economic, anthropological and development aspects.
Objective
- to recognize the challenges and opportunities of technology and innovation to enable inclusive and sustainable change - to become familiar with policy instruments designed to support innovative entrepreneurs that convert new knowledge into new products and services with positive externalities for society and the environment - to understand the politics of regulation and its impact on technological change - to learn how to think in terms of economic ecosystems that enable a more sustainable use of scarce resources rather than individuals that merely compete in the consumption of such resources
Content
Science and Technology Policy is normally associated with the improvement of national competitiveness; yet, it is also an integral part of effective environmental and development policies. The course will discuss the challenges and opportunities of technological change in terms of sustainable development and show how public policy on the national and the international level is responding to this change. In this context, students are to become familiar with the basic principles of political economy and New Growth Theory and how such theories help explain political decisions as well as political outcomes in the area of Science, Technology and Innovation. State interventions are either designed to regulate (e.g. environmental regulations, anti-trust law) or facilitate (e.g. intellectual property rights protection, public investment in R&D and technical education, technology transfer) technological change. This will be illustrated by looking at different industries and different national systems of innovation. Subsequently the positive and negative consequences for society and the natural environment will be discussed from a short-term and a long-term perspective.
Resources
Lecture Notes
Reader with issue-specific articles. E-version is partly available on Moodle
Literature
Aerni, P. (2021a) ‘The ethics of farm animal biotechnology from an anthropological perspective’. Sustainability 13(7), 3674. Aerni, P. (2021b) ‘Decentralized economic ecosystems in Switzerland and their contribution to inclusive and sustainable change’. Sustainability 13(8), 4181 Aerni, P. (2021c) ‘The City as an Ecosystem’. In: Hiromi Hosoya and Markus Schaefer (eds) The Industrious City. Lars Müller Publishers, pp 105-115 Aerni, P. (2021d) ‘Exploring the roots of the GMO narrative and why young people have started to ask critical questions’. In: Agnes Ricroch et al. (eds) Plant Biotechnology. 2nd edition. Springer, 1-28. Aerni, P. (2021e) ‘"Business as Part of the Solution": SDG 8 Challenges Popular Views in the Global Sustainability Dis-course’. MPDI Book Series on Transitioning toward Sustainability. 67-101. Aerni, P. 2018 ‘Global Business in Local Culture: The Impact of Embedded Multinational Enterprises’. Springer Aerni, P. 2016a. Coping with Migration-Induced Urban Growth: Addressing the Blind Spot of UN Habitat. Sustainability 8(800) Alic, J. A. 2020. Endless Industrial Policy. Issues in Science and Technology ( Link ) Hidalgo, C. 2015. When information grows. Basic Books. Leutert, W. 2021. Innovation through iteration: Policy feedback loops in China’s economic reform. World Development, 138, 105173, 1-11. Juma, C. 2016. Oiling the Wheels of Novelty. In: C. Juma, Innovation and its enemies. Oxford University Press, 280-316. Romer, P. 2020. What It Takes To Be a Leader in Both Basic Science and Technological Progress. Statement for House Budget Committee Hearing on Federal R&D ( https://paulromer.net/statement-for-house-budget-comittee/ ) Schumpeter, Joseph A. 1942. Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy. New York, Harper Collins Publishers The Economist 2021. Cloning DARPA. June 5: 71-72.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , DS , DR , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture | Technology and Innovation for Development |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Science in Perspective (In “Science in Perspective”-courses students learn to reflect on ETH’s STEM subjects from the perspective of humanities, political and social sciences. Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "Science in Perspective" courses.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (SiP courses are recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. All SiP courses are listed in Type A. Courses listed under Type B are only recommendations for enrollment for specific departments.)
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Additional Elective Courses (These Electives may be chosen from the start of the Bachelor Study Programme.)
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Doctorate Environmental Sciences (More Information at: )
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