Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena - ECPR_SG
URL: http://www.uni-jena.de/ECPR_SG-lang-en.print
Generiert am:

ECPR Standing Group on Politics and Technology

Standing Group on Politics and Technology of the European Consortium for Political Research

NEWS

General objectives, origin and short history of the Standing Group

Organisation of the Standing Group (including information on membership and governance)

Activities of the Standing Group (international research projects, publications, funding and conferences)

Strategic Perspective

NEWS

Prelude to a New Research Network on Continental Innovation Models in Jena

Jena - Under the umbrella of the Standing Group on Politics and Technology of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) a Trans-Atlantic study group is working on comparisons of continental innovation models based on a differentiation of regionalised processes of innovation in Europe and the US. Research is greatly supported by the German Foundation "Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft" (http://www.stifterverband.de). The activities of the study group are co-ordinated by the Chair of Comparative Government at the Friedrich-Schiller-University in Jena, which hosted the first of a series of workshops from November 30th to December 2nd, 2007. This preparatory workshop laid analytical (1) and organisational (2) foundations for the joint activities to be continued (3) throughout 2008 that are expected to lead to joint publications and new research projects. (2007-12-12)


RSA Board Meeting Approval for New Working Group on Sub-national Collaboration for Regional Development

London - The Board of the Regional Studies Association (RSA) approved at its meeting on June, 29th, a proposal for a new working group on sub-national collaboration for regional development submitted by Nicola Bellini, Pisa, and Ulrich Hilpert, Jena. The Board thought it was a good proposal and a very interesting area of study and research. The initiative for the new working group was taken in the aftermath of the 2007 RSA Academic Conference in Lisbon in order to merge the interest of social scientists on how networks in research, industry and government have emerged, developed and how they correspond or even mutually contribute to regional development and cohesion between the different locations. (2007-07-07)

 

ECPR Executive Committee approves re-established Standing Group on Politics and Technology

Nicosia - During its executive committee meeting in Cyprus the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) formally approved a standing group on politics and technology that will be co-ordinated by the Chair of Comparative Government at the University of Jena, Germany. The common focus of the standing group members is to understand the role of different levels of government (e.g. regional, national and European) in processes of technological change and innovation.

The Standing Group on Politics and Technology was originally founded in 1987 on the basis of a workshop held with the Joint Sessions of Workshops in Amsterdam and developed into an ECPR-Research Group focussing on 'State, Technology and Unintended Consequences' and corresponding political counter-strategies with respect to de-industrialisation. Further activities during the 1990s were related to the European Commissions FAST programme (Forecast and Assessment of Science and Technology) propelling research on the Archipelago Europe and the Islands of Innovation model, thus contributing to an explanation of the role of Europe's innovative centres for continental cohesion. The current re-establishment as a standing group is based on the continuation of these research activities in the framework of a transatlantic comparison of continental innovation models. Regionalisation of Globalised Innovation and the Culture of Economy are two additional reference lines of research that contribute to the explanation of socio-economic changes induced by techno-scientific progress. The strategic goal for the future work of the Standing Group is to merge research activities and move towards a theory on the Government of Complex Industrial Systems.

Since its main purpose is to pool and coordinate research activities and publication strategies the Standing Group on Politics and Technology usually meets several times a year. Following the idea of interdisciplinary research with a basis in political science, the members of the Standing Group are repeatedly active also to have sessions with other organisations such as the International Political Science Association (IPSA), the German Association on Political Science (DVPW), the American Political Science Association (APSA), the Italian Regional Studies Association (AISRE), and the Regional Studies Association (RSA).

This is to continue openness to interdisciplinary research, whereas the main focus of the Standing Group based in public policy is the research question of governing development that takes place in relation with technological change and innovation.

The European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) is an independent, scholarly association, which supports and encourages the training, research and cross-national cooperation of many thousands of academics and graduate students specialising in political science and all its sub-disciplines. Based on institutional membership the association has grown since inception in 1970 to cover more than 300 institutions throughout Europe and associate members from across the world.

The meetings of ECPR standing groups are usually held within the context of a larger ECPR meeting, either the Joint Sessions or the General Conference. The next joint Sessions of Workshops will be held May, 7-12, 2007 in Helsinki, Finland, and the next General Conference is foreseen for September 2007 in Pisa, Italy.

The re-approval of the Standing Group has been based on a strong record both in research activities and publications. The director of the Standing Group on Politics and Technology, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hilpert, addressed the strategic perspective for the up-coming years at the occasion of the groups relaunch.

Recent Publications:

Links:

Steering Committee

 

UCSUR sponsors international Biotechnology Workshop

Pittsburgh, PA - UCSUR and the University Center for International Studies (UCIS) sponsored a trans-Atlantic research workshop on International Locations in Biotechnology: Europe and the United States. The workshop was held October 6-7, 2004. The workshop continues research by a network of social scientists organized by Ulrich Hilpert, Professor and Chair of Comparative Government at Friedrich-Schiller-University in Jena, Germany. Other international participants included Professor Jesper Norus, Department of Organization and Industrial Sociology, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark; Dietmar Bastian, Associate Professor, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena, Germany; and Professor Desmond Hickie, Dean, School of Business, Management and Law, University College, Chester, United Kingdom. UCSUR faculty and staff also participated. Dr. Doros Platika, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, delivered the main address. Workshop sessions and discussion focused on "Locational, Labor and Management Trends in the European Biotechnology Sector" and "Biotechnology: Developments in the United States and Pittsburgh." Participants planned a series of papers around these themes to be published in a future edited volume.

http://www.ucsur.pitt.edu/briem/December 2004 for web.pdf


General objectives, origin and short history of the Standing Group

The main focus of the Standing Group on Politics and Technology is on the role of different levels of government (e.g. regional, national and European) that takes place in relation with technological change and innovation. These objectives are in political science and related with interdisciplinary research. The Standing Group provides a European resource of scholars for collaboration and research networks to exchange ideas and develop new ones. It is well used for interdisciplinary projects: it produces literature and acquires funding for research projects

The Standing Group on Politics and Technology was founded in 1987 on the basis of a workshop held with the Joint Sessions of Workshops in Amsterdam. Starting from this point, in 1988 an ECPR-Research Group was selected on the topic 'The State, Technology and Unintended Consequences' that was held with the ECPR in Rimini.

The Standing Group will follow this path and produce further books based on the ongoing funded research as well as on the existing results that may provide a basis for future research projects and research networks.

Organisation of the Standing Group (including information on membership and governance)

The Standing Group on Politics and Technology usually meets several times a year. Since its main purpose is to pool and coordinate research activities and publication strategies so that during meetings

Scholars interested in the area of research can become a member of the Standing Group. There are no restrictions or fees. The intensity of contributions is very much up to the decision of individual researchers; even a participation in funded research is possible. In addition to the research, the workshops were funded for those contributing actively to the topics. The door is always open for other participants.

Following the idea of interdisciplinary research with a basis in political science, the members of the Standing Group were repeatedly active also to have sessions with other organisations such as the International Political Science Association (IPSA), the German Association on Political Science (DVPW), the American Political Science Association (APSA), the Italian Regional Studies Association (AISRE), the Regional Studies Association (RSA). This is to continue openness to interdisciplinary research, whereas the main focus of the Standing Group based in public policy is the research question of Governing development that takes place in relation with technological change and innovation.

The Standing Group provides a platform for any scholar with an interest in this area of research. Interdisciplinary European research projects (giving additional attention to transatlantic comparison) will meet most attention and contribution of the scholars who were active during these years.

Based on these different activities a regular information service (e.g. newsletter, websites) is intended be set up and ECPR conference participation (organising panels at the general conference, workshops at the Joint Sessions) will be continued.

Activities of the Standing Group (international research projects, publications, funding and conferences)

International Research Projects

The Standing Group on Politics and Technology has realised the following international research networks

 

Standing Group Publications

The following books, special issues and major reports were produced

The following research and publication activities are ongoing and receive funding:

 


Funding

The research and the workshops of Standing Group on Politics and Technology were funded by the European Union, Europe of the Cultures, national and regional Government agencies, as well as foundations such as the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation, Stifterverband der deutschen Wissenschaft, Hans-Boeckler-Foundation, and the German Research Association. The total amount is about € 2 million for the research mentioned; besides researchers had individual projects that are not part of international research collaboration but could take advantage of the group.

 

Workshops and sessions organised with the Standing Group on Politics and Technology

Upcoming Events

 

Past Conferences & Workshops

 

Strategic Perspective

The research realised within the Standing Group on Politics and Technology has clearly indicated a European path of how governments and public agencies at different institutional levels can both support and initiate technology development and innovation. National activities vary throughout Europe according to institutions, history and culture. This is a clear difference to the US and North America in General. So, the SG will have the following research areas during the next years

These activities will be based on funded ongoing research and create new research projects. It will demand the collaboration with national groups and with neighbouring disciplines. The results could be presented on workshops and panels with the ECPR and regular information services (e.g.websites, newsletter) are planned to complement face-to-face network activities. There will be more books and special issues of international standard; some publications are already accepted.