Call for Papers: Technological Change in Low- and Medium-Technology Industries

20 February 2007 at 2:28 pm Peter G. Klein Leave a comment

| Peter Klein |

Paul Robertson, author of many fine works with former O&M guest blogger Dick Langlois, is co-organizing a special issue of Research Policy on “Technological Change in Low- and Medium-Technology Industries.” Details below the fold (courtesy of EH.Net).

—————– EH.NEWS POSTING —————–

Economic historians are invited to submit proposals for a special issue of Research Policy on “Technological Change in Low- and Medium-Technology Industries,” a topic that clearly involves history since it concerns long term technological innovation and its role in economic development.

Because the attention of policy makers, scholars and the public-at-large has concentrated disproportionately on the 3-10 percent of modern economies conventionally classified as “high-technology”, the importance of technological change in the older established sectors that comprise the bulk of economic activity has tended to be underestimated. Although these low- and
medium-technology (LMT) sectors have not been totally neglected, they are not well understood in terms of their current technologies and their probable future development. This has broader implications because it reflects a major distortion in views about the roles of research and development and technological upgrading in modern economies as a whole.

To improve understanding of innovation and the use of technology in LMT sectors, we are calling for contributions to a special issue of Research Policy that will focus scholarly attention on the issue and, in the process, provide necessary guidance for policy makers as well as for academic researchers.

Although we are willing to consider all relevant papers, discussion will centre primarily on the following issues: (a) The technological environment of LMT firms. What domestic and international external sources do LMT firms use in acquiring new product and process technologies?

(b) The ways in which LMT firms manage their own development activities to generate change, and the capabilities that they require to be innovative. The strategies that LMT firms use to locate/develop new technologies, largely in the absence of formal R&D activities on their own part.

(c) Policy implications. Discussions of possible roles of policy makers in enhancing the innovative capabilities of LMT firms.

Potential contributors should consult the Research Policy website for information on length and style.

Abstracts (maximum 300 words) should be submitted to Professor Paul L. Robertson (paulr1@postoffice.utas.edu.au) 6 Lonsdale Place, Wishart, QLD 4122, AUSTRALIA; or

Professor Keith Smith (Keith.Smith@utas.edu.au) Australian Innnovation Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 108, Hobart 7001, Tasmania, Australia.

The deadline for submission of abstracts is 30 April, 2007. Following vetting of the abstracts, full papers must be submitted by 31 July, 2007.