The role of innovation and technological diffusion in increasing economic growth: New DFID research programme

The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) is planning to undertake a research programme on the role of innovation and technological diffusion in increasing economic growth in low-income countries and how policy can be used to encourage it. DFID plans to commission a number of research projects as part of this programme, and a call for proposals will be issued later this year.

In order to assist in establishing the priorities for this call DFID would like to consult with academics and practitioners on the lines of enquiry that are most likely to yield new knowledge that could be useful for policymaking.

The Forum
To this end we have launched an online workspace which will be live from the 3rd June to the 5th of July. The workspace hosts DFID’s background note on technological diffusion and invites you to add your comments and suggestions for development.

We hope to engage a large number of researchers and practitioners from across the globe and hope this workspace will provide a platform for discussion and synergy.

The Results
This consultation will help to shape a roundtable discussion on 22 July 2010 to be chaired by Alan Winters, the DFID Chief Economist. The discussion will draw heavily on the comments made during the online consultation, and those who have made the most constructive comments and suggestions will be invited to participate. It will take place in DFID’s London offices.

After the roundtable we will reopen the research forum to post summary papers and to invite further discussion which we hope will lead to the formulation of an external programme of research, open to contested bids.

If you would like to join this workspace and be a part of the consultation please send your name, affiliation and e-mail address to growthresearchforum@dfid.gov.uk so that DFID can invite you to the site.