------------------------------
From: isa@sis.ucm.es (International Sociological Association)
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 1996 14:41:09 -0500
To: Apparently-to: chriscd@jhu.edu
To: chriscd@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu
Subject: Technology Learning Conference
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
TECHNOLOGICAL LEARNING, INNOVATIONS,
AND INDUSTRIAL POLICIES:
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES
MEXICO CITY
25-27 September 1996
First Announcement
The Conference aims at gathering persons that have worked on technology
development in entreprises in Latin America, poeple that are experiencing
day-to-day work in technology and production in plants in industry and also
policy people that are involved in the definition of industrial and
technological policies.
Recent research in Latin America has shown the importance of
*technological learning*, that is the accumulation of experiences on how
to select, develop, and master technologies.
This phenomenon has been documented only since a decade with some detail.
It has shown how firms get to continuously improve their production
processes, design new processes, adapt their technologies, and develop
innovation even if they are minor innovations. Thus, innovation seems
very tightly linked to technological learning.
Research permitted up to now to show the specific nature of these
processes; each entreprise learns in its own way, and there is still no
clear undestanding of what factors determine thi process. The fact
that technological learning is local, cumulative, and collective seems to
arouse more questions that need thorough research and understanding.
These ideas show the necessity to reopen the debate on technology
transfers in a novel way. It is necessary to examine the acquisition and
developpement of technology as interdependent activites and not as
opposed choices. Also the technology learning processes reopens the
policy debate about the nature of the links between academia and the
industry (the "triple-helix, in the context of developing countries).
The meeting wishes to set technological learning as a core element in the
science and technology policy debates and agenda.
Organizing Committee:
CONACYT: Elsa Blum.
FLACSO: Monica Casalet.
Friedriech Ebert Stieffung: Carlos Garcia
ORSTOM: Rigas Arvanitis
UAM (Universidad Autnoma Metropolitana)
UAM-A, Academic coordination: Jordy Micheli
UAM-I, Dept. Engineering: Jesus Alvarez Calderon
UAM-I, Dept. Antropology: Rodrigo Diaz
UAM-X, Dept. Economic production: Arturo Lara
UAM-X, Master prog. Economics and Management
of Technical Change: Gabriela Dutrenit, Liliana Minsberg
UAM-X, Master prog. Public policies: Giovanna Valenti
UAM-X, Doctorate in Social Sciences: Daniel Villavicencio
UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico):
UNAM, Institute of Social Studies : Rosalba Casas
UNAM,Center for technological innovation: Enrique Medellin
Scientific Committee:
Martin Bell (SPRU)
Jose Casar (UNAM)
Robert Cabanes (ORSTOM)
Mario Cimoli (Univ. di Venezia)
Jose Antonio Esteva Maraboto (UNAM)
Henry Etzkowitz (Columbia University)
Andoni Garritz Ruiz (Fac. Quimica, UNAM)
Jorge Katz (CEPAL)
Jaime Kravzov Jinich (UAM)
Marc Humbert (Univ. Rennes 1)
Felipe Lara (UNAM)
Bengt-Ake Lundvall (Univ. Aalborg)
Jaime Martuscelli (UNAM)
Arnoldo Pirela (UCV, Ven.)
Carlota Perez (Consultant, Ven.)
Jean Ruffier (GLYSI, CNRS)
Kurt Unger (CIDE)
Tentative list of themes of the meeting:
-Technological learning in industry in Latin America
-The technical relations between firms and their environments
-The role of Research and Development
-Case studies of innovative developments in firms
-Formation and manpower policies in innovation
-Regional and industrial development
-Learning and entrepreneurial development
-Technological culture and organization
-Effects of the environmental policies on technological learning
-Industrial and technological policies
Proposal for papers or round tables can be sent by email at :
rigasa@cueyatl.uam.mx (Rigas Arvanitis)
vcdh3758@cueyatl.uam.mx (Daniel Villavicencio)
By normal mail at:
Daniel Villavicencio/Rigas Arvanitis
Maestria en Economia y Gestion del Cambio Tecnologicao
Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco
1100 Calz. del Hueso
Colonia Villa Quietud, Coyoacan
04960 - Mexico DF
MEXICO
Phone: (52-5) 724.52-79 / 723.54.67
FAX: (52-5) 724.51.72
(in case this number does not function, try: (52-5) 282.08.00)
Prof. Chris Chase-Dunn
Department of Sociology
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD. 21218 USA
tel 410 516 7633 fax 410 516 7590 email chriscd@jhu.edu