Abstract

Laure Brévignon-Dodin and Eoin O’Sullivan from IfM Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (CSTI) are going to introduce their recent research work on emerging synthetic biology R&D area. “The last ten years have witnessed attempts by governments to prioritise and coordinate their actions in support of those emerging technologies identified as potential key drivers of national economies. In this context, there is value in bringing clarity on the variety of technologies needed in support of emerging technologies, for instance to inform the timely and appropriate mix of investments they require. These supportive technologies have therefore to be carefully categorised and characterised. Taking the case of synthetic biology – an emerging area of biology concerned with designing and optimising new biological systems for applications in medicine, environment, energy, etc. – this talk will present the findings of a recent research project on categories of technologies in innovation process. It will reflect the very practical perspective adopted in the research approach, stressing aspects of direct interest, relevance and utility for public sector strategy design and investment portfolio management.”

The Centre for Science, Technology & Innovation Policy (CSTI) carries out applied research into programmes, processes and practices for translating publically-funded R&D (in particular science and engineering research) into new technologies, industries and economic wealth. Laure is a research associate in the centre (http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/people/ld308/) and Eoin is the centre director (http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/people/eo252/).