05.10.2022Innovation beyond technology and care-led innovation. Lessons from a dialogue between Japan and Europe

Lecturer

Prof. Sébastien Lechevalier (EHESS - School of Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, Paris)

Date and Time

October 05, 2022, 10:15 am - 12:00 noon

Content

For a few decaces now, innovation - mainly derived from technological advances - has been considered a driving force of economic and societal development and prosperity. In this context, it is not surprising that more and more resources are dedicated to innovation at different levels, from basic research to research and development (R&D).

However, the last two decades, which can be regarded as the golden age of innovation, saw a gradual shift in ideology. We started off by embracing (technological) innovation as the solution to the crisis of our times, but ended up seeing our model of innovation become yet another problem to solve. Indeed, there has been growing doubt about the relevance of this model. A discrepancy indeed appears between increasing resources dedicated to innovation and decreasing well-being in many places.

The aim of this lecture is to provide various tools of analysis, coming mainly from Social Sciences and Humanities, in order to study the central place of innovation in our lives and to promote the reconnection between technological trends and socio-economic trends. It will be done through a comparative perspective that mobilizes examples from Europe and East Asia.

This public guest lecture is part of the Master seminar 'Innovation Governance in Asian Global Cities'.

About the Lecturer

Sébastien Lechevalier is an Economist and a Professor at EHESS (School of Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, Paris), specialised in Japanese economy and Asian capitalisms. He is also founder and president of the Fondation France-Japan de l'EHESS (FFJ). Trained as a labor economist, he has extensively published on various dimensions of the Japanese economy in comparative perspective with a focus on innovation issues.

Venue

The lecture will take place via Zoom. Join us via the following Link.

Organisation

Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies - Japanese Studies