PhD Course: Building an Innovation system for sustainable development: The case of Agriculture - 11.03.2010

Time: 19 - 23 April, 2010

Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands

Goals of the Course: 
    • General introduction to innovation theories 
    • Practical experience with the setup of innovation projects 
    • Applying a transdisciplinary analysis framework for innovation projects 
    • Operationalising transitions towards action, using the analysis framework

Description: Traditional innovation in agriculture is mainly aimed at productivity increase and cost efficiency. The underlying innovation model is linear, uni-dimensional and static. This leads to specialisation and even fragmentation in both business and academia. The current innovation system is also aimed at only a small spectrum of relevant drivers, and therefore sometimes leads to unexpected negative side effects and barriers. The Dutch agricultural sector needs a transition towards a more sustainable development.
Up until now very little empirical data has been gathered about how to experiment towards transition. Although the scholarly literature has largely addressed the processes of transition (Geels & Schot, 2007), and has indicated how transitions can be triggered (Loorbach & Rotmans, 2006), empirical data about transitions is rare, and often concerns only one or a few cases. Transition science is rich in theory, but rather poor in practical experience.
TransForum’s innovation project portfolio is a first to offer the opportunity to analyse a host of projects systematically, to draw lessons about triggering transitions (Veldkamp et al., 2009). These lessons can enhance future transition initiatives, by increasing the potential of innovation projects. After this course, the participants will become aware of the building blocks required for a agro-innovation system, and will learn procedures to operationalise them towards successful transitions towards more sustainable agro-systems.

Target group: The course is meant for MSc and PhD students, Postdocs and university staff as well as specialists in business, government and organisations.

Credits: 3 ECTS

Fee:
PhD participants of PE&RC with an approved Education Plan (TSP) € 250
WU staff and all other PhD participants € 500
Others € 800

Registration: please register by sending an email to providing the following information:

- your name:
- your email-address:
- status: PhD student // post-doc // else:
- whether, as a PhD, you have an approved TSP
- name of your graduate school:
- name and address of research group (if applicable internal bode number):
- name of department/Science Group
- the address to which we can send the invoice for the course fee and your financial project number.

For further information:
Dr. C. van de Vijver
Tel: + 31 (0)317-485116
Email:

or visit the page of the course here