Monday, November 17, 2008

Call for Proposals: Gender and Innovation

UNDERSTANDING THEIR MUTUAL INFLUENCE AND IMPACTS

The changing agency of women is one of the major mediators of economic and social change, and its determination as well as consequences closely relate to many of the central features of the development process -- Amartya Sen

The Innovation, Technology and Society (ITS) program of IDRC supports research towards strengthening innovation capabilities and innovation systems in developing countries. The actors in an innovation system, the science and technology policy environment and the interface of innovation systems with society are the three thematic focus areas of ITS. For more information consult www.idrc.ca/its. Gender is an important dimension in all of the thematic areas but there are visible knowledge gaps pertaining to the influence and impacts of gender in innovation systems and processes. We do know that women are present in knowledge and skills- based enterprises but we know very little about how they influence innovation processes leading to tangible socio-economic outcomes. Similarly, the impacts of current innovation systems on the lives of women are not well understood. If knowledge is to be used as a strategic resource for economic growth and productivity as recognized by the development community, women must be provided with an enabling environment to be equal partners in the national innovation systems.


There is a rich source of literature on the fragile representation of women in science and technology based institutions and enterprises and is being addressed at various levels. Adequate representation of women in S&T systems is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for favourable socioeconomic outcomes. Moreover, the S&T system is a component of the national system of innovation. Given that innovation is a complex process, sometimes an S&T system is not even necessary for innovation. There is evidence of innovation without S&T and a lot of evidence of S&T without leading to innovation. An innovation system encompasses the knowledge intensive interactions among the innovation system actors to turn an idea into a process, product or service on the market. It is from this broad perspective of innovation and innovation systems that the gender dimension needs to be analysed. Furthermore, from an inclusion and efficiency perspective, there is a need to tap into under utilised skills and the social value of a participatory innovation process.

This call aims to examine gender from a wider perspective of innovation systems in developing countries. It will support research towards understanding impediments to innovation processes being influenced by women, opportunities to promote greater involvement and influence by women and the differential impacts (real and perceived) of existing innovation systems on women. Proposals are invited in the form of concept notes following the template available at www.idrc.ca/gender_and_innov ation outlining the research under any of the following two headings:
  1. INVOLVEMENT AND INFLUENCE OF WOMEN IN INNOVATION PROCESSES The access, participation and contribution by women to the innovation processes in general is of interest here, including their role in the transformation of knowledge or use of new knowledge for generating goods and services. For example, ways in which women contribute to social and economic value, policy analysis of gendered access and participation and organisational paradigms within innovation system actors, gender influence on business enterprises are an indication of ideas under this heading. Proposals may focus on the inclusivity of women in decision making processes and governance of technologies, particularly in regard to technologies impacting women. Proposals could also address these or other questions:
    • In what ways will greater engagement of women in a specific context of innovation contribute to economic / social value?
    • Will higher enrolment of women in technical education and employment fill the gender gap in innovation?
    • What are the key / distinct features of technology-business entrepreneurship for and by women
    • How does the agency of women in business enterprises manifest itself in the innovation process?
    • What socio-economic profiles of women enable their influence on technology governance and policy process
    • Does a higher gender balance trigger more innovation and if so what are the impacts of this higher balance on innovation?
  1. IMPACTS OF (SPECIFIC) INNOVATION SYSTEMS ON WOMEN – Social engagement of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy and governance in developing countries tend to be limited and a primary reason for this is lack of adequate evidence and research on potential and real socio economic impacts of STI policy or decisions of innovation system actors. Research under this theme will consider impacts (potential and real) of specific technologies (such as reproductive technologies, domestic fuel or food processing technologies) on women and their socio-cultural transformation caused by these technologies. Research under this theme could address these or other questions:
    • Guiding principles (from a research based study) for an engendered approach to technology regulation and policy
    • In what ways do current technologies for water and sanitation impact women?
    • Are there gender biases in the diffusion and / or impacts of specific technologies, such as biotechnology, nanotechnology and ICTs?
    • What are the opportunities for policy harmonisation to enable women to contribute to innovation processes?
    • Does the knowledge economy and technological development promote greater knowledge and skills development of women?
Terminology
Innovation: Innovation is defined as the use of new ideas, technologies or ways of doing things, in a place (or by people) where they have not been used before.
The concept of the innovation system stresses that the flow of technology and information among people, enterprises and institutions is key to an innovative process. It contains the interaction between the actors who are needed in order to turn an idea into a process, product or service on the market.
Gender for the purpose of this call refers to women in the context of their representation in the research data
Selection process
  • Concept notes will be reviewed by IDRC and applicants of selected concept notes will be invited to submit a full proposal
  • Up to 9 full proposals will be supported up to CAD $ 50,000 each for a maximum project duration of 2 years.
  • Evaluation criteria for concept notes will include relevance to context, quality and feasibility, potential for impact and merit of the research team. Selection will also be based on a regional geographic distribution
Resources
Gender and Science, Technology, and Innovation
Gender in/and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy: An overview of current literature and findings
Gender and Innovation in South Asia
Guidelines for application:
  • This call for proposals is limited to developing country institutions.
  • The lead researcher and key members of the research team should be citizens or residents of a developing country.
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the background papers available at www.idrc.ca/gender_and_innov ation
  • This call is limited to applied research projects only with a strong evidence of relevance to local, national or regional context
  • The format for submitting concept notes is available at www.idrc.ca/gender_and_innov ation
  • Deadline for submission of concept notes is 19 December 2008
  • Applications may be emailed to gender_and_innovation@idrc.ca
  • Incomplete applications, or fully theoretical research applications will not be considered
Contact:
Enquiries and clarifications may be addressed to gender_and_innovation@idrc.ca.
Timetable
Launch of call inviting concept notes ; &nb sp; 15 September 2008
Deadline for receipt of concept notes ; &nb sp; 19 December 2008

Document(s)

Ann Elizabeth Samson 16 septembre 2008

Gender and Science, Technology, and Innovation

Open file

Claire Buré 16 septembre 2008
Gender in/and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy: An overview of current literature and findings
Open file

Sujatha Byravan 16 septembre 2008
Gender and Innovation in South Asia
Open file


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