BIOECONOMY AND INNOVATION
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Basics in mathematics, microeconomics and statistics are suggested but not required.
Written exam: 4 “main” questions/problems to be answered/solved in 2h.
The answers to the questions and problems will be evaluated based on their completeness and correctness.
Attendant students have the option to participate to group activities and presentations that will be evaluated and contribute to the final grade. In case of positive evaluation of the class activities they will also have the option to answer only 2 out of the 4 “main” questions/problems of the final written exam in 1h.
Partial exams will be scheduled at the end of each module.
Bioeconomy and innovation are two strictly related concepts. Bioeconomy value chains involve the production and valorisation of biobased resources into higher-value goods through the systematic introduction and commercialization of product and process innovations, with the contribution of different scientific disciplines and stakeholders.
The objective of this course is to offer an introduction to the main topics related to the Bioeconomy and the Economics of Innovation, by providing the students with the main concepts and tools to understand and interpret the main economic drivers and consequences of technical change.
At the end of the course the students will be able to understand and analyze several issues related to innovation strategies and policies in the bioeconomy, the role of innovation and of intellectual property rights in the global economy and their impact on employment and growth, with a focus on the biotech e bio-based industries and on the sustainability paradigm.
At the end of the course the students will also be able to autonomously interpret and critically discuss several topics related to the following main questions:
• What is Bioeconomy? What is innovation and how do we measure it?
• What is the link between innovation, bioeconomy and economic growth?
• What is the relationship between patents and innovation?
• What role do colleges and universities play in the innovation ecosystem?
• How does firm competition impact innovation?
• What is the role of government and public policies to support the technological transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy?
The students will also learn how to visualize and analyze innovation data using statistical softwares (R).
The lectures in class will cover the following topics.
Every topic will be covered during lectures of about 4 hours each.
MODULE 1
1 Introduction, basic concepts and definitions. Innovation in biotechnology and life sciences industries
2 Knowledge and technological innovation: characteristics, sources, measurements, and stylized facts.
3 Innovative firms and innovation systems: how technologies (co)evolve.
4 Appropriability and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs).
5 Innovation, markets and firm performances.
MODULE 2
6 The financing of R&D and innovation: problems and market failures.
7 Innovation diffusion and network externalities.
8 Open innovation and globalization of innovation
Practical and PC lab sessions will take place as follows:
9 Lab info: analyzing innovation data with R
10 Practical sessions: working groups and students’ presentations
Lectures and practical sessions with discussions of scientific papers and case studies.
Office hours: usually during the hour just after the end of each lecture.
For organisational reasons, students must always send an email (andrea.vezzulli@uninsubria.it) in advance for scheduling a meeting with the instructor
A Tutoring Service is active at the Department of Economics. More detailed information is available at the following link:
https://www.uninsubria.it/servizi/tutti-i-servizi/tutorato-dieco