The Eighteenth Globelics Conference, held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, from 11 to 14 October 2023, celebrated two decades of the Globelics network under the theme “Innovation-driven Knowledge Economies and Transformation in the Global South.” More than serving as another annual meeting, the conference offered an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of innovation studies since the network was established in 2003, while exploring how new technological, environmental, and geopolitical challenges are reshaping development pathways across the Global South. Returning to India—one of the countries that has consistently contributed to Globelics’ intellectual development—gave special significance to this anniversary edition.
Rather than revisiting established debates, the conference encouraged participants to consider how innovation systems must evolve in response to contemporary challenges, including digital transformation, climate change, widening inequalities, and changing patterns of international production. Throughout the programme, particular emphasis was placed on strengthening knowledge economies capable of generating sustainable growth while responding to the specific institutional realities of developing countries. This forward-looking perspective distinguished the Kerala meeting from previous editions by focusing not only on existing innovation systems but also on their future transformation.
Several invited presentations framed these discussions from complementary perspectives. Tommaso Ciarli, affiliated with UNU-MERIT and SPRU, examined the dynamic nature of innovation systems and discussed how technological change influences long-term development trajectories. Bhuvana N, from the Centre for Research on Innovation and Science Policy (CRISP), explored policy approaches designed for the Global South, arguing that innovation strategies should emerge from local institutional capacities rather than being transferred uncritically from advanced economies. Adding another dimension to the debate, Ismael Rafols of the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) analyzed how research assessment and science indicators influence policy decisions, highlighting the importance of developing evaluation frameworks that better reflect the priorities of emerging economies.
These ideas were further expanded during a panel discussion that connected different regional experiences. Susan Cozzens, from the Georgia Institute of Technology, emphasized that innovation policies should be assessed not only by their economic outcomes but also by their contribution to social inclusion and equity. Building on Latin American experience, Gabriela Dutrénit discussed the persistent challenge of reducing technological gaps while strengthening productive capabilities across the region. Dinesh Abrol, representing the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), offered a critical examination of India’s industrial and innovation policies, while Rajeswari Raina of Shiv Nadar University argued that science and technology must remain closely connected to broader societal priorities, particularly those related to sustainability and public wellbeing. Together, these perspectives illustrated the diversity of development experiences within the Global South while revealing several common policy concerns.
Another defining feature of the conference was the strong interaction between scholars from different regions of the world. Researchers from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe exchanged empirical findings on innovation policy, industrial transformation, digitalization, sustainability, and capability building. Instead of treating these regions as isolated case studies, the conference promoted comparative analysis, demonstrating that many development challenges require collaborative research and continuous international dialogue. This exchange reinforced one of the original objectives of Globelics: creating a global research community in which knowledge circulates across regions while remaining sensitive to local contexts.
Hosting the anniversary conference in Kerala also highlighted India’s longstanding contribution to innovation studies. Over the past two decades, Indian scholars and institutions have played an increasingly influential role within the Globelics network, particularly in research on innovation systems, technological learning, industrial policy, and inclusive development. The conference therefore served not only as a celebration of Globelics’ twentieth anniversary but also as recognition of India’s sustained engagement with debates on innovation and economic transformation.
Looking back over twenty years of collaboration, the conference demonstrated how the Globelics network has evolved from a relatively small academic initiative into one of the world’s leading communities dedicated to innovation and development research. At the same time, discussions made clear that the challenges facing the Global South continue to demand new theoretical approaches, stronger institutional partnerships, and closer interaction between research and policymaking. By combining retrospective reflection with forward-looking analysis, the Eighteenth Globelics Conference reaffirmed that innovation remains a fundamental instrument for advancing sustainable, inclusive, and knowledge-based development in an increasingly complex global environment.