The Globelics PhD Academy held in Lisbon in 2004 marked the beginning of an important educational initiative within the Globelics network. Following the first Globelics Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 2003, the Academy expanded the network’s activities by creating a dedicated environment for doctoral training in innovation, learning, competence building and economic development. Its establishment reflected Globelics’ broader commitment to strengthening research capabilities and connecting emerging scholars with an international community of researchers working on innovation and development.
Organized in Lisbon, the Academy brought together PhD students and established researchers to examine the relationship between innovation systems and processes of economic and social transformation. Particular attention was given to the challenges faced by developing and less-favoured regions, where technological change, institutional capacity and access to knowledge can strongly influence development trajectories. The program provided participants with opportunities to engage with theoretical approaches while considering their application to diverse national, regional and sectoral contexts.
The academic discussions addressed themes such as national systems of innovation, technological change, knowledge creation, competence building and the institutional foundations of development. Evidence from the 2004 edition also shows attention to knowledge flows and spillovers in developing-country clusters, illustrating the variety of research questions examined by participating doctoral researchers. A lecture associated with the Academy by Manuel Heitor similarly explored technological change and development through the experience of less-favoured regions, connecting innovation with infrastructures, institutions, learning and social capabilities.
Beyond formal instruction, an essential element of the Academy was interaction between doctoral students and senior scholars. The Globelics Academy model was designed to bring frontier researchers in innovation studies together with PhD candidates, particularly researchers from developing countries, helping them improve their work and become connected with high-quality international research networks.
Lisbon therefore represented more than the location of the first Academy. The 2004 edition established a model that would continue in subsequent years and later expand to other cities. By combining doctoral training, discussion of ongoing research and international networking, the first Globelics PhD Academy helped create a space where a new generation of scholars could critically explore how innovation contributes to economic development across different institutional and geographical settings.