• 60 credits
• Summer Teaching, Year 1

You will research and to write up a specific topic from the field of Science and Technology Policy. The aim is to enable you to critically survey and identify relevant theories and evidence and then to employ them to assess some aspect of science and technology policy and to explore the relevant implications.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Semester, Year 1

This module is an introduction to social studies of science and technology.

You explore how techno-scientific developments such as gene editing and climate geoengineering are political issues, embroiled not only in controversies among scientists and engineers but also subject to wider public debates. Participants in these debates include civil society organisations and social movements, which may oppose or promote specific technologies and ways of knowing.

You look at how socioeconomic interests (including those of different user groups) and political forces such as public protests and government regulations attempt to influence the making of science and technology in (R&D) laboratories and test sites, alongside the norms and routines of scientists and engineers themselves. 

You explore the debates on how sciences and technologies intervene in wider social and material reality. Scientists (including those doing the social sciences) and engineers not only provide policy advice but also play a role in running corporations and work with civil society organizations. And in doing so, their facts and artefacts intertwined with cultural values and market forces shape how people relate to each other and to the natural world. 

You study:

• social construction of scientific knowledge and of technology
• actor-network theory, sciences as practices
• co-production of science and society
• risk, uncertainty and ambiguity.

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

In a digitalised society, learning from data has become increasingly important to address policy questions and generate business intelligence in a timely and effective manner. The “Introductory Data Science for Innovation” module provides you with cutting-edge skills (e.g. text-mining, sentiment analysis, infographics) to generate evidence for decision making in policy and management contexts.

Building on a diverse set of data sources (e.g. publications, patents, social media, research funding, firm-level data), you will acquire analytical and visualisation expertise to explore the innovation process at multiple levels (e.g. organisations, regions, nations), but also to interpret critically the findings of the analysis. Lectures and seminars are complementary: Lectures provide you with the conceptual and theoretical base to get acquainted with data science approaches to study innovation, while a series of computer-based seminar sessions apply these approaches to real examples in policy and management.

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

This course initially provides you with an overview of the intellectual terrain covered by science and technology policy studies, with illustrations of some of the methodologies utilised in SPRU's work.

The course then provides you with an introduction to, and basic training in, a range of some of those methods of inquiry and analysis, both qualitative and quantitative, which should enable you not just to recognise others use of those methods, but also to understand how and when those methods can be applied.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Semester, Year 1

This module will introduce you to the nature and operation of the policy process in contemporary economies and train them in a systematic approach to policy analysis. You will be introduced to the major concepts and theories relevant to understanding the policy process, together with a systematic method of thinking about the formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation of public policies.

You will develop the skills required to define and critically analyse policy issues and problems, articulate decision-making criteria and propose and evaluate alternative policy solutions. The module will apply these ideas to specific topics in science, innovation, energy, development and security policy.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Semester, Year 1

You explore how since the Second World War, key assumptions underpinning science and technology policy have been widely discussed, challenged and reframed.

The challenges relate to many aspects of policy including:

• the funding of science
• regulation of science
• evaluation of science
• technology and innovation (STI)
• provision of technology and scientific advice.

Critiques of linear models of funding science and interaction between evidence producers and policymakers and decision-makers have led to fundamental change in the way STI policy and related interventions are understood. In a variety of ways these new understandings have led to change in the way science funding and policy is devised and implemented. Analytical and policy shifts are both related to and have impacts on power relationships and structures.

In this module you explore the shifts in analytical perspectives and policy frameworks and interrogate STI’s growing complexity and develop understandings of current approaches to STI policy in historical and geographical context.

• 15 credits
• Autumn Semester, Year 1

The aim of this module is to introduce you to an ongoing tradition of research on innovation and the various analytical concepts and theories that are used in current academic, management and policy debates. It will explore the processes underlying knowledge accumulation and innovative activity within the global economy and review the historical and contemporary emergence of current innovation systems in both developed and developing country contexts. This includes analysis of the science system, technology, the management of innovation, the theory of the firm, the basis for public policy, environmental analysis, and innovation systems approaches.

The module has a key focus on developing understanding that contributes towards practical analysis of innovation policy and management problems, and therefore provides a range of analytical frameworks for understanding and exploring the nature of public policy and its influence on the operations of business firms and other organisations. These frameworks include orthodox economics, evolutionary economics, science and technology studies and history.

The module aims to develop you understanding of the economic perspective on issues of science and technology management and policy and helps you develop skills in using economic measures and indicators that inform business and public policy. 

By the end of this module you will be able to:

• distinguish several different schools of thought in economics by identifying their underlying assumptions and methods of reasoning 
• explain the role of innovation from the perspectives of firm and individual choice and relate innovation to productivity, long-term economic growth, and competitiveness. 
• identify sources of market dysfunction or failure including monopoly power, co-ordination failure, and principal-agent problems and understand the interventions or rule-setting that may prove useful in remedying these problems 
• explain the consequences of globalisation for the international division of labour and the possible effects that this might have on localisation of economic activities 
• demonstrate knowledge of technology and innovation system concepts and an understanding of their application in different technological, spatial, national and international contexts. 
• demonstrate the analytical skills required to identify the interactions among key actors in technology and innovation systems, and to identify the main interactions running through these systems to link public policy and the innovative activities of business firms and other organisations. 
• demonstrate the practical skills to clearly and concisely write an account of selected aspects of the innovation systems described above. 

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

The module examines policies and strategies for dealing with radical technical change, focusing on Artificial Intelligence (Al). Concepts from innovation studies are introduced to define the nature and boundaries of 'radical innovation'. The concepts of Long-waves, Macro-inventions, Technoeconomic paradigms, General Purpose Technologies and diffusion, are examined for their policy and strategy implications. Insights from the history of ICT, together with recent developments on bioinformatics and outer-space exploration are discussed to identify commonalities and differences among radical changes and their implications for energy, information and goods and services production and distribution.

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

The module will endow you with an in-depth perspective on how digital transformations impact (and disrupt) today’s world. It draws on the innovation management, economics, and science and technology policy literature to provide you with conceptual lenses and critical thinking skills to understand the opportunities and challenges of digital innovation in a rapidly changing environment.

The content of the module is designed to equip you with skills and knowledge to confidently navigate the nature, evolution and effects of digital transformations and innovation. It is structured around theoretical foundations, empirical evidence and practical cases; it features an overview of theoretical building blocks necessary to understand digital transformations (including network effects, information markets, and platforms), an advanced view on actors’ opportunities and strategies across core digital technologies such as AI, Cloud computing, Blockchain, and insights on the implications of digital innovation on firms, industry, and policy behaviours and strategies.

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

The module will examine the substantive energy policy challenges faced by developing countries, including increasing energy access, reducing energy poverty and improving energy security. Integrating orthodox perspectives on energy policy with insights from innovation studies and socio-technical approaches, the course will explore the implications for development of notions such as lock-in, path dependency and leapfrogging. Building on this conceptual framework, the course will critically engage with academic and policy debates on topics such as low carbon development, technology transfer and carbon markets; all of which are intended to play roles in helping developing countries achieve development objectives while establishing sustainable energy systems. 

This module will enable you to:

• critically engage with contemporary academic and policy debates on energy policy and development 
• demonstrate a systematic understanding of the tensions and complementarities between energy policy and sustainable development in a developing-country context 
• analyse the roles of technology and innovation in energy for development 
• demonstrate a critical awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of orthodox and alternative approaches to energy policy in developing countries. 

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

This module is intended to introduce you to the main concepts, theories, issues, challenges and debates within energy and climate policy, together with some of the analytical techniques used to explore this multifaceted subject.

Primary emphasis will be given to economic concepts and techniques, but the module will take a critical approach to orthodox economic theory and will incorporate ideas from behavioural economics, ecological economics and innovation studies.

The primary focus of the module is the opportunities, challenges and constraints associated with making the transition to a low carbon energy system. But this challenge cannot be understood without exploring the other dimensions of energy policy, such as energy security and market structure and regulation, together with the synergies and tensions between different policy objectives. 

Key themes of the module include the physical characteristics of fossil and renewable energy resources, the process of transition and change in energy systems and the rationales for and limits to public policy intervention.

Substantive issues to be covered include:

• the relationship between
• energy and economic growth
• market and government failures in the energy sector
• energy market liberalisation and the regulation of network industries
• carbon pricing
• the innovation and diffusion of energy technologies
• resource depletion
• the transition to renewable technologies and competing perspectives on energy security.

Much of the discussion and examples will relate to OECD countries, but issues relevant to developing countries will be introduced where appropriate and explored in more detail in the seminars. Relevant analytical techniques such as energy-economic modelling will be introduced but not examined in any detail. 

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

This modul will introduce you to a systems perspective on long-term, socio-technical change in the field of energy in order to explore the co-evolution of technologies with political, institutional, economic and social factors. The module will illustrate this conceptual perspective with historical case studies from the energy sector and explore the implications for governing transitions to a low carbon energy system in the developed world. You will analyse and reflect on current policy approaches to governing low carbon transitions. Substantive issues to be covered include: the historic transition from horse-drawn carriages to auto-mobility, low carbon innovation policy in the UK, the Energy Transition approach in the Netherlands, the politics of governing transitions and the role interests play, bottom-up approaches to changing energy systems such as the Transition Towns movement, the role of household practices as well as strategies of incumbent energy companies to respond to pressures for change towards a low carbon energy system. 

This module will enable you to:

• demonstrate a systematic knowledge of the definition and applicability of key innovation studies concepts to studying socio-technical change in energy systems, such as carbon lock-in, path dependency, co-evolution of technology with political, institutional, economic and social factors 
• apply the conceptual understanding and empirical knowledge gained from the course to the analysis of a variety of energy systems in developed countries (including electricity generation, heat production and mobility) 
• critically discuss and evaluate different policy approaches to governing low carbon transitions. 

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

In this module you gain critical theoretical tools and empirical insights into the processes of governance and use of controversial technologies in the global south.

Many technologies are controversial – they mean different things to different people, and can distribute their benefits and costs unevenly. An automobile may be a reliable mean of transport for some, but a polluting and dangerous device for others. Expensive, genetically modified seeds may increase yields and profits for some farmers but produce indebtedness for many others and considered as agri-biodiversity and health hazards by activists. Biofuels may be viewed as an effective way to reduce emissions by some – but as a serious threat to food security by others.

This module considers the questions raised by these disagreements and disputes. You cover significant questions about two central aims of much contemporary international development – environmental sustainability and poverty reduction. We ask can the (re)development and use of controversial technologies be governed by state/non-state actors towards greater environmental sustainability and inclusiveness? And if yes, how?

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

This module responds to an explicit and increasing demand from students to be trained on aims, rationale and tools of industrial and innovation policy. Industrial development and competitiveness are greatly affected by policy actions implemented at various levels, from the local to the international one.

The module content covers the different theoretical grounding and rationale of industrial policy; the design, implementation, and assessment of industrial and innovation policy interventions, in the context of social, economic and environmental pressures.

You will learn the rationale, aims, direction and limitations of government interventions; how to create incentives of innovation in relevant firms, sectors and regions; how to tackle sectoral and spatial polarisation of productivity, employment and skills; what are the innovation and industrial policy actions available in context of global trade; how to tackle the fundamental trade-off between growth, competitiveness and environmental sustainability. The seminar topics will specifically tackle and critically discuss rationale and aims of policy interventions in emerging and developing countries.

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

Infrastructure-systems provide the foundation for a large proportion of modern economic activity. Such systems enable people, resources, energy and information to move around the world. The production and operation of infrastructure presents significant policy and managerial challenges as it is typically organisationally complex and requires a variety of public and private organisations to work together to plan, design, build and operate it. While the physical and information infrastructure of modern societies is very diverse, infrastructure sectors, such as transport, communications, energy, water and waste, and oil and gas, as well as the physical assets of modern societies (such as schools, hospitals, sports facilities, etc.), all share common problems, creating the possibility of learning across sectors. By adopting a business model focus, this course enables such cross sector learning.

This course explores innovation in infrastructure from a variety of public, private and civil society perspectives to produce an integrated understanding of how innovation takes place and which tools and techniques can be used to understand and improve the generation and operation of modern infrastructure. The course is focused on providing the skills and knowledge required for careers in strategically important infrastructure industries and projects involving clients, architects, engineers, contractors, government agencies, users and other stakeholders. The skills, knowledge and business-model focus of the course, together with the emphasis on learning across sectors, will generate transferable skills that will be valuable to anyone interested in the management and regulation of large complex organisations in a wide range of settings.

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

This module will explore the role innovation can play in sustainable development in industrialised and developing countries, including (but not limited to) its importance in mitigating and adapting to climate change. A number of key ideas will be used to provide a framework for learning. These include past and current theory on sustainability, growth and competitiveness (with specific reference to the role of technology), understanding and influencing directions of innovation, and the governance of socio-technical transitions. Specific topics will be explored within each key idea. Examples include: social and technical innovations in energy and resource use efficiency; economic and other policy instruments to promote such innovations; barriers to the diffusion of sustainable innovations; the role of innovative green niches in systems transformations; and the challenges of international co-ordination. These will be illustrated with reference to real world cases in the manufacturing, housing, agriculture and energy sectors. 

This module will enable you to:

• articulate and utilise a working knowledge of issues concerning innovations and sustainability and to evaluate critically the main theoretical perspectives on innovation and the environment; 
• apply concepts from innovation theory in analysing a range of contemporary environmental policy problems; 
• research the innovation dimensions of a contemporary environmental problem using a mix of academic and policy literature, and 
• demonstrate the understanding and intellectual skills identified above by means of clear and concise written work. 

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

The creative economy has been a significant driver of growth in recent years, because of the role of the cultural and creative industries. You will learn the key aspects underpinning the creative economy and its main drivers, and develop a deep understanding of how innovation takes place in the creative industries. You will also learn how these innovations are commercialised. By linking theory with real-world practices, you will discover how firms and other organizations leverage creativity, innovation and technology in order to create value, and how this value is captured and marketed.

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

Protecting intellectual assets has become a key success factor for organisations in the knowledge-based economy. This module provides you with the knowledge and tools for managing intellectual property (IP), and how best to deploy and appropriate these to create value from the perspective of both private and public-sector organisations. More specifically, you will gain an understanding of IP strategies and approaches in multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises as well as universities and research institutes. You will learn about patents and copyrights as instruments to protect IP as well as develop an understanding of less formal, alternative approaches.

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

This module outlines the key institutional and organisational forms underpinning the emerging knowledge economy, looking closely at the pivotal role that knowledge workers play in the creation, application and diffusion of knowledge within and between firms.

You will consider new approaches to managing learning processes in the firm, including recent developments such as knowledge management and novel organisational structures. You will explore the role of labour mobility through different types of knowledge worker communities and networks. You will also consider the role of open-source innovation and knowledge transfer within and across epistemic communities, the role of new human resource management approaches, and network mapping techniques. You will go on to consider how certain skills are coming to play a critical role in the knowledge economy, such as knowledge brokering and gate-keeping. Finally, you will explore how labour market institutions that impact on careers shape different approaches to knowledge generation, and be introduced to key concepts associated with knowledge transfer, including social capital, knowledge exploration and exploitation, and the role of key actors in knowledge transfer.

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

Our capabilities to collect and access data about phenomena (e.g. social media, geolocation data, biological interactions) have increased considerably over the last decade. But making sense of these vast stores of data remains a big challenge. As a result, data scientists have become increasingly important for both private- and public-sector organisations. And data scientist jobs are currently among the best-paying jobs.

Network analysis is an important methodology that enables us to examine and visualise small and large data and to make sense of these by revealing structures and patterns. This module introduces you to:

• qualitative and quantitative approaches to collect network data and analyse various network types
• basic principles for generating network data-based information graphics that are capable of conveying rich information with relatively simple infographics.

Lectures focus on introducing the concepts and methodological approaches of network analysis and infographics. Your seminars are computer-based sessions that introduce you to three main software packages (R and its igraph package, Gephi, and VOSviewer) to perform network analysis and produce infographics.

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

Using an interdisciplinary approach that draws from international relations, political science and science and technology studies, you look at the relationship between science and technology and contemporary security.

Drawing from a series of case studies, including ‘cyberweapons’ and drones, you critically explore how developments in technology have influenced the way in which security is practised, wars are fought and terrorism undertaken; but also, how contestable perceptions of security have socially shaped certain technological options (and ignored other possibilities).

• 15 credits
• Spring Semester, Year 1

This module will teach you the main principles and practices of Transformative Innovation Policy (TIP) and in particular (though not exclusively) will apply a transformative innovation lens to questions of inclusive innovation in the global south. Therefore the module will be particularly relevant if you're interested in relating questions of development, inequality and inclusion to innovation and will be of particular appeal to students on SPRU’s Sustainable Development MSc.

The module builds on the theoretical and practical work that a number of SPRU faculty are undertaking on transformative innovation in Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe. The module will also draw on the research of faculty and be heavily geared to analyzing and discussing policy case studies in different countries at national, regional and community levels.