Innogen and IKD@OU at the 13th Globelics International Conference, 23rd – 25th September 2015: Havana, Cuba

By David Wield

300 researchers from more than 40 countries attended the 13th Globelics International Conference to share findings on innovation, economic development and social inclusion in developing countries. There was a large Innogen contingent and the theme, Innovation to Reduce Poverty and Inequalities for Inclusive and Sustainable Development, was ideally suited to our world-class research into the interconnections between industrial innovation and health.

The conference, held in Havana, was jointly organised by the Cuban government and the scientific network Globelics, which focuses on innovation and knowledge-building systems for socio-economic development. There was a strong emphasis on challenges and opportunities within the health sector, with outstanding inputs from Cuban scientists and health specialists. Innogen members Dinar Kale, Andrew Watkins, Theo Papaioannou and Julius Mugwagwa also presented their paper Why Industry Associations Matter in Development of Healthcare Industries in Emerging Countries? Evidence from Indian Biotechnology and Medical Device Industries.

The Havana International Conference Center

At a special session to inform the next Globelics Thematic Review (GTR) on Health Systems Strengthening: Lessons from Innovation Studies, Innogen Co-Director Maureen Mackintosh presented Manufacturing Pharmaceuticals in Africa: Innovation and Health System Strengthening. All the panellists, including Innogen Associate Professor Smita Srinivas, spoke about the GTR draft findings and provocations, and their presentations and the resulting Q&A session will be used to complete the final document ready for publication in early 2016.

IKD and Innogen at the 13th Globelics Conference

Other Innogen members who took part include Rebecca Hanlin (who will co-draft the 2015 theme report, Health Systems Strengthening: Innovation Studies Perspectives), Jo Chataway and Geoffrey Banda. David Wield, who presented his paper Biotechnology, Bioeconomy and the Global Economy (presentation available here) at a special session on biotechnology in Cuba, commented: ‘It was a great privilege to present alongside the founders of the huge Cuban health biotechnology sector, where fundamental research is most effectively integrated with public health objectives and global health needs.’

Read more about the Globelics Conference, including the full programme, here.