Training

UNU-MERIT PhD programme

The United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and social Research and training centre on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT) offers a PhD study programme, in co-operation with the University of Maastricht.

The PhD training programme is designed to train students in conducting research on the theoretical, institutional and policy issues underlying technical change and on the role of technical change in fostering economic growth and development in both developed and developing countries.

The programme is offered every year - with an intake each September. Supervision of the studies is by scholars from UNU-MERIT, while the PhD degree is granted by the University of Maastricht.

Please click on the link below for detailed information on the programme.

PhD programme in the Economics and Policy Studies of Technical Change
Next starting date: September 2008
Application deadline: 28 January 2008

Training Courses

Design and Evaluation of Innovation Policy in Developing Countries (DEIP)
The training course in the Design and Evaluation of Innovation Policies, DEIP, was set up as a pilot UNU-INTECH project in 2004. The programme aims to meet the growing demand from developing countries for support in analysing the latest technological developments and designing appropriate responses tailored to their specific development contexts. By the end of the pilot phase in 2005 more than 60 senior policymakers and technical advisers in relevant government ministries from 23 developing countries had participated in the courses.

Following the positive evaluation of the pilot phase UNU-MERIT is expanding the project by offering more training workshops in developing countries in collaboration with partner organizations and governments in these countries.

Forthcoming DEIP courses:
DEIP Jordan (10-12 June, 2008)
DEIP Maastricht (10-14 November, 2008)

Presentations past DEIP courses:
DEIP Maastricht (22-26 October, 2007)

Other teaching activities

1. DIMETIC
In addition to its internal teaching activities, UNU-MERIT is one of the three institutions that founded the Economics of Technological and Institutional Change (ETIC) programme. The two other institutes are BETA (Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, in Strasbourg, France), and IKE (Institute of Production) at Aalborg University, Denmark. The ETIC programme has been a series of doctoral training programmes aimed primarily at PhD students in the early stages of their research. Each year there are two two-week sessions, one at UNU-MERIT and one at BETA in Strasbourg, the Maastricht session focusing on microeconomics and industrial dynamics, the Strasbourg session concentrating largely on macro-economic and policy issues.  This programme was initially funded for three years, starting in 1997, by the "Training and Mobility of Researchers" programme of the European Union. The funding has recently been renewed for a further three years. since 2005, the ETIC programme has become part of DIME (Dynamics of Institutions and Markets in Europe) an EU 6th Framework  Network of Excellence. The name has been changed to DIMETIC and the focus of the programme has been expanded to reflect the broader scope of interests in DIME. In addition a third two-week session has been added, held in Pecs, Hungary. Starting in 2007, the themes of the three sessions will be Micro approaches to innovation and innovation networks Geography of innovation and growth: theory, empricis and policy Modelling - Regional innovation systems, clusters and dynamics.   People from UNU-MERIT participating in DIMETIC are Robin Cowan, Pierre Mohnen, Gerry Silverberg, Luc Soete, Thomas Ziesemer, and Bart Verspagen.

2. EDS-ETIC
Furthermore, in co-operation with five other institutes, UNU-MERIT participates in the newly founded European Doctoral School, EDS-ETIC, which provides the opportunity for students throughout Europe to spend three to six months doing research at a location other than their home institution. This programme, organised within the framework of the Marie Curie Training Site programme of the European Union, is aimed at more advanced PhD students who can take advantage of the research expertise at one of the participating institutes.

3. ESST
UNU-MERIT also continued to be involved in another international MA research network, ESST the European Inter-University Association on Society, Science and Technology. An association of fourteen universities who jointly teach and do research in the field of social, scientific and technological developments, ESST offers a one-year programme leading to an MA in Society, Science and Technology in Europe. Universities from more than ten European countries are members of the association, which is registered as a non-profit organisation in Brussels. UNU-MERIT collaborates with the Faculty of Arts and Culture, which co-ordinates the Maastricht University participation in the programme. Saeed Parto is the co-ordinator of a UNU-MERIT course module "Science and Technology Dynamics" on evolutionary economics and technological change and offers a 'second-term" specialisation for students wishing to write their Masters theses on research topics in which UNU-MERIT has expertise.

4. METEOR Research Masters
UNU-MERIT faculty are involved in the newly accredited Reseach Master's of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Universitiet Maastricht. The Technology and Growth track of this degree is coordinated by Robin Cowan and courses in the track are taught by Robin Cowan, Pierre Mohnen, Luc Soete and Thomas Ziesemer. More information can be found here.

Master of Science in Infonomics (INF)

ICT has an immense impact on the economy and on society as a whole. The growing interest in the emerging new, digital economy and e-business world is reflected in the rapidly changing international business and policy environment. Both within governments and business there is a growing need for economists who are able to combine their economic knowledge with a good understanding of ICT. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the Master of Science in Infonomics (INF) programme of the University of Maastricht educates economists who are able to operate between both technically educated and more socio-economically educated people.

Several UNU-MERIT staff members are involved in the project, among them Luc Soete, Robin Cowan, and Huub Meyers.

More information about the programme

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