How Smart Technologies Will Revolutionize the World

16.06. - 18.06.2021

The Workshop is organised on the occasion of the forthcoming Handbook of Smart Technologies: An Economic and Social Perspective edited by Heinz D. Kurz, Marlies Schütz, Rita Strohmaier and Stella Zilian (Graz Schumpeter Centre, School of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, University of Graz, Austria).

The Handbook is a result of a research project funded by the Austrian Science Fund (grant number P 30434-G27). The Handbook will be published by Routledge, London, this autumn. Participants in the workshop will be offered a 20% discount on the book.

The workshop provides a thorough discussion of the most recent wave of technological (and organisational) innovations, typically called “smart” and based on the digitisation of information. This new wave is one in a row of surges that have shaken up and transformed economy, society and culture and have left a huge impact on how we live, think, communicate and work. The authors of the Handbook analyse the origins of the current wave; its roots in earlier ones and its path-dependent nature; its current forms and actual manifestations; its multifarious impact on economy and society; and the policies that help to ward off dangers and promote benefits. In short, they discuss the past, the present and the future of digitalisation and smart technologies.

The Workshop will be held in digital format via Webex.

Programme
The programme is subdivided in six parts dealing with

Part 1: Disruptive technological change: historical record, economic analysis, methods and tools

Part 2: Smart technologies and work

Part 3: Smart technologies and social and economic transformation

Part 4: Smart technologies, governance and institutions

Part 5: Smart technologies and grand societal challenges

Part 6: Smart technologies: case studies

A detailed programme will follow shortly. Information will be also posted online at smart.uni-graz.at and schumpeter-centre.uni-graz.at.

Free registration. If you would like to attend the workshop, please send an informal email to smart(at)uni-graz.at (subject: “workshop”). Shortly before the event, you will receive an invitation email containing the Webex access information. We kindly ask you to register at your earliest convenience and no later than 6 June, 2021 to facilitate planning.

We would be delighted to welcome you to our workshop. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us any time at smart(at)uni-graz.at.