UNU-MERIT

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UNU-MERIT is a joint research and training center of United Nations University (UNU) and Maastricht University, in the Netherlands.

The joint Institute was created on January 1, 2006 following the integration of the former UNU - Institute for New Technologies (INTECH) in Maastricht, and the Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology, MERIT, at Maastricht University. The center's director is Professor Dr. Luc Soete.

[edit] Mission

UNU-MERIT provides insights into the social, political and economic factors that drive technological change and innovation. The Center's research and training programs address a broad range of policy questions relating to the national and international governance of science, technology and innovation, with a particular focus on the creation, diffusion and access to knowledge.

[edit] Research and policy context

Practically all countries in the world - whether rich or poor - are constantly searching for creative ways to accelerate their economic growth and achieve sustainable development. Integral to this process is a better understanding of how knowledge is created and how its production can be fostered, what constitutes innovation, and how new technologies are created and diffused. Increasingly, these questions are being raised at the highest policy circles as countries struggle to remain competitive in an increasingly knowledge-driven global economy.

UNU-MERIT explores how countries can catch up in the unequal global playing field of the 21st century, without increasing inequality and social exclusion. This entails going beyond the traditional focus on domestic capacity building to analyze knowledge flows at the regional and global levels, and their impact on local development, employment, and productivity.

As globalization leads to a constantly evolving economic, political and cultural landscape a key question is how knowledge production and learning processes can be managed in the interest of all society, and in ways that promote creativity, diversity and collaboration across a broad range of actors and institutions.

The Center's research and policy work brings to the forefront the complementary roles of states, research institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations and other actors in the creation and diffusion of knowledge to enhance equitable and environmentally sustainable economic development.