Silvia Hostettler – författare

Whilst scientific research can be crucial in guiding innovation and development throughout the world, it can be too detached from real world applications, particularly in developing and emerging countries. Technologies for Sustainable Development brings together the best 20 papers from the 2012 Conference of the EPFL-UNESCO Chair in Technologies for Development with the aim to explore and discuss ways to link scientific research with development practices to assist practitioners and reply directly to social needs.

In order for technologies to be adopted it is not sufficient that they are low cost and affordable but also socially, culturally and environmentally accepted by the intended users. Technologies for Sustainable Development aims to explore and answer the following three questions:

• What is an appropriate technology?

• How can we ensure a sustainable, integrated development?

• What are the conditions for co-creation and transfer of such technologies?

Focusing on the importance of improving working relationships between stakeholders; researchers and decision-makers; between scientists and industrial sectors; between academics and the population; Technologies for Sustainable Development  opens a dialogue necessary to create and implement the best solutions adapted to social demands.

The book presents case studies from Africa, Asia and Latin America addressing global development issues in the fields of health, energy, ICT and urbanism in an interdisciplinary way. The book illustrates key issues at the interface of technology, human, social, and economic development. Bringing together the best papers of the 2014 EPFL-UNESCO Conference on Technologies for Development, this book explores innovative technologies in the global South. It will be a valuable reference for researchers from engineering, natural sciences, information management, quantitative social sciences, and business faculties, as well as for development practitioners and policy makers.

It shows the development potential of technologies, and discusses successful processes to develop and deploy them, as well how to evaluate their impact. The introduction to the book begins with a reflection on key issues regarding technologies for development. The following four sections focus on; (i) Innovative Technologies for Development, (ii) Open Source-Open Access-Open Innovation, (iii) Medical Technologies for the Global South, and (iv) Impact Assessment of Technologies for Development. Individual chapters explore issues such as a need for solid standards for newly developed technologies, how to successfully up-scale technology to a larger region, and how to involve private industry in the development of a technology.

Presenting the best papers of the 3rd EPFL-UNESCO Chair Conference on Technologies for Development, this publication offers a valuable collection of innovative case studies exploring access to energy and renewable energy technologies in the Global South. It investigates the key determinants for successfully providing energy to resource-poor communities and examines a wide range of technologies for energy production, distribution, storage and efficient use. Taken together, these case studies deal with the entire life cycle of products and solutions, as well as the complete value chain including all relevant stake holders. The collection also draws upon empirical research conducted in Africa and South America to present critical perspectives on women’s access to technologies in the renewable sector. This publication serves as a bridge between engineers, economists and other scientists involved in research on the interface between technology and human, social and economic development. It also provides a valuable resource to academics and researchers of the natural sciences, computer science, information management, quantitative social sciences and business studies.