Information, technology and development

This group covers all aspects of the relationship between the development process and “informatics” (meaning digital data, information, information systems, knowledge, and ICTs). It covers both strategic/policy and tactical/project levels; and encompasses all lifecycle aspects: readiness, design and development, transfer and adoption, use and impact.
Convenor
Richard Heeks (University of Manchester)
Next event
Panel on ‘China’s Digital Expansion in the Global South ‘
The study group will be holding a panel on “China’s Digital Expansion in the Global South” at the 2021 DSA conference. The panel welcomes presentations that help us to conceptualise, to analyse, to evidence, to critique and, overall, to build a picture of China’s fast-growing digital influence on economies, societies, infrastructure and politics of other global South nations.
Prospective presenters should submit a “paper proposal” (title, author names & emails, short abstract of <300 characters; long abstract of <250 words) via the conference online form with a deadline of 8 Feb 2021. More details online here.
Previous meetings
The group has held panels each year at the DSA Annual Conference: on “Digital Development Leadership” in 2020; on “Digital Development” in 2019; on “Digital Inequalities and Development” in 2018; and “Connectivity at the Bottom of the Pyramid: ICT4D and Informal Economic Inclusion” in 2017.
July 2016, University of Manchester
Big and Open Data for International Development
The workshop produced:
a) a future research agenda for “data-intensive development”
b) a network site for researchers and practitioners working in data-intensive development, which you are invited to join
See the abstracts and presentations from the workshop.
October 2014, University of Manchester
IT Sourcing and Development: New Drivers, Models and Impacts
Download the report
July 2013, University of Manchester
New Models of Innovation for Development
Download the report (PDF); view the papers
June 2011, LSE
Understanding Development Through Actor-Network Theory Workshop
View the working papers (go to Actor-Network Theory for Development in the drop-down)
Other outputs
New Models of Inclusive Innovation for Development
The special issue of Innovation and Development journal on “New Models of Inclusive Innovation for Development” has now been published. This incorporates six papers from the 2013 ITD Study Group meeting on innovation and development, held at the University of Manchester; three of which are on permanent open access. The overview paper – is available via open access. It defines and analyses inclusive innovation, and identifies future policy and research priorities.