Technology & Institutional Change
WINIR Young Scholars Pre-Conference Workshop on
Technology & Institutional Change
University of Catania, Sicily, Italy
19 September 2023
Co-organised with
The Law as Science Project and INET’s Young Scholars Initiative (YSI)
Technological development has become a driving force in shaping and transforming societies, revolutionizing their structures, processes, and governance mechanisms. The complex dynamics between technology and institutional change, and the socioeconomic, legal, political, and ethical challenges and opportunities associated with the transformative power of technology, today constitute vital areas of interdisciplinary research, involving economics, geography, law, sociology, philosophy, politics, among other disciplines.
A workshop for young scholars exploring these topics was held on 19 September 2023. It preceded the WINIR Conference on Institutional Innovation & Evolution, which was held on 20-23 September 2023. Both events took place at the spectacular late Baroque Monastero dei Benedettini, which currently houses the University of Catania’s Department of Humanities.
Young scholars currently enrolled on a PhD or doctoral research program in any relevant discipline were encouraged to apply. Successful applicants were invited to present their research to a supportive audience of peers and senior scholars and receive constructive conceptual and methodological feedback. They were granted free admission (including hospitality) to the main WINIR Conference. Partial stipends covering travel and shared accommodation for the duration of the pre-conference and main conference were awarded to selected participants, thanks for funding generously provided by INET’s Young Scholars Initiative.
Young Scholars
Natasha Bradley Byrne (Maynooth University, Ireland), “The Evolution of the Concept of Mens Rea from Ancient Law through to Modern Times”
Nai Lee Kalema (University College London, UK), “Looking Back, While Looking Forward: Biometric Governance Regimes and State-Led Digital Identity Systems in East Africa”
Luca Lamanna (University of Rome Sapienza, Italy), “Financial Institutions and Decentralized Finance: How To Regulate a Market Born Without Traditional Intermediaries?”
Mary Mang’eli (Kenyatta University, Kenya), “The Role of Institutions in Promoting Technological Development and Innovation”
Dennis Munetsi (Malmö University, Sweden), “The Nascence and Implications of Globally-Produced FemTech AI Interventions in Marginalised Global-South Communities”
Miguel Nkegbe (City University of London, UK), “The Public-Private Partnership: A Vehicle for Responsibly and Sustainably Investing in Outer Space”
Tina Schivatcheva (University of Cambridge, UK), “Continuity and Change of the National Innovation Systems Policy of Bulgaria and Kazakhstan”
Panpan Sun (University of Warwick, UK), “Unravelling Regulatory Challenges in Financial Technology Innovation: A Case Study of Emerging Experimental Equity Financing Markets in China”
Simon Sun & Celso Maziteli Neto (Indiana University, USA), “A Law and Economic Analysis of NFT Real Estate Recordation”
Gabriël van Rosmalen (Utrecht University, Netherlands), “Fostering Platform Cooperatives: Exploring Local Regulatory Regimes”
Discussants
David Cabrelli (University of Edinborough, UK), Maurizio Caserta (University of Catania, Italy), David Gindis (University of Warwick, UK), Francesca Gagliardi (University of Hertfordshire, UK), Chen Li (Chinese University of Hong Kong, China), Eva Micheler (London School of Economics, UK), Ringa Raudla (Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia), Maria Olivella Rizza (University of Catania, Italy), David Sloan Wilson (University of Binghamton, USA), Massimiliano Vatiero (University of Trento, Italy)
About WINIR Young Scholars
WINIR Young Scholars (WYS) aims to identify and promote the next generation of institutional scholars from diverse geographies, sociocultural contexts and disciplines. Its major activities are directed towards creating an inclusive and supportive space for young scholars to receive guidance and mentorship in their journey toward establishing themselves as knowledge creators and navigating the academic job market.
WYS is a collaboration between the World Interdisciplinary Network for Institutional Research (WINIR), the Law as Science Project, and the Young Scholars Initiative (YSI) of the Institute for New Economic Thinking.
Convenors: Christina Mosalagae (University of Turin, Italy), Nikhilesh Sinha (Hult International Business School, UK) & Vanessa Villanueva (University of Illinois, USA & Roma Tre University, Italy)