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Research

The Open University's ground-breaking research in international development explores how new knowledge and innovation can contribute to inclusive and sustainable development.

Our research themes

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Health, Innovation and Equity

Innovation in science and industry profoundly affects health systems and access to health care and medicines. Yet research on innovation is very poorly integrated with research on health equity. IKD: Innovation, Knowledge and Development works to bridge this gap, investigating the interconnections between innovation and health equity, and generating new knowledge for policy.
Rising Asia

The pace and significance of China's rise has implications for both traditional and emerging powers, as well as for developing countries. Rising Powers Network is a a new network that will place China as the new 'shaper' of global development under the ESRC's Rising Power's Programme.
Finance, Innovation and Equity

Innovation is the fundamental engine of growth, employment and better quality of life. Yet, whether we look at it from the point of view of income distribution, welfare effects, quality of life, scientific advances, or sheer profitability, we observe that such advantages are unevenly distributed.
Bio-energy and 'green-tech'

In the UK policy context, the transition to a low-carbon economy is being envisaged through technological solutions which enhance the commercial use of knowledge in a competitive global market environment. IKD researchers work to identify the range of potential innovation pathways, as a basis to analyse variation, selection and retention of research priorities, generating policy relevant knowledge.
Human Capabilities

Human well-being is about more than income, it depends also on people's opportunities, on what they can be and do. IKD researchers are developing new ways of measuring human capabilities, influencing routine data collection on human wellbeing for policy purposes, and employing the concept of capabilities in new research.

Last updated: 10 January 2013

Research themes

International Development

The Open University has been committed to International Development for over twenty years. We are globally recognised for our teaching and pioneering research within the sector, and for driving innovation.

Visit the International Development Office (IDO) website to learn more…

Research

Our research themes

Health, Innovation and Equity

Rising Asia

Finance, Innovation and Equity

Bio-energy and 'green-tech'

Human Capabilities

Research themes

International Development