Episodes
-
In this episode of Innovation Matters, we delve into the complex interplay between government policies, market dynamics, and transformative innovation with Dr. Anders Kärnä. As we navigate through the nuances of economic development and public policy, Dr. Kärnä offers a critical analysis on how governments can either foster or hinder innovation through industrial policies. Drawing from historical examples and current economic theories, this episode explores the delicate balance between governmental intervention and market freedom that underpins successful innovation ecosystems worldwide.
-
Sustainability is a pressing concern in the fashion and textile industry.
In this episode of “The UN Forest Podcast”, host Samata Pattinson is joined by Åsa Degerman, Ben Selby and Carlo Covini to discuss the transformative role of forests and new technologies in making fashion more sustainable and circular.
------------------------------------------------------------------
About the UN Forest Podcast
The UN Forest Podcast is a series produced by the Joint UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section to showcase that the potential of forests goes beyond trees. Each episode features special guests and speakers who bring insights on forests as our strongest allies in fighting climate change and creating a sustainable future now and for generations to come.
The views expressed in this episode are those of the individuals involved and should not be interpreted as endorsements by the United Nations, its affiliated organizations, its officials or Member States.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Credits:
Samata Pattinson, CEO of BLACK PEARL
Åsa Degerman, Project Manager at OnceMore®
Ben Selby, CFO and Deputy CEO of Spinnova
Carlo Covini, Project Manager Marketing Textiles at Lenzing
Nicola Sangs, Editor and Producer
Paola Deda, Director, Forests, Land and Housing Division of UNECE
Audio credits:
“vintage jingle”
Licensor: SETUNIMAN
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/156019/
“Atmo – Noise”
Licensor: SIMBERTOB
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/people/SimbertoB/sounds/186597/
“Chill Background Music”
Licensor: ZHRØ
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/people/ZHR%C3%98/sounds/584430/
“Chill Background Music”
Licensor: Seth_Makes_Sounds
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/people/Seth_Makes_Sounds/sounds/670039/ -
Missing episodes?
-
In this episode of Innovation Matters, we delve into the relationship between capitalism, innovation, and societal progress with Dr. Rainer Zitelmann.
Through a historical lens and contemporary examples, this episode explores how capitalist dynamics have fostered technological breakthroughs, economic development, and contributed to improved standards of living for billions globally. -
In this episode, we delve into the question of why certain countries excel in innovation while others, with similar resources, do not achieve the same level of success. In conversation with Dr. Mark Zachary Taylor of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Innovation Matters sheds light on the complex factors beyond institutions and policies that drive national innovation strategies.
-
In the previous episode of Innovation Matters on the industrial revolution with Professor Emma Griffin, we explored how innovative dynamism changed our word radically in a process still going on today. This second episode explores what life was like for the working class. Often maligned as squalid and dehumanizing, Emma Griffin delves into a range of autobiographies telling a different, much more nuanced story of optimism, perspectives, and dynamism.
-
In the mid-18th Century, the modern economy started to take shape. While limited to the invention of the factory system and the boom in the textile sector for the first decades, the Industrial Revolution brought unprecedented social and economic changes. Marking, in the words of prominent historian Eric Hobsbawn, “the most fundamental transformation of human life in the history of the world”, the innovative dynamism and legacy the industrial revolution created is alive and well today. In this episode of Innovation Matters, Professor Emma Griffin explains what prompted and upheld the industrial revolution and the innovative dynamism it paved the way for – and what we can learn from history on how to sustain innovative dynamism today and in the future.
Emma Griffin is professor of modern British history at the University of East Anglia and President of the Royal Historical Society. -
In this episode of Innovation Matters, we expand on the previous conversation with Adam Thierer, Senior Research Fellow with the R. Street Institute’s technology and innovation team, about the present and future of regulation in an era of unprecedented innovation. In Part 2, our focus is on the contemporary landscape of legislation, and the balance between permissionless innovation and effective governance. As the pace of technological advancement accelerates, we explore the challenge of reconciling rapid change with the traditional pace of legislation, particularly in the context of digitization.
-
Scientific and technological innovations frequently put the spotlight on the laws that govern them. In this episode of Innovation Matters, Professor Robin Feldman explains why the protection of invention arrangements can cause trouble and, in many ways, end up acting as a disincentive to innovation.
The very nature of inventions makes them impossible to describe unambiguously for all time. When something is so new that we do not understand yet how it works, what it can do, or how it could be applied - as is often the case in biotechnology - description is necessarily slippery. Instead of hoping for clear boundaries, Professor Robin Feldman urges lawmakers to focus on what the law can do well: craft rules that anticipate the bargaining that will occur as rights unfold. -
In this episode of Innovation Matters, we explore the intricate dynamics of regulation and innovation with Adam Thierer, Senior Research Fellow with the R. Street Institute’s technology and innovation team. He discusses the evolution of 'permissionless innovation' and its influence on past, present, and future technological progress. Drawing insights from his book "Permissionless Innovation: The Continuing Case for Comprehensive Technological Freedom", we embark on a journey to understand how various advancements have flourished without restrictions and impacted the technologies we rely on today.
-
In this episode, Innovation Matters discusses how converging technologies are transforming business, industries, and our lives, with award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, and Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective, Steven Kotler. Our exploration takes us into the heart of how technologies could reshape our lives fundamentally and drive societal and economic transformative innovation.
-
Forest fires are an important part of a healthy ecosystem, but have gotten out of control in recent years. Why are wildfires getting bigger, more intense and lasting longer than ever before?
In this episode of The UN Forest Podcast, Prof. Jesús San Miguel Ayanz joins Jodi-Ann Wang to dive deep into current and future wildfire trends and the role every one of us has in shaping the way forward.
An episode by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
About the UN Forest Podcast
The UN Forest Podcast is a series produced by the Joint UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section to showcase that the potential of forests goes beyond trees. Each episode features special guests and speakers who bring insights on forests as our strongest allies in fighting climate change and creating a sustainable future now and for generations to come.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Credits
Jodi-Ann Wang, Host and leader of the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network
Prof. Jesús San Miguel Ayanz, Leader of the European Forest Fire Information System and the Global Wildfire Information System
Nicola Sangs, Editor and Producer
Paola Deda, Director of the Forests, Land and Housing Division at UNECE
Audio credits
"Vintage jingle"
Licensor: SETUNIMAN
Link & creative commons license details: freesound.org/s/156019/
"Beautiful ambient melody"
Licensor: PATRICK LIEBERKIND
Link & creative commons license details: freesound.org/s/341541/
"54bpm Lazy Summer Loop A2"
Licensor: NLUX
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/622087/
"Atmo - Noise"
Licensor: SIMBERTOB
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/people/SimbertoB/sounds/186597/
"Floating In The Midnight Breeze"
Licensor: FOOLBOYMEDIA
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/332323/
"Firefighting Helicopter with Siren"
Licensor: EMIN YILDRIM
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/536928/
"Fire_Forest_Inferno"
Licensor: DYNAMICELL
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/17548/ -
The future of sustainable building is also one of the oldest construction materials around: wood.
In this episode of “The UN Forest Podcast”, Ms. Nyasha Harper-Michon, architect and activist, “archtivist”, and Ms. Sandra Frank, co-founder of Arvet, discuss the advantages of low-carbon, wood construction.
An episode by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
------------------------------------------------------------------
About the UN Forest Podcast
The UN Forest Podcast is a series produced by the Joint UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section to showcase that the potential of forests goes beyond trees. Each episode features special guests and speakers who bring insights on forests as our strongest allies in fighting climate change and creating a sustainable future now and for generations to come.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Credits
Nyasha Harper-Michon, Architect and activist
Sandra Frank, co-founder of Arvet
Nicola Sangs, Editor and Producer
Florian Steierer, Economic Affairs officer at the Joint UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section
Audio credits
"Vintage jingle"
Licensor: SETUNIMAN
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/156019/
"Beautiful ambient melody"
Licensor: PATRICK LIEBERKIND
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/341541/
"Free Uplifting Music"
Licensor: Seth Makes Sounds
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/670819/
"Carpentry - sawing timber with handsaw stereo"
Licensor: abcopen
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/164275/
"Carpentry - hammering nail stereo"
Licensor: abcopen
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/164208/
"roofhammering04"
Licensor: WIM
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/25063/ -
In this episode of Innovation Matters, we embark on an exploration of "Automation and Utopia: Human Flourishing in a World Without Work" with Dr. John Danner, senior lecturer in law at the University of Galway, Ireland.
As we contemplate questions around human obsolescence in the face of automation, we question the potential for a utopian future. In this thought-provoking discussion, he invites us to envision a world where work as we know it will cease to exist and discusses the implications for humanity. -
This episode of Innovation Matters takes a journey in intellectual archeology with Prof. Philip Auerswald of the George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government.
Drawing from his books The Coming Prosperity and The Code Economy, and nearly three decades of research relating to entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation on a global scale, Prof. Auerswald shines a light upon the microstructure of long-term societal development.
Prof. Auerswald is the founder and co-editor of Innovations journal, published by MIT Press. He is also the founding board chair and president of the National Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, located in Washington, DC. Previously, he lectured at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, where he also acted as assistant director of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program. Prof. Auerswald holds a PhD in economics from the University of Washington and a BA in political science from Yale University. -
Forests are one of the solutions to the climate crisis but are also under pressure from climate change itself. What are the strategies to face this complex reality?
In this episode of The UN Forest Podcast, Michelle Yeoh, 2023 Oscar-winning actress and Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is joined by Professor Almut Arneth, Coordinating Lead Author of the IPCC Special Report on land and climate change, to explore the unique relationship between forests and climate change.
An episode by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
------------------------------------------------------------------
About the UN Forest Podcast
The UN Forest Podcast is a series produced by the Joint UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section to showcase that the potential of forests goes beyond trees. Each episode features special guests and speakers who bring insights on forests as our strongest allies in fighting climate change and creating a sustainable future now and for generations to come.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Credits:
Michelle Yeoh, 2023 Oscar-winning actress and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador
Prof. Almut Arneth, Coordinating Lead Author of the IPCC Special Report on land and climate change
Nicola Sangs, Editor and Producer
Roman Michalak, Economic Affairs officer at the Joint UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section
Illustration by Shuyue Li
Audio credits
'Vintage jingle'
Licensor: SETUNIMAN
Link & creative commons license details: freesound.org/s/156019/
'Atmo - Noise'
Licensor: SIMBERTOB
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/people/SimbertoB/sounds/186597/
'A MINIMALIST AND EMOTIVE PIANO MELODY FOR RELAXATION'
Licensor: KJARTAN ABEL NOIR
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/people/kjartan_abel/sounds/610678/
"Beautiful ambient melody'
Licensor: PATRICK LIEBERKIND
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/341541/ -
In the past decade, there has been a notable rise in government intervention aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. While some governments were successful in adopting innovation policies to support entrepreneurial activity, others have fallen short.
In this episode, Innovation Matters invites Prof. Josh Lerner, Jacob H. Schiff Professor at Harvard Business School and Co-Director of the HBS Private Capital Project, to explore the historical landscape of government policies and critically analyze their impact on promoting innovation, identifying both positive and negative effects along the way. -
As cities and communities around the world scale up efforts to cut emissions and prevent dangerous climate change impacts, one area that is often overlooked is trees and forests.
In this episode of The UN Forest Podcast, urban forester Prof. Cecil Konijnendijk joins Architect Stefano Boeri to help us understand why we need to bring nature back into our cities and how we can do so.
About the UN Forest Podcast:
We tend to take forests for granted, underestimating how indispensable they are for everyone on the planet.
Each episode of The UN Forest Podcast features special guests and speakers who bring you insights on forests as our strongest allies in fighting climate change and creating a sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.
Whether you are a forest expert, city planner, passionate about nature or simply an interested citizen, The UN Forest Podcast will inform, inspire and make you realize that the potential of forests goes beyond trees. We all are rooted in forests.
For a deeper dive and additional resources visit: https://unece.org/Forests/UrbanAction#accordion_1_3
The UN Forest Podcast is brought to you by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Credits:
Architect Stefano Boeri, Host
Prof. Cecil Konijnendijk, Urban forester
Nicola Sangs, Editor and Producer
Liliana Annovazzi-Jakab, Chief of the Joint UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section
Illustration by Shuyue Li
Audio credits:
'Vintage jingle'
Licensor: SETUNIMAN
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/156019/
'Beautiful ambient melody'
Licensor: PATRICK LIEBERKIND
Link & license details: https://freesound.org/s/341541/
'City ambiance in a residential area'
Licensor: FELIX BLUME
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/667323/
'Construction Site'
Licensor: KLANGBEELD
Link & creative commons license details: https://freesound.org/s/348624/ -
Cities are primary centres of consumption of energy and materials, but at the same time offer an opportunity to manage resources efficiently and in innovative ways. As such, Cities can play a key role in driving the circular economy agenda forward, and many are doing just that.
In this episode of "One World Zero Waste? The Circular Economy Explained", we hear about the role of local governments in experimenting with circular economy approaches, with insights from Sofie Bracke, Deputy Mayor for Economy, Trade, and Port of the city of Ghent in Belgium. UNECE's Gulnara Roll also shares perspectives on cicularity challenges and opportunities in cities across the pan-European region and highlights the role of the United Nations in supporting concrete efforts in urban areas. -
How has our life improved though innovation? How has innovation occurred throughout history? How can policies be crafted to encourage innovative entrepreneurs to bring us more innovation? To guide us with these questions, Innovation Matters welcomes Professor Arthur Diamond to discuss his book "Openness to Creative Destruction: Sustaining Innovative Dynamism". In this podcast, which is the first of 3 episodes, he will start taking us through a narrative of human progress through creative destruction, or innovative dynamism, and its benefits. He demonstrates how such dynamism is far from inevitable, and the factors that, then and now, hold back its potential.
Arthur Diamond studied philosophy and economics at the University of Chicago, where he also was a Post-Doctoral Fellow with Nobel laureate Gary Becker. After Chicago, he was on the faculty at The Ohio State University and is now Professor of Economics at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Professor Arthur Diamond wrote the script for “Frank Knight and the Chicago School” in the Great Economic Thinkers series. His “Innovation Unbound” policy brief from the Mercatus Center argues entrepreneurship flourishes when regulations are few and “Innovative Dynamism Allows All to Flourish” article on Oxford University Press’s blog argues that entrepreneurial capitalism most benefits the poor and unprivileged. He is a member of the Mont Pelerin Society, a Fellow at the Adam Smith Institute, and a Senior Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research. -
Over the past decades, countries in the Pan-European region and North America have made significant efforts towards strengthening sustainable growth. However, the region is not on track to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)by 2030.
Innovation is therefore needed to accelerate progress, helping to find solutions to ensure people's wellbeing while managing finite resources and preserving the environment. As a result, there is growing momentum around concepts such as mission orientation, directionality, and the entrepreneurial state - all intended to support a sustainable transformation of our societies.
To better understand the nature of transformative innovation and its importance for sustainable development, Innovation Matters shares insights from Barbara Diehl, Chief Partnership Officer at the German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND), which was created to look for new answers to the social, ecological, and economic challenges of our time. - Show more
