On March 1, 2016, Alistair Nolan, leader of the “Next Production Revolution” (NPR) project at OECD, paid a visit to CASTED. The seminar was chaired by Liu Feng and attended by relevant research personnel from CASTED Institute of Science and Technology for Industrial Development, Institute of Foresight and Evaluation, Institute of Rural and Regional Development and Institute of Science, Technology and Society.

Alistair Nolan holds a M.Phil. from Cambridge University in the Economics and Politics of Development. He currently serves at the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, where he focuses on public policies to foster innovation. At the seminar, Alistair Nolan gave a presentation on “Enabling the Next Production Revolution” by way of introducing the “Next Production Revolution” project he leads, with the focus on analyzing the potential impact of emerging technologies such as 3D printing, nanotechnology and digital technologies on innovation and employment, and new requirements on policy.

In the subsequent discussions, Alistair Nolan and other attendees exchanged views on related subjects including disruptive innovation rules, technology forecasting, re-industrialization of developed countries, and the role of government in commercialization.