The Founder

The Founder

Smita Srinivas specializes in economic development with a unique combination of recognised scholarly as well as practical impact. She works in economic theory and public policy with advisory experience in practical aspects of economic development, technological innovation, and industrial policy (see short list of engagements below).

Dr./Prof. Srinivas is the recipient of the Joan Robinson Prize (formerly Myrdal Prize) in 2015 by the European Association for Evolutionary Political Economy (EAEPE) and the 2021 Clarence E. Ayres Scholar recognition from the Association for Evolutionary Economics (AFEE) for contributions to institutional and evolutionary economics.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

With a Ph.D. from MIT in economic development and technology planning, Srinivas has held Professor, Fellow, Visiting and Honorary Faculty appointments in the world’s leading universities and across economics and other development policy and planning schools: these include at Columbia University, Harvard University, the Open University UK, the London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London, NCBS-TIFR, the Indian Institute of Science, and think tanks.

She has a reputation for commitment to problem-solving and development improvements, building ethical, high-quality research partnerships and providing advice with integrity.

Select 2020-‘24 roles include:

  • Member of 2 working groups of Gateway House’s G20 Energy and Climate Finance Task Force as India assumed the G20 Presidency in 2023;
  • Research Advisory Council, The George Institute for Global Health, India;
  • Research and Innovation Council, MS Ramaiah University for Applied Sciences;
  • Co-Chair, Task Force for Global Health and Covid-19, Italy-led T20 (‘Think20’) in G20 consultations;
  • Expert Committee Member, Government of Karnataka (India) Evaluation Authority and other technical committees for the state, (pop. 60 million +);
  • Co-organiser for the successful global Future of Economics workshop.
  • Expert, ILO research project on social capabilities for new technologies, innovation and job creation in South Africa.
  • Industrial Development Expert, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, on COVID-19 and its consequences for the IDR 2022;
  • India lead at the NCBS-TIFR for the ESRC-funded OU-led Innovation for Cancer Care in Africa project across Tanzania, Kenya, UK, and India;
  • Scientific Expert for the Sanofi RISE deliberations on polio immunisation;
  • Reviewer for the UN TAP and Cambridge University Working Group on Diagnostics & Local Production.
  • REPE Prize Committee and International Advisory Board, European Association for Evolutionary Political Economy.
  • Editor, Journal of Innovation and Development.
  • Reviewer for several journals on Science, Technology, Public Policy, Planning, Administration, Economics, Innovation, Development.

With economics training especially from a policy and planning perspective, and prior mathematics and physics, Srinivas comfortably bridges disciplines and professions, leading and working within multidisciplinary teams to frame and solve pressing social problems. She is sought after by CEOs, Directors, government agencies, research teams, executive search firms, consulting companies, and multilateral agencies on diverse technology and transformation perspectives. She has long-standing experience working with think-tanks and those where geopolitical and industry and economic development perspectives are needed.

Universities are an intellectual base and advisory terrain. As a higher education advisor, director or chair in multiple countries, she has designed or led economic development programs with a sustainability focus. She speaks frequently to university communities and to students.

From Cancer to Covid-19: Can innovation be directed?

In 2020-’24 Smita Srinivas has been invited to deliver keynote, conference plenary, or other lectures in the UK, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and in India. She frequently speaks to audiences from economics, policy and planning, public health, natural sciences, other social sciences and the humanities, law, engineering, business and management.

No development issue would be realistic or dynamic without even wider debate. She has often been invited to panels, seminars, informal groups, or public events with administrators, mayors and governors, political