Call for Papers - Double Event: 'Platform Economies in India: Implementation, Impact, Infrastructure and Aptitude' and 'Digital Transactions in India'

19 Nov 2019

'Platform Economies in India: Implementation, Impact, Infrastructure and Aptitude'

IIT Bombay, Powhai
26-27th February 2020
Hosts:     
  • Centre for Policy Studies, IIT Bombay,
  • Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi,
  • Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities & School of Communication and Arts, The University of Queensland.
Sponsors:     
  • Ministry of Human Resource Development (Government of India) and The University of Queensland.

'Digital Transactions in India'

IIT Bombay, Powhai
28th February 2020
Hosts:     
  • Centre for Policy Studies, IIT Bombay
  • Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, The University of Queensland.
Sponsor:     
  • Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

 


'Platform Economies in India: Implementation, Impact, Infrastructure and Aptitude'

26-27th February 2020

In an era of network effects, the sheer size of India makes her platform economies central to the global digital economy. By contrast with other Asian states, India has neither signed up to be a 'taker' of global norms, nor excluded the interests of the major global technology companies. Nonetheless, at the policy level, India has yet to finalise a coherent set of regulatory or technical standards across this expanding sector. Consequently, the rapid expansion of digital platforms means that a comprehensive account of the social, cultural and economic implications of the digital economy for different regions and populations segments has yet to emerge. These range across critical questions of infrastructure, human rights, governance and public services, culture and consumption, business law, entrepreneurship and labour conditions, platform ownership and regulation, and in all these dimensions: equity and social justice.

We invite submissions for 20 minute papers exploring the following topics:

  • Digital Infrastructure and Ecosystem Development
  • Platform Business Models and Commercial Ecospheres
  • Digital Media Content and Services
  • Platform Labour and Regulation
  • Public Services and Digital India
  • Intellectual Property, Privacy and Law
  • Cyber-security, Surveillance and Human Rights
  • User Studies and Digital Cultures

The overarching aim of this 2 day conference will be to advance an inter-disciplinary debate on the social impact, cultural dynamics and economic potentials of platform business models in India. We invite applicants from across all disciplines in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Business and Law, Information Technology, Civil Engineering and Science.

The aim of this event is to bring together scholars from across India, and the University of Queensland is pleased to offer up to ten travel bursaries for participants from any part of India with accepted papers. We will give particular attention to supporting early career researchers pursuing cutting-edge research in the field.

Abstracts of 250-500 words should be submitted as a Microsoft Word Doc or Adobe PDF attachment to: a.athique@uq.edu.au under the subject line 'Platform Economies in India' before the deadline of 22nd December 2019. If you wish to apply for a travel bursary, please indicate this in your submission.

Notification of successful papers (and bursaries) will be given by 15th January 2020.

Organising Committee:
  • Shishir K. Jha (Centre for Policy Studies, IIT Bombay)
  • Adrian Athique (Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, University of Queensland).
  • Vigneswara Ilavarasan (Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi)
  • Pradip Thomas (School of Communication and Arts, University of Queensland)
  • Scott Fitzgerald (School of Business, Curtin University)

 


'Digital Transactions in India'

28th February 2020

The shift to digital transactions is at the heart of plans for India's digital economy, being central to the operation of digital platforms in the private sector and to the public sector vision of Digital India. Since India joined the G20 Better than Cash Alliance in 2015, major investments and interventions have been made in the digital payments sector. Since the seismic shock of demonetisation in November 2016, the digital payments sector has continued to grow and evolve across a range of formats and services. Nonetheless, there are significant and continuing obstacles to realising the vision of a cashless India that is effective transparent and inclusive. Further, there are also critical material, social and cultural factors that impact upon the uptake and usage of digital payment platforms across India's diverse population and geography. The evolution of India's digital transactions architecture is absolutely central to ensuring that the digital switchover yields equitable social and economic benefits, and that platform business models achieve trajectories of sustainable growth.

At this one day plenary event, we invite submissions from leading academics, industry researchers, public bodies, engineers and start up entrepreneurs working in the broad field of FinTech and digital transactions in India. Our scheduled plenary panels will include:

  • Development Aims and Innovation in Digital Payments
  • Innovation in FinTech
  • Regulation and Public Interest in the FinTech Ecosystem
  • Technology and Infrastructure for Digital Transactions
  • Social and Cultural Aspects of Digital Transactions in India
  • International Collaboration and Trans-Territoriality in Digital Transactions
  • Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Algorithmic Culture

Speakers from business, academia, government or NGOs wishing to join any of the scheduled plenary sessions should provide a short abstract of 200 words identifying the panel they wish to join and their area of interest, along with a 1 page profile of their organisation and activity in this area, and a 200 word personal bio. Speakers wishing to take part in follow up events in Australia in May 2020 should also indicate their interest and availability.

Expressions of Interest for the plenary sessions should be submitted to a.athique@uq.edu by the deadline of 15th December 2019. Notification of selection for the plenary panels will be provided by the 15th January 2020.

Travel funding for this event is available for speakers from start up businesses in the FinTech sector in either India or Australia. To discuss participation and funding, please contact Adrian Athique directly at the The University of Queensland.

Organising Committee:

Adrian Athique (Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, The University of Queensland).
Shishir K. Jha (Centre for Policy Studies, IIT Bombay)
Anush Kapadia (Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Bombay)
Harindrinath Ramaswami (University of New South Wales)

 


Event Registration:

Registration for participants in both events is free, and gives access to both events. Registration for non-speakers is also free of charge, and a registration portal will be made available in December 2019 via EventBrite. Audience numbers for 'Digital Transactions in India' are strictly limited to 200, so please book attendance as early as possible.

Venue and accommodation
 

 

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