This blog accompanies the research project Manufacturing Practices of Medical Instruments in Innovation Clusters: A Comparative Study of Tuttlingen, Sialkot, and Samsun (acronym: MediCluster), funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – 551920228 with a total grant of > €752K (Principal Investigator: Dr. Melike Şahinol). MediCluster examines the production and innovation of medical instruments in three global innovation clusters: Tuttlingen (Germany), Sialkot (Pakistan), and Samsun (Türkiye). It focuses on the interactions between local production practices, digital transformation processes, and global innovation dynamics within regional innovation cultures. In doing so, it will also answer the question of how the global division of labor, value chain, and political economy shape and influence the development of medical instrument manufacturing and innovation practices. The project integrates perspectives from Science and Technology Studies (STS), the sociology of work and organizations, and innovation research.
Objectives of the Blog
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- Science Communication for a Broader Audience
The blog addresses not only academics but also industry professionals, policymakers, and the general public, making knowledge on regional innovation cultures, production techniques, and technological developments accessible. - Scientific Documentation
The blog serves as a platform to document key insights from the MediCluster project, providing glimpses into ethnographic and qualitative research processes, as well as theoretical and methodological reflections. - Dissemination of Publications and Materials
Relevant project publications, conference contributions, and visual materials—such as photos from meetings, presentations, fieldwork in the three innovation clusters—are shared. - Facilitation of Interdisciplinary Exchange
Fostering discussions among scholars from Science and Technology Studies (STS), sociology of work and organizations, and innovation research by sharing research findings. - Raising Awareness of Global Value Chains
The impact of global labor division and political economy on medical instrument manufacturing is highlighted, along with its social and technological implications.
- Science Communication for a Broader Audience