Topicality of Jean-Jacques Salomon’s Theory: STS and Innovation

• In Event: Is STS an Innovation Discipline? Bridging Critique and Practice

Abstract

Science historian and philosopher, J.-J. Salomon built the teaching of STS in France, at Cnam, where he founded the Chair "Technology and Society" Chair in 1978. In the same period, he set up the STS Research Center in Paris. His role as Head of the Science and Technology Policy Division at the OECD was instrumental in helping to inform governments about the innovation as competition between states during a period where it was a leitmotif. This proposal aims to shed light on J.-J. Salomon's theory of innovation, based on a research program carried out by the HT2S laboratory about the topicality of its thinking in the current international practice of STS. Supported by the HT2S laboratory, the Center of Archives in Philosophy, History and Edition of Sciences (CAPHES) and the Francilien Research Innovation Society Institute (IFRIS), this research program began in January 2018 and has to bring together researchers from around the world on the issue of the evolution of innovation in STS area.
Through the analysis of archives on the development of STS, it is firstly a question of grasping the past stakes of innovation in order to confront them with the current thinking patterns of STS. How has innovation gone through different periods of scientific research in France? Secondly, it is a question of understanding what were the stumbling blocks faced by research and innovation that is now being questioned, particularly in its relations with society.

Authors

• Saliha Hadna-Breman, Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers de Paris (Cnam Paris)

• Jean-Claude Ruano-Borbalan, CNAM (National Art & Craft Conservatory) Paris