• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.1-35
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• 2013

The aim of this article is to criticize the discourses and practices of the appropriate technology for international development cooperation in Korea which focus narrowly on the technologies and are oriented to the providers of technologies. To present an alternative, we will discuss the appropriate technology by the insights from 'socio-technical system' studies which underline not only technological side but also the social, institutional and user's side, and analyze the interactions between them. This research deals with several cases mainly regarding small scale's renewable energy from Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, Mongolia and Nepal. We put out some suggestions to improve the discourse and practices of appropriate technology in field of international cooperation by Korea.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.127-164
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• 2014

This essay examines the motivations, goals, and assumptions of those who are participating in the appropriate technology movement in contemporary South Korea. In addition to analyzing books, articles, presentation materials, and media reports written by or about the "appropriate technologists," I have interviewed a few of them to hear their thoughts on appropriate technologies as well as inappropriate technologies. They choose to work on appropriate technology out of their good will for people in need, their Christian faith, and their pride in Korea's rapid and successful development. As a result, the appropriate technology movement in Korea does not engage in a critical evaluation of current sociotechnical systems, but instead takes an ethical and paternalistic stance in accepting and improving the given situation. Its apolitical character is effective in drawing a large number of participants, but it also limits their imagination and the movement's potential influence. Moreover, the movement's focus on "the other 90%" leads the participants to frame appropriate technology as something for "them" or "locals" rather than as something for "all of us." This essay concludes by suggesting that the appropriate technology movement in Korea should expand its scope from an ethical pursuit of technology to a political engagement with technology.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2020

Recently, various discussions on appropriate technology have been conducted. In particular, as appropriate technology is attracting attention as a part of ODA, various academic discussions are actively conducted. However, the existing appropriate technology is merely disseminating technology, and most of it disappears. Therefore, it is necessary to change from appropriate technology to appropriate social technology system. To this end, this note examines the background of the birth of appropriate technology and the BoP business, which has produced best practices that are successful in improving the quality of life of low-income people. We also look at the facilitator's role in playing a key role in connecting appropriate technology and BoP business. Based on this, we propose an Appropriate New Technology Protocol 2.0 that combines appropriate technology and BoP business.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2021

The research topics of the appropriate technology include environment, medical, education, and energy etc. Therefore, having a review on appropriate technology requires huge efforts of specialists from many difference research areas. Social network analysis has been applied to understand the relationships among the components in the network and to provide insights by visualizing the huge network having many components. In this study, the co-authors and their research topics at the international conference on appropriate technology (ICAT) held by Academic Society for Appropriate Technology (ASAT) from 2017 to 2019 were analyzed using the statistical and visualization tools. The networks between co-authors were analyzed using the pretreated data which were collected from ASAT. The annual trend or characteristics of the general information on ICAT were also analyzed.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.225-234
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• 2021

The purpose of this paper is to examine commercialization model of appropriate technology through the case of the Lao-Korea Science and Technology Center (LKSTC). LKSTC has developed washing, water treatment, and sterilization technology in the agrifood sector and three types of pico-hydro generator, Pico-solar hybrid system, and energy remote monitoring technology in the renewable energy sector. Commercialization of appropriate technology was successfully carried out through the establishment of Kaipan community business, school enterprises, and social enterprise. The policy implications are as follows. First, the commercialization of appropriate technology in developing countries should enhance the linkage with the regional development policies of the recipient countries. Second, in order to minimize market risk, innovative technology development and local startup networks should be properly established. Finally, the mid and long term efforts are needed to increase the sustainability of the business.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2021

Scientists and engineers without borders (SEWB) was established on 2009 as the NGO having specialist groups to support the underprivileged in developing countries living in the isolated area and having water and sanitation problems. After the SDGs were suggested by the UN on 2016, activities are globally conducted by the nation, NGO and etc. to improve health and education of the underprivileged in developing countries. SEWB also have been conducted the projects in Korea and developing countries to reduce the gap of the infrastructure between the developed and developing countries and to help sustainable development in the developing countries by providing appropriate technology. In Korea, SEWB have been held international conference on appropriate technology (ICAT), lectures, and competitions for specialists and students. In developing countries including Cambodia and other 5 countries, SEWB have been provided water packages funded by iCOOP KOREA and volunteer opportunities. Since 2019, 'SEWB sustainable village development project' have been conducted in Bot Veng village, Cambodia to improve infrastructures on water, electricity, transportation, and agriculture by using desalination system, Solar Cow system, strengthened wooden bridge, and poultry farm, respectively. The developed solution for developing countries from SEWB could contribute to eliminate the water shortage and poverty.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2019

Most of the BoP (Base of the Pyramid) do not have the economic power to eat balanced nutrients. Therefore, the solution is to add essential nutrients to the food you eat. This method can improve nutrition without putting an economic burden on the BoP classes. The aim of the paper is to apply the strategic management process for analysing BoP solutions in nutrition improvement sector. This allows identification of critical aspects in developing BoP solutions. This includes reaching sustainability related objectives. Two cases (Ajinomoto, Grameen Danone) covering both products and services have been researched, allowing a contribution towards the applicability of strategic management in respective situations. In this study, we analyzed the case through the "Appropriate Technology 2.0" framework of Polak and Warwick (2014). In addition, we introduced the strategy of BoP business. Based on the results of this analysis, we analyzed the success factors of appropriate technology business in the emerging markets through the 4A model.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.141-151
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• 2023

Traditional ODA to North Korea (NK) has been unsustainable and politically contentious. This study proposes the design of appropriate technology (AT) as an alternative. We identified NK residents' urgent needs and global AT instances, and classified data by Maslow's hierarchy of needs. As electricity and potable water were identified as primary needs, suitable AT cases were selected. Given NK's extreme isolation, collaborative AT practices with local residents are unfeasible. Therefore we propose a new AT adoption model customized to NK, which emphasizes community-level adoption. We proposed a solar charging station for cooperative farms, a re-design of an AT previously utilized in Africa, and tailored it to fit our proposed model. The study's significance lies in its novel AT adoption model for NK's unique social fabric and the proposition of a specific design case, thus transcending previous relevant studies exploring AT's potential for NK.

• Journal of Appropriate Technology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.103-114
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• 2020

Appropriate technology could be viewed in light of the framework of public diplomacy in which different countries and peoples interact with the environment and demand of residents in developing countries abroad. Korea has been relatively recently participating in public diplomacy since the effectuation of public diplomacy law in 2016, and tends to focus on cultural areas such as the Korean Wave. In this regard, this study compares the current state of public diplomacy in science and technology with major foreign countries and consider Korea's strengths, potential for development and evaluation management. The framework of public diplomacy may provide an opportunity to seek systemic cooperation in appropriate technology.

• Science & Technology Policy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2014