Fields of Expertise & Research Interests

Ruth's research is at the interface of policies, law and regulations of science, technology and innovation (STI) and sustainable development. This includes the wide spectrum of regulations and policies related to systems of innovation in the global South, particularly intellectual property law and intellectual property policy processes, emerging technologies and law, science, technology and innovation in global politics and multi-level governance as well as South-South and North-South science and technology cooperation.

Ruth Knoblich joined the IEE as a research fellow in May 2013. She is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Bonn since 2016, Associated Ph.D. IDS student at the IEE, and associated researcher at the Intellectual Property (IP) Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa, where she spent a research period of 16 months (2017/2018) as a scholar financed by the European Commission.

Since December 2019 Ruth works as a researcher and DAAD lecturer at the South African partner institutes of the South African-German Centre for Development Research: the Institute for Social Development (ISD) and the School of Government (SoG) at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.

Ruth studied in Bonn, Berlin and Madrid, and holds a Masters Degree in Political Science, History and Philosophy as well as two degrees in Medicine. Ruth teaches and supervises students regularly at the Institute for Social Development, South African – German Centre for Development Research, University of the Western Cape, at the IEE, and at the Institute for Political Science and Sociology (IPWS) in Bonn. Previously, she worked as a research and student assistant at the IPWS in Bonn as well as at the Center for European Integration Studies (ZEI). Ruth is founding member of the Research Group on "Rising Knowledge-Powers" at the Center for Global Studies, Bonn University. 

PhD Project

Rising Middle-IP Powers: National Interests and International Influence. South Africa as a Case Study

Academia and the public have long been focusing on the North/South power asymmetries in the international Intellectual Property (IP) regime. Two decades after the WTO/TRIPS Agreement, it is now becoming obvious that emerging economies are carving new paths therein. On the national level, the research investigates the changing patterns of interest in safeguarding IP in those countries, their use (and sometimes their test of the boundaries) of the TRIPS flexibilities, and asks how governments make up their decisions when it comes to the design of IP in the post-TRIPS period. The national design of IP poses a major challenge for emerging economies. Despite rapid economic growth and technological development, social inequality and poverty rates remain being high, despite an overall advanced level of innovation capabilities, the innovation landscape is highly heterogeneous, and similar to the majority of countries in the global South, emerging economies bring in specific forms of knowledge and types of innovation  – e.g. traditional knowledge, forms of collaborative innovation and informal sector innovation – that are differnt to those underpinning the existing international IP system. Governments are thus facing a huge variety of demands and needs concerning the level and scope of IP protection, and find themselves in a thicket of policies with partly competitive development goals at the same time. On the international level, the thesis analyses how emerging economies not only modify the existing regulations but exert structural influence and profound changes in the international IP system.

It is only recently that studies begun pointing at China, Brazil, and India as rising middle IP-powers. Nevertheless, despite the fact that they teamed up with South Africa within their alliances as BRICS or IBSA countries, and explicitly cooperate with their “junior partner” in the fields of IP, research has not really approached South Africa with comparable analysis so far. However, South Africa is a special and interesting case with regards to the objectives of the study. The country is currently about to finalize its first strategic IP policy and to set up comprising IP reforms. On the international level the country is getting more visible in the last years – not only as a partner of the BRICS but also as a heavy weight on the African continent. Taking South Africa as a single case study, this research focuses on the three IP relevant fields: pharmaceutical innovations, genetic resources and traditional knowledge, renewable energy technology.


Supervisors:

Prof. Dr. Tilman Mayer, University of Bonn

Prof. Dr. Tobias Schoenwetter, University of Cape Town

Publications

Monographs & Edited Books

(2017) Die globale Regulierung geistiger Eigentumsrechte. Interessen, Strategien und Einfluss Brasiliens, Indiens und Chinas. Wiesbaden: Springer VS.

(2014) The Global Politics of Science and Technology Vol. 1 - Concepts from International Relations and Other Disciplines. Heidelberg: Springer Publishing, edited with Maximilian Mayer and Mariana Carpes

(2014) The Global Politics of Science and Technology Vol. 2 - Cases, Perspectives, and Methods. Heidelberg: Springer Publishing, edited with Maximilian Mayer and Mariana Carpes 

Articles & Chapters

(2019) Book Review: 'Knowledge and Global Power: Making New Sciences in the South' by Fran Collyer, Raewyn Connell, João Maia and Robert Morrell, Johannesburg, South Africa: Wits University Press 2019. First published by Monash University Pubishing, Clayton, Australia 2018, 217 pp. European Journal of Risk Regulation. https://doi.org/10.1017/err.2019.57.

(2018) Rising Middle-IP Powers dissolving the North/South polarization in the international IP system, blog article on the IP Unit's blog-website, April 2018, together with Dr. Tobias Schoenwetter.

(2015) Theory Talk #68: Loet Leydesdorff on the Triple Helix: How Synergies in University-Industry-Government Relations can Shape Innovation Systems, March 11, 2015.

(2015) Theory Talk #67: Dirk Messner on the dynamics of global change and the significance of international science and technology cooperation in the post-Western world, January 30, 2015. 

(2014) The Global Politics of Science and Technology: An Introduction. In: Maximilian Mayer, Mariana Carpes, and Ruth Knoblich (eds.): The Global Politics of Science and Technology Vol. 1 - Concepts from International Relations and Other Disciplines. Heidelberg: Springer Verlag, pp. 1-35, with Maximilian Mayer and Mariana Carpes.

(2014) A Toolbox for Studying the Global Politics of Science and Technology. In: Maximilian Mayer, Mariana Carpes, and Ruth Knoblich (eds.): The Global Politics of Science and Technology Vol. 2 – Cases, Perspectives and Methods. Heidelberg: Springer Verlag 2014, pp. 1-17, with Maximilian Mayer and Mariana Carpes.

(2014) The Triple Helix, the Complexity of Technological Innovations, and the Decomposition of National Innovation Systems. An Interview with Loet Leydesdorff by Ruth Knoblich. In: Maximilian Mayer, Mariana Carpes, and Ruth Knoblich (eds.): The Global Politics of Science and Technology Vol. 1 - Concepts from International Relations and Other Disciplines. Heidelberg: Springer Verlag 2014, pp. 251-258.

(2014) The Role of Science and Technology in the Dynamics of Global Change and the Significance of International Knowledge Cooperation in the Post-Western World: An Interview with Dirk Messner by Ruth Knoblich. In: Maximilian Mayer, Mariana Carpes, and Ruth Knoblich (eds.): The Global Politics of Science and Technology Vol. 1 - Concepts from International Relations and Other Disciplines. Heidelberg: Springer Verlag 2014, pp. 267-273.

(2014) Hidden in Plain View: Exploring the Knowledge Power of States. In: Maximilian Mayer, Mariana Carpes, and Ruth Knoblich (eds.): The Global Politics of Science and Technology Vol. 2 – Cases, Perspectives and Methods. Heidelberg: Springer Verlag 2014, pp. 117-141, with Katharina Below, Sarah Herweg and Krystin Unverzagt.

(2012) Zum Schlüsselbegriff des Raumes, in: Tilman Mayer und Ludger Kühnhardt: Die Gestaltung der Globalität. Encyclopedia of Globality: Key Terms of Social Order, ZEI-Discussion Paper C 211, Bonn, together with Robert Meyer. (Download)

(2012) Der Aufstieg der BIC-Staaten als Wissensmächte. In: Zeitschrift für Politik 59 (1) 2012, pp. 3-23, with Katharina Below, Regina Bösl, Jan-Paul Franken, Sarah Herweg, Martin Krupp and Maximilian Mayer.

(2011) Der Nationalstaat im Globalisierungsprozess. In: Tilman Mayer/Robert Meyer/Lazaros Miliopoulos/Peter Ohly/Erich Weede: Globalisierung im Fokus von Politik, Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft. Eine Bestandsaufnahme, Wiesbaden: VS-Verlag, pp. 29-50, with Tilman Mayer.

(2011) Sind die BRIC-Staaten aufsteigende Wissensmächte? Herausforderungen für die deutsche Wissenspolitik, CGS-Discussion Paper 3, Bonn, with Katharina Below, Regina Bösl, Jan-Paul Franken, Sarah Herweg, Martin Krupp and Maximilian Mayer. (Download)

(2009) Deutscher Herbst 1989. 31. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Deutschlandforschung in Berlin. In: Deutschland Archiv: Zeitschrift für das vereinigte Deutschland 42 (3): 531-533.

(2008) Progress in Pacific EPA Negotiations, in: ZEI-Regional Integration Observer 2 (2): pp. 5f. (Download)

Presentations

(2013) "The Matter Of Knowledge Power: Theoretical Considerations And Global Empirical Evidence", First Berlin Forum On Global Politics 'This Is Not Global Politics! ... Or Is It?', April 18/19th, FU Berlin, together with Katharina Below, Sarah Herweg und Krystin Unverzagt)

(2011) "Chinas Strategien im internationalen System zum Schutz geistiger Eigentumsrechte", workshop 'Neues Machtzentrum? Chinas Rolle und Einfluss bei der Veränderung von internationalen Wirtschaftsstrukturen und -institutionen', November 3rd, Center for Global Studies, Bonn University

(2010) (with Robert Meyer:) "Zum Schlüsselbegriff des Raumes", Colloquium of the research project "Die Gestaltung der Globalität in Europa", Center for European Integration Studies (ZEI), Bonn University, December 6th

(2010) (with Maximilian Mayer:) "Lösungsansätze zur Entpolarisierung der globalen Wissensgovernance", Paper for the Young Researchers' Conference "Norms in Conflict" of the DFG-Cluster of Excellence "Normative Orders", Panel "Normative Conditions of International Knowledge Transfer", Frankfurt University, December 4th-5th

(2010) Die BRIC-Staaten als aufstrebende Wissensmächte? Einladung des Ausschusses für Bildung, Forschung und Technikfolgenabschätzung des Deutschen Bundestages, Berlin, July 8 2010, with CGS research group on "rising knowledge powers".

Teaching

(Winter Termn 2020/2021) Qualitative Research Methods, together with Dr. Anne Siebert, MA Seminar, MADM, IEE, Ruhr-University Bochum and South African-German Centre for Development Research, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town

(Winter Term 2020/2021) Institutions and Development, MA Seminar, MADM, IEE, Ruhr-University Bochum and South African-German Centre for Development Research, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town

(Second Semester 2020) Research Paper Writing, Module in Honours in Development Management, together with Lauren Tavener-Smith, ISD, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town

(First Semester 2020) Research Methods, Module in Honours in Development Management, together with Shamiso Mandioma, ISD, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town

(Summer Term 2019) Public Policy and Reform Management, MA Seminar, MADM, together with Dr. Elkhan Sadik-Zada, IEE, Ruhr-University Bochum

(Winter Term 2018/19) Institutions & Development, MA Seminar, MADM, IEE, Ruhr-University Bochum

(Summer Term 2018) Institutions & Development, MA Seminar, MADM, South-African German Centre for Development Research, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town

(Winter Term 2016/17) Institutions & Development, MA Seminar, MADM, IEE, Ruhr-University Bochum

(Winter Term 2016/17) Wissen als Ware – Geistige Eigentumsrechte in der globalen politischen Ökonomie. Proseminar im BA-Studiengang, IPWS Bonn (Blockveranstaltung WiSe 2016/17)

(Summer Term 2016) Institutions & Development, MA seminar, MADM, South-African German Centre for Development Research, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town

(Summer Term 2015) Public Policy and Reform Management, MA seminar, MADM, IEE, Ruhr-University Bochum

(Summer Term 2015) Public Policy and Reform Management, MA Seminar, MADM, South-African German Centre for Development Research, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town

(Winter Term 2014/15) Public Sector Management, MA Seminar (with Anne Siebert), MADM, IEE, Ruhr-University Bochum

(Winter Term 2014/15) Institutions and Development, MA Block Seminar, MADM, IEE, Ruhr-University Bochum)

(Summer Term 2014) Institutions and Development, MA Block Seminar (with Dr. Meik Nowak), MADM, South-African German Centre for Development Research, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town 

(Summer Term 2014) Die internationale Regulierung geistiger Eigentumsrechte – Strukturen, Konfliktlinien, Wandel, BA seminar, Institute for Political Science and Sociology, University of Bonn

(Summer Term 2013) Research Logic, MA seminar (together with Stefan Buchholz and Anne Siebert), MADM, IEE, Ruhr-University Bochum

(Winter Term 2013/14) Geistiges Eigentum in der globalen politischen Ökonomie - Strukturen, Wandel, Konfliktlinien, BA seminar, Institute for Political Science and Sociology, University of Bonn

(Summer Term 2013) Die Governance von Technologie und Innovation, BA seminar, Institute for Political Science and Sociology, University of Bonn

(Summer Term 2012) Demokratietheorie und die Praxis der Parteien, MA seminar assistance (Prof. Dr. Tilman Mayer), Institute for Political Science and Sociology, University of Bonn

(Summer Term 2011) Nationalstaatlichkeit im Zeitalter der Globalität, MA seminar assistance (Prof. Dr. Tilman Mayer), Institute for Political Science and Sociology, University of Bonn

Mentoring

• Trina Mudsuddy: Foreign Aid and Principal-Agent Asymmetries - The Case of Youth Organizations in Bangladesh (MA Thesis, IEE Bochum/South African-German Centre for Development Research UWC, Cape Town, qualitative research, ongoing)

• Eric Nordjo: The Role of Local Government Policies in the Transition towards Zero Poverty: On Efficiencies of the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty (LEAP) in Ghana (MA Thesis, IEE Bochum/South African-German Centre for Development Research, UWC, Cape Town, qualitative research, ongoing)

• Eni Mazniku: Examining Citizen Participation in Urban Governance in the Context of Business Improvement District Projects: A Case Study of Tirana TID, Albania (MA Thesis, IEE, Ruhr University Bochum, qualitative research)

• Penpitcha Thammasith Boonloy: Analyzing the process of development cooperation as an instrument of foreign policy. The case study of Thailand (2/2018, MA Thesis, IEE, Ruhr University Bochum, qualitative analysis)
  
  
• Joy Muthanje Mwaniki: Analyzing the Role of Innovation Hubs in Inclusion: A Study of Innovation Hubs and Female Entreprebneurs in Kigali, Ruanda. (MA Thesis, IEE Bochum)

• Irina Ruoff: From open defacation to improved sanitation and hygiene. An evaluation of UNICEF's "Community Approaches To Sanitation" on social norms and behavior change in rural Rajasthan, India (MA Thesis, ongoing, qualitative research)
  
  

• Sophia Dieken: Chinas Boom in den Erneuerbaren Energien. Zwei Wege zur Wettbewerbsfähigkeit (english title: China's Boom in Renewables. Two Pathways of Innovation) (09/2015, BA Thesis, qualitative method, Institute for Political Science and Sociology, Bonn University)
  
  

• Eva Kristina Nelles: Traditionelles Wissen und geistige Eigentumsrechte im Konflikt - Eine Auseinandersetzung am Beispiel der Nutzung des indigenen Wissens der Bevölkerung in Chiapas durch die Life Science Industrie (english title: Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property Rights in Conflict. The Case of Traditional Knowledge of the Indigenous Community of Chiapas/Mexico and its Use by the Life Science Industry) 10/2015, BA Thesis, qualitative research, Institute for Political Science and Sociology, Bonn University)
  
  

• Leonie Stapelfeldt: The Protection of Rooibos. A Display of the Small Scale Rooibos Farmers' Perception regarding South Africa's first Geographical Indication, its Reasons, and their Resulting Counter-Strategy (11/2015, Master Thesis, IEE, Ruhr University Bochum)
  
  

• Sabrina Locuratolo: Workers of Fair-Trade and non-Fair Trade Certificated Rose Plantations in Ecuador. A Comparison of Workers Capabilities on Working Conditions and Social Development (12/2017, MA Thesis, IEE, mixed method)
  
  

• Gweze John Jere: Examining the Opportunities and Challenges of Integrating non-state Actors in the African Union Peace and Security Architecture Programmes (MA Thesis Bochum, qualitative research)