I INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PSYCHOLOGY AND R&D&I
Working for innovation and entrepreneurship

Psychology and innovation have always gone hand in hand. The new challenge, however, is for psychology to find its place in a changing, competitive environment where it can address the problems of the 21st century and the Knowledge Society that we live in.

In order to address the social demands of this new environment and new reality, we pose several questions: Is innovation necessary in psychology? What can the R&D&I chain contribute to the current panorama of psychology as a science and a profession? Does the science of psychology take on the issue of entrepreneurship as pertinent? What does it mean to be competent in innovation, in our day? Can innovation become a channel for job creation for our graduates? Can it be a channel for updating one’s professional  qualifications?

Based on the demonstrated need for education in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the program presented here is structured around these questions, and includes three parts for improving our competence in psychology innovation: UNDERSTANDING INNOVATION (first day), SKILLS FOR INNOVATING (second day) and INNOVATION EXPERIENCES (third day). In other words, knowing about, know-how, and the will to innovate in psychology.

A total of thirteen AREAS were chosen to form the skeleton of the program. Two areas of general application are the PSYCHOLOGY OF INNOVATION and of ENTREPRENEURSHIP; the eleven remaining areas belong to the usual spheres of academic and professional psychology endeavors: CLINICAL AND HEALTHCARE; DEVELOPMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL; SOCIAL, WORK AND ORGANIZATIONAL; ROAD SAFETY; LEGAL; AGING; SPORTS; EMERGENCIES; SEXUALITY; NEUROPSYCHOLOGY and MEDIATION. Each of these areas will be represented in programmed activities such as symposia, presentations, posters and demos.
It is our hope that this Conference becomes a common ground for sharing knowledge, experimentation and motivation, that we might reach critical mass for consolidating the road to innovation in the science and practice of psychology. Reflection and contributions from academicians and practitioners in defining the R&D&I value chain for the 21st century, from the perspective of psychology, can be a good start in this direction.

We are expecting you.

Dr. Jesús de la Fuente Arias   Dr. Manuel Mariano Vera

CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS