This PhD thesis explores various aspects of global value chain-oriented policies centred on natural resources as a platform to foster knowledge-based sectors. A novel approach to industrial policies is imperative for identifying limitations and exploring opportunities for natural resource-rich countries. The research presents a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the lithium-ion battery industry and the strategies adopted by countries and firms to transition towards higher-value-added activities. Additionally, it examines lithium policies in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile from a historical and institutional perspective. Policies are contrasted with elucidating governments’ initiatives to enhance GVC participation and value capture in an emerging sector. The key findings suggest that state interventions and policy instruments result from each country’s capacity to comprehend market and technological dynamics. Furthermore, the research reveals that the three countries still need an integrated appreciation of GVC dynamics, which will impact policy effectiveness due to stakeholders' limited engagement.
About the author
Mauricio Cespedes is the Vice minister of Science and Technology in Bolivia and a PhD fellow at UNU-MERIT since 2016.
He is an Industrial Engineer graduated from the Military School of Engineering in Bolivia, obtaining a bachelor's degree in management in 2000.
He has two Master's degrees, the first in Public Administration and Management from the University of Nancy in France and the second in Development Studies from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. He completed a Specialization in Research Planning and Management from the Polytechnic University of Valencia in Spain.
He has more than 15 years of experience in various institutions, both public and private, nationally and internationally. His career includes policy formulation, program and project management, as well as inter-institutional coordination and collaboration in international cooperation projects. Since July 25, 2023, he has held the position of Vice Minister of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Development Planning of Bolivia.