The course will start with the introduction and discussion of core concepts related to technology and technological change, especially with reference to the case of DCs. The first part will be devoted to the analysis of catch up theories in an historical perspective and discussion of lessons thereof for DCs. Although history rarely repeats itself and more importantly the current international context is radically different from the one observed one century earlier, common elements as to the role of technology in economic development can be identified. The second part of the course will be based on the presentations of students about a number of topics devoted to the role of technological change and innovation in the catch up experiences –some remarkable, others less successful– of DCs in the 20th century (such as import substitution-based development strategy, role of transnational corporations in the technology transfer, recent trends in intellectual property rights regime, emergence of global value chains, and globalization of R&D activities).