معرفی
Christopher Foster is a Senior Lecturer at the Global Development Institute (GDI), University of Manchester, where he joined as a Presidential Fellow in 2018. Previously, he held academic positions at the University of Sheffield (2015–2018) and conducted research at the University of Oxford (2013–2015). He earned his PhD from the University of Manchester (2009–2013), focusing on mobile sector innovation in Kenya and its implications for innovation theory, firm strategy, and public policy.
His research intersects digital technologies with global production analysis, emphasizing digitalization’s impact on global production networks, governance of the digital economy, and inclusive innovation strategies. Key themes include digital trade, platform capitalism in developing regions, and the Global South’s engagement with digital expansion. He runs the Digital Trade Tracker, a resource analyzing digital trade dynamics, and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to global inequalities and sustainable futures.
Recent work explores digital platforms in Jakarta’s informal economy, China’s digital influence in the Global South, and Thai digital marketplace dynamics. His publications highlight governance challenges, economic implications, and policy frameworks for marginalized firms and regions.
Foster advises PhD students on topics such as digitalization’s impact on global value chains, platform-driven development, and inclusive innovation policies. His expertise is reflected in collaborations with institutions like the Centre for Digital Development and Routledge-published works on China’s digital expansion.
