Maciej, Jutta, and Maria are connected through the research project "Global value chains, technological capabilities and economic development" which is funded for 18 months by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and carried out as a post doc project by Maciej Grodzicki. Maciej Grodzicki is a researcher within the working group of Jutta Günther at the University of Bremen. The research project is jointly carried out with the University of Sussex (SPRU), Maria Savona.