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A Tour of Rural Data in Statistics Canada
Background notes for a CRRF webinar walking through how Statistics Canada classifies rural geographies (density, distance, administrative boundary) and where to find rural data. Companion piece to du Plessis et al. 2002.
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Living lab approaches in rural healthcare: a scoping review
Living labs use user-centered co-design to solve real-world healthcare problems in rural areas. This scoping review examined 11 studies from 2016–2025 across Canada, the USA, Australia, Guatemala, Uganda, and France/Portugal. Studies applied various methodologies including theory-driven frameworks, participatory research, and human-centered design to address cardiovascular disease, diabetes, perinatal care, and other conditions. Most studies did not explicitly use the living lab term, revealing limited adoption of this approach in rural healthcare innovation.
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Therapy Farms as Social Innovations Shaping Social Transformations in Rural Areas: Case Study Analysis
Therapy farms in rural Lithuania provide real benefits for mental health and social inclusion, helping young people reconnect with education and employment. However, these farms operate within structural constraints that limit their broader impact. The study finds therapy farms create localized positive change but struggle to transform wider systems due to project-based funding and fragmented policies. Sustainable impact requires long-term funding and cross-sector collaboration.
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New Model of Home Hospice Care—Social Innovation in Rural Areas: Facing Depopulation and a Services Crisis in Poland
Researchers studied a social innovation in rural Eastern Poland that improves end-of-life care in depopulating areas. The model combines home hospice teams, local support networks, and a new Dependent Care Coordinator role. The initiative expanded service access, strengthened coordination between health and social care, and reduced staff burden. However, workforce shortages, fragmented institutions, and resistance to palliative care limit its ability to scale and sustain long-term.
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Social Innovation in Rural Areas: Evidence from Italian Community Cooperatives
Community cooperatives in rural Italy generate social innovation that addresses depopulation and economic decline. These organizations create positive community impacts through sustainable development initiatives, though their effects remain limited in many cases. The study finds that supportive policies and dedicated resources are essential to strengthen these cooperatives' capacity to drive rural growth.
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Social innovation strategies to improve agroecological product marketing: A case study in rural Colombia
This study identifies social innovation strategies to improve agroecological product marketing in rural Colombia. Researchers worked with a women's microentrepreneur association to uncover barriers including limited resources, certification obstacles, and weak promotion. They co-designed solutions with producers: product diversification, digital marketing adoption, and network strengthening. Social innovation proved effective at overcoming structural barriers and boosting competitiveness for rural agroecological producers.
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Stories from the margins: Entrepreneurial self-efficacy and social innovation among rural women entrepreneurs in Oman
Rural women entrepreneurs in Oman develop entrepreneurial self-efficacy through psychological resilience, informal social networks, digital tools, and cultural positioning despite institutional exclusion and resource constraints. The study shows these women leverage family connections, traditional skills, and mobile technology to build confidence and sustain ventures. The research challenges top-down development models and demonstrates how micro-level adaptation and relational strategies enable inclusive entrepreneurship in gendered rural contexts.
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Fostering CraftsDesign-Based Social Innovation in Rural Communities through Participatory Workshops
This paper presents a participatory workshop method designed to foster social innovation in rural communities through crafts and design. Researchers conducted three pilot workshops across Spain and Portugal with designers and experts, testing a toolkit featuring a canvas and card deck to help participants co-create sustainable solutions. The method leverages local cultural heritage and resources to address rural challenges, training participants to develop context-specific innovations that engage local crafts, skills, and community agents.
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AGROECOLOGICAL HOME GARDENS AS A STRATEGY FOR EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS: AN INTEGRATED PROPOSAL FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION AND SOCIAL INNOVATION IN RURAL MARANHÃO
Home agroecological gardens in rural Maranhão serve as spaces for sustainable production, environmental education, and income generation. The study proposes protecting traditional knowledge through a digital community platform that combines educational materials, biodata repositories, and legal safeguards. This approach strengthens food security, household income, women's participation, and youth engagement while supporting social and environmental sustainability in rural areas.
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A systematic review of social innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship practices in the agri-food sector and their contribution to socioenvironmental resilience of rural producers
This systematic review examines social innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship practices in agri-food systems across multiple continents. Initiatives like social agriculture, community gardens, women's cooperatives, and regenerative projects improved social inclusion, market access, and environmental practices. Success required collaborative governance, local leadership, and institutional support. Barriers included weak regulatory frameworks and funding dependency. Hybrid practices combining both approaches strengthened rural resilience when embedded in favorable policy environments.
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Relevant drivers and barriers for transforming Heritage Communities into stakeholders of social innovations in rural an marginal areas: a vademecum
Heritage Communities in rural and marginal areas can drive social innovation by collectively organizing preservation of local natural, cultural, and social resources. This vademecum identifies drivers and barriers for integrating Heritage Communities into public policy to support territorial resilience. It examines legal, economic, and organizational mechanisms these communities can use, emphasizing tourism's role in sustainability and economic benefit, while documenting structural obstacles to implementing heritage principles and commons approaches.
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Life trajectories and territorial change: the social innovation of Proyecto Utopia in rural Colombia
Proyecto Utopía in rural Colombia combines free agricultural engineering education, housing, psychosocial support, and hands-on learning with philanthropic funding to address rural marginalization amid conflict. A mixed-methods study of 251 graduates found 78% gained formal employment, 47% started businesses, and 74% joined associations. Alumni returned to their territories as leaders practicing agroecology, demonstrating that sustainable rural peace requires hybrid alliances beyond state action.
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Social Innovation and Sustainable Rural Development in India: Challenges and Opportunities
Social enterprises in rural India integrate business principles with social objectives to address persistent challenges like unemployment, low income, and poor infrastructure. The study finds that social innovation, skill development, and financial inclusion are central to empowering rural communities. Government initiatives support these enterprises, but barriers to growth remain, requiring policy attention to achieve inclusive rural development.
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Can social innovation strengthen rural bank Indonesia’s organizational culture in improving financial sustainability?
Rural banks in Indonesia face intense competition from commercial banks and fintech firms. This study examines 131 rural banks in Bali and finds that strong organizational culture directly improves financial sustainability. Social innovation—through collaboration and strategic partnerships—strengthens this relationship further. Rural banks can enhance long-term financial performance by combining internal cultural foundations with externally oriented social innovation practices.
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Social Protection, Agro-Environmental Innovation, And Carbon Sequestration Management as Pathways to Climate-Resilient Development: Empirical Evidence from Rural Kogi State, Nigeria
Rural households in Kogi State, Nigeria that integrated carbon sequestration, agro-environmental innovations, and social protection systems achieved significantly higher climate resilience scores than those using single interventions or none. Only 17% of households achieved full integration, with governance failures, weak extension systems, and exclusion of women as primary barriers. The study proposes the Kogi Integrated Resilience Strategy Model to align local climate adaptation with national policy frameworks.
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Rural Social and Inclusive Marketing Innovation for Sustainable Development
Innovative marketing strategies designed for rural markets in emerging economies can improve livelihoods, promote financial inclusion, and drive sustainable development. The paper shows that inclusive marketing approaches—emphasizing community engagement, digital integration, and women empowerment—address structural barriers that leave rural populations underserved. These strategies create value for rural consumers, businesses, and society simultaneously.
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Social and Solidarity Economy and Social Innovation in the Agri-Food Sector: A Conceptual Synthesis of Contributions to Sustainable Local and Rural Development
Social and solidarity economy initiatives drive transformation in agri-food systems by reconfiguring governance, deepening producer-consumer relationships through proximity and transparency, and redistributing value more equitably across territories. The paper synthesizes evidence that these place-based models address biodiversity loss, rural inequality, and farm livelihoods while advancing sustainable local development. Policy coordination among public, private, and social stakeholders can scale these innovations effectively.
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Cultural and communicative pathways in grassroots science and innovation: field research learnings from under-resourced rural India
This study examines how grassroots innovation emerges in under-resourced rural India through culturally grounded science communication practices. Working with youth in underserved communities, the research shows that informal settings foster locally relevant solutions despite linguistic diversity, trust gaps, and infrastructure limits. The work rejects top-down expert models and advocates instead for community-centered, dialogic approaches that integrate Indigenous methodologies and position marginalized voices as sources of knowledge.
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Beyond the scalpel: redefining surgical training for tomorrow01. Perceptions and the impact of early mentorship of medical students in neurosurgery: a qualitative study02. Mentorship in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery: a scoping review03. From pipeline to practice: a scoping review of interventions to increase underrepresented minority representation in surgery04. Integrating grassroots advocacy initiatives into academic medical conferences: a model for building equity into academia05. The influence of a student research and networking conference on women medical students’ interest in surgery06. Assessing well-being among the breast cancer and melanoma care team07. Cutting-Edge: a podcast dedicated to global and rural surgical needs08. The impact of a night float call system within an orthopedic residency program: a prospective analysis on resident wellness, satisfaction, and education09. From fatigue to function: designing Canada’s first surgical ergonomics curriculum for medical students10. Mapping wellness initiatives in North American ophthalmology residency programs: an environmental scan11. Accelerating diagnostic competency in pediatric musculoskeletal radiograph interpretation among orthopedic postgraduate trainees12. A systematic review of artificial intelligence applications in gastrointestinal endoscopy training13. InSight: a resident-led slit-lamp workshop for preclerkship medical students14. Artificial intelligence in surgical education: insights and applications for otolaryngology – head and neck surgery and beyond15. Workload-adapted laparoscopic training: a trade-off between in-training gains and post-training skill transfer16. Skill assessment of operators: in-training bimanual coordination predicts post-training laparoscopic skill17. Microsurgery simulation program for medical students: Start sooner rather than later?18. Guiding the surgical innovation process: a systematic review and analysis of the current frameworks19. Operating on moving platforms: how whole-body motion and distractions affect surgical precision and cognitive workload20. Expanding Clerkship Active Recall Decks in Surgery (CARDS): 1 year of growth and integration in surgical education21. An innovative virtual platform for teaching surgical suturing in French22. Asynchronous online learning to supplement musculoskeletal education for rural general practice23. Peer-led anatomy education: effectiveness of virtual review sessions and mock exams for dissection and prosection-based learners24. Development of an online curriculum for teaching the National Undergraduate Surgical Learning Objectives in thoracic surgery using Surgery 10125. Can you tube it? Evaluating the educational quality of YouTube videos on thoracoscopic esophageal atresia repair in pediatric surgery26. The role of telemedicine in surgical care across rural and urban settings: a scoping review27. Summarizing EPA feedback with LLMs: a quality improvement study in general surgery28. Automated assessment of medical student performance on suturing activities using multimodal vision-language models29. Multiple choice examinations in surgery: correlations with academic success30. Delivery of a plastic and reconstructive surgery case-based learning curriculum for medical students31. Comparing the impact of formal versus informal mentorship in surgery: a study of medical students and surgical residents32. Effectiveness of a near-peer teaching model in a 1-day otolaryngology emergencies workshop for medical students33. Building simulation literacy for future surgical education leaders: identifying competencies and observable practice activities to inform targeted educational offerings34. A novel pelvic hand-sewn bowel anastomosis simulator for surgical training35. Evaluating specialized extended reality as a teaching tool for undergraduate medical education36. Practising together: a theory-informed exploratory study of how simulation for high-acuity, low-opportunity events in cardiac surgery can transfer to safe entrustment37. Teaching strategies for flexible nasolaryngoscopy training in medical students and residents: a scoping review38. Peer-taught surgical skills at the beginner level for medical students: a pilot randomized controlled study39. Exploring the definition of service in postgraduate obstetrics and gynecology residency
Early mentorship and clinical exposure significantly shape medical students' interest in neurosurgery and counter negative stereotypes. Female students face particular barriers related to family planning concerns and underrepresentation. Curricular gaps limit early exploration of the field. The study recommends preclerkship electives, expanded clerkship access, simulation training, conference funding, and structured mentorship with diverse role models to increase interest and diversity in neurosurgery.
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Sustained precariousness in the grey space: self-organized care homes for older adults as frugal aging-in-place innovations in rural China
Self-organized care homes in rural China operate informally in farmhouses to provide affordable elder care where government services are absent. These grassroots facilities succeed through creative use of space, kinship trust, and resourcefulness, enabling older adults to age in place with dignity and autonomy. However, their legal ambiguity creates ongoing vulnerability. The study argues policymakers should regulate these innovations carefully to protect residents while preserving the flexibility that makes them work.
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A Living Lab-inspired Double Diamond approach to co-creating cross-border rural digital policy
Researchers used a Living Lab-inspired Double Diamond design approach to co-create digital policy for rural border regions in Sweden and Finland. Through participatory workshops, field visits, and stakeholder engagement, they identified that trust-based facilitation, informal communication, and institutional learning are critical for rural policy development. The study produced a draft policy framework with a prioritization matrix aligned to sustainable development goals and demonstrated a transferable methodology for inclusive digital policy in underrepresented rural areas.
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Developing a Living Lab for Cross-Sectoral Collaboration in Sport, Physical Activity, and Health in the Rural Region Zeeland
This project establishes a Living Lab in rural Zeeland to strengthen collaboration between sport, education, and health sectors in promoting physical activity. Researchers, professionals, policymakers, and citizens work together to identify local challenges like low sports participation and declining youth motor skills. Using participatory action research, the initiative develops real-world solutions through co-creation, continuously evaluates outcomes, and scales successful approaches across regions.
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Taste of the Isles: community engagement and digital innovation in rural food and drink services
Three digital initiatives developed with the Outer Hebrides Tourism Community improved visibility for local food producers and service providers, enhanced community engagement, and expanded access to digital markets. The projects demonstrate how visual storytelling combined with community co-design can overcome limited digital infrastructure and financial constraints, strengthening rural economies and building economic and social resilience.
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The Role of Digital Innovations in Localized News Reporting on Rural Development Awareness
Digital innovations including mobile technology, social media, and citizen journalism significantly increase rural development awareness in India by bridging information gaps and empowering marginalized populations. Vernacular digital storytelling through video, audio, and interactive systems proves especially effective for low-literacy audiences, boosting awareness of government schemes, health, education, and agricultural programs. However, infrastructure deficits, uneven digital literacy, affordability, and misinformation risks remain barriers requiring policy intervention and capacity-building investment.
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A systematic review of the scope and impact of rural primary healthcare innovations using digital health technology
Digital health technologies in rural primary healthcare—particularly telemedicine and remote monitoring—improve accessibility and health outcomes while reducing costs. A systematic review of 66 studies found these interventions work best for chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Success depends on practitioner endorsement, process standardization, and patient satisfaction. Key barriers include staff workload and patient non-compliance. The review recommends government funding and flexible policies to support digital healthcare expansion in rural areas.
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Blockchain traceability of Danzhou Tiaosheng cultural creative products and sustainable rural economy: digital empowerment path of innovation-entrepreneurship talent cultivation in vocational education
Blockchain traceability combined with cultural creative design and vocational entrepreneurship education significantly boosts rural economic development in Danzhou, China. The integrated approach increased consumer trust and purchase intention, enabling 25–40% price premiums. Vocational students' startup success rates tripled to 53%, while participating farmers achieved 50% income growth. Green packaging adoption and local sourcing reached 82% and 89% respectively, demonstrating that digital empowerment through blockchain creates sustainable rural prosperity.
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Innovation Mechanisms of Rural Tourism Under the Digital Economy: Platform–Scenario Synergy and County-Level Governance Resilience an Empirical Study in the Policy Context of China’s “Digital Commerce Empowering Agriculture” Initiative
Digital platforms transform rural tourism in China by reducing transaction costs and enabling long-tail demand, while scenario-based innovation converts fragmented resources into immersive lifestyle experiences. County-level governance resilience acts as an institutional anchor, mediating multi-actor interests and preventing digital erosion. Development outcomes depend on positive coupling between platforms, scenario innovation, and governance—without this alignment, regions face traffic booms followed by homogenization and disorder.
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Digital technologies in agricultural knowledge management and innovation systems at the rural household level in Northern Ethiopia
This study examines digital technology adoption among 601 smallholder farming households in rural Ethiopia. Mobile phones and radio dominate usage at over 30%, while advanced tools like internet platforms reach under 10%. Male-headed households, better education, proximity to markets and universities, cooperative membership, and electricity access significantly boost adoption. The research shows rural digitalization remains early-stage and recommends strengthening infrastructure, farmer education, extension services, and cooperatives to improve agricultural knowledge sharing and innovation.
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF RURAL AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA: THE ROLE OF IOT AND DATA INNOVATION
IoT sensors and data-driven tools significantly improved agricultural outcomes for smallholder farmers in rural Nigeria. The study found that smart technologies reduced water use by 21% and fertilizer application by 18% without yield loss. Farmers using digital marketplaces increased net income by 25%, raised sale prices by 12%, and cut post-harvest losses by 15%. The research recommends solar-powered IoT hubs, localized training, and mobile interfaces to support wider adoption.
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Digital Payments and Financial Inclusion: Sustainable Finance Innovations in Rural Pune
Digital payment innovations including UPI, mobile banking, and Aadhaar-enabled services are expanding financial inclusion in rural Pune, India. Young adults and those with mobile internet access adopt these tools most readily, with village shops increasingly accepting QR code payments. Digital finance reduces transaction costs, improves transparency, and enables credit access for traditionally excluded populations. However, low digital literacy, weak infrastructure, and social barriers persist in rural areas, requiring targeted literacy programs and locally-relevant financial products.
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Advancing Equitable Rural Transformation: How Digital Innovation Affects Urban–Rural Income Inequality
Digital innovation reshapes urban-rural income inequality through three mechanisms: digital technology affects earnings differently for skilled and unskilled workers via productivity gains, job displacement, and industrial change; digital infrastructure narrows information gaps and builds rural human capital; digital financial services extend formal banking to excluded rural populations. The paper reviews how these factors influence income distribution and offers policy recommendations for using digital economy benefits to reduce disparities.
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Reverse innovation and digital sustainability in rural destinations: evidence from Iran's Hawraman
This study examines how entrepreneurs in two rural Iranian heritage villages adopt digital technologies despite infrastructural constraints. Through interviews with 21 entrepreneurs, researchers identified five interconnected dimensions of digital entrepreneurship: infrastructural liminality, identity-functional duality, collective-relational agency, re-adaptive cycles, and contextual spirituality. Infrastructure limitations actually spark reverse innovation and collective resilience, enabling culturally embedded technological adaptation that supports sustainable heritage preservation.
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Innovation of Marketing Model and the Path of Increasing Consumer Satisfaction of Rural Tourism in Chongqing Driven by Digital Economy
Chongqing's rural tourism sector attracts hundreds of millions of visitors annually but faces digital transformation challenges including outdated marketing and skill gaps. The paper proposes digital economy solutions: precision marketing using big data, social media content strategies, and intelligent systems to improve service efficiency and visitor engagement. Case studies of two rural tourism sites demonstrate that targeted digital marketing combined with service upgrades significantly increase visitor satisfaction.
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CONTRIBUTION OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS IN DISSIMINATION OF INNOVATIONS AMONG RURAL FARMERS IN SOUTHERN TARABA, AGRICULTURAL ZONE, NIGERIA
Digital platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube effectively disseminate agricultural innovations to rural farmers in Nigeria, improving yields and market access. However, poor internet connectivity, high data costs, and unstable electricity severely limit adoption. Younger farmers, smallholders, and full-time farmers adopt these platforms more readily. Strengthening ICT infrastructure and reducing data costs are essential for sustainable digital extension services.
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Digital Innovation and Educational Equity in History Education: A Study of Rural–Urban Disparities and AI Integration in Sabah
This study examines how digital innovation and AI integration can reduce educational inequality in history education across rural and urban areas of Sabah. The research identifies barriers including inadequate digital infrastructure, teacher readiness gaps, and socio-economic constraints. It proposes solutions through community-based learning, culturally responsive content, and adaptive technologies. The findings show that strategically implemented digital tools, when aligned with local contexts and supported by equitable policies, can improve history education outcomes and reduce rural-urban disparities.
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FinTech Innovations in Rural Credit Delivery: Strengthening Sustainable Livelihoods under SDG 1 and SDG 12
FinTech innovations in rural credit delivery significantly improve financial access and sustainability. The study combines blockchain-enabled credit ledgers, AI-based credit scoring using alternative rural data, and mobile microfinance systems. Results show these technologies increase debt accessibility by 32%, reduce transaction costs by 27%, and raise loan repayment rates by 21% compared to conventional lending. Digital infrastructure reduces credit abuse, promotes productive agricultural investment, and supports sustainable consumption patterns that strengthen rural livelihoods and poverty alleviation.
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From “Data Silos” to “Collaborative Symbiosis”: How Digital Technologies Empower Rural Built Environment and Landscapes to Bridge Socio-Ecological Divides: Based on a Comparative Study of the Yuanyang Hani Terraces and Yu Village in Anji
Digital technologies can bridge rural social-ecological divides by integrating fragmented data and restructuring community engagement. A study of two Chinese villages—Yu Village and Hani Terraces—shows that digital platforms drive different empowerment pathways depending on local context. Yu Village achieved 85% participation and 25% tourism revenue growth through mobile governance apps, while Hani Terraces used cooperative-mediated engagement to reach elderly farmers and increased agricultural value by 12%. Digital tools function as catalysts for context-specific rural governance and sustainable revitalization.
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Perceived quality of home- and community-based services and urban-rural disparities in aging-in-place intentions: evidence from Chinese older adults
This study examines how older adults in China perceive home and community-based services and how these perceptions affect their desire to age in place. Rural and urban older adults respond differently to service gaps: rural residents tolerate limited service quantity but struggle with poor quality and distance, while urban residents are more affected by provider shortages and proximity issues. The findings show that context-specific policies addressing these distinct urban-rural challenges are essential to support aging in place.
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Bridging the digital divide: a comparative study of digital literacy and access in rural communities in China and Nigeria
Rural communities in China and Nigeria face significant digital divides shaped by infrastructure, policy, and socioeconomic factors. Nigeria experiences greater barriers to digital access and literacy than China, particularly among older populations. The study reveals that policy responses and living standards differ markedly between countries. Culturally and linguistically tailored digital literacy campaigns targeting older rural residents could improve digital inclusion and access.
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Bridging the digital financial divide: the role of financial literacy in rural–urban disparities in mobile money account ownership in Tanzania
Financial literacy is a major driver of rural-urban disparities in mobile money adoption in Tanzania, accounting for 22.6% of the ownership gap. While digital infrastructure has expanded, capability to use these services remains unequally distributed. Higher-income users convert financial knowledge into adoption more effectively than poorer groups. Addressing inequalities requires integrating targeted financial literacy programs into digital finance policy alongside infrastructure expansion.
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Determinants of solar energy access in urban and rural areas of Ethiopia: implications for equitable climate transitions
This study analyzes solar energy adoption across Ethiopia using nationally representative household data and spatial analysis. Rural adoption is driven by necessity—older male heads in areas without grid electricity—while urban adoption reflects choice among younger, wealthier residents. Peer effects play minimal roles; instead, institutional programs and market interventions shape adoption patterns. The findings show that equitable clean energy transitions require different strategies tailored to rural and urban contexts.
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Indigenous knowledge for innovation and sustainable livelihood in Ghana’s informal economy
Indigenous knowledge drives innovation in Ghana's informal economy. A study of 300 informal-sector workers found that 90% rely on indigenous knowledge, with 85% using it to develop new products and services. Apprenticeship and museum archives best preserve this knowledge. Indigenous knowledge significantly improves food security, health, and environmental sustainability. However, lack of government support and poor integration with modern technology remain major barriers. The research demonstrates indigenous knowledge is essential for grassroots innovation but needs stronger policy backing.
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Indigenous Innovation in Orthopedic Robotics: Making Joint Replacement Affordable in India
Robotic joint replacement surgery improves precision and recovery but remains inaccessible in India due to high costs and limited training. Indigenous robotic platforms engineered locally can reduce expenses while maintaining accuracy, aligning with India's self-reliance goals and adapting to local anatomical and economic conditions. Achieving equitable access requires collaboration between clinicians, industry, insurers, and policymakers to transform robotic surgery from a premium service into scalable standard care.
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Digital Divide in Rural Education in Chinese Schools: Exploring Issues and Opportunities
This study examined digital inequality in two rural Chinese schools, surveying 250 students and 50 teachers. Researchers implemented strategies to boost digital literacy and measured outcomes using specialized scales. Both students and teachers showed significant improvements in digital skills, particularly in educational and infrastructure domains. The findings provide evidence for policymakers developing targeted interventions to reduce the digital divide in rural education.
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Examining the Impact of Digital Divide on Rural Multidimensional Poverty: Evidence From China
China's rural households face persistent multidimensional poverty despite income poverty reduction, worsened by digital inequality. Using household survey data from 2016–2018, the study finds that the digital divide significantly increases rural multidimensional poverty risk, with effects varying by internet use, access mode, region, and household head age. The digital divide constrains non-agricultural employment, weakens social networks, and reduces credit access—three key pathways linking digital exclusion to poverty.
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Bridging the gap or widening the divide? Municipal decision-makers’ perceptions of healthcare digitalization in shrinking rural regions
Municipal decision-makers in shrinking rural Finnish regions view healthcare digitalization as a potential solution for aging populations, but worry it may deepen inequality rather than improve access. The study examines whether digital healthcare actually bridges gaps or widens divides in rural communities, considering both local accessibility and broader regional development impacts.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Exploring ICT Applications for Inclusive Education of Pupils with Special Educational Needs in Rural Zambia
A qualitative study in rural Zambia examined how ICTs support inclusive education for pupils with special educational needs. Researchers found that diverse technologies—from radios to assistive devices—enhance lesson delivery and personalized learning when integrated into classrooms. However, uneven implementation persists due to infrastructure gaps, inadequate teacher training, and misaligned curriculum policies. Realizing ICT's potential requires systemic reforms addressing digital inequality and teacher capacity.
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Bridging the Digital Divide through E-Governance: An Empirical Study of Rural Inclusion and Service Accessibility in Madhya Pradesh, India
This study examines why rural people in Madhya Pradesh, India fail to use government digital services despite infrastructure investment. Using surveys of 360 rural residents, researchers found that digital literacy, institutional trust, and service quality—not just internet access—determine whether people adopt e-governance platforms. The study concludes that solving rural digital exclusion requires skills training, local support, and trust-building alongside technology deployment.
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The usage divide of digital health technology in age-friendly home modifications: an ethnographic study among older adults in rural China
Rural older adults in China face significant barriers to using digital health technologies for home modifications, even when access is available. The study identifies obstacles including difficulty forming stable technology habits, challenges adapting to system updates, and cumulative frustration from repeated failures. These barriers explain why technological access alone fails to translate into genuine empowerment, highlighting the gap between availability and effective use in rural aging populations.
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Digital Divide and Gender Disparities in Educational Technology Access Among Rural Tamil Nadu Households: A Multi-theoretical Analysis
This study of 378 rural Tamil Nadu households found stark gender disparities in educational technology access: 68% of boys but only 35% of girls had access. Female gender reduced access odds by 79% even after controlling for other factors. The research identified four mechanisms perpetuating inequality: gendered risk perceptions, time constraints from domestic chores, strategic resource allocation favoring boys, and gendered technology identity. Maternal education emerged as the strongest protective factor. The authors recommend multilevel interventions addressing infrastructure, school programs, maternal schooling, and household attitudes.
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The impact of the three-level digital divide on the mental health of rural residents: A study from China
Rural residents in China experience three interconnected digital divides—unequal access to internet, insufficient usage skills, and limited perceived utility—that harm mental health through distinct mechanisms. Access gaps reduce fairness perceptions, usage gaps lower perceived social class, and utility gaps diminish both social class and economic status assessments. Education and regional location moderate these effects, with impacts varying across social groups.
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Implementation Realities of NEP 2020: Infrastructural Gaps, Teacher Shortages, and the Digital Divide in Rural India
India's National Education Policy 2020 aims to transform education through technology and flexibility, but rural implementation faces severe obstacles. The study finds that only 57% of rural schools have working computers, 54% have internet access, and 35% have smart classrooms. Teacher shortages exceed 846,000 positions nationwide, concentrated in rural areas. While 7 million teachers received digital training, they struggle to integrate it into teaching. Without fixing these infrastructure and staffing gaps, the policy will worsen rural-urban educational inequality.
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A Review on Digital Divide and Its Impact on Physiotherapy Delivery in Rural Settings
Digital physiotherapy effectively delivers care to underserved populations, but rural areas face severe disparities. Poor network coverage, device affordability, low education levels, and limited awareness of telerehabilitation prevent rural residents from accessing digital health services. This review synthesizes literature on the digital divide's impact on rural physiotherapy delivery, identifies key barriers and research gaps, and recommends changes to clinical practice, research, and policy to ensure equitable access.
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Learning with Surrounding Heritage: Education, Innovation and Rural Empowerment Along European Pilgrimage Routes
Heritage education along European pilgrimage routes drives rural development by addressing digital skills and tourism management gaps. The study across seven European countries reveals that inclusive, place-based learning strengthens local identity and community resilience. Pilgrimage routes function as learning landscapes that promote cultural sustainability and reduce territorial disparities through heritage-led tourism innovation.
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Sustainable Agricultural Education and Career Aspirations: (Re)engaging Cambodia’s Rural Youth in Agricultural Innovation
Rural high school students in Cambodia who participated in sustainable agricultural education programs focusing on farming innovations showed increased interest in agricultural careers. The study found that exposure to modern, innovative approaches to farming—including sustainable mechanization—made students view agriculture as a viable career path and recognize education's importance in the sector, countering global trends of youth leaving farming.
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Low-Cost Innovation Models for Delivering STEM Education in Rural Sabah
This study identifies low-cost innovation models that successfully deliver STEM education in rural Sabah despite geographical isolation and limited infrastructure. The research examines modular STEM kits, offline digital platforms, blended learning, and locally contextualized instruction. Key success factors include teacher training, community partnerships, low-bandwidth technology use, and culturally responsive teaching. Cost-effective, context-sensitive approaches significantly improve STEM access and learning outcomes when supported by sustainable policies and collaborative implementation.
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Reimagining community health nursing: a qualitative participatory action research study of nurse-led primary healthcare innovation in rural Saudi Arabia
Nurses in rural Saudi Arabia drive primary healthcare innovation through locally grounded, relationship-centered changes. Using participatory action research with 12 rural nurses, the study identified four themes: frontline leadership, co-creating solutions with communities, adapting to rural constraints, and organizational support. Nurses implemented ten practice innovations targeting care continuity and efficiency. Sustainability succeeded when innovations were simple and embedded into routine workflows. The findings show nurses as key agents for equitable rural healthcare transformation.
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Evaluating Integrated Care Innovations: NICHE Anchor Institute’s Impact on Overcoming Constraints in Tackling Health Equity in Rural Coastal Communities
The NICHE Anchor Institute in Norfolk and Waveney, England, developed integrated care models to address health disparities in rural coastal communities facing workforce shortages and isolation. Using participatory evaluation methods with over 50 healthcare professionals and community groups, the institute improved service delivery accessibility, strengthened workforce resilience through leadership training, and built community ownership of healthcare solutions. Early evidence shows improved return on investment and workforce retention, offering a scalable model for addressing health inequalities in rural areas.
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Enhancing Resilience and Sustainability of Renewable Energy Microgrids in Rural Africa from an Interdisciplinary Design Perspective: Driven by Community Engagement and Technological Innovation
This study develops an interdisciplinary framework combining social science, engineering, and environmental methods to design resilient renewable energy microgrids for rural Africa. Testing the approach in Tanzania, researchers found that strong community engagement significantly improves social acceptance and operational efficiency, while modular energy storage solutions enhance system resilience during extreme conditions. The framework provides practical guidance for sustainable microgrid implementation across rural African regions.
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Analysis Of Risk Factors For Adolescent Pregnancy And Innovations In Community-Based Prevention Interventions In Rural Areas
Teenage pregnancy in rural Indonesia and Southeast Asia stems from low reproductive health literacy, poverty, and conservative cultural norms. A systematic review of 12 studies found that community-based prevention interventions involving families, community leaders, and schools prove most effective. Participatory approaches grounded in local values outperform top-down programs. Cross-sectoral collaboration offers the strongest strategy for reducing adolescent pregnancy rates in rural areas.
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Beyond Replication: Rural EFL Teachers’ Sense Making of Place‐Based Pedagogy in China
Rural English teachers in China adapt place-based pedagogy to their local contexts rather than copying Western models. They navigate tensions between national policies, test-focused schools, and community needs by connecting English learning to rural identity, moral education, and community development. Teacher agency emerges as crucial for translating global pedagogical ideas into locally meaningful practices that address educational equity.
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Roots and reach: Place-Based processes for polycentric governance in rural South Africa
Civil society organisations in rural South Africa's former homelands enable polycentric governance and systemic change through nine interconnected place-based processes. Research with seven established organisations reveals a core trajectory from focused effort to credibility-building to learning, amplified by feedback loops and shaped by tensions between autonomy and embeddedness. The study demonstrates these organisations function as crucial nodes for rural agency and innovation, requiring sustained investment.
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Place as a microcosm: Community-based citizenship education approaches among schools and rural low-density communities
This study examines how rural schools in Portugal's border regions teach citizenship through community-based approaches. Researchers analyzed 29 schools' educational projects, interviewed teachers, and surveyed students. Schools led diverse initiatives engaging local communities to promote well-being and cultural values. The findings show how schools, stakeholders, and young people collaborate to strengthen community well-being and social cohesion through place-based citizenship education.
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Localising the Sustainable Development Goals. A Place‐Based Analysis of Sustainable Development in Rural and Urban Areas
This paper creates a Sustainable Development Index for rural and urban areas in Ireland using 33 indicators across 13 SDGs. Using high-resolution geographic data and GIS analysis, the authors find that rural areas near cities show the strongest sustainable development outcomes, while remote rural areas and major cities perform worse. The research demonstrates that examining rural-urban connections matters for achieving the SDGs and supports using geographic methods to design targeted, place-based policies.
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Place-Based Economic Development as a Strategy for Rural Revitalization: An Assessment of Saskatchewan’s Policy Environment and the OECD’s New Rural Paradigm (1990—2024)
Saskatchewan's rural policy from 1990 to 2024 lacks a coherent place-based development strategy despite its potential for revitalizing struggling communities. The province relies on sector-specific, market-driven approaches managed through municipal revenue funds rather than integrated place-based policies aligned with OECD frameworks. Political considerations and failure to separate rural policy from other sectors have undermined effective rural revitalization efforts.
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If you build it who will come? Widening access through a place-based Rural Training Stream to address local medical workforce shortages
Deakin University's Rural Training Stream for medical education, expanded in 2024 to an end-to-end program allowing students to remain in rural communities, successfully increased enrollment from rural areas in Western Victoria from 5% to 28% of medical students. The program attracted mature-aged women and health professionals returning to study. This place-based approach addresses rural medical workforce shortages by embedding students in their communities during training.
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Symbolic Production and Emotional Conflict in Rural Tourism from the Perspective of Media Sense of Place: A Computational Communication Analysis Based on Ctrip Tourist Reviews
Rural tourism drives economic development in China, but tourists' perceptions are shaped by digital media rather than physical experience. Analysis of 12,000 online reviews reveals that positive sentiment centers on mediated natural landscapes and cultural symbols, while negative sentiment reflects concerns about commercialization destroying authentic place identity. The study identifies a fundamental conflict between tourists' desire for authenticity and the modernization demands of rural destinations.
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The Role of Leadership Styles in Fostering Teacher Collaboration and Educational Innovation: A Comprehensive Review of Urban and Rural School Contexts
This review examines how different leadership styles affect teacher collaboration and innovation in both urban and rural schools. The authors synthesize research on transformational, distributed, and situational leadership approaches, finding that while leadership research is extensive, gaps remain in understanding context-responsive practices that work across urban-rural divides. The review identifies key contextual factors affecting leadership effectiveness and proposes research directions to support equitable educational outcomes.
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Democratizing Access to Science and Technology in Rural Schools: Educational Innovation through Remote Laboratories. The R3 Project.
The R3 Project uses remote laboratory technology to bring hands-on science and engineering education to rural schools, eliminating the need for expensive physical infrastructure. Developed by University of Deusto researchers and LabsLand, the platform lets students conduct real experiments online. Results show the approach increases student motivation and learning while reducing educational gaps between rural and urban schools, promoting STEM interest and educational equity.
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Shadow education in rural Kazakhstan: patterns and implications for access to higher education
In rural Kazakhstan, 41% of Grade 11 students pay for private tutoring to prepare for university entrance exams, despite financial hardship. Face-to-face tutoring dominates, though online options help overcome distance. Female students report greater confidence, but lower-income families experience financial strain and stress. The study calls for quality regulations and state-funded tutoring programs to ensure equitable access to higher education across rural and urban areas.
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Bridging the Divide: A Comparative Assessment of Two English Distance Learning Programs in Rural Bangladesh
Two English distance learning programs in rural Bangladesh effectively engage secondary students, with motivation and anxiety explaining 24% of program effectiveness. Higher motivation strongly predicts better outcomes, while higher anxiety predicts worse outcomes. The findings apply Krashen's affective filter hypothesis and cognitive multimedia learning theory to distance education, offering guidance for EFL educators and policymakers designing programs that bridge digital divides in developing nations.
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Digital Inequality and Socio-Cultural Barriers in Distance Learning in Kazakhstan: Urban-Rural Perspectives
Rural students in Kazakhstan experienced significantly lower digital access and satisfaction with distance learning during COVID-19 compared to urban peers. However, rural students with reliable internet, personal devices, and adequate study spaces achieved satisfaction levels matching urban students. Socio-cultural barriers including academic integrity concerns and isolation diminished when institutional support improved. The study recommends broadband expansion, device provision, multilingual platforms, and community engagement to ensure equitable digital education.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: A Framework for Sustainable Distance Learning in Rural Uganda
Rural Uganda faces severe barriers to distance learning, including unreliable electricity and high data costs. The study of 150 teachers and education officers across three districts found that sustainable solutions require low-tech approaches like radio instruction and USB distribution rather than internet-dependent platforms. Effective rural distance education demands hybrid delivery models, teacher training for low-connectivity settings, and public-private partnerships to reduce data costs.
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Linking energy service access and human capabilities to assess energy justice in the rural Sahel
Energy infrastructure in rural Senegal reaches some communities but leaves others behind, including semi-nomadic and low-income populations. The authors show that expanding energy access alone doesn't guarantee equitable benefits—local energy service access and end-use equipment matter equally. New energy services sometimes create social tensions over resource management. Energy policies must account for population diversity and unintended consequences across sectors.
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Harmonizing Solar Energy Access and Affordability in Nigeria: The Role of Policy and Energy Management in Rural Electrification
This study examines how policy and energy management can improve solar energy access and affordability in rural Nigeria. Using case studies in Abuja, Kaduna, and the University of Abuja, the researchers assess current strategies for deploying decentralized solar systems, optimizing energy efficiency, and financing renewable energy. They compare approaches from India, Egypt, China, and Germany to identify deployment solutions and propose policy reforms that expand rural electrification while reducing emissions.
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The Impact of Mini-Grids on Rural Energy-Access Indicators in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review
Mini-grids expand rural electrification in developing countries, but service quality varies widely. This systematic review of 22 studies (2005–2025) finds that electrification rates improve frequently, but availability ranges from 5 to 24 hours daily with demand-capacity mismatches common. Affordability is well-documented but varies by location. Reliability and power quality remain poorly measured. Mini-grids deliver real benefits, but inconsistent metrics and short monitoring periods limit evidence quality.
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Reframing Electricity Access in Rural Latin America: An Energy Justice Analysis
This paper analyzes electricity access in rural Latin America through an energy justice lens. The author examines how power systems are distributed and who benefits from energy infrastructure, revealing inequities in rural electrification. The work reframes electricity access beyond simple availability metrics to address fairness, participation, and control over energy resources in rural communities.
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Design of an Off-Grid Biogas/PV Hybrid Energy System to Meet the Electricity Needs of Rural Areas
Researchers designed an off-grid hybrid energy system combining solar panels, biogas, and battery storage for a rural Turkish village. Using HOMER software, they compared lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries for storing energy. Both battery types met the village's electricity needs, but lithium-ion systems proved more economical long-term despite higher upfront costs, due to lower maintenance expenses and longer lifespan.
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Modeling and Simulation of an Off-Grid Hybrid Microgrid System: A Case Study of a Kavalur Rural Social Community
Researchers designed a hybrid microgrid system for Kavalur, a rural community in Tamil Nadu, India, combining solar, wind, diesel, and battery storage. Using HOMER Pro software, they optimized the system for cost and reliability, finding that a configuration with 80% PV derating and 50-meter hub height achieved the lowest net present cost of $340,287 and energy cost of $0.247 per unit, meeting the area's electricity needs sustainably.
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Optimizing Off-Grid Solar Photovoltaic Systems for Rural Communities: A Case Study of Ketane Village, Lesotho
This paper designs and optimizes an off-grid solar photovoltaic system for Ketane village in Lesotho, a remote community without grid access. Using HOMER Pro software, researchers sized an 84.15 kW solar array with 28.8 kWh battery storage to meet local energy demand. Financial analysis shows the system is technically feasible and economically viable, with sensitivity testing confirming robustness. The optimized design provides a replicable model for rural electrification across Southern Africa.
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SunVolt: A Sustainable Solar-Powered Battery Charger In Rural Off-Grid Communities
Researchers designed and tested SunVolt, a solar-powered battery charging system for rural off-grid communities. The system uses Arduino microcontroller technology to manage solar panels, batteries, and sensors that monitor energy conversion in real time. Testing showed SunVolt effectively stores solar energy, prevents overcharging, and reliably supports household and agricultural activities while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and expensive grid electricity.
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Modeling the Performance of Glass-Cover-Free Parabolic Trough Collector Prototypes for Solar Water Disinfection in Rural Off-Grid Communities
Researchers developed a numerical model to optimize glass-free parabolic trough collectors for solar water disinfection in rural off-grid communities. Testing the design in Colombia's Caribbean region, they found that compact collectors can reach temperatures above 70°C and effectively kill pathogens quickly. The model identifies which design features—rim angle, focal length, optical properties—matter most for performance, providing a practical tool for communities to build and adapt low-cost water treatment systems locally.
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Design and optimization of an energy storage system for off-grid rural communities
This paper designs and optimizes an off-grid microgrid system for rural Pakistan using solar energy combined with three energy storage technologies: lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and hydrogen storage. Using HOMER Pro simulation, the researchers find that sodium-ion batteries deliver the best economic performance, achieving the lowest net present cost and levelized cost of energy while maintaining 100% renewable energy fraction. Sensitivity analysis confirms the system's robustness against uncertain parameters.
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Scenario-Based Optimization of Hybrid Renewable Energy Mixes for Off-Grid Rural Electrification in Laguna, Philippines
This paper optimizes hybrid renewable energy systems combining biomass, solar, and wind power for off-grid rural electrification in Laguna Province, Philippines. The analysis shows that adding biomass generators to hybrid systems reduces carbon emissions by 17% and cuts operation costs by 9.4% over seven years. Battery backup systems further improve economic and environmental performance. The findings support decentralized, community-based renewable energy solutions for rural electrification.
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Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) for Off-Grid Rural Electrification: A Comprehensive Review of Components, Optimisation, and Real-World Applications
Hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, and biomass with storage technologies improve rural electrification in off-grid areas. Recent systems achieve 30-40% higher reliability, 10-25% lower costs, and 40-60% emission reductions compared to diesel alternatives. Key barriers include high upfront capital costs, battery degradation, and financing challenges. AI-based controls, hybrid battery-hydrogen storage, and digital twin technology enable better system optimization and predictive maintenance for scalable rural energy access.
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Techno-Economic Assessment of an Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System with Green Hydrogen Storage System for a Rural Primary Healthcare Centre in Abuja
This study designs an off-grid hybrid renewable energy system combining wind, solar, and green hydrogen storage to power a rural primary healthcare centre in Abuja, Nigeria, where 40% of centres lack electricity access. The system meets all electrical demands over 25 years with a levelized cost of $2.53 per kilowatt-hour and minimal unmet load, using excess renewable energy to produce hydrogen for backup power during low resource periods.
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Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities in Off-Grid Solar Systems: Implications for Energy Equity in Rural Communities
Off-grid solar systems in rural communities contain cybersecurity vulnerabilities that threaten energy equity by undermining accessibility, affordability, and reliability. The paper identifies specific vulnerable components and attack types, then argues that effective security solutions must be tailored to each community's unique context rather than applied universally. Context-appropriate approaches are essential to protect energy justice in rural electrification programs.
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Reimagining rural transit: model-based insights into demand-responsive transportation
Demand-responsive transportation (DRT) can reduce rural car dependency and improve service quality in low-density regions. A model of a German rural area shows DRT achieving 14% modal share, with stronger uptake in peripheral zones. While DRT increases overall road traffic slightly by shifting from other transit modes, it remains economically viable at roughly double current transit fares and significantly improves accessibility in areas with poor traditional public transit.
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Modeling the Demand for Demand Responsive Transit Service in Shrinking Rural Areas
Demand responsive transit (DRT) offers a flexible alternative to traditional transit in shrinking rural areas. Using survey data from South Korea, the study finds that younger people, higher-income households, and tech-savvy residents are more likely to adopt DRT. However, residents in severely declining areas show lower adoption rates. Service efficiency, cost, and travel time significantly influence mode choice. The research recommends targeted service design, infrastructure improvements, and financial incentives to make DRT viable in rural regions.
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Rural Farmers’ Perceptions and Utilization of Agricultural Indigenous Knowledge in Farming Practices in Delta State, Nigeria
Rural farmers in Delta State, Nigeria possess substantial indigenous agricultural knowledge and view it positively, with some practices proving more effective than others. Farmers' socio-economic characteristics correlate with their attitudes toward using indigenous knowledge. The study demonstrates that preserving and promoting these traditional practices can enhance agricultural development and benefit broader communities.
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Reviving indigenous farming knowledge in an input-intensive agriculture system: evidence from Eastern Uttar Pradesh
In Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, indigenous farming practices like organic manuring and intercropping are disappearing among smallholder farmers. A survey of 1,768 farmers found that while 60% still use organic fertilizer, most apply it incorrectly, reducing effectiveness and harming soil health. Farmers rely heavily on chemical inputs and monocropping instead. The study recommends farmer training, community awareness programs, and extension services to revive traditional practices and restore soil fertility.
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Science in the Language of the Land: Indigenous Communication of Agricultural and Environmental Knowledge
The Kalagan indigenous community in the Philippines communicates agricultural and environmental knowledge through oral traditions, symbolic rituals, intergenerational teaching, and practical demonstrations. These culturally rooted practices effectively transmit scientific concepts about weather, soil fertility, biodiversity, and climate adaptation. The study argues that integrating indigenous knowledge systems into formal education and policy strengthens sustainability, cultural continuity, and environmental stewardship.
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Representation of Indigenous Agriculture Knowledge and Practices in the Zimbabwe Secondary School Agriculture Curriculum: Prospects and Opportunities for Inclusion
Zimbabwe's secondary school agriculture curriculum largely excludes Indigenous agricultural knowledge and practices, reflecting Western knowledge dominance. The study proposes integrating Indigenous approaches through participatory curriculum development involving teachers, lecturers, extension officers, and farmers. This inclusion would make agriculture education contextually relevant, support sustainable practices, and preserve local heritage while addressing curriculum gaps.
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Women's Contribution to Indian Agriculture through Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Practices, and Impact on Sustainable Rural Development
Women drive Indian agriculture through indigenous knowledge systems, managing seed preservation, organic farming, and water conservation while maintaining ecological balance. Despite their critical role in food production and biodiversity protection, women face barriers in resource access, education, and decision-making. The paper calls for policy interventions to recognize and mainstream women's traditional knowledge, empower them with resources, and strengthen their participation in agricultural decisions to build sustainable, resilient farming systems.
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INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES (IKPs) AS RESPONSE TO AGRICULTURAL RISKS OF IP FARMERS IN BAAO, CAMARINES SUR
Indigenous farmers in Baao, Camarines Sur use traditional knowledge and practices to manage agricultural risks including climate variability, pests, and soil degradation. The study surveyed 179 Indigenous People farmers and found that rice farmers demonstrated the highest risk awareness, while corn, vegetable, and root crop farmers showed varying knowledge levels. Environmental observations and traditional rituals proved effective in building farm resilience and maintaining sustainable indigenous farming systems.
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Indigenous Knowledge of the Hmong People in Lai Chau, Vietnam: Sustainable Agricultural Adaptation and Climate Resilience
Hmong farmers in Lai Chau, Vietnam use a dynamic indigenous knowledge system combining ecological observation, cosmological reasoning, and social autonomy to adapt agriculture and build climate resilience. Their practices—flexible planting calendars, crop diversification, and ecological management—sustain food security and community wellbeing. The study argues that effective climate adaptation for indigenous peoples requires protecting their knowledge systems, cultural continuity, and agroecological practices.
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Indigenous Knowledge and Agriculture: A Study on Terrace Cultivation Practices Among Angami Nagas
The Angami Nagas of Nagaland have developed sophisticated terrace farming systems for paddy cultivation on steep mountain slopes. Their agricultural practices embed indigenous knowledge within cultural and environmental contexts, proving both ecologically adaptive and culturally resilient. The study demonstrates that preserving these traditional systems is essential for long-term food security and environmental stewardship, as their sustainability depends on the integration of ecological practices with community life.
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Digital finance development enhances the expenditures for household energy products in rural China
Digital finance development in rural China significantly increases household spending on traditional energy products and electricity. The study analyzes 30 provinces from 2011 to 2020 and finds that digital finance boosts energy expenditures primarily by raising family income levels. These findings support sustainable energy transitions and rural development.
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Institutional Finance and Its Role in The Development of Agribusiness Enterprises: A Study of Bengaluru Rural District, Karnataka
Institutional finance is critical for agribusiness enterprises in rural areas to adopt modern technology and improve productivity. This study of Bengaluru Rural District found that while institutional financial institutions address agribusiness funding needs, procedural delays, collateral requirements, and lack of awareness hinder efficient credit use. The research recommends improving financial literacy, streamlining loan processes, and providing institutional support.
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LEVERAGING GREEN FINANCING FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
Green financing in rural Africa faces significant barriers including policy uncertainty, regulatory instability, and financial-sector constraints that limit awareness and accessibility for rural enterprises. The study identifies that successful green financing requires policy clarity, alignment with global climate architecture, and inclusive programs integrating skills development, small businesses, and gender inclusion to improve rural welfare and support sustainable development.
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Financing Specialized Property Development in Rural Southwestern Nigeria: A Source Analysis
This study examines financing sources for specialized property developments in rural southwestern Nigeria. Researchers surveyed three states and found that property owners primarily fund these distinctive, custom-built projects through commercial banks, followed by merchant banks, mortgage institutions, and insurance companies. Owners consistently contribute personal equity throughout development lifecycles. Most borrowed funds come as long-term loans, giving owners adequate repayment periods.
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Empowering Rural Revitalization and Development Through Digital Finance Using the Deep Temporal Model and the Internet of Things
This paper demonstrates that deep temporal models integrated with internet of things technology can improve rural development through digital finance. The proposed model outperforms traditional forecasting approaches, achieving high accuracy with lower computational costs. The authors argue this technology effectively addresses rural development challenges and provides a practical framework for rural revitalization using digital finance solutions.
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Cooperative Finance and Sustainable Development Goals: The Contribution of PACCS to Inclusive Rural Development in Tamil Nadu
Primary Agricultural Cooperative Credit Societies in Tamil Nadu provide short-term loans, Kisan Credit Cards, and Self-Help Group financing that improve rural credit access and strengthen livelihoods. These cooperatives reduce poverty, enhance food security, promote gender equality, create employment, and reduce inequalities through transparent governance and mandatory audits. The study confirms that cooperative societies function as effective grassroots institutions driving sustainable rural development.
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Role Co-operative Movement in Economic Development and Rural Finance in India
India's cooperative movement drives rural economic development by enabling rural women's empowerment and providing large-scale finance to farming communities. Cooperatives bring people from different sectors together to start businesses with shared capital, creating employment and raising living standards. In western Maharashtra, cooperatives and rural finance have generated substantial employment and investment growth in agricultural and farming sectors.
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Spatial differentials in higher education access across rural and urban areas of major states of India
This study analyzes higher education access across rural and urban areas in major Indian states using National Sample Survey data. The researchers find that while higher education access has expanded significantly over time, substantial regional disparities persist. Southern states demonstrate better access with smaller rural-urban gaps, while eastern states show greater sectoral variations. Spatial inequalities within states remain pronounced, indicating that targeted policy interventions are essential to achieve equitable higher education expansion.
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If we can grow them here it just makes sense: Disrupting higher education narratives through Country University Centres in regional and rural Australia
Studies Australia's Country Universities Centres (CUCs) under the Regional University Study Hub program, showing how locally-grounded study hubs disrupt the 'go to a city' model and improve access for regional, rural, and remote students.
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Technological innovations in agriculture: the application of Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence for grain traceability and protection
Blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies are transforming grain agriculture by creating transparent, immutable supply chain records and enabling AI-driven risk prediction and dynamic insurance contracts. Smart contracts automate financing based on preset conditions, improving grain quality, preventing fraud, and optimizing logistics. Together, these technologies build more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems that address climate change, price volatility, and supply chain transparency demands.
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Design and optimization of various hybrid renewable energy systems using advanced algorithms for powering rural areas
This paper designs off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, batteries, hydrogen storage, and diesel generators for rural communities in India. Researchers tested four optimization algorithms to size these systems and found that the Blood-Sucking Leech Optimizer performed best. A solar-wind-battery-diesel configuration proved most cost-effective across three Indian locations, with annual costs ranging from $76,000 to $114,000 and minimal greenhouse gas emissions. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the design maintains reliable power supply for rural development.
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Framings in Indigenous futures thinking: barriers, opportunities, and innovations
Indigenous peoples bring distinctive perspectives to futures thinking—shaped by colonisation, unique knowledge systems, and commitment to biodiversity—that enable innovative solutions to climate change and social injustice. This paper identifies four framings of Indigenous futures thinking (Adaptation oriented, Participatory, Culturally grounded, and Indigenising) and finds that innovation increases when Indigenous people lead research teams, co-design projects, use Indigenous methodologies, and apply decolonisation approaches. The authors create a glossary to standardise terminology across this emerging field.
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Tracing the Paths to Sustainable Production and Consumption Through Indigenous Directors, Environmental Innovation, and Sustainability Committees
Indigenous directors significantly drive sustainable production and consumption in Latin American and Caribbean energy firms, with environmental innovation and sustainability committees amplifying this effect. Analysis of 378 firms from 2012–2023 shows indigenous leadership promotes sustainable practices across all performance levels, with stronger impacts at higher quantiles when environmental innovation and committees are present. Regional, policy, and industry factors create substantial variation in outcomes.
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Techno-economic optimization of battery storage technologies for off-grid hybrid microgrids in multiple rural locations of Bangladesh
This study designs and optimizes off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems for five rural locations in Bangladesh, comparing solar, wind, and four battery storage technologies. Simulations using real resource data show that solar-wind systems paired with zinc-bromine flow batteries deliver the lowest costs and highest renewable penetration, achieving 100% renewable energy with zero emissions. The findings demonstrate that zinc-bromine battery systems provide a cost-effective, scalable solution for rural electrification in Bangladesh and similar regions.
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Innovation and technology for achieving resilient and inclusive rural transformation
This paper identifies five key levers for achieving resilient and inclusive rural transformation through innovation and technology. The authors call for increased investment in participatory agricultural research and development, amplifying marginalized voices in innovation processes, ensuring equitable technology access, limiting corporate dominance while supporting small enterprises, and prioritizing rural employment as automation reshapes value chains. These changes aim to generate rural employment, improve smallholder livelihoods, reduce malnutrition, and address climate impacts.
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Advancing Rural Agribusiness Innovation Strategies for Building Climate-Resilient and Economically Inclusive Communities.
Rural agribusinesses drive economic resilience and food security, especially in climate-vulnerable regions. The paper examines how digital agriculture, precision farming, sustainable value chains, and green financing build climate resilience and economic inclusion. It identifies barriers like poor infrastructure and limited finance access, then presents best practices for scaling sustainable models. The analysis of global case studies shows that inclusive ecosystems empowering smallholder farmers and integrating climate-smart approaches create adaptive frameworks that boost productivity and community resilience.
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Digital factors spur rural industrial integration: mediating roles of rural entrepreneurship and agricultural innovation in China
Digital technology adoption significantly strengthens rural industrial integration in China, with effects varying by region. Rural entrepreneurship and agricultural innovation act as key mechanisms driving this relationship. Entrepreneurship matters more in eastern and non-grain regions, while agricultural innovation dominates in central areas and major grain-producing zones. The study recommends accelerating digital integration, boosting agricultural innovation, and supporting entrepreneurial ecosystems.
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Women economic empowerment leads towards social innovation in rural setting of Saudi Arabia
Women's economic empowerment significantly drives social innovation in rural Saudi Arabia. The study measured five empowerment dimensions: family decision-making, mobility freedom, political participation, progressive attitudes, and parental background. All dimensions showed positive effects on social innovation, with mobility freedom having the strongest impact. The findings demonstrate that supporting women's autonomy, political engagement, and progressive thinking fosters community innovation and sustainable change.
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State-driven social innovation: Can neo-exogenous development address rural marginalization? A tale of two villages in China
China's Rural Revitalization Strategy represents state-driven social innovation that can reduce rural marginalization, but outcomes depend heavily on how social capital is built. Two Sichuan villages showed different results: one remained dependent on external actors despite infrastructure improvements, while the other leveraged bonding social capital and local leadership to create inclusive partnerships with government. Effective sequencing of state initiatives regenerates all forms of social capital and enables adaptive governance.
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Social commerce in rural Jordan: analyzing adoption factors through the lens of innovation diffusion and perceived risks
Small businesses in rural Jordan adopt social commerce when they perceive relative advantage, compatibility, and trialability benefits. Complexity and perceived risks—particularly economic and security concerns—block adoption. Visibility of benefits has minimal impact. The study recommends simplified, secure, cost-effective solutions to accelerate digital transformation among rural enterprises.
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Financial technology (Fintech) innovation and financial inclusion: comparative study of urban and rural consumers post-Covid-19 pandemic
This study examines how rural and urban consumers in Indonesia adopted financial technology after Covid-19, using survey data from 654 respondents. The research found that preference for the status quo most strongly drives Fintech adoption, while personal innovativeness has minimal impact. Actual use of Fintech significantly improves financial inclusion. Rural and urban populations differ in how digital literacy and government support influence their adoption decisions, suggesting providers should tailor digital finance strategies by location.
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Social Innovation for Rural Bioeconomies
The SCALE-UP project identifies how social innovation strengthens rural bioeconomies by building multi-actor partnerships among companies, governments, civil society, and researchers. Analysis of regional bioeconomy projects reveals that inclusive approaches—where local communities shape and benefit from sustainable bio-based value chains—drive success. Cross-sector collaboration proves essential for scaling these practices, offering rural regions a framework for sustainable development.
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Water, sanitation and social innovations in health: a qualitative exploration of gender and intersecting social stratifiers in a rural ram-pump project in the Philippines
A qualitative study in the Philippines examines how gender and social inequalities shape health outcomes in a hydraulic ram pump project that delivers water to remote communities. The research finds that gender norms intersect with socioeconomic status and geography to create disparities in water access and health. Community-driven approaches that address these intersecting inequalities prove effective at improving health outcomes and building resilience in underserved areas.
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Determinants and problems of well-being of farming population in Poland and local social innovations in rural areases
This study identifies key factors affecting farmer well-being in Poland: access to health and social services, internet connectivity, farm succession, and community trust. Researchers interviewed farmers and local leaders in three counties to understand how these factors impact physical, mental, and social well-being. Social innovations—including activity diversification, community integration, and mobile healthcare services—successfully improved farmers' quality of life.
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Digital transformation in agricultural circulation: enhancing rural modernization and sustainability through technological innovation
Digital transformation of agricultural product circulation significantly enhances rural modernization in China, with stronger effects in technologically advanced regions and spillover benefits to neighboring areas. Green innovation and industrial structure optimization drive both environmental sustainability and economic growth. The study demonstrates that digitalization makes agricultural practices more resilient, efficient, and environmentally friendly, supporting sustainable development and climate resilience in rural economies.
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Correction: Digital transformation in agricultural circulation: enhancing rural modernization and sustainability through technological innovation
This is a correction notice for a published article about digital transformation in agricultural distribution systems. The correction addresses an author affiliation error for Hengli Wang, whose affiliation was incorrectly listed as the Institute of Big Data at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law when it should have been the Wuhan University of Cyber Security Preparatory Office. The original article examines how technological innovation enhances rural modernization and sustainability through improved agricultural circulation.
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Leveraging Digital Innovation to Enhance MGNREGA’s Impact on Rural Empowerment
Digital innovations including Aadhaar-linked payments and Direct Benefit Transfers have improved India's rural employment guarantee scheme by streamlining wage disbursement, reducing delays, and enhancing transparency. GIS mapping and data analytics enabled better resource allocation and asset tracking. However, the study identifies critical gaps: digital literacy remains low, infrastructure is inadequate, and data security needs strengthening. These findings show how digital governance can strengthen rural employment programs and poverty reduction.
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Empowering Rural Communities through Social Innovations: Social Innovation as a Design Tool in the Extension Approaches for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Nepal
Social innovation empowers rural Nepali farmers by shifting agricultural extension from traditional top-down methods to participatory, community-led approaches. Mobile advisory services and farmer field schools that integrate local knowledge demonstrate effectiveness in boosting productivity while building resilience. Collaborative problem-solving among stakeholders improves agricultural outcomes, food security, and rural livelihoods while addressing climate change and infrastructure gaps.
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Transformative social innovation and rural collaborative workspaces: assembling community economies in Austria and Greece
Rural collaborative workspaces in Austria and Greece demonstrate transformative potential through social innovation processes. Community-led workspaces strengthen rural actors' capacities, shift individual perspectives toward collective action, and reshape economic relationships. The study finds these spaces can foster community economies by changing social relations and economic subjectivities. However, workspaces need greater institutional support and resources to progress beyond early transformation stages and achieve lasting societal impact.
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Can Social Innovation and Agriculture Serve as a Turning Point in Rural Areas? Insights from a Bibliometric Literature Review
This bibliometric review of 178 publications examines how social innovation and agriculture address rural challenges. The analysis identifies agriculture, digitalization, and forestry as key research areas, alongside emerging organizational models like rural hubs, living labs, and community cooperatives. These initiatives aim to revitalize rural social fabric and improve quality of life in rural populations.
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Teatro Povero di Monticchiello: Community-based Social Innovation and Intangible Heritage in Rural Tuscany
Teatro Povero di Monticchiello in rural Tuscany stages autodrama annually, blending community participation with cultural heritage. The paper shows how this fifty-year practice functions simultaneously as intangible heritage and social innovation, driven by place attachment, collective memory, and collaborative leadership. Local residents view autodrama as both cultural preservation and a vehicle for social change.
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Frugal innovation and sustainable development: a holy grail for rural transformation
Frugal innovation—affordable, accessible, and sustainable solutions—offers rural communities a pathway to development. Multinational companies can drive positive change by aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals, establishing local partnerships, and empowering local entrepreneurs. This approach addresses rural poverty, healthcare, education, and energy access while creating social impact, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
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Innovaciones pedagógicas en entornos rurales para el fomento de la Inclusividad [Pedagogical innovations in rural environments for the promotion of inclusivity]
Rural schools in vulnerable contexts achieve educational inclusion through flexible teaching methods adapted to local socioeconomic and cultural conditions. Teacher training and decolonial approaches that value local knowledge strengthen student identity and belonging. Digital technologies combined with contextualised teacher preparation enable equitable access to education in rural communities.
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Bridging Digital Gaps in Rural Teacher Education: Curriculum Innovations for Inclusive and Technology-Driven Pre-Service Training
Curriculum innovations using digital technologies can improve pre-service teacher education in rural universities, but implementation faces barriers including poor infrastructure, low digital literacy, and misalignment between curriculum design and classroom practice. The study finds that online and hybrid learning, active learning strategies, and professional development support digital integration. Effective reform requires embedding digital tools into pedagogy rather than treating them as optional, with programs tailored to rural education needs.
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Digital Economy Transformation and Sustainable Development of Agricultural Enterprises: A Study on Supply Chain Finance Innovation and Environmental Governance in Rural Areas
Digital supply chain finance innovations significantly strengthen environmental governance in agricultural enterprises, with smart farming technologies mediating about one-third of this effect. Institutional support through subsidies and rural financial policies amplifies these benefits. Large-scale farms, cooperatives, and enterprises in developed agricultural regions see the strongest improvements in sustainability outcomes.
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Digital rural construction and agricultural green total factor productivity: the role of land finance, land resource misallocation, and agricultural technology innovation
Digital rural construction in China significantly improves agricultural green total factor productivity through three mechanisms: better access to land finance, reduced misallocation of land resources, and increased agricultural technology adoption. The benefits are strongest in central and western regions, non-grain-producing areas, and regions with lower land transfer efficiency. The study analyzes 2,128 counties over a decade using rigorous econometric methods.
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Empowering communities through digital innovation: evaluating FeralScan adoption by Australian rural landholders
FeralScan's WildDogScan platform enables Australian rural landholders to report invasive wild dogs through a web and mobile application. The study found 51% of surveyed landholders had used it at least once since 2015. Adoption barriers included usability confusion, difficulty using the tool, preference for personal contact, and skepticism about benefits. The authors recommend improving promotional, educational, and support services to increase uptake.
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Research on the Digital Intelligence Innovation Model for Emergency Management in Urban and Rural Agricultural Supply Chains
This paper develops a three-dimensional framework for managing agricultural supply chains during emergencies using digital intelligence technologies. The framework examines digital risk perception, organizational operations, and social value creation across technology, organization, and social dimensions. The study shows how digital intelligence improves emergency prevention, early warning, response, and recovery in urban-rural agricultural supply chains, and charts directions for future digitalized emergency management systems.
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A three-pronged approach to the digitalization–innovation–sustainable rural development nexus among Italian farms
Italian farms show highly uneven adoption of digital innovations and their links to sustainable development. Using census data and cluster analysis, the study identifies distinct geographic patterns across Italian regions, revealing that farms differ significantly in how they combine digitalization, innovation, and sustainability practices. These scattered adoption patterns create varied rural development outcomes across territories.
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The rural in democratic innovations: a comparative proposal between Latin America and Europe
Democratic innovations in rural Europe focus on development, environment, and local economics within existing political structures, emphasizing institutional strengthening and sustainability. Rural Latin America uses democratic innovations differently—as tools for emancipatory struggles including indigenous rights defense and food sovereignty. The paper argues these innovations challenge fundamental notions of development and rights in Latin America, whereas European innovations primarily improve public policies without questioning the political model.
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Empowering Rural Communities on Rural Pact Implementation: A Human–Ecological Perspective on Social Innovation and Rural Young Entrepreneurship
This study examines how rural communities can implement the European Rural Pact through social innovation and youth entrepreneurship. Using human ecology principles, the researchers analyzed interviews to identify six key dimensions for reducing rural-urban disparities. They found that local experimentation, higher education partnerships, national-level monitoring, and youth engagement—particularly among young people and women—drive transformative change in rural areas.
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Enhancing financial sustainability of rural banks in Bali through social capital, service innovation, and organizational culture
Rural banks in Bali achieve financial sustainability primarily through service innovation, which has the strongest positive effect. Organizational culture also directly supports sustainability and drives service innovation. Social capital plays a complex role: it strengthens the link between culture and innovation, but paradoxically reduces both innovation and sustainability when measured directly. The research emphasizes that rural banks must build strong internal culture and innovate services to overcome resource constraints.
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Narratives of Change or Changing the Narrative? An Exploration of Narratives in Rural Social Innovation
Rural social innovation initiatives in Portugal and Austria construct narratives that challenge dominant stories about rural decline, decision-making divides, and competition. The paper identifies how these initiatives frame change through narratives of bringing rural communities back into focus, promoting experimentation, and pursuing opportunity-led development. These counter-narratives represent attempts to reshape how rural social innovation is understood and valued.
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Research on the Innovation Path of Social E-Commerce + Rural Finance under the Background of Rural Revitalization
Social e-commerce platforms in rural China face financing constraints that limit growth. The paper examines how rural social e-commerce businesses struggle with capital advances and accounts receivable as they scale operations selling agricultural products through livestreaming and short video channels. It proposes that financial technology innovation, rather than traditional finance, can unlock sustainable development by creating new models where fintech platforms empower rural revitalization.
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Social Innovation in Rural Development Policy: Strengthening Participation, Representation and Accountability
European rural development policies increasingly use community-led approaches like LEADER to build on local strengths, but these programs face criticism for being overly technical and constrained by national priorities. This paper examines two methods for improving participation and accountability in place-based rural innovation: Northern Ireland's Community-led Local Development program and the Social Value Engine tool. Both approaches aim to strengthen community inclusion, accountability, and representation in rural development processes.
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A Failed Social Innovation Experiment in Rural China
A participatory action research project in rural China attempted to extend the impact of short-term design interventions through a toolkit approach. Despite three iterations, the experiment failed to achieve its goals of fostering sustainable village development. The researchers found that rigid tools and linear problem-solving approaches don't work in village settings. They conclude that lasting rural innovation requires flexibility, adaptability, and attention to both tangible and intangible legacies rather than predetermined frameworks.
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Rural digital social innovation for health and social care: A systematic review
This systematic review of 25 studies examines how digital technology enables social innovation in rural health and social care. Healthcare innovations typically address geographical distance between providers and patients through collaborative processes, while community initiatives tackle local challenges through grassroots efforts. Most innovations showed positive outcomes on health service use and community health. Digital tools expanded innovation scope and reach, but success required substantial human investment and genuine rural community engagement alongside technology.
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Challenges of smart solutions for rural ageing: Critical reflections illustrated by social innovation directed to older rural women in southeastern Poland
Social innovation projects addressing rural ageing in southeastern Poland face significant barriers to sustainability and scaling. A study of an NGO-led initiative for older rural women found limited visibility, weak collaboration between organizations, and funding challenges caused the project to end despite participant appreciation. The research reveals that NGOs and local action groups view social innovation as risky and business-focused, making them reluctant leaders. The authors recommend blended financing, micro-grants, and training to strengthen rural innovation capacity.
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A Study on the Theoretical Evolution, Practical Dilemmas, and Policy Innovations in Enhancing Rural Social Welfare
China's rural social welfare system lags significantly behind urban provision, creating institutional gaps in social security and public services. This paper examines theoretical foundations and policy pathways for reform under the Rural Revitalization Strategy. It identifies three core problems: low overall welfare levels, homogeneous provider structures focused on relief, and narrow economic subsidies lacking comprehensive support. The study compares two reform approaches—rural-to-urban integration versus strengthening local rural welfare—and recommends targeted policies to achieve urban-rural welfare equality and common prosperity.
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Ciclo Lab: A Social Innovation Model for Circular Waste Management and Community Empowerment in Rural Indonesia
Ciclo Lab demonstrates a circular economy model in rural Indonesia that converts organic waste into livestock feed through maggot cultivation. The program processed over 6 tons of waste annually, reduced poultry feed costs by 44%, and increased community income while engaging youth and women in productive activities. The model proves replicable for other rural areas facing similar waste management challenges.
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Social innovation in rural areas to promote Sustainable Development: A Systematic Review
A systematic review of 2010–2020 literature identifies social innovation models applied in rural areas to promote sustainable development and adapt to new agricultural practices. The study finds that information and communication technologies, entrepreneurship, family farming, and transformative practices drive rural innovation. Government entities and rural communities play promoter and facilitator roles through governance structures that enable community participation and leadership to improve socioeconomic conditions.
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Social Innovation and Sustainability in Rural Organizations in Southern Sonora
Rural organizations in southern Sonora show limited social innovation implementation due to small size and low technological capacity. A survey of 200 members reveals that social innovation dimensions—particularly social impact, innovation type, economic viability, and replicability—positively influence organizational sustainability. Intersectoral collaboration showed no significant effect. The findings demonstrate how social innovation strengthens rural organizations and inform policy design for local development.
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Economic Development through Social Entrepreneurship: Case Study of Rural Innovation Hubs in Balikpapan
Rural innovation hubs in Balikpapan, Indonesia boost household incomes by over 50 percent through training, networking, and market access for local entrepreneurs. Digital services showed strongest growth. Women and young entrepreneurs participated heavily, advancing gender equity and youth empowerment. Hubs successfully build community resilience and create social value, though limited access to affordable capital remains a barrier requiring stronger policy support and financial partnerships.
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Sustainable entrepreneurship and business performance among rural women entrepreneurs: investigating the influence of entrepreneurial intention, social innovation and government support
Rural women entrepreneurs in Bihar, India show stronger business performance when they have entrepreneurial intention, engage in social innovation, and receive government support. These three factors drive sustainable entrepreneurship practices, which in turn improves business outcomes. The study recommends governments invest in training programs teaching rural women sustainable business practices and develop policies supporting female entrepreneurs in rural areas.
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Social innovation in South Africa's rural municipalities: policy implications
Unable to provide summary. The abstract contains no description of the paper's findings or arguments about rural innovation in South Africa's municipalities. Without substantive content in the abstract, the paper's actual contributions cannot be determined.
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Innovación Social en Áreas Rurales: El proyecto ESIRA (Social innovation in rural areas. The ESIRA Project)
ESIRA is a four-year European project (2024–2027) funded by Horizon Europe that promotes social innovation in rural areas across eight countries. It establishes community-led Innovation Spaces where local actors conduct self-diagnosis and identify opportunities in social economy, entrepreneurship, culture, digitalization, and green transition. Through participatory multi-actor platforms, rural communities lead initiatives to build resilient, prosperous regions with inclusive policies and collaborative social returns.
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Social Innovation for Rural Bioeconomies
The SCALE-UP project identifies how social innovation strengthens rural bioeconomies by building multi-actor partnerships among companies, governments, civil society, and researchers. Analysis of regional bioeconomy projects reveals that inclusive approaches—where local communities shape and benefit from bio-based value chains—drive sustainable development. Cross-sector collaboration proves essential for scaling these practices, offering rural stakeholders a framework for integrating social dimensions into bioeconomy initiatives.
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SOCIAL INNOVATION AND PEDAGOGICAL TOURISM IN RURAL AREAS
Pedagogical tourism in rural areas combines education with community engagement, transforming villages into learning environments. This study shows that integrating pedagogical tourism with social innovation creates experiential learning for students while strengthening rural economies and addressing local challenges. The approach aligns with sustainable development goals and produces measurable improvements in educational outcomes, community income, and environmental conditions.
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Social Innovation Approach in Integrated Farming: Advancing Rural Well-Being in Karawang Regency, West Java, Indonesia
Integrated farming systems in Karawang, Indonesia show characteristics of social innovation and boost productivity, but don't significantly improve farmer well-being on their own. The study found that production behavior and management matter more than social innovation factors for productivity gains. Productivity accounts for only 13.5% of overall well-being, indicating that higher yields alone don't lift farmers out of poverty. Sustainable rural development requires market access, fair pricing, education, and social support systems alongside productivity improvements.
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The contribution of agritourism to social innovation and sustainable development in the rural areas of the Portuguese Beja region
Agritourism businesses in Portugal's Beja region drive social innovation and sustainable development. A qualitative study of eight microenterprises found strong consensus that agritourism contributes environmental, economic, and social benefits to rural areas. While perceptions of social innovation varied among managers, the research validated that agritourism serves as an effective alternative to traditional agriculture and promotes regional sustainability.
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Community-driven food networks as vehicles of rural social innovation
Two community-driven food networks in rural Cape Breton, Canada—one Indigenous-led and one non-Indigenous—demonstrate how integrated programming combining food access, wellness, and employment initiatives builds social cohesion, local capacity, and community dignity. These networks function as rural social innovation infrastructure rather than charity, addressing food insecurity, isolation, and economic marginalization while fostering inclusion and resilience.
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Empowering Change: How Women-Led Social Innovations Are Advancing Gender Equality in Rural Areas
Women-led social innovations drive gender equality progress in rural communities. These initiatives address local challenges through grassroots solutions, creating economic opportunities and social change. The paper examines how women entrepreneurs and community leaders implement innovations that improve livelihoods, strengthen social networks, and challenge traditional barriers, demonstrating that rural women are key agents of sustainable development.
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GRASSROOTS INNOVATION AND RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN INDIA: A PATHWAY TO INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
Grassroots innovation and rural entrepreneurship address poverty and underemployment in India's rural economy by leveraging indigenous knowledge and local enterprise. The paper analyzes the conceptual foundations, policy environment, and practical outcomes of these approaches through literature review, statistics, and case studies. It demonstrates how grassroots innovation drives inclusive and sustainable growth, then recommends strengthening institutional frameworks to scale successful initiatives across diverse rural regions.
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Frugal Innovation and Patent Analysis in Sericulture: Lessons for Sustainable Rural Bioeconomy Systems
Patent analysis of silk-reeling technologies from 2000–2024 reveals that most innovations emphasize energy-intensive industrial methods unsuitable for low-resource rural contexts in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The study evaluated 212 patents against criteria including resource efficiency, accessibility, and social inclusion, finding that current designs marginalize traditional producers—mostly women and smallholders—from emerging bio-based value chains. The authors argue for resource-efficient, modular, socially inclusive innovations to support rural sericulture within circular bioeconomy systems.
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Impact of Digital Innovation on Rural Development and Inclusive Urbanization in Baringo County
Digital innovation significantly influences rural development and inclusive urbanization in Baringo County, Kenya. The study surveyed 44 county assembly members and found that digital innovation statistically impacts rural development outcomes. The research recommends adopting digital innovation to address urbanization challenges sustainably and implementing digital literacy programs for youth and adults to enable participation in a digital economy.
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Effect of Digital Innovation on Rural Development and Inclusive Urbanization in Baringo County
Digital innovation significantly influences rural development and inclusive urbanization in Baringo County, Kenya. The study surveyed 44 county assembly members and found that digital innovation has a statistically significant effect on rural development outcomes. The research recommends adopting digital innovation as a tool for achieving sustainable development goals and implementing comprehensive digital literacy programs for youth and adults to enable participation in a digital economy.
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Village Digital Spaces and Generational Politics: The Challenge of Inclusive Innovation in Rural Indonesia
Village Digital Community Spaces in rural Indonesia provide youth with basic digital skills training in graphic design and video editing, boosting confidence. However, structural barriers including top-down governance, social hierarchies, and poor infrastructure prevent young people from developing advanced skills and implementing their ideas. The study argues that sustainable rural innovation requires not just technology but also mentoring, cross-sector collaboration, and policies that support participatory, intergenerational planning.
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Inclusive Innovation for the Sustainable Strengthening of Prickly Pear Cultivation in Rural Areas of Colombia: A Case Study in Sonsón, Antioquia
This study develops an inclusive innovation model to strengthen prickly pear cultivation in rural Colombia by combining preservation of traditional knowledge, social context, and practical use. Using mixed methods including surveys, focus groups, and agent-based modeling, the researchers identify smallholder farmers and inclusive intermediaries as key actors. The model reduces power imbalances in the value chain, improves farmer associations and market access, and redistributes profits toward producers while protecting traditional knowledge and supporting endogenous rural development.
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Public-Sector Innovation To Narrow The Urban–Rural Digital Divide For Inclusive Smart Tourism In Indonesia: A Systematic Review
Indonesia's government-led digital innovations—including smart-tourism apps, cashless payment systems, and broadband expansion programs—improve rural tourism access and market reach for small businesses. These initiatives help narrow the urban-rural digital divide and attract younger travelers. However, connectivity gaps, low digital literacy, and limited local capacity continue to hinder progress. The review recommends policy priorities focused on digital inclusion and regional equity.
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Advancing Rural Agribusiness Innovation Strategies for Building Climate-Resilient and Economically Inclusive Communities.
Rural agribusinesses build climate resilience and economic inclusion through digital agriculture, precision farming, and green financing. The paper identifies barriers like poor infrastructure and limited finance access, then recommends scaling sustainable models that empower smallholder farmers and promote gender equity. Inclusive business ecosystems combining technology, institutional support, and climate-smart practices strengthen rural productivity and community resilience.
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Innovation and knowledge-based inclusive transformation of rural areas in Algeria: examining the PPDRI programme
Algeria's PPDRI rural development programme successfully implemented innovation-driven knowledge-based economy policy in agriculture through training, capability building, and ICT adoption across five prefectures. The study finds that farmer participation and bottom-up governance approaches were essential to programme effectiveness, offering new insights for rural and agricultural policy implementation in developing contexts.
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ICTs for Climate Resilience and Rural Development in Pakistan: Bridging Digital Divides for Inclusive Innovation
ICTs like satellite telemetry and flood early warning systems can help rural communities in Pakistan's glacier regions adapt to climate risks, but their success depends on local trust, gender-sensitive design, and community-based training. Top-down technology deployment fails; instead, ICTs must be co-designed with local actors, translated into local languages, and supported through inclusive capacity-building to bridge digital divides rather than widen them.
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Co-creating rural digital policy across borders: A Living Lab-based double diamond approach
Researchers used Living Lab methodology and design thinking to co-create rural digital policy with communities in Sweden and Finland. They engaged diverse stakeholders through workshops, interviews, and design activities to develop a draft policy prototype and action plan aligned with sustainable development goals. The approach demonstrates how participatory methods can produce context-sensitive policies for underrepresented rural regions.
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Co-designing and implementing biomass circularity at the territorial level through rural living labs: Insights from a transdisciplinary and participatory approach in Madagascar
Rural living labs in Madagascar's Central Highlands enable communities to co-design and implement biomass circularity strategies tailored to local conditions. The transdisciplinary and participatory approach helps rural stakeholders identify biomass potential, design circular systems, and assess environmental and economic impacts. This addresses a critical gap in tools available to Global South communities for reducing import dependence and achieving sustainable rural development.
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Living labs para o desenvolvimento rural: co-construção participativa no município de Altônia, Paraná
Researchers in Altônia, Brazil established a living lab—a participatory innovation space—to strengthen local agricultural systems through co-creation with farmers, municipal officials, and university staff. Through workshops, participatory mapping, and facilitated dialogue, the team developed practical actions for rural development. The work shows that living labs shift development from top-down technology transfer to collaborative problem-solving that values local knowledge, offering a replicable model for rural innovation in agricultural regions.
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Research on the Digital Transformation Path of the Rural Financial System Assisted by the Internet of Things Based on the Innovation Mode of Supply Chain Finance
Digital finance, particularly through internet-of-things-enabled supply chain finance, accelerates rural development. The study finds that increased digital finance coverage raises rural industrial output by 1.7–4.8 percent per percentage point increase. Credit services prove most effective for rural industry growth. Digital inclusive finance shows stronger impacts in developing rural regions than in low-developed areas, with effects varying across income quantiles.
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Research on Digital Integration Dilemma, Innovation Model and Feasible Path of Endogenous Rural Book House—Based on the Practice and Thinking of Nantong Zhangwugao Rural Book House
Rural book houses in China struggle to integrate digital services due to institutional, resource, cognitive, and authority gaps. This study examines Nantong's Zhangwugao Rural Book House and proposes a "driving-embedding-efficiency" innovation model to overcome these barriers. The approach combines embeddedness and network governance theory to advance digital integration, supporting both cultural digitalization and rural revitalization strategies.
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How Does Digital Governance Drive Rural E-Commerce Innovation?—Research Based on the Theory of Digital Governance
Rural e-commerce drives innovation and rural revitalization by leveraging policy guidance, technology, platform support, and ecosystem coordination to upgrade agricultural industries and increase farmer incomes. The paper argues that strengthening legal frameworks, increasing digital infrastructure investment, building multi-stakeholder collaboration mechanisms, and developing e-commerce talent training systems are essential for sustainable rural e-commerce growth.
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Enhancing the entrepreneurial skills of rural farmers through digital technology and business innovation
A 14-week training program in Indonesia enhanced entrepreneurial skills for 40 rural farmers through digital technology and business innovation. Participants received instruction in business planning, financial management, digital marketing, and product development, with practical mentorship across four program phases. Despite limited internet access, farmers successfully adopted digital platforms like Facebook for marketing, increased sales, and improved product competitiveness. The program significantly boosted participants' confidence and business management capabilities.
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Broad Band Access in Rural Areas: Bridging the Digital Divide Through Technological Innovations
Rural areas lack internet connectivity, restricting access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. This paper proposes a hybrid broadband network combining cable TV infrastructure with Wi-Fi 6 mesh technology and satellite backhaul to deliver affordable, scalable internet access. The system uses solar-powered nodes and edge caching to maximize efficiency, enabling rural communities to access telemedicine, online education, and digital marketplaces.
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A Global Perspective of Rural Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Digital Era: A Panel Report
Digital technologies enable rural communities to innovate and pursue entrepreneurship by providing affordable, accessible tools that overcome traditional barriers like limited resources and infrastructure. This panel report calls for increased research on how digital technology supports rural innovation and entrepreneurship, proposing a socio-materialist framework to guide future studies in this emerging field.
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Research on the Mechanism of Digital Technology Empowering Rural Financial Service Innovation for Farmers' Income Growth
Digital financial technologies boost farmer income in rural China through three main mechanisms: information processing optimization (36.4% of effect), transaction cost reduction (28.7%), and improved resource allocation (21.3%). The study analyzed data from 2020-2024 using structural equation modeling and found that digital financial inclusion significantly increases agricultural income, with effectiveness varying by region and infrastructure development level.
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Rural E-commerce Development Based on Legitimacy and Local Wisdom: An Integrative Review of Platform Innovation, Credit Risk Analysis, and Digital Empowerment Strategies in Indonesia
Rural e-commerce in Indonesia grows when platforms combine technological innovation with local wisdom and values. The paper integrates research on platform legitimacy, game-theory-based credit risk analysis, and rural development strategies. It finds that synergies between trust-building, risk management, and local cultural adaptation drive consumer confidence and platform growth. Success requires technology responsive to local conditions and proactive risk management.
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Bridging the Divide: Digital Innovation as a Catalyst for Healthcare Equity between Urban and Rural Populations
Digital health innovations including telehealth, electronic prescribing, and AI clinical decision support reduce healthcare disparities between rural and urban populations by improving appointment completion, medication access, and specialist care availability. However, technology alone fails—successful implementation requires supportive policies, infrastructure investment, and community engagement to create sustainable systems that maintain quality standards across geographic boundaries.
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Digital Innovations for Rural Industry Create Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts
Digital innovations using 5G and IoT technology in rural forestry operations reduce operational time and costs while improving environmental outcomes like flora preservation and reduced contamination. The study identifies two organizational pathways to successful implementation, involving factors like process innovation experience, agility, and digital competence. Results come from field trials in the Horizon Europe COMMECT project.
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Revolutionizing Rural Credit Banks: A Narrative Review of Sustainable Financial Futures through ESG Integration and Digital Innovation
Rural Credit Banks transform through integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance principles with digital technology to achieve sustainable finance and financial inclusion. The study identifies three transformation pillars: ESG governance integration, digital technology adoption, and improved financial performance. Combined ESG and digital strategies enable Rural Credit Banks to strengthen local economies and support economic development.
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Digital Health Innovation: Integrating Blockchain, Point-of-Care Diagnostics and AI for Rural Telemedicine Delivery
This paper proposes a telehealth system for rural populations combining blockchain, point-of-care diagnostics, and AI. The framework uses blockchain for secure data management and patient consent, integrates with national health ID systems, and pairs remote consultations with local diagnostic testing and AI support. The approach addresses interoperability and privacy concerns while expanding healthcare access in underserved regions.
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Innovation in Business and Trade Services under the Digital Background Practice and Exploration of Promoting Rural Revitalization
Digital innovation in business and trade services drives rural revitalization by upgrading e-commerce, developing smart logistics, and creating new digital industry models. These approaches boost rural industrial growth and improve farmers' living standards. However, inadequate infrastructure, weak digital capabilities, and incomplete branding limit progress. The paper proposes targeted strategies for digital transformation of rural commerce to achieve sustainable development.
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Integrating Digital Innovation and Sustainability to Build Resilient NGOs and NPOs in Global Rural Contexts: An Interdisciplinary Approach
Digital innovation and sustainability frameworks together strengthen NGOs and NPOs in rural areas by improving operational efficiency, transparency, and organizational resilience. The study across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America shows that digital tools like blockchain and cloud systems, combined with sustainability goals, enhance governance and community trust. However, digital illiteracy, infrastructure gaps, and data privacy concerns remain significant barriers that require culturally adapted solutions.
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Digital Health Innovation by Design: A Logic Model Scaffold for Rural, Regional, and Remote Settings
Digital health innovations often fail in rural and remote settings despite their potential. This paper presents a logic model scaffold—a four-step iterative process for planning, implementing, and evaluating digital health interventions in these contexts. The approach emphasizes understanding local needs, aligning with system enablers, and embedding reflexivity to adapt to workforce realities and geographic constraints. A Northern Australian case example demonstrates how this method improves rigor and responsiveness.
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External Support, Innovation, and Digital Transformation in Village-Owned Enterprises for Sustainable Rural Development Amid the COVID-19 Crisis
Innovation significantly improves Village-Owned Enterprise performance in Indonesia, particularly through product, service, process, and organizational changes that build resilience during crises. However, digital transformation and online marketing show weak links to performance, revealing adaptation challenges. External support from government and institutions fails to meaningfully strengthen these relationships, suggesting that support mechanisms need better alignment with digital strategies for sustainable rural enterprise growth.
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WhatsApp innovation that improved reporting rates: A low-cost digital approach to strengthen health reporting in rural Uganda
A WhatsApp-based reporting system in rural Uganda increased health surveillance reporting rates from 33% to 89% within three months. Health workers submitted weekly epidemiological reports through a WhatsApp group when network failures disrupted the national mTrac system, with a district coordinator consolidating submissions once connectivity returned. The innovation improved data timeliness, completeness, and worker accountability while requiring minimal cost, demonstrating how simple digital tools can strengthen health information systems in resource-limited rural settings.
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CONSUMER PERCEPTIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY, DIGITAL AND GREEN INNOVATIONS IN RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Consumers increasingly prefer rural businesses that pursue sustainability and digital innovation. This study surveyed consumers nationwide about their attitudes toward sustainable practices, greenwashing, and digitalization in rural tourism and agriculture. The research identifies what drives consumer choices for environmentally friendly products and digital services, examines consumer awareness of greenwashing, and reveals barriers to adopting digital tools in rural tourism. Consumer trust, legislation, and technology adoption shape sustainable rural development.
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Transforming Rural Development with Village-Centered Digital Innovation
Digital transformation offers rural development opportunities but widens the digital divide. The Banyuwangi Regency Government implemented a Smart Village program to address technology access disparities. The paper examines how village-centered digital innovation strategies can reduce inequality and improve rural development outcomes through targeted technology deployment and community engagement.
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Digital Health Innovation by Design: A Logic Model Scaffold for Rural, Regional, and Remote Settings
Digital health innovations often fail in rural and remote settings because they ignore local needs, workforce challenges, and geographic complexity. This paper presents a four-step logic model scaffold that guides planning, implementation, and evaluation of digital health projects in these contexts. The approach emphasizes understanding local context, aligning interventions with system enablers, and building in ongoing adaptation rather than following rigid linear plans.
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Taste of the isles: community engagement and digital innovation in rural food and drink services
Three digital initiatives developed with the Outer Hebrides Tourism Community improved visibility for food producers, crofters, and service providers while enhancing community engagement and access to digital markets. The projects combined visual storytelling with community co-design to overcome limited digital infrastructure and financial constraints, strengthening economic and social resilience across the islands and demonstrating how rural food and drink services can adopt digital innovation.
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The Mediating Effects of Governance, Financial Literacy, and Technological Innovation on Digital Finance in North Sumatra’s Rural Banks
Financial inclusion and taxation policies significantly drive digital finance adoption in North Sumatra's rural banks. Corporate governance, financial literacy, and technological innovation mediate these effects, together explaining 85.4% of adoption variance. The study of 91 rural banks shows rural banks must prioritize financial literacy programs and digital tax systems to improve efficiency and promote inclusive growth, particularly in less-developed districts.
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Comparing digital public service innovation in urban and rural space: evidence from Indonesia public service innovation competition 2014-2023
Indonesian local and district governments show distinct patterns in digital public service innovation from 2014 to 2023. Local governments emphasize interactive services over static ones, while district governments gradually shift toward interactive solutions. Most innovations are externally focused and independently developed rather than collaborative. The findings reveal weak cross-sector collaboration and internal digital capacity, highlighting the need for balanced approaches integrating interactivity with accessibility and encouraging collaborative innovation.
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Financial Inclusion Through Digital Service Innovation: Mobile Banking Solutions for Rural Communities in Vietnam
Mobile banking innovations can advance financial inclusion in rural Vietnam by addressing historical barriers to formal financial services. The study identifies five critical success factors: infrastructure readiness and digital literacy, trust-building through local intermediaries, service design adapted to agricultural cycles, regulatory flexibility, and sustainable business models. Successful initiatives require ecosystem development, cultural adaptation, and community engagement beyond technology deployment alone.
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Climate Change, Water Scarcity, and Farmer Innovations in Rice Cultivation Irrigation: A Case Study of Dry-Seeded Rice in Rural Eastern Mazandaran
Farmers in rural eastern Mazandaran, Iran adopted dry-seeded rice cultivation with phased irrigation instead of traditional flood irrigation. This innovation reduces water consumption by 65%, cuts pesticide use, lowers production costs, and increases per capita income per hectare up to four times compared to other regional crops. The method works for both high-yield and high-value rice varieties and spreads rapidly across villages facing water scarcity.
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Internet of Things innovation in rural water supply in sub-Saharan Africa: a critical assessment of emerging ICT
IoT and ICT technologies are emerging in rural water supply across sub-Saharan Africa, but their sustainability and integration into existing systems remain poorly understood. This paper frames rural water supply as a complex problem, assesses specific challenges in Tanzania through expert interviews, and evaluates existing IoT innovations. The authors argue that moving toward a service delivery approach—supported by better data collection and integrated information systems—can improve sustainability and outcomes for rural communities.
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Fintech Innovations and the Transformation of Rural Financial Ecosystems in India
Fintech companies in India are expanding financial inclusion by providing digital banking, micro-lending, mobile wallets, and UPI platforms to unbanked and underbanked populations, particularly in rural areas. The study finds that fintech innovations combined with strong regulatory frameworks and digital infrastructure drive inclusive growth more effectively in developing economies than in wealthy nations. Success requires coordinated improvements in cybersecurity, digital literacy, rural connectivity, and public-private partnerships.
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Innovation networks in the advanced medical equipment industry: supporting regional digital health systems from a local–national perspective
This study maps innovation networks in China's advanced medical equipment industry using patent data from 2005–2024. The national network shows sparse, core-periphery structure dominated by Beijing and Shanghai, with weak participation from central and western regions. The Yangtze River Delta region, by contrast, has built a denser polycentric network with Shanghai, Nanjing, and Suzhou as hubs. Economic development, technological capability, and government policy drive network formation, with infrastructure as a key enabler.
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Bridging the digital divide: exploring the challenges and solutions for digital exclusion in rural South Africa
Digital exclusion in rural South Africa severely limits access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. This study surveyed 200 residents in Mkatazo village, finding that over half lack internet access, 38.5% cannot afford connectivity, and two-thirds lack digital skills. Cost, infrastructure gaps, and geographic isolation drive exclusion most strongly. The authors recommend expanding broadband infrastructure, subsidizing devices, zero-rating mobile data, building digital literacy, and deploying offline AI tools to bridge the divide.
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Harnessing biostimulants for sustainable agriculture: innovations, challenges, and future prospects
Biostimulants enhance plant growth and resilience while reducing chemical inputs, but face adoption barriers from inconsistent formulations, unclear regulations, and limited mechanistic understanding. This review examines biostimulant development, classifications, and mechanisms while identifying challenges in product performance, regulatory compliance, and economics. The authors argue biostimulants can improve nutrient efficiency and climate resilience, and propose a framework integrating research, policy, and practice to advance sustainable agriculture.
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Technological Innovations in Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture: Pathways to Sustainable Food Systems in Metropolises
Urban and peri-urban agriculture addresses food security and sustainability challenges in cities, but technological barriers limit its potential. This review examines advanced technologies for improving productivity, optimizing space use, and managing resources in urban farming. The authors identify obstacles across research, dissemination, and commercialization stages, then recommend increased funding for interdisciplinary R&D, stronger technology extension systems, improved business models, and stakeholder collaboration to scale these innovations.
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Cultivating sustainability: Harnessing open innovation and circular economy practices for eco-innovation in agricultural SMEs
This study examines how open innovation and circular economy practices drive eco-innovation in agricultural SMEs in Thailand. Surveying 211 SMEs, the research finds that eco-processes most strongly influence SME sustainability initiatives, which in turn generate sustainable products including waste-derived and eco-friendly items. However, eco-products and eco-managerial practices show limited impact on SME initiatives, suggesting these areas need stronger frameworks to support environmental performance.
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Bridging or widening? The impact of the Broadband China policy on urban-rural income inequality
China's Broadband policy expanded rural internet infrastructure but paradoxically widened the urban-rural income gap between 2011 and 2021. The policy's effects varied by region based on local conditions. Innovation, entrepreneurship, digital finance, and information industry growth mediated the policy's impact on inequality. Complementary policies helped reduce the widening effect, suggesting that broadband expansion alone requires coordinated policy support tailored to local development levels.
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The Digital Divide and the Elderly: How Urban and Rural Realities Shape Well-Being and Social Inclusion in the Sardinian Context
Rural elderly people in Sardinia have significantly lower access to and use of digital tools compared to urban elderly, creating a digital divide that threatens social inclusion and well-being. Psychological and cognitive well-being predict digital use differently in rural versus urban areas. The study demonstrates that digital inequality persists even in developed countries, particularly affecting older populations, and calls for targeted interventions to improve rural digitalization and reduce exclusion.
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How returning home for entrepreneurship affects rural common prosperity
Returning home to start businesses significantly promotes rural prosperity in China, with effects varying across regions and driven by three mechanisms: access to financial credit, government support, and social networks. The impact is stronger in areas already experiencing higher prosperity levels, creating a Matthew effect where advantages concentrate in better-off rural regions.
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Co-creating cultural narratives for sustainable rural development: a transdisciplinary learning framework for guiding place-based social-ecological research
This paper presents a transdisciplinary framework that combines cultural heritage, landscape, and social-ecological systems thinking to support sustainable rural development. The framework emphasizes continuous dialogue and collaboration among communities, stakeholders, and researchers across four steps. Testing in four European UNESCO Biosphere Reserves demonstrated that the framework successfully guides place-based research and enables comparative analysis, allowing insights from local contexts to scale up to national and global levels.
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Green Innovation and the Urban–Rural Income Gap: Empirical Evidence from China
Green innovation significantly reduces China's urban–rural income gap, with each unit increase in green innovation cutting the gap by 0.017 units. The effect is stronger in economically developed regions and areas with higher-skill workforces. Green innovation narrows income inequality by driving urbanization, restructuring labor forces, and reducing wage disparities. Environmental pollution amplifies these benefits, making green innovation particularly effective in polluted areas.
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The Digital Divide of Older People in Communities: Urban‐Rural, Gender, and Health Disparities and Inequities
Rural older adults face significantly larger digital divides than urban counterparts, driven by poor infrastructure and reduced intergenerational support from youth migration. Women and those in poor health experience greater barriers to accessing and using digital technology. The study quantifies these disparities across access, use, and knowledge dimensions, showing that addressing urban-rural, gender, and health inequalities is essential for inclusive digital aging.
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Internationalization, innovation, and resilience: Financial performance of agricultural cooperatives in southeastern Spain's rural economy
Agricultural cooperatives in southeastern Spain that expand into international markets achieve stronger financial resilience, increased profitability, and greater innovation capacity than non-internationalized enterprises. Digital innovation proves essential for successful export performance. The study demonstrates that internationalization strengthens cooperative governance and positions these organizations as drivers of sustainable rural economic development, particularly in the post-pandemic context.
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Techno-economic and environmental assessment of grid and solar photovoltaic microgrid supply options for isolated off-grid rural communities toward sustainable and affordable electricity in Nkoranza South, Bono East, Ghana
This study compares grid extension and solar photovoltaic microgrids for delivering electricity to isolated rural communities in Ghana. A 746 kW solar microgrid proved economically superior to a 19.5 km grid extension, with positive net present value, 24% internal rate of return, and 7-year payback period versus negative returns for grid expansion. The solar option also delivers substantial environmental benefits, preventing 31 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 25 years.
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Off-grid PV systems modelling and optimisation for rural communities - leveraging understandability and interpretability of modelling tools
This paper develops a transparent, open-source framework for designing off-grid solar photovoltaic systems in rural buildings. The authors combine particle swarm optimization with physics-informed modeling tools to size solar-plus-battery systems while accounting for climate change, user behavior changes, and evolving energy needs. Testing shows that open-source models reduce costs, increase flexibility, and improve confidence in rural electrification solutions compared to proprietary software.
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Technology Adoption Intention and Sustainable Entrepreneurship Ability of Rural Women in Bangladesh
Rural women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh adopt ICT when they have access to materials, mental support, skills training, usage opportunities, and microfinance services. ICT adoption significantly improves their business skills. The study surveyed 315 women and identifies key access points policymakers should target to empower rural female entrepreneurs and advance gender equality goals.
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Challenges for tourism-related lifestyle migrant entrepreneurship in rural areas of the Algarve, Portugal
Lifestyle migrant entrepreneurs in rural Portugal's Algarve region face significant barriers when starting and running tourism businesses. Bureaucratic complexity, unclear legal procedures, and inadequate specialized support create the biggest obstacles. The study reveals that better cooperation and communication among stakeholders—including government agencies, local authorities, and support organizations—is essential to help these entrepreneurs succeed and enable sustainable rural tourism development.
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Role of gender in determining energy poverty, clean energy access, and energy expenditure: Insights from rural China
In rural China, male-headed households experience lower energy poverty and greater access to clean energy for cooking and heating compared to female-headed households. Female-headed households, particularly smaller ones, face significant barriers to clean energy access and higher energy poverty levels. The study recommends empowering rural women through skills training, financial support, and energy subsidies to enable equal participation in household energy decisions and reduce energy poverty.
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Exploring the Impact of Green Finance on Sustainable Rural Development: Evidence From 283 Cities in China
Green finance promotes rural sustainable development in Chinese cities, according to analysis of 283 prefecture-level cities from 2004 to 2022. Environmental regulations and digital economy adoption strengthen this positive effect. However, green finance creates negative spillover effects on neighboring regions while benefiting its own area. The study recommends strengthening green finance deployment, enhancing environmental oversight, and promoting digital economy adoption to support rural sustainability.
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Mapping Innovation and Sustainability in Rural Tourism: A Bibliometric Approach
This bibliometric analysis of 94 articles reveals that innovation and sustainability research in rural tourism concentrates in Europe, particularly in China, Italy, and Spain, with most publications from the last decade. The study identifies influential researchers and research centers, maps current approaches and trends, and calls for more integrated research connecting innovation, sustainability, and rural tourism—especially in less developed regions where these tools could drive economic success.
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Has the integration of fiscal agricultural funds promoted rural entrepreneurship?
China's 2016 fiscal agricultural fund integration policy significantly boosted rural entrepreneurship, according to county-level analysis from 2014 to 2021. The policy worked by improving infrastructure and expanding credit access. Effects were strongest in regions with higher internet adoption, lower agricultural modernization, and lower incomes, suggesting the policy particularly benefited less-developed rural areas.
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Digital Finance, Digital Usage Divide, and Urban–Rural Income Gap: Evidence from China
Digital finance can reduce China's urban-rural income gap, but digital usage disparities complicate this effect. Using data from 274 Chinese cities, the study finds a U-shaped relationship where digital finance initially widens the gap, then narrows it once digital adoption exceeds a threshold. Traditional financial systems moderate this pattern. The research recommends improving rural financial conditions, accelerating digital transformation of conventional finance, and strengthening rural digital education to address usage disparities.
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Optimizing renewable energy site selection in rural Australia: Clustering algorithms and energy potential analysis
This study uses clustering algorithms and genetic optimization to identify the best locations for renewable energy plants across rural Australia. Researchers analyzed solar irradiance and wind speed data to find optimal sites, then simulated energy outputs using HOMER Pro software. Solar panels consistently outperformed wind turbines. While genetic K-Medoids produced the highest energy output, it came with the highest costs, revealing a trade-off between energy production and financial feasibility.
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Renewable Energy Integration into Industrial and Residential Buildings: A Study Across Urban, Rural, and Coastal Areas
This study evaluates how different renewable energy sources—photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, and biomass—perform when integrated into residential, commercial, and industrial buildings across urban, rural, and coastal areas. The research finds that photovoltaic energy works best for urban residential buildings, wind energy suits coastal industrial buildings, and geothermal energy provides the most consistent baseload power across all settings. Combining multiple renewable sources reduces grid dependence and improves sustainability more effectively than relying on single sources.
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Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on the High‑Quality Development of Rural Economy: Evidence from China
Digital inclusive finance significantly promotes high-quality rural economic development in China. Using provincial panel data from 2011 to 2022, the study finds that digital inclusive finance—measured through coverage, usage depth, and digitalization—strengthens rural innovation, coordination, green development, openness, and shared prosperity. The positive effects hold across eastern, central, and western regions, suggesting digital finance tools effectively address rural development challenges.
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Innovation and Sustainable Solutions for Mobility in Rural Areas: A Comparative Analysis of Case Studies in Europe
Rural areas across Europe face severe transport limitations that restrict access to services, education, and jobs, perpetuating socio-economic exclusion. This study examines successful mobility solutions implemented across EU countries through case study analysis and literature review. The research identifies effective practices—including door-to-door service delivery, infrastructure repurposing, and volunteer transport networks—that improve accessibility and social inclusion in rural communities by tailoring solutions to local needs rather than applying urban models.
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Bridging the divide: how agricultural technological innovation narrows the urban–rural income gap in China
Agricultural technological innovation, measured by patent applications, significantly narrows urban-rural income gaps in China. Using panel data from 280 Chinese cities (2008-2021), the study finds that innovation reduces income disparities through employment restructuring, improved factor allocation, and enhanced production efficiency. Effects are stronger in eastern and western regions, higher-level cities, and areas with better intellectual property protection and information access. The impact strengthens as urbanization and education levels increase.
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The urban‒rural income gap, green innovation and urban carbon emissions: An empirical study in the Yangtze River Delta, China
Widening income gaps between urban and rural areas in China's Yangtze River Delta increase carbon emissions by suppressing green innovation. The effect varies across regions and time periods. Market reforms and government intervention both help reduce emissions independently of income inequality. Policymakers can address income inequality and environmental challenges simultaneously through coordinated market and government action.
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Empowering women in rural India: characteristics and intentions for sustainable entrepreneurship
This study identifies factors driving rural women in India toward sustainable entrepreneurship. Using surveys of 1,250 rural women and structural equation modeling, the research finds that perceived capability, social perception, and individual competencies all directly increase women's entrepreneurial intentions. Perceived opportunities mediate these relationships. Together, these factors explain about half the variation in women's sustainable entrepreneurial intentions.
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Rural entrepreneurship as-practice: a framework for research beyond stereotypical notions of entrepreneurial agency and contextual constraints
Rural entrepreneurship research often relies on stereotypical views of rurality and how context shapes business activity. This paper proposes a new theoretical framework treating rural context and entrepreneurship as interconnected practice-material bundles. The authors identify four types of relations between entrepreneurial agency and rural context—causal, prefigurative, constitutive, and intelligibility—to better understand how they mutually shape each other. The framework bridges positivist and constructivist approaches and emphasizes analyzing practice-material dynamics as the core unit for studying rural entrepreneurship.
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Comprehensive Analysis and Optimal Design of Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Rural Electrification in West Papua, Indonesia
Researchers designed an optimal hybrid renewable energy system for rural electrification in Anggi District, West Papua, Indonesia. Using HOMER software, they compared five configurations combining diesel generators, hydropower, solar, and batteries. A hybrid system with diesel, hydro, solar, and battery storage proved most cost-effective and environmentally sound, reducing emissions by 4,372 kg annually compared to diesel alone while achieving 67.7% renewable energy fraction and lowering energy costs to $0.311/kWh.
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Unlocking renewable energy potential: Overcoming knowledge sharing hurdles in rural EU regions on example of poland, sweden and france
A survey of 12,428 rural residents in Poland, Sweden, and France reveals that while environmental awareness is high, significant barriers block renewable energy adoption. Respondents across all three countries express concerns about security, affordability, and infrastructure. Knowledge gaps, insufficient expert guidance, and reliance on unreliable online sources limit understanding of renewable energy benefits. The study identifies targeted education, financial incentives, and infrastructure investment as essential to overcoming these barriers and accelerating the energy transition.
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The Urban–Rural Digital Divide in Internet Access and Online Activities During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Rural Nebraskans had significantly lower broadband internet access than urban residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. This infrastructure gap directly limited rural residents' ability to order food and groceries online, stream entertainment, and use videoconferencing for work and medical care. However, rural residents' lower engagement in social media, online gaming, education, and casual video calls reflected personal preferences rather than infrastructure constraints.
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Digital divide, agricultural supply chain finance, and the urban-rural income gap in China
Agricultural supply chain finance reduces China's urban-rural income gap by promoting urbanization and non-agricultural employment. However, the digital divide significantly weakens this effect. The study uses provincial data from 2014–2020 to show that bridging digital access is critical for supply chain finance to effectively narrow income inequality and support rural revitalization.
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Unintended Benefits: Impact of Place‐Based Policies on the Rural–Urban Income Gap in China's Old Revolutionary Base Areas
Place-based revitalization policies in China's old revolutionary base areas significantly reduced the urban-rural income gap. The policies worked through improved public services, agricultural support, and digital economy development. Effects were strongest in western cities, areas with high income inequality, and regions with slower urbanization. This demonstrates that regional development policies can deliver unintended benefits for income equity in less developed areas.
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Household access to clean fuels and technologies, rural and urban electrification, renewable energy consumption, and environmental sustainability in Africa
This study analyzes how clean fuel access, electricity access, and renewable energy affect carbon emissions across African countries. The research finds that clean fuel and electricity access paradoxically worsen environmental conditions, while economic growth increases emissions. However, renewable energy consumption improves environmental quality. The authors recommend prioritizing renewable energy electrification to deliver clean electricity and reduce emissions.
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Community participation and the viability of decentralized renewable energy systems: evidence from a hybrid mini-grid in rural South Africa
Community participation strengthens decentralized renewable energy systems in rural areas. This study of a hybrid mini-grid in South Africa found that high technical and social participation improved system maintenance, trust, and resilience. However, women and community members had limited influence in decision-making and economic opportunities. Meaningful participation across governance, technical, economic, and social domains enhances legitimacy, local ownership, and long-term viability of rural energy projects.
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The Problem of Transforming the Energy System Towards Renewable Energy Sources as Perceived by Inhabitants of Rural Areas in South-Eastern Poland
Rural residents in south-eastern Poland largely support the country's transition to renewable energy and understand its necessity. However, older respondents show less clarity or preference for non-renewable sources. The study surveyed 300 people across five districts in Małopolska, finding age significantly influences energy transition attitudes. Targeted awareness campaigns for mature populations could strengthen public backing for renewable energy adoption.
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Comprehensive approaches to electrifying rural health facilities: Integrating renewable energy and financial mechanisms in Sub-Saharan Africa
Rural health facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa can achieve reliable electricity access by combining renewable energy solutions with innovative financing mechanisms. The study identifies that successful electrification requires coordinated investment from governments, private sector, and development organizations, supported by enabling policy frameworks. This integrated approach makes sustainable energy access for healthcare delivery in underserved regions economically and technically feasible.
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The Impact of Digital Infrastructure on Rural Household Financial Vulnerability: A Quasi-Natural Experiment from the Broadband China Strategy
China's Broadband China pilot policy significantly reduced financial vulnerability among rural households between 2012 and 2020. The policy strengthened financial resilience particularly for female-headed and spousal-headed households in regions lacking advanced digital finance infrastructure. Digital infrastructure increased household income through land transfer opportunities and boosted non-farm employment and financial literacy, creating pathways to greater financial sustainability in rural areas.
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Agritourism as a catalyst for sustainable rural development: Innovations, challenges, and policy perspectives in the post-COVID-19 era
This study examines agritourism in Thailand, identifying how farms have adapted post-COVID through diversification, technology adoption, and sustainability focus. Key innovations include immersive learning experiences, precision farming, hydroponics, and cultural tourism models. The research finds that policy frameworks, infrastructure investment, and community empowerment are essential for success. Recommendations include targeted subsidies, capacity-building, and regulatory harmonization to overcome financial and infrastructure barriers.
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Increasing the Effectiveness of Rural, Regional and Remote Food Security Initiatives Through Place‐Based Partnerships—A Qualitative Study
Rural and remote organizations in Western Australia collaborate on food security through coordinated action, community consultation, and resource sharing. The study of 101 initiative leaders found 378 partnering organizations working together. Formal partnership agreements improve sustainability while maintaining flexibility for addressing complex food security challenges. Clear partnership purposes and defined roles enhance effectiveness across rural food security initiatives.
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Rural Energy Poverty: An Investigation into Socioeconomic Drivers and Implications for Off-Grid Households in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
This study examines energy poverty among off-grid households in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, identifying key socioeconomic drivers. Female-headed households face greater vulnerability to energy poverty, while larger households experience less. Education alone does not improve energy access due to infrastructure gaps. Social grant dependency correlates strongly with energy poverty. The research calls for gender-responsive policies addressing both infrastructure and socioeconomic barriers to energy access in rural areas.
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Fuzzy Logic-Enhanced Sustainable and Resilient EV Public Transit Systems for Rural Tourism
This paper develops F-AMIS, a fuzzy logic-based optimization system for managing electric vehicle public transit in rural tourism areas. The system handles variable tourist demand and infrastructure constraints better than traditional methods. A case study shows F-AMIS reduces operational costs by 20% and increases service coverage from 75% to 90% while improving resilience and sustainability. The framework offers a scalable solution for rural EV transit planning.
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Social vulnerability, lower broadband internet access, and rurality associated with lower telemedicine use in U.S. Counties
Analysis of 8 million U.S. telemedicine sessions reveals that rural counties use telemedicine at lower rates than urban counties. Broadband internet access and rurality are stronger predictors of telemedicine use than social vulnerability factors. The relationship between social vulnerability and telemedicine adoption differs significantly between rural and urban areas, with greater variability in urban counties.
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Bridging the urban–rural divide: digital literacy as a catalyst for enhancing physical exercise participation in China
Digital literacy significantly increases physical exercise participation in China, with stronger effects for rural residents. Using data from 18,336 participants, the study finds that improved digital skills help rural people overcome structural barriers to physical activity. Enhancing digital competencies in rural areas could reduce urban-rural health disparities and advance health equity through better access to exercise information and resources.
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Bridging the digital divide: how does rural digitalization promote rural common prosperity?
Rural digitalization in China significantly promotes common prosperity by improving economic and social outcomes across provinces from 2011 to 2021. Government transfer payments strengthen this effect, while strict pollution fees can weaken it. Digital rural development creates spillover benefits for neighboring regions, though these advantages decrease with distance. The impact varies substantially by region, sector, and time period.
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Integrating community assets, place-based learning, and career development through project-based learning in rural settings
Rural middle school teachers and counselors collaborated to design project-based learning units connecting STEM careers to local community needs. Three educator teams successfully engaged community members and highlighted career pathways, but struggled with consistent learning assessment practices. The study demonstrates that place-based education can strengthen rural STEM instruction when supported by sustained professional development tailored to rural educators' isolation and resource constraints.
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Evaluation and Obstacle Factors of Renewable Energy Substitution Potential in Underdeveloped Rural Areas of China
This study evaluates renewable energy substitution potential in underdeveloped rural areas of Gansu Province, China, using multi-objective analysis and obstacle factor modeling. The research finds that renewable energy substitution potential is generally low with significant spatial and temporal variation. Key obstacles include limited renewable energy resource endowment, low irrigated agricultural area, insufficient agricultural machinery, and small rural populations. The authors recommend strategic planning of renewable energy development models and coordinated regional approaches to enhance economic value.
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The Long‐term Socioeconomic Impacts of Renewable Energy Deployment: Lessons From Case Studies in European Rural Regions
Renewable energy installations in European rural regions generate long-term economic growth, employment, and population recovery. The authors built a database tracking wind and solar capacity across European regions over decades, then used synthetic control methods to measure socioeconomic impacts. Results show both within-region and between-region effects from renewable energy deployment in rural areas.
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Energy Valorization Strategies in Rural Renewable Energy Communities: A Path to Social Revitalization and Sustainable Development
Rural energy communities in Spain can help combat depopulation by adopting innovative energy valorization strategies. The study analyzed seven villages across three scenarios: self-consumption models, battery storage systems, and advanced options like hydrogen production. While no single strategy reverses depopulation alone, combining social impact principles with approaches like energy retail or unified community structures significantly mitigates rural decline and supports sustainable revitalization.
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Cost-effectiveness of rural energy access strategies
This paper evaluates cost-effectiveness of rural energy access strategies in sub-Saharan Africa by comparing on-grid electrification, off-grid solar, mini-grids, and improved cooking technologies. The authors find that on-grid electrification delivers disappointing results relative to costs, while stand-alone solar systems and energy-efficient biomass cookstoves emerge as the most cost-effective options. Mini-grids face unresolved sustainability challenges that undermine their viability.
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Importing innovation or indigenous innovation: Evaluating the effect of climate finance on promoting environmental sustainability in developing countries
Climate finance reduces CO2 emissions in developing countries by approximately 3.31% per standard deviation increase, but works primarily through importing external innovations rather than fostering indigenous innovation. The mechanism fails in least developed countries, where climate finance shows no significant emissions reduction and sometimes increases carbon output. Indigenous innovation pathways remain underutilized despite their potential.
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Establishing large, permanent protection outcomes on Indigenous‐owned private land: Innovations at Gayini, Australia
Gayini, a wetland restoration project in Australia's Murray-Darling Basin, demonstrates an innovative conservation model combining Indigenous land ownership with legally-binding protection covenants. The project was co-developed with Traditional Custodians and shows how new governance arrangements can expand protected areas while respecting different tenure systems and ensuring biodiversity representation across diverse landscapes.
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Integrating Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge with Modern Practices for Sustainable Farming and Food Security
Farmers can achieve sustainable farming by combining traditional ecological knowledge with modern agricultural practices. A mixed-methods study found 45% of farmers fully adopted this integrated approach, while others adopted it partially. Key barriers include lack of institutional support, funding constraints, and inadequate policies. The research shows that combining traditional methods like intercropping and organic pest control with modern precision farming improves soil health, water retention, and farm profitability. Policymakers must provide training, financial support, and regulatory frameworks to increase adoption.
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Constructing an Indigenous knowledge approach to agroecology and regenerative agriculture: The case of Yucatec Maya
Yucatec Maya farmers are abandoning traditional sustainable practices for conventional agriculture, driven by climate change and resource degradation. This paper reveals how Indigenous Yucatec Maya concepts—including diversity, resilience, food security, and sovereignty—underpin their traditional food systems. The authors argue that integrating this Indigenous knowledge with agroecology and regenerative agriculture approaches will strengthen food system transformation and increase long-term success.
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Digital Inclusive Finance and Farmer Entrepreneurship: Pathways to Sustainable Development in Rural Ghana
Digital financial services significantly boost farmer entrepreneurship in rural Ghana, increasing entrepreneurial activity by 10-49% depending on the analytical method. Access to digital finance, digital literacy, and household income all drive farmers to adopt entrepreneurial approaches. The study recommends governments invest in digital infrastructure, reduce transaction costs, and fund digital literacy programs to promote rural entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
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Impact evaluation of broadband investment on coverage and household internet use in rural areas
Spanish rural municipalities that received broadband investment subsidies significantly increased their high-speed internet coverage between 2013 and 2019, narrowing the rural-urban divide. However, improved broadband coverage alone did not substantially increase household internet use in rural areas. The study reveals a persistent digital divide, with rural coverage at 38% compared to 90% in urban areas, suggesting that infrastructure investment must be paired with other interventions to drive actual adoption.
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Bridging the rural divide: The impact of broadband grants on US agriculture
The Community Connect Grants Program, which funds broadband infrastructure in rural US communities since 2002, increased crop productivity by 9.3 percent within three years of receiving grants. Low-income areas saw even larger gains, ranging from 6.3 to 13.8 percent. The study demonstrates that expanding high-speed broadband in rural regions directly boosts agricultural productivity.
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A Bridging the Digital Divide in Education: Disparities in Google Classroom Utilization and Technical Challenges among Urban and Rural Teachers
Rural teachers in Indonesia face significantly greater technical barriers and use Google Classroom less frequently than urban teachers, reflecting a persistent digital divide in school infrastructure and internet connectivity. The study surveyed 395 secondary teachers and found rural areas lack adequate ICT resources. The authors recommend region-specific interventions including targeted digital literacy training and equitable device distribution to enable inclusive online learning across geographical areas.
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Gender Differences in the Digital Divide, Digital Back-Feeding, and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Rural Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study
In rural China, 71% of older adults experience the digital divide, which significantly reduces their health-related quality of life. Digital back-feeding—receiving digital support from family members—buffers this negative effect, but only for women. The study calls for gender-tailored digital inclusion policies that encourage adult children to engage digitally with their mothers in rural communities.
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Bridging the digital divide in rural Thailand: Understanding potential factors influencing Starlink's satellite internet adoption
This study identifies factors influencing Starlink satellite internet adoption in rural Thailand. Analyzing 806 survey respondents, researchers found that age, education, device ownership (tablets and wearables), and social media engagement significantly predict service adoption. The findings enable policymakers and service providers to design targeted strategies that increase rural broadband access and digital inclusion, supporting socio-economic development in underserved Thai communities.
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Rural innovation and the green transition: The role of further education colleges
Further Education Colleges in rural areas can drive innovation addressing the green transition, particularly in agriculture. A Welsh case study shows how one college developed slurry management solutions by aligning skills training with innovation goals, distributing leadership across stakeholders, and creating experimental regulatory spaces. The findings demonstrate FECs' overlooked potential to tackle major environmental challenges while strengthening rural economies.
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Shaping change locally: a place-based STEM project’s influence on rural elementary and middle grade students
A rural elementary school's place-based STEM project on wildlife-vehicle collisions shifted students' identities toward seeing themselves as problem-solvers, advocates, and community members. Students developed stronger environmental responsibility and STEM competence through authentic scientific inquiry and public advocacy. The project fostered real-world problem-solving and agency, demonstrating that locally relevant STEM education empowers rural students to engage as capable learners and active community participants.
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Off-Grid Renewable Energy Solutions for Agro-Rural Community Development in Nigeria
Nigeria faces severe energy access deficits despite abundant renewable resources. This study identifies off-grid renewable energy solutions—solar, biomass, hydro, and wind technologies—as cost-effective alternatives that can significantly enhance rural electrification and development in Nigerian agricultural communities.
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Indian rural livelihoods and renewable energy interventions – A critical analysis for a bottom-up approach for sustainability from an energy-water-food nexus context
This study examines renewable energy interventions in Indian rural communities through an energy-water-food nexus lens. The research finds that top-down renewable energy policies have failed to measure livelihood outcomes effectively. Solar pumps emerge as the most successful intervention, delivering benefits across energy, water, and food production. The analysis shows decentralized renewable systems outperform grid extensions economically, and that interventions succeed when communities possess strong social, financial, and human assets. Bottom-up approaches tailored to local livelihoods prove more effective than standardized programs.
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Does access to credit promote the use of modern energy services? Evidence from rural Nigeria
Credit access modestly increases rural Nigerian households' adoption of modern energy services, particularly electric lighting, phone charging, and fan ventilation. Formal and cooperative loans prove more effective than informal credit. However, credit alone cannot drive energy transitions—household wealth, education, and infrastructure type significantly influence adoption patterns, indicating that financial access must combine with broader socioeconomic improvements.
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Innovation and Well-Being in Indigenous Entrepreneurship in Indonesia: A Capability Approach
Indigenous entrepreneurs in Indonesia innovate to preserve cultural heritage alongside economic gain. A capability approach study of two Indigenous communities reveals that cultural well-being drives innovation participation and collective learning. Understanding how Indigenous entrepreneurs value innovation—beyond profit—shows that cultural preservation acts as both an outcome and mechanism enabling community members to engage in innovation efforts.
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How does science and technology finance affect the agricultural green development: an interpretation from the perspective of rural human capital and agricultural industrial agglomeration
Science and technology financing significantly promotes agricultural green development in China through rural human capital improvements, though agricultural industrial agglomeration partially masks this effect. The relationship is non-linear: marginal effects increase with higher science and technology finance levels but decrease when mediated through rural human capital or industrial agglomeration. Regional differences are minimal.
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Mitigate or exacerbate? Assessing digital engagement's impact on mental health inequalities across gender and urban–rural divides
Digital engagement improves mental health outcomes for Chinese adults and reduces mental health inequalities across gender and urban-rural divides. The effect is stronger for urban-rural disparities than gender disparities. Digital engagement simultaneously enhances overall mental health while narrowing inequality gaps, suggesting that increasing digital access and use can address both mental health levels and equity concerns in China.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Advancing Equitable Internet Access in Rural Kenya for Sustainable Development
Kenya has achieved 85% internet penetration through cellular networks and government initiatives, but rural areas remain underserved due to infrastructure gaps, high costs, and low digital literacy. The paper evaluates connectivity models including community networks, wireless ISPs, and satellite internet, identifying affordability and regulatory barriers as persistent challenges. It proposes integrated strategies combining infrastructure investment, affordable services, and digital literacy programs through government, private sector, and community collaboration to achieve equitable rural access.
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Bridging The Digital Divide : The Role of Technology in Enhancing Rural SMES in Indonesia
Rural small and medium enterprises in Indonesia face a significant digital divide caused by limited infrastructure, low digital literacy, and weak government support. While digital technology could boost their competitiveness and revenue, adoption remains limited. The study recommends stronger collaboration between government, technology providers, and SMEs to accelerate technology adoption and improve rural business competitiveness in the digital economy.
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Place-based rural health professional pre-registration education programs: a scoping review
Place-based health professional education programs train students in rural communities to address healthcare workforce shortages. A review of 138 programs across 12 countries identified four training models: short-term placements, extended placements, rural campuses, and distributed blended learning. Programs recruit local students, engage communities in selection and delivery, and evaluate graduate work locations and access outcomes. Successful programs combine widening educational access, comprehensive design, and community engagement aligned with social accountability.
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A Registered Report on Place-Based Resentment: Exploring Urban-Rural Tensions in Sweden
This Swedish study reveals significant urban-rural tensions despite the country's egalitarian welfare state and equalization policies. Rural respondents showed stronger in-group identification, greater place-based resentment, and more negative stereotypes of urban people than vice versa. However, these tensions did not translate into systematic bias when evaluating political statements from rural versus urban politicians, suggesting regional identity matters for political discourse without creating systematic partisan divides.
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The double disadvantage of rural place-based policies
Rural regions face a double disadvantage under current place-based policies: they lack the agglomeration economies and institutional capabilities that urban areas possess. This scoping review of 2008–2022 literature shows that place-based policies, particularly the urban-centric smart specialisation model, fail to address rural needs. The authors argue that effective rural policy must move beyond urban templates, strengthen rural institutions, accept that growth isn't essential, and develop genuinely tailored strategies recognizing peripheral regions as valuable assets.
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Embedding local cultural richness in English language education: a place-based dual-core approach for rural schools in China
Rural English teachers and students in China experience disconnection between language education and local culture, limiting engagement and cultural identity. The study proposes a Dual-Core approach combining institutional reforms—optimized decision-making, resource integration, and evaluation systems—with targeted teacher and student training in local cultural awareness. This framework aims to improve teaching effectiveness, strengthen community connections, and support rural revitalization.
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Building a rural medical workforce: the foundations of a place-based approach to program evaluation
A rural medical training program in Australia's Deakin University footprint admits 30 local students annually to address doctor shortages. Graduates who completed rural clinical schools, chose general practice, had rural backgrounds, and stayed in early postgraduate training were 3 to 7 times more likely to work in the target region. However, many left after three years, signaling the need for expanded rural specialty training to retain doctors locally.
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Analysis of Renewable Energy Deployment and Investment for Rural Health Facility Electrification: A Case Study of Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda
Poor electricity access in rural health facilities across Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda undermines healthcare delivery and increases child mortality. The study examines how renewable energy investments and financing models can electrify these facilities. Findings show investment approaches vary by country, and decision-makers should develop public-private partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms to deploy renewable energy systems in rural health centers, supported by stronger collaboration between financial and health institutions.
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Complementarity and Substitution Effects of Investments in Renewable Energy and Global Economic Growth: Strategic Planning Opportunities for Development of Rural Areas
Renewable energy investments drive global economic growth and create jobs in rural areas where land and resources are abundant. The authors analyze how renewable energy investments complement or substitute for other economic activities and examine strategic planning approaches across countries. They find that renewable energy investment boosts economic growth and that different nations prioritize rural renewable development differently in their policy frameworks.
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Techno-economic optimization of hydrogen-based hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in sub-Saharan Africa: Case study of a photovoltaic/wind/hydrogen system in Dargalla, Cameroon
Researchers designed and optimized a hydrogen-based hybrid renewable energy system combining solar, wind, and fuel cell technology to electrify a rural village in Cameroon. The optimal configuration cost USD 138,202 with energy at USD 0.443/kWh. The system works best in areas with high wind speeds and becomes increasingly cost-competitive as fuel cell and solar prices decline, offering a viable path to rural electrification across sub-Saharan Africa.
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Research on energy storage planning methods for distributed renewable energy integrated rural power distribution networks
This paper develops an optimization method for placing and sizing energy storage systems in rural power networks that integrate renewable energy. Using clustering analysis of load and generation data, the researchers create a cost-minimization model and test it on a standard 33-bus system. The optimized energy storage placement reduces operational costs, cuts wind and solar curtailment losses, stabilizes voltage, and improves overall network efficiency.
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Optimizing off-grid PV/wind systems with battery and water storage for rural energy and water access
This paper develops an optimization framework for off-grid renewable energy systems combining solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and water storage to serve rural communities. The system uses an energy management algorithm and genetic optimization to balance electricity supply, water access, and costs. A case study in Quebec demonstrates the system can reliably power homes and pump water while reducing diesel dependence, with payback periods of 8–12 years and electricity costs of 16–23 cents per kilowatt-hour.
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Rural Communities Access to Clean Cooking Fuels, Energy and Technologies: Socioeconomic Implications and Progress Toward Sustainable Development
This study analyzes data from 43 African countries between 2000 and 2023 to examine how rural access to clean cooking fuels and technologies affects sustainable development and socioeconomic outcomes. Results show that increased rural access to clean cooking energy significantly improves both sustainable development and socioeconomic conditions, with a 1% increase in access raising socioeconomic outcomes by 1.43%. The research recommends governments reduce commercialization timelines, provide subsidies and tax incentives, and establish supportive financing policies for clean cooking energy adoption.
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Planning off-grid rural electrification with MicroGridsPy: The case of Dugub, Nigeria
Solar photovoltaic mini-grids with battery storage and backup generators offer the most cost-effective solution for rural electrification in remote areas. Using optimization modeling in Dugub, Nigeria, researchers found that a hybrid system with capacity expansion achieves 94.7% renewable energy penetration while minimizing costs and emissions. The study demonstrates that appropriately sized solar mini-grids are viable alternatives to grid extension when supported by policy and stakeholder engagement.
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AI-advanced MPPT for optimized hybrid solar-wind energy harvesting in off-grid rural electrification: Fabrication and performance modeling
Hybrid solar-wind systems can reliably power remote rural areas, but their intermittent nature reduces efficiency. This review examines AI-driven maximum power point tracking techniques—artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic control, and reinforcement learning—that optimize energy extraction in real time. Each approach has trade-offs in accuracy, computational demands, and training requirements. Practical implementation requires careful hardware selection and controller design. Simulation and testing confirm these AI methods significantly improve power extraction and system reliability for off-grid rural electrification.
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Numerical performance assessment of an innovative PV-driven air-conditioning system based on hydraulic vapour-compression concept for off-grid rural houses
This paper evaluates a photovoltaic-powered air-conditioning system using hydraulic vapor-compression technology designed for off-grid rural homes. The researchers assess the system's numerical performance, demonstrating how solar energy can provide cooling to remote rural areas without grid connection. The innovation combines renewable energy generation with efficient cooling technology to address rural electrification and climate control challenges.
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Experimental 3E analysis of a biomass gasification plant for off-grid electrification in rural Ghana
Researchers tested a biomass gasification plant using peanut shells to generate electricity and heat in rural Ghana. The system achieved 20.6% electrical efficiency and 60.2% combined heat and power efficiency. Exergy analysis showed the genset caused the largest energy losses at 35.9%, while the gas conditioning unit was highly efficient. The electricity cost of $0.05/kWh makes this technology competitive with diesel generators for off-grid rural areas, demonstrating peanut shells as a viable renewable energy feedstock.
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Data-Driven Modeling of Demand-Responsive Transit: Evaluating Sustainability Across Urban, Rural, and Intercity Scenarios
This paper develops a framework for evaluating demand-responsive transit (DRT) systems—flexible public transportation that adjusts routes based on passenger demand—across urban, rural, and intercity settings. The authors synthesize research using bibliometric analysis and scenario-based modeling to show that rural DRT pilots improve resilience despite cost pressures, urban systems prioritize scheduling efficiency, and intercity services require multimodal coordination. The framework integrates economic, environmental, and social sustainability dimensions to guide policy decisions.
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Adapting to climate change amidst innovation diffusion and declining indigenous agricultural knowledge and practices in Ghana
Small-scale farmers in Ghana adapt to climate change by combining indigenous agricultural practices with externally promoted technologies, though adoption rates vary. Traditional methods like planting drought-resistant crops remain relevant, while some farmers integrate modern practices based on available knowledge and resources. Technology diffusion occurs unevenly across communities, shaped by lived experience and local conditions. Younger, educated farmers adopt modern approaches more readily, while older farmers navigate both traditional and new methods. The findings suggest governments should engage farmers by recognizing existing knowledge systems alongside innovation.
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Bridging Tradition and Innovation: Incorporating Indigenous Engineering Practices into Ghana’s Secondary School Curriculum
Ghana's secondary schools ignore indigenous knowledge systems in engineering education, making the subject feel disconnected from students' lives. This study surveyed students, teachers, curriculum developers, and local artisans to test whether incorporating indigenous technologies like mud construction and kente weaving into engineering curricula would improve engagement. Respondents strongly supported the integration. The research proposes a culturally responsive engineering model that connects formal schooling with indigenous practices, requiring curriculum redesign, teacher training, and community partnerships.
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Indigenous Knowledge on Shifting Cultivation and Sustainable Agriculture
Arfak farmers in West Papua use indigenous knowledge called igya ser hanjob to manage shifting cultivation on mountainous land sustainably. This ecological concept, passed down through generations, balances agricultural production with environmental protection and food security. However, modernization, plantation expansion, mining development, and land pressure threaten both the practice and the oral transmission of this knowledge to younger generations.
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Harvesting Traditions: Exploring the Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge Systems in Java, Indonesia and Mindanao, Philippines
Indigenous agricultural knowledge systems in Java and Mindanao demonstrate sustainable land management practices rooted in ecological understanding and cultural tradition. The study documents how indigenous farmers manage biodiversity, transmit knowledge across generations, and integrate spiritual dimensions into agriculture. These systems offer practical solutions to modern agricultural challenges while preserving cultural heritage and environmental sustainability in both regions.
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Global research pathways in rural microfinance: a bibliometric study based on web of science and Scopus database
This bibliometric analysis examines 1,225 rural microfinance studies published between 1989 and 2024 using Web of Science and Scopus data. The research identifies growing global interest in rural microfinance as a poverty-alleviation tool, maps key research themes and productive institutions, and reveals critical gaps. Emerging priorities include integrating financial technology with microfinance and expanding women's access to energy through microfinance programs.
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The Role of Microfinance Institutions in Promoting Financial Inclusion and Reducing Poverty Among Smallholder Farmers in Rural Agricultural Areas
Microfinance institutions help smallholder farmers in rural areas access financial services that traditional banks deny them. Through microloans, savings accounts, and insurance, MFIs enable farmers to invest in modern agricultural techniques and increase productivity. Group lending and social collateral reduce default rates. However, high interest rates, operational inefficiencies, and limited rural outreach constrain their effectiveness. Public-private partnerships and digital solutions could strengthen MFI impact.
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Rural-Urban Pay Difference in the Microfinance Industry: Evidence from Developing Countries
Microfinance institutions across 111 developing countries pay employees significantly more in urban areas than rural areas. The wage gap stems from agglomeration effects, higher urban living costs, and greater urban productivity. Larger and financially stable MFIs pay higher wages regardless of location. The findings suggest policymakers should intervene to address rural-urban pay disparities and help MFIs retain talent in underserved areas.
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Assessment of rural credit in the Brazilian Amazon: role of the Northern Constitutional Financing Fund in rural development
Rural credit from Brazil's Northern Constitutional Financing Fund (FNO) does boost agricultural production and rural income, but the money concentrates in a few municipalities along the expanding agricultural frontier in Pará, Tocantins, and Rondônia. Western Amazonian regions remain financially isolated due to structural and institutional barriers. The FNO fails to reduce financial inequality across northern municipalities, suggesting that credit alone cannot drive development without infrastructure, technical support, and improved banking access.
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Unveiling the Spatial Coupling Dynamics and Coordination Mechanisms Between Digital Inclusive Finance and Rural Industrial Integration Development
Digital inclusive finance and rural industrial integration in China show strengthening coordination from 2011 to 2021, though industrial integration lags behind financial development. Eastern and northeastern regions lead in coordination levels, while central and western regions lag significantly. Regional disparities are narrowing due to spatial spillover effects and clustering patterns. The study recommends expanding digital finance in rural industries, reallocating resources to underdeveloped areas, and strengthening regional coordination mechanisms.
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EXPANDING RURAL BROADBAND IN AMERICA: CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Rural areas in the United States lack reliable, affordable broadband access, creating economic, educational, and social inequities. This paper examines barriers to rural broadband deployment and identifies solutions including community-led initiatives, public-private partnerships, and federal programs like BEAD. The author recommends sustainable funding models, improved regulations, and emerging technologies to achieve universal connectivity and reduce digital disparities.
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Sisyphus’s Broadband: Exploring models of rural community participation in digital infrastructure and connectivity
Rural communities face persistent digital divides in infrastructure and internet access. This paper develops a set of models describing different approaches rural communities use to build local internet connectivity. The models aim to help communities understand their options and challenges when pursuing community-led digital infrastructure initiatives, addressing a gap in empirical evidence about which approaches work best.
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Online grocery purchasing in Mississippi: associations with broadband, rurality, and household characteristics
Higher education and income levels increase online grocery purchasing adoption in Mississippi, while age and rural residence act as barriers. Broadband quality shows inconsistent associations with online grocery use despite widespread internet disparities. The study reveals that both structural factors like internet access and individual characteristics shape whether rural and low-income residents use online grocery services.
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Looking beyond digital broadband speeds: Rural British Columbian’s experiences with internet connectivity as a basic necessity
Rural British Columbians with and without high-speed internet show more similarities than differences in digital readiness and confidence. Those without high-speed access tend to be older, more remote, use fewer devices, and experience more frustration, yet use the internet at comparable frequencies. Both groups recognize connectivity benefits but report disconnects between expectations and reality of high-speed internet service.
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Teachers’ Professional Development and Its Influence on Teaching Innovation in Rural Schools
Teachers in rural Indonesian schools who participate in continuous professional development—particularly in ICT integration, contextualized pedagogy, and curriculum adaptation—become more innovative in their classrooms. The study found that teachers engaged in professional learning communities and supported by their institutions adopt student-centered and culturally responsive teaching methods. Sustainable teacher development policies are essential for fostering educational innovation in under-resourced rural areas.
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Leveraging ICT for Knowledge-Driven Agripreneurial Innovations: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals in Rural Economies
This study examines how information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, knowledge of sustainable practices, and ICT literacy influence farmers' adoption of sustainable agricultural innovations. Using structural equation modeling on survey data, the researchers found that all three factors significantly drive adoption, with knowledge acquisition for sustainable practices having the strongest effect, followed by ICT infrastructure access and ICT literacy.
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Do natural environmental protection, regional innovation climate, entrepreneurs’ cognition of green development positively influence the sustainable development of small rural businesses
A study of 439 rural entrepreneurs across 17 Chinese provinces found that environmental protection alone does not drive sustainable development in small rural businesses. Instead, a supportive regional innovation climate and entrepreneurs' understanding of green development significantly boost sustainability. Technological innovation partially mediates these relationships. The findings challenge assumptions about environmental regulation's direct impact and offer guidance for developing countries pursuing green rural transitions.
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Bridging the digital divide: exploring undergraduate students’ experiences with learning management systems in a rural South African University
Undergraduate students at a rural South African university face significant barriers to using learning management systems, including poor digital infrastructure, limited digital literacy, and inconsistent faculty engagement. While students recognize potential benefits like learning flexibility, their actual experience depends heavily on institutional support for technology and culturally responsive teaching. The study recommends infrastructure improvements, digital training, and pedagogical integration to bridge the digital divide in under-resourced settings.
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Based on capital theory to exploring the digital health divide and determinants among urban and rural older adults in China: Cross-sectional study
Rural older adults in China face significant barriers to digital health services compared to urban peers. The study identifies three levels of digital divide: access, usage, and outcomes. Digital usage divide is most pronounced and driven primarily by cultural capital, social support, economic resources, and habits. Cultural and social capital account for over half the urban-rural gap. Targeted interventions addressing policy, motivation, economics, culture, and social support can reduce these disparities.
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The Three Levels of the Rural Digital Divide in China: Spatial Patterns and Regional Disparities
China's rural digital divide operates across three dimensions—access, usage, and outcomes—with significant regional disparities. Eastern coastal regions show the strongest digital development but face outcome gaps, inland areas struggle with usage, and northwestern regions lack basic access. Coastal areas benefit from multiple reinforcing factors, while inland regions depend on single factors, creating exclusion risks. The study recommends region-specific policies to address these distinct challenges.
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Rural–Urban Digital Divide: Evidence From Indian States
This study measures the rural-urban digital divide across 18 Indian states by constructing indices for digital infrastructure and digital skills in both rural and urban areas. The researchers find that digital progress in India is unevenly distributed, with significant gaps between rural and urban populations and between wealthy and low-income states. Rural areas and poorer states lag substantially behind in both infrastructure and skills, revealing that India's digital growth story excludes large segments of the population.
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Navigating the digital divide in open distance and e-learning: perspectives from urban and rural student teachers
Rural student teachers in South Africa face significant barriers to digital learning compared to urban peers, including unreliable internet, limited resources, and weak institutional support. Rural teachers rely on mobile tools and self-directed learning while urban students access advanced platforms and structured training. Closing this digital divide requires more than devices—it demands targeted digital literacy training, mentorship programs, and infrastructure improvements to enable equitable technology integration in classrooms.
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Digital rural development and the alleviation of the urban-rural digital divide: An analysis based on the theory of co-production
Digital village initiatives in China significantly reduce the urban-rural digital divide through multi-actor collaboration involving institutional reform, resource allocation, and adaptive governance. Analysis of 30 provinces from 2013–2021 identifies three effective pathways: service-space optimization, digital-infrastructure resilience, and digital-industrial co-evolution. Success requires balancing technology with institutional equity and spatial rebalancing, particularly in central and western regions.
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‘Cloud for Youth’: An implementation research of cloud‐based solutions for bridging the digital divide in rural China
Cloud for Youth, an educational charity project in rural China, uses cloud technology to address the digital divide by improving access, enabling effective use, and building digital literacy among teachers and students. The project succeeds when cloud solutions adapt to local needs, demonstrate benefits over traditional teaching, and involve strong school-external partnerships. Implementation faces obstacles including unreliable internet, insufficient teacher training, institutional resistance to digital transformation, and lack of professional development support.
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Bridging the digital divide to promote inclusive education in Zimbabwean rural secondary schools: A case of Mwenezi District
Rural secondary schools in Zimbabwe's Mwenezi District lack digital infrastructure, network coverage, and ICT equipment needed to implement the updated national curriculum. The study identifies the digital divide as a major barrier to inclusive education in remote and resettlement areas. Researchers recommend improving network coverage, installing solar projects, and providing hardware and software support to enable rural teachers and learners to meet 21st-century curriculum demands.
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Digital divides and youth cultural participation in rural contexts in Ecuador
Rural youth in Ecuador's Zone 5 face digital divides that prevent cultural participation. Young people with stable internet and digital skills training show higher technological confidence and engage more in online cultural communities. Those with unstable connections and basic devices struggle to access digital cultural opportunities. The study reveals digital exclusion involves more than infrastructure—it requires addressing education, cultural barriers, and symbolic access through targeted public policies.
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Bridging the Divide: Digitalization and Young Rural Women in Bulgaria
Young rural women in Bulgaria face significant barriers to digital engagement, with 73% experiencing unreliable internet access and 67% lacking adequate digital literacy training. Structural inequalities rooted in limited infrastructure, gender norms, and educational gaps prevent these women from participating in the digital economy. The study calls for gender-sensitive policies expanding broadband access and digital skills programs to enable social mobility and regional economic growth.
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Transforming education in a rural ecosystem: school libraries as hubs for teaching-learning innovation
School libraries in rural South African schools function as innovation hubs that improve teaching and learning outcomes. The study found that functional libraries enhance lesson preparation, encourage learner-centered teaching, help teachers overcome resource scarcity, and develop students' critical thinking and research skills. The authors recommend prioritizing school libraries through curriculum policy to strengthen rural education systems.
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Reimagining Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Rural Bihar: A Case for Contextualised Teacher-Led Innovations.
Teachers in rural Bihar lack training and resources for quality early childhood education. This paper adapts a successful teacher training model from Kashmir to Bihar's context, emphasizing collaborative training, local materials, reflective teaching, and child-centered methods. The framework empowers teachers to innovate locally while aligning with national policies, offering a replicable approach to strengthen early education in underserved regions.
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Age-friendly Rural Communities: A Multi-Case Study on Public Space Innovations for Active Aging
China's rural areas face aging populations while traditional public spaces neglect elderly needs. This study examines three rural communities to identify age-friendly design principles for public spaces. Researchers found that accessibility, safety, comfort, social interaction, and digital infrastructure significantly improve elderly quality of life, health, and social participation. Success requires policy support, community-specific design approaches, and active elderly involvement in the design process.
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Co-creating a festival with and for rural commoning initiatives: a transdisciplinary place-based process
This paper describes a transdisciplinary collaboration that co-created a rural festival to showcase commoning initiatives and strengthen community care during COVID-19. Artists, designers, farmers, educators, and other stakeholders worked together using place-based methods. The festival engaged the public in collective care for social-ecological systems and challenged dominant narratives about rural life. The research shows how arts-based approaches and festivals can serve as boundary objects that facilitate dialogue across disciplines and create actionable knowledge reflecting local needs.
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Perspectives from Rural Maine Educators: Supporting and Inspiring Youth Through Place-Based Education
Rural Maine educators naturally implement place-based education by connecting youth learning to local environmental changes, seasonal industries like potato and maple production, and community knowledge. The study of nine educators shows that place-based approaches build engagement and collaboration, though they demand more time, relationships, and curricular flexibility than traditional instruction. Rural contexts provide ideal conditions for this pedagogy, preparing young people to become resilient community leaders.
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Storying the FEW Nexus: A Framework for Cultivating Place-Based Integrated STEM Education in Rural Schools
Rural schools often teach STEM disconnected from students' lives and communities. This paper presents Storying the FEW Nexus, a framework combining food, energy, and water resource education with place-based learning for K-12 rural students. The approach integrates STEM with local narratives and social sciences to help students develop sustainable solutions to environmental challenges specific to their communities, grounding abstract knowledge in authentic rural contexts.
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Place-based resources as a means for local economic development – local planning in shrinking rural areas
Local planning in shrinking rural areas can actively shape economic development by engaging with place-based resources and global economic demands. Using a Swedish municipality case study, the authors show how planning functions as a proactive, socio-materially distributed practice rather than simply reacting to external pressures. Local planning agencies directly influenced spatial and economic transformation through their engagement with resource extraction projects.
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Place-Based Diminished Returns of Economic Resources in Rural America: A Framework for Understanding Geography-Conditioned Inequality
Rural residence in the United States weakens the protective effects of socioeconomic status on health, education, and behavioral outcomes, even for non-Hispanic White populations. The authors extend the Marginalization-related Diminished Returns framework to show that structural disadvantages in rural areas reduce how effectively education, income, and other resources translate into improved outcomes. Policy interventions must address place-specific constraints that limit opportunity rather than simply increasing resources.
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Home-Based Digital Technologies to Support Aging-in-Place for Rural African American People With Alzheimer Disease and Their Care Partners: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Feasibility Study
This study investigates remote monitoring technologies to support rural African American people with Alzheimer's disease aging at home. Researchers will identify barriers to aging-in-place and assess attitudes toward remote monitoring, then test a home-based system over 18 months to measure usability, acceptability, and feasibility. Findings will guide development of tailored interventions for this underserved population with the highest dementia rates but least access to formal care.
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Exploring recruitment strategies for place-based research in rural areas of Australia: a comparative case study analysis
This study examined recruitment strategies across four rural Australian research projects conducted between 2016-2024. Face-to-face recruitment by researchers achieved better outcomes than using general practitioners as intermediaries, particularly in smaller geographic areas. Staff turnover significantly hampered recruitment success, especially in intermediary-based approaches. The research demonstrates that sustained staffing, strong local partnerships, and strategies closely aligned with rural practice needs are essential for effective participant recruitment in rural settings.
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Navigating Deep Learning Pedagogy in Rural Classrooms: A Qualitative Study on Teacher Readiness and Innovation in Indonesian Elementary Schools
Teachers in rural Indonesian elementary schools lack sufficient understanding of deep learning approaches and struggle to implement digital innovation in classrooms. Limited training, inadequate infrastructure, weak institutional support, and low self-efficacy create systemic barriers. The study calls for context-specific teacher training programs and supportive school policies to enable sustainable digital transformation in low-resource rural environments.
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The Role of Advanced Biofuels in Promoting Energy Access and Economic Growth in Rural Areas
Advanced biofuels from agricultural residues, algae, and waste can reduce energy poverty and create economic growth in rural developing countries. Case studies from India and Brazil show that decentralized biofuel plants improved energy access, generated local jobs, and strengthened agricultural value chains by converting crop residues into farmer income. Key barriers include limited infrastructure, financing, and policy support. The authors recommend scaling adoption to enhance energy security and rural development.
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Evaluation of the Solar Photovoltaic Potential for Electrification of Rural Areas off the National Grid in Mali
Mali possesses exceptional solar resources capable of electrifying rural areas disconnected from the national grid. Using GIS and analytical hierarchy methods, researchers identified 409 communes suitable for solar photovoltaic installations and calculated their solar potential. Results show Mali's available solar resources vastly exceed rural electricity needs, making solar energy a viable and cost-effective alternative to conventional power infrastructure for remote communities.
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Optimal Design of an Off-grid Hybrid Renewable Systems with Battery Storage for Rural Electrification of Academic Community in Ibogun Campus, Nigeria
Researchers designed an off-grid hybrid renewable energy system combining solar, wind, and battery storage to power an engineering department at a Nigerian university. Using HOMER Pro software and local climate and energy data, they compared four hybrid configurations. The solar-wind-battery system proved most cost-effective and environmentally friendly, with the lowest total project cost, energy cost, and operating expenses, making it viable for rural electrification.
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Decarbonizing Rural Off-Grid Areas Through Hybrid Renewable Hydrogen Systems: A Case Study from Turkey
A hybrid renewable energy system combining solar, wind, battery storage, and hydrogen was modeled for a rural off-grid settlement in Turkey. The system with all four components delivered the best balance of cost and performance, producing electricity at $0.340/kWh with carbon emissions of 36–45 gCO2-eq/kWh. Control strategies and component selection significantly affect system efficiency and hydrogen consumption, making hybrid hydrogen systems viable for decarbonizing rural areas without grid access.
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Field evaluation of a hand-powered reverse osmosis system for sustainable water purification in off-grid rural India
Researchers developed and tested a hand-powered reverse osmosis water purification system in rural India that operates without electricity. Field trials over six months in West Bengal and Rajasthan showed the system rejected 88–94% of dissolved solids while using half the energy of commercial alternatives. Community surveys confirmed users accepted the technology and valued the improved water quality, demonstrating viability for off-grid rural areas lacking infrastructure.
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Techno-Economic Analysis of Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Ethiopian Rural Electrification
This study designs off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems for 180 rural Ethiopian communities using solar, wind, and micro-hydro resources. Researchers modeled three system configurations with HOMER software, analyzing costs and feasibility. Results show energy costs ranging from $0.043 to $0.14 per kilowatt-hour depending on resource availability and diesel hybridization. The proposed systems offer competitive pricing against Ethiopia's national tariff and provide a practical pathway for sustainable rural electrification.
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Spatial embeddedness in indigenous rural entrepreneurship: a systematic literature review
Indigenous entrepreneurs succeed by building strong internal ties within their close social networks while simultaneously creating external connections across different networks. The paper reviews 14 years of research and finds that spatial embeddedness—how location shapes entrepreneurial networks—remains largely unexplored in indigenous entrepreneurship literature. The authors argue that understanding entrepreneurs as spatially embedded agents offers new insights for indigenous rural business development.
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Widening the Digital Divide: The mediating role of Intelligent Tutoring Systems in the relationship between rurality, socioeducational advantage, and mathematics learning outcomes
An analysis of 66,451 Australian high school students shows that intelligent tutoring systems in mathematics amplify rather than reduce educational inequality. Students from affluent urban schools use the platform more extensively and achieve better outcomes, while rural and disadvantaged students benefit less. The technology mediates existing disparities, creating a Matthew Effect where privileged students gain disproportionate advantages, widening rather than narrowing achievement gaps.
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Defence innovation ecosystems and rural economic development: pathways to sustainable growth and military adaptation
Latvia is integrating rural regions into its defence innovation ecosystem to strengthen military capabilities and economic development. The study finds that while government investment and policy frameworks exist—including test sites in Latgale and dual-use technology grants—rural participation remains limited by infrastructure gaps, weak SME involvement, and unequal funding distribution. The authors recommend targeted policies to boost rural innovation capacity while aligning with NATO and EU standards.
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EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES THROUGH SOCIAL INNOVATION: A CASE STUDY OF ECOTOURISM HOMESTAYS IN SABAH
Ecotourism homestays in Sabah represent Indigenous-led social innovation that empowers communities by redistributing ownership, knowledge systems, and decision-making power. Community-driven co-creation processes strengthen social networks, local leadership, and livelihoods across governance, economic, cultural, and environmental domains. However, the study warns that ecotourism alone cannot sustain empowerment without equitable governance, ethical frameworks, and recognition of Indigenous sovereignty. Only fully community-led models meaningfully redistribute benefits; external dominance risks reproducing inequality.
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Innovation in Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Education: A Summer Institute on Indigenous and Critical Methodologies
The University of New Mexico developed a summer institute teaching community-based participatory research (CBPR) using indigenous and critical methodologies grounded in Freirean pedagogy. The curriculum organizes CBPR around four domains: context, partnering processes, intervention/research, and outcomes. Since 2010, over 620 participants including students, faculty, community members, and practitioners completed the institute, gaining practical skills to apply CBPR principles in academic and community settings.
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REVITALIZING EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY: EXPLORING SOCIAL INNOVATION AND INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE IN MODERN PEDAGOGY
This paper argues that education systems should integrate indigenous knowledge and social innovation to prepare learners for sustainability challenges. The authors demonstrate how indigenous wisdom can be incorporated into modern pedagogy to catalyze sustainable development solutions. They call for reconstructing conventional educational delivery models to embrace community cultural values and environmental sustainability alongside academic achievement.
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Integrating Gender and Indigenous Knowledge in Sub-Saharan African Animal Agriculture: Pathways to Climate Resilience and Food Security
Climate change in Sub-Saharan African animal agriculture worsens gender disparities and erodes indigenous knowledge systems. A systematic review finds that empowering women and integrating indigenous knowledge systems significantly strengthen communities' ability to adapt to climate impacts and achieve food security. Policymakers should adopt gender-responsive strategies that incorporate indigenous knowledge.
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Bridging knowledge systems synergies gaps and drivers of Indigenous and scientific knowledge integration for sustainable agriculture in Ethiopia
Ethiopian farmers rarely integrate indigenous knowledge with scientific agriculture, despite potential benefits. The study of 197 farmers found that social networks, belief in indigenous knowledge, contact with agricultural extension agents, and religious participation all strengthen integration. Formal education actually discourages it by emphasizing only modern science. The researchers recommend revitalizing extension services and creating community platforms that combine both knowledge systems into agricultural policy.
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Predicting microfinance inclusion and survival of microenterprises in rural Uganda: testing the mediating role of ethical financial behavior of poor young women owners
Ethical financial behavior fully mediates the relationship between microfinance access and survival of poor young women's microenterprises in rural Uganda. The study finds that microfinance inclusion and ethical financial behavior together explain 62% of enterprise survival variation. Financial education and business mentorship programs can improve loan repayment discipline and access to future credit among rural women entrepreneurs.
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Assessing Digital Financial Literacy and Its adoption in Microfinance Services Among Rural Women
Rural women possess moderate digital financial literacy but show surprisingly low adoption of digital microfinance platforms despite knowing about them. Trust, confidence, and security concerns—not lack of knowledge—drive this gap. The study recommends confidence-building measures and digital training programs to increase rural women's use of digital financial services and microfinance transactions.
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Implementation of Islamic Microfinance through Marketing Strategy for Financing Rural Communities in Cirebon Region
Islamic microfinance institutions in Indonesia's Cirebon region successfully serve rural communities through targeted marketing strategies. The study finds that sharia-based microfinance improves access to capital for female entrepreneurs, increases business sales, and reduces poverty and unemployment. The approach emphasizes justice and social welfare while facing challenges including limited capital, low financial literacy, and regulatory gaps.
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Microfinance as a Catalyst for Poverty Reduction: Assessing Credit Access, Entrepreneurship, and Income Resilience in Marginalized Rural Economies
Microfinance institutions provide crucial financial access to low-income rural households in marginalized areas. This study of 400 microfinance participants in southern Punjab, Pakistan shows that credit access directly improves entrepreneurial performance and financial stability. The effect strengthens significantly when combined with financial skills training and social network support. Microfinance enables business creation, income resilience, and poverty reduction at scale, with policy recommendations for sustaining long-term program benefits.
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Synergistic Development of Digital Inclusive Finance and Rural E-Commerce—Research on Mechanisms, Challenges and Optimization Paths
Digital inclusive finance and rural e-commerce reinforce each other in China's rural development. Digital finance expands service reach, cuts costs, and strengthens risk management for rural e-commerce, while e-commerce provides financial institutions with customer bases and risk data. The paper identifies barriers including insufficient financial supply, technology gaps, weak logistics, and regional imbalances. Solutions include strengthening financial systems, improving technology infrastructure, enhancing rural logistics, building rural brands, and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration.
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An Empirical Test of the Impact of Sci-Tech Finance Development on Rural Industrial Convergence
Science and technology finance significantly boosts rural industrial integration in China, with stronger long-term effects than short-term impacts. However, its contribution to industrial convergence remains modest, indicating substantial room for improvement. The study recommends expanding science and technology finance supply, increasing rural demand-side adoption, strengthening infrastructure platforms, and improving policy support mechanisms.
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Research on the Mechanism and Development Path of Green Finance Enabling Rural Revitalization under the Goal of "Double Carbon"
Green finance, particularly carbon finance instruments, can drive rural revitalization by promoting industrial development, improving rural governance, and creating sustainable environments. The paper identifies barriers in current green financial markets and proposes developing carbon financial derivatives linked to forest projects as a mechanism to achieve rural revitalization goals while meeting carbon reduction targets.
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Financing Climate Resilience: NABARD’s Role in Sustainable Rural Development in India
NABARD, India's agricultural development bank and Green Climate Fund implementing entity, mobilizes climate finance to strengthen rural resilience. The paper examines NABARD's funding mechanisms and projects addressing climate adaptation and mitigation in Indian agriculture, which faces threats from monsoon dependence, low irrigation, fragmented farms, and weak infrastructure. These initiatives support sustainable rural development and environmental sustainability.
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Satellite promises: An open-source investigation and footprint analysis of SGDC-1’s quest in delivering broadband to public rural schools in Brazil
Brazil launched the SGDC-1 satellite in 2017 to deliver broadband to rural public schools. This study analyzes government documents, news coverage, and satellite footprint maps to reveal how the project functions both as infrastructure and as a political narrative. The satellite serves underserved rural populations but faces challenges from public-private partnerships, militarization, and outage risks. The authors call for stronger civic oversight and new policies to ensure the project's long-term viability.
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Assessing the Impact of China's Broadband Village Pilot Project on the Consumption Patterns of Rural Households
China's Broadband Village pilot project in western regions increased rural household spending on both essential and non-essential goods, boosting consumption and economic growth. The effect was stronger among younger consumers and liquidity-constrained households, and depended on households' attention to information. The findings support expanding internet-based sales infrastructure while accounting for local socio-economic conditions.
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Changing Connectivity into Capability: The Quality of Broadband, Sensing, and Digital Change in Rural Retail Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Rural retail small and medium-sized enterprises with better broadband quality and sensing capability achieve greater digital transformation intensity, which improves their business performance. A survey of 742 firms confirmed that broadband quality and sensing capability directly drive digital change, which in turn enhances firm-level performance. Rural retailers currently lag in digital adoption, but improving connectivity and data sensing capacity enables meaningful business improvements.
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How is RuralGoing Digital? Using Community-BasedResearch to Understand Rural Broadband Use
Rural Manitoba communities used community-based research to examine how they currently use broadband and digital technologies, and to identify future applications. The research shows that digital technologies can help rural areas overcome distance and density challenges, but communities must align technology adoption with their own development plans. Community-led research proved effective for exploring both current digital use and local opportunities.
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Innovation Mode of Rural Agricultural Product Branding in Fengxian District, Shanghai Under the Concept of Sustainable Development
Rural agricultural product branding in Shanghai's Fengxian District faces weak market awareness and intense regional competition. The study finds that emphasizing ecological and green attributes, combined with strong visual identity system design, effectively drives brand innovation and market expansion. Integrating multimedia promotion and communication strategies can strengthen brand influence and support sustainable rural economic development.
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Achieving Sustainable Development Goals Through Trunthung Music: From Rural Heritage to Urban Innovation in Indonesia
This study examines how Trunthung music, a traditional Indonesian art form, transforms as it moves from rural to urban contexts. Rural communities use the music as a social activity rooted in local resources, while urban settings have made it more professional and income-focused. The research shows traditional music can adapt to modern demands while preserving cultural identity, contributing to sustainable communities and social cohesion across different environments.
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Designing and Explaining the Development Model of Palm Conversion and Complementary Industries with an Innovation Approach in Creating Rural Women's Entrepreneurship in Kerman Province
Rural women in Kerman Province, Iran can become entrepreneurs through date processing and complementary industries using innovation approaches. The study identifies key factors driving this entrepreneurship: system efficiency and innovation, marketing ability, and economic incentives. These elements significantly influence women's capacity to create employment, increase family income, and access global markets. Supporting rural women entrepreneurs requires financial backing, education, and business team formation to reduce urban migration and achieve sustainable rural development.
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Exploring the Development of Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent in Guangxi under the Rural Revitalization Strategy
Guangxi's agricultural talent development faces critical challenges including brain drain, structural imbalances, and weak training systems. The paper proposes solutions through improved talent cultivation frameworks, better recruitment policies, stronger incentive mechanisms, and closer industry-university-research partnerships to support rural revitalization.
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Research on Agricultural Economic Management Innovation and Sustainable Development Paths in Rural Areas under the Rural Revitalization Strategy
Rural areas face critical challenges transitioning from traditional to modern, high-quality agricultural economies. This paper identifies core obstacles—labor migration, slow technology adoption, and narrow industry structures—and analyzes how agricultural economic management drives improvements in production efficiency, market expansion, and sustainability. The authors propose implementation pathways through institutional innovation, technological advancement, and industry integration to address rural development bottlenecks and support rural revitalization.
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The economic effects and model innovation of rural e-commerce development in the rural revitalization strategy
Rural e-commerce drives economic growth through integrated 'industry plus e-commerce' models, as demonstrated in Cao County. The sector faces critical barriers: inadequate logistics, talent shortages, and low agricultural product standardization. The paper recommends infrastructure investment, logistics optimization, workforce development, product standardization, and business model innovation to enable sustainable rural e-commerce growth and support rural revitalization.
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Does Industrial Integration Development Drive Rural Innovation? An Empirical Study under the Perspective of Rural-urban Linkage
Industrial integration at the county level significantly drives rural innovation in China, according to analysis of 1,837 counties from 2014 to 2021. The mechanism works primarily through increased labor mobility between sectors. The effect is strongest in eastern and central regions but absent in western regions. These findings support county-level industrial integration as a strategy for rural revitalization.
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AI-Empowered Cultural Tourism Development: Innovation Paths and Strategies for Rural Revitalization
AI integration with cultural tourism drives rural revitalization by creating smart platforms, diverse tourism products, and digital infrastructure. The approach enhances visitor experiences, supports modern agriculture, improves governance, and preserves intangible cultural heritage through AI-powered talent training. This model generates new economic productivity and enables sustainable rural development.
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Rural Innovations in Action: Implementing Sustainable Development Goals at the Village Level
This study examines how village governments in Central Java, Indonesia allocate and manage funds to support sustainable development goals. Researchers analyzed planning, implementation, and accountability processes across villages using a decision-making framework. Priority programmes focused on economic recovery, health, education, and poverty reduction. The findings show that villages can better align financial management with national and global sustainability targets by following core principles of humanity, justice, and equity.
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Research on the Innovation of Rural Food Tourism Development Model from the Perspective of Big Data: A Case Study of Guizhou Province
Digital technologies are transforming rural food tourism in Guizhou Province. The paper proposes a new development model centered on big data, cloud computing, and Internet of Things technologies to modernize rural food tourism. This approach reshapes how food tourism operates on both supply and demand sides, enabling digital transformation and higher-quality rural development.
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From Rural Underdevelopment to Innovation: The Strategic Role of Skilled Labor in the South-East Development Region of Romania
Romania's South-East Development Region struggles with rural skilled labor shortages and uneven human resource development across its six counties. Constanța and Galați have stronger educational infrastructure and labor market connections, while Tulcea and Vrancea lag in vocational training and youth employment. The region underperforms compared to Romania's Centre Region, which has successfully implemented dual education and public-private partnerships. The paper identifies factors affecting skilled labor availability and proposes strategic directions for balanced regional development.
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High Quality Development of County-Level Rural E-Commerce: Exploration of Collaborative Innovation Path in Pingyi County
Pingyi County in Shandong Province developed high-quality rural e-commerce by combining characteristic industrial clusters with e-commerce public services through collaborative innovation. Government policy and funding, enterprise-led product innovation, and social organization support created deep synergy. The county faces challenges in technological innovation, logistics costs, talent shortages, and supply chain coordination. Solutions include dedicated R&D funding, cold chain logistics expansion, school-enterprise partnerships, and data-sharing platforms to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration.
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Research on the Impact of Rural E-Commerce Development on Rural Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Rural e-commerce significantly promotes rural innovation and entrepreneurship by narrowing the urban-rural income gap, creating more favorable economic conditions for rural business development. The effect is strongest in western counties with higher innovation levels and developed industrial structures. The study recommends strengthening agricultural innovation and rural scientific services in economically underdeveloped areas.
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Rural-Urban Digital Divide Discourse: Exploring the Efficacy of Game-Based Learning in Early Childhood Development in Zimbabwe
Game-based learning improves early childhood development in Zimbabwe, but effectiveness depends on internet access. Urban centers with connectivity benefit from modern educational games, while rural areas with poor connectivity struggle. The study recommends low-cost offline games for rural schools to bridge the digital divide and enhance child development outcomes in internet-constrained settings.
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From the "digital divide" to the "digital inclusion": the dilemma and breakthrough of the digital transformation of rural education
Rural education in China faces a shift from physical access gaps to intelligent application gaps in digital transformation. Research across 18 counties reveals three core problems: smart classrooms used only for display, teachers lacking digital competency, and students unable to apply technology creatively. The study proposes a four-part ecosystem approach combining infrastructure upgrades, localized digital literacy training in local languages, community-based resource systems, and supportive policies. Pilot programs show 40% gains in teacher efficiency and 34% improvement in student cultural identity.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: The Transformative Role of AI-Driven Infrastructure in Rural Connectivity
Artificial intelligence and cloud-native technologies can bridge the digital divide by optimizing rural network infrastructure, reducing costs, and enabling remote management. AI-driven solutions including network optimization, predictive analytics, and edge computing improve connectivity for telemedicine and online education. Telecommunications providers have demonstrated practical success with these innovations, though regulatory frameworks and collaborative models remain necessary for sustainable rural digital inclusion.
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Rural and Non Rural Digital Divide: Impact on Health Communication of Chitradurga District, Karnataka
This study examines how digital access gaps between rural and urban areas affect health communication in Chitradurga District, Karnataka. Using surveys and interviews, researchers found that rural residents have less internet access and are less likely to use online health information. Factors including sex, education, age, income, and internet availability significantly influence whether people seek health information online.
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IMPACT OF DIGITAL DIVIDE ON HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN RURAL POPULATIONS
Rural populations in Pakistan face severe digital health disparities that directly harm health outcomes. The study found that 72.5% had primary education or less, 39.2% owned smartphones, and only 28.3% had home internet access. Participants with higher digital literacy reported significantly better health scores. Digital exclusion, dependency on others for access, and preference for face-to-face care emerged as major barriers. Bridging this divide requires integrated efforts in infrastructure, education, and policy reform.
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From “Digital Divide” to “Digital Inclusion”: Rural E-Commerce Participation Paths and Support Measures
Rural e-commerce in China faces technological exclusion, cultural disconnection, and unequal benefits. This study identifies three practical pathways: adapting technology through cultural adjustment, activating local social networks to modernize traditional resources, and creating localized value. Collaborative governance involving government, enterprises, and communities provides culturally sensitive solutions to bridge the digital divide and reshape rural economies.
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Digital divide: Impact of technology on rural entrepreneurship development in India
Rural entrepreneurs in Karnataka, India gain significant marketing advantages through digital platforms and ICT access. A survey of 100 rural entrepreneurs across three districts—Dharwad, Uttarkannada, and Haveri—combined with ten in-depth interviews, reveals that digitization improves marketing capacity and business reach. The digital divide remains a critical barrier, with technology access directly enabling rural business effectiveness.
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Digital Divide between Urban and Rural Population? State Wide Mobile Network Quality Assessment for Bavaria, Germany
Researchers analyzed over 225 million mobile network measurements across Bavaria to assess whether 5G deployment reduces the digital divide between urban and rural areas. They measured throughput, latency, jitter, and packet loss across different network generations and providers. The study maps these performance metrics to population distribution to identify whether rural areas experience consistently lower Quality of Experience than urban regions.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Determinants of Technology Adoption Among Rural MSMEs
Rural micro, small, and medium-sized businesses face barriers to adopting digital technology. This study surveyed 327 MSME owners to identify adoption drivers: perceived usefulness, government support, trust, and financial assistance. Perceived usefulness emerged as the strongest predictor of adoption, while government support had the least influence. Trust and financial aid also significantly affect technology uptake. The findings emphasize that rural MSMEs need targeted financial incentives, trust-building efforts, and government interventions to accelerate digital transformation.
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The Impact of Digital Divide on Women: A Rural Community Case
Women in rural communities face significant barriers to economic development and gender equality due to limited access to information and communications technology. This qualitative case study found that inadequate internet connectivity, limited access, and high data costs are the primary obstacles preventing rural women from participating in digital opportunities. The research recommends governments and businesses invest in rural digital infrastructure by providing free Wi-Fi to enable socioeconomic growth and empowerment.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Reimagining e-governance for empowering Rural India
This paper analyzes how Indian rape laws have evolved from the Indian Penal Code to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, examining changes in definitions, procedures, and judicial interpretation. It documents how legislation responded to public pressure and feminist advocacy following high-profile cases, but argues that despite modernizations in punishment and procedure, significant gaps remain—including the marital rape exception, low conviction rates, and weak enforcement that prevent survivors from accessing justice.
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The Digital Divide and Rural Education — A Study Based on CFPS Data
Internet access alone does not reduce educational inequality between rural and urban China. Rural students lack guidance in using digital tools effectively, causing them to spend less time studying and learn less efficiently online. The digital divide's negative impact on academic performance is strongest in central and western regions and among younger students. Social stratification, not technology, drives persistent educational gaps.
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Role of NGO-Led Digital Literacy Initiatives in Reducing the Urban–Rural Digital Divide
NGO-led digital literacy programs in India are effectively reducing the urban-rural digital divide by delivering tailored training through mobile labs and women-led enterprises. The research shows that community ownership, customized curricula, and public-private partnerships significantly improve digital competency among marginalized rural populations. The author recommends integrating these grassroots NGO innovations into national policy frameworks to achieve sustainable digital inclusion across India.
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Bridging the digital divide for empowerment of rural women entrepreneurs in Tumkur District: An empirical study
Digital access gaps severely limit rural women entrepreneurs in India, with only 25% having internet access versus 49% of men. Social organizations, training programs, and government initiatives significantly improve digital literacy and entrepreneurial outcomes by expanding market access, financial services, and business networks. Despite persistent infrastructure, cost, and cultural barriers, targeted digital inclusion strategies drive business performance and socio-economic empowerment, requiring customized policies and community support for sustainable rural development.
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Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural Peru: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Educational Technology Access, Infrastructure Barriers, and Teacher Preparedness in Andean Communities
Rural Peru faces severe barriers to digital education, including poor internet infrastructure, geographic isolation, and teacher unpreparedness. Teachers lack ICT skills and receive no government training in technology integration. The study examines pandemic impacts on educational access in Andean communities, finding that distance, poverty, and infrastructure gaps perpetuate educational inequality despite some university subsidies and government connectivity initiatives.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the Efficacy, Accessibility, and Impact of Web-Based Mental Health First Aid Training for Community Health Volunteers (Kader) in Rural Indonesia
A web-based Mental Health First Aid training program significantly improved mental health knowledge and reduced stigmatizing attitudes among 165 community health volunteers (Kader) across rural Indonesian provinces. The platform achieved excellent usability ratings and participants reported feeling digitally empowered with practical skills. The intervention successfully bridges geographical and educational barriers, demonstrating that scalable digital training effectively strengthens community-based mental health services in low-resource settings.
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The Digital Divide in Post-Pandemic Education: Perceptions of Urban and Rural EFL Teachers in Indonesia
This study examines how English teachers in Indonesia perceived the shift to online education during COVID-19, comparing urban and rural experiences. Urban teachers grew frustrated with engagement and pedagogy, while rural teachers faced severe barriers including poor internet access, limited devices, and low digital literacy. The research shows that one-size-fits-all technology policies fail in Indonesia's diverse landscape and calls for context-specific infrastructure investment.
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'It's like another world': Intra-Rural Digital Divides and Public Libraries as Rural Assets
Rural areas contain hidden digital divides within themselves that persist even as rural-urban gaps close. Ethnographic research in rural Appalachia reveals how intra-rural digital inequity operates across multiple dimensions. Public libraries emerge as key assets for addressing these internal divides and advancing digital equity within rural communities.
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A SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY ON DIGITAL DIVIDE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN SELECTED URBAN AND RURAL AREAS IN TAMIL NADU, INDIA
This study compares digital access and practices between urban and rural areas in Tamil Nadu, India. The research reveals that socio-economic inequality drives a significant digital divide affecting both regions. While urban areas have integrated digital technology into business, education, and governance, rural areas lag behind in digitalization. The digital divide also exists within cities, separating under-resourced neighborhoods from affluent areas. Unequal access limits rural populations' opportunities for digital education and economic participation.
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ANALYZING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN SCIENCE EDUCATION: A BIBLIOMETRICS STUDY OF RURAL STUDENTS
Rural students face persistent barriers to quality science education due to digital divides in infrastructure and pedagogical support. This bibliometric analysis of 655 publications from 2010–2025 reveals steady growth in research, with spikes during COVID-19. Studies concentrate in North America, Asia, and Europe with limited international collaboration. Key research gaps include teacher training, mobile learning, and gendered digital access in rural contexts.
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Bridging the Digital Financial Divide: Trust Formation and Fintech Adoption Intentions in Rural Vietnam
This study examines how rural Vietnamese consumers form trust in fintech services and decide to adopt them. Using surveys of 486 rural consumers across six provinces, the researchers found that perceived usefulness and social influence drive trust formation, while institutional support strengthens the link between trust and adoption. Strong institutional backing can offset weak technological confidence. The research identifies four different pathways to high adoption, showing that multiple combinations of factors achieve the same outcome in collectivist societies.
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Bridging the Rural Digital Divide: Machine-Learning-Driven Predictive Modeling of Digital Literacy Program Outcomes
This study uses machine learning models to predict outcomes of digital literacy programs in rural education settings. Researchers tested multiple regression approaches from linear regression to advanced ensemble methods like XGBoost and Stacking, evaluating their accuracy using MSE and R-squared metrics. Ensemble techniques with multiple features performed best, and the findings suggest machine learning can help design customized digital education solutions for rural communities.
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Bridging the digital divide: analyzing educational inequality in technology access between urban and rural schools in China
This study examined how technological self-efficacy, chatbot acceptance, and task-technology fit affect student academic performance in Chinese schools. Using data from 302 students, researchers found that technological self-efficacy alone did not directly improve performance, but technology use in learning mediated this relationship. Both chatbot acceptance and task-technology fit significantly moderated the effects, suggesting that aligning technology with educational tasks and building student confidence in technology use improves learning outcomes.
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Bridging digital divides for sustainable futures: Evaluating the environmental and socio-economic impacts of financial inclusion among rural women
Digital financial inclusion—through mobile banking, fintech, and microcredit—strengthens rural women's entrepreneurship, income, and decision-making power while supporting sustainable livelihoods. However, gaps in digital literacy, infrastructure, and institutional support limit progress. The study proposes that combining financial inclusion with digital literacy training and sustainability policies can empower rural women and bridge socio-economic and environmental divides.
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Bridging the digital divide: Determinants of mobile payment adoption and continuance intention in rural retail contexts
Green innovation significantly increases firm value in Indonesian mining and energy companies, with profitability amplifying this effect. Environmental costs alone do not meaningfully impact firm value, and profitability cannot moderate their relationship. The findings suggest companies should prioritize transparent green innovation strategies aligned with profitability to enhance shareholder value, as stakeholders do not yet view environmental spending as a long-term strategic investment.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: The Role of Female Principals in Advancing 4IR in Rural South African Education
Women principals in rural South African primary schools are driving Fourth Industrial Revolution adoption despite significant constraints. They integrate digital tools into teaching, learning, and administration—using e-learning platforms, smart boards, and management systems like SA-SAMS. These leaders build partnerships with teachers, parents, and community stakeholders, foster innovation cultures, and pursue continuous professional development to upskill staff in digital competencies.
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Bridging the Rural–Urban Digital Divide in Education through ICT Interventions
ICT interventions can reduce rural-urban educational disparities by addressing infrastructure gaps, teacher training, and curriculum adaptation. The study finds that e-learning platforms, mobile apps, and digital literacy programs improve learning outcomes and attendance in rural schools. Success requires government-NGO-corporate collaboration, community engagement, and strategies to overcome connectivity and cost barriers. Closing the digital divide demands policy support and socioeducational commitment, not just technology.
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Digital Divide Among Marginalized Rural Communities in Developing Countries: Strategies and Practices to Reduce the ‘Proxy Use of ICTs’ for Rural e-Governance
Marginalized rural communities in developing countries rely on intermediaries to access e-governance services because they lack direct ICT skills. This study identifies strategies and practices that enable direct ICT use among these populations. The research reveals that software designed for easy setup, digital inclusion for insurance services, improved interface design, and targeted awareness campaigns reduce dependence on proxy intermediaries and advance digital inclusion.
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Reproduction and breakthrough of the digital divide: a study on the fairness paradox of online education in rural adult education
Online education in rural China reproduces educational inequality rather than reducing it, despite technological inclusibility. Digital capital—a new form of cultural capital—reinforces existing social structures. The study identifies three paradoxes: technology inclusiveness versus resource adaptability, facility coverage versus usage effectiveness, and policy promotion versus internal motivation. The digital divide extends beyond access to skills and cognition. Solutions require adaptive intervention and systematic restructuring through content localization, community networks, collaborative governance, and competency-based evaluation.
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The “Double-Edged Sword” Effect of Digital Technology: How Does the Digital Divide Influence Rural Income Differentiation?
Digital technology widens income gaps within rural areas rather than reducing them, according to analysis of Chinese provincial data. The digital divide exacerbates rural income differentiation, particularly in eastern regions. E-commerce participation acts as a key mechanism—areas with poor digital access see lower e-commerce engagement, which amplifies income inequality. The study recommends eastern regions share digital benefits more broadly while western areas need better digital infrastructure and skills training.
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Mobile Digital Laboratories for Inclusive Science Learning: Bridging the Rural–Urban Divide in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State, Nigeria
Mobile digital laboratories significantly improved science learning outcomes for junior secondary students in rural Nigeria compared to conventional teaching methods. The study tested 400 students in Benue State using a quasi-experimental design and found that hands-on digital laboratory experiences produced higher achievement scores. Mobile technology can democratize science education and reduce rural-urban learning disparities in underserved regions.
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Rural Development: Using Digital Technologies to Bridge the Urban-Rural Divide, Promote Economic Opportunities, and Support Sustainable Livelihoods
Digital technologies including broadband, mobile applications, e-commerce, and precision farming can bridge the urban-rural divide by reducing transaction costs, expanding market access, and decentralizing knowledge and finance. The paper argues that targeted digital interventions reverse traditional urban bias and create economic opportunities and sustainable livelihoods in rural areas.
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Understanding the digital divide: Contributing factors and their negative effects on rural students’ academic performance
Rural students face significant academic disadvantages due to limited digital technology access. The digital divide reduces classroom participation, lowers achievement, and reinforces existing educational inequalities. The paper recommends governments and school leaders invest in technological infrastructure, provide teacher training, distribute devices equitably, and build digital literacy skills to close this gap.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: A Case Study of Virtual Mentoring in Zimbabwean Rural Secondary Schools
Virtual mentoring can improve teacher professional development and retention in rural Zimbabwe despite significant digital infrastructure gaps. The study found that while national policies promote digital inclusion, rural schools face barriers including limited electricity and internet access, plus gender-based digital exclusion. Teachers nonetheless viewed virtual mentoring as valuable for their growth, suggesting targeted investment in rural ICT infrastructure and digital literacy training could enable equitable access to professional support.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Community-Engaged Strategies for Implementing Technology in Rural Adult Day Centers
CareMobi, a mobile health app, was implemented in rural adult day centers to improve communication between staff and family caregivers of people with dementia. Community-engaged strategies—including collaborative design, staff training, and iterative adaptation—successfully addressed digital literacy gaps, infrastructure limits, and trust-building challenges. The app improved information-sharing and early identification of health changes, demonstrating that intentional engagement with frontline staff and caregivers enables sustainable technology adoption in under-resourced rural settings.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Developing Tech Support for Rural Veterans to Improve Telehealth Access
Rural older Veterans face barriers to telehealth due to limited digital skills and poor infrastructure. The T-COACH program trains community volunteers to provide in-home technology education, helping Veterans access telehealth appointments. Implementation challenges include recruiting skilled rural volunteers, transportation constraints, and regulatory compliance. Success requires partnerships with local organizations, adequate resources, and sustainable funding to scale this approach.
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Digital Divide And Educational Media Use In Nigerian Teacher Training; A Mixed-methods Study Of Urban Vs Rural Institutions
This study compares digital media access and use among teacher educators in urban versus rural Nigerian institutions. Urban teachers report significantly better broadband access and digital skills than rural counterparts, who rely on low-bandwidth tools like WhatsApp due to connectivity constraints. The research identifies infrastructure gaps, affordability barriers, and inadequate digital literacy training as key drivers of regional inequality. The authors recommend targeted investments in infrastructure, subsidized devices, and peer-learning networks to achieve equitable digital integration in teacher training.
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Bridging the digital divide: ICT empowerment of rural women in Karnataka toward 2030 SDGs
ICT adoption empowers rural women in Karnataka across education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship, advancing gender equality and reduced inequalities. The study of 100 rural women across four revenue divisions found that digital tools improve socioeconomic outcomes, but infrastructure gaps, low digital literacy, and cultural barriers limit uptake. Policymakers and NGOs must prioritize region-specific digital literacy programs and gender-sensitive policies to maximize ICT benefits for rural women.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: An Empirical Study on Digital Payment Adoption among Rural Retailers in Tiruchirapalli
Rural retailers in Tiruchirapalli, India show strong intention to adopt digital payments when they expect performance benefits, have reliable infrastructure, and perceive good value. However, perceived risk and lack of awareness significantly block adoption. The study identifies digital illiteracy, poor internet connectivity, and fraud fears as major barriers, while highlighting opportunities for increased sales and better business records. Success requires improved infrastructure, financial literacy programs, and user-friendly systems.
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The Role of Mobile Phones in Bridging the Digital Divide for Economic Empowerment of Rural Women in Nepal
Mobile phones improve rural women's financial autonomy and decision-making in Nepal, but technology alone doesn't ensure empowerment. Patriarchal norms, low digital literacy, and poor infrastructure limit their potential. The study argues that women need agency, resources, and social support to use technology meaningfully. Gender-sensitive literacy programs and inclusive policies are essential for sustainable empowerment.
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Revisiting the Digital Divide: Mobile Technology and the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women in Sindhupalchowk, Nepal
Mobile phones increase rural women's communication, financial access, and income opportunities in Nepal, but structural inequalities, patriarchal norms, and digital illiteracy limit full empowerment. The study argues empowerment results from social processes, not technology alone. Effective progress requires gender-sensitive digital inclusion strategies, literacy programs, and community-based initiatives tailored to local contexts.
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Digital Platforms, the Digital Divide, and Women’s Empowerment: A Rural–Urban Comparative Study of Digital Financial Inclusion
Digital financial inclusion programs in India reach both rural and urban women, but with stark differences. Rural women in Odisha districts depend on family members to access services and face security concerns and access restrictions, limiting their independent use. Urban women use digital financial products more independently. The study reveals that trans women remain almost entirely excluded, showing that digital pathways alone cannot overcome structural barriers without targeted, gender-inclusive policies.
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Digital Divide and Educational Inequality: A Post-Pandemic Study of Online Learning in Rural and Urban Pakistan
Rural students in Pakistan face severe digital divides compared to urban peers, with less access to technology, internet connectivity, and learning devices. This gap directly harms their academic engagement, performance, and psychological well-being. The study of 400 students reveals rural learners experience higher stress and greater educational disruption. Bridging this divide requires infrastructure improvements, inclusive digital policies, and gender-sensitive interventions to ensure equitable education outcomes.
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Technology Acceptance and the Digital Divide: A Comparative study of an Urban and a Rural College in Sikkim
Rural college students in Sikkim accept and use educational technology less readily than urban peers due to structural barriers, not just attitude differences. Poor internet connectivity, unreliable electricity, and low digital literacy create a digital divide that the Technology Acceptance Model alone cannot explain. The study combines technology acceptance theory with digital divide analysis to show how access gaps and skill deficits shape technology adoption in education.
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Can EdTech Bridge the Educational Divide? A Study of Digital Learning in Rural Chinese Schools
Educational technology has potential to reduce China's urban-rural education gap, but faces significant obstacles. National initiatives like Smart Education of China have made progress, yet infrastructure deficiencies, inadequate teacher preparation, and low student engagement persist. The paper recommends context-sensitive policies and sustained investment to make EdTech interventions more effective and inclusive in rural schools.
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Digital Divides and Productive Development in Rural Women: A Systematic Analysis
A systematic review of 29 scientific documents reveals that digital technologies—particularly smartphones, mobile internet, and e-commerce platforms—significantly empower rural women entrepreneurs when paired with digital literacy training. The analysis identifies three critical barriers and opportunities: digital literacy gaps limiting entrepreneurship and health access, community resource constraints, and mobile technology's transformative impact on economic development. Strategic digital adoption plans strengthen cooperative marketing, collective economies, and overall quality of life for rural women.
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Effects of Digitalization on Cybersecurity of U.S Hospitals: The Roles of Urban-Rural Divide and Religious-Secular Mission
Hospital digitalization reduces cybersecurity breach risk, but the relationship is complex. Breach likelihood initially rises as hospitals digitalize, peaks at moderate levels, then declines at high digitalization. Urban and secular hospitals show higher peak risks and delayed improvements. Religious hospitals experience lower peak risks, particularly in rural areas. The findings show that governance and security investments must be sequenced strategically alongside digital maturity.
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Digital Divide Is Not A Rural Issue: A Qualitative Analysis From The Students' & Local People's Perspectives In An Indian Metropolitan City
This study examines the digital divide within an Indian metropolitan city, comparing affluent and under-resourced urban areas in Kolkata. Through qualitative interviews with 100 residents, the research reveals significant gaps in digital access and usage between these two segments, driven by socio-cultural and socio-economic factors. The findings show that digital inequality exists not just between rural and urban areas, but within cities themselves, and suggest the need for more inclusive strategies to bridge these metropolitan divides.
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Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Education: Bridging Gaps Through Innovation
Rural education in India faces systemic barriers including poor infrastructure, teacher shortages, and high dropout rates, particularly among girls. This study examines socio-economic and cultural factors limiting educational equity and evaluates existing programs like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Digital India. The research identifies EdTech and community-based models as promising solutions for bridging resource gaps and improving accessibility, proposing scalable approaches to infrastructure, teacher retention, and digital learning in resource-constrained rural settings.
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Implementing Smart Classroom Innovations to Enhance Elementary Education Quality in Rural Areas with a Case Study of SD Negeri 173637 Narumonda
A smart classroom initiative at a rural elementary school in North Sumatra introduced digital tools, interactive teaching methods, and teacher training to improve education quality. Despite initial low technological resources and limited teacher digital skills, the program increased student engagement and teacher confidence. The project demonstrates that community-institutional collaboration can effectively address rural educational disparities and provides a scalable model aligned with sustainable development goals.
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Path Design for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Education in Ethnic Regions to Serve Rural Revitalization
Entrepreneurship and innovation education can drive rural revitalization in China's ethnic regions. The paper designs pathways for integrating such education into rural development strategies, grounding the approach in government policies, cultural foundations, and the interdependence of agriculture and industrial development. Implementation requires addressing significant challenges but offers substantial value for economic growth and social stability in ethnic minority areas.
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Innovations and practices in the classroom for rural aesthetic education in the perspective of school integration
Rural schools face resource constraints and professionalization challenges in aesthetic education. This paper advocates integrating aesthetic practices across science, mathematics, and social disciplines to improve student development. The authors analyzed out-of-school resources and student needs in rural areas, then proposed innovative strategies for curriculum design and project-based learning. A case study in Xinyang village demonstrated positive results from this integrated approach.
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Advancing Gender-Responsive AI in Higher Education: A Participatory Rural Appraisal of Traditional and Modern Food Processing Innovations in Uganda
This study examines how gender-responsive AI in higher education can advance sustainable food systems in Uganda by bridging traditional and modern food processing practices. Research reveals that rural women, who dominate traditional food systems, face barriers to accessing AI-driven innovations due to socio-economic disparities, limited digital literacy, and poor infrastructure. The authors propose universities embed gender-responsive AI into participatory curricula, develop culturally relevant low-cost tools, and establish cross-sector partnerships to create inclusive technologies that amplify women's expertise while integrating modern efficiencies toward achieving food security and gender equality.
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Research on the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Model of Local Agricultural Colleges under the Background of Rural Revitalization: A Case Study of Anhui Agricultural University
Anhui Agricultural University developed an innovation and entrepreneurship education model combining five-level platforms, four-dimensional systems, and three-party collaboration to train agricultural talent for rural revitalization. The model addresses key gaps in agricultural education through maker spaces, industry partnerships, and competition-driven learning, effectively connecting classroom instruction to practical agricultural modernization needs.
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Sustainable Agriculture Development in Rural Regions: The Combination of Green Innovation, Green Supply Chains, and Farmer Education
Green innovation, digital technology, and farmer education work together to advance sustainable agriculture in rural areas. A study of 466 farmers in China found that green innovation adoption and efficient green supply chains reduce resource use and emissions. Farmer education strengthens these effects by enhancing how farmers use technology. The research shows these elements form an integrated system that policymakers can coordinate to support rural development aligned with sustainable development goals.
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The gratification paradox: Teacher innovation in urban and rural anti-corruption education
Indonesian teachers implementing anti-corruption education face different barriers in urban versus rural areas. Urban educators struggle with environmental constraints while rural educators lack resources, each developing distinct innovations. The study reveals a paradox: teachers understand gratification intellectually but deny practicing it, reflecting tension between legal norms and cultural gift-giving traditions. Cognitive-only education fails; context-sensitive policies and ethics-focused teaching methods are needed.
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Community Based Tourism Product Innovation and Economic Sustainability for Rural Community Wellbeing, A Case of Tourism Cooperatives in Musanze District Rwanda
Community-based tourism entrepreneurs in Rwanda's Musanze District innovate their tourism products to achieve economic sustainability and improve rural wellbeing. The study finds that community empowerment practices stimulate innovation in redesigning competitive and profitable tourism offerings. When tourists consume these products, rural communities generate income that enhances wellbeing. The research recommends that government, park managers, and stakeholders create platforms for collaboration and information sharing to support these enterprises.
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Achachay App: a community-driven innovation for flood data collection in urban and rural areas
Achachay App is a mobile application that enables communities to report real-time flood events with photos, videos, and location data. Researchers analyze these crowdsourced reports to understand flood patterns and identify flood-prone areas. Piloted in Ecuador, the app successfully mapped flood risks and secondary water flows, providing policymakers with data to design disaster prevention strategies and support sustainable development.
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AI and Automation in Rural and Community-Centric Broadcasting: Innovation, Ethics, and Sustainability
AI and automation can improve rural and community broadcasting by bridging information gaps and enhancing efficiency, but only with careful ethical implementation. The paper examines how AI tools like content generation and audience analytics serve rural broadcasters while addressing risks including algorithmic bias, surveillance, and erosion of local editorial control. Success requires community-centered design, ethical guidelines, language inclusivity, and infrastructure investment to protect indigenous voices and strengthen local storytelling.
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Rural electromobility: innovation for transportation in indigenous and rural communities
Rural electromobility using light electric vehicles like tricycles and motorcycles can reduce transportation gaps in indigenous and rural communities in southeastern Mexico. The study of three states found that despite financing and maintenance challenges, electric vehicles offer emissions reductions, cost savings, and improved service access. Success requires participatory design, local technical training, and coordination with academic institutions.
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Enhancing Health Care Access in Rural and Remote Communities: An Environmental Scan of Virtual Health Innovations in British Columbia
British Columbia has implemented 70 virtual health innovations in rural and remote communities over the past decade, including Real Time Virtual Support pathways for emergency and maternity care. These initiatives operate largely in isolation across regions. The paper argues that stronger partnerships among policymakers, health authorities, researchers, industry, and communities are essential to integrate these efforts and improve healthcare access and equity in underserved areas.
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Primary Care Rural and Frontier Clinical Trials Innovation Center (PRaCTICe): Co-designing research with communities
PRaCTICe is a research initiative that engages rural primary care clinics and communities in co-designing studies aligned with local health priorities. The program uses regional engagement specialists, community needs assessments, listening sessions, and an advisory board to build lasting research infrastructure across rural networks in the Pacific Northwest. Year 1 results show successful clinic-specialist relationships, identified research needs, and community-prioritized health topics.
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Participatory health innovation for stunting prevention: A multi-strategy community engagement model in rural Indonesia
In rural East Java, Indonesia, researchers implemented participatory health innovation activities to prevent stunting through community engagement. Three strategies—a herbal garden food competition, a gamified board game for mothers and children, and anemia education for adolescent girls—generated creative local solutions and increased health awareness. Participants demonstrated ownership and sustained engagement, showing that culturally-rooted, community-led approaches outperform top-down nutrition interventions.
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Community Empowerment and Green Innovation: Enhancing Women’s Capacity through Herbal Product Development in Rural Bali
Women in a rural Balinese village received training in producing herbal beverages from local ingredients, designing packaging, and marketing via social media. Participants successfully developed three herbal drink products meeting hygiene standards and built digital marketing skills using Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp. The program increased women's confidence and entrepreneurial capacity while supporting health, gender equality, and sustainable consumption goals.
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Empowering rural communities through corncob-based feed innovation for sustainable agriculture in special purpose forest area (KHDTK) Ngrawoh Village, Blora, Central Java, Indonesia
A rural community in Central Java, Indonesia developed WanaFeed, a livestock feed product from processed corncob waste, addressing both environmental degradation and expensive feed costs. Supported by foundations and universities, the initiative established a production facility, trained farmers, and implemented digital marketing. Within two years, the program converted 70% of village corncob waste into feed, produced over 12 tons monthly, reduced feed costs, created jobs, and improved sustainable waste management practices.
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Design for rural innovation through university community services
Universities can sustain rural innovation through community service projects by building expanded networks of human and non-human actors rather than simply transferring knowledge. The paper analyzes rural market design projects using Actor-Network Theory, showing that innovation adoption happens through dynamic interactions among multiple stakeholders, and that long-term success requires ongoing network expansion and learning spaces beyond initial project implementation.
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Innovations in Rural Aging: Community-Based Approaches to Support Older Adults
Rural communities face distinct aging challenges requiring tailored solutions. This symposium presents five community-based interventions across U.S. regions: Indigenous healing methods improved care for Native American elders in South Dakota; culturally appropriate family solutions addressed caregiving gaps for Latinx families in New Mexico; low-tech healthcare tools supported rural Veterans with vision loss in Florida/Georgia; intergenerational programming promoted healthy aging in Oklahoma; and flexible community programs enhanced independence and quality of life for older adults in North Dakota. Community-informed approaches prove effective for rural aging.
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Community-Centred Sericulture Innovation for Strengthening Rural Development and Home-Based Self-Employment
This research develops community-driven sericulture models that integrate mulberry cultivation, silkworm rearing, and silk-based enterprises to generate rural employment and household income. The study examines how home-based sericulture with low-cost technologies, eco-friendly practices, and zero-waste approaches can empower women, reduce seasonal migration, and strengthen rural livelihoods through cooperative marketing and digital sales platforms.
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Innovation-investment mechanisms for stimulating small business in rural communities
This paper examines how artificial intelligence and digital technologies drive innovation in rural small business development. It analyzes AI's benefits for research efficiency and data processing while addressing risks like academic integrity violations and algorithmic bias. The authors argue that responsible AI implementation requires clear institutional policies and ethical guidelines to balance technological innovation with maintaining credibility in research and education.
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Local Waste Management Innovation in Encouraging Behavioral Change in Rural Communities
This study implemented a waste management innovation project in rural communities, combining construction of disposal facilities with educational activities. Results show that providing adequate infrastructure alongside community education effectively increased awareness of proper waste disposal and cleanliness practices. The combination of physical facilities and socialization activities successfully fostered behavioral change toward sustainable waste management in rural areas.
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Bridging Tradition and Innovation: Indigenous Knowledge, Technology, and Rural Development under State Governance in Sabah, Malaysia
This study examines how indigenous knowledge and technology adoption shape rural development in Sabah, Malaysia under state governance. Researchers surveyed 150 rural households across three districts and interviewed community leaders and elders to understand technology use, agricultural productivity, and socio-economic outcomes. The findings reveal how traditional practices like tangaa farming knowledge integrate with modern innovation to drive community development.
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Place-Based Approach to Rural Development: Ethiopia in Context
This study analyzes rural development in Ethiopia using panel data from 2018/19 and 2021/22, applying a place-based framework that accounts for unique socioeconomic features shaped by human and institutional interactions. The research finds that both rurality and entrepreneurial ecosystems significantly affect rural development outcomes. The findings challenge Ethiopia's policy approach, which relies too heavily on geographic factors while ignoring the complex socio-spatial formations that actually drive rural development.
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Place-Based Diminished Returns of Parental Education on Adolescents’ Inhalant Use in Rural Areas
Higher parental education typically protects adolescents from inhalant use, but this benefit disappears in rural areas. Using national survey data of 12th graders, the study finds that rural youth from highly educated families face disproportionately high inhalant use risk compared to urban and suburban peers. Geographic marginalization—limited jobs and recreation—undermines the protective effects of parental socioeconomic resources in rural settings.
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Academic Aspirations of 12th Grade Students in the United States: Place-Based Diminished Returns of Parental Education in Rural Areas
Higher parental education increases adolescents' aspirations for advanced education, but this benefit is significantly weaker in rural areas than urban or suburban settings. Rural students experience diminished returns on their parents' educational advantages, facing a dual disadvantage of lower socioeconomic resources and reduced benefits from those resources. Policymakers must implement targeted interventions to equalize educational opportunities across geographic contexts.
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Formation mechanism and configuration pathways of rural tourism destination residents’ subjective well-being: Based on the mediation effect of host-guest interaction and the moderating effect of place attachment
Rural residents' well-being in tourism destinations depends on how they perceive tourism's impacts. Positive perceptions directly boost well-being, while negative perceptions reduce it. Host-guest interactions partially mediate both effects. Place attachment moderates these relationships differently: it weakens the positive perception effect but strengthens the negative perception effect. The strongest well-being outcomes occur when residents experience high positive impact perceptions combined with strong place attachment.
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Investigating high-risk rural regions for potentially preventable hospitalisations: a method for place-based primary healthcare planning
Rural communities face higher rates of preventable hospitalizations due to limited primary healthcare access. This paper develops a six-step method to identify high-risk regions and improve local healthcare pathways. The method examines service gaps, provider experiences, and patient journeys to recommend targeted interventions. Applied to ear, nose, and throat conditions in Australia, it provides a replicable framework for health agencies to plan equitable primary care services.
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Exploring How Rural Teachers’ Place Identity Relates to Place-Based Curriculum Implementation
Rural teachers' sense of connection to their local place shapes how they implement place-based education. Teachers who felt strongly connected to their community viewed local resources as valuable teaching tools, while those with weaker place identity saw the same resources as obstacles. The study of 17 rural teachers shows that personal place experiences directly influence whether educators can effectively use their surroundings for instruction.
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Reflections on rural spatial construction based on place identity: A case study of spatial reconstruction in Xiaoshi village, Pengzhou
Rural areas in China lose local distinctiveness and community identity during urbanization. This study examines how place identity—encompassing cultural significance, economic functions, and spatial imagery—can be reconstructed through integrated approaches. Using Xiaoshi village as a case study, the authors show that reshaping public spaces, innovating industrial models, and expressing local character through coordinated spatial, economic, and cultural activation effectively rebuilds place identity and stimulates rural revitalization.
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Abstract C098: Analysis of disparities in access to modern cancer therapies based on the place of residence (rural/urban) of participants
A Polish study of 148 cancer patients in clinical trials found that rural residents made up only 28% of participants compared to 72% from urban areas. Rural men over 64 participated significantly less often than their urban counterparts. The researchers attribute this disparity to limited mobility, transportation challenges, and lower awareness of trial opportunities in rural communities. They recommend targeted education, expanded local research infrastructure, and logistical support to ensure equitable access to cancer treatments.
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Navigating Rural: Place-Based Transit Solutions for Rural Canada | Parcourir Le Milieu Rural: Des Solutions de Transport en Commun en Milieu Rural Canadien
Rural Canada faces significant transportation challenges due to low population density and geographic dispersion. This paper examines place-based transit solutions tailored to rural communities' specific needs and contexts. The authors analyze how customized transportation approaches can improve mobility and connectivity in rural areas, supporting economic development and quality of life while accounting for local conditions and resources.
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Functional Index–Based Central-Place Hierarchy and Typology for Rural Spatial Strategies - Evidence from Three Counties in Jeollanam-do, Korea -
This study maps service imbalances across rural settlements in three South Korean counties using a functional index measuring ten life services: childcare, education, healthcare, welfare, culture, sports, administration, transport, commerce, and recreation. The analysis reveals severe concentration, with top-ranked centers controlling 41–54% of total service capacity while half of rural units rank lowest. Three service factors explain most variation, with population strongly linked to infrastructure and welfare but not culture. The authors propose tailored strategies for different settlement types to rebalance service provision and sustain rural populations.
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Additional file 3 of Exploring recruitment strategies for place-based research in rural areas of Australia: a comparative case study analysis
This supplementary material supports a comparative case study examining recruitment strategies for place-based research in rural Australian communities. The document provides detailed methodological information and comparative analysis of approaches used to engage rural participants in research studies, offering practical insights for researchers conducting fieldwork in geographically dispersed populations.
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Additional file 5 of Exploring recruitment strategies for place-based research in rural areas of Australia: a comparative case study analysis
This supplementary material supports a comparative case study examining recruitment strategies for conducting place-based research in rural Australian communities. The work identifies effective approaches for engaging rural participants in research studies, addressing the practical challenges researchers face when working in geographically dispersed populations.
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Additional file 4 of Exploring recruitment strategies for place-based research in rural areas of Australia: a comparative case study analysis
This supplementary material supports a comparative case study examining recruitment strategies for place-based research in rural Australian communities. The work identifies effective approaches for engaging rural participants in research studies, addressing the practical challenges of conducting fieldwork in geographically dispersed populations.
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Additional file 2 of Exploring recruitment strategies for place-based research in rural areas of Australia: a comparative case study analysis
This supplementary material supports a comparative case study examining recruitment strategies for place-based research in rural Australian communities. The work identifies effective approaches for engaging rural participants in research studies, addressing the practical challenges of conducting fieldwork in geographically dispersed populations.
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Additional file 1 of Exploring recruitment strategies for place-based research in rural areas of Australia: a comparative case study analysis
This paper examines recruitment strategies for conducting place-based research in rural Australian communities. The authors compare different approaches across case studies to identify effective methods for engaging rural participants in research projects. The findings provide practical guidance for researchers working in remote and regional areas where recruitment presents unique challenges.
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Place-Based Rural Development: A Role for Complex Adaptive Assemblages?
Rural development programs often improve measurable indicators without making residents feel their lives have actually improved. Using ethnographic research in Cornwall and Southwest Virginia, this paper develops the concept of complex adaptive region assemblages to explain this gap. The author finds that revitalization systems work better when they strengthen connections between local residents and help them navigate their communities more effectively.
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Learning in place: the creation of a community-based Rural Training Stream to grow a local health professional workforce in Western Victoria
This paper describes the development of a community-based Rural Training Stream in Western Victoria designed to train health professionals locally. The program aims to grow the regional health workforce by enabling students to learn and work within their own communities, addressing rural healthcare workforce shortages through place-based education and training initiatives.
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“Do you know what's underneath your feet?”: Underground landscapes & place‐based risk perceptions of proposed shale gas sites in rural British communities
Rural communities in the United Kingdom perceive risks from proposed shale gas exploration through deep, place-based knowledge rooted in generations of connection to their local landscapes, including underground features. Residents' understanding of subsurface geology shapes their concerns about how extraction threatens the distinctiveness of their places. The study shows that effective risk management for underground energy projects must incorporate local, place-based knowledge alongside technical assessments.
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Improving teacher retention in rural Alaska: an experiential place-based model
A partnership between the University of Alaska, Bristol Bay Foundation, and four rural school districts created a place-based experiential learning program to retain teachers in Alaska's Bristol Bay region. The program achieved a 95% teacher retention rate, far exceeding the regional average of 66%. The model connects educators with local culture and community, offering a replicable approach for rural districts facing persistent teacher turnover.
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Place-based rural development: building capacities, multi-actor collaborations and making sense of the local ‘place’
Place-based rural development succeeds when local actors collaborate and deliberately build capacity to connect external knowledge with local circumstances. A case study of Nova Scotia's wine industry shows how multi-actor collaboration and intentional interventions created a new industry from scratch in a region lacking initial endogenous capacity. The findings demonstrate that rural regions can develop entirely new industries through strategic knowledge recombination and coordinated capacity building.
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Stormwater Management Challenges in Rural Coastal Maine: Identifying Place-Based Solutions by Studying Current Practices
Rural coastal Maine communities face severe stormwater management challenges exposed by catastrophic 2023-2024 storms. Town officials lack formal data collection systems, mapping infrastructure, and adequate budgets, forcing reactive rather than proactive decision-making. The study identifies solutions including voluntary education, inter-town collaboration, culvert inventories, and system mapping to strengthen climate resilience and prevent costly infrastructure failures.
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Place-Based Strategies for Economic Resilience in Rural Northern Maine
Rural communities in northern Maine have adapted standard development tools to address their unique challenges following the closure of Loring Air Force Base. The research examines five interconnected development areas: housing and land use, broadband connectivity, industry recruitment, downtown revitalization, and adaptive tourism. Transportation emerges as a fundamental constraint shaping all development opportunities in these extremely rural contexts.
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Rural Teachers’ Experiences with a Place-Based Gifted Curriculum
Rural teachers implementing a place-based language arts curriculum for gifted students in an Appalachian school district faced significant barriers that prevented full curriculum delivery. The study of 16 elementary teachers across eight schools found that existing rural school challenges—including resource constraints and structural limitations—reduced student access to the gifted program. The findings highlight how rural context directly shapes curriculum implementation and student opportunity.
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Place-Based Arts Education for Rural Revitalization: A Case of the “She” Ethnic Minority Theater in Ningde, China
A theater in Ningde, China dedicated to She ethnic minority culture functions as a place-based learning space that teaches traditional music, dance, and rituals. The theater strengthens community identity, enables intergenerational knowledge transfer, and boosts local tourism. Place-based arts education effectively bridges formal schooling with community learning while preserving cultural heritage and supporting rural revitalization.
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Innovation and inclusion in multigrade settings: A case study in a secondary rural school in Catalonia
A rural secondary school in Catalonia implements pedagogical renewal through multigrade classrooms using active methodologies, democratic structures, and ICT integration. The study identifies how the school achieves educational innovation and social inclusion through personalized learning, reflective teaching, and community engagement. The research confirms alignment between the school's innovative discourse and actual classroom practices that promote inclusion.
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ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP AND HYBRID LEARNING IN REDUCING EDUCATIONAL EXCLUSION: A STUDY OF SERVICE INNOVATION FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN RURAL INDONESIA
Adaptive leadership combined with hybrid learning models can reduce educational exclusion for out-of-school children in rural Indonesia. The study examines how responsive leadership and service innovation expand educational access in Brebes Regency, where geographic, economic, and cultural barriers prevent enrollment. The research proposes a scalable framework connecting leadership adaptability, service innovation, and technology-enhanced learning to create culturally relevant, inclusive education systems for marginalized learners.
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Pathways to Higher Education: Expanding College and Career Access for Rural Youth
Utah State University Extension hosted a two-day event that brought 31 rural youth from two Utah counties to three campuses for immersive tours and workshops. Participants gained increased confidence about college, learned more about financial aid, and developed stronger interest in careers. The program successfully improved youth understanding of higher education pathways and their confidence in preparing for postsecondary education.
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RURAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ACCESS, EQUITY, AND CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION IN SOUTH AFRICAN HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
South Africa's higher education system excludes rural students through inadequate schooling, poor digital infrastructure, and limited financial support. Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies worsen these inequalities unless policies prioritize equity. The paper proposes universities serve as rural innovation hubs and recommends embedding bursaries, rural campuses, entrepreneurial curricula, and community partnerships to transform higher education and advance rural development.
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Policies of Access to Higher Education: Perspectives and Experiences of Rural Youth from Orobó-Valença/BA
This study examines how higher education access policies affect rural youth in Orobó-Valença, Brazil. Researchers surveyed and interviewed young people from this farming community who entered higher education. They found that improvements in basic education directly increased young people's success in continuing to university compared to previous generations. Brazil's recent policies expanding public universities and access programs have boosted public higher education enrollment in the region, though most rural youth still attend private institutions.
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Socioeconomic Inequalities and Access to Higher Education: A Comparative Analysis of Urban and Rural Communities
Rural students face multiple barriers to higher education including financial constraints, limited academic support, inadequate infrastructure, and weak career guidance, while urban students benefit from stronger academic ecosystems but face rising costs and competition. The study recommends integrated policies focusing on equitable funding, digital inclusion, mentorship programs, and need-based scholarships to address these persistent socioeconomic inequalities.
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Access under Constraint: Barriers Shaping Female Participation in Higher Education in Rural Balochistan
This study identifies major barriers preventing rural female students in Balochistan, Pakistan from accessing higher education. Economic constraints, lack of institutional support, socio-cultural barriers, early marriage, and harassment significantly discourage enrollment and continuation. The research surveyed 239 female students across rural colleges and universities, finding that targeted policies addressing financial assistance, institutional support, cultural awareness, transportation, and anti-harassment measures are essential to improve educational access and gender equality.
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Distance English Language Learning: The Experiences and Perceptions of Jordanian Students from Rural Areas
Jordanian rural students using web-based English learning experienced both benefits and challenges. They valued flexibility, autonomy, and access to online resources like VR and gamified applications, which supported their reading and writing. However, they faced barriers including limited speaking practice, weak live interaction, technical difficulties, and reduced motivation. The study recommends adding technical support, immersive technologies, and gamification to strengthen synchronous learning and engagement.
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A multi-objective optimization method based on internal search algorithm for wind energy access to rural microgrid power supply grid architecture
This paper develops a multi-objective optimization method using an internal search algorithm to improve rural microgrid power supply architecture that integrates wind energy. The approach outperforms conventional methods by better handling dynamic power fluctuations and delivers superior optimization across economic and operational metrics. The method enhances power supply quality and reduces operational risk in rural microgrids.
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Assessing the Economic Effects of Energy Access Inequalities between Rural and Urban Areas in Egypt Based on the Random Forest Algorithm
Rural electricity access drives industrial growth in Egypt far more than urban access, according to machine learning analysis. The study found that rural electrification increases industrial sector growth by 85%, compared to 15% from urban electrification. Both rural and urban electricity access show positive relationships with industrial expansion, but rural access proves critical for supporting small-scale manufacturing projects and broader economic development across Egypt.
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Off-Grid Energy Access Solution for Rural and Underserved Regions
Researchers designed and evaluated a photovoltaic off-grid power system for a rural Nigerian village of 100 households. Using HOMER PRO optimization and MATLAB simulations, they calculated the levelized cost of electricity at $0.3305/kWh over 20 years. The PV-battery microgrid costs slightly more than conventional alternatives but delivers environmental benefits and technical feasibility for remote electrification in high-irradiance regions.
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Rural Energy Access and Agricultural Productivity in South Africa
South Africa expanded electricity access from 34% in 1991 to 85% in 2018, but rural areas lagged behind urban areas. Using a Cobb-Douglas production function, this study examined how rural energy access affects agricultural productivity. The findings show that rural energy access surprisingly had a negative influence on agricultural productivity, while urban energy access promoted it. Labor participation, capital investment, and rainfall emerged as stronger drivers of agricultural productivity.
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Evaluating The Influence Of Solar Energy Access On Household Income And Employment Opportunities In Rural Khandwa
Solar energy access in rural Khandwa, India significantly increases household income and creates employment opportunities. A study of 300 households found that adopting decentralized solar systems boosts entrepreneurship and diversifies livelihoods. However, maintenance costs, financing barriers, and low awareness limit adoption. The researchers recommend stronger policy support and local solar business programs to expand sustainable energy access.
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A case study of selected rural communities' knowledge of the law and their rights regarding their access to water, energy and food in South Africa
Rural South African households lack knowledge of their constitutional rights to water, energy, and food access. A survey of 1,184 households across three rural areas reveals that despite legal frameworks requiring local governments to provide these services, most residents depend solely on social security grants and remain unaware of their entitlements. The research shows significant gaps between constitutional protections and their practical implementation in rural communities.
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Leveraging Microfinance for Solar Energy Access: Policy and Practice in Rural Areas for Sustainable Development of Marginalized Rural Communities
Rural communities in South Asia lack reliable electricity access, hindering development. Microfinance institutions can bridge this gap by funding household solar systems, which provide clean energy while reducing poverty and emissions. The paper argues that combining microfinance with solar technology empowers marginalized populations—particularly women—through affordable financing, enabling sustainable rural electrification and progress toward UN sustainable development goals.
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Novel Dynamic Inverter Control Mechanism for Reliable Solar-PV Energy Access in Weak Rural Grids
Researchers developed a decentralized solar photovoltaic system for low-income rural communities with weak electrical grids. The 5 kW system uses novel control mechanisms to track maximum power output under changing sunlight and stabilize voltage during grid disturbances. It meets power quality standards and achieves over 96% efficiency, reducing dependence on diesel generators and centralized grids while providing reliable electricity for households and agriculture.
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ENHANCING RURAL ENERGY ACCESS IN NIGERIA THROUGH SOLAR MICROGRID: A CASE OF MGBERE-CLAN IBAA RIVERS STATE
A hybrid solar-diesel microgrid system in rural Nigeria outperforms diesel-only power generation for a 380 kWh daily load. The hybrid configuration with 250 kW solar panels and battery storage meets 67% of demand through solar, reduces diesel consumption by 75%, cuts CO₂ emissions by 67%, and lowers electricity costs from $0.159 to $0.152 per kWh while maintaining reliable power supply.
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Energy-Efficient 5G Integrated Access and Backhaul Open RAN-Based Fixed Wireless Access Provisioning in Rural Areas
This paper proposes an energy-efficient 5G wireless access system for rural areas using Open RAN technology and renewable energy sources. The authors develop an optimization model that combines communication and energy systems to minimize energy consumption while maximizing network performance. Results demonstrate that integrating renewable energy with Open RAN-based fixed wireless access significantly improves both network and energy efficiency in rural broadband deployment.
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The hybrid renewable energy community approach (HyRECA): Synergising electricity access with bush encroachment mitigation in rural Southern Africa
Hybrid renewable energy systems using encroacher bush biomass can provide affordable electricity to rural off-grid communities in Southern Africa while simultaneously addressing bush encroachment. Off-grid PV/biomass/battery systems achieve the lowest costs and zero emissions, though grid-connected systems dominate where cheap electricity exists. Over 70% of households can afford medium-power appliances. Sustainable biomass harvesting could electrify 1.35 million people across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa using less than 1% of encroached land.
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Access to electricity and development in rural Senegal : the case of solar energy in the Kolda-Vélingara-Médina Yoro Foulah (KVM) concession
Rural Senegal faces severe electricity access challenges, with over 4 million people lacking power despite strong solar potential. This study examines solar electrification efforts in the Kolda-Vélingara-Médina Yoro Foulah region through national and local analysis. Findings reveal that the Senegalese rural electrification agency (ASER) struggles with coordination among multiple actors, creating governance fragmentation that undermines project success. While households adopt solar solutions, they lack sustained, equitable implementation. The research argues for territorial, inclusive approaches that prioritize social appropriation over market logic to achieve universal electricity access by 2030.
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Sistema fotovoltaico off-grid com baterias em zona rural – estudo de caso
Rural producers in Goiás, Brazil face significant losses from power outages that spoil stored food and kill livestock. This case study compares three energy systems for a rural property: grid electricity with backup generator, grid with off-grid solar, and grid with off-grid solar plus batteries. Financial analysis using NPV, IRR, and levelized cost of electricity shows that solar with battery storage delivers the best long-term viability despite requiring nine times higher initial investment than traditional grid-plus-generator systems.
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Feasibility Study of Off-Grid Rural Electrification in Iraq: A Case Study of the AL-Teeb Area
This study evaluates off-grid electrification options for the Al-Teeb area in eastern Iraq, which lacks grid connection despite economic importance. Researchers modeled three hybrid energy scenarios combining photovoltaics, wind turbines, diesel generators, batteries, and converters. A hybrid system using all five components proved most cost-effective, with a levelized cost of energy of $0.155/kWh and net present cost of $14.2 million. The optimal configuration requires 1,215 solar panels, 59 wind turbines, 13 generators, and 3,138 batteries.
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Techno-Economics Analysis of an Off-Grid Hybrid Power System for Rural Areas in Nigeria
This study evaluates off-grid hybrid power systems for rural Nigeria, comparing thermal generation alone against solar-hybrid alternatives in Delta State. The hybrid system reduced costs from ₦54.9 billion to ₦30.9 billion while cutting emissions by 30%, though at higher per-unit energy costs than thermal alone due to gas subsidies. The authors recommend government-industry collaboration and funding mechanisms to deploy hybrid systems in underserved rural communities.
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Performance Optimization of Biomass-Fuelled Thermoelectric Cookstoves for Off-Grid Rural Electrification
Researchers designed and optimized a portable biomass-fueled cookstove that generates electricity through thermoelectric technology. Testing various heat sink designs and adding phase-change material insulation, the stove produced 3-7 volts of direct current sufficient to power LED lights and communication devices. The system offers reliable off-grid electricity for remote and disaster-prone rural areas lacking grid infrastructure.
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Scenario Analysis of Electricity Demand Growth with Rural Electrification for the Evaluation of the Reliability and Sustainability of an off‐Grid Microgrid System: A Case Study in Lao <scp>PDR</scp> †
This study identifies factors driving electricity demand growth in rural Laos to design reliable off-grid microgrids. Researchers surveyed communities and found that age and income level directly influence appliance ownership and energy consumption. The team developed three demand scenarios—low, medium, and high—and determined optimal microgrid component combinations for each. The low-growth scenario provides a practical baseline for rural electrification, helping policymakers prevent system failures after implementation.
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TECHNO-ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY AND OPTIMIZATION OF OFF-GRID HYBRID RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION IN ETHIOPIA
This study evaluates hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, and battery storage for powering remote rural areas in Ethiopia. Using computer modeling, researchers tested different system configurations and found that optimized solar-wind-battery combinations significantly reduce electricity costs, emissions, and fossil fuel dependence. The findings support Ethiopia's rural electrification goals and offer a practical framework for deploying clean energy in underserved regions.
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Development of a solar photovoltaic-biogas hybrid microgrid for off-grid rural communities in Uganda
Rural Uganda lacks electricity access for over 80% of inhabitants, forcing reliance on biomass and primitive stoves while generating substantial agricultural waste. This study designed and piloted a solar photovoltaic-biogas hybrid microgrid combining abundant solar resources with animal waste. Financial analysis proved the hybrid system viable with positive returns, while solar alone was not. A pilot serving seven users launched successfully in April 2024 with enthusiastic community response, demonstrating the system's potential to simultaneously address energy poverty and waste management across off-grid Ugandan communities.
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PV + Battery Storage System Design for Off-Grid Rural Homesteads in Navajo-Based Indigenous Communities
This paper describes the design of an off-grid solar and battery storage system for Navajo Nation homesteads in the southwestern United States. The system—1.6 kW photovoltaic array with 10.2 kWh battery storage—was developed through direct community input to ensure cultural alignment. Implementation delivers energy sovereignty, resilience, cost savings from improved water and food access, and workforce development opportunities for indigenous families.
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Simulation, Optimization, and Techno-Economic Assessment of 100% Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Rural Electrification in Eastern Morocco
Researchers designed and optimized 15 hybrid renewable energy systems for a rural village in eastern Morocco using solar, wind, and concentrated solar power technologies. A photovoltaic system with battery storage proved most cost-effective, delivering electricity at 0.184 USD/kWh while reducing CO2 emissions by 81.7 tons annually. The study demonstrates that hybrid renewable systems can reliably and economically provide 100% of electricity demand for remote Moroccan communities.
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Off-Grid Lighting System for Rural Communities Using Renewable Energy, IoT, and Recyclable Materials
Researchers developed an off-grid lighting system for rural Nigerian homes using recycled plastic bottles, solar panels, and LED bulbs powered by lithium-ion batteries. The system provides natural daytime lighting through water-filled bottles and electric lighting at night for up to 10 hours, reducing energy consumption by 80% compared to traditional bulbs. Pilot testing demonstrates the solution can serve over 600,000 households in South-West Nigeria, offering a scalable, affordable alternative to fossil fuel-dependent lighting.
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Viable System Model for Off-Grid Solar-Powered Electricity Operation in Indonesian Rural Communities
This study applies the Viable System Model to improve off-grid solar electricity systems in rural Indonesia through the 'Berbagi Listrik' program. Training residents, forming management committees, and using decentralized governance significantly enhanced system functionality and durability. The research demonstrates that VSM principles—decentralization, adaptability, and community engagement—effectively address operational and maintenance challenges in remote electrification projects.
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Development of a Water Impulse Turbine for Pico-Hydro Energy Generation in Off-Grid Rural Areas
Researchers designed and tested a water impulse turbine for pico-hydro power generation in off-grid rural areas. The Pelton turbine operates under ultra-low head conditions using flowing streams and rivers. Testing with varying pipe sizes, bucket configurations, and flow rates showed the system achieved maximum efficiency of 88.14% at 89.8 RPM. Pico-hydro offers a low-cost, clean alternative to expensive grid extension in remote forested regions.
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INTEGRAÇÃO DE UM SISTEMA FOTOVOLTAICO OFF-GRID NA ESCOLA MUNICIPAL SANTO ANTÔNIO NA ZONA RURAL DE MANAUS
This study designs and tests an off-grid photovoltaic system for a rural school near Manaus, Brazil, powered by diesel generators. The researchers surveyed the school's electrical load, designed a solar system with batteries and controls, built a prototype, and modeled performance. Results show the solar system can reduce diesel emissions and operating costs while improving daytime power reliability, providing evidence for implementing renewable energy in isolated Amazonian schools.
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Evaluating an Off-Grid PV-Battery Hybrid System with Starlink Monitoring in Rural Malaysia
Researchers implemented and evaluated a 5.5 kW solar-battery hybrid system in rural Malaysia, using Starlink satellite internet for remote monitoring. HOMER Pro simulations predicted higher energy output than actual measurements achieved, revealing gaps between idealized models and real-world performance caused by factors like localized solar radiation variations. The system proved technically feasible with a 25-year net present cost of 80,066 MYR, demonstrating that IoT-enhanced monitoring improves renewable energy optimization in remote communities.
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Techno-Economics Analysis of Off-Grid Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems in Remote Areas in Indonesia for Rural Village Electrification: Case Study of Pantar Island
This study evaluates off-grid solar photovoltaic systems for electrifying remote villages in Indonesia, comparing diesel generators against various solar configurations using cost and emissions analysis. Solar PV with battery storage proved most economical at $0.35/kWh, roughly one-quarter the cost of diesel-only systems at $1.20/kWh, while also reducing carbon emissions significantly. The findings demonstrate that renewable energy offers a viable, cost-effective alternative to diesel power in Indonesia's isolated areas.
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Energy survey and MATLAB/Simulink Simulation of 24VDC lighting systems for off-grid rural houses in Papua New Guinea
This paper designs and simulates a 24V DC lighting system for off-grid rural households in Papua New Guinea using solar PV and battery storage with a DC-DC boost converter. Testing shows the system maintains stable 24V output with 92% peak efficiency and successfully handles varying battery voltage and load changes. Lighting dominates evening demand (78%, 6pm-11pm). The authors provide a practical reference design and component-sizing guidance for deploying solar-based electrification in PNG's rural areas.
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Powering tomorrow’s farms: A roadmap for hydrogen energy systems in off-grid rural agricultural decarbonization
This paper develops a practical roadmap for implementing hydrogen energy systems on off-grid farms to reduce agricultural emissions. It compares hydrogen systems against renewable energy and diesel alternatives, examines costs and logistics of hydrogen transport, analyzes power electronics integration, explores hydrogen use in farm vehicles, and proposes a simplified system design to help farmers adopt the technology. The work targets researchers, engineers, and policymakers working on sustainable agriculture.
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Integrated Off-Grid Resource Sharing and Energy Network Optimisation for Several Co-Located Rural Communities in Namibia
This paper develops an optimization model for off-grid hybrid power systems serving multiple rural communities in Namibia. The system combines solar, batteries, diesel generators, and biomass resources (animal dung, crop residue, fuel wood) to generate reliable electricity. When seven communities share resources and excess energy, the integrated network reduces costs by 61.6% and carbon emissions by 73.6% compared to individual community systems.
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Off the Grid: Rural Identity, Environmentalism, and Renewable Energy Policy in Rural New England
Rural New England residents with strong environmental values still oppose renewable energy development and land-use regulation at higher rates than urban counterparts. The study of 1,400 residents reveals that rural identity itself predicts lower policy support, even among environmentalists. Place attachment combined with resentment toward cultural displacement drives opposition. Opposition stems not from economic concerns alone, but from symbolic factors: identity, belonging, and desire for local autonomy.
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Grid extension vs. off-grid systems in rural Areas: Methodologies, tools, and criteria for decision-making
This scoping review of 136 studies examines how decision-makers choose between grid extension and off-grid systems for rural electrification in developing countries. The authors find that current methodologies treat these options separately despite their coexistence in real planning scenarios. Existing frameworks fail to integrate technical, economic, social, environmental, and institutional dimensions comprehensively, and lack unified indicators for meaningful comparison. The review calls for more integrated decision-making tools that address the complexity of electrification choices in grid-adjacent rural areas.
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Building a CNN Based Pest Detection System for Off Grid Hydroponic Farming in Rural South Africa
Researchers developed an AI-powered pest detection system for off-grid hydroponic farming in rural South Africa. Using a convolutional neural network trained on common pests like spider mites and aphids, the system runs locally on a Raspberry Pi without internet connectivity. The technology successfully automates pest detection in resource-constrained settings, reducing manual crop inspections and improving food security for subsistence farmers facing climate challenges and limited agricultural resources.
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Enabling Sustainable Rural Power: Off-Grid Solar PV as a Diesel Alternative in Tumbang Manjul
This study evaluates a 1,000 kWp standalone solar PV system for the isolated Indonesian region of Tumbang Manjul as a replacement for diesel power generation. The system is technically feasible given strong local solar resources and financially viable, with an electricity cost of IDR 2,014/kWh—far below the current diesel cost of IDR 5,714/kWh. Risk management and project scheduling frameworks ensure structured implementation, while the project reduces annual CO2 emissions by 2,253 tons and advances multiple sustainable development goals.
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Cost–Benefit and Performance Outlook for Off-Grid Solar Solutions in Rural South Cianjur
Off-grid solar power systems offer a viable solution for rural electrification in South Cianjur, Indonesia. Using HOMER Pro modeling, researchers analyzed technical configurations and economic metrics including net present cost, levelized electricity cost, payback period, and return on investment. The analysis confirms that off-grid solar is both sustainable and affordable for remote communities, despite interest rate impacts, and demonstrates potential for scaling to other underserved regions.
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The Value of Off-Grid Renewable Electricity’s Non-Market Benefits in Rural Sumba, Indonesia
Off-grid renewable energy systems in remote areas face sustainability challenges due to limited local technical and financial capacity. This study of a community-managed micro-hydro plant in Indonesia identifies and values non-market social benefits—such as improved health, education, and quality of life—that households receive from electricity access. Using interviews and willingness-to-pay surveys, researchers found these social benefits justify investment even when direct economic returns are weak, arguing that project evaluations should include social value alongside financial metrics.
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Lcoe Reduction in African Off-Grid Rural Microgrids: a Systematic Approach Using Dsm and Innovative Bchp Integration
This paper presents a framework for designing cost-effective off-grid microgrids in rural Africa by combining demand-side management, consumer clustering, and biomass-based combined heat and power systems. The approach reduces electricity costs while enabling microgrid expansion to serve more customers. By strategically applying energy management to productive uses while protecting household consumption, the method maintains affordability and reliability as systems grow, offering practical guidance for rural electrification projects.
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Optimal Sizing of PV Water Pumping System for Off-grid Rural Communities
This paper develops an optimization method for sizing photovoltaic water pumping systems in off-grid rural communities. Using a particle swarm optimization algorithm, researchers determined the optimal configuration of solar panels and water storage tanks for a village in Egypt's Western Desert. The results show that adding a storage tank dramatically reduces water supply failures while keeping costs reasonable, making the system practical for rural areas lacking electricity infrastructure.
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Financial, Infrastructural, and Institutional Barriers to Renewable Energy Adoption in Nigeria’s Off-Grid Rural Communities: Policy Implications and Strategic Solutions
Financial constraints and poor infrastructure significantly block renewable energy adoption in Nigeria's off-grid rural communities, while policy clarity and community participation drive it forward. The study finds that targeted financing, infrastructure investment, capacity building, and coherent regulatory frameworks are essential to accelerate rural energy transitions and achieve energy equity across Nigeria.
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Optimal Design of Rural Off-Grid Power Systems in Japan with Green hydrogen Production and Sales
This paper develops an optimization model for designing 100% renewable off-grid power systems in rural Japan that produce and sell green hydrogen. Using a case study in Hokkaido, the authors show that selling surplus hydrogen—even at zero price—reduces energy costs compared to self-consumption-only designs by lowering required storage capacity. The findings demonstrate that infrequent sales via vehicle transport remain economically viable, offering practical guidance for rural communities pursuing energy independence.
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Village-Scale Off-Grid Solar Microgrids: Advancing Rural Electrification Through Distributed Generation and Storage
This paper designs and evaluates village-scale solar microgrids using distributed generation and storage to provide reliable electricity to rural communities. The system achieves 96.7% efficiency with minimal voltage loss and produces competitive electricity costs. The technology delivers measurable socio-economic benefits including improved healthcare, education, and livelihood opportunities, offering a practical solution for rural electrification.
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Methodological Framework for Panel-Data Estimation of Off-Grid System Adoption in Rwandan Rural Communities, 2021–2026
This paper presents a methodological framework for analyzing off-grid energy system adoption in rural Rwanda using panel data from 2021–2026. The authors develop a random-effects probit model to estimate adoption determinants across agricultural households surveyed biennially. Simulation exercises suggest seasonal agricultural income significantly increases adoption likelihood. The framework addresses limitations of cross-sectional studies by capturing temporal dynamics and household-level heterogeneity in technology adoption decisions.
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Comparative Methodologies for Off-Grid Energy System Diagnostics: A Quasi-Experimental Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Rural Ghana
Remote monitoring diagnostics for off-grid solar systems in rural Ghana detected 34% more critical failures per pound spent than technician-led checks, while community-led reporting produced unreliable data despite lower costs. The study compared three diagnostic approaches across 45 communities using quasi-experimental methods. Remote monitoring proved most cost-effective for identifying major faults, though policymakers should combine it with simplified community feedback for comprehensive system assessment.
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Methodological Evaluation of Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems in South Africa: A Panel-Data Estimation of Efficiency Gains in Rural Agriculture
Off-grid solar photovoltaic systems significantly boost technical efficiency in South African smallholder farming by 18.2 percentage points. Using panel-data econometric methods with stochastic frontier analysis, the study isolates the causal effect of PV adoption on farm productivity, finding the largest gains in irrigation and post-harvest processing. The research demonstrates that off-grid solar functions as a capital-enhancing input and recommends integrating targeted PV subsidies into agricultural support programs.
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Dynamic Capability a Strategic Management Perspective for Creating Rural Off-Grid Base of Pyramid Energy Market in India
This paper applies dynamic capability theory to develop off-grid energy solutions for low-income rural markets in India. The authors examine how strategic management approaches enable companies to create and deliver energy innovations to underserved populations in remote areas, addressing both market opportunity and energy access challenges in rural India.
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PERCEIVED SOCIO-ECONOMIC SPILL-OVER EFFECTS OF TRANSIT RURAL ROADS DEVELOPMENT ON RURAL FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN MAKURDI LGA IN BENUE STATE NIGERIA
Rural road development in Nigeria's Makurdi Local Government Area generates significant socio-economic benefits for farm households, including improved transport linkages, increased farmer income, and enhanced quality of life. Farmers ranked improved mobility as the top benefit, followed by income increases and economic wellbeing gains. However, corruption emerged as the primary constraint limiting road development effectiveness. The study recommends increased government budgets and stronger monitoring mechanisms to prevent fund misappropriation.
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Intentional transit practice through a nearby hospital for remote area emergencies provides earlier primary care than helicopter emergency medical services alone in rural emergencies: a single-center, observational study
In rural Japan, transporting serious patients to a nearby hospital while simultaneously requesting helicopter emergency services reduces the time before patients receive initial medical care compared to waiting for helicopter arrival alone. However, this practice delays final arrival at specialized facilities and increases helicopter waiting times. The approach helps direct patients to appropriate specialized centers based on diagnostic findings at the transit hospital.
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A Cross-Sectional Study on the Public Perception of Autonomous Demand-Responsive Transits (ADRTs) in Rural Towns: Insights from South-East Queensland
This study surveyed public perception of autonomous demand-responsive transit systems in rural South-East Queensland towns. Respondents saw greatest potential for university campuses and 24/7 operations, but mobility-disadvantaged groups—disabled people, seniors, and school children—showed less support. Demographic factors significantly shaped attitudes toward implementation. The authors recommend tailored ADRT services designed for specific population groups rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.
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Beyond the City Limits: Analysis of Federal Funding of Public Transit in Rural Canada
Canada's Rural Transit Solutions Fund has shifted federal funding patterns and increased transit accessibility in some rural areas, but significant gaps persist. Smaller, remote, and Indigenous communities still face disparities in accessing federal support. The fund is changing who receives funding and where money flows, yet it has not fully aligned with rural transportation needs across the country.
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RURAL VS. URBAN TRAVEL BEHAVIOR: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MOBILITY PATTERNS IN THE IZMIR URBAN RAIL MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM (IZBAN)
This study compares travel behavior between rural and urban residents using the Izmir Urban Rail Transit System in Turkey. Analysis of 606 surveys reveals urban travelers enjoy shorter trips and better public transit access, while rural travelers depend on private vehicles and travel longer distances. Socio-economic factors like income significantly influence travel patterns. The findings highlight distinct mobility challenges in each setting and provide evidence for designing equitable, sustainable transportation policies.
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Michigan&#8217;s Rural Transit Enterprises and Their Attributes
Michigan's 57 rural transit agencies operate 5.6 million trips annually across 37,000 square miles, but face significant technology and connectivity barriers. A 2024 survey reassessed technology readiness levels among these agencies, examined rider demographics, funding mechanisms, and voter support. The study recommends strategic communication, technology adaptation, and user-centered design improvements, including a statewide Mobility-as-a-Service platform to enhance rural transit accessibility and efficiency.
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The Correlation Between Aging Population and Public Transit-Based Medical Accessibility in Rural Areas - Focusing on Rural Townships in Seobuk-gu, Cheonan -
In South Korea's aging rural townships, this study compared medical accessibility by car versus public transit. Cars reached most hospitals within 60 minutes, but public transit served only 1-2 facilities in the optimal timeframe. Strong correlations emerged between elderly population growth and access to multiple hospitals via public transit, though not with travel speed alone. The findings show that offering diverse transit routes to multiple medical facilities matters more than speed for elderly populations in rural areas.
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Optimization of Transit Route and Frequency for Integrated Urban–Rural Transit Network
This paper develops a mathematical model to optimize integrated urban-rural bus transit networks by simultaneously adjusting routes and frequencies. The model minimizes both passenger costs and operator costs. Testing shows integrated networks reduce transfers and passenger travel time compared to separate urban and rural systems, though operating costs significantly influence outcomes. The approach provides trade-offs between passenger convenience and operator efficiency.
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Advancing Rural Mobility: Identifying Operational Determinants for Effective Autonomous Road-Based Transit
Autonomous public transport can address rural mobility challenges by offering flexible, cost-effective options. A survey of 273 residents in South-East Queensland reveals that different vehicle types serve distinct purposes: small shuttles work best for leisure trips, minibuses improve first-mile and last-mile connectivity, and standard buses suit high-capacity school transport. Hybrid systems combining autonomous and conventional buses outperform full automation, while autonomous taxis raise equity concerns. Integration with mobility platforms enhances service delivery for special events.
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Kupuna transit hub – the case for the Waianae transit station: Addressing wellbeing, access, and mobility in rural areas of Oahu
This paper examines a proposed transit hub in Waianae, a rural area of Oahu, Hawaii. The project addresses transportation access and mobility challenges in rural communities while promoting wellbeing for kupuna (Hawaiian elders). The transit station design aims to improve connectivity and quality of life for residents in underserved rural areas.
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Regional Transit Authority Efforts to Support COA Transportation in Rural Areas in Massachusetts
A regional transit authority in Massachusetts deployed trip-booking software to improve transportation for older adults and people with disabilities across rural and urban areas. Dispatchers and directors valued automated rider information and digital reporting, though some technical issues persisted. Trip data showed modest increases in essential trips, but riders wanted more social and recreational options. Coordination across towns remains difficult due to varying COA operations and policies.
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INTEGRATING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS INTO ADVANCED MATHEMATICAL FORMULA DEVELOPMENT: A FRAMEWORK FOR CURRICULUM INNOVATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
This research develops a framework for integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into advanced mathematics curriculum in Southern Africa. The author proposes cataloguing Indigenous mathematical knowledge, embedding it into modern mathematical contexts, and co-designing curriculum with Indigenous communities and educators. The framework addresses implementation barriers including resource scarcity, undervalued Indigenous knowledge, and inadequate teacher preparation. Integration of Indigenous approaches increases student participation, enhances learning diversity, and enables solving global problems through combined traditional and contemporary mathematical systems.
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Harnessing Sarawak’s Indigenous resources: innovations in product development
Sarawak's tropical rainforests contain over 100 indigenous fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices with significant untapped economic potential. MARDI Sarawak developed value-added products from resources like dabai, terung asam, and wild pepper—including herbal drinks, condiments, and premixed powders—to generate sustainable income for rural communities. The paper demonstrates how strategic product development from indigenous crops can drive economic growth in the agri-food sector.
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Developing Teaching ASEAN Indigenous Wisdom with Handmade Material Innovation the Create Equitable Learning Ecosystems to Promote Global Citizenship of Students in Special Economic Zone, Northern Thailand
Researchers in Northern Thailand developed trilingual handmade teaching materials incorporating ASEAN indigenous wisdom to teach ethnic Iu Mien students. The materials covered topics like local foods and animals, integrated into five lesson plans on community environment. Teachers and administrators identified strong need for native-language learning resources in border communities. Students who used these materials demonstrated the highest levels of global citizenship.
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Bridging tradition and innovation: strengthening food system resilience through Indigenous Guardian partnerships and knowledge sharing in the Sierra Nevada and British Columbia
Indigenous communities in California's Sierra Nevada and British Columbia strengthen food system resilience by combining traditional knowledge with modern tools. Through Guardian programs and participatory mapping, these communities restore stewardship of lands and waters while reclaiming data sovereignty. Elders transmit Indigenous knowledge through oral traditions and hands-on practice, enabling climate adaptation and food sovereignty. The study demonstrates that integrating Indigenous governance with emerging technologies creates resilient, culturally-grounded food systems.
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The framework of building indigenous technological innovation capabilities: A conceptual study focused on Saudi Arabia
This paper develops a four-stage model for building indigenous technological innovation capabilities in developing countries, with focus on Saudi Arabia. The model progresses through technology initiation, imitation, improvement, and innovation stages. The authors identify environmental factors and key actors influencing this process and analyze how the framework applies to Saudi Arabian firms and the broader Middle Eastern context.
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Correction: Bridging tradition and innovation: strengthening food system resilience through Indigenous Guardian partnerships and knowledge sharing in the Sierra Nevada and British Columbia
Indigenous Guardian partnerships in California's Sierra Nevada and British Columbia integrate traditional Indigenous knowledge—particularly cultural burning practices—with modern technologies to strengthen food system resilience and wildfire preparedness. The paper demonstrates that Indigenous-led stewardship enhances ecosystem restoration, community safety, and climate adaptation while advancing food sovereignty and supporting Indigenous land governance and cultural continuity.
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Smart and Sustainable Economic and Indigenous Farming: Modern Innovation With Traditional Wisdom Bridged
Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa face severe climate impacts on rainfed agriculture. This paper evaluates smart technologies that combine indigenous knowledge with modern approaches, finding that indigenous knowledge can be quantified and integrated with scientific methods. The authors argue this integration strengthens farmer resilience and food security decision-making, though current early warning systems often neglect traditional practices.
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Review Conservation Strategy and Innovation of Indigenous Indonesian Orchids for Sustainable Practice
Indigenous Indonesian orchids face extinction from habitat loss, overexploitation, and climate change. This bibliometric review of 355 articles from 2018–2024 identifies research trends in orchid conservation and innovation, revealing three main themes: biodiversity protection, propagation technology, and ecotourism. The analysis shows 72 countries and 162 institutions contributed to this research, indicating substantial global interest and untapped potential for future conservation work.
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Africa's Indigenous Automotive Innovation: A Focus on Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing and the Future of Electric Vehicle Marketing
Indigenous African automotive manufacturers like Nigeria's Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing are driving electric vehicle innovation despite infrastructure and cost challenges. The study shows that entrepreneurship, local systems, and government policies shape industry growth. Success requires aligned policies, education, and industrial strategies to build sustainable, globally competitive enterprises.
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Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Scientific Innovation: Sociological Perspectives on Climate Adaptation in India
Indigenous communities in India possess centuries of ecological knowledge crucial for climate adaptation. This study examines how indigenous knowledge systems integrate with scientific innovation in agriculture, watershed management, and biodiversity conservation. The research identifies power imbalances and marginalization of indigenous voices in adaptation planning, advocating for inclusive frameworks that equally value traditional and scientific approaches to build more equitable climate policies.
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Entrepreneurial Culture of Technology Innovation and Customer Satisfaction of Indigenous Oilfield Services Companies in Selected South-South States, Nigeria
Indigenous oilfield services companies in Nigeria's South-South region that adopt entrepreneurial cultures of technology innovation achieve significantly higher customer satisfaction. The study surveyed 328 companies from a population of 1,827 registered firms and found a strong positive relationship between technology innovation practices and customer satisfaction outcomes in the oil services sector.
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The southern initiative: How indigenous values inspire social innovation and impact
The Southern Initiative, a unit within Auckland Council, demonstrates how Māori values transform public sector management and drive social innovation. The organization uses indigenous principles like mana (prestige) and whānau-centered design alongside distributed leadership to co-create place-based solutions that improve community wellbeing. This case study shows that embedding indigenous values into bureaucratic structures produces systemic change, social justice outcomes, and community resilience.
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Infusing Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKSs)in Technology Education: A Case of Food Processing and Preservation in a Rural Agricultural-based Economy
Indigenous knowledge systems are absent from South African technology education curricula, particularly regarding food processing and preservation. This omission disconnects rural learners from their heritage and practical skills for food security. The study found that integrating indigenous knowledge broadens educational experiences and enables development of appropriate technologies. Community resource persons can effectively deliver this content, and the authors recommend curriculum inclusion to empower rural agricultural communities.
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Integrating indigenous knowledge in modern agriculture: Challenges and opportunities
Indigenous agricultural practices developed over millennia offer sustainable, low-cost solutions to modern farming challenges like climate change and food insecurity. These traditional techniques are environmentally friendly and community-centered, but face extinction without documentation and scientific validation. The paper argues that integrating indigenous knowledge with contemporary agriculture requires collaboration between research institutions, NGOs, and policymakers to revive and disseminate these practices, creating resilient farming systems that preserve biodiversity and ensure food security.
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An Analytical Study of the Relationship between Farmer Characteristics and the Use of Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Agriculture
This study examined how farmer characteristics relate to indigenous technical knowledge use in agriculture. Researchers surveyed 120 farmers in India and found that age, sex, occupation, and mass media exposure significantly influenced farmers' adoption of traditional agricultural practices. Farmers aged 35–41 with primary education and medium media exposure showed the strongest engagement with indigenous knowledge, which the authors argue enhances agricultural resilience and community-led innovation.
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Adaptability of Artificial Intelligence to Indigenous Knowledge of Agricultural Practices by Local Farmers in North Central, Nigeria
Local farmers in North Central Nigeria hold positive attitudes toward artificial intelligence in agriculture, but successful adoption requires culturally sensitive approaches that respect indigenous knowledge systems. The study recommends collaborative design involving technologists, anthropologists, and farmers, with government support for farmer participation in AI implementation and ongoing monitoring to ensure solutions align with local values and enhance rather than replace traditional practices.
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An investigation into the depiction of Indigenous Technical Knowledge (I.T.K.) related to agricultural practices in the Kesla block of Narmadapuram district, Madhya Pradesh
This study surveyed farmers in Kesla block, Madhya Pradesh, India to assess their knowledge and adoption of indigenous agricultural technologies. Most farmers (37.78%) had medium knowledge of these practices, while 32.22% had low knowledge and 30% had high knowledge. Adoption patterns mirrored knowledge levels, with 36.67% showing overall adoption, 34.44% low adoption, and 30% high adoption of indigenous crop production techniques.
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Knowledge of the tribal farmers on indigenous agricultural practices in paddy cultivation in the Pachaimalai hills of Tiruchirappalli district in Tamil Nadu
Tribal farmers in Tamil Nadu's Pachaimalai hills use indigenous agricultural practices for paddy cultivation that prove low-cost, reliable, and effective. The study documents their traditional knowledge of seed germination, storage, and pest management, including use of a traditional container called 'kudhir' to protect stored grain. These practices address disease management without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, offering sustainable alternatives to contemporary agricultural technologies.
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Gender Equality, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Resilient Smallholder Agriculture for a Changing Climate: A Path to Sustainable Rural Development in Africa
This study develops an intersectionality framework for African rural development that connects gender equality, indigenous knowledge systems, climate resilience, and smallholder farming. The research identifies gender inequality, climate change, low farm productivity, and food insecurity as interconnected barriers to rural development. The framework emphasizes that addressing these challenges together through gender-inclusive and culturally grounded approaches drives sustainable rural development and climate resilience in Africa.
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Study on Relevance of Indigenous Technical Knowledge of North East India in Sustainable Agriculture
Indigenous technical knowledge systems in Northeast India offer proven sustainable agriculture practices including traditional cropping patterns, soil conservation, pest management, and seed preservation. These methods promote ecological balance, climate resilience, and low-cost farming. However, commercialization, generational knowledge loss, and lack of scientific validation prevent wider adoption. The research recommends integrating and documenting indigenous knowledge alongside modern agricultural practices.
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Indigenous knowledge for sustainable agriculture development: banana ripening methodologies from South Africa
South African small-scale banana farmers use traditional Indigenous ripening methods involving natural materials like ashes, cow dung, and local leaves. These practices enhance food security and livelihoods while remaining undocumented in scientific literature. The study identifies why farmers maintain these techniques: they are affordable, accessible, and environmentally friendly. The research calls for documenting and integrating this knowledge into educational programs to preserve cultural heritage and improve farmer livelihoods.
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Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Agriculture in Maharashtra, India
Indigenous knowledge systems in Maharashtra, India offer practical solutions for sustainable agriculture and environmental management. The paper documents traditional practices for soil and water conservation, pest control, and climate resilience that local communities developed through generations of experience. These knowledge systems address soil fertility, biodiversity, water management, and animal health, providing actionable insights for community-based agricultural development.
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Indigenous Knowledge of Soil Fertility and Agricultural Practices in Mopa Muro LGA, Kogi State, Nigeria
Rural farmers in Nigeria's Mopa Muro LGA rely heavily on indigenous soil fertility practices—organic manure, bush fallowing, and crop rotation—transmitted through oral tradition across generations. Most farmers face land scarcity, youth migration, and climate variability. However, 69% willingly combine traditional methods with modern inputs like improved seeds and chemical fertilizers. Education and age significantly influence adoption patterns. The study urges policy support and youth engagement to preserve these knowledge systems while integrating modern techniques.
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Exploring Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Sustainable Agricultural Extension Practices
Local knowledge systems significantly enhance sustainable agricultural extension practices. Traditional practices like season-based planting, soil management, and water conservation remain effective for production sustainability. Integrating indigenous wisdom into extension learning materials improves adoption rates and agribusiness outcomes. Combining local knowledge with modern extension approaches creates more effective, participatory, and context-appropriate agricultural extension models.
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Climate change adaptation strategies among rural communities: Examining indigenous knowledge systems and modern agricultural techniques for sustainable food security
Rural communities adapt to climate change by combining indigenous knowledge systems with modern agricultural techniques. The study examines how traditional weather forecasting, crop diversification, and community resource management work alongside scientific advances. A synergistic approach integrating both indigenous practices and modern agriculture proves most effective for achieving sustainable food security and resilient livelihoods in rural areas facing environmental change.
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Contribution of the indigenous agricultural knowledge for local economic development in the Limpopo province: A case of indigenous liquified manure
Small-scale farmers in South Africa's Limpopo province rely on artificial farming despite having indigenous agricultural knowledge. This study examined indigenous liquified manure practices in Vuwani rural communities, interviewing 18 participants including farmers, traditional leaders, and agricultural experts. The research found that indigenous liquified manure significantly increases indigenous crop yields, enabling economic sustainability for communities and creating entrepreneurial opportunities for local job creation.
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Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Resilience in Lao Agriculture
Indigenous knowledge systems in Northern Laos provide effective strategies for seasonal climate adaptation through bio-indicator prediction, nature-based farming techniques, and climate-tolerant crops. However, farmers lack confidence in these traditional methods for responding to extreme events like flash floods. The study reveals a critical gap between long-term adaptation capacity and short-term disaster response, leading researchers to recommend integrating indigenous knowledge with modern science through co-created early warning systems.
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Tobacco Use, Experiences and Knowledge Among Indigenous Mexican Agricultural Workers
Indigenous Mexican agricultural workers in the United States show high tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, with significant knowledge gaps about tobacco's health risks. Recent immigrants speaking only Indigenous languages need prevention programs most, while longer-term residents with Spanish proficiency need cessation resources. Current tobacco control programs rarely reach this population, creating an urgent need for culturally and linguistically tailored interventions.
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International journal of agriculture extension and social development indigenous technical knowledge for water conservation: A review
Indigenous water conservation techniques like stepwells, tanks, and qanats offer proven, low-cost solutions to global water scarcity. Developed through generations of local adaptation, these traditional systems harvest rainwater, manage groundwater, and support agriculture in arid regions while strengthening community resilience. The paper argues that integrating indigenous knowledge with modern approaches can address current water crises and ensure sustainable resource management.
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Climate Smart Disaster Risk Reduction: Indigenous Knowledge Practiced for Agriculture Sector in Coastal Bangladesh
Coastal Bangladesh communities have developed indigenous agricultural practices over generations to survive recurring climate disasters. This study documented traditional methods in Dashmina Upazila, including crop selection by weather observation, raised farming, fruit tree planting, arum cultivation, ridge-furrow farming, seed storage in mud pitchers, and livestock management on platforms. These low-cost practices build agricultural resilience and should be integrated into disaster risk reduction and development planning.
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Applying indigenous knowledge in agricultural livelihood models in A Ngo commune, A Luoi district
Indigenous knowledge systems among Ta Oi and Pa Co ethnic minorities in Vietnam's A Ngo commune enable sustainable agricultural livelihoods. The study identifies five viable models—beef cattle, organic pig farming, vegetable cultivation, traditional tree crops, and medicinal plants—that integrate local ecological and cultural practices. These approaches increase household income, conserve natural resources, and preserve indigenous culture in mountainous rural areas.
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Research on the influence effect and optimization strategy of digital inclusive finance on urban and rural integrated development under the power of new quality productivity
Digital inclusive finance significantly boosts urban-rural integration in China, with a positive effect coefficient of 0.427. The mechanism works partly through new quality productivity, which mediates 38.6% of this relationship. Digital financial products improve how rural areas access finance and optimize resource allocation between urban and rural regions, supporting integrated development and shared prosperity.
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Research on the Development of Digital Inclusive finance and Rural Industry Integration from the Perspective of Rural Revitalization
Digital inclusive finance platforms can accelerate rural revitalization in China by enabling integrated primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. The paper examines how the 'red credit e-loan' platform addresses financing barriers for rural enterprises in Dongzhi County, Anhui Province, helping farmers move beyond traditional agriculture to build complete agricultural value chains and retain profits locally.
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Sustainable Micro-Finance and Rural Development Green Investing
Microfinance serves as a development tool with significant potential and notable risks for low-income populations. The research shows microfinance can advance gender empowerment, financial inclusion, and climate adaptation, but requires responsible lending, regulatory oversight, and equity-focused implementation to avoid entrench inequality. Success depends on integrating health education, financial literacy, and crisis preparedness while addressing informal sector needs and institutional sustainability challenges.
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Research on the Challenges and Strategies of Green Finance to Help the Development of Rural E-Commerce
Green finance is essential for rural revitalization and e-commerce development in China. The paper identifies three main barriers: insufficient innovation in financial products, incomplete support mechanisms for rural green finance, and lack of skilled professionals. It proposes targeted strategies to integrate green finance with rural e-commerce, enabling sustainable economic growth in agricultural regions.
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Enhancing Rural Innovation in Canada
OECD Rural Studies report examining Canada's rural innovation ecosystem — the actors, funding flows, and policy levers that shape innovation in rural and remote regions, with comparative international benchmarks. Verify exact publication year on the cover.
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Identifying and Responding to the Challenges of Sustaining a Tuition Support Program in a Rural Setting
Identifies challenges in sustaining a rural tuition support program and offers responses for community-based education programs working with limited resources in rural Canada.
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Spanning Boundaries and Transforming Roles: Broadening Extension's Reach With OSU Open Campus and Juntos
Documents Oregon State University's Open Campus and Juntos pilot — placing 'boundary-spanning' Extension agents in rural communities to bridge cultural, institutional, and content-area silos, expanding access to higher education and broadband for Latinx and rural families.
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Progress and Innovations in Hydrogels for Sustainable Agriculture
Hydrogels—water-absorbing polymer networks—offer a sustainable solution to agriculture's major challenges: water scarcity, pesticide overuse, and soil degradation. These materials improve crop resilience and yields by retaining soil moisture, enabling controlled nutrient delivery, and enhancing seed germination. Hydrogels reduce irrigation needs while increasing productivity, though regulatory frameworks must address safety, biodegradability, and long-term environmental impacts.
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Sustainability in Vietnam: Examining economic growth, energy, innovation, agriculture, and forests' impact on CO2 emissions
Vietnam's rising energy consumption and economic growth directly increase CO2 emissions, but technological innovation, improved agricultural practices, and forest expansion can reduce them. The study analyzed 30 years of data and found that renewable energy adoption, technology innovation, sustainable agriculture, and forest management policies can help Vietnam achieve environmental sustainability while balancing economic development.
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Promoting innovations in agriculture: Living labs in the development of rural areas
Living Labs represent an effective approach for developing agricultural innovations in rural areas. This systematic review of 18 studies shows that agricultural Living Labs vary significantly by geography, theme, and organization. The research identifies two core dimensions: the innovation process and the actors involved. The findings emphasize that successful agricultural Living Labs require examining how different actors interact and adapting flexible approaches to fit specific local agricultural contexts for sustainable development.
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The Impact of Technological Innovations on Agricultural Productivity and Environmental Sustainability in China
Technological innovations significantly boost agricultural productivity in China, especially in more developed provinces. The study analyzed data from 2012 to 2022 and found that rural education, technological capability, and environmental conservation initiatives all matter. Sustainable farming practices and targeted policies are essential for balancing productivity gains with environmental protection and reducing regional disparities.
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A Systematic Literature Review of the IoT in Agriculture—Global Adoption, Innovations, Security, and Privacy Challenges
This systematic review examines Internet of Things applications in agriculture from 2018 to 2023, analyzing 96 papers. IoT technology connects agricultural equipment, sensors, and specialists to improve production, reduce costs, and increase efficiency in remote regions. The review covers enabling technologies, machine learning applications, security challenges, and implementation barriers. It synthesizes current developments and future directions for IoT-based agricultural systems.
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Impact of agricultural technological innovation on total-factor agricultural water usage efficiency: Evidence from 31 Chinese Provinces
Agricultural technological innovation significantly improves water usage efficiency across Chinese provinces from 2000 to 2020. The study finds that Chinese provinces achieved 13.56% growth in total-factor agricultural water usage efficiency, driven primarily by technological change rather than efficiency improvements. Sprinkler technology and water conservation practices boost efficiency, while larger farm scales reduce it. These findings guide policymakers toward sustainable water management through agricultural technology adoption.
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The digital divide in rural and regional communities: a survey on the use of digital health technology and implications for supporting technology use
Rural and regional Australians show moderate digital health literacy, with 80% expressing confidence in online health information. However, barriers persist: product complexity, unreliable connectivity, low awareness of available resources, trust concerns, and cost prevent wider adoption. The study identifies opportunities to support lower-literacy users and improve digital health technology access in rural communities.
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Transforming Agricultural Productivity with AI-Driven Forecasting: Innovations in Food Security and Supply Chain Optimization
AI-driven forecasting models, including machine learning and deep learning, transform agricultural productivity and food supply chains by enabling real-time crop monitoring and resource optimization. Integration of IoT, remote sensing, and blockchain technologies improves decision-making across European hydroponic systems and Southeast Asian aquaponics. AI also enhances food preservation through advanced processing techniques. However, data quality, model scalability, and prediction accuracy remain significant barriers, especially in data-poor regions. Success requires context-specific implementations and public-private collaboration.
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Exploring the digital divide in primary education: A comparative study of urban and rural mathematics teachers’ TPACK and attitudes towards technology integration in post-pandemic China
This study compares urban and rural primary mathematics teachers in China, finding significant disparities in technological knowledge and attitudes toward digital integration. Urban teachers demonstrated higher proficiency and more positive views due to better resource access and professional development. Rural teachers faced constraints limiting their technology adoption. Younger teachers adapted more readily than older ones. The research calls for targeted rural professional development and equitable technology access policies.
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The role of living labs in cultivating inclusive and responsible innovation in precision agriculture
Living labs serve as effective platforms for developing precision agriculture technologies that meet farmer and community needs. Researchers used an interdisciplinary approach combining farmer interviews, field data collection, experiments with payment incentives, design workshops, and extension activities. The methodology produced sustainable solutions that balance social, economic, and environmental concerns. Including diverse experts and engaging farmers throughout the innovation process proved essential for creating trustworthy, responsible agricultural technologies.
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Automation and AI in Precision Agriculture: Innovations for Enhanced Crop Management and Sustainability
AI and automation technologies in precision agriculture significantly improve crop monitoring, resource efficiency, and yields. Drones, autonomous tractors, AI-driven irrigation, and predictive analytics increase crop health assessment accuracy by 30–50 percent, boost yields by 5–15 percent while reducing water and fertilizer use by 25–40 percent, and cut labor costs by 20–40 percent. However, scalability, affordability for small farms, and data privacy remain barriers. Future integration of 5G, blockchain, and edge computing could enhance decision-making and transparency.
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Evaluating the impact of industrial loads on the performance of solar PV/diesel hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in Ghana
Adding agro-processing productive loads to off-grid solar PV/diesel hybrid systems improves their performance for rural electrification in Ghana. The study used HOMER software to analyze a hybrid system and found that productive loads increase the load factor and solar correlation, reducing the cost of electricity generation. However, even with improvements, the cost remains higher than Ghana's national grid tariffs for residential consumers.
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Techno-economic optimization and sensitivity analysis of off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems: A case study for sustainable energy solutions in rural India
This study designs and evaluates a hybrid renewable energy system for off-grid rural electrification in India, combining solar, wind, and biomass with hydrogen storage and batteries. Using HOMER Pro software, researchers optimized a system achieving 100% renewable energy fraction with a net present cost of $26.8 million and levelized cost of $4.32/kWh. Sensitivity analysis shows the system remains viable across varying economic conditions, providing reliable power to meet 94% of daily demand for rural communities.
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Synergizing hybrid renewable energy systems and sustainable agriculture for rural development in Nigeria
Hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, biogas, and wind can reliably power Nigerian farms while reducing costs and emissions. A case study shows solar dominates energy production, with a payback period of 7.22 years and negligible carbon emissions. The research demonstrates HRES is economically viable and environmentally sound for rural agriculture, though policy inconsistencies and infrastructure gaps remain barriers to widespread adoption.
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Indigenous and local knowledge on social-ecological changes is positively associated with livelihood resilience in a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Small-scale farmers in Chile's Chiloé Archipelago who possess greater knowledge about environmental and social changes show stronger livelihood resilience. The study surveyed 100 farmers using agrosilvopastoral systems and found a significant positive relationship between farmers' awareness of atmospheric, physical, biological, and human system changes and their ability to maintain resilient livelihoods across financial, human, social, physical, and natural capital assets.
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A multiscale approach to optimize off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems for sustainable rural electrification: Economic evaluation and design
This paper designs and optimizes an off-grid hybrid renewable energy system for a remote village in Turkey, combining solar, wind, and battery storage. Using the Nelder-Mead algorithm, the researchers sized system components to minimize costs while meeting electricity demand reliably. The optimized hybrid system delivers power at €0.63/kWh and outperforms diesel generators economically and environmentally, providing 16 years of continuous supply to the village.
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Renewable energy communities in rural areas: A comprehensive overview of current development, challenges, and emerging trends
This review of 86 articles examines renewable energy communities in rural areas across 2004–2024. Rural energy development, community engagement, and agricultural integration drive growth. Systems are shifting from localized solutions to integrated hybrid systems and smart grids. Key challenges include financial constraints, infrastructure gaps, regulatory barriers, and low participation rates. Environmental benefits matter most in China, Thailand, and Italy, while economic gains dominate in the U.S., Poland, and India. Success requires resilience, scalability, innovation, supportive policies, and strong community involvement.
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Transforming rural women’s lives in India: the impact of microfinance and entrepreneurship on empowerment in Self-Help Groups
Microfinance and entrepreneurship programs in rural Indian Self-Help Groups significantly empower women across social, economic, and psychological dimensions. The study found that these interventions increase financial independence, enhance decision-making participation, strengthen social networks, and boost self-confidence. Mixed-methods research combining surveys, interviews, and case studies demonstrates microfinance's transformative potential for advancing gender equality in rural communities.
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Performance analysis of hybrid off-grid renewable energy systems for sustainable rural electrification
This study evaluates hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in Somalia. A configuration combining solar panels, wind turbines, diesel generators, and battery storage achieved the lowest costs ($96,899 net present cost, $0.090/kWh levelized cost) while meeting all electricity demand with 91.8% renewable penetration and 53% lower emissions than alternatives. The system proves technically and economically viable for powering remote communities without grid access.
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Understanding the load profiles and electricity consumption patterns of PV mini-grid customers in rural off-grid east africa: A data-driven study
This study analyzes electricity consumption patterns in two off-grid solar mini-grid communities in Ethiopia using 20 months of metered data and 238 customer surveys. Load profiles differ significantly between the two sites: one experiences daily 13-hour power cuts due to demand exceeding generation capacity, while the other meets continuous demand. Productive users consume three times more electricity than households at both sites. Electricity demand has increased over time at different rates across locations, with distinct factors driving consumption in each town. The findings inform rural electrification planning through mini-grids.
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Experimental study on excitation phenomena of renewable energy source driven induction generator for isolated rural community loads
This paper investigates how induction generators can reliably supply power to isolated rural communities. The researchers conducted experiments to determine safe operating limits for reactive power and rotor speed that prevent over- and under-excitation problems. They tested different methods for calculating required reactive power and identified the most effective approach. Their findings enable induction machines to function as dependable generators for off-grid rural applications.
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Impact of digital inclusive finance on agricultural total factor productivity in Zhejiang Province from the perspective of integrated development of rural industries
Digital inclusive finance—combining digital technology with inclusive financial services—significantly boosts agricultural productivity in Zhejiang Province, China. The mechanism works through integrated rural industry development. The effect is stronger in northeastern Zhejiang and mid-tier agricultural areas. Expanding digital inclusive finance and coordinating its regional development can improve overall agricultural productivity and support rural revitalization.
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Technical, economic and environmental assessment and optimization of four hybrid renewable energy models for rural electrification
Researchers evaluated four hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in Nigeria, comparing solar-wind-battery, solar-wind-battery-generator, solar-wind-fuel-cell, and solar-wind-battery-fuel-cell configurations. The solar-wind-battery system proved most cost-effective at $0.158 per kilowatt-hour while minimizing emissions. Adding fuel cells or diesel generators increased costs significantly. The study recommends a 166 kW solar, 3 wind turbine, 29 battery system as optimal for balancing affordability with environmental sustainability in rural communities.
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Addressing rural energy poverty and rural-urban energy access gap in developing countries: does international remittances matter?
International remittances significantly reduce rural energy poverty and narrow the rural-urban energy access gap in developing countries, particularly where financial development and GDP per capita are higher. The study analyzed 135 developing nations from 2000–2020 and found that remittance inflows enable households to afford energy access. Effects vary by income group, suggesting that credit availability and economic development amplify remittances' impact on rural energy inequality.
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Land acquisition, renewable energy development, and livelihood transformation in rural Kenya: The case of the Kipeto wind energy project
Kenya's Kipeto wind energy project demonstrates that large-scale renewable energy development can proceed without dispossessing rural communities when developers fairly compensate affected populations with housing, jobs, and money while preserving land access for livelihoods. The project's success relied on strategic community consultation and negotiation, though some landowners remain dissatisfied with compensation mechanisms. Long-term monitoring is needed to verify whether promises are kept.
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Assessment and selection of a micro-hybrid renewable energy system for sustainable energy generation in rural areas of Zambia
Researchers evaluated micro-hybrid renewable energy systems for rural Zambia using multi-criterion decision analysis across 14 scenarios. A biogas-solar photovoltaic system with battery storage emerged as optimal, outperforming diesel-solar alternatives. The system leverages local biomass and solar resources to replace wood and fossil fuel dependence, meeting rural energy needs while supporting sustainable development in resource-limited regions.
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Renewable Energy Development and Employment in Ecuador’s Rural Sector: An Economic Impact Analysis
Renewable energy development in Ecuador's rural areas reduces unemployment and strengthens rural population retention, but does not significantly boost agricultural production. The study finds that renewable energy creates jobs directly through construction and maintenance work, and indirectly by lowering energy costs and improving business efficiency. These results demonstrate that renewable energy adoption can strengthen rural economies in developing countries.
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Integrated Load–Source Side Management for Techno-Economic-Environmental Performance Improvement of the Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Rural Electrification
This paper develops an integrated management system for hybrid renewable energy systems serving rural areas. The system optimizes technical, economic, and environmental performance by managing both electricity loads and energy sources. Using a marine predators algorithm, the researchers show that coordinating load shifting with improved energy management strategies reduces net present costs by 5% and energy costs by $0.008 per kilowatt-hour compared to source-only management.
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Global urbanization and ruralization lessons of clean energy access gap
This study examines clean energy access inequality between urban and rural areas across high, low, lower-middle, and upper-middle income economies from 2010 to 2021. Economic growth and gender literacy parity worsen the urban-rural clean energy gap, while innovation significantly reduces it. The findings offer policy guidance for achieving sustainable development goals related to energy access and inequality reduction.
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Optimization of a Hybrid Off-Grid Solar PV—Hydro Power Systems for Rural Electrification in Cameroon
This paper designs and optimizes a hybrid solar-hydropower system for rural electrification in Cameroon. Using HOMER Pro and genetic algorithms, researchers sized a 3 kW solar array, 32.2 kW microhydro generator, and battery storage to serve a village consuming 431 kWh daily. The genetic algorithm approach achieved lower costs ($86,991 net present cost, $0.0344/kWh) than HOMER Pro, with minimal power supply failures. Results show that increasing hydropower capacity significantly reduces overall system costs.
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Dynamic Simulation and Optimization of Off-Grid Hybrid Power Systems for Sustainable Rural Development
This paper designs and models a hybrid solar-generator power system for rural Pakistan, combining renewable energy with traditional generators to reduce emissions and improve electricity access. Using simulation software, the researchers sized the system for a 137.48 kWh daily load and validated its performance under varying solar conditions. The system achieves 100% renewable energy generation at USD 0.158 per kilowatt-hour, demonstrating economic and environmental feasibility for scaling rural electrification.
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Renewable Energy Adoption and Its Effect on Rural Development in United States
Renewable energy projects like wind and solar farms in rural United States communities create jobs, increase local tax revenues, and diversify economies. Landowners earn additional income by leasing land for energy production. The study recommends using diffusion of innovations theory and technology acceptance models to guide future research, and calls for stronger policy frameworks and practical interventions to expand renewable energy adoption in rural areas.
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Optimization and comparative analysis of hybrid renewable energy systems for sustainable and clean energy production in rural Cameroon considering the loss of power supply probability concept
This study optimizes hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, and energy storage for a commercial building in rural Cameroon. Using three optimization algorithms, researchers compared PV/Wind systems paired with thermal or pumped-hydro storage. The Cuckoo Search Algorithm performed best. PV/Wind/thermal storage proved most cost-effective, while Wind/pumped-hydro storage delivered the highest reliability and lowest emissions, offering a viable alternative to fossil fuel power plants.
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Digital social innovations in rural areas – process tracing and mapping critical junctures
Digital social innovation projects in rural areas succeed when they combine bottom-up community participation with strategic use of both digital and non-digital tools. The study identifies four critical factors: innovation can start locally or externally with different long-term effects; participatory processes are essential; blending digital and traditional approaches reduces barriers; and collaborative learning supports lasting institutionalization. These elements help rural digitalization projects create sustained impact beyond their initial scope.
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How can rural China achieve sustainable development through inclusive innovation? A tripartite evolutionary game analysis
This study uses evolutionary game theory to analyze how government, enterprises, and low-income customers interact to drive inclusive innovation in rural China. The research finds that government support must evolve across innovation stages—advocating initially, promoting during growth, then stepping back as markets mature. Low subsidies and high supervision costs both undermine innovation adoption. The findings suggest tailored policy mechanisms for different innovation lifecycle stages can accelerate sustainable rural development.
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An Evolutionary Game Study of Collaborative Innovation across the Whole Industry Chain of Rural E-Commerce under Digital Empowerment
This paper uses evolutionary game theory to analyze collaborative innovation across rural e-commerce supply chains under digital transformation. The study finds that digital technology empowerment, absorptive capacity, and shared knowledge positively drive collaboration, while risk losses and free-rider behavior inhibit it. Government subsidies and penalties effectively encourage cooperation when market mechanisms alone prove insufficient.
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Rural Digital Economy, Agricultural GreenTechnology Innovation, and AgriculturalCarbon Emissions– Based on Panel Data from 30 Provincesin China between 2012 and 2021
Rural digital economy expansion significantly reduces agricultural carbon emissions in China, with effects strongest in western and northeastern regions and less-developed areas. Green agricultural technology innovation serves as a key mechanism through which digital economy growth lowers emissions. The study uses panel data from 30 Chinese provinces (2012–2021) and confirms robust results across multiple tests, demonstrating that promoting rural digitalization and green agricultural innovation drives sustainable, low-carbon agricultural development.
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Unveiling the Resources of Digital Pioneers: an Agency Perspective on Digital Social Innovation in Rural Germany
Digital pioneers in rural Germany access resources through three pathways: personal motivation, social networks, and regional conditions. The study of 40 interviews reveals these key actors can serve as intermediaries in regional governance, but need policy support to strengthen network and regional resource access. Success depends on combining individual agency with structural conditions, not infrastructure alone.
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Knowledge sharing in open social innovation for sustainable development: evidence from rural social enterprises
Rural social enterprises in India use knowledge sharing to drive open social innovation across three stages: collaborating with stakeholders to identify needs and develop ecological solutions, refining market offerings through dynamic knowledge exchange, and expanding opportunities to address complex societal problems. Social enterprises act as orchestrators, evolving as open systems to maximize sustainable development impact in economically marginalized communities.
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Women-Led Social Innovation Initiatives Contribute to Gender Equality in Rural Areas: Grounded Theory on Five Initiatives From Three Continents
Women-led social innovation initiatives in rural Canada, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, and Serbia advance gender equality by strengthening women's collective agency. The study identifies three structural features—gendered identity, women's independence, and control over rules—that enable or constrain these initiatives. Key enabling factors include women's self-confidence, peer networks, and capacity building. These initiatives increase economic independence, reduce cultural skepticism about women's roles, and shift political dynamics, demonstrating that women's collective action effectively overcomes structures that marginalize rural women.
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Investigating the Impact of Social Capital, Cross-Sector Collaboration, and Leadership on Social Innovation in Rural Social Enterprises
Cross-sector collaboration and leadership significantly drive social innovation in Indonesian village social enterprises (BUMDes), according to research surveying 280 enterprise directors and community members in West Java. Surprisingly, social capital showed no significant effect on innovation outcomes. The study also documents declining community trust in rural Indonesia. These findings provide empirical evidence for understanding social innovation drivers in developing-country rural enterprises.
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Valuation in Rural Social Innovation Processes—Analysing Micro-Impact of a Collaborative Community in Southern Italy
This paper examines how valuation processes embedded within social innovation activities drive rural development in a southern Italian agricultural community. The researchers identify three valuation phases—contesting norms, accumulating symbolic capital, and redefining values—that generate micro-level impacts on the agro-economic system, local culture, and place-making. The study demonstrates that collaborative valuation occurring during social innovation implementation, not just afterward, produces tangible community empowerment and societal change through joint sense-making.
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ARA-O-RAN: End-to-End Programmable O-RAN Living Lab for Agriculture and Rural Communities
ARA-O-RAN is a new wireless testbed built on open radio access network (O-RAN) architecture designed specifically for rural and agricultural applications. The testbed combines outdoor testing across farmland and rural communities with an indoor sandbox, enabling researchers to develop and test wireless technologies that address rural connectivity challenges. It supports end-to-end programmability and aligns with national spectrum policy goals for rural innovation.
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Rural development as the propagation of regional ‘communities of values’: A case study of local discourses promoting social innovation and social sustainability
Rural development initiatives in Austria's Mühlviertel region use social innovation to address economic and demographic decline by reconstructing how communities understand themselves and their places. The study shows that social innovation efforts succeed by promoting shared regional values and reshaping social bonds, creating new visions of sustainable countryside life that counter narratives of rural decline.
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Integrating Local Food Policies and Spatial Planning to Enhance Food Systems and Rural–Urban Links: A Living Lab Experiment
This study examines how spatial planning and food policy integration strengthen local food systems in peri-urban areas. Using a Living Lab experiment in Lucca, Italy, researchers worked with stakeholders to reclaim abandoned land and identify rural-urban connections. The research reveals weak recognition of rural-urban linkages and insufficient dialogue between rural stakeholders and urban planners. The authors recommend formalizing public-private partnerships and cross-sectoral projects connecting agriculture with education, tourism, and landscape management.
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How does FinTech empower China’s rural revitalization? The role of entrepreneurial activeness, innovation capability and industrial structure advancement
FinTech significantly promotes rural revitalization in China by operating through three mechanisms: entrepreneurial activeness, innovation capability, and industrial structure advancement. The study analyzed 279 Chinese cities from 2011 to 2021 and found that FinTech's effects vary depending on threshold levels in each intermediary factor. Financial technology enhances rural development by making finance more inclusive and accessible.
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Incorporating Praxis into Community Engagement- Self Monitoring: A Case Study on Applied Social Innovation in Rural Philippines
A Philippine health initiative trained community monitors to track and evaluate local health innovations in rural areas. Monitors improved their ability to analyze community health needs and advocate for solutions through capacity-building and reflection sessions. The strategy proved feasible and sustainable when communities received adequate financial support and training, enabling residents to participate meaningfully in health decisions and strengthen local health systems.
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Improving the lives of rural Indians through social innovation
Rural India faces interconnected challenges requiring participatory development approaches. Current innovation policy emphasizes economic and technological gains while overlooking local community strengths and social capital. The paper argues that sustainable rural development depends on leveraging local resources, stakeholder participation, and social capital. It recommends state support for affordable agriculture, ICT access, vocational training, self-help groups, and microfinance to enable rural communities.
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Rural–Urban Features of Social Innovation: An Exploratory Study of Work Integration Social Enterprises in Ireland
Work Integration Social Enterprises in Ireland show similar organizational structures across rural and urban settings, but deliver different socioeconomic impacts based on location. Urban enterprises generate significantly more employment and income than rural ones, despite comparable governance models and funding diversification. The study demonstrates that spatial context shapes how social innovations create sustainable opportunities and contribute to local economies.
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Blended-Learning-EnvironmenThe skills like observing, modelling, interpreting and utilizing the solutions for problem solving are learnable for the higher education learners. Mathematical-knowledge leads to cognitive development for HELs. Inhaling capacity of the above-mentioned skills among learners is possible through their cognitive development. Learning environment is one of the most crucial key factors for Mathematics-learning. Based on sensitivity about attitude, engagement and formal and informal learning environments (for mathematics-learning), the primary data on about two hundred and ten individuals had been collected and taken for this research work. Principal Component Analysis, machine learning technique has been opted to reduce the dimension. Insights of dimensionally reduced data has been discussed scientifically, especially about the learning environments, using Structural equation modelling. Learners’ sentiment about the formal (or physical) learning environment has been observed from SEM with mediation effect. This effect on physical learning environment from performance through (social media-learning) informal Learning is 10.9%. But the absence of social media-learning in the path analysis is showing 1.8% effect on formal learning environment. Results are indicating clearly, that the integration of informal aspect (Social Medias) in learning process is immediate need. Educational stake-holders should be promoted to adapt the innovation techniques by every educational institutions’ policy makers. Blended-learning environments could be created to improve the performance of learners in Mathematics subject. Integration of physical (formal) and virtual learning (learning through social media) is possible by the collaborative effort between educators and industries. The next generation learning could be enhanced through integration of three-dimensional projectors in the form of internet application with learning facilities, which could be useful for rural area learners also.t for Mathematical Skill Acquisition among Higher Education Learners Using Principal Component Analysis and Structural Equation Modelling
Blended learning environments combining physical classrooms with social media-based informal learning significantly improve mathematics performance in higher education. Analysis of 210 students shows social media integration increases the effect on formal learning environments from 1.8% to 10.9%. The study recommends institutions adopt blended approaches and integrate digital technologies like 3D projectors to enhance learning outcomes, particularly benefiting rural learners.
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AraSync: Precision Time Synchronization in Rural Wireless Living Lab
AraSync is a time synchronization system designed for rural wireless networks that achieves nanosecond-level accuracy using Precision Time Protocol across fiber and long-range wireless links. The system enables advanced wireless experiments requiring strict timing constraints in 5G, 6G, and Open RAN deployments. Testing shows how wireless channel conditions and weather affect synchronization performance.
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Research on Design Education Enabling Rural Revitalization and Digital Innovation Path of Non-Heritage
Design education drives rural revitalization and digital innovation in non-heritage cultural artifacts across Chinese provinces. Analysis of 31 provinces from 2013 to 2022 shows economic growth and improved living standards fuel rural development, with Beijing and Guangdong leading digital advancement. Rural and digital non-heritage sectors achieved moderate coordination by 2022. The authors recommend establishing online education platforms to spread design knowledge and support this integrated development.
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Evaluating the Efficacy of Social Innovation Programming at Advancing Rural Development in the Context of Exogenous Shocks
A randomized evaluation in rural Peru shows that a social innovation program significantly improved household economic well-being, food security, and community outlook despite COVID-19 disruptions. Participating households shifted income sources away from traditional agriculture toward entrepreneurship and specialized labor in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. These diversified, value-added activities proved more resilient than traditional farming during the pandemic, generating net income gains that outweighed losses from reduced agricultural earnings.
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Rural social innovation in practices of solidarity economy in the Cooptar collective in Southern Brazil
A Brazilian agricultural cooperative demonstrates rural social innovation through solidarity economy practices. Over 33 years, Cooptar has sustained itself by combining ongoing member training with collective ownership, self-management, and production diversification. The cooperative actively confronts individualism and gender inequality while building transformative social change that addresses rural workers' struggles for dignified livelihoods and social inclusion.
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Co-creation of social innovations for healthy ageing in rural Europe – a process evaluation of a volunteer-led guided conversation toolkit using Normalisation Process Theory (NPT)
Researchers evaluated a volunteer-led toolkit for healthy ageing in rural European communities using Normalisation Process Theory. They interviewed 25 project partners and volunteers across Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The study found that effective toolkits must address ageing holistically by considering person-centred and place-based factors. Normalisation Process Theory proved valuable for understanding how context shapes implementation of social innovations.
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The Impact of Dissonance? A Valuation Perspective on Rural Social Innovation Processes
Social innovation in rural areas produces impacts that are constructed iteratively through the innovation process itself, not predetermined outcomes. The authors introduce 'dissonance'—tensions and conflicts at key moments like impulses, turning points, and lock-ins—as a critical mechanism shaping how value emerges and gets assigned. Using case studies from Northern Germany, they show that understanding rural social innovation requires examining how stakeholders experience and negotiate value throughout the process, rather than measuring fixed results.
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Frugal innovation in women-led family businesses in rural communities
Women-led family businesses in rural Oaxaca, Mexico use four types of frugal innovation to survive crises: new production and marketing models, operational methods, financing methods, and organizational methods. The study of 160 businesses found that shifting to new financing and organizational approaches proved most critical for survival during disruptions like COVID-19. These findings reveal how resource-constrained women entrepreneurs in the Global South innovate under pressure.
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Adoption of Digital Innovations in Rural Banking of Vellore District: Based on UTAUT Model
This study examines why rural bank customers in Vellore District adopt digital banking innovations like mobile apps and digital wallets. Using the UTAUT model with 525 rural respondents, the researchers found that customers embrace these technologies primarily because they make banking easier and faster. Performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, social influence, and security all positively influence adoption decisions.
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Digital Economy, Green Innovation and Urban-Rural Income Gap—Analysis Based on Prefecture-Level City Panel Data of China
Using panel data from 273 Chinese cities between 2011 and 2019, this study finds that digital economy development drives green innovation, which in turn widens the urban-rural income gap in the short term. However, long-term analysis reveals a positive feedback loop where all three factors reinforce each other. The authors recommend governments balance digital and green innovation promotion with policies that control income inequality to achieve sustainable development.
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Bridging gaps in preventive healthcare: Telehealth and digital innovations for rural communities
Telehealth and digital innovations significantly improve healthcare access in rural communities by bridging gaps between urban and rural care. A systematic review of 11 studies from 2021–2024 found that telehealth adoption, supported by AI and digital tools, enhances preventive healthcare education and awareness programs. Despite infrastructure and technology barriers, these innovations deliver positive outcomes and promote health equity for underserved rural populations.
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Research on Financial Product Innovation in Rural Commercial Banks under the Digital Transformation Context: A Case Study of Jiangsu Province
Rural commercial banks in Jiangsu Province struggle to innovate financial products despite digital transformation opportunities. Farmers and small businesses face unmet financing needs because banks lack comprehensive, user-friendly systems built on big data. This study examines supply and demand-side barriers to financial product innovation and proposes solutions to better serve rural communities through digital tools.
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Agricultural literacy in artificial insemination and agribusiness management for social innovation in rural populations affected by armed conflict in Colombia
A training program in artificial insemination, genetic improvement, and rural management significantly increased knowledge levels among 63 rural residents in Colombia affected by armed conflict. Students trained in these areas then taught local farmers, with measurable gains across all topics—general knowledge rose from 46% to 78%, artificial insemination from 39% to 81%, and management skills from 55% to 75%. Rural extension programs effectively close knowledge gaps in reproductive biotechnologies and livestock management.
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New cash cropping in the Black Volta river valley: Banana production, rural innovation, and social entrepreneurship in the <scp>Ghana–Burkina</scp> Faso border region
A banana irrigation farming innovation that began in Burkina Faso spread to Ghana's Black Volta river valley in the 1990s, driven by returning emigrants and local university lecturers. The paper shows that local entrepreneurs, not foreign corporations, drove this agricultural intensification through imported banana varieties, entrepreneurial effort, and cross-border trade networks strengthened by regional highway infrastructure connecting farms to urban markets.
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Exploring the Nexus of Corporate Social Responsibility, Innovation Capability, and Organizational Performance: Evidence from Rural Commercial Banks in China
Corporate social responsibility positively influences innovation capability and organizational performance in China's rural commercial banks. Innovation capability partially mediates the CSR-performance relationship. An organizational innovation atmosphere—including colleague support, supervisor support, and organizational support—strengthens how innovation capability drives performance. The study demonstrates that CSR dimensions (economic, legal, moral, and charitable) matter for rural banking success.
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Development Strategy of Rural Revitalization from the Perspective of Social Innovation: A Case Study of “Jiyingweigong” in Xiamen
A social innovation design project called "Jiyingweigong" in Xiamen, China demonstrates how blending public welfare with business activities revitalizes rural communities. The project activated Gangtou Village's overall development by creating a micro-ecosystem balancing social and economic goals. The study shows that social innovation design thinking systematically addresses rural economic, cultural, and ecological challenges while building sustainable local capacity.
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Path and Model Innovation of Social Work Driving Effective Rural Social Governance in the Internet Era
Social work drives effective rural governance by strengthening villagers' participation capacity, self-governance awareness, and village autonomy. The study identifies eight key factors—including performance expectations, role consistency, village identity, and government support—that influence how social work improves rural social governance. Strengthening party leadership, village self-governance systems, and cultural quality of villagers enhances overall rural governance effectiveness.
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Transformative social innovation and rural collaborative workspace assemblages as a means of prefiguring community economies
Rural collaborative workspaces in Austria and Greece function as sites of social innovation that transform community economies. These community-led spaces shift individual perspectives toward collective action and build local capacities. The study finds they hold transformative potential by changing social relations and economic subjectivities, though they need stronger institutional support to move beyond early developmental stages.
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The Social Economy Network in Rural Areas Functioning as a Community Field and a Locus of Social Innovation
Social economy networks in rural South Korea function as coordination mechanisms that mediate resources across market, public, and informal sectors. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis of networks in three regions, the study shows these networks create community spaces where residents set shared agendas and enable social innovation. Networks with dedicated solidarity organizations at their center operate more effectively and can integrate diverse policy resources to address rural development challenges.
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INTEGRATING UNIVERSITY SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INTO HIGHER EDUCATION: A DESIGN THINKING APPROACH TO RURAL COMMUNITY INNOVATION
A university course at National Chiayi University used design thinking to engage 54 students in developing tourism innovations for a remote Taiwanese village. Students created videos, digital maps, and social media campaigns with local stakeholders. While projects succeeded initially, the study found that long-term adoption failed due to limited community technological capacity and logistical challenges. The research shows university-community partnerships can drive rural innovation but require sustained engagement beyond single semesters and solutions tailored to community capabilities.
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Rural Social Innovation: An Exploratory Study in Rural Brazil
Rural social innovations in Brazil emerge from families collectively addressing socio-environmental challenges over time, rather than simply adopting new techniques. Ethnographic research in a Pantanal settlement reveals that social innovation strengthens rural development and tackles problems affecting farming communities. Understanding these innovations requires deep fieldwork to capture how they actually develop through shared problem-solving.
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Demo: Ara Pawr Wireless Living Lab for Smart and Connected Rural Communities
ARA is a wireless research platform designed for rural communities, featuring the first real-world implementation of long-distance wireless systems spanning over 30 km. It integrates software-defined radios and commercial equipment to enable experiments across user devices, base stations, edge computing, and cloud infrastructure. The platform supports advanced wireless research including MIMO in TV white space bands, long-range backhaul communications, and open-source 5G protocols, advancing next-generation wireless innovation for rural regions.
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Digital engine boosts the new vitality of rural education: The role and innovation of college students
Digital transformation of rural education in China faces significant barriers including infrastructure gaps, low teacher digital literacy, and inadequate funding. College students with strong digital skills can help overcome these challenges by producing multimedia educational content, accelerating rural education digitalization and supporting broader rural revitalization efforts.
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Digital Engineering Integration of Non-Heritage Innovation to Promote Rural Revitalization——The Example of "Xiangyun Yarn"
This paper examines how digital engineering can revitalize the Xiangyun yarn craft, a Chinese intangible cultural heritage. The authors argue that combining traditional yarn-making knowledge with digital innovation creates new products that strengthen market competitiveness and cultural preservation. Digital tools help expand market reach, allowing broader appreciation of this traditional art form while supporting rural economic development and cultural continuity.
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Research on the Assessment of the Driving Effect of Digital Technological Innovation on the Income Increasing Efficiency Of Urban and Rural Residents in the Yellow River Basin
Digital technological innovation has not yet effectively increased incomes for urban and rural residents across the Yellow River Basin. The study of nine provinces from 2012–2022 reveals regional disparities: areas with better geography, higher per capita income, and larger populations see greater income gains from digital innovation. The paper recommends strengthening infrastructure, supporting industrial upgrading, expanding digital technology adoption in traditional industries, and tailoring policies to regional conditions.
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Empowering Rural Farmers Through Digital Innovation: A Comprehensive Platform for Market Access and Resource Sharing
A cloud-based digital platform integrates three services—artist booking, agricultural equipment rental, and handcraft marketplace—to connect rural farmers and artisans with markets and resources. The system uses real-time scheduling, price negotiation, and location-based filtering to reduce barriers to market access. The platform aims to boost rural incomes and preserve cultural heritage by enabling direct sales and resource sharing among underserved communities.
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Summary of Research on Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Digital Rural Construction in the Yellow River Basin
This paper examines how artificial intelligence innovation supports digital rural construction in China's Yellow River Basin. The author reviews existing research and identifies the relationship between AI development and rural digitalization efforts. The paper argues that future work must focus on how AI innovation and digital rural construction can be better coordinated and coupled together in the basin.
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Revitalising Rural and Township Youth Ministry in South Africa through Digital Innovation
Digital innovation can revitalize youth ministry in rural and township South Africa by combining physical and virtual engagement through hybrid platforms. The study proposes integrating digital tools with public theology to connect churches with digitally native youth while addressing rural connectivity challenges through community access points and partnerships. A game-like platform blending physical and virtual interactions offers a practical model for fostering spiritual growth and community impact.
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Enhancing the digitalization of rural areas by utilizing the potential of the knowledge, business, and innovation ecosystems.
Rural digitalization requires integrating knowledge, business, and innovation ecosystems. This case study of Pecorino Toscano cheese production in Tuscany examines how these three ecosystem types interact to support agricultural innovation. The research develops a theoretical framework showing how universities and research centers, businesses creating value networks, and innovation actors work together to drive digital and green transitions in rural agri-food systems.
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Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural Europe. A Morphological Box to Support the Innovation of Collaborative Business Models for Rural Digital Services
Rural European areas lack viable business models for digital services due to insufficient broadband infrastructure investment, unreliable service delivery, and low demand from digital illiteracy and sparse populations. The paper presents a morphological box framework to support innovation of collaborative business models that can overcome these barriers and make rural digital services economically sustainable.
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IMPACT OF FINTECH INNOVATION TO TRANSFORM REGIONAL RURAL BANKS (RRBS) IN INDIA-A STUDY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO KARNATAKA.
Fintech innovations are transforming Rural Regional Banks (RRBs) in India, particularly in Karnataka, by integrating digital payment systems like UPI and AePS. The study examines how these technological advances improve financial inclusion and banking services in rural areas, analyzing their impact on RRB operations and performance through primary and secondary data using statistical analysis.
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The diffusion of financial technology-enabled innovation in GCC-listed banks and its relationship with profitability and market value
This study examines how financial technology adoption affects profitability and market value in banks across Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Using a 73-item diffusion index, researchers found that higher FinTech implementation correlates with better market performance. UAE banks led adoption at 79.7%, followed by Bahrain at 76.7%. The findings support policies encouraging technology integration in banking operations.
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Investigating factors of students' behavioral intentions to adopt chatbot technologies in higher education: Perspective from expanded diffusion theory of innovation
This study examines what drives undergraduate students to adopt chatbots for learning. Using diffusion of innovation theory, researchers surveyed 842 students and found that perceived benefits, compatibility with student needs, and opportunities to try chatbots all increase adoption intention. Trust in the technology also matters. Surprisingly, ease of use did not directly influence adoption, suggesting other factors shape students' decisions to use AI tools in education.
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Digital green value co-creation behavior, digital green network embedding and digital green innovation performance: moderating effects of digital green network fragmentation
Digital green value co-creation behavior and digital green network embedding significantly improve digital green innovation performance in business ecosystems. Network embedding mediates this relationship, while network fragmentation strengthens it. The study surveyed 326 organizations and found that companies engaging in collaborative green innovation through digital networks achieve better environmental and innovation outcomes, with fragmented networks actually enhancing performance by encouraging diverse partnerships.
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Focusing the ecosystem lens on innovation studies
This paper reviews how innovation research has shifted toward understanding innovation as embedded in ecosystems of interconnected actors—firms, organizations, and individuals—that create value together through modular interfaces. The authors synthesize nine articles examining how ecosystem actors coordinate, create joint value, and capture returns, while proposing future research directions that combine ecosystem perspectives with other innovation frameworks and develop new methodologies for studying ecosystem dynamics.
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Research on the evolution of China's photovoltaic technology innovation network from the perspective of patents
China holds the world's largest number of photovoltaic technology patents, but lacks core technologies limiting further innovation. This study analyzes 20 years of PV patent data using social network analysis to map China's innovation structure. Leading enterprises have formed stable collaborations, with innovation concentrated in eastern coastal provinces. Cross-regional collaboration has grown significantly, centered on three major hubs: the Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
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Exploring University Students’ Adoption of ChatGPT Using the Diffusion of Innovation Theory and Sentiment Analysis With Gender Dimension
This study examines how university students adopt ChatGPT using diffusion of innovation theory and sentiment analysis. Five innovation attributes—relative advantage, compatibility, ease of use, observability, and trialability—significantly influence student adoption. Gen Z students view ChatGPT as innovative and user-friendly for independent learning. Gender differences emerge: male students prioritize compatibility and observability, while female students emphasize ease of use and trialability. The findings highlight the need for demographic-sensitive design in AI technologies for educational contexts.
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Optimizing Integrated‐Loss Capacities via Asymmetric Electronic Environments for Highly Efficient Electromagnetic Wave Absorption
This paper is not about rural innovation. It describes materials science research on electromagnetic wave absorption using metal-organic framework derivatives with embedded zinc atoms, cobalt nanoclusters, and structural defects. The work focuses on optimizing electronic environments to improve polarization loss mechanisms for absorbing electromagnetic waves, achieving high absorption bandwidth through interfacial engineering.
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The adoption of big data analytics in Jordanian SMEs: An extended technology organization environment framework with diffusion of innovation and perceived usefulness
Jordanian small and medium enterprises face barriers to adopting big data analytics despite recognizing its benefits. This study combined two innovation frameworks to identify factors driving adoption among 388 managers. Relative advantage, compatibility, low complexity, top management support, competitive pressure, and security all increased perceived usefulness, which directly boosted adoption rates. The findings provide guidance for SMEs pursuing digital transformation.
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Factors for innovation ecosystem frameworks: Comprehensive organizational aspects for evolution
This paper identifies organizational factors essential for developing innovation ecosystems beyond just scientific and technological elements. The authors review literature to isolate key factors including organizational actors, funding mechanisms, governance, human capital, and regional culture. They argue that regions must understand their own inherent factors rather than copying external models, and that effective ecosystem evolution requires attention to collaboration, relationships, and social behavioral aspects alongside institutional structures.
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How to unleash frugal innovation through internet of things and artificial intelligence: Moderating role of entrepreneurial knowledge and future challenges
IoT and artificial intelligence both significantly predict frugal innovation in China, according to analysis of 779 responses. Entrepreneurial knowledge moderates this relationship, meaning business skills help organizations effectively adopt these technologies for affordable, simple solutions. The study recommends that managers incorporate both IoT and AI capabilities while developing entrepreneurial competencies to compete in technology-driven markets.
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Digital transformation and social change: Leadership strategies for responsible innovation
Italian startup managers employ continuous learning, agile business models, and stakeholder engagement to navigate digital transformation while addressing ethical concerns. The study identifies key challenges including rapid technological change, scalability, and ethical considerations. Leaders emphasize collaborative partnerships and responsible innovation practices to balance technological advancement with societal impact, with emerging trends pointing toward tech-driven social enterprises and decentralized systems.
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Collaborative innovation, strategic agility, & absorptive capacity adoption in SMEs: the moderating effects of customer knowledge management capability
Collaborative innovation significantly improves financial performance in Portuguese IT firms. Strategic agility and absorptive capacity both mediate this relationship. Customer knowledge management capability strengthens the link between collaborative innovation and strategic agility, but does not moderate the absorptive capacity pathway. The study shows that combining customer-oriented strategies with innovation helps firms navigate complex, unpredictable situations.
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Profiting from innovation when digital business ecosystems emerge: A control point perspective
Digital transformation shifts how companies profit from innovation in emerging ecosystems. The paper examines smart farming through a control points framework, showing that value capture depends on who owns strategic, technical, generic, and institutional control points in layered digital architectures. Incumbents, new entrants, and diversifying firms compete in a seesaw pattern to establish bargaining positions. The findings help firms optimize ecosystem strategies and guide policymakers in supporting institutional development.
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Research trends in innovation ecosystem and circular economy
This bibliometric analysis of 2,981 Scopus documents reveals research trends linking innovation ecosystems and circular economy. Five key research clusters emerge: circular economy for eco-innovation, circular business models in the bioeconomy, renewable energy and sustainable development goals, green innovation through entrepreneurship, and AI in Industry 4.0. The study identifies significant gaps in understanding how innovation ecosystems and circular economy interact, and highlights opportunities in industrial symbiosis and energy transition.
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Towards agri‐food industry sustainability: Addressing agricultural technology adoption challenges through innovation
Agricultural technology adoption remains low in Thailand despite its promotion, limiting sustainability gains in the agri-food sector. This study identifies adoption barriers at both farmer and ecosystem levels, including infrastructure gaps and limited awareness of technology benefits. Solutions require reshaping farmer attitudes and upgrading physical, digital, and legal infrastructure. The findings provide guidance for technology providers and policymakers seeking to increase smallholder farmer adoption and improve environmental sustainability.
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THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON DIGITAL DIVIDE AND ICT ACCESS: COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN AFRICA AND THE UNITED STATES
This comparative review examines why rural communities in Africa and the United States face different barriers to digital technology access. The authors analyze infrastructure gaps, digital literacy levels, and socio-economic factors affecting ICT adoption. They assess how policy environments either hinder or support digital inclusion and identify what reforms and innovations could reduce digital disparities in rural areas.
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Uncovering the building blocks of rural entrepreneurship: A comprehensive framework for mapping the components of rural entrepreneurial ecosystems
Rural entrepreneurship drives economic growth, but rural areas have distinct ecosystem needs. This study uses bibliometric analysis of academic literature to identify essential components supporting rural entrepreneurial ecosystems. The researchers categorize these into actor components (academics, business, government, community) and non-actor components (human capital, networks, culture, finance, governance, infrastructure, environmental resources, markets). Environmental resources emerge as uniquely critical for rural areas, distinguishing them from general entrepreneurial ecosystems and reflecting local economic potential.
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Ai-driven innovations in greenhouse agriculture: Reanalysis of sustainability and energy efficiency impacts
AI integration in greenhouse agriculture significantly reduces heating energy consumption, improving energy efficiency. However, AI shows only marginal improvements in CO2 emissions, electricity, and water usage compared to traditional methods. Crop quality and profitability gains match conventional techniques. The study reveals AI's mixed impact on sustainability, highlighting strong potential in energy efficiency but limited effectiveness in other key sustainability areas, requiring further research and investment.
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How does social entrepreneurship achieve sustainable development goals in rural tourism destinations? The role of legitimacy and social capital
Social enterprises in rural tourism build legitimacy by managing institutional complexity while strengthening community social capital. This process empowers individuals and increases collective efficacy, advancing sustainable development goals. The study examines a Chinese village case, showing how social entrepreneurship balances economic returns with social values to drive sustainable rural tourism development.
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Empowering small farmers for sustainable agriculture: a human resource approach to SDG-driven training and innovation
Training programs significantly boost small farmers' adoption of sustainable agriculture when they combine sustained exposure, intrinsic motivation, and farmer innovation capacity. The study of 331 small farmers in a government intervention shows that psychological characteristics and training quality together drive sustainable practice adoption, advancing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Creating value from intangible cultural heritage—the role of innovation for sustainable tourism and regional rural development
Intangible cultural heritage drives sustainable rural development by creating economic and social value for communities. Two case studies—alpine farming in Bavaria and sharecropping heritage in Italy—show how innovation transforms traditional practices into tourism assets. Bad Hindelang succeeds through long-term collaboration between farmers, conservationists, and locals balancing tourism with conservation. Le Marche's culinary heritage project preserves oral traditions but has yet to generate significant economic returns. Storytelling and participatory engagement make cultural heritage accessible to tourists, enhancing both visitor experience and community wellbeing.
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Determining Digitalization Issues (ICT Adoption, Digital Literacy, and the Digital Divide) in Rural Areas by Using Sample Surveys: The Case of Armenia
This study surveyed rural Armenian households to assess digital technology adoption, digital literacy, and the digital divide. Researchers found that distance from the capital Yerevan and lower household income both reduce ICT usage and digital penetration. The authors created a Digital Devices and Technologies Usage Index to measure adoption patterns and propose policy recommendations to accelerate digitalization in rural Armenia.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Unraveling the Determinants of FinTech Adoption in Rural Communities
Rural residents' adoption of financial technology depends on four key factors: perceiving the technology as useful and easy to use, plus awareness of both innovations and financial concepts. The study surveyed 386 rural residents and found that perceived usefulness acts as a bridge between ease of use and actual adoption intent. These findings suggest practical strategies for expanding financial inclusion in rural communities through FinTech.
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Guidance on farmer participation in the design, testing and scaling of agricultural innovations
Smallholder farmers in the Global South adopt agricultural innovations at low rates because technologies are often unsuitable and poorly designed for local contexts. This paper develops practical guidance for choosing appropriate levels of farmer participation in innovation design, testing, and scaling. The authors reviewed participatory research literature and analyzed vegetable innovation projects across Asia and Africa, creating a framework that matches farmer participation levels to innovation readiness. They find that participation should increase as innovations mature, and early farmer consultation strengthens locally relevant design.
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A study of the impact of the new digital divide on the ICT competences of rural and urban secondary school teachers in China
A digital divide exists between urban and rural secondary school teachers in China, affecting their ICT competency. The study analyzed teachers in Hebei Province and found that differences in digital environment and digital literacy significantly impact ICT competence, alongside age and subject factors. Improving knowledge acquisition, deepening, and creation can help bridge this competency gap.
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Digital inclusive finance and entrepreneurship in rural areas: evidence from China
Digital inclusive finance significantly promotes entrepreneurial activity in rural China by reducing credit constraints, lowering information barriers, and shifting risk attitudes among households. The effect is strongest in eastern regions and for opportunity-driven entrepreneurs. Impact varies by household income, consumption patterns, and household head characteristics, demonstrating that digital finance tools can expand rural entrepreneurship opportunities across diverse populations.
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Unlocking the Potential of Agrifood Waste for Sustainable Innovation in Agriculture
Food waste represents a major global challenge, with 1 billion tons generated annually. This review examines how agricultural and food waste can be converted into valuable products—biocides, bio-based fertilizers, and biostimulants—that boost crop yields and plant health. Using waste-derived compounds supports circular economy principles while addressing food security and environmental sustainability goals simultaneously.
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Augmenting agricultural sustainability: Investigating the role of agricultural land, green innovation, and food production in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
This study examines how agricultural land use, green innovation, food production, and renewable energy affect greenhouse gas emissions across the world's top 20 agricultural countries from 1980 to 2021. The researchers found that green innovation combined with agricultural land management, renewable energy adoption, and increased food trade openness all reduce emissions, while agricultural expansion and food production alone increase them. The findings support policies that balance agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability.
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“It is my place”: residents’ community-based psychological ownership and its impact on rural tourism participation
This study develops a scale measuring community-based psychological ownership—how residents feel they belong to and identify with their rural community. Using surveys across villages in Zhejiang, China, the researchers found that residents' sense of self-identity, self-efficacy, responsibility, and belonging strongly predict their participation in rural tourism development. Conversely, feelings of possession and territoriality either had no effect or discouraged participation. The findings suggest that fostering the right psychological connections to community drives sustainable tourism engagement.
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Barriers to the adoption of multiple agricultural innovations: insights from Bt cotton, wheat seeds, herbicides and no-tillage in Pakistan
Pakistani smallholder farmers adopt agricultural innovations slowly due to interconnected barriers. Using data from 275 farm households, the study finds that farm machinery, off-farm income, and farmer education enable adoption of Bt cotton, improved wheat seeds, herbicides, and no-tillage farming. Weak agricultural extension services and limited financial resources are the main obstacles. Technology adoption works as an integrated system rather than isolated choices.
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Enhancing competitiveness and sustainability in Spanish agriculture: The role of technological innovation and corporate social responsibility
Spanish agricultural firms that adopt sustainable technological innovations—particularly precision agriculture and smart livestock management—achieve better corporate social responsibility outcomes by using resources more efficiently and reducing environmental harm. However, regional differences exist based on local economic resources, infrastructure, and policy support. The study shows that combining technological innovation with corporate social responsibility strategies strengthens both sustainability and competitiveness, and calls for targeted policies to help lagging regions.
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Toward a sustainable agricultural system in China: exploring the nexus between agricultural science and technology innovation, agricultural resilience and fiscal policies supporting agriculture
Agricultural science and technology innovation significantly strengthens agricultural resilience across China's 31 provinces from 2007 to 2021. This effect is non-linear and amplified by fiscal policies supporting agriculture. The southeast region shows the strongest resilience development, while non-main producing and economically underdeveloped areas benefit most from innovation investments. Policymakers should tailor innovation strategies locally and reinforce agricultural fiscal support.
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Green technology innovation, trade deficit and carbon emission transfer in agriculture under the new “dual circulation” development pattern of China
China's agricultural trade deficit and carbon emissions from agricultural trade are both increasing, with significant regional variation. Green technology innovation shows complex effects: it reduces trade deficits but increases carbon emission transfer in the short term, with benefits varying by region and innovation type. The relationship between trade deficit and carbon emissions is expected to improve over time, supporting coordinated economic and environmental goals in agricultural trade.
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Sustainable Rural Healthcare Entrepreneurship: A Case Study of Serbia
Rural health entrepreneurs in Serbia provide essential medical services through private practices, policlinics, and dental clinics in underserved areas. The study identifies frugality, family orientation, and sustainability-driven innovation as key characteristics. While aging populations increase healthcare demand and financing instruments have improved, non-reimbursable services from the state health fund create significant barriers, perpetuating rural healthcare inequalities.
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Infrastructure required, skill needed: Digital entrepreneurship in rural and urban areas
Digital entrepreneurship in Germany grows faster than conventional entrepreneurship and concentrates in cities, but the study reveals it can thrive in rural areas when two conditions are met: adequate digital infrastructure and a highly-skilled workforce. Policy should focus on building both elements to enable rural digital venture formation.
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Navigating psychological barriers in agricultural innovation adoption: A multi-stakeholder perspective
Smallholder farmers in the Global South face psychological barriers that prevent them from adopting agricultural innovations. This study identifies four key psychological obstacles: trust, effort, attitudinal, and normative barriers. The researchers interviewed rice farmers and agricultural technology companies to develop an integrated framework showing how to overcome these barriers through demonstrating clear benefits, building trust, reducing effort requirements, and developing human capital.
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Phosphorus dynamics and sustainable agriculture: The role of microbial solubilization and innovations in nutrient management
Phosphorus availability limits crop growth in many soils, and heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers causes environmental damage like water eutrophication. Phosphorus-solubilizing microorganisms—bacteria and fungi that convert insoluble phosphorus into plant-available forms—offer a sustainable alternative. Integrating these microbes into farming systems reduces chemical fertilizer dependence, improves soil health, and decreases phosphorus pollution while meeting growing food demand.
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Urban-rural digitalization evolves from divide to inclusion: empirical evidence from China
China's urban-rural digitalization has shifted from division toward inclusion between 2000 and 2020, with development advancing and gaps narrowing overall. However, three challenges persist: some high-development areas maintain high disparities, digital applications remain inadequately integrated, and provincial disparities are widening. The authors recommend policies targeting urban-rural integration, digital literacy improvement, and coordinated regional development.
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Reducing food loss through sustainable business models and agricultural innovation systems
This study identifies how sustainable business models integrated with agricultural innovation systems reduce food loss in postharvest supply chains. Researchers found that value losses cascade through supply chains via multiplier and stacking effects. They propose four strategies: redefining ownership as stewardship, enabling beneficiary identification, strengthening value addition, and building community capacity. The findings emphasize networked approaches combining agricultural innovation systems with sustainable business models to address early-stage food loss.
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Urban–Rural Integration and Agricultural Technology Innovation: Evidence from China
Urban-rural integration in China promotes agricultural technological innovation, with effects varying by region and agricultural area. The study of 288 cities from 1999-2018 shows that governance systems and mature markets strengthen this relationship. The impact follows a double threshold pattern, where deeper integration produces larger gains in innovation, particularly in central and urban areas. Breaking down urban-rural barriers accelerates agricultural technology development.
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Rural-urban migration, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship
Rural-urban migrants with higher financial literacy are more likely to become entrepreneurs, according to analysis of Chinese household survey data from 2013 and 2015. Financial literacy strengthens migration's already positive effect on entrepreneurship. Social capital acts as the primary mechanism through which financial literacy helps disadvantaged migrants transition into business ownership.
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Multi-actor rural innovation ecosystems: Definition, dynamics, and spatial relations
Rural innovation ecosystems differ fundamentally from urban ones in their structure and dynamics. This paper defines rural innovation ecosystems by identifying their unique characteristics: geographic dependencies, sector-specific relationships, and social and human capital rooted in local communities. The authors argue that rural areas possess distinct resources and capacities to generate innovation through multi-actor collaboration, and that understanding these differences is essential for establishing vibrant innovation ecosystems that address rural disparities.
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Sustainable innovations for rural Africa: Case studies from Nigeria and Tanzania
Two African startups in Nigeria and Tanzania developed sustainable business models for rural communities by engaging early adopters, leveraging existing networks, and providing education through community associations. The research found that this approach effectively increases innovation adoption rates. However, entrepreneurs must navigate political and cultural dynamics and build community trust to successfully diffuse innovations in rural African settings.
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The impact of digital development on non-agricultural employment of rural women: evidence from the broadband China strategy
Digital infrastructure development significantly increases non-agricultural employment opportunities for rural women in China. The effect is strongest among younger, educated, and married women in grain-producing regions. Digital development improves employment by enhancing women's skills and labor quality while simultaneously creating new industries and better job environments. These findings support expanding rural digital infrastructure and digital economy development to address women's employment gaps.
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Confidence Across Cleavage: The Swiss Rural–Urban Divide, Place‐Based Identity and Political Trust
This study examines political trust differences between rural and urban Switzerland using survey data from 4,000 respondents. While a rural–urban divide exists in direct democratic votes, the paper finds only a small direct difference in political trust levels. However, place-based identity significantly shapes this relationship: rural residents show higher trust when place identity is weak, but urban residents show higher trust when place identity is strong.
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Social entrepreneurship and rural development in post-independence Indonesia
Social entrepreneurship initiatives and rural development programs in post-independence Indonesia have reinforced each other to address socio-economic challenges in rural communities. Government policies increasingly leverage social entrepreneurial approaches aligned with three strategic pillars of entrepreneurship programs. The research emphasizes local values, community participation, and women's economic engagement as critical factors in successful rural development through social entrepreneurship.
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Redefining rural entrepreneurship: The impact of business ecosystems on the success of rural businesses in Extremadura, Spain
Rural businesses in Extremadura, Spain succeed based on community connection and value creation, not just location or primary sector activity. The study finds that local business ecosystems lack sufficient resources tailored to rural entrepreneurship. Policymakers must develop new, place-based support strategies and resources that leverage endogenous rural assets to increase viable rural businesses and drive regional development.
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Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation in BRICS Economies: Secondary Evidence from Rural Areas in South Africa
Rural firms in South Africa are risk-averse and heavily dependent on government support and networks to engage in entrepreneurship and innovation. When external support ends, rural businesses fail. The study argues that government and networks must shift focus toward building independent, sustainable rural entrepreneurs rather than providing temporary assistance.
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Influencing Factors of Sustainable Rural Entrepreneurship: A Four-Dimensional Evaluation System Encompassing Entrepreneurs, Economy, Society, and Environment
This study develops a four-dimensional evaluation system for sustainable rural entrepreneurship covering entrepreneurs, economy, society, and environment. Using fuzzy DANP analysis, the researchers identify causal relationships among influencing factors and their weights. Economic dimensions prove most important, with entrepreneurial motivation, business type, financial backing, economic value, policy frameworks, and business environment as key indicators. Financial support, business type, economic value, and favorable policies drive progress, while motivation and business environment depend on other factors.
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A strategy for development and economic progress: challenges and opportunities of rural entrepreneurship
Rural entrepreneurship is critical for Bangladesh's economic development, where 85.7% of the population lives in impoverished areas. This study interviewed rural business owners to identify opportunities and challenges they face using the Economic Performance Model and Innovation Operations Approach. The research finds that innovation, not just finance, drives rural growth. The authors recommend government policies supporting small-scale farming and rural enterprises to reduce unemployment and economic hardship.
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Deciphering the digital divide: the heterogeneous and nonlinear influence of digital economy on urban-rural income inequality in China
Digital economy expansion in China widens urban-rural income inequality, but this effect weakens as digitalization advances. The impact varies significantly by region: in developed areas with high education and openness, digital economy increases inequality, while in regions with stronger secondary industry and higher fiscal spending, it helps reduce inequality. Policymakers should tailor digital strategies to local conditions.
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Understanding the impact of internet use on farmer entrepreneurship: evidence from rural China
Internet use significantly promotes farmer entrepreneurship in rural China, with stronger effects in less developed northern Jiangsu than in the more developed south. The study identifies two mechanisms: internet access improves farmers' ability to obtain loans and expands their social networks, both of which drive entrepreneurial activity. These findings highlight internet connectivity as essential infrastructure for rural economic development.
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Can cultural capital, cognitive ability, and economic capacity help rural older adults bridge the digital divide? Evidence from an empirical study
Rural older adults in China face a significant digital divide that limits their access to health information online. This study finds that cultural capital directly helps bridge this gap, and also works indirectly by boosting cognitive ability and economic capacity. The effect is stronger for men aged 60-69. The researchers recommend expanding rural cultural infrastructure and targeted training programs to help older adults develop digital skills.
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Impact of agricultural science and technology innovation resources allocation on rural revitalization
Agricultural science and technology innovation resources in Anhui Province, China positively drive rural revitalization. The relationship is nonlinear—benefits only materialize once resource allocation reaches a threshold. Improved allocation also creates spatial spillover effects that boost development in neighboring rural areas, demonstrating how strategic investment in agtech innovation strengthens broader rural development.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering Rural Women Farmers Through Mobile Technology in Kerala
Mobile technology significantly empowers rural women farmers in Kerala's Palakkad district by improving access to agricultural information, market engagement, and social connectivity. A study of 192 women farmers found that mobile phones enhance self-reliance, market participation, and quality of life. However, digital literacy gaps and inadequate infrastructure remain major barriers to technology adoption and equitable agricultural development.
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Improving access to primary health care through financial innovation in rural China: a quasi-experimental synthetic difference-in-differences approach
A financing reform in rural China that integrated primary healthcare supply and established a dedicated fund significantly increased outpatient visits to primary care facilities by 15 percentage points and raised per capita spending by 87 yuan. The reform proved effective across multiple model specifications and strengthened over time, demonstrating that horizontal integration in healthcare financing improves access and resource allocation in resource-limited rural settings.
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Revisiting research on firm-level innovation in rural areas: A systematic literature review and future research directions
This systematic review of 152 academic papers examines firm-level innovation in rural areas from 2003 to 2023. The study maps the intellectual structure of rural innovation research, identifies key antecedents and outcomes of firm innovation, and reveals major research gaps. The authors establish a research agenda for advancing understanding of how rural firms innovate and sustain growth.
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Sustainability and Rural Empowerment: Developing Women’s Entrepreneurial Skills Through Innovation
Rural women entrepreneurs in artisanal sectors face success factors and barriers shaped by individual, social, structural, and innovation elements. Digital technologies and social innovation drive entrepreneurial success, while gender roles, poor infrastructure, and discrimination remain significant obstacles. The COVID-19 pandemic intensified these challenges, spurring innovative resilience strategies. Holistic approaches addressing skills development, resource access, and innovation promotion are essential to empower rural women and advance sustainable community development.
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Women’s Network Resource Acquisition in Informal Rural Entrepreneurship: A Developed View of Opportunity versus Necessity Dichotomy
Women informal entrepreneurs in rural Iran use different network strategies to access resources and overcome gender constraints. Tourism entrepreneurs build both weak and strong ties, gaining diverse resource access and pursuing opportunity-driven ventures. Farm entrepreneurs rely primarily on strong horizontal ties, remaining more necessity-driven. The study shows tailored policies must address distinct network patterns across different entrepreneurial groups.
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The digital health divide: Understanding telehealth adoption across racial lines in rural Illinois
Rural residents in Southern Illinois adopt telehealth at lower rates than urban residents, with significant racial disparities. Broadband access is a critical barrier—rural areas lack adequate infrastructure. Privacy concerns about data protection deter adoption across all demographic groups. Geographic location and race shape whether people use telehealth to reduce travel and childcare costs.
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Measuring financial divide in the rural environment. The potential role of the digital transformation of finance
Rural areas in Spain show lower financial literacy than urban regions, particularly among populations with limited income and education. This gap prevents financial inclusion and perpetuates rural decline. The authors argue that digital transformation of financial services offers a concrete pathway to improve financial literacy and inclusion in sparsely populated Spanish regions, enabling rural economic regeneration.
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Innovation and rural context: An exploratory case study of a small rural enterprise from the Czech Republic
Rural businesses face barriers like inadequate staffing and market volatility, yet successfully innovate by converting obstacles into opportunities. The study identifies pull factors (incentives and opportunities) and push factors (pressures for change) that drive both product and business innovation. Owner vision and strategic outlook significantly influence innovation outcomes. Rural enterprises innovate effectively by building local, regional, national, and international connections to access wider markets.
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The Impact of Governments’ Digital Economy Procurement on Rural Household Entrepreneurship
Government procurement of digital economy products significantly increases rural household entrepreneurship in China. The effect operates through three mechanisms: relaxing credit constraints, fostering distinctive industry growth, and improving government transparency. The impact is strongest in counties with integrated e-commerce and industrial development. These findings suggest digital procurement policies can effectively drive rural economic development in emerging economies.
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Rural women entrepreneurship: when femininity compensates for institutional hurdles
Rural women entrepreneurs in Iran leverage cultural femininity values to overcome weak institutional support and develop business opportunities. Through interviews with 15 rural women entrepreneurs, the study shows that when government institutions fail to support women's entrepreneurship, feminine cultural norms actually facilitate opportunity creation and business development. The research connects cultural values to institutional gaps and offers practical guidance for policymakers seeking to strengthen rural women's entrepreneurship.
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Unlocking the potential of rural informal entrepreneurship for poverty reduction in Bangladesh: A sustainable livelihoods perspective
Rural informal entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, who comprise 75% of the workforce, face significant livelihood challenges. Only 46% report positive views on key livelihood indicators. Social capital is their strongest asset at 62%, while physical capital remains critically weak at 34%. Most entrepreneurs express limited optimism about their circumstances, with only half viewing 12 of 20 measured indicators positively. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to strengthen rural entrepreneurship and reduce poverty.
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Enhancing Rural Revitalization in China through Digital Economic Transformation and Green Entrepreneurship
Digital economic transformation significantly drives rural revitalization in China by promoting green entrepreneurship, which then cultivates green innovation. The study surveyed rural entrepreneurs across different regions and business sizes, finding that green entrepreneurship and green innovation together mediate the relationship between digital transformation and rural revitalization outcomes. The results support a pathway model for policymakers designing sustainable rural development strategies.
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Comparative analysis of rural communities’ tradeoffs in large-scale and small-scale renewable energy projects in Kenya
Rural Kenyan communities make complex decisions about trading land for electricity access in renewable energy projects. Using institutional analysis, the study finds that trade-off outcomes depend on land tenure systems, project scale, electricity access, traditional knowledge, and local power dynamics. Communities' diverse roles and governance structures shape whether they benefit from large-scale or small-scale renewable projects.
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Feasibility study of hybrid renewable energy systems for off-grid electrification in Kuwait’s rural national park reserve
This study designs a hybrid renewable energy system for an off-grid rural national park in Kuwait. Researchers evaluated photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, diesel generators, and battery storage to power a facility requiring 832,640 kWh annually. The optimal configuration combines 500-kW solar panels, 200-kW wind turbines, and 1,424-kW batteries, generating 1.8 million kWh yearly while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 757,162 kg annually compared to diesel operation.
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Renewable Energy from Agricultural Waste: Biogas Potential for Sustainable Energy Generation in Nigeria’s Rural Agricultural Communities
Nigeria's agricultural sector generates massive quantities of animal manure and crop residues daily, offering significant potential for biogas energy production in rural communities. The country could produce 6.8 million cubic meters of biogas daily from animal waste and 15 billion cubic meters annually from crop residues. Despite two decades of research, large-scale implementation remains blocked by financial constraints, lack of awareness, insufficient technical expertise, and absent policy frameworks. Small-scale biogas plants demonstrate viability for providing sustainable, off-grid energy to rural farmers.
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Enhancing Pharmacological Access and Health Outcomes in Rural Communities through Renewable Energy Integration: Implications for chronic inflammatory Disease Management
Solar-powered cold chain systems in rural healthcare facilities improve medication storage and vaccine distribution, reducing waste and maintaining drug potency. Case studies from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East show that renewable energy integration increases immunization coverage and improves management of inflammatory diseases. The authors argue that deploying solar energy solutions strengthens rural healthcare infrastructure and promotes health equity in underserved regions.
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Are rural energy access programs pro-poor? Some are, many are not
Energy access programs in rural Sub-Saharan Africa often fail to reach the poorest populations despite claims of pro-poor benefits. The paper examines on- and off-grid electrification and improved cooking technologies, finding that poor households rarely adopt these technologies without targeted interventions. Price subsidies are essential for all technologies, and energy-efficient biomass cookstoves show the most promise for reducing poverty. Electrification programs particularly struggle because connection costs exclude the poorest and productive electricity uses remain limited.
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A hybrid solar–biogas system for post-COVID-19 rural energy access
A hybrid solar-biogas system can provide reliable electricity to rural households while managing livestock waste. The study designed a 1.2-kWp solar and 1.2-m³ biogas system to power a rural home consuming 6.6 kWh daily. With subsidies, the system costs $5,777 upfront, achieves energy at $0.21/kWh, and pays back in 14.7 years. The authors recommend energy service contracts to ensure effective operation and maintenance.
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Performance Evaluation of a Small Scale Ammonia-Water Absorption Cooling System for Off-Grid Rural Homes: A Numerical and Experimental Study
Researchers tested a small-scale ammonia-water absorption cooling system designed for rural homes without reliable electricity. They evaluated two configurations using solar energy sources and found that higher evaporator and generator temperatures improved performance. The system achieved a coefficient of performance of 0.63 under optimal conditions, with efficiency gains of 7-7.5% when adding a heat exchanger. The results demonstrate this technology's viability for off-grid cooling in electricity-challenged areas.
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Maximizing Solar Integration: Enhancing Off-grid Rural Energy Storage in Zambia
This study examines photovoltaic adoption for rural electrification in Zambia, where solar potential remains largely untapped. The research identifies major barriers to PV integration including high costs, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient training. The authors demonstrate through case studies that solar systems can effectively power irrigation and rural electrification, yet significant challenges require targeted policies, financial support, and community engagement to achieve widespread adoption.
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Enabling Broadband Internet Access in Remote and Rural Communities Using HAP-Based Multi-Hop FSO/RF Transmissions
This paper proposes a high-altitude platform system that delivers broadband internet to remote and rural communities using combined free-space optical and radio frequency transmissions. The system uses optical links for high-speed connections to demand hotspots and radio frequency for dispersed users across wide areas. Backup platforms automatically switch in when channel quality degrades, improving reliability and coverage while achieving high data transmission rates for both concentrated and dispersed populations.
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The impact of microfinance on entrepreneurship and welfare among women borrowers in rural Pakistan
Microfinance in rural Pakistan boosts women's entrepreneurship and household income when borrowers invest loans in microenterprises, increasing earnings, clothing spending, and income diversification. However, the loans fail to increase health and education spending or reduce child labour. The findings show microfinance effectively stimulates economic activity but has limited impact on human capital investment and broader welfare improvements.
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Indigenous Knowledge in Entrepreneurship and Cultural Tourism in the Rural Areas
Indigenous entrepreneurs in rural areas successfully integrate traditional knowledge into their businesses, particularly in cultural tourism, which is growing but remains largely informal. However, these entrepreneurs face significant barriers including inadequate capital, limited access to funding, and discrimination from financial institutions. The study calls for comprehensive support mechanisms to strengthen indigenous entrepreneurship and sustainability practices based on traditional knowledge systems.
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Mediating agricultural entrepreneurship through embracing innovative technology: a tale from small rural enterprises in an emerging economy
Small marginal farmers in an emerging economy show willingness to adopt innovative technologies but face barriers including lack of technological education, training, and funding. Fear of losing traditional practices and threats from intermediaries discourage adoption. A digital marketplace model can reduce information gaps and costs while improving supply chain efficiency and profit margins for small farmers.
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Hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in developing countries: Assessing feasibility, efficiency, and socioeconomic impact
Hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, biomass, and hydro power offer viable alternatives to grid expansion for rural electrification in developing countries. These systems create jobs, improve health and education outcomes, and build economic resilience. However, high upfront costs, insufficient technical expertise, and weak policy frameworks hinder adoption. Successful deployment requires targeted policies, financial support, community involvement, and ongoing technical innovation.
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Transit Safety of Women in Rural-Urban Contexts
Young women experience sexual harassment and transit crime that restricts their mobility and public participation. A survey of Swedish railway passengers in 2022 found that young women face higher victimization rates than older women. Rural women report feeling safer than urban women but take more precautions before traveling, such as avoiding certain stations or traveling with companions at night. The research calls for gender and age-sensitive mobility policies that address women's safety needs in rural contexts.
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Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Genomics to Improve Poultry: a holistic approach to improve indigenous chicken production focusing on resilience to Newcastle disease
Researchers developed a genetic selection platform to breed indigenous African chickens resistant to Newcastle disease, a major threat to small-scale poultry production. They identified genetic markers and genes conferring resistance through controlled virus challenges, characterized circulating virus strains in Ghana and Tanzania, and assessed farmer demand for improved birds. Results show farmers value both disease resistance and productivity traits like egg production and growth rate.
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The Potential of Indigenous Technological Knowledge for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Indigenous Technical Knowledge practices in India offer proven methods for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture. The paper documents traditional techniques including green manuring, vermicomposting, and traditional irrigation systems that improve soil health, manage water efficiently, and adapt to climate variability. Integrating these indigenous practices with modern agriculture enhances resource efficiency, conserves biodiversity, and strengthens rural livelihoods.
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Empowering local communities engagement: Rural tourism and business innovation for SDGs desa
Social entrepreneurship and business innovation together empower rural communities to develop sustainable tourism. Social entrepreneurship fosters community engagement and inclusivity, while business innovation helps local destinations differentiate themselves and improve competitiveness. The study demonstrates how these combined approaches create sustainable tourism initiatives aligned with sustainable development goals in rural villages.
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Application of artistic design innovation in promoting rural cultural brand construction
This study uses AI and text mining to analyze how users in 15 countries respond emotionally to rural cultural brand designs. The researchers built a virtual simulator and recommendation system to match design elements with regional preferences. Brazilian users preferred vibrant, festive folk art styles, while Russian, Japanese, German, South Korean, and Thai users showed strong emotional responses to rural architecture, handicrafts, and performing arts designs. The findings help tailor rural cultural brand promotion to different international markets.
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Is a Rural Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Conducive to the Improvement of Entrepreneurial Performance? Evidence from Typical Counties of Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation in China
Rural entrepreneurship ecosystems in China contain multiple factors—market size, human capital, financial capital, and infrastructure—that combine in different ways to drive entrepreneurial performance. The study identifies two pathways to high performance: market-driven financing combined with talent development, and government-supported infrastructure. Market forces and government intervention can substitute for each other. Two separate pathways lead to lower performance, involving market-financing or market-government suppression.
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Adoption of technology enhanced teaching and learning innovations during covid-19 lockdown in rural Uganda.
During COVID-19 lockdowns in rural Uganda, students and teachers showed moderate acceptance of technology-enhanced learning. Most learners accessed technology through radios, televisions, and WhatsApp. The study identified barriers including teacher readiness, psychological factors, poverty, management issues, and technical problems. Researchers recommend teacher and student training, providing technology tools, improving internet connectivity, and ensuring reliable electricity.
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Does Urban Innovation Promote Rural Entrepreneurship? Quasi-Natural Experimental Evidence from Microdata on New Agricultural Subjects
Urban innovation policies in Chinese cities significantly boost rural entrepreneurship among new agricultural businesses, with effects strengthening over time. The impact operates through increased technology investment, improved credit access, and faster technological adoption. However, effects vary by city size and type: small and medium cities benefit most, while large cities show inhibited growth. Agricultural cooperatives and agribusinesses gain substantially, but family farms see no significant improvement.
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Exacerbating the divide? Investigating rural inequalities in high speed broadband availability
Rural areas in Ireland have significantly less high-speed broadband coverage than urban areas, and within rural regions, coverage increases with affluence. This means socially deprived rural communities face a compounded disadvantage, receiving less commercial broadband investment despite public funding for infrastructure. The findings reveal that the digital divide operates not just between urban and rural areas, but also within rural areas themselves, correlating with social deprivation.
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Poor Representation of Rural Counties of the United States in Some Measures of Consumer Broadband
Rural counties in the United States are significantly underrepresented in major broadband speed test datasets. The researchers analyzed data from Measurement Labs and Ookla across 2020-2021, finding that very rural counties had far fewer fixed broadband speed tests per capita than urban counties, while mobile test patterns showed no rural-urban difference. This data gap undermines efforts to identify and address broadband gaps in rural communities that need telehealth access.
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Exploring the Influence of Village Social Capital and Rural Development on Farmers’ Entrepreneurial Decision-Making: Unveiling the Path to Local Entrepreneurship
Village social capital significantly influences farmers' decisions to start businesses in rural China. Social trust has the strongest effect, increasing entrepreneurial odds by 16.28%, while social networks and participation boost odds by 3.96% and 5.42% respectively. Rural harmony and economic development partially explain how social capital drives entrepreneurship. The findings show that strengthening village social capital creates conditions for rural business formation.
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Transferability of hometown landholdings and rural migrants’ entrepreneurship: evidence from a pilot rural land use reform in China
A pilot rural land reform in China between 2015 and 2018 increased the transferability of hometown landholdings by raising expropriation compensation and allowing land transactions. Rural migrants from these pilot areas showed 5–7 percentage points higher entrepreneurship rates in destination cities. The reform particularly boosted necessity-based rather than opportunity-based entrepreneurship, with stronger effects on middle-aged and married migrants. The findings demonstrate how rural land policy directly influences urban entrepreneurial activity.
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Fostering entrepreneurship and development in rural mountainous regions: the role of SEZs and local economic dynamics in Gilgit-Baltistan
Special economic zones, particularly Maqpondass SEZ and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, drive entrepreneurship growth in Gilgit-Baltistan. Government incentives, access to finance, skill development, and business connections enable new venture creation. The study finds that SEZ-based industries directly support local small business expansion, with human capital development and technology adoption critical for sustained regional economic growth.
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Bridging and bonding social capital in place-based rural careers advising
Rural careers advisors in western Victoria develop place-based education programs by building social capital through local relationships and knowledge. The study finds that advisors who bridge connections across their communities and bond with local networks create more relevant and effective careers guidance. This approach helps ensure rural students access quality education needed for positive post-school outcomes.
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South African Rural University Students’ Experiences of Open Distance E-Learning Support
Rural students in South Africa face significant resource and infrastructure barriers to online learning. The study found that mobile phones effectively widen access for these underserved communities, requiring less bandwidth than computers and enabling internet connectivity where it otherwise wouldn't exist. Students used phones to access course materials, attend classes, and build community through social media. Universities must design tailored online support programs that account for students' diverse circumstances rather than assuming uniform access patterns.
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Relationship between perceived value, attitudes, and academic motivation in distance learning among nursing students in rural areas
Jordanian nursing students in rural universities show low perceived value, negative attitudes, and weak academic motivation toward distance learning. The study of 298 students found strong positive correlations between these three factors: students with low perceived value of distance learning also held negative attitudes and lacked motivation. Educators must improve how distance learning is presented and delivered to enhance rural health education quality.
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Design and optimization of an off-grid integrated renewable energy system for remote rural electrification in India
Researchers designed and optimized an off-grid renewable energy system combining solar, micro-hydro, and biogas generation with battery storage to electrify twelve villages in Uttarakhand, India. The sodium-sulfur battery configuration proved most cost-effective, delivering energy at 16.77 INR/kWh. Sensitivity analysis showed inflation rates and discount rates significantly impact system costs, while accounting for load and resource uncertainties increased required capacity and storage substantially.
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Investments in Renewable Energy in Rural Communes: An Analysis of Regional Disparities in Poland
Rural communes in Poland drive renewable energy transformation more actively than previously recognized, despite receiving little research attention. Eastern provinces like Lublin and Podlasie secured substantial EU funding for renewable projects, particularly solar installations. Regional disparities in investment activity are significant, with rural communes demonstrating crucial roles in Poland's energy transition that larger urban centers do not capture.
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Achieving universal energy access in remote locations using HOMER energy model: a techno-economic and environmental analysis of hybrid microgrid systems for rural electrification in northeast Nigeria
Researchers designed and modeled a hybrid solar-battery-generator microgrid system for a remote Nigerian village using HOMER software. The system achieves 99% renewable energy penetration at $0.093 per kilowatt-hour, with minimal environmental impact. Sensitivity analysis shows the system adapts well to diesel price increases and scales effectively across different population sizes, offering a practical pathway for rural electrification in underserved regions.
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Enhancing energy access in rural areas: Intelligent microgrid management for universal telecommunications and electricity
A microgrid system combining solar panels, generators, and batteries was designed for a rural telecommunications site in Togo to provide reliable electricity access to both cell phone operators and the local population. Using optimization algorithms, the system achieved 98.95% solar utilization, minimal generator use, and electricity costs of $0.0185 per unit while eliminating service interruptions and reducing emissions.
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Rural broadband usage: analysing satisfaction and internet speed
Rural households in the US Midwest use less internet throughput than satisfied households require, revealing a gap between actual consumption and satisfaction needs. Researchers collected high-resolution data through device monitoring and surveys, finding connections between internet speed, reliability, and user satisfaction. These findings challenge how broadband standards are currently set for rural areas.
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Analysis of rural broadband adoption dynamics: A theory-driven agent-based model
Rural broadband adoption lags behind demand, especially after COVID-19 exposed digital divides. This paper develops an agent-based model grounded in behavioral theory to predict how rural residents adopt broadband internet. The model shows that adoption rates rise when more neighbors already use internet and when prices drop. Policymakers and internet providers can use such simulations to target infrastructure investment and design subsidies that effectively reduce the digital divide.
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Digital Divide & Inclusive Education: Examining How Unequal Access to Technology Affects Educational Inclusivity in Urban Versus Rural Pakistan
Rural Pakistan faces severe digital divides that exclude learners from quality education. The paper compares urban and rural areas, finding stark disparities in technology infrastructure, internet access, and computer literacy. Government policies have failed to close these gaps. The authors recommend expanding digital infrastructure in rural regions, training teachers in technology use, and implementing equitable resource policies to ensure all Pakistani students can access educational technology.
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Performance Evaluation of RF-Powered IoT in Rural Areas: The Wireless Power Digital Divide
This paper evaluates wireless power transfer for battery-less IoT devices in rural areas using ambient radio-frequency signals. The researchers model rural networks with base stations and access points as RF signal sources and analyze coverage probability based on energy harvesting and signal quality requirements. Devices at the center of rural areas achieve twice the coverage of edge devices, and deploying 100 access points in small rural areas (under 100m radius) can support over 80% of RF-powered IoT devices.
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Place-based rural development programs and the labor allocation of farm households
A rural development program in Taiwan increased labor supply among farm household members, particularly for off-farm work. Non-heads of households and female members benefited most. Subsidies supporting cultural and promotional activities produced larger effects. The study uses administrative data and instrumental variables to establish causal impacts on how households allocate labor in response to place-based development policies.
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Retaining Permanent and Temporary Immigrants in Rural Australia: Place‐Based and Individual Determinants
Australia's regional visa schemes successfully attract skilled migrants to rural areas but fail to retain them long-term, with only 40% remaining after nine years compared to over 50% for other migrant categories. Retention is higher in regions with diverse job markets and ethnic networks, but lower where housing costs are high. Less-educated and lower-income migrants, including humanitarian arrivals, stay longer in rural areas, revealing a pattern of socio-spatial inequality and labor market segmentation.
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Toward a Renewable and Sustainable Energy Pattern in Non-Interconnected Rural Monasteries: A Case Study for the Xenofontos Monastery, Mount Athos
This paper designs renewable energy systems for Xenofontos Monastery on Mount Athos, Greece, which operates independently without grid connection. The author models two alternative systems combining wind turbines or solar panels with either pumped hydro storage or battery storage. Results show that 100% electricity demand coverage is achievable using hydro power with pumped storage at 0.22 EUR/kWh, or 90% coverage with lithium-ion batteries at 0.11 EUR/kWh, enabling the monastery to transition from diesel generators to sustainable energy.
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Socioeconomic indicators and their influence on the adoption of renewable energy technologies in rural Malawi
This study examines how socioeconomic factors affect renewable energy adoption in rural Malawi. Researchers surveyed 87 households in Kasangazi and found that despite low income and education levels, communities rely entirely on non-renewable sources like firewood and batteries. However, households express strong demand for electrical appliances such as refrigerators and stoves. The study concludes that mini-grid systems offer viable solutions for remote areas and that renewable energy expansion should prioritize energy access alongside environmental goals.
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Collaborative scheduling method of active-reactive power for rural distribution systems with a high proportion of renewable energy
This paper develops an optimization method for scheduling power in rural distribution networks with high renewable energy penetration. The authors create an evaluation model to quantify active and reactive power support capabilities, then propose a collaborative scheduling approach that minimizes power losses, operational costs, and penalty costs. They build a platform to support safe grid operation and demonstrate their method reduces overload and overvoltage problems while improving security and economic efficiency.
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The role of agriculture for achieving renewable energy-centered sustainable development objectives in rural Africa
This paper models how renewable energy and agricultural development interact in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Using integrated assessment models linking water, energy, and agriculture, the authors show that expanding irrigation and agricultural productivity makes renewable energy infrastructure more economically viable and helps achieve universal energy access. They also analyze business models and policy conditions needed to make small-scale renewable energy systems feasible for rural development.
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Advances in the Design of Renewable Energy Power Supply for Rural Health Clinics, Case Studies, and Future Directions
Rural health clinics in remote areas lack reliable electricity from national grids, compromising healthcare quality and staff recruitment. This paper reviews renewable energy solutions for isolated clinics worldwide, examining modeling techniques, battery storage systems, and microgrid maintenance approaches. The authors recommend analytical standards and procedures to optimize sustainable power supply for remote healthcare facilities.
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Application of GIS in Introducing Community-Based Biogas Plants from Dairy Farm Waste: Potential of Renewable Energy for Rural Areas in Bangladesh
This study uses GIS mapping and spatial analysis to identify optimal locations for community-based biogas plants in Bangladesh that convert dairy farm waste into renewable energy. Five feasible sites were identified that could collectively generate 200.60 GWh of electricity annually while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 104.26 Gg/year CO2eq. The approach integrates geographical, social, economic, and environmental factors to create a practical framework for sustainable waste management and rural energy production.
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Assessing the Viability and Impact of Off Grid Systems for Sustainable Electrification of Rural Communities in Sub-Saharan Africa
Off-grid solar minigrids offer a viable solution for rural electrification in sub-Saharan Africa, where centralized power systems have failed to reach communities. The research identifies key barriers to adoption including high capital costs, land expenses, and long break-even periods. Techno-economic analysis reveals that economic viability, regulatory frameworks, and technical challenges—measured through levelized cost of electricity—determine whether these systems succeed in rural areas.
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Off-grid photovoltaic-powered capacitive deionization for groundwater desalination in rural Africa
Researchers developed and tested an off-grid water purification system combining solar panels with capacitive deionization technology for rural Uganda. The system successfully desalinated groundwater to meet drinking water standards while operating entirely on solar power, achieving over 60% salt removal and low energy consumption. This innovation provides a practical, modular solution for households lacking access to centralized water and electricity infrastructure.
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Mapping the Enablers of Frugal Innovation and Firm Performance of Indigenous Innovation in Emerging Economies
Frugal innovation drives growth in emerging economies by creating resourceful solutions for resource-constrained environments. This study builds a hierarchical framework showing how five independent enablers—including resource constraints, prosocial motivation, and frugal design principles—influence frugal innovation and firm performance through linkage factors like frugal creativity and bricolage capability. The framework helps firms in developing economies achieve sustainable growth.
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Replicating the suitability rule and economic theory in pursuit of microfinance inclusion of women micro-agribusinesses in rural financial markets
Microfinance banks in rural Uganda can improve women micro-agribusiness survival by 29 percentage points when they offer financial products tailored to borrowers' economic conditions. Customized loan products enable poor women farmers to generate sufficient income for timely repayment and business operations. Microfinance institutions should adopt personalized pricing models and product design strategies to reduce loan defaults and increase financial inclusion among rural agricultural entrepreneurs.
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Customers’ Perception of Microfinance Services as a Tool for Rural Development: A Romanian Case Study
Microfinance institutions in Romania succeed when they build trust, demonstrate empathy, and maintain strong organizational culture and reputation. A survey of 110 microfinance clients identified three key service quality dimensions: empathy and assurance, trust, and intangibles. While gender differences in perception were minimal, age, education, and business type significantly shaped how clients viewed services. Improving these intangible factors strengthens client relationships and enables sustainable rural development.
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Mapping and Spatial Analysis to Expand Rural Broadband Access
Rural broadband access remains limited despite its importance for economic development and precision farming. This paper presents GIS and remote sensing methods to identify where broadband expansion would have the greatest agricultural impact and to locate vertical infrastructure assets that could support network expansion. Applied to Illinois counties, the approach quantifies crop production potential in unserved areas and automates mapping of suitable tower locations using LiDAR data to guide broadband investment decisions.
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Digital Divide or Digital Bridge? Evaluating the Impact of ICT Integration in South Africa’s Rural Schools
South Africa's policy to integrate ICT into rural schools through laptops and tablets has failed to bridge the digital divide. Teachers lack training to use these technologies effectively, and implementation remains uneven, favoring urban smart schools over rural ones. The study recommends comprehensive teacher training, wider device distribution to primary schools, curriculum reform, and independent professional development to achieve meaningful ICT integration across all schools.
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ICT adoption, commercial orientation and productivity: Understanding the digital divide in Rural China
Chinese smallholders who adopt information and communication technologies—smartphones and internet-connected computers—increase their commercial farm orientation and boost productivity significantly. Land productivity rises 21.3% and labor productivity 28.2% with ICT adoption. Commercial orientation itself improves labor productivity by 35.9%. Young farmers and small-scale operators benefit most. The study recommends policymakers invest in ICT training, digital infrastructure, and support for commercial smallholder production.
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Examining gender and urban-rural divide in digital competence among university students
This study surveyed 241 university students in Pakistan to measure digital competence across gender and urban-rural divides. Gender showed no significant differences in digital competence. However, students at rural-located universities demonstrated significantly lower digital competence than those at urban universities. Digital skill levels—operational, informational, and strategic—did not differ significantly among participants. The findings highlight a rural disadvantage in digital preparedness among university students.
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Relying on LEADER? A place-based policy approach to the rural development of Finnish municipalities
Finnish municipalities play a modest role in rural development despite place-based policy frameworks that should empower them. This study identifies three causal factors: the ideology of responsible local communities, shrinking-municipality development policies, and projectification challenges. The research finds that increased village involvement in rural development actually discourages municipal participation, and municipalities struggle to trust rural potential when focused on economic growth. LEADER groups dominate because they face fewer projectification obstacles than other municipal projects.
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Designing a model for enhancing intention to accept renewable energy technologies in rural communities of Ilam province, Iran
Rural households in Iran's Ilam province show stronger intention to adopt renewable energy when they perceive it as useful, feel capable of using it, hold positive attitudes toward it, and experience social pressure to do so. The study surveyed 384 rural households and found these five factors—perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control—significantly predict willingness to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
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Economic optimization of hybrid renewable energy resources for rural electrification
Researchers used the bat algorithm to optimize hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in Kalema village, comparing it against diesel-only and genetic algorithm approaches. The bat algorithm reduced energy costs by 45.6% and carbon emissions by 62.2% compared to diesel generators alone, outperforming the genetic algorithm on both metrics. This demonstrates that optimized hybrid renewable systems are more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable than traditional diesel generation for rural areas.
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Demonstration of the potential use of off-grid renewable energy in agricultural production in rural Uganda
Rural Ugandan farmers have widely adopted off-grid renewable energy technologies—particularly solar—for agricultural production, with women showing higher adoption rates. Solar powers irrigation and crop drying, while biogas and charcoal briquettes support diverse farming activities. Farmers report time savings, improved health, and income gains, though high upfront costs and limited awareness remain barriers. Scaling requires coordinated support from government, NGOs, and private sectors to fund technology acquisition and build local capacity.
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Renewable Energy Powered and Open RAN-Based Architecture for 5G Fixed Wireless Access Provisioning in Rural Areas
This paper proposes a renewable energy-powered 5G Fixed Wireless Access system using Open RAN architecture to serve rural and low-density areas cost-effectively. The system uses three nested control loops to optimize radio and energy resource allocation across edge cloud infrastructure. The authors employ reinforcement learning and convex optimization to balance communication performance with energy costs, achieving 97% compliance with service delay requirements while reducing deployment expenses.
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The temporalities and externalities of ancillary infrastructure in large-scale renewable energy projects: Insights from the rural periphery
Large-scale renewable energy projects require ancillary infrastructure like roads, worker camps, and water systems that create distinct social and environmental impacts separate from the power plants themselves. In rural peripheral areas of the Global South, these infrastructures can harm communities but also provide significant benefits. The authors develop a framework analyzing how ancillary infrastructure's timing and externalities affect local acceptance, using a Kenyan geothermal project as a case study, and offer policy recommendations to maximize positive outcomes.
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Navigating emergent effects in off-grid systems: Ostrom's design principles and rural energy policy implications
This study examines how Ostrom's Design Principles work in governing rural off-grid energy systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using systems thinking and feedback analysis, the research identifies emergent problems—poor infrastructure access, weak local economies, and community disengagement—that undermine the framework's effectiveness. The author maps reinforcing feedback loops driving governance failures and proposes balancing strategies to improve sustainability, concluding that integrating Ostrom's principles with broader external support is essential for long-term viability of community-owned off-grid systems.
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NGOs' Role in Sustaining Indigenous Knowledge in RuralBangladesh: Agriculture, Healthcare, and Disaster Management
NGOs in rural Bangladesh actively preserve and apply indigenous knowledge across agriculture, healthcare, and disaster management. The study documents how organizations like BARCIK support local communities in using traditional practices for cyclone resilience, seed preservation, and farming methods. NGOs bridge indigenous knowledge with modern science, protecting these practices from erosion due to globalization while enabling sustainable rural development.
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Impact of microfinance on income generation: Evidence from a rural community‐driven development programme in Myanmar
A community-driven microfinance programme in Myanmar increased rural households' access to credit for productive purposes, partially replacing formal bank loans and informal borrowing from relatives and friends. Treated households increased agricultural harvesting, yields, and sales, resulting in higher seasonal income. The findings demonstrate that microfinance targeting productive investment effectively improves rural household income in developing economies.
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The roles of innovations for village development in rural-urban linkages in West Java Province
Village development in West Java depends on innovations in agriculture, horticulture, and fisheries. Rural communities successfully adopt innovations when connected to urban knowledge networks and resources. Key barriers include limited human capital, financing, and network access. Innovations that boost productivity, product quality, value addition, and digital marketing drive village economic growth.
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Digital Divide: Facilitating Conditions and Usage of Google Classroom for Teachers in Rural and Urban Secondary Schools in Malaysia
Rural teachers in Malaysia face greater technical obstacles and use Google Classroom less frequently than urban teachers, despite similar network and infrastructure challenges. The study surveyed 395 secondary school teachers and found significant differences in technical issues and platform usage between rural and urban settings. The authors recommend targeted technical support, training, and resource allocation to rural schools to reduce educational inequality.
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Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems: An Integrated Approach to Rural Electrification
Hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, hydro, and biomass offer transformative potential for electrifying remote rural areas in developing nations. These integrated approaches leverage diverse local resources to overcome grid isolation, reduce carbon emissions, and provide equitable energy access. Supportive policies and growing research momentum position hybrid systems as revolutionary solutions for rural electrification strategies.
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Renewable energy sources in Kyrgyzstan and energy supply to rural consumers
Kyrgyzstan possesses substantial renewable energy resources—solar radiation, small river flows, and agricultural biomass—suitable for rural electrification. The study quantifies solar potential at 0.451 kWh per square metre daily, micro-hydroelectric capacity from small rivers at up to 8.95 kW, and biogas production from farm manure at 16–19 kg per hour. These distributed renewable sources can supply autonomous power to remote rural areas while reducing environmental impact and energy costs.
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Review of Planning and Optimization of the Renewable-Energy-Based Micro-Grid for Rural Electrification
Renewable-energy microgrids offer a practical solution for rural electrification, addressing gaps in traditional power infrastructure. The review examines technical and economic aspects of microgrid design, sizing, and renewable energy integration. Microgrids enhance reliability and efficiency in areas lacking centralized grid access, reducing dependency on vulnerable centralized systems while supporting long-term energy stability and sustainability.
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Homeowners’ Motivations to Invest in Energy-Efficient and Renewable Energy Technologies in Rural Iowa
Rural Iowa homeowners adopt energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies primarily to reduce energy costs, driven by local availability of products and environmental concerns. High upfront costs, lack of information, and limited local access to appliances and contractors create barriers to adoption. Rural households face disproportionately high energy burdens, making these technologies valuable but underutilized in rural areas compared to urban regions.
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Unveiling determinants of household lighting preferences in rural Tanzania: insights for sustainable energy access
This study analyzes household lighting choices among 4,671 rural Tanzanian households using regression modeling. Older household heads and larger families are less likely to choose grid electricity. Married households prefer candles, while employed heads favor modern solutions. Higher income increases electricity and candle adoption but not solar energy uptake. The findings show that socio-economic factors—employment, income, education, and household composition—drive lighting technology choices and should guide policy efforts to expand sustainable energy access.
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Digital Twin Backed Closed-Loops for Energy-Aware and Open RAN-Based Fixed Wireless Access Serving Rural Areas
This paper proposes a digital twin system to manage energy and radio resources for Fixed Wireless Access networks serving rural areas. The system uses reinforcement learning and optimization techniques to distribute resources between edge cloud instances and households while minimizing energy costs and meeting service requirements. Testing shows the approach efficiently allocates both radio and energy resources in rural broadband deployments.
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Techno-economic and environmental analysis of an off-grid hybrid system using solar panels, wind turbine, diesel generator, and batteries for a rural health clinic considering
Researchers designed and analyzed a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar panels, wind turbines, diesel generators, and batteries to power a rural health clinic in Saudi Arabia. The optimized system achieves 84.7% renewable energy generation with annual CO2 emissions of 10,825 kg and operating costs of $2,361 per year. The findings demonstrate that hybrid systems are economically and environmentally viable for rural healthcare in arid regions, with potential applications across developing nations.
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Design Optimization and Techno-Economic Analysis of Off-Grid Hybrid Energy Systems for Sustainable Rural Electrification in Bangladesh
This paper evaluates hybrid energy systems for bringing electricity to remote rural areas in Bangladesh. Using HOMER Pro software, researchers compared three off-grid hybrid systems in Char Amanullah. A solar-biomass-battery system proved most cost-effective at $0.197 per kilowatt-hour, outperforming solar-diesel-biomass and solar-wind-biomass alternatives. The analysis examined technical performance, economic viability, and environmental emissions to identify the best sustainable electrification option for grid-disconnected locations.
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Sustainability of Africa through technological innovations and indigenous knowledge systems: a discussion of key factors and way forward
African sustainable development requires integrating indigenous knowledge systems and philosophical frameworks like Ubuntu with contemporary technological innovation, rather than adopting purely Western-imposed models. The authors argue that higher education institutions must bridge indigenous knowledge practices with global development approaches, shifting away from narratives that position Africa as deficient and toward locally grounded solutions that add value to African resources while preserving the environment.
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Indigenous Innovations: Propelling Drones with SYNCREL Motor
Researchers modeled and analyzed a synchronous reluctance motor designed for drone applications using finite element analysis. The 24V motor achieved 1.25 Nm rated torque and operated at 6000 RPM with a maximum temperature of 59°C. The study examined performance characteristics including torque, inductance, current patterns, heat distribution, and harmonic behavior, comparing structural responses across different harmonic orders.
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Has the Development of Broadband Infrastructure Improved Household Energy Consumption in Rural China?
Broadband infrastructure expansion in rural China increases household energy consumption and accelerates adoption of cleaner fuels. Higher-income and better-educated households benefit most from broadband access. The policy drives change through technological innovation, improved energy efficiency, and greater environmental awareness. These findings show broadband's role in supporting China's carbon neutrality goals and energy transition.
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Empowering rural youth through entrepreneurship development: Tackling unemployment, migration, and Catalyzing innovation
Youth entrepreneurship in rural areas reduces unemployment and migration while driving innovation and sustainable development. The paper reviews evidence showing that supporting young entrepreneurs creates economic and social benefits, generates jobs, and fosters innovation. Success requires coordinated efforts across government, private sector, educational institutions, and development organizations to build ecosystems enabling rural youth to start businesses and contribute to equitable economic growth.
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SOCIETY 5.0 AND ITS IMPACT ON AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS AND INNOVATION: A NEW PARADIGM FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Society 5.0 integrates advanced technologies like IoT, AI, and robotics into agriculture to balance economic growth with social benefits. The paper analyzes how this technological shift transforms agricultural practices and business models for rural development. It introduces the Agricultural Business and Rural Development Potential index to forecast three scenarios—optimistic, conservative, and pessimistic—for agricultural innovation and rural outcomes.
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Research on the Innovation of Rural Tourism E-commerce Development Path in the Internet Era
This paper develops an e-commerce mobile platform for rural tourism using F-PBFT algorithms, collaborative filtering, and VR technology. Applied to Battle Flag Village in China, the platform increased net profit margins to 47.84% and generated nearly 242,000 peak-hour searches, demonstrating how digital tools can boost rural tourism businesses and attract visitors to remote areas.
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Integration of E-Learning Platforms in Moroccan Higher Education: Assessing the Technological Leap and Addressing the Digital Divide Among Urban and Rural Students
Morocco's higher education institutions adopted e-learning platforms to modernize education, but the technology created disparities between urban and rural students. The study found significant gaps in internet connectivity and device access, with rural students facing greater barriers. E-learning improved student engagement and academic performance overall, yet rural students benefited less. The researchers recommend upgrading digital infrastructure, providing financial aid, and strengthening digital literacy programs to ensure equitable access across regions.
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Can telemedicine reach rural, older veterans on the edge of or caught in the digital divide? – Unique considerations for two distinct populations
A national telemedicine program serving rural older veterans through VA clinics identified two distinct populations with different barriers to digital healthcare. Some veterans on the edge of the digital divide faced access risks from declining health or economic status. Others were completely caught in the divide—lacking reliable internet, devices, or skills—including isolated veterans with trauma histories and institutional distrust. The study reveals that structural supports must address these specific contextual factors to expand telemedicine reach.
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Impact of Innovation and Agricultural Cooperative Societies towards Ecological Equilibrium Among Rural Farmers in Kenya.
Agricultural cooperatives in Kenya drive agroecological innovation that strengthens farming resilience to climate change while protecting ecosystems. Cooperatives enable small-scale farmers to adopt ecology-based practices, create production chains, include marginalized groups, and build local markets. This approach combines farmer knowledge with scientific expertise to deliver locally appropriate solutions that improve livelihoods, food security, and environmental protection simultaneously.
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Place-based strengths and vulnerabilities for mental wellness among rural minority older adults: an intervention development study protocol
Rural minority older adults in the United States face severe depression inequities driven by economic insecurity, trauma, transportation gaps, and limited service access. This study examines protective place-based factors like social support and community attachment alongside vulnerabilities among American Indian and Latinx older adults in New Mexico. Researchers will conduct surveys, interviews, and network analysis to understand how these factors shape depression experiences, then develop a community-driven intervention addressing place-based causes of mental health disparities.
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Building research capacity at a rural place‐based community service organisation in southwest Victoria, Australia
Rural community service organizations lack evidence about their outcomes, limiting policy decisions for rural populations. This paper describes implementing an embedded researcher model at an Australian family and youth services organization to build research capacity and establish monitoring, evaluation, and learning practices. The embedded researcher, positioned on-site and jointly funded by the service organization and a university, works with staff to develop a place-based framework for generating local evidence and improving service outcomes.
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Possibilities for Rural Queer Liberation: Toward a Queer Rural Place-Based Pedagogy
This paper develops a queer rural place-based pedagogy that combines queer pedagogy with critical pedagogy of place. The approach centers the experiences of rural queer students to advance rural queer liberation, offering educators a framework for supporting LGBTQ+ students in rural communities through place-conscious teaching methods.
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The association between rurality, places of care and the location of death of long-term care home residents with dementia: A population-based study
This study analyzed 65,375 long-term care residents with dementia in Ontario between 2014 and 2019. Rural residents were more likely to die in their care homes, while urban residents experienced more hospitalizations and died outside care facilities. Urban LTC homes sent residents to hospitals at roughly double the rate of rural homes, suggesting geography shapes end-of-life care patterns for dementia patients.
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Access of rural youth to higher education: An international perspective
Rural youth worldwide view higher education as a path to social advancement, but face significant barriers including limited academic offerings in rural areas and disconnects between rural culture and higher education systems. Scholarships alone cannot address these inequalities. The paper argues for a differentiated higher education model that respects rural socio-cultural capital, offers location-appropriate programs, and connects learning to local contexts rather than forcing cultural assimilation.
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Integration of renewable energy-powered cold storage solutions for reducing post-harvest food waste in rural agricultural areas
Researchers developed a renewable energy-powered cold storage system combining solar and wind power with smart sensors and AI for rural farms. Field trials in the UK and US showed the system reduced post-harvest food waste by 43.5%, extended produce shelf-life by 300%, and increased farmer income by 43%. It cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% compared to diesel systems and achieved strong economic returns and farmer adoption rates.
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The Potential of Hydro Energy as the Renewable Energy Alternatives in the Rural Area
Micro-hydropower systems offer a viable renewable energy solution for rural electrification, particularly in remote areas with high water availability. The technology is environmentally friendly, easy to operate, and has low operating costs compared to fossil fuels. Success requires addressing technical challenges and securing government support, while considering local geography, energy production capacity, and resource sustainability.
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Advancing Renewable Energy in Rural India: An techno-economic Evaluation of the Deenbandhu Biogas Model in Rajasthan
This study evaluates the Deenbandhu biogas model in Rajasthan, India, finding it a viable renewable energy solution despite a gap between potential and actual adoption. The technology reduces women's labor, improves health, decreases fossil fuel dependence, and enhances soil fertility through biogas slurry. Addressing adoption barriers and strengthening dissemination strategies can help India transition to a low-carbon economy while leveraging the region's substantial livestock resources.
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Empowering Rural Communities: Feasibility and Optimization of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Sustainable Electricity Using HOMER Software
This case study examines a hybrid solar and wind energy system designed for Khajuri-Motihani village in Bihar, India, using HOMER software to optimize system configuration. The analysis shows that a renewable energy system is technically and economically feasible for this rural community, reducing costs while maximizing renewable generation and cutting carbon emissions. The findings demonstrate that this approach could serve as a replicable model for other rural Indian villages seeking energy independence and sustainability.
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Optimal planning of solar energy using a sensitivity factor for rural electricity needs in an off-grid system (case study: Sebesi Island, South Lampung, Indonesia)
A feasibility study of solar power for Sebesi Island, Indonesia demonstrates that an off-grid solar system with battery storage meets the island's daily electricity needs more economically and sustainably than diesel generators. Using sensitivity analysis to account for resource uncertainty, the optimal solar configuration costs $1.26 million with an energy cost of $0.346/kWh, compared to $1.29 million and $0.397/kWh for diesel. The solar system generates twice the annual energy while reducing CO2 emissions by 241,812 kg yearly.
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Modeling of an Off-Grid Stand Alone Solar PV with Battery Backup System for an Isolated Rural Area
This paper designs and tests an off-grid solar system with battery storage for remote rural areas using MATLAB simulation. The system combines a solar array, battery unit, and advanced battery management to deliver stable power across seven operating modes. It achieves over 90% efficiency and maintains steady voltage output, with real-time monitoring enabling quick mode transitions under 200 milliseconds. Maximum power point tracking methods boost efficiency by up to 25% despite changing sunlight conditions.
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Data-Driven Approach to State of Good Repair: Predicting Rolling Stock Service Life with Machine Learning for State of Good Repair Backlog Reduction and Long-Range Replacement Cost Estimation in Small Urban and Rural Transit Systems
This paper develops a machine learning model to predict when transit vehicles need replacement in small urban and rural U.S. transit systems. Using historical data from retired vehicles, the model applies random forest and gradient boosting techniques to estimate service life, identify maintenance backlogs, and forecast replacement costs. The tool helps transit agencies maintain vehicles in good repair, reduce backlogs, and make better funding decisions for asset management.
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Conceptualizing RRI from a Global South perspective through Indigenous innovation practices in Aotearoa New Zealand’s high-tech science sector
This paper examines Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) through Indigenous Māori perspectives in New Zealand's high-tech science sector. The authors show that Vision Mātauranga, a national policy integrating Māori knowledge with Western science, drives RRI in practice through specific micro-practices: open innovation, capacity development, and absorptive capacity. A decolonized RRI approach extends responsible innovation beyond European frameworks, creating new science governance models that align with Global South contexts.
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Knowledge-Based Approaches to Adaptive Agriculture: An Ethnoecological Case Study of Indigenous Communities in Climate Change Adaptation
Indigenous vegetable farmers in Dieng, Java integrate traditional ethnoecological knowledge with adaptive farming practices to build agricultural resilience against climate change. Community leaders, elders, and government support through subsidies, loans, and policies protecting customary land rights drive successful adoption of these indigenous practices. The findings suggest these approaches have potential for broader implementation in similar regions.
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Indigenous Knowledge System and Agricultural Drought Adaptation in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal
Small-scale farmers in South Africa's uMkhanyakude District use indigenous knowledge systems to adapt to agricultural drought, which severely reduces crop yields and livestock. The study reveals that gender norms intensify drought impacts differently for men and women. Indigenous practices prove effective for building resilience, yet policy typically ignores them in favor of Western approaches. The research calls for culturally grounded, equitable adaptation strategies that address structural inequalities rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
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Indigenous Technical Knowledge Practices for Managing Pests and Diseases in Agricultural Crops
Farmers in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district rely on indigenous technical knowledge to manage agricultural pests and diseases. The study documented traditional practices like neem leaves, cow urine, and plant-based remedies used by 80% of 150 interviewed farmers. Sixty percent reported success in reducing crop damage. These methods proved cost-effective and eco-friendly, offering viable alternatives to chemical pesticides while reducing environmental dependence.
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Socio-Economic Empowerment of Women Through Microfinance: A Case Study of Baijnath Rural Municipality, Banke
Microfinance programs significantly empower rural women in Nepal's Baijnath Rural Municipality by increasing their income, economic independence, and decision-making authority. Women accessing microfinance services gain control over resources, improve family relationships, and participate more actively in household and community decisions. The study found that 58% of participating women own land, over half work in retail, and most make decisions about children's education and healthcare, demonstrating measurable gains in economic standing and social influence.
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Analysis of Rural Microfinance Sustainability: Does Local Insight Driven Governance Work?
This study examines sustainable microfinance models in rural western Rajasthan, India, surveying 480 respondents across three districts. The research finds that social, economic, governance, and environmental factors significantly influence microfinance sustainability. Sustainable microfinance delivers financial stability, better risk management, improved reputation, and competitive advantage for managers while creating long-term benefits for borrowers and rural communities.
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Impact of digital inclusive finance development on rural industry revitalization—Observations of rural China
Digital inclusive finance development significantly promotes rural industry revitalization in China, according to analysis of provincial data from 2012-2021. The effect operates primarily through depth of use and digitization rather than coverage breadth. Digital finance drives rural revitalization by fostering integration across primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. Regional variation exists, requiring tailored development strategies suited to local conditions.
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Trigeneration based on the pyrolysis of rural waste in India: Environmental impact, economic feasibility and business model innovation
This study evaluates trigeneration systems powered by rural waste pyrolysis in India, combining environmental and economic analysis with business model innovation. Researchers surveyed villagers to understand actual feedstock prices, then used cost-benefit analysis and life cycle assessment to design two novel business models. The proposed models achieve up to 90% economic profitability with benefit-cost ratios of 1.35–1.75, offering viable pathways for rural bioenergy production in developing countries.
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Responding to domestic and family violence in resource-constrained contexts: a case study on rural policing innovations in Melanesia
Police in four Melanesian countries innovate to address domestic and family violence in resource-constrained rural areas. The study finds that effective responses require stronger partnerships across sectors, increased police presence, and integration of indigenous strategies. Current efforts struggle with limited resources, low prioritization, and cultural barriers to gender reform.
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Broadband and rural development: Impacts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Broadband Initiatives Program on saving and creating jobs
The USDA's Broadband Initiatives Program reduced employment losses in rural areas compared to non-program regions, with stronger effects in metropolitan counties and service sectors. Businesses in program areas showed better survival rates than those outside the program, though impacts varied by location, business type, and industry.
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How does the development of rural broadband in China affect agricultural total factor productivity? Evidence from agriculture-related loans
Rural broadband development in China significantly increases agricultural total factor productivity, primarily by expanding access to farm-related loans. The productivity gains concentrate in central regions and areas with higher rural incomes. The effect only materializes once broadband infrastructure reaches a critical threshold, suggesting that digital transformation requires sufficient infrastructure investment before financial benefits emerge.
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The Obstacles of Women Entrepreneurship on Empowerment in Rural Communities KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Women entrepreneurs in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa face three main barriers to business expansion: limited access to finance, lack of formal education, and inadequate infrastructure. The study surveyed 250 female business owners and found these obstacles are surmountable through targeted interventions including alternative financing mechanisms, focused training programs, and infrastructure development. Removing these barriers could empower women entrepreneurs and reduce rural poverty.
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The spatial interplay between productive and destructive entrepreneurship: do institutions meet expectations in rural areas?
In rural Colombia, destructive entrepreneurship (coca cultivation) and productive entrepreneurship (coffee cultivation) directly displace each other. Despite the presence of coffee-supportive institutions like extensionists, these institutions fail to prevent destructive entrepreneurship from crowding out productive activities. The study reveals that institutional support alone is insufficient to control this substitution effect in weak institutional environments.
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Rural Broadband Architecture For Efficient Service Delivery
Rural broadband connectivity transforms lives in developing countries by enabling education, healthcare, agriculture, banking, and disaster preparedness. Existing siloed architectures have failed to bridge the digital divide. This paper proposes a novel broadband service delivery architecture that leverages existing infrastructure, supports multiple technologies, includes a common service layer, and deploys a lightweight rural digital marketplace. The platform targets widespread ICT adoption across rural populations while respecting economic and social diversity.
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Mobile Health and Chronic Care: Using GIScience to Assess Health Care Accessibility among Broadband Subscribers in Nebraska’s Micropolitan and Rural Areas
This study uses geographic information systems to analyze how broadband internet access affects rural and micropolitan residents' ability to reach healthcare providers for chronic conditions. Researchers compared travel times to medical facilities for broadband customers in Nebraska, revealing differences between rural and micropolitan areas. The findings show how internet speed variations influence who can actually use mobile health services, demonstrating GIScience's practical value for addressing rural healthcare access problems.
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High speed broadband and the employment quality of rural migrant workers in China
High-speed broadband expansion in China improved employment quality for rural migrant workers by increasing wages, reducing overtime, and boosting job stability. The effect operated primarily through enabling remote work flexibility. Younger, female, and more educated workers experienced larger gains. The policy shift toward faster internet and lower rates around 2015 drove measurable improvements in working conditions across multiple dimensions.
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Planning for Rural Broadband
Rural broadband expansion programs receive insufficient uptake because communities lack awareness and planning capacity. This study examines university-community partnerships in two Florida counties that successfully facilitated broadband planning discussions. The researchers identify how local partnerships mobilized community resources and planning practices, then recommend strategies for replicating community-based broadband planning approaches in other rural areas.
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Innovations of Rural Areas as a Necessity of Green Economy and Sustainable Development
Rural innovation in Serbia requires applying green economy principles to increase agricultural competitiveness and ensure sustainable development. The paper examines plum production as a case study, revealing unstable market placement and declining rural populations. Serbia's EU accession demands alignment with environmental standards. Success depends on state support, institutional frameworks, farmer training, advisory services, and promotion of innovation through shorter marketing channels and knowledge exchange.
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Innovation as a factor in successful rural development
Agricultural development in rural areas requires technological, social, and organizational innovations to ensure food security and deliver essential services. The study identifies digital innovation, climate adaptation, and community engagement as critical for rural prosperity amid geopolitical and environmental challenges. All three innovation types—technological, social, and organizational—prove essential for sustainable rural development and local management.
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Local Economic Resilience: A Qualitative Study of Development Innovation in Rural Areas
This qualitative study examines how rural areas build economic resilience through development innovation. The research shows that rural communities strengthen their economies by adopting sustainable practices, leveraging digital technologies, and fostering community-based innovation. Local adaptation strategies and government support play key roles in helping rural areas respond to global economic trends and create new opportunities for business growth.
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The Role of Islamic Values in Sustainable Development Innovation to Support the SDGs in Rural Communities
Islamic principles, particularly Maqasid Syariah, offer a framework for sustainable development in rural communities that addresses poverty, inequality, and climate action. The study finds that Islamic values like social justice and environmental stewardship, combined with mechanisms such as zakat and waqf, can advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Integrating these religious values into development policy creates more inclusive and equitable rural development outcomes.
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“Does Digital Education Bridge the Urban-Rural Divide in STEM Education in China? Analyzing Accessibility, Engagement, and Outcomes”
Digital education platforms have expanded STEM access in rural China, but significant gaps persist. Rural students face obstacles including undertrained teachers, limited resources, and weak community support despite improved infrastructure. The paper argues that targeted interventions—better teacher training, stronger parental engagement, and customized programs—are essential to close the urban-rural education divide and improve both immediate learning outcomes and long-term educational aspirations.
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Analysing the Digital Divide Factors: Evidence of a Rural-urban Comparison from an Indian District
This study identifies factors causing digital inequality between rural and urban areas in Alipurduar district, India. Network connectivity, English language deficiency, and gender emerged as the strongest barriers to technology access. Rural areas, particularly in hilly and forested regions, face significantly greater digital divides than urban centers. The research recommends improving network infrastructure, building digital literacy skills, and promoting English language education to reduce rural-urban and gender gaps in technology access.
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The Fourth Industrial Revolution: Overcoming Digital Divides in Zimbabwean Rural Learning Ecologies
This study examines how Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies can reduce digital divides and improve educational access in rural Zimbabwe. The research finds that while 4IR methods like e-learning offer benefits including better information access, distance learning, and personalized instruction, rural students face technical, practical, and psychological barriers that harm academic performance. The authors recommend infrastructure investment, teacher training, curriculum changes, and public-private partnerships to help rural areas leverage 4IR technologies effectively.
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Analysis of China's Policy on Bridging Urban-rural Digital Divide Based on the Mixed-Scanning Model
China's policies addressing the urban-rural digital divide show gaps in coverage and effectiveness. Using the Mixed-Scanning model, this analysis identifies that STEM education and rural internet training can bridge educational divides, while farmers need support finding digital roles in the big data economy. The government must address technical barriers and gender gaps through combined governance involving government, market, and citizens. AI technology offers promise for closing the cognitive divide.
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Bridging The Digital Divide: A Comprehensive Analysis Of ICT Infrastructure In Rural Schools Of Jharkhand, India
Rural schools in Jharkhand, India lack adequate ICT infrastructure and resources. The study surveyed schools across the region using surveys, interviews, and observations, finding significant gaps in technology access and use. These deficiencies prevent effective digital learning in elementary education. The authors recommend targeted interventions to bridge the digital divide and provide practical policy recommendations for improving ICT adoption in rural schools.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: The XGain Knowledge Facilitation Tool for Rural Connectivity
The XGain Knowledge Facilitation Tool helps rural communities bridge the digital divide by providing decision-making support for digital infrastructure deployment. The tool integrates socio-environmental and techno-economic assessments with business model proposals, enabling rural stakeholders to make informed choices about telecommunications technologies. This approach addresses rural connectivity challenges and promotes resilience and competitiveness in digital transformation.
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Innovation of Cultural Education Mode in Agricultural Higher Vocational Schools from the Perspective of Rural Revitalization
Agricultural higher vocational schools in China should redesign cultural education to support rural revitalization. The paper proposes a new model combining local characteristics, agricultural culture, industrial culture, and social culture. This approach improves students' cultural literacy and vocational skills while strengthening talent pipelines for rural development and agricultural advancement.
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Innovation in addressing depression and anxiety symptoms in rural Honduran communities: a cross-sectional pilot study
This pilot study applied validated depression and anxiety assessment tools for the first time in rural Honduras, surveying 21 residents of Ojojona. Nearly half the participants showed depression (47.7%) and anxiety (47.6%), with 29% experiencing both conditions. The findings reveal high mental health disorder prevalence in rural Honduras and highlight the need for improved healthcare access and research capacity in these communities.
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Place-Based Collaborative Action as a Means of Delivering Goods and Services in Rural Areas of Developed Economies
Rural communities in developed economies deliver goods and services through household, community, and third-sector provision alongside market and state actors. The paper identifies three types of place-based collaborative action, driven by different motivations. Using Scotland as a case study, it demonstrates that community-led initiatives in land management, renewable energy, and social care can succeed when supported by effective public policy, challenging assumptions that such efforts cannot overcome class-based constraints.
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Enhancing Energy Access in Rural Indonesia: A Holistic Assessment of a 1 kW Portable Power Generator Based on Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs)
Researchers designed a portable 1 kW hydrogen fuel cell system for rural Indonesian households. The device uses proton-exchange membrane fuel cell technology to convert hydrogen into electricity, producing only water vapor as emissions. The final design achieved 1132 W peak power with 48.66% efficiency and includes selected auxiliary components like converters and inverters, offering a clean, sustainable power solution for off-grid rural areas.
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Transforming Energy Access: The Role of Micro Solar Dome in Providing Clean Energy Lighting in Rural India
Micro Solar Dome technology deployed across eight Indian states provides clean lighting to marginalized rural communities, replacing kerosene use. The intervention improved household illumination, safety, children's study time, and evening economic activities. Education and awareness programs significantly influenced adoption rates. Small-scale solar off-grid solutions effectively enhance well-being and empower disadvantaged communities in rural areas.
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Inclusion of Namibian rural communities in green energy access and use: Requirements elicitation or community-based-co-design?
This paper compares two approaches—requirements elicitation and community-based co-design—for advancing green energy access in an off-grid rural Namibian community. The authors find that both methods have limitations and argue for a more elevated, provocative approach that enables innovative and unorthodox energy solutions tailored to rural African contexts, moving beyond standard energy access projects.
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An Investigation of Renewable Energy Solutions for Off-Grid Sustainable Housing in Rural Nigeria
Solar photovoltaic systems are the most widely adopted renewable energy technology in rural Nigerian off-grid housing, significantly improving health, economic activity, and education. Income, education level, and awareness strongly predict adoption, with awareness mediating the relationship between socioeconomic factors and technology uptake. The study recommends comprehensive policies, community engagement, capacity building, and financial support to scale renewable energy adoption and maximize its benefits.
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Feasibility Study on an Off-Grid Solar-Hydro Hybrid System for Rural Electrification in Ranau Sabah Malaysia using HOMER
This study evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of an off-grid solar-hydro hybrid microgrid system for rural electrification in Ranau, Sabah, Malaysia. Using HOMER Pro software, researchers assessed site conditions, load requirements, and system design incorporating solar panels, hydropower, batteries, and inverters. The analysis demonstrates that a self-sustaining hybrid system can reliably meet community energy needs in remote areas with limited grid access.
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Hybrid power system options for off-grid rural electrification in northwestern region of Nigeria
This study evaluates off-grid hybrid power systems for rural electrification in northwestern Nigeria. Researchers modeled and compared solar-wind-diesel hybrid systems and standalone diesel generators for two locations using optimization software. Results show that a PV-wind-diesel hybrid system meets electricity demand most cost-effectively, with lower energy costs than Nigeria's grid tariff. The authors recommend adopting this hybrid approach to support rural education, healthcare, and economic development.
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IoT-Based Smart Management of Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems in Rural and Remote Settings
This paper presents an IoT-based system for managing off-grid solar photovoltaic installations in rural and remote areas. The system enables remote monitoring and control of solar systems to prevent faults and improve energy efficiency. Researchers designed and tested a proof-of-concept demonstration system with both field-distributed and cloud-based components, developed through a European capacity-building project involving four Rwandan universities.
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Willingness to pay for solar off-grid lighting in rural India
Rural Indian households increase their willingness to pay for solar off-grid lighting products after using solar study lamps. The study surveyed 663 households and found that exposure to solar technology boosts confidence and adoption intent. Key factors driving willingness to pay include current kerosene spending, electricity reliability, household assets, awareness of kerosene health risks, and solar product specifications.
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Indigenous Innovators: Creating Collaborative Student-Engineer Innovation Teams between Tribal Colleges and Research Institutions
A tribal college and research university in North Dakota collaborated on a biomedical engineering project to design a running prosthetic limb. The tribal college provided advanced manufacturing capabilities and indigenous problem-solving approaches, while the university contributed innovation-based learning and computational resources. The partnership successfully combined indigenous ways of knowing with modern engineering tools, demonstrating how cross-institutional collaboration between tribal and research institutions strengthens student innovation teams and produces practical solutions.
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Indigenous Language Revitalization and Preservation in Canada: Strategies and Innovations
Indigenous languages in Canada face endangerment due to historical assimilation policies and residential schools. This paper examines current revitalization initiatives, government programs, and legislation supporting Indigenous language preservation. The author argues that new strategies using digital technologies and internet platforms can make language revitalization resources more accessible and effective across Canada.
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Enterprises’ response strategies towards a mission-oriented innovation initiative – a reflection on China’s indigenous innovation
Chinese enterprises adopt distinct response strategies to government-led mission-oriented innovation initiatives. The study examines how firms engage with indigenous innovation policies, revealing differentiated approaches based on firm characteristics and sectoral contexts. Enterprises balance compliance with policy objectives against competitive pressures, demonstrating varied levels of commitment to state-directed innovation goals.
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Pedagogical Innovations in Community-Based Inclusive Education: Integrating Intergenerational Learning in the Context of the Sociology of Indigenous Communities
This systematic literature review examines how intergenerational learning within community-based inclusive education strengthens social and cultural relationships in indigenous communities. The findings show that integrating traditional knowledge with pedagogical innovations improves educational quality, bridges educational gaps, and increases community participation. The approach addresses social inclusion challenges while preserving cultural heritage and traditional values in indigenous societies.
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INNOVATION IN INDIGENOUS TOURISM: LESSONS FROM EN OORU TRIBAL HERITAGE VILLAGE, WAYANAD, KERALA
The En Ooru tribal heritage village in Kerala demonstrates how indigenous tourism preserves tribal culture while generating economic benefits. The project successfully combines preserved indigenous architecture, customs, and traditions with visitor attractions, drawing significant tourism revenue to the local economy. Government collaboration between Kerala's Tourism and Scheduled Tribe Development departments proved essential to the project's success, showing that institutional partnerships effectively support both cultural preservation and tribal community development.
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Harnessing the Experience of Research and Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Agricultural Transformation in Arunachal Pradesh, India
Indigenous farming practices in Arunachal Pradesh, India—including botanical extracts, organic materials, and Vetiver grass barriers—effectively manage soil nutrients and prevent erosion while reducing artificial input costs. Integrating these traditional knowledge systems with modern agricultural research, supported by India's plant protection laws, improves farmer livelihoods, environmental health, and cultural preservation. This model offers a sustainable agricultural transformation pathway for the region and beyond.
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An investigation of Agriculture Knowledge Sharing through Indigenous Communication Systems: Insights from Ethnic Communities
Indigenous communication systems—including folk songs, rituals, proverbs, and riddles—effectively transmit agricultural knowledge among four ethnic communities in Assam, India. These traditional methods preserve seasonal farming practices and ecological wisdom better than modern communication alone. Integrating indigenous practices with modern extension systems strengthens rural agricultural communication and supports sustainable livelihoods.
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The Impact of Microfinance on Poverty Alleviation in Rural Communities
Microfinance in rural communities generates positive economic impacts by funding income-generating activities, raising household incomes, and empowering marginalized groups, particularly women. Group lending models build trust and cooperation among borrowers. However, microfinance alone cannot address structural barriers like poor infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Sustainable poverty alleviation requires integrating microfinance with broader rural development strategies, stronger regulation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
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The Impact of Microfinance on Rural Women's Lives and Local Development
Microfinance in India enables rural women to overcome financial barriers and pursue self-employment through Self-Help Groups, which build entrepreneurial skills and community solidarity. The programs improve household economic stability, health outcomes, and women's decision-making power while stimulating local economic growth and raising living standards. Tailored microfinance with ethical practices drives sustainable rural development and women's empowerment.
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Impact of Microfinance on Rural Development through Joint Liability Groups
Microfinance through Joint Liability Groups significantly drives rural development in Kerala, India. The study surveyed 385 beneficiaries and found that microfinance explains 99.6% of rural development outcomes. Five factors—social development, economic development, financial development, employment generation, and financial inclusion—mediate this impact. Microfinance breaks down barriers to formal finance, enabling economic empowerment for excluded populations.
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Self-Employed Versus Paid-Employed: What are the Different Preferences for Microfinance? Experimental Evidence From Rural China
Self-employed rural Chinese households show different preferences for microfinance than paid employees. Non-agricultural self-employment increases comfort with microfinance products, while agricultural self-employment decreases it. The study uses experimental choice data and advanced statistical modeling to reveal that employment type shapes how rural people evaluate microfinance attributes, suggesting microfinance design should account for these distinct preference patterns.
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Impact of microfinance on entrepreneurship development and business growth of rural women entrepreneurs in Uttar Pradesh
Microfinance programs in Uttar Pradesh significantly enable rural women to start and grow businesses, providing access to financial resources and fostering entrepreneurial aspirations. The study combined surveys and interviews with women entrepreneurs to show that tailored microfinance interventions—including financial literacy, skill development, and market linkages—drive socio-economic empowerment and sustainable development in rural communities.
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Enhancing SME Performance Through Microfinance: Insights from Rural Nepal
Microfinance services significantly improve small and medium enterprise performance in rural Nepal. A study of 385 microfinance clients in Rupandehi district found that microloans, savings services, and skill training directly increased SME profitability, sales growth, and employment creation. Integrated microfinance programs, particularly savings and training components, strengthen business sustainability and financial stability.
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Rural Financial Landscape in Bangladesh: Who is More Convenient for Rural Enterprises—Banks or Microfinance Institutions?
Rural enterprises in Bangladesh rely more on microfinance institutions than banks for credit and savings, despite preferring banks. MFIs reach remote areas more effectively through accessible lending methods, but face funding constraints. Banks remain distant and their officials' attitudes create barriers to rural access. Both institutions offer poorly designed products that fail to serve diverse rural needs adequately.
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Transforming Rural Economies: The Socioeconomic Impact of Microfinance in Kailali District, Nepal
Microfinance in Nepal's Kailali district improves rural incomes, asset ownership, food security, and children's education, according to a survey of 150 beneficiaries and interviews with participants. However, impacts vary by loan type, location, and occupation. Some borrowers face over-indebtedness and repayment difficulties. The results inform microfinance policy design for Nepal and comparable developing regions.
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Empirical Study on the Development of Digital Inclusive Finance on Narrowing the Consumption Gap between Urban and Rural Areas--Taking Shanxi Province as an Example
Digital financial inclusion in Shanxi Province narrowed the urban-rural consumption gap between 2011 and 2020 by lowering barriers to financial access. However, uneven regional development created disparities in effectiveness, with southern areas benefiting more than northern regions. Broader financial service coverage reduced consumption gaps more effectively than deeper usage, while increased digitization paradoxically widened gaps by creating a digital divide.
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Topic Analysis of the Relationship between Green Finance, Rural Green Development Level and Rural Residents' income: Based on The Empirical Study of Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle
Green finance significantly boosts rural residents' income in China's Chengdu-Chongqing region, with strongest effects on operational income, followed by wages and transfers. Urban green development levels don't adequately reflect rural conditions. The study recommends governments strengthen rural green finance to balance economic growth with environmental protection and ensure rural communities benefit from green development.
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Digital Finance Helps “Five-in-one” Rural Revitalization Development
Digital finance can drive rural revitalization across five dimensions: industrial prosperity, ecological livability, cultural development, governance effectiveness, and living standards. The paper analyzes China's rural challenges and demonstrates how digital finance mechanisms support integrated rural development, offering practical recommendations for policymakers addressing the country's agricultural and rural areas.
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Research on the Impact Mechanism of Green Finance on Rural Revitalization from the Perspective of Digital Economy Development Level
Green finance and digital economy development both substantially accelerate rural revitalization in China, according to analysis of provincial data from 2012 to 2020. Regional disparities in these dimensions narrowed over time. Increased rural cultural and recreational spending also correlates with rural development gains. The study recommends policymakers prioritize digital green finance initiatives to support rural revitalization and achieve common prosperity.
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Research on the Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on Rural Economic Development
Digital inclusive finance in rural China shows a strong negative correlation with primary industry value added, according to fixed effects modeling. The paper argues that despite digital technology's potential to improve financial service efficiency and accessibility, current implementation has not boosted agricultural economic output. The authors recommend governments coordinate digital and financial development simultaneously to build comprehensive rural economic systems.
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Features of Funding Rural Communities and Territories Development Financed by EU Common Budget
EU budgetary policy funds rural development through structural funds and national budgets, addressing challenges like demographic decline, poor infrastructure, unemployment, and limited services. The paper argues that integrated approaches combining European and local cooperation, efficient resource use, infrastructure investment, and innovation support create conditions for sustainable rural development and improved quality of life.
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The Multilateral Development Banks and Rural Climate Finance: Adaptation, Mitigation, and Resilience
Multilateral development banks emphasize climate adaptation and mitigation in their governance documents as essential for equitable outcomes and poverty reduction. However, analysis of 140 governance documents and 284 lending operations reveals they predominantly finance climate resilience projects that focus on reducing agricultural and rural income vulnerability to climate change rather than pursuing transformative adaptation or mitigation strategies.
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Research on the Mechanism and Effects of Digital Inclusive Finance in Promoting the Development of Rural Revitalization: Based on Spatial Spillover Effects
Digital inclusive finance significantly promotes rural revitalization in China, both directly and indirectly through agricultural technological innovation. The effect varies by region, with strong impacts in eastern and western areas but weaker effects in central regions. Digital inclusive finance also generates positive spatial spillover effects that benefit neighboring areas' rural development.
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Opportunities and Countermeasures for the Development of Rural Cross-border E-commerce Under the Context of Digital Inclusive Finance
Digital inclusive finance expands financial services to rural areas while reducing costs, creating opportunities for cross-border e-commerce development in China. The paper identifies how these financial innovations support rural e-commerce growth and related industries. It recommends strategies for governments, financial institutions, and rural enterprises to strengthen cross-border e-commerce expansion.
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Role of Networks of Rural Innovation in Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals: A Quadruple Helix Case Study
Quadruple helix (academia, government, industry, community) case study of a Chinese rural revitalisation program, finding that multi-actor collaboration around agricultural science, entrepreneurship, and tourism advanced 11 of the 17 SDGs.
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Indigenous Cultural Heritage Policies & Local Planning — A Case Study in the Land of Plenty
Master of Resource Management project examining how Indigenous cultural heritage policies intersect with local planning practice, using a place-based case study to surface implementation gaps and possibilities.
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The Path to Smart Farming: Innovations and Opportunities in Precision Agriculture
Precision agriculture uses advanced technologies like IoT, drones, sensors, and machine learning to boost crop yields while reducing environmental damage. This review examines recent innovations in smart farming and identifies key challenges: managing large datasets, getting farmers to adopt new technologies, and controlling costs. The approach addresses critical agricultural problems including feeding growing populations sustainably.
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Digital innovations for sustainable and resilient agricultural systems
Digital innovations are transforming agriculture by enabling farms to increase productivity, reduce environmental impact, and build resilience. However, realizing these benefits requires addressing economic, social, and ethical challenges. The paper recommends specific policies to maximize opportunities while mitigating risks, and identifies priorities for future agricultural economics research.
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Economic growth and broadband access: The European urban-rural digital divide
Broadband access drives economic growth differently in European urban and rural regions. Lower-speed broadband boosted growth in both areas but with weaker effects in rural regions. High-speed broadband significantly accelerated rural economic growth while having no impact in cities. Rural high-speed expansion shows increasing returns to scale and represents critical infrastructure for rural development, supporting policies to close the urban-rural digital divide.
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Advancing Rural Entrepreneurship in Rwanda Through Informal Training – Insights From Paulo Freire’s <i>Pedagogy of the Oppressed</i>
Informal entrepreneurship training through village savings and loan associations in rural Rwanda empowers participants to make better decisions and improve their livelihoods. Using Paulo Freire's pedagogy framework, the study shows how CARE International's train-the-trainer approach and peer dialogue at weekly meetings create both economic and socio-cultural value. This qualitative research reveals how VSLAs emancipate rural entrepreneurs beyond just financial outcomes.
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Determinant factors for the development of rural entrepreneurship
Rural entrepreneurship in Spain depends on market opportunities rather than unemployment rates. R&D investment and available credit encourage rural business creation. Surprisingly, highly educated professionals are less likely to start rural ventures than those with secondary education. The findings suggest policymakers should focus on innovation funding, credit access, and employment policies to revitalize rural economies and combat depopulation.
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Multiple adoption of climate-smart agriculture innovation for agricultural sustainability: Empirical evidence from the Upper Blue Nile Highlands of Ethiopia
Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia's Upper Blue Nile Highlands adopt multiple climate-smart agriculture innovations when they have larger farms, access to credit, frequent extension contact, market access, secure land tenure, climate awareness, and formal education. Farm size, financial services, extension visits, information access, and perceived benefits of reducing climate risks drive adoption of practices like crop rotation, agroforestry, and soil conservation. Policymakers should scale portfolios of location-specific innovations through strengthened extension systems.
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The impact of entrepreneurship of farmers on agriculture and rural economic growth: Innovation-driven perspective
Farmers' innovative entrepreneurship significantly drives agricultural and rural economic growth in China, with spatial analysis of 30 provinces from 2015–2020 revealing positive spillover effects across regions. The impact varies by urbanization level, grain production patterns, and household income. The research demonstrates that rural innovation clusters in low-income areas and recommends tailored incentive policies to support farmer entrepreneurs.
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Rural tourism entrepreneurship success factors for sustainable tourism village: Evidence from Indonesia
This study identifies ten success factors for sustainable rural tourism villages in Indonesia through interviews with key actors in six award-winning tourism villages. The factors—including income management, business development, collaboration, innovation, and environmental awareness—cluster into economic, social, and environmental sustainability dimensions. The research produces a framework for rural tourism entrepreneurship that can guide strategy and decision-making in other villages.
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Open Innovation in Agribusiness: Barriers and Challenges in the Transition to Agriculture 4.0
This study examines how open innovation enables Agriculture 4.0 adoption in agribusiness. Internet of Things technology shows the strongest potential for implementation. The main barrier is insufficient operator knowledge and skills, requiring training investment. Existing technology infrastructure and system integration facilitate adoption. The authors recommend agribusiness stakeholders collaborate with engineering solution providers through open innovation frameworks to overcome barriers and accelerate the transition to digitalized farming.
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Measuring Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture: Innovations and evidence
This paper reviews how women's empowerment in agriculture is measured and what interventions actually work. The authors use the Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index to analyze 11 agricultural development projects and livestock interventions. They find evidence linking women's empowerment to improved agricultural productivity, incomes, and food security. The paper offers recommendations for better measurement approaches and policy design.
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Innovation for sustainability through co-creation by small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMEs): Socio-cultural sustainability benefits to rural destinations
Tourism SMEs in rural Norwegian destinations co-create sustainable innovations with local stakeholders, generating socio-cultural benefits for their communities. Through practices like local sourcing, education, and resource sharing, these businesses strengthen rural sustainability. The study shows that rurality's defining features—local embeddedness, personal relationships, and trust—enable SMEs to collaborate effectively and improve quality of life in their destinations.
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Digital Economy, Agricultural Technology Innovation, and Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity
The digital economy significantly boosts agricultural green total factor productivity in China by driving agricultural technology innovation. Western China experiences stronger positive effects than Central and Eastern regions. The study uses quantitative methods to measure productivity and technology variables, finding that digital economy development directly increases agricultural efficiency while reducing environmental impact, supporting China's climate goals.
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Frugal innovation for sustainable rural development
Frugal innovation—creating affordable, resource-efficient solutions—contributes more effectively to sustainable development goals in rural South Asia than conventional products. The study analyzed 13 frugal enterprises through interviews and found these innovations positively impact multiple SDGs, though some goals require national-level policy rather than enterprise-level action. Frugal approaches offer a practical pathway for rural sustainable development.
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Evaluating the impact of broadband access and internet use in a small underserved rural community
A wireless broadband network deployed in a rural Missouri community produced mixed results. While the intervention didn't directly increase internet use for employment, education, or health, it did enable households to use multiple devices simultaneously. The study highlights that broadband benefits in underserved areas differ from unserved ones, and offers practical guidance for designing future broadband evaluation studies.
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Addressing the politics of mission-oriented agricultural innovation systems
Mission-oriented agricultural innovation systems are increasingly used to transform agri-food systems, but their political dimensions demand greater attention. This paper argues that MAIS must address four critical areas: directionality (how power shapes innovation direction), diversity (multiple pathways, actors, and knowledge types), distribution (just resource allocation across communities), and democracy (deliberative knowledge production). The authors contend that researchers must recognize how their work influences and is shaped by these political dynamics to ensure transformations are sustainable, equitable, and socially desirable.
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Innovations in Modern Nanotechnology for the Sustainable Production of Agriculture
Nanotechnology offers sustainable solutions for agriculture by enabling targeted delivery of nutrients, pesticides, and fungicides through nanomaterials. These innovations address crop losses from pests, disease, and poor soil quality while reducing environmental damage from conventional farming. Nanoparticles improve plant growth, crop quality and yield, and disease management to meet growing global food demand.
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Examining the emergence of digital society and the digital divide in India: A comparative evaluation between urban and rural areas
India's digital expansion since 2000, accelerated by affordable internet access, has created a digital divide rooted in socioeconomic inequality rather than technology alone. The study compares rural and urban areas, finding that digital inequalities affect access to education and economic opportunities across both settings. The digital divide reflects broader socioeconomic disparities and capability gaps, not merely technological access differences.
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Path mechanism and spatial spillover effect of green technology innovation on agricultural CO2 emission intensity: A case study in Jiangsu Province, China
Green technology innovation directly reduces agricultural carbon emissions and creates positive spillover effects in neighboring regions. Energy structure optimization and agricultural industry agglomeration both strengthen this effect, though using both mechanisms simultaneously may reduce agglomeration's benefits. The study uses Jiangsu Province data to demonstrate that managing technology transfer between regions while accounting for spatial spillover effects can effectively reduce agricultural emissions.
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Bridging the urban-rural digital divide: taxonomy of the best practice and critical reflection of the EU countries’ approach
EU countries use fragmented approaches to reduce the urban-rural digital divide. This paper creates a taxonomy of European rural digitalization strategies and groups countries by their implementation patterns. The analysis reveals that digital infrastructure and virtual sphere coherence are critical challenges preventing successful bridging of the divide across EU member states.
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The Digital Economy, Green Technology Innovation, and Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity
The digital economy significantly increases agricultural productivity in China, with green technology innovation strengthening this effect. Using provincial data from 2011 to 2020, the study finds that digital economy development boosts overall agricultural total factor productivity and that green technology adoption amplifies this benefit. The impact varies by region, with eastern China experiencing greater gains than western areas.
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Barriers to the Adoption of Innovations for Sustainable Development in the Agricultural Sector—Systematic Literature Review (SLR)
This systematic review of 48 scientific articles identifies 51 barriers preventing agricultural innovation for sustainability. The most common obstacles are lack of supportive policies, epistemic closure, unfavorable regulations, and unskilled labor. External barriers (28) outnumber internal ones (23), with organic agriculture, genetic engineering, and precision agriculture emerging as leading innovations. The authors argue that policymakers can address 17 of the 28 external barriers through targeted regulations, incentives, and guidelines.
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Financial development, technological innovation and urban-rural income gap: Time series evidence from China
This study examines how technological innovation and financial development affect China's urban-rural income gap from 1985 to 2019. The researchers find that technological innovation increases income inequality between urban and rural areas, while financial development shows an inverted-U relationship with the gap. The two factors have bidirectional causal relationships with income inequality. The findings suggest policymakers should strengthen financial systems and mitigate negative distributional effects of technological advancement.
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Non-farm entrepreneurship, caste, and energy poverty in rural India
Non-farm entrepreneurship significantly reduces energy poverty in rural Indian households, with effects varying by caste. The study analyzed panel data from 2015 and 2018 using quasi-experimental methods. Scheduled Tribe members experienced the largest poverty reduction. The mechanism works through increased financial savings and durable asset accumulation, enabling access to cleaner energy for lighting and cooking. Governments should promote non-farm entrepreneurship to reduce rural energy poverty.
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Finance, technology, and values: A configurational approach to the analysis of rural entrepreneurship
Rural entrepreneurship requires understanding how multiple factors interact, not in isolation. This study examines religious tourism development in rural areas, analyzing how combinations of financial resources, technology, and cultural values shape entrepreneurship levels. The research finds that successful rural ventures depend on interdependent relationships between these factors rather than single conditions, challenging oversimplified policy approaches.
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Firms’ eco-innovation and Industry 4.0 technologies in urban and rural areas
Rural firms eco-innovate more than urban firms despite lower digital adoption, but urban location amplifies the eco-innovative impact of Industry 4.0 technologies. The study analyzed European firms and found that rural areas show unexpected strength in environmental innovation, though urban firms better leverage digital tools for eco-innovation purposes.
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Making technological innovations accessible to agricultural water management: Design of a low-cost wireless sensor network for drip irrigation monitoring in Tunisia
Researchers developed an affordable, open-source wireless soil moisture sensor for drip irrigation monitoring in Tunisia. The device addresses barriers to water management technology adoption by eliminating high costs and technical complexity that prevent farmers from using commercial sensors. Field testing over a growing season showed the low-cost sensor performs comparably to commercial alternatives and enables real-time irrigation monitoring and water management decisions.
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Rural entrepreneurs behaviors towards green innovation: Empirical evidence from Bangladesh
Rural entrepreneurs in Bangladesh adopt green innovation when they have environmental concern and perceive the technology as easy to use. The intention to use green energy technology, particularly solar energy, mediates the relationship between environmental concern and adoption, and between attitude and adoption. However, perceived ease of use directly influences adoption without requiring intention as a mediator. The study identifies environmental concern and usability as key drivers for sustainable green SMEs in rural Bangladesh.
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Addressing soil salinity for sustainable agriculture and food security: Innovations and challenges in coastal regions of Bangladesh
Soil salinity threatens Bangladesh's coastal agriculture and food security, affecting 30% of arable land. Traditional mitigation methods fail to address the problem effectively. The paper proposes climate-smart agriculture and microbial-assisted phytoremediation using endophytic bacteria as innovative solutions that enhance plant growth and nutrient absorption under salinity stress, supporting sustainable food production and poverty alleviation.
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Indigenous Distinctive Innovations to Achieve its Vision, Priority and Thrust – A Case Study of Srinivas University
Srinivas University in Karnataka developed an Indigenous Distinctive Innovations model to help higher education institutions differentiate themselves while advancing their core missions. The model operates across university, institutional, and faculty levels through specific strategies, methods, and pedagogies. The case study demonstrates how this framework enables institutions to improve service quality and institutional standing.
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Indigenous agricultural knowledge: A neglected human based resource for sustainable crop protection and production
Indigenous agricultural practices in Ethiopia significantly improve crop production and reduce reliance on expensive chemical inputs. Farmers use traditional seed selection, pest management, and soil conservation methods adapted to local rainfall, soil, and crop conditions. Education level, marital status, and farming experience influence adoption of these practices. Documenting and scientifically validating indigenous knowledge could promote sustainable, organic farming and lower agriculture's environmental impact.
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Techno-economic assessment of a hybrid renewable energy storage system for rural community towards achieving sustainable development goals
This paper evaluates a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar, battery storage, hydrogen, and fuel cells for a rural community in Bangladesh without grid access. The optimized system costs $25,099 and produces energy at $0.34/kWh, delivering clean electricity while supporting sustainable development. The authors conclude that scaling such systems requires government support and investment in rural developing regions.
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Exploring the coupling coordination relationship between eco-environment and renewable energy development in rural areas: A case of China
China's rural areas must transition to renewable energy to achieve carbon neutrality, but this development affects rural ecosystems. The study models the coupling relationship between renewable energy development and environmental quality across Chinese provinces from 2005 to 2019. Results show coordination improved over time, with projections indicating further gains by 2025. Regional variation is significant, requiring tailored approaches based on local resources and economic conditions.
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Design and implementation of Hybrid Renewable energy (PV/Wind/Diesel/Battery) Microgrids for rural areas.
This study designs and tests a hybrid microgrid system combining solar panels, wind turbines, diesel generators, and batteries for rural electrification. Using simulation software, the researchers developed control strategies to manage power flow from multiple energy sources and maintain system stability. The coordinated control approach successfully optimized the microgrid's performance, demonstrating that these hybrid systems can reliably serve remote areas.
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Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Sustainable Rural Development: Perspectives and Challenges in Energy Systems Modeling
Hybrid renewable energy systems effectively electrify rural areas while reducing costs and emissions. Computational optimization models can design these systems while accounting for social factors like health, education, and income. The paper argues that energy modeling tools must evolve to integrate interdisciplinary perspectives and address broader societal transformations beyond traditional cost optimization approaches.
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Digital inclusive finance & the high-quality agricultural development: Prevalence of regional heterogeneity in rural China
Digital inclusive finance significantly improves agricultural development in rural China, with the strongest effects in the Eastern region. The relationship is nonlinear, with two critical thresholds: below 4.77, digital finance has minimal impact; above 5.32, its positive effects strengthen substantially. Regional differences exist across China's three regions. The study recommends expanding digital finance in Central and Western regions to balance development and reduce financial exclusion in agriculture.
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Techno-economic investigation of an environmentally friendly small-scale solar tracker-based PV/wind/Battery hybrid system for off-grid rural electrification in the mount bamboutos, Cameroon
This study analyzes a hybrid solar-wind-battery system for off-grid rural electrification in Cameroon's Mount Bamboutos region. Researchers tested six solar tracking methods and three wind turbine heights using HOMER Pro optimization software. Dual-axis solar trackers produced 7–31% more power than fixed panels and achieved the lowest energy costs. Higher wind turbine heights significantly increased wind generation. The system successfully powered 152 households, hospitals, schools, and businesses with zero greenhouse gas emissions.
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Optimal Design and Operation of an Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System in Nigeria’s Rural Residential Area, Using Fuzzy Logic and Optimization Techniques
This study designs and operates an off-grid hybrid renewable energy system for a rural Nigerian community using particle swarm optimization to minimize electricity costs and fuzzy logic to manage power distribution. The optimized system achieves a levelized cost of 0.48 USD/kWh with full battery storage and 1.17 USD/kWh with half storage. The results provide practical guidance for feasibility assessments of minigrids in rural areas.
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Advancing biodegradation of petroleum contaminants by indigenous microbial consortia through assembly strategy innovations
Researchers developed a novel strategy for assembling stable microbial consortia that degrade petroleum contaminants more effectively than single strains. Using ecological coexistence theory and trait-based methods, they created a five-strain consortium that achieved 31.54% higher degradation rates than single strains. Soil experiments confirmed the consortium successfully removed hydrocarbon contaminants from oil-contaminated soil, offering a practical approach for environmental remediation.
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Renewable energy sources‐based hybrid microgrid system for off‐grid electricity solution for rural communities
Pakistan faces severe electricity shortages causing frequent blackouts in rural areas. This paper proposes a hybrid microgrid system combining solar and wind energy to electrify remote communities cost-effectively. The researchers designed and simulated a PV/wind system in MATLAB that produces stable 230-volt output while minimizing voltage transients, offering a practical renewable energy solution for off-grid rural electrification.
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Women, equality, and energy access: Emerging lessons for last-mile rural electrification in Brazil
Rural electrification in Brazil's semi-arid Bahia region fails to benefit women equally because installed capacity is too low for household appliances and community services where women work. The study of 19 communities shows that gender inequality persists despite energy access. Solutions include higher capacity systems, affordable pricing for women, and ongoing gender-sensitive local services to ensure electrification reduces rather than reinforces gender gaps.
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Energy Management and Optimization of a Standalone Renewable Energy System in Rural Areas of the Najran Province
This paper designs and analyzes a standalone renewable energy microgrid for a rural community in Saudi Arabia using solar and wind power. The optimized system reduces electricity costs to 0.18 SAR/kWh compared to 0.38 SAR/kWh from conventional generation. Advanced control mechanisms ensure the system reliably handles fluctuating renewable supply and varying demand, demonstrating technical and economic viability for decentralized rural electrification.
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Methodology for strengthening energy resilience with SMART solution approach of rural areas: Local production of alternative biomass fuel within renewable energy community
This paper presents a methodology for rural energy resilience through local biomass fuel production. The approach involves cultivating short rotation coppice on degraded or erosion-prone land, then processing the woody plants into pellet biofuel within community-based energy systems. The method delivers environmental benefits, reduces energy costs, and modernizes heating infrastructure in rural areas.
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Startup process, safety and risk assessment of biomass gasification for off-grid rural electrification
Biomass gasification offers promise for off-grid rural electricity generation, but startup procedures pose serious safety risks including fire, explosion, and toxic emissions. This study analyzes hazards during the heating startup phase of downdraft gasifiers and identifies heating temperature as the critical safety factor. The authors propose safety protocols that reduce risks from fire, explosion, and harmful emissions, enabling more reliable operation of gasification systems in rural areas.
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Does regional innovation policy encourage firm indigenous innovation? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment of the pilot project of innovative cities in China
China's innovative cities pilot program significantly boosted firms' indigenous innovation, measured by patent filings. The policy worked especially well in capital-intensive industries and among large companies and non-state enterprises. Government subsidies and market competition drove these gains. The findings show regional innovation policy can effectively stimulate firm-level innovation, though effects vary by industry and firm type.
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Long-term optimal capacity expansion planning for an operating off-grid PV mini-grid in rural Africa under different demand evolution scenarios
This study optimizes long-term capacity expansion for an overloaded solar mini-grid in rural Ethiopia using 20-year projections under three demand growth scenarios. Battery and solar capacity expansions dominate costs, while the system cannot fully meet demand even under optimal expansion. The research shows critical trade-offs between minimizing costs and maximizing reliability, and demonstrates that supporting productive user demand improves financial viability and cost-effectiveness.
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Integrating Solar Photovoltaic Power Source and Biogas Energy-Based System for Increasing Access to Electricity in Rural Areas of Tanzania
This paper designs and analyzes a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar photovoltaic panels and biogas from livestock manure to provide electricity to a rural village in Tanzania. Using optimization software and artificial intelligence techniques, the researchers demonstrate that this integrated system can meet local energy demand cost-effectively while reducing environmental waste. The hybrid approach proves economically viable and environmentally beneficial for rural electrification.
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Sustainable energy transition and circular economy: The heterogeneity of potential investors in rural community renewable energy projects
Rural communities show diverse attitudes toward investing in local renewable energy projects. A survey of a Galician village identified four investor profiles—skeptics, financial illiterates, enthusiasts, and yield investors—each with different risk perceptions and financial concerns. Project developers and policymakers must tailor incentive strategies to these distinct groups to successfully promote community renewable energy and rural sustainable development.
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Modeling, Simulation, and Experimental Analysis of a Photovoltaic and Biogas Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Electrification of Rural Community
Researchers designed and tested a hybrid renewable energy system combining photovoltaic panels and biogas from animal manure to electrify rural communities. Simulations and 30-day experiments showed the system produced 61.06 kWh daily, exceeding the 46.9 kWh maximum demand. The photovoltaic component achieved 84.3% performance ratio with 1556.5 kWh annual specific production. The biogas digester produced methane-rich gas suitable for energy generation. The hybrid system recovers its investment in 4.47 years and costs $0.0186 per kilowatt-hour while mitigating 20.45 tons of CO2 annually.
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Digital transition and the clean renewable energy adoption in rural family: evidence from Broadband China
China's Broadband China Policy increased clean renewable energy adoption in rural households by 5.8% in central regions, but decreased adoption by 12.6–13.5% in eastern and western regions. The policy's effects operate through population size, economic scale, and income levels. Digital infrastructure expansion drives renewable energy adoption differently across regions, with implications for developing countries pursuing decarbonization through digital development.
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Optimal location selection for a distributed hybrid renewable energy system in rural Western Australia: A data mining approach
This paper uses data mining techniques to identify optimal locations for hybrid renewable energy systems in rural Western Australia. Researchers applied K-Means and K-Medoids clustering algorithms to 69 locations, then evaluated potential wind and solar output using HOMER software. K-Means performed better at clustering, while K-Medoids identified locations with higher average renewable energy generation, though both approaches had limitations in accounting for local energy requirements.
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Mainstreaming Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices in Climate-Sensitive Policies for Resilient Agricultural Systems in Ghana
Ghana's climate and agricultural policies inadequately incorporate indigenous and local knowledge systems, despite their proven effectiveness in adaptation. The study found that while climate adaptation is mentioned in national policies, indigenous knowledge receives minimal priority and faces barriers including lack of dedicated policy, weak government commitment, under-resourced institutions, and poor coordination. Mainstreaming indigenous knowledge into climate policy could strengthen agricultural resilience and rural development.
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An Overview of Renewable Energy Technologies in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa and the Rural Households’ Energy Poverty Coping Strategies
Rural households in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province face energy poverty despite available renewable energy technologies. This paper reviews renewable energy sources and technologies in the region, then examines how rural households cope with energy poverty. The authors identify which renewable technologies best match rural household needs and propose strategies to address energy poverty through appropriate technology selection.
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Integration of Advanced Metering Infrastructure for Mini-Grid Solar PV Systems in Off-Grid Rural Communities (SoAMIRural)
This paper presents SoAMIRural, a system integrating solar mini-grids with advanced metering infrastructure for rural electrification in Ghana. The authors designed a 24 kVA solar system using load estimation methods and deployed smart metering to monitor consumption. Testing achieved 95% accuracy in tracking energy use, enabling better conservation and system sustainability. The framework supports reliable electricity access and progress toward Ghana's sustainable development goals.
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Digital inclusive finance and the development of rural logistics in China
Digital inclusive finance significantly boosts rural logistics development in China, according to analysis of 31 provinces from 2013 to 2020. The relationship shows diminishing returns at higher levels of financial inclusion. The impact varies by region and economic development stage. Digital finance services help overcome traditional finance's limitations in rural areas, enabling better logistics infrastructure and operations.
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Safety evaluation of horizontal curves on two lane rural highways using machine learning algorithms: A priority-based study for sight distance improvements
This study develops safety thresholds for horizontal curves on rural two-lane highways using machine learning to predict crash risk based on sight distance and operating speed. Researchers collected speed and geometric data from 18 curves and found that higher operating speeds increase design inconsistency, while sharper deflection angles decrease it. The approach uses reliability indices as a surrogate safety measure instead of relying on unreliable crash data from police and insurance sources.
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Financial literacy and sustainability of rural microfinance: The mediating effect of governance
Financial literacy significantly improves the sustainability of rural microfinance institutions, but this effect works primarily through better governance structures. The study of a women farmers group in Indonesia found that financial literacy—shaped by age, gender, education, and employment—strengthens how microfinance organizations are managed, which then drives institutional sustainability. Policymakers should prioritize financial literacy programs and governance improvements to support rural microfinance.
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Towards understanding the influence of rurality on students’ access to and participation in higher education
Rural students in South African higher education face systemic inequalities that limit their access and success. The study reveals that universities fail to recognize or value the experiences, abilities, and knowledge these students bring. Using spatial justice theory, the research demonstrates how historical, social, and spatial factors combine to create barriers. The findings point toward needed policy and practice changes to achieve more equitable higher education participation.
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The relationship between rural finance development and food ecological total factor productivity: Moderating effects of food science and technology progress
Rural finance development improves food ecological total factor productivity in China, with stronger effects in non-food-producing regions. Food science and technology progress moderates this relationship, particularly benefiting lower-productivity provinces. The study measures ecological value in food cultivation and finds that increased rural finance and technology adoption help achieve higher food production with reduced environmental degradation.
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Uncovering Covid-19, distance learning, and educational inequality in rural areas of Pakistan and China: a situational analysis method
Covid-19 forced rural schools in Pakistan and China to adopt distance learning, exposing deep educational inequalities. Rural China lacks computers and connectivity; rural Pakistan faces teacher shortages and unpreparedness. Both countries struggle with poverty, inadequate funding, and poor internet infrastructure. Pakistan has better internet penetration but slower speeds, while China has faster but less available connectivity. Additional barriers include parental migration in China and extremist attacks on schools in Pakistan.
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Optimal energy scheduling of a standalone rural microgrid for reliable power generation using renewable energy resources
This paper designs an optimal energy scheduling system for a standalone rural microgrid in India using solar, wind, biogas, and diesel generators with battery storage. The researchers used differential evolution optimization to minimize costs and ensure reliable power supply. The optimized system achieves an energy cost of $0.22 per kilowatt-hour and outperforms particle swarm optimization and genetic algorithm approaches, making renewable microgrids economically viable for rural electrification.
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The Energy Poverty Status of Off-Grid Rural Households: A Case of the Upper Blinkwater Community in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
This study measures energy poverty among off-grid rural households in South Africa's Eastern Cape, analyzing 53 households using expenditure-based poverty metrics. Researchers found that 15% experience severe energy poverty and 22% face moderate vulnerability, despite using diverse energy sources like firewood, paraffin, and generators. Male-headed households, larger families, and those receiving social grants showed different poverty patterns. The findings show energy poverty stems from social, economic, and cultural factors beyond simple lack of electricity access.
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Indigenous people's perception of indigenous agricultural knowledge for climate change adaptation in Khumbu, Nepal
Indigenous farmers in Nepal's Khumbu region perceive their traditional agricultural knowledge as effective for adapting to climate change, including observed shifts in seasons, reduced snowfall, and increased rainfall. The study finds this knowledge remains dynamic and relevant despite climate pressures. However, government authorities do not formally recognize indigenous practices. The research recommends integrating indigenous knowledge into local climate policies to support both knowledge transmission across generations and cost-effective adaptation strategies.
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Context matters: Co-creating nature-based solutions in rural living labs
Rural living labs co-create nature-based solutions with local stakeholders, but context shapes these processes differently than in urban settings. This study identifies eighteen contextual factors influencing co-creation in rural areas, including stakeholder engagement challenges. The authors recommend treating co-creation as a dynamic interplay of interconnected local factors rather than a standardized approach, arguing this place-based method increases the success and real-world impact of nature-based solutions in rural territories.
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Analyzing social innovation as a process in rural areas: Key dimensions and success factors for the revival of the traditional charcoal burning in Slovenia
A 20-year case study of Charcoal Land in Slovenia reveals how social innovation revived traditional charcoal burning in a remote rural area. The research identifies five key dimensions of the social innovation process and three critical success factors: innovators embedded in multiple networks, strategic use of narratives to secure resources, and legitimization by local and public actors. The revival scaled beyond the original territory and became recognized as an intangible cultural practice with sustainable forestry applications.
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Social innovation in health: strengthening Community Systems for Universal Health Coverage in rural areas
Three case studies from the Philippines, Malawi, and Colombia demonstrate that social innovation in health strengthens rural community systems for universal health coverage. Community-led initiatives built local capacity through co-learning and leadership, with catalytic agents challenging power dynamics and enabling communities to become active agents rather than passive participants. These approaches improved health service access and quality for vulnerable populations while increasing community agency and empowerment.
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Developing rural communication through digital innovation for village tourism
Digital platforms transformed Pentingsari Village's tourism economy by improving communication and shifting public perception. Social media and online reviews helped the village document development and counter negative views about tourism's impact on indigenous land and culture. The study shows how digital communication tools enable rural communities to promote sustainable tourism, preserve cultural heritage, boost local economies, and attract visitors and investment.
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Social Innovations for the Achievement of Competitive Agriculture and the Sustainable Development of Peripheral Rural Areas
This study analyzes social innovations across peripheral rural areas in Finland, Croatia, and France, examining nine good practice examples to understand how social innovations drive sustainable rural development and competitive agriculture. The research identifies distinct types of social innovations shaped by regional social conditions and demonstrates that these innovations significantly impact rural economic activities and sustainability outcomes, with notable differences in social, environmental, and economic effects across the three European regions.
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The Value of Digital Innovation for Tourism Entrepreneurs in Rural Iceland
Rural tourism entrepreneurs in Iceland don't necessarily view digital innovation and digitalization as connected, despite global policy emphasis on smart tourism. Through interviews with 34 entrepreneurs and support system members, the study reveals a gap between policy expectations and ground-level practice. Rural Icelandic tourism businesses show limited engagement with digital innovation, suggesting that policy-driven digital transformation agendas don't automatically translate into meaningful adoption or perceived value among rural entrepreneurs.
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Building Partnership for Social Innovation in Rural Development: Case Studies in Coastal Villages in Indonesia
Community partnerships in Indonesian coastal villages drive social innovation for marine resource development. The study of West Java and Gorontalo villages shows that collaboration between community members, village government, and private businesses creates social innovations that improve economic capacity and optimize marine resources. Strong partnerships accelerate coastal development and enable communities to overcome infrastructure limitations.
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Decentralized Wetland-Aquaponics Addressing Environmental Degradation and Food Security Challenges in Disadvantaged Rural Areas: A Nature-Based Solution Driven by Mediterranean Living Labs
Mediterranean living labs developed decentralized wetland-aquaponics systems to address environmental degradation and food insecurity in disadvantaged rural areas. The study demonstrates how participatory innovation ecosystems enable communities to co-design nature-based solutions that provide environmental and socioeconomic benefits. Public participation proved essential for ensuring solutions aligned with local values and were feasible in mountainous rural settings like Lebanon's Akkar al-Atika region.
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ARA PAWR: Wireless Living Lab for Smart and Connected Rural Communities
ARA PAWR is a wireless living lab deployed in real agricultural and rural settings that achieves high-speed wireless access and backhaul performance, reaching 3.2 Gbps access throughput and over 10 Gbps backhaul throughput across 10+ km distances. The platform enables research experiments using TV white space, mmWave, and 5G technologies, and will be released publicly for community use to advance rural broadband innovation.
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Local Community Participation in Social Innovation Initiatives for Enhancing the Quality of Life: A Case Study in Rural Egypt
A study of two rural Egyptian villages examined what factors influence community participation in a long-running grassroots social innovation initiative. Researchers surveyed 221 households and found that participation increased with positive attitudes toward the initiative, sense of community, and perceived benefits. Participation decreased when people's needs were already satisfied or when social loafing occurred. Age, mobility, attitude, and community feeling together explained 61% of participation variation.
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A social innovation to empower community-led monitoring and mobilization for HIV prevention in rural Kenya: experimenting to reduce the HIV prevention policy-implementation gap
A social innovation program in rural Kenya combined microfinance, psychological training, and leadership development across 39 villages to reduce HIV stigma and increase prevention uptake. The intervention reached over 10,000 participants and successfully decreased blame and discrimination attitudes, with reduced stigma predicting higher HIV testing rates. Participants formed community committees dedicated to preventing HIV and reducing stigma in their villages, demonstrating how community-led efforts can bridge the gap between HIV prevention policy and actual implementation.
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Determinants of Social Entrepreneurship in Rural West Java: The Role of Agent of Change, Technology and Innovations, and Communication Chanel
This study identifies what drives social entrepreneurship in rural West Java's microhydro power program. Using structural equation modeling on 200 participants, the research finds that change agent characteristics and technology/innovation features significantly influence community dialogue and collective action, which in turn shape social entrepreneurship adoption. Community dialogue emerges as the strongest predictor of entrepreneurial behavior, though large-group decision-making can suppress individual initiative.
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Social media in rural life: Design innovation for participatory cultural communication in China
Rural communities in Hunan Province, China use social media and e-commerce platforms to share cultural heritage and agricultural products. Researchers analyzed over 120 videos and images posted by villagers practicing traditional Huayao cross stitch. Design innovation—through cultural image-building, content guidance, and community facilitation—addresses gaps in how rural people communicate their culture digitally, enabling sustainable promotion of local traditions globally.
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Local Particularities in Regional Social Innovation: A Case Study of Rural Stay Program in Mungyeong, South Korea
South Korea's Youth Village program aims to revitalize rural areas and reduce youth unemployment by attracting young people to establish businesses in declining towns. A case study of Mungyeong's rural stay program identifies its strengths, weaknesses, and success factors through cultural and regional analysis. The research reveals how local cultural differences shape social innovation outcomes and provides lessons applicable to other regional revitalization efforts.
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Living Lab, interrupted? Exploring new methods for postdigital exchange on WeChat with urban-rural Living Labs in China and Germany during COVID-19
This paper tests a postdigital ethnographic method using WeChat photo exchanges to engage with Living Labs in China and Germany during COVID-19. Researchers created a photo-sharing group where participants documented everyday experiences, revealing the approach effectively builds rapport and captures local practices. However, the method faced challenges around trust, bias, and ethics. The authors propose four design principles for conducting Living Lab research when in-person collaboration is impossible.
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Codesigning Mobile Digital Storytelling Across a Distance: Showcasing Rural Health Service Innovation
Australian rural health services innovate despite challenges like staff turnover and poor internet. This paper demonstrates how mobile digital storytelling—using personal devices to capture everyday experiences—effectively documents and shares rural health innovations. The researchers co-created seven digital stories with rural health services through interviews, workshops, and community engagement. Mobile storytelling proved cost-effective and simple, boosting digital literacy among staff, fostering community dialogue, and highlighting local innovations.
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Strengthen Connection between Family and Community: Social Protection of Covert Unattended Children in Context of Rural Governance Innovation
This paper examines social protection systems for unattended children in rural areas, including both visible cases like abandoned infants and hidden cases where living parents cannot provide care due to family breakdown or migration for work. The authors analyze rural governance innovations that strengthen family and community connections to support these vulnerable children.
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Results of the social innovation workshops developed in dispersed rural territories, using the phases of the desing thinking methodology
This paper reports results from social innovation workshops conducted in dispersed rural territories using design thinking methodology. The workshops applied structured phases of design thinking to develop social innovations addressing rural challenges. The work demonstrates how design thinking can be systematically applied to generate practical solutions in geographically dispersed rural communities.
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Social innovation and governance in the context of a rural third sector organization in Zumpahuacán, State of Mexico
A rural third-sector organization in Mexico's State of Mexico drives social innovation and governance through collective action, community identity, and actor relationships. The study identifies intercommunity organization linked with external actors as the key mechanism enabling social innovation to address poverty, marginalization, and inequality at the local level.
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Laboratory of Social Innovation in Water Engineering and its effect on the provision of drinking water service in rural areas and marginalized urban areas
A social innovation laboratory in water engineering trained students to design and build drinking water systems for rural and marginalized communities lacking access. The laboratory focused on sustainable water supply solutions, connecting water sources to underserved areas. Results demonstrate that students developed both technical and cross-disciplinary competencies in water sustainability through hands-on project work addressing real community needs.
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THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL AND INNOVATIONS FOR TRANSFORMATION OF RURAL AREAS IN BULGARIA
Social capital—built through trust, cooperation, and civic engagement—drives rural transformation in Bulgaria. The paper examines how social networks and collective voluntary action revive depopulated settlements and restore community identity after economic transition. Local action groups and social innovations enable community-led development by strengthening social bonds and fostering cooperation among rural residents, particularly during crises.
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THEORY AND PRACTICE OF SOCIAL INNOVATION IN RURAL AREAS
Social innovation projects in Russian rural regions directly improve quality of life and activate local communities. The study finds that relying solely on local sources for innovation is insufficient; diversifying funding to include business investment is essential, since businesses benefit from increased rural purchasing power. These findings provide guidance for federal and regional authorities planning rural development policies.
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Sustainable Rural Living Lab: Indian Case Studies
This paper examines Living Labs as spaces for participatory innovation in rural India, analyzing three case studies: cardamom dryer, cooking stove, and farm reservoir design. The authors map European Living Lab evaluation criteria to the Extended Business Model Canvas to identify characteristics of rural Living Labs. They propose a framework for developing sustainable rural Living Labs that support community-driven innovation in agricultural and domestic technologies.
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Aerospace Integrated Networks Innovation for Empowering 6G: A Survey and Future Challenges
This survey examines aerospace integrated networks combining satellites, high-altitude platforms, and unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver 6G connectivity. The authors analyze system architecture, networking design, and enabling technologies needed to manage these heterogeneous networks. They address network dynamics modeling, performance analysis, and optimization strategies to support diverse service demands across multi-tier aerial and terrestrial systems.
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Digital entrepreneurship: The role of entrepreneurial orientation and digitalization for disruptive innovation
Entrepreneurial orientation significantly boosts firms' ability to develop disruptive innovation. However, digitalization strategy works differently depending on a firm's entrepreneurial orientation: it hinders disruptive innovation in highly entrepreneurial firms but supports it in less entrepreneurial ones. Firms should calibrate their digitalization investments based on their entrepreneurial orientation level to maximize disruptive innovation.
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Artificial intelligence for supply chain management: Disruptive innovation or innovative disruption?
This paper examines how artificial intelligence integration transforms supply chain management. The author proposes the AI Integration framework, which considers the depth of AI adoption across supply chains and AI's role in decision-making, alongside human interpretation of AI systems. Different integration approaches produce different types of disruption. The paper argues that supply chain management needs cross-disciplinary collaboration and sociotechnical perspectives to prepare for AI-driven transformation.
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A business strategy, operational efficiency, ownership structure, and manufacturing performance: The moderating role of market uncertainty and competition intensity and its implication on open innovation
This study examines how business strategy, operational efficiency, and ownership structure affect manufacturing performance in Indonesian firms, with market uncertainty and competition intensity as moderating factors. Proactive strategies outperform defensive ones. Foreign-owned firms gain competitive advantages under intense competition. Operational efficiency increases when competition intensifies, directly improving manufacturing performance.
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The spatiotemporal evolution of global innovation networks and the changing position of China: a social network analysis based on cooperative patents
Global innovation networks expanded significantly from 1999 to 2020, becoming more accessible and showing scale-free characteristics. Developed countries in Europe and the United States remain central nodes, though polarization weakened. Four distinct subgroups emerged. Economic and technological factors drive network formation more strongly than demographic factors. China's position strengthened substantially, increasingly serving as a transit hub connecting innovation partners.
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Creating shared value through open innovation approaches: Opportunities and challenges for corporate sustainability
Open innovation—where businesses collaborate with external partners—can advance corporate sustainability across economic, social, and environmental goals. External stakeholders help companies develop sustainable innovations, enter new markets, and create revenue streams while addressing social deficits. However, open innovation exposes organizations to risks including information leakage and difficulty controlling partner conduct, making trust and governance challenging.
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Digital transformation as a catalyst for sustainability and open innovation
Digital transformation enables and fosters both open innovation and sustainability, according to this conceptual framework study. The authors reviewed literature to map how these three concepts interconnect and evolve. They found digital transformation acts as a catalyst for sustainability and open innovation, though it can negatively impact environmental sustainability in some cases.
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Frugal innovation as a source of sustainable entrepreneurship to tackle social and environmental challenges
Frugal innovation drives sustainable entrepreneurship in developing countries by enabling businesses to achieve social and environmental goals simultaneously. The study found that frugal innovation-based ventures deliver female empowerment, improved healthcare access, better living standards, and sustainable production methods while creating new markets and inclusive growth. This approach shifts focus from barriers to enablers of sustainable entrepreneurship.
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AI for managing open innovation: Opportunities, challenges, and a research agenda
This paper presents a framework for using artificial intelligence to improve open innovation collaboration between organizations. The authors create a 3x3 matrix connecting three open innovation stages (initiation, development, realization) with three AI management functions (mapping, coordinating, controlling). The framework shows how AI applications can augment or automate human tasks to address open innovation challenges and help organizations manage knowledge exchanges more effectively.
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Curiosity on Cutting-Edge Technology via Theory of Planned Behavior and Diffusion of Innovation Theory
This study examines what drives consumer adoption of smartwatches by combining two behavioral theories. Researchers surveyed 291 smartwatch users and found that both psychological factors (like perceived control and curiosity) and technical factors (compatibility and complexity) shape whether people intend to use the technology. Compatibility emerged as the strongest predictor of adoption intent, while curiosity and complexity showed the highest performance impact.
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Circular economy practices and environmental performance: Analysing the role of big data analytics capability and responsible research and innovation
This study examines how big data analytics capability and responsible research and innovation drive circular economy practices in manufacturing, ultimately improving environmental performance. Using survey data from 326 manufacturers, the research finds that responsible research and innovation has the strongest influence on environmental outcomes. Circular economy practices partially mediate the effects of both big data analytics and responsible innovation on environmental performance, though resource commitment does not significantly moderate these relationships.
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Disrupting the Technology Innovation Efficiency of Manufacturing Enterprises Through Digital Technology Promotion: An Evidence of 5G Technology Construction in China
China's 5G Technology Pilot Construction policy in 2018 significantly improved manufacturing enterprises' technology innovation efficiency. The positive effect was strongest in cities with higher digital financial capabilities and among enterprises with lower initial technology capabilities. The findings suggest that promoting 5G infrastructure can enhance innovation performance across manufacturing sectors.
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Sustainable Business Performance: Examining the Role of Green HRM Practices, Green Innovation and Responsible Leadership through the Lens of Pro-Environmental Behavior
Green human resource management practices, responsible leadership, and green innovation all positively influence sustainable business performance in Pakistan's banking sector. Pro-environmental behavior partially mediates the relationship between responsible leadership and sustainable performance. The study surveyed 396 banking professionals and used structural equation modeling to demonstrate that these green management strategies effectively drive business sustainability in developing country contexts.
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Do knowledge sharing and big data analytics capabilities matter for green absorptive capacity and green entrepreneurship orientation? Implications for green innovation
Big data analytics capabilities directly strengthen firms' ability to absorb green knowledge and adopt green entrepreneurship practices. Knowledge sharing amplifies these effects. Together, these factors drive green innovation in manufacturing. The study demonstrates that aligning data analytics with green business strategies creates a foundation for sustainable competitive advantage.
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Digital Servitization and Business Model Innovation in SMEs: A Model to Escape From Market Disruption
Small and medium manufacturing enterprises face market disruption from rapid digital technology adoption. This study develops a digital servitization model that enables SMEs to redesign their business models by delivering smart, connected products and services. The model helps SMEs overcome disruption and compete effectively despite their limited resources, offering practical guidance for manufacturing firms transitioning to service-based operations.
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Exploring the role of organizational creativity and open innovation in enhancing SMEs performance
This study examines how organizational creativity and open innovation affect small and medium enterprise performance in Indonesia. Using data from 206 SMEs, the research found that both organizational creativity and open innovation significantly improve business performance. The study defines organizational creativity as combining individual creativity, group creativity, internal environment, and knowledge creation—a broader framework than previous research. The findings counter the perception that research and development is too costly, demonstrating direct performance benefits.
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A data-driven robust optimization in viable supply chain network design by considering Open Innovation and Blockchain Technology
This paper develops a supply chain network design model that integrates open innovation and blockchain technology to improve resilience and sustainability. Using robust optimization and risk management techniques, the model minimizes costs while reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption. The authors demonstrate that adding open innovation and blockchain platforms reduces costs by 0.2% and enhances overall supply chain performance against disruptions.
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The differential effects of potential and realized absorptive capacity on imitation and innovation strategies, and its impact on sustained competitive advantage
This study examines how firms' ability to absorb external knowledge—both potential and realized absorptive capacity—influences their choice between imitation and innovation strategies. Using survey data from 211 managers and structural equation modeling, the authors find that imitation and innovation are complementary strategies rather than opposing ones. Organizations that effectively absorb external knowledge can leverage both strategies together to achieve sustained competitive advantage.
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The impact of clean energy consumption, green innovation, and technological diffusion on environmental sustainability: New evidence from load capacity curve hypothesis for 10 European Union countries
This study analyzes how clean energy consumption, green innovation, and technological diffusion affect environmental sustainability across ten European Union countries from 1990 to 2018. Using the load capacity curve hypothesis framework, researchers found that green innovation and technological diffusion significantly support environmental sustainability, with the hypothesis validated for Denmark, France, Portugal, and Spain. The findings demonstrate that these factors are critical for promoting environmentally friendly practices.
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How does smart technology, artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and algorithms (STAARA) awareness affect hotel employees’ career perceptions? A disruptive innovation theory perspective
Hotel employees who perceive smart technology and AI negatively report higher job insecurity and desire to leave. Career progression opportunities reduce this effect. The study shows that employees with strong advancement prospects feel less threatened by automation, regardless of their views on the technology. Career development emerges as a practical strategy to help workers adapt to technological disruption in hospitality.
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The role of digital business transformation in frugal innovation and SMEs’ resilience in emerging markets
Digital business transformation significantly strengthens frugal innovation and SME resilience in emerging markets. Organizational learning drives all three factors. The study surveyed 214 SME owners and managers, finding that companies must develop dynamic capabilities in digital transformation, frugal innovation, and organizational learning to survive and thrive in emerging market conditions.
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Digitalizing business models in hospitality ecosystems: toward data-driven innovation
Hospitality businesses must adopt data-driven business models to innovate and create value in digital ecosystems. This study interviewed managers at hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and guesthouses to identify how they use data strategically. The research reveals that strategy is central to enabling data-driven innovation in hospitality, and develops a framework applicable to other service industries and small-to-medium enterprises seeking to leverage data for competitive advantage.
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Is digitalization a source of innovation? Exploring the role of digital diffusion in SME innovation performance
Digital adoption significantly boosts innovation performance in small and medium-sized enterprises. The study of 1,100 German SMEs found that higher digital diffusion directly increases innovation output. Absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to learn and apply new knowledge—moderates this effect for product innovation specifically, but not for other innovation types. Digital tools act as a catalyst for SME innovation.
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National innovation systems and the achievement of sustainable development goals: Effect of knowledge-based dynamic capability
Knowledge-based dynamic capabilities in national innovation systems positively impact sustainable development goal achievement across 130 countries. The effect varies by economic development stage, with both direct and indirect pathways. A country's development level moderates the relationship between these capabilities and SDG outcomes, revealing that innovation capacity translates differently into sustainable progress depending on economic context.
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Sustainable leadership and heterogeneous knowledge sharing: the model for frugal innovation
Sustainable leadership drives frugal innovation in Pakistani small businesses by enabling both internal and external knowledge sharing across diverse sources. The study analyzed 263 SME participants and found that leaders promoting sustainability encourage employees and external partners to exchange heterogeneous knowledge, which then facilitates resource-constrained innovation. Knowledge sharing acts as the mechanism connecting leadership style to frugal innovation outcomes.
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Green growth as a determinant of ecological footprint: Do ICT diffusion, environmental innovation, and natural resources matter?
Green growth, ICT adoption, and environmental innovation reduce ecological footprint in both emerging and developed economies over the long term. Natural resources increase ecological footprint in emerging economies but decrease it in developed ones. The study analyzes 14 countries using advanced econometric methods and recommends policy interventions to leverage green growth and innovation for environmental sustainability.
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Role of Absorptive Capacity, Digital Capability, Agility, and Resilience in Supply Chain Innovation Performance
This study examines how absorptive capacity drives supply chain innovation performance in Saudi Arabian firms through digital capability, agility, and resilience. Using structural equation modeling on 116 companies, the researchers found that absorptive capacity significantly strengthens digital capability, agility, and resilience, which in turn improve innovation performance. The findings show that agility and resilience partially mediate the relationship between absorptive capacity and supply chain innovation outcomes.
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Innovation ecosystems and national talent competitiveness: A country-based comparison using fsQCA
This study examines how innovation ecosystems drive national talent competitiveness across 33 countries. The research identifies e-government efficiency as a necessary condition for high talent competitiveness and reveals three distinct ecosystem types that generate competitive talent pools: business investment-driven, e-government-led, and R&D-driven models. The findings show asymmetric relationships between ecosystems producing high versus low talent competitiveness.
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Social acceptance of green hydrogen in Germany: building trust through responsible innovation
Germans show low knowledge but high openness toward green hydrogen as a renewable energy technology. Trust in science, government, institutions, and media—shaped by regional values—drives acceptance. Participatory workshops and repeated positive engagement experiences strengthen support. The study recommends treating green hydrogen adoption as responsible innovation, building trust structurally to avoid conflicts like those surrounding wind energy.
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Green intellectual capital and green business strategy: The role of green absorptive capacity
Green intellectual capital drives manufacturing firms to adopt green business strategies, with this effect mediated by green absorptive capacity and moderated by corporate environmental ethics. Research on 268 Pakistani manufacturing workers shows that organizations with stronger green knowledge and learning capabilities implement more environmentally responsible business practices, regardless of industry type. Knowledge-based resources and environmental regulations emerge as key drivers of green strategy adoption.
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Start-up collaboration units as knowledge brokers in Corporate Innovation Ecosystems: A study in the automotive industry
Start-up collaboration units within large automotive companies act as knowledge brokers between established firms and startups. The study identifies key barriers to knowledge exchange—including mismatched interpretations and conflicting expectations—and reveals six strategies SCUs use to improve collaboration: building networks, integrating communication, eliciting knowledge, orchestrating dialogue, encouraging creative thinking, and increasing organizational agility.
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From the Dark Side of Industry 4.0 to Society 5.0: Looking “Beyond the Box” to Developing Human-Centric Innovation Ecosystems
The paper argues that Industry 4.0's purely technology-focused approach has created problems, and proposes moving toward Society 5.0, which balances technology with human needs, sustainability, and resilience. Using the Quintuple Helix Model, the authors provide a framework showing how government, universities, industry, civil society, and the environment can work together to build innovation ecosystems that serve both business and society while addressing pandemic and climate challenges.
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The role of absorptive capacity and big data analytics in strategic purchasing and supply chain management decisions
Big data analytics adoption in purchasing and supply chain management remains slow despite widespread use elsewhere. A survey of 222 supply chain managers found that a company's absorptive capacity—its ability to explore, assimilate, and transform information—determines whether big data analytics improves strategic decision-making. Only well-resourced companies fully benefit; applying analytics to routine operational tasks yields limited gains.
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Paradoxes of implementing digital manufacturing systems: A longitudinal study of digital innovation projects for disruptive change
Digital manufacturing technologies promise operational efficiency and business model transformation, yet many established companies achieve only incremental improvements. A longitudinal study of eight manufacturing firms identifies three key tensions blocking success: integrating physical and digital assets, innovating within existing operations, and coordinating internal and external stakeholders. These conflicting forces pull digital projects away from ambitious goals, explaining why digitization remains difficult for established firms.
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Mechanical metamaterials made of freestanding quasi-BCC nanolattices of gold and copper with ultra-high energy absorption capacity
Researchers created mechanical metamaterials using gold and copper nanolattices with a quasi-body-centered-cubic structure that absorb energy exceptionally well. The high energy absorption comes from combining the metals' natural strength and plasticity with size-reduction effects and the lattice architecture. Because these nanolattices can be scaled up to practical sizes affordably, they show promise for heat transfer, electrical conduction, and catalysis applications.
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How firms realign to tackle the grand challenge of climate change: An innovation ecosystems perspective
This study examines how established electric utilities and clean-tech startups collaborate in innovation ecosystems to address climate change. Analyzing 10 utilities and 57 startups across pilot projects, the researchers identify three ecosystem configurations that drive climate impact: incumbent-led digital platforms, device complementors that enable customers, and new orchestrators. These configurations succeed by improving resource efficiency, enhancing infrastructure flexibility, and enabling better information sharing.
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Impact of organizational learning on sustainable firm performance: Intervening effect of organizational networking and innovation
This study examines how organizational learning drives sustainable performance in small and medium manufacturing enterprises in Laos. Using surveys of 710 SME owners and structural equation modeling, the researchers found that organizational learning directly improves performance, while organizational networking and innovation act as intervening mechanisms. The results show that innovation alone doesn't guarantee better performance—it must be informed by strong information networks and learning processes.
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Driving business performance through intellectual capital, absorptive capacity, and innovation: The mediating influence of environmental compliance and innovation
This study examines how intellectual capital drives business performance in Vietnamese companies through knowledge absorptive capacity and innovation. Surveying 206 managers across industries, the research finds that intellectual capital strengthens absorptive capacity, which boosts performance when paired with innovation. Environmental compliance and innovation partially mediate this relationship. Managers should prioritize absorptive capacity and innovation capabilities while maintaining environmental standards to leverage intellectual capital and improve business outcomes.
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Examining the Diffusion of Innovations from a Dynamic, Differential-Effects Perspective: A Longitudinal Study on AI Adoption Among Employees
This study tracks how employees adopt AI in workplaces over time, finding that job security concerns drive increasingly negative attitudes toward AI. Relative advantage, compatibility, and observability strengthen positive attitudes, while ease of use and trialability have no significant effect. The impact of these factors varies by group: trialability only helps those already positive about AI, while observability and threat concerns matter more to skeptics.
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The impact of network orientation and entrepreneurial orientation on startup innovation and performance in emerging economies: The moderating role of strategic flexibility
In emerging economies, entrepreneurial orientation drives startup performance more than network orientation, particularly in early stages. Exploratory and exploitative innovation mediate these relationships differently: exploitative innovation matters most initially, while exploratory innovation becomes critical during growth. Strategic flexibility strengthens how entrepreneurial orientation and innovation types affect performance. The study surveyed 273 startups and reveals that startups benefit from balancing different innovation approaches as they mature.
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Digitalization and network capability as enablers of business model innovation and sustainability performance: The moderating effect of environmental dynamism
Chinese manufacturing firms can improve economic and environmental performance through digitalization and network capabilities, which work together to enable business model innovation. Environmental dynamism acts as both a barrier and enabler depending on the type of innovation pursued. The study surveyed 255 firms and found that network capability mediates digitalization's effects, while business model innovation mediates the path to sustainability outcomes.
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Green creativity, responsible innovation, and product innovation performance: A study of entrepreneurial firms in an emerging economy
Green creativity drives product innovation performance in entrepreneurial firms through responsible innovation practices. A study of 273 Vietnamese firms shows that firms committing more resources to environmental innovation strengthen this relationship. Responsible innovation mediates the effect of green creativity on product innovation outcomes, demonstrating how environmental commitment translates creative ideas into market performance.
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The Making of Responsible Innovation and Technology: An Overview and Framework
This paper reviews responsible innovation and technology (RIT) concepts to establish how digital advancement can serve both economic and social goals. The authors identify key RIT characteristics: technological outcomes must be acceptable, accessible, trustworthy, and well-governed while aligning with societal values. They develop a conceptual framework for implementing RIT that governments, companies, and researchers can use to address challenges from technological progress while protecting community well-being.
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Impact of innovation strategy, absorptive capacity, and open innovation on SME performance: A Chilean case study
Absorptive capacity significantly influences how Chilean manufacturing SMEs adopt open innovation practices and develop innovation strategies. Innovation strategy fully mediates the relationship between absorptive capacity and inbound open innovation, while partially mediating the relationship with outbound open innovation. Open innovation practices directly improve SME performance. The findings offer guidance for policymakers and managers seeking to enhance competitiveness through strategic innovation.
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Fostering innovation through learning from digital business ecosystem: A dynamic capability perspective
Small and medium-sized enterprises participating in digital business ecosystems develop innovation capabilities through iterative learning and external resource leverage. The study identifies three key capabilities: detecting market changes, accessing external resources, and adapting to evolving conditions. SMEs gain competitive advantage by using ecosystem insights to predict customer preferences and drive product innovation, though over-reliance on external partners poses risks.
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Impact of absorptive capacity on project success through mediating role of strategic agility: Project complexity as a moderator
This study examines how absorptive capacity—the ability to acquire and apply new knowledge—influences project success in Portuguese IT companies. The research finds that both potential and realized absorptive capacity directly improve project outcomes and also work indirectly through strategic agility. Project complexity strengthens the link between potential absorptive capacity and strategic agility but does not affect the realized absorptive capacity relationship.
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Strategic green marketing orientation and environmental sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa: Does green absorptive capacity moderate? Evidence from Tanzania
Manufacturing enterprises in Tanzania that adopt strategic green marketing orientation significantly improve their environmental sustainability practices. The study finds that green absorptive capacity—the ability to recognize and apply environmental knowledge—strengthens this relationship. These findings demonstrate that integrating environmental considerations into business strategy and building capacity to absorb green innovations drives measurable sustainability improvements in manufacturing.
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Mediation-moderation model of green absorptive capacity and green entrepreneurship orientation for corporate environmental performance
Chinese manufacturing firms improve environmental performance by developing green absorptive capacity—the ability to convert environmental knowledge into practical application. The study shows that green absorptive capacity strengthens managerial environmental concern and green innovation performance, which then enhance environmental outcomes. Green entrepreneurship orientation helps exploit eco-friendly opportunities but only when green absorptive capacity bridges the gap between environmental awareness and business strategy.
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Regional innovation systems in tourism: The role of collaboration and competition
Regional innovation systems in tourism thrive through collaboration and competition among companies. The paper develops a theoretical framework combining dynamic capabilities, relational view, and resource-based theory to explain how social capital and relational assets drive innovation. Using Campania Region as a case study, it shows that co-creation of innovation and strategic plans across regional stakeholders—supported by digital transition and modernized infrastructure—builds sustainable, innovative tourism systems.
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Decentralized clinical trials in the trial innovation network: Value, strategies, and lessons learned
The Trial Innovation Network evaluated decentralized clinical trial approaches across over 400 studies, finding that remote tools like electronic consent, social media recruitment, and remote interventions improve efficiency and reduce participation barriers. Some elements work well, while remote recruitment and monitoring need refinement. Hybrid trials combining remote and in-person methods offer promise for increasing urban-rural diversity, though ensuring equitable access to technology and building trust with marginalized communities remain critical challenges.
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Responsible leadership, organizational ethical culture, strategic posture, and green innovation
Responsible leadership in service organizations drives green innovation, with organizational ethical culture acting as the mechanism through which this influence operates. A progressive strategic posture strengthens this relationship. The study surveyed 168 hospitality employees across three waves and found that leaders signaling responsibility through ethical organizational culture encourage green innovation more effectively when the firm pursues progressive strategies.
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Radical innovations as supply chain disruptions? A paradox between change and stability
Radical innovations in products and processes create paradoxical tensions in supply chains, particularly between the need for change and the need for stability. The paper uses case illustrations to examine how these tensions emerge upstream after radical innovation and proposes paradox theory as a framework for understanding and managing them. It identifies supply chain management as an underexplored area for paradox research and calls for future studies on post-innovation tensions.
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Digital organizational culture and absorptive capacity as precursors to supply chain resilience and sustainable performance
This study examines how digital organizational culture and absorptive capacity strengthen supply chain resilience and sustainable performance in Mexican manufacturing firms. Using data from 304 companies, the research finds that digital culture directly improves both dynamic capabilities and business performance, while also indirectly boosting sustainability through enhanced absorptive capacity and supply chain resilience. The findings help manufacturers build resilience against disruptions like pandemics.
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Exploring consumer mobile payment innovations: An investigation into the relationship between coping theory factors, individual motivations, social influence and word of mouth
This study examines how tourists adopt mobile payment systems by combining coping theory and social influence concepts. Perceived value, threat, controllability, and social influence all drive tourists' intention to use mobile payments. The research finds that tourists who intend to use these systems recommend them to others, with innovativeness moderating this word-of-mouth effect. Results suggest travel operators and banks can boost adoption by understanding these psychological and social factors.
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Digital transformation, well-being and shrinking communities: Narrowing the divides between urban and rural
Digital transformation in shrinking Finnish communities produces more positive than negative effects on resident well-being. While service concentration can reduce local offerings, digitalization enables previously unavailable services and creates new opportunities. Remote work and digital services attract new residents to rural areas, helping narrow the urban-rural divide and revitalizing shrinking communities.
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Women's contributions to rural development: implications for entrepreneurship policy
Rural women entrepreneurs in Sweden make substantial, multidimensional contributions to rural development across diverse industries, deeply embedded in family and local structures. However, existing entrepreneurship and rural development policies largely bypass their businesses and miss their actual needs. Women entrepreneurs prioritize access to public services like schools and childcare over business training programs. Policymakers should integrate entrepreneurship policy with family, welfare, and rural development policy rather than treating women entrepreneurs as isolated economic actors.
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Effect of Climate Smart Agriculture Innovations on Climate Resilience among Smallholder Farmers: Empirical Evidence from the Choke Mountain Watershed of the Blue Nile Highlands of Ethiopia
Climate-smart agriculture innovations significantly strengthen smallholder farmers' ability to withstand climate change impacts in Ethiopia's Blue Nile Highlands. Using data from 424 farmers, the study found that improved crop varieties, crop residue management, and soil-water conservation increase climate resilience capacity, though effects vary by innovation type. Success requires complementary systems including early warning networks, extension services, safety nets, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
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The Effect of Agriculture Insurance on Agricultural Carbon Emissions in China: The Mediation Role of Low-Carbon Technology Innovation
Agricultural insurance reduces carbon emissions from farming in China by encouraging adoption of low-carbon technologies. Using provincial data from 2001–2019, the study finds insurance directly cuts emissions and indirectly reduces them by spurring farmers to adopt cleaner practices. The effect is strongest in eastern China and non-grain-producing regions. Expanding agricultural insurance can help China meet carbon neutrality goals.
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Research and innovation in agricultural water management for a water‐secure world
Agricultural water management requires transformative innovation to sustain food systems under climate change and water scarcity. New technologies optimize irrigation and water productivity, but innovations often fail to address equity and access gaps, particularly in the global South. The paper argues that transdisciplinary approaches integrating water-energy-food nexus thinking enable innovations that account for local constraints and governance, making solutions more relevant and scalable.
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Women entrepreneurship development and sustainable rural livelihoods in Zimbabwe
Women entrepreneurs in rural Zimbabwe face multiple barriers to sustainable livelihoods, including inadequate government support, patriarchal social structures, insufficient business knowledge, limited access to credit, and time constraints balancing family and work. The study identifies that successful women entrepreneurship depends on financial, environmental, psychological, and sociological factors. Recommendations include entrepreneurship training, supportive government policies, and network access.
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Exploring innovation for sustainable agriculture: A systematic case study of permaculture in Nepal
This case study examines permaculture practices in Nepal as a sustainable alternative to industrial agriculture. The researchers analyzed three Nepalese permaculturists' approaches, which integrate biodiversity, crop-animal systems, watershed management, and on-site energy production. The study shows how local knowledge and practitioners' imaginaries can transform agricultural systems toward ecological sustainability and encourage emotional connections between farmers and the environment.
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Sustainable innovation in agriculture: Building competitiveness and business sustainability
Agricultural companies must shift from merely meeting legal requirements to actively pursuing sustainable innovation through interdisciplinary approaches. This study analyzed 183 companies and five focus groups to identify factors driving sustainable innovation in agriculture. Six key factors emerged: process approach, corporate social responsibility, quality management systems, supply chain operations, production demand, and employee performance.
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Rural Agriculture and Poverty Trap: Can Climate-Smart Innovations Provide Breakeven Solutions to Smallholder Farmers?
Climate-smart agriculture adoption by smallholder farmers in Ghana's Upper West and Upper East regions did not significantly improve food security or income. While climate change severely damages agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods, CSA practices alone cannot break the poverty trap without complementary support. Farmers need better infrastructure, inputs, and market access to realize CSA's potential benefits.
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Mechanisms and heterogeneity in the construction of network infrastructure to help rural households bridge the “digital divide”
Network infrastructure in rural China helps households access and use digital technology, but doesn't immediately improve their ability to apply it effectively. The digital divide closes fastest for non-farm workers and younger people. Training programs and targeted services for elderly and agricultural workers are needed to translate infrastructure investment into actual capability gains.
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Design thinking for responsible Agriculture 4.0 innovations in rangelands
Agriculture 4.0 brings digital technologies like sensors, robotics, and data analytics to livestock farming on rangelands. This paper applies design thinking and responsible innovation frameworks to guide development of precision livestock farming technologies. The authors outline six design stages and show how responsible innovation dimensions—anticipation, inclusion, reflexivity, responsiveness, and equity—apply at each step. A case study of the Sustainable Southwest Beef Project demonstrates how this human-centered approach works in practice.
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Creating a sustainable ripple in rural entrepreneurship – the case of Deserttulip in resource-constrained rural Jordan
Rural entrepreneurs in Jordan navigate severe environmental, financial, and institutional constraints to drive sustainable development. The case of Deserttulip demonstrates how entrepreneurs use innovative agricultural technology and collective action to overcome resource scarcity. The study shows that while external structures limit opportunities, entrepreneurs' agency and collaborative initiatives create sustainable ripple effects that strengthen rural communities and promote empowerment beyond individual business success.
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Systematic review of disruptive innovation (DI) research in agriculture and future direction of research
This systematic review of 61 articles examines disruptive innovation research in agriculture. Most studies focus on food supply, technology adoption, digital risk management, and modernization in developed and developing countries. The review identifies significant gaps: transition economies receive minimal attention, government policy integration in agricultural innovation remains understudied, and sub-sector research is limited. The authors argue agriculture lacks strong innovation theory foundations and call for expanded investigation across these areas.
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Alleviating Relative Poverty in Rural China through a Diffusion Schema of Returning Farmer Entrepreneurship
Returning farmers in rural China can alleviate relative poverty by sharing entrepreneurial knowledge and experience with other poor households through family, local, and internet networks. This diffusion model reduces entrepreneurial barriers, increases farmer income, creates employment, and improves rural environments across economic, social, and ecological dimensions. Success requires supportive government policies and active local participation.
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Do Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems Have the Dynamic Capabilities to Guide the Digital Transition of Short Food Supply Chains?
Agricultural knowledge and innovation systems in Greece and Italy struggle to capitalize on digital opportunities in short food supply chains, despite sensing external changes. Knowledge emerges as critical for building transformative capacity, but systems lack functional connections between stakeholders. Strengthening engagement from public advisory organizations, universities, and technology providers is essential for developing the collective knowledge base needed for successful digital transition.
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The Driving Factors of Innovation Quality of Agricultural Enterprises—A Study Based on NCA and fsQCA Methods
Agricultural processing enterprises in Liaoning province, China achieve high innovation quality through two main pathways: entrepreneurship combined with government support, or green technology capability combined with market demand. Entrepreneurship and green technology capability emerge as the most universal drivers. The study identifies seven configurations that prevent high innovation quality, categorized as technology-inhibited, entrepreneurship-deprived, or government and market-driven types.
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Role of the interaction space in shaping innovation for sustainable agriculture: Empirical insights from African case studies
Agricultural development projects in Malawi and Tanzania use farm trials and farmer field schools to promote sustainable agriculture innovation. The study reveals that knowledge exchange succeeds through knowledge brokers who facilitate social learning, yet simultaneously create social exclusions. The design of interaction spaces between researchers and farmers directly shapes both technical and social knowledge construction. Effective scaling requires opening these spaces for genuine co-creation and collaborative knowledge building.
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Endogenous learning and innovation in African smallholder agriculture: lessons from Guinea-Bissau
Smallholder rice farmers in Guinea-Bissau continuously reinvent and share farming knowledge across generations, creating a dynamic agricultural system. External development actors must understand how endogenous knowledge is produced and spreads among farmers to design effective interventions. Co-producing innovations that respect local conditions and allow farmers to adapt technologies to their needs strengthens the entire knowledge system.
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What are the determinants of rural-urban divide in teachers’ digital teaching competence? Empirical evidence from a large sample
A survey of 11,784 Chinese K-12 teachers reveals a significant digital divide between rural and urban educators. Rural teachers show lower ICT attitudes, ICT skills, data literacy, and overall digital teaching competence than urban counterparts. Data literacy and ICT skills emerge as the primary drivers of this divide, offering policymakers and school leaders concrete targets for bridging educational inequalities.
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A sustainable rural entrepreneurship model developed by the organic farmers of India
Organic farmers in Uttarakhand, India developed a sustainable entrepreneurship model that generates higher revenue and improves socioeconomic status compared to conventional farming. The model, pioneered by farmer Bhagchand Ramola in Manj Gaon village, delivers economic, health, and environmental benefits. However, growth faces constraints: farmers depend heavily on Japanese buyers and struggle to convince conventional farmers to switch to organic methods.
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Understanding the Relationship between Financial Literacy and Chinese Rural Households’ Entrepreneurship from the Perspective of Credit Constraints and Risk Preference
Financial literacy significantly promotes entrepreneurship among Chinese rural households by reducing credit constraints, though risk preference weakens this effect. The study finds that only 11.2% of rural households start businesses, and that improving farmers' financial literacy—currently low at 11.2%—can help them overcome traditional credit barriers and pursue entrepreneurial ventures. Risk-averse farmers show weaker entrepreneurial responses to improved financial literacy.
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Patterns of investment in agricultural research and innovation for the Global South, with a focus on sustainable agricultural intensification
Global South governments invest approximately $60 billion annually in agricultural research and innovation, with China's government alone matching all other countries combined. Private sector and development partners contribute smaller shares. Less than 7% of funding targets environmental goals, and under 5% addresses both social and environmental outcomes. The study reveals a significant funding gap for sustainable agricultural intensification and recommends transparent reporting standards to redirect investment toward sustainability.
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Place-based research in small rural hospitals: an overlooked opportunity for action to reduce health inequities in Australia?
Small rural hospitals in Australia represent an underutilized setting for place-based research that could address health inequities. The authors argue that conducting research within these hospitals, tailored to local contexts and needs, offers a practical opportunity to generate evidence and implement solutions that reduce disparities in rural healthcare access and outcomes.
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Rural Art Festivals and Creative Social Entrepreneurship
Rural art festivals in peripheral island communities drive social and regional revitalization through creative social entrepreneurship. The study analyzes four festivals—a traditional matsuri and three contemporary art, music, and film events—showing how entrepreneurial networks enable resource exchange, population retention, and community development. Festival organizers use resourcefulness and bricolage to adapt their activities, creating socially engaged creative networks that advance revitalization goals.
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A new rural digital divide? Taking stock of geographical digital inclusion in Australia
Rural Australia faces a persistent digital divide shaped by slow infrastructure development, high connection costs, and compounding disadvantages. The author draws on six years of research and lived experience to show that digital inclusion gaps exist not just between urban and rural areas, but increasingly within rural communities themselves. Three key factors drive this emerging divide: incremental progress in digital development, the complexity and expense of achieving connectivity, and overlapping disadvantages that deepen inequality.
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Innovation of argan (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) products and byproducts for sustainable development of rural communities in Morocco. A systematic literature review
Argan trees in Morocco face threats from overgrazing and land degradation, but innovative processing of argan byproducts offers economic opportunities for rural communities. Argan press cake, nut shells, and pulp can be converted into livestock feed, bioplastics, biochar, bioenergy, and natural repellents. However, local populations remain underinvolved in development strategies. The paper recommends participatory approaches, training, and product differentiation among women's cooperatives to realize sustainable rural development benefits.
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The Sustainable Rural Industrial Development under Entrepreneurship and Deep Learning from Digital Empowerment
This paper uses neural networks and genetic algorithms to identify which sectors drive rural industrial development under digital transformation. The authors analyzed global digitalization practices and modeled influencing factors on rural income. Results show tourism, infrastructure, and transportation are the highest-priority sectors for development. The mathematical model provides data-driven guidance for allocating resources and planning rural industries during digital empowerment.
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The heterogeneous role of broadband access on establishment entry and exit by sector and urban and rural markets
Broadband access increases business formation and reduces closures overall, but effects vary significantly by sector and location. Construction and professional services gain establishments in both urban and rural areas. Finance, insurance, real estate, and information sectors grow only in cities. Retail shrinks in urban areas while manufacturing and hospitality decline in rural areas. Educational services shift from rural to urban locations.
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Agricultural specialization activates the industry chain: Implications for rural entrepreneurship in China
Agricultural outsourcing in China significantly increases rural entrepreneurship, with 9.1% more rural residents starting private enterprises or self-employment. The effect is stronger in non-grain-producing areas and primarily drives opportunistic entrepreneurship. Agricultural outsourcing activates the broader industry chain, extending it, creating off-farm jobs, and improving credit access. Policymakers should leverage outsourcing to drive rural innovation and industrial transformation.
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Factors Affecting Intention Toward ICT Adoption in Rural Entrepreneurship: Understanding the Differences Between Business Types of Organizations and Previous Experience of Entrepreneurs
Rural entrepreneurs' intention to adopt information and communication technology depends on social influence, perceived relative advantage, and ease of use. Online businesses and experienced entrepreneurs show different adoption patterns than offline businesses and novices. Highlighting ICT's competitive advantages particularly motivates offline businesses, while emphasizing simplicity appeals to inexperienced entrepreneurs.
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Public health nursing: Challenges and innovations for health literacy in rural area
Rural communities face severe barriers to health literacy, including limited healthcare access, low literacy rates, cultural and language barriers, financial constraints, and digital divides. Nurses can address these challenges through community-based health education, professional training, digital health technology, partnerships with local organizations, radio programs, and community health ambassadors. Combining community empowerment with technology development will gradually improve health literacy outcomes in rural areas.
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Rural businesses and levelling up: A rural-urban analysis of business innovation and exporting in England's north and midlands
Rural and urban small businesses in England's North and Midlands show no significant differences in innovation or exporting rates, according to analysis of longitudinal survey data. The study challenges the assumption that cities provide better conditions for business growth, suggesting that levelling-up policies should not prioritize urban areas over rural ones.
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The Role of Buildings in Rural Areas: Trends, Challenges, and Innovations for Sustainable Development
Rural buildings are central to agricultural sustainability. This systematic review of 2000–2022 research identifies five main research areas: production (25.1%), environmental management (23.2%), construction and efficiency (20.6%), sustainability (20.8%), and engineering technologies (10.3%). The authors find that life cycle assessment, green building design, energy efficiency, and remote detection systems represent the most promising directions for improving rural building performance and reducing environmental impact.
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Digital Rural Construction and Rural Household Entrepreneurship: Evidence from China
Digital rural construction in China significantly boosts rural household entrepreneurship by enabling resource acquisition and opportunity identification. The effect is strongest among local entrepreneurs, risk-averse individuals, and lower-income families in regions with advanced digital development. All four dimensions of digital rural construction—infrastructure, services, governance, and culture—positively influence both entrepreneurial behavior and performance among rural households.
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“Do you Know What's Underneath your Feet?”: Underground Landscapes & Place‐Based Risk Perceptions of Proposed Shale Gas Sites in Rural British Communities<sup>☆</sup>
Rural communities in the United Kingdom perceive risks from proposed shale gas exploration through deep, place-based knowledge rooted in generations of connection to their local landscapes, including underground features. Residents' understanding of subsurface geology shapes their concerns about how extraction threatens their communities' distinctiveness and character. The study shows that effective risk management for underground energy projects must incorporate local, place-based knowledge alongside technical expertise.
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Fostering rural entrepreneurship: An ex-post analysis for Spanish municipalities
A Spanish policy promoting rural entrepreneurship through bottom-up ecosystem relationships reduced unemployment in treated municipalities, but showed no spillover effects. Infrastructure and innovation funding proved effective at lowering joblessness, while technology adoption alone did not. Female workers experienced smaller benefits, revealing that basic infrastructure matters more than technology alone for rural economic development.
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Has Electronic Commerce Growth Narrowed the Urban–Rural Income Gap? The Intermediary Effect of the Technological Innovation
E-commerce growth in China reduces the urban-rural income gap, according to analysis of provincial panel data. Measured by per capita express volume, e-commerce expansion significantly narrows income disparities between cities and countryside, even after controlling for urbanization, industrial structure, and human capital. The effect persists in robustness tests using instrumental variables. E-commerce growth operates as a direct mechanism for adjusting income distribution rather than through technological innovation channels.
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Rural sustainable development: A case study of the Zaozhuang Innovation Demonstration Zone in China
This case study of China's Zaozhuang Innovation Demonstration Zone examines how innovation drives rural sustainable development. Between 2016 and 2020, economic and social sustainability grew strongly, but ecological sustainability declined. Rural innovation capacity increased rapidly yet had weak effects on overall sustainable development. The authors identify imbalances across sustainability dimensions and propose a multi-dimensional pathway combining policy, technology, projects, and institutions to strengthen innovation's role in rural development.
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Place‐based subsidies and employment growth in rural America: Evidence from the broadband initiatives programme
The Broadband Initiatives Program, a $3.4 billion USDA initiative launched in 2010, significantly boosted employment growth in rural areas through 2019. The subsidies had stronger effects on startup job creation than existing businesses, particularly in goods production and information technology sectors. Micropolitan areas saw greater employment gains than remote rural locations or metropolitan areas.
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Promoting ICT adoption in rural entrepreneurship: more neighbourhood effect or more institutional incentives?—Empirical evidence from China
Chinese rural entrepreneurs adopt ICT more through observing neighbors' success than through government incentives. Perceived personal well-being benefits drive adoption decisions, while government programs show inconsistent effects across industries. Effective ICT promotion requires combining government support with community influence and addressing both rational and emotional motivations.
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The Digital Divide: A Qualitative Study of Technology Access in Rural Communities
Economic barriers, inadequate educational resources, and insufficient infrastructure significantly hinder digital access in rural communities. The study identifies affordability of devices and services, limited digital literacy programs, and poor internet connectivity as key obstacles. Bridging the digital divide requires multifaceted interventions combining targeted financial support, educational services, and infrastructure improvements through coordinated policy action and stakeholder collaboration.
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Perspectives on communicating 21st-Century agricultural innovations to Nigerian rural farmers
Nigeria's agricultural extension system fails to communicate modern farming innovations effectively to rural farmers because it treats them as passive pupils rather than active participants. The paper argues for a fundamental shift toward two-way communication, better-trained extension agents with stronger communication skills, and recognition of farmers as co-designers of innovations. Evidence from Asian countries demonstrates this approach works better than Nigeria's current top-down, one-way knowledge delivery model.
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Rural Entrepreneurship Development in Southwest China: A Spatiotemporal Analysis
Rural entrepreneurship in Mianyang, southwest China grew significantly from 2011 to 2020 as part of government vitalization efforts. The study maps where enterprises emerged and finds that physical geography and institutional support—particularly government policies and infrastructure—shaped entrepreneurship patterns across the region. Rural entrepreneurship develops unevenly and requires analysis at regional scales to understand how local conditions drive business formation.
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Rural Development and Entrepreneurship: Exploration of Entrepreneurial Intention in Rural Area Among Chinese University Students
Chinese college students show stronger entrepreneurial intentions for rural areas when they experience positive emotions, feel capable of succeeding, and receive government support. Perceived control and desire to start a business directly influence entrepreneurial intent. These findings help policymakers design strategies to attract educated young people back to rural communities, addressing talent shortages and supporting national rural revitalization goals.
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Rural–Urban, Gender, and Digital Divides during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Multi-Layered Study
This study examines digital divides affecting online learning during COVID-19 lockdowns across five South Asian developing countries. Female students and rural students faced greater barriers to digital learning than their male and urban counterparts. Structural and cultural constraints particularly restricted women's access to online education, and these inequalities intensified during the crisis. The findings highlight how gender and geography intersect to create digital discrimination and inform policy for more inclusive digital education systems.
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Reflective and Cooperative Learning for Understanding Sustainability through an Eco-Innovation Strategy in Rural Travel and Hospitality: A STEAM Case Study
This case study in Taiwan demonstrates how eco-innovation can be taught through experiential STEAM education. Hospitality and tourism students engaged in hands-on learning by managing organic farms, preparing farm-to-table meals, and guiding heritage tourism activities. The approach successfully fostered sustainable practices and cultural preservation while showing that eco-innovation serves as a viable marketing strategy for rural community economic development.
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Theoretical cognition and application innovation of Chinese rural tourism resources under the goal of common prosperity
This paper examines how rural tourism resources in China can be theoretically understood and practically developed to support common prosperity goals. The authors analyze cognitive frameworks for rural tourism innovation and propose applications that leverage local resources for economic development. Their work connects tourism resource management to broader rural development objectives in China.
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Rural Entrepreneurship as a Sustainable Livelihood Alternative for the Returnee Migrants: Reviewing the Potentials and Challenges
Rural entrepreneurship offers returnee migrants in Bangladesh a sustainable livelihood alternative, particularly following pandemic-related job losses. While remittances historically remain underinvested, the study finds that entrepreneurship can build migrant resilience if supported by adequate skills training and solutions to infrastructure and socio-political barriers. Success requires local development organizations, incubation centers, and peer support networks.
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Rural electrification with hybrid renewable energy-based off-grid technology: a case study of Adem Tuleman, Ethiopia
A hybrid renewable energy system combining wind, solar, and diesel power can effectively electrify the remote rural village of Adem Tuleman in Ethiopia. The system meets the village's 204 kWh/day energy demand at a cost of $0.195/kWh, with initial capital costs of $24,817 and total net present value of $189,233. This approach provides a financially viable alternative to biomass burning, reducing health risks and environmental damage while delivering reliable electricity to off-grid communities.
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Applying diffusion of innovation theory to examine providers’ perceptions of rural telehealth application and competencies
Rural Americans face worse health outcomes partly due to limited healthcare access. This study identifies best practices for telehealth in rural settings by examining how providers perceive and apply telehealth technology. The research consolidates five key telehealth application strategies and five essential provider competencies needed to deliver effective care to rural patients, with implications for medical education and practice.
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Entrepreneurship Education with Purpose: Active Ageing for 50+ Entrepreneurs and Sustainable Development for Rural Areas
Older entrepreneurs aged 50+ possess stronger networks, financial resources, and credibility than younger counterparts, making them well-suited to launch successful rural businesses. The ENTRUST project surveyed 72 potential 50+ entrepreneurs and 100 rural development experts, finding significant business opportunities in rural tourism and strong demand for targeted training. Interviews with eight experienced 50+ rural entrepreneurs revealed they find meaningful work in developing rural areas and preserving cultural heritage, with most wanting to continue working as long as health permits.
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How Does Internet Use Promote Returned Migrant Workers’ Entrepreneurship: Evidence from Rural China
Internet use significantly increases entrepreneurship among returned migrant workers in rural China. The study finds that internet access raises the probability of starting a business, increases entrepreneurial investment by 18%, and boosts the number of enterprises founded by 36%. The effect is strongest in areas with high internet penetration potential. The authors recommend governments support business formation, improve digital literacy, and expand rural internet infrastructure to drive sustainable economic development.
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jtetTraining Urgency to Bridge the Digital Divide for Social Media Marketing Awareness and Adoption: Case of CBT Rural Homestay Operators Malaysia
Rural homestay operators in Malaysia underutilize social media for marketing, relying instead on traditional platforms and intermediaries. The study finds low awareness of digital tools, insufficient technical expertise, and language barriers limit their market reach. Training programs targeting digital competencies and social media marketing are essential to close the digital divide and enable these operators to compete globally.
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Renewable energy resource assessment for rural electrification: a case study in Nepal
This study assesses renewable energy potential for rural electrification in Nepal's Karnali province, where 67% of the population lacks grid electricity access due to mountainous terrain. Researchers evaluated solar and wind installations in two districts, analyzing energy, economic, and environmental factors. They found that distributed solar and wind plants are feasible solutions for remote high-altitude regions, requiring 7–9 million USD in investment costs.
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Consolidating passenger and freight transportation in an urban–rural transit system
This paper demonstrates that combining freight and passenger transportation on buses in urban-rural areas improves profitability and reduces costs. The authors developed a mathematical model to optimize coordination between these services and tested it through a case study. Results show that consolidating freight with passenger transport cuts logistics costs and increases bus company profits while benefiting society.
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Indigenous innovation and organizational change towards equitable higher education systems: the Canadian experience
Indigenous peoples in Canada have leveraged innovation discourse to push universities toward organizational change that incorporates Indigenous knowledges and worldviews. The study examined 15 research-intensive universities and interviewed 13 Indigenous people, finding that Indigenous groups successfully created normative shifts in institutional structure. Decolonizing approaches to innovation offer pathways to equitable higher education by centering reciprocity, ecological sustainability, and land connection over market-driven models.
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Prototyping technology adoption among entrepreneurship and innovation libraries for rural health innovations
Entrepreneurship and innovation libraries across Europe, Asia, and the USA adopt Figma prototyping technology to support rural health startups. Previous experience, social impact, brand image, and system quality drive perceived usefulness, while usability, training, and self-efficacy influence ease of use. Both factors shape behavioral intention and actual adoption. Strategic partnerships between libraries, policymakers, and technology providers accelerate technology adoption and foster rural health innovation ecosystems.
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The South Korean case of deploying rural broadband via fiber networks by implementing universal service obligation and public-private partnership based project
South Korea deployed rural broadband through fiber networks using two simultaneous policies: a universal service obligation guaranteeing 100 Mbps speeds and a public-private partnership project. This study models investment costs and finds both approaches cost-effective, though PPP projects enable ISPs to recover investments faster. The research recommends combining multiple policies while addressing remaining challenges in difficult rural regions where adoption remains low due to end-user costs.
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Sustainability Assessment of Food Waste Biorefineries as the Base of the Entrepreneurship in Rural Zones of Colombia
Food waste biorefineries can drive rural economic development in Colombia by converting agricultural residues into valuable products. Researchers analyzed six food wastes from three Colombian regions and designed biorefinery processes for each. Organic kitchen food waste conversion to levulinic acid proved most sustainable and economically viable, while other residues could produce bioactive compounds, oils, flour, and biogas. These biorefineries reduce greenhouse gases while creating local income opportunities.
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Drivers of Rural Entrepreneurship in Northern Ghana: A Community Capitals Framework Approach
Rural communities in northern Ghana possess strong cultural, social, and political capital that supports entrepreneurship, along with some human capital strengths. However, severe financial capital shortages and gaps in human capital skills significantly limit entrepreneurial development and sustainability. The study identifies these barriers and assets to help policymakers design more effective entrepreneurship programs for poverty reduction.
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Intersectoral collaboration for the development of rural entrepreneurship in Latin America and the Caribbean
Intersectoral collaboration between governments, companies, NGOs, and local communities drives sustainable rural entrepreneurship in Latin America and the Caribbean. The study finds that such partnerships overcome barriers to rural entrepreneurship and promote innovation. Educational policies, gender equality support, and institutional backing prove essential. Intersectoral collaboration emerges as critical—not merely supplementary—for rural entrepreneurship success and regional socioeconomic development.
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Do government incentives increase indigenous innovation commercialisation? Empirical evidence from local Ghanaian firms
Government incentives affect indigenous innovation commercialisation differently in Ghana's small-scale industry. Supply-side incentives increase employment but not sales or profits. Demand-side incentives to buyers significantly boost sales, profitability, and employment, and strengthen the positive effects of market factors. The study recommends shifting innovation support toward demand-side strategies in low-income economies.
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Relationship between Indigenous Knowledge Development in Agriculture and the Sustainability of Water Resources
Indigenous agricultural knowledge can address water scarcity in dry regions. This study examined factors affecting indigenous knowledge and sustainable water management in Iran's Sistan region through interviews with 40 experts and a fuzzy hierarchy analysis. Educational extension emerged as the top priority factor (0.37 weight), followed by social factors, government support, economics, and farmer knowledge. The authors recommend strengthening local indigenous knowledge and promoting modern irrigation techniques.
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Ecoliteracy Competence Assessment to Improve Innovation Capability in a Rural Community
Rural communities possess awareness and knowledge of ecological resources but face economic pressures limiting their use. The study identifies three dimensions of ecoliteracy competence: cognitive awareness of environmental potential, emotional satisfaction from resource use, and practical land management for income. These findings support developing ecoliteracy learning models tailored to community needs and economic circumstances.
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Tribal and rural digital inclusivity: An examination of broadband access in two neighboring Great Plains states
Rural and tribal communities in Kansas and Oklahoma face significant broadband access gaps that worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly affecting students of color and economically disadvantaged families. The paper surveys challenges and successes in digital inclusivity across these Great Plains regions, examining technological leadership, information literacy, and public policy efforts to address persistent digital divides in underserved areas.
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Influence of social and spatial embeddedness on rural entrepreneurship in the Amazon: a study with a Brazilian tribe' enterprising Indians
Social and spatial embeddedness significantly shape indigenous entrepreneurship in the Brazilian Amazon. The study of fourteen Paiter-Suruí entrepreneurs reveals that dense social networks and deep territorial connections jointly influence business creation and development decisions. Social and spatial embeddedness reinforce each other, suggesting integrated approaches are essential for understanding and supporting rural entrepreneurship in developing economies.
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Place Identity, Social Capital, and Rural Homestay Entrepreneurship Performance: The Mediating Effect of Self-Efficacy
Rural homestay entrepreneurs in suburban Beijing achieve better business performance when they have strong social capital and high self-efficacy. Place identity alone doesn't directly improve performance, but it strengthens self-efficacy, which then drives better outcomes. Social capital directly boosts performance and also works partly through self-efficacy. These findings support rural revitalization strategies by identifying how to help farmers succeed in homestay businesses.
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Tool-based renewable energy system planning using survey data: A case study in rural Vietnam
Researchers developed NESSI4D, a decision support system for planning renewable energy systems in developing countries. The tool integrates economic, environmental, technological, and social factors tailored to local stakeholder needs. Testing in rural Vietnam showed that renewable energy alone cannot provide affordable, low-emission electrification without government financial support. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that detailed, specialized planning tools are essential for successful renewable energy implementation.
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Sustainability of productive use of off-grid renewable energy: A case of a women’s collective from rural India
Off-grid renewable energy systems can power productive activities in rural areas, but their long-term sustainability remains unclear. This study develops a framework assessing sustainability across technical, economic, social, institutional, and environmental dimensions, then tests it with a women's collective in rural India. The research finds that capacity building, participatory planning, proper needs assessment, and steady cash flow are critical for sustained operations. Sustainability and socio-economic benefits reinforce each other, supporting India's renewable energy development goals.
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Optimal Planning and Deployment of Hybrid Renewable Energy to Rural Healthcare Facilities in Nigeria
Rural healthcare facilities in Nigeria suffer from unreliable electricity supply. This paper designs hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, and diesel generation with the existing grid to reliably power six rural health centers. Optimized configurations achieve very low energy costs between $0.06 and $0.12 per kilowatt-hour, with solar and wind providing the majority of power at all locations.
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The Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity: The Osage Nation’s Mobile Market
The Osage Nation developed a tribal farm to address food insecurity and chronic disease among its citizens. When remote and mobility-limited community members couldn't access farm products, the Nation partnered with the Center for Indigenous Health Equity to conduct participatory research identifying food access barriers. This led to a mobile market delivering locally produced meats, herbs, and vegetables to underserved areas, prioritizing food sovereignty and addressing structural inequality.
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On subsistence‐type rural independent retailers and crowdfunded microfinance—Prosocial lending, nudges, and unintended consequences
Rural entrepreneurs at the bottom of the economic pyramid who sell subsistence goods face barriers when seeking crowdfunded microfinance. The study finds that repeat borrowers struggle more than first-time borrowers to secure funding on crowdfunding platforms, regardless of their business expansion plans. This reveals unintended consequences of shifting from traditional microfinance to web-based crowdfunding models for small, weakly integrated rural retailers.
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A study on the impact of rural finance on high-quality agricultural development in China—a test based on intermediation, threshold and spillover effects
Rural finance significantly promotes high-quality agricultural development in China, with effects varying by economic growth periods and regional grain production status. Farmland scale management partially mediates this relationship. Rural finance efficiency and agricultural technician share act as threshold effects, with spillover benefits reaching neighboring provinces. Higher financial literacy strengthens the impact.
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Implementation of distance learning IMCI training in rural districts of Tanzania
Tanzania implemented a distance learning model for childhood illness management training in three rural districts. The program combined self-directed learning with brief in-person sessions, successfully training many healthcare workers at low cost and improving their knowledge and competence. However, participants faced technological barriers, work-life conflicts, and insufficient mentorship due to limited funding and transport infrastructure.
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Potential of Biogas Utilization for Renewable Energy Mix Contribution and Rural Electrification in Sarawak
Sarawak faces rural electrification challenges due to scattered populations in remote terrain. The region's extensive oil palm plantations generate palm oil mill effluent that could produce enough biogas to power nearly 2 million households. The paper examines solid oxide fuel cell technology for converting biogas to electricity, achieving up to 60% efficiency—superior to conventional combustion engines. This approach offers a viable pathway for renewable energy generation and rural electrification across Sarawak.
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Urban-Rural Cooperation for an Economy with 100% Renewable Energy and Climate Protection towards 2030 - the Region Berlin-Brandenburg
Berlin and Brandenburg can achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030 through a system based primarily on rooftop solar panels and green hydrogen production, with electricity replacing fossil fuels across all sectors. The analysis shows this transition is technically feasible and costs less than continuing with fossil and nuclear energy. Hydrogen storage emerges as a critical cost factor, and coordinating with broader German and European energy transitions could further reduce expenses.
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Techno-economic analysis of a hybrid renewable energy system integrated with productive activities in an underdeveloped rural region of eastern Indonesia
A hybrid renewable energy system combining solar and wind power was designed for an isolated village in eastern Indonesia with minimal electricity access. The system proved economically viable only with full subsidies and specific tariff rates, but integrating it with productive activities like cold storage and crop drying made the overall scheme feasible, creating local jobs and income opportunities while meeting residential and commercial energy demands.
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Improving Access to Essential Medications in Rural and Low-Income U.S. Communities: Supply Chain Innovations for Health Equity
Rural and low-income U.S. communities face critical barriers to accessing essential medications due to geographic isolation, economic constraints, and inefficient supply chains. The paper examines supply chain innovations—including mobile pharmacies, micro-fulfillment centers, AI-driven forecasting, and blockchain technology—to improve medication delivery. It proposes regulatory frameworks and public-private partnerships to support these solutions and recommends federal and state policies to expand coverage for underserved populations.
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Strategies for Sustainable Rural Tourism Innovation: Evidence from Hanoi, Vietnam
Rural tourism innovation drives economic and social development in rural areas while addressing environmental challenges. This study examines sustainable rural tourism innovation strategies in Hanoi, Vietnam, showing how innovation enhances tourism regeneration, meets sustainable development goals, and improves economic, social, and environmental outcomes. The research provides insights for policymakers developing rural tourism destination innovation policies in developing countries.
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Advancing Rural Building Extraction via Diverse Dataset Construction and Model Innovation with Attention and Context Learning
Researchers developed AGSC-Net, a deep learning model for automatically extracting rural buildings from satellite imagery. They created a dataset of rural buildings across nine Chinese regions to address the scarcity of training data. The model uses attention mechanisms and context learning to identify buildings despite regional variations in construction styles. AGSC-Net outperformed existing methods and enables better rural planning and disaster assessment.
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International immigration and entrepreneurship in rural areas of the Spanish Pyrenees
Immigrant entrepreneurs in Spain's Pyrenees create innovative businesses in farming and tourism, introducing new products to niche markets and strengthening local sustainability values. However, their companies remain small and undercapitalized, producing limited economic impact and job creation. The study challenges the focus on retirement and low-skilled migration by documenting how immigrant professionals and lifestyle movers contribute to rural economies through entrepreneurship.
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Opportunities and Challenges of Rural Entrepreneurship in Afghanistan
Rural entrepreneurship in Afghanistan can drive development by reducing unemployment, increasing income, and empowering communities. The research identifies key challenges including limited financial resources, poor infrastructure, and sociocultural barriers. It also highlights opportunities such as affordable land, natural resources, and strong local traditions. The authors propose a framework and recommendations to address obstacles and leverage advantages for rural economic growth.
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Rural Women Entrepreneurship in Malaysia: Issues and Challenges
Rural women entrepreneurs in Malaysia drive economic growth and gender empowerment but face significant barriers including inadequate infrastructure, limited market access, restricted financial resources, and socio-cultural bias. The paper identifies targeted solutions: improving finance access, investing in rural infrastructure, and challenging cultural norms. Success requires coordinated action from government, financial institutions, educational facilities, community leaders, and nonprofits to unlock entrepreneurial potential and achieve sustainable economic growth.
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Challenges of Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa: Evidence from Rural Areas
Women entrepreneurs in rural South Africa face three major barriers to business expansion: limited access to finance, insufficient education, and poor infrastructure. The study surveyed 250 female business owners in northern KwaZulu-Natal and found these obstacles are surmountable through alternative financing, targeted training programs, and infrastructure investment. Addressing these challenges could empower women entrepreneurs, drive rural economic growth, and reduce poverty.
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Bridging the digital divide: The influence of digital feedback on the digital capabilities of the rural elderly
Digital feedback significantly improves digital capabilities among rural elderly people in China. The study of 458 rural seniors found that digital access and smartphone usage behavior mediate the relationship between digital feedback and digital capabilities. Rural empty nesters—elderly living alone—show lower digital engagement and capabilities than those living with family, revealing a compounding disadvantage in bridging the digital divide.
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Urban/Rural Disparities in Access to Elite Higher Education: The Case of Tsinghua University
Rural students in China have significantly improved access to elite universities like Tsinghua since 2010 through preferential government policies, though gaps with urban students remain. The study shows China's higher education system effectively responds to national reforms and promotes social mobility. However, gender inequity persists, with rural female students facing lower admission chances than rural males. The authors recommend enrollment policies address intersectional disadvantages to advance educational equity.
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A Comparative Study of Renewable Energy Sources for Power Generation in Rural Areas
This paper develops a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis framework to compare renewable energy sources for rural power generation. The framework evaluates solar, wind, hydro, and biomass power across economic feasibility, environmental impact, and technical feasibility. The analysis provides recommendations for selecting the most suitable renewable energy source to meet rural energy needs and reduce fossil fuel dependence.
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Optimization of a hybrid renewable energy system for a rural community using PSO
The paper designs a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar, wind, and hydro power for a rural Philippine community. Using HOMER Pro software and particle swarm optimization, the authors develop an energy management system that allocates power efficiently across the microgrid while minimizing operational costs. The system addresses intermittent renewable generation to reduce power interruptions and improve rural electrification.
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Contribution of Indigenous Knowledge to Agricultural Growth in South Africa: A Case of Disaneng Community in the Ratlou Local Municipality
Indigenous knowledge systems in South Africa's Disaneng community drive agricultural growth through proven practices in land preparation, seed selection, soil fertility management, and crop storage. Local farmers possess deep understanding of weather patterns and seasonal timing. Religious beliefs and cultural dismissal of traditional practices create barriers to wider adoption. The study recommends targeted interventions to preserve and promote indigenous agricultural knowledge for sustained productivity gains.
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Enhancing stability and achieving high-quality development in rural credit cooperatives through inclusive finance: evidence from Shaanxi Province, China
Rural credit cooperatives in Shaanxi Province, China improved their stability and risk-taking capacity when they adopted inclusive finance practices. The effect was strongest for cooperatives with larger corporate shareholding, though property rights reforms and community bank launches somewhat reduced these gains. The study recommends expanding inclusive finance, reforming rural commercial bank operations, and strengthening governance to better serve agricultural and rural communities.
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Attitude toward innovation and its implications for rural community development in Mexican peasant organizations
Mexican peasant organizations show balanced attitudes toward innovation when examined through psychological and social factors. High social capital and good information access promote positive innovation attitudes, while cultural values present fewer barriers than commonly assumed. The study challenges stereotypes of rural communities as inherently resistant to change, revealing instead that innovation attitudes develop in response to territorial risks and constraints.
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Using I-Hubs for Bridging The Gap of Digital Divide in Rural Kenya
Innovation hubs in Kenya bridge the digital divide by providing rural residents with internet access, mentorship, and resources to develop ideas and innovations. The research shows these hubs successfully connect previously excluded communities to digital economy opportunities. However, the government must establish more hubs in underserved rural areas to expand digital business development and increase ICT-driven GDP growth.
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Investment in community-based rural health care innovation to address health inequities in Australia
Rural Australians face higher chronic disease rates, lower life expectancy, and poor healthcare access due to distance and workforce shortages. The authors argue that investment in community-based rural health research is critical to address these inequities. They demonstrate that place-based partnerships between researchers, hospitals, and community organizations—including innovative models like community paramedicine—improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital admissions, yet receive only 2.4% of national health research funding.
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Can place-based policies reduce urban-rural income inequality? Evidence from China’s Old Revolutionary Development Program based on county-level data
China's Old Revolutionary Development Program, a place-based policy targeting underdeveloped regions, reduced urban-rural income inequality by an average of 11.2% between 2010 and 2019. The effect worked primarily through government intervention and financial development. The policy proved more effective in western and central China than eastern China, and had stronger impacts in less developed counties. This demonstrates that well-designed place-based policies can meaningfully reduce income gaps between urban and rural areas.
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Economic impact of productive use of renewable energy: A case of a women-collective from rural Maharashtra (India)
A women-led renewable energy collective in rural Maharashtra, India, generated significant income increases for beneficiary households compared to non-beneficiaries, with multiplier effects across the local economy. The study demonstrates that productive use of renewable energy can simultaneously advance socio-economic development and climate goals in rural areas, supporting India's strategy to address infrastructure gaps and rural poverty through clean energy.
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Digital Twin Assisted Closed-Loops for Energy-Efficient Open RAN-Based Fixed Wireless Access Provisioning in Rural Areas
This paper proposes a digital twin system to improve 5G Fixed Wireless Access networks in rural and low-density areas. The approach uses closed-loop resource allocation and reinforcement learning to distribute radio and cloud computing resources efficiently while meeting service quality requirements and minimizing energy costs. Results demonstrate the system satisfies delay requirements while reducing energy consumption compared to baseline methods.
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Re-centring and recovering knowledge about climate-friendly agriculture: Learning from a woman African indigenous knowledge holder
An African indigenous knowledge holder taught fifteen science teachers climate-friendly agricultural practices, including animal manure use, manual soil turning, crop rotation, and medicinal plant cultivation. Teachers documented learning through portfolios and reflections. The intervention challenged conventional hierarchies about legitimate scientific knowledge and teachers, advancing epistemic justice while enabling educators to transcend curriculum boundaries and teach sustainable food production methods rooted in Southern knowledge systems.
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Do low-income households inevitably benefit more from microfinance participation? Evidence from rural China
Microfinance participation significantly increases agricultural income for low-income rural households in China. However, the study reveals a paradox: while poor households benefit from microfinance access, it simultaneously widens the agricultural income gap between rich and poor households. The research uses household-level data and econometric methods to account for selection bias and measure both individual gains and distributional effects.
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A techno-economic model for future deployment of fixed broadband services to stimulate development across rural Africa
This paper develops a techno-economic model for deploying fixed broadband services across rural Africa. The authors analyze capital and operating costs for terrestrial and high-altitude platform networks, then simulate deployment scenarios. They find that broadband expansion is financially feasible in rural Africa, with high-altitude platforms proving more cost-effective than ground-based networks. The model provides cost estimates per person and household.
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An interdisciplinary telemedicine innovation to enhance pediatric diabetes care in rural communities: A proposed practice initiative
A nurse-led telemedicine model improves pediatric diabetes care in rural communities by eliminating long-distance travel to appointments. The initiative uses telehealth technology to increase access to specialty care, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes. The approach is feasible, reimbursable, and accepted by families and providers, demonstrating how nurses can lead innovative care delivery models in rural settings.
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Rural development: People-centered and place-based approach
This paper advocates for rural development strategies that prioritize people and place-based approaches. Rather than top-down policies, the work emphasizes community-centered methods that account for local conditions, resources, and needs. The author argues that sustainable rural innovation requires understanding specific regional contexts and engaging local populations as active participants in development processes.
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Printed Modular Resources for Mathematics Education: Enhancing Distance Learning in Rural Public Junior High Schools during the COVID-19 Pandemic
During COVID-19, rural junior high school students in the Philippines received printed mathematics modules as distance learning materials. The study surveyed 607 students and found that module quality and physical features were consistently high across schools. Students' prior mathematics knowledge was also rated high. Differences appeared based on school type, but not by student gender or distance from school.
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Regional Planning and Optimization of Renewable Energy Sources for Improved Rural Electrification
Rural electrification in developing regions requires balancing competing interests between policymakers promoting renewable energy and power operators protecting profits. This paper develops a bi-level optimization model that accounts for investment costs, carbon emissions, efficiency, and incentives. Using Malaysian case studies, the authors show that cost minimization alone favors expanding existing plants over renewables, but strategic incentives of $1.4 million annually can shift operators toward decarbonization while meeting rural electricity demand.
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Design and Cost Analysis of a Decentralized Hybrid Renewable Energy System-based Microgrid for Insular Rural Area: Hatiya of Bangladesh as an off- grid solution
This paper designs a hybrid renewable energy microgrid combining solar and wind power with battery storage for Hatiya, a rural island in Bangladesh lacking grid electricity. The system uses a SEPIC converter to manage power fluctuations and was validated through MATLAB simulation and economic analysis using HOMER software. The design accounts for seasonal variations and weather conditions, providing a technically feasible and economically viable off-grid solution for coastal island communities.
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Design Methodology of Off-Grid PV Solar Powered Systems for Rural Areas in Ecuador
This paper presents a design methodology for off-grid solar photovoltaic systems tailored to rural Ecuador, where grid access is limited or impractical. The authors developed simulation models in Matlab/Simulink for systems combining photovoltaic modules, charge controllers, batteries, and inverters. They created a maximum power point tracking algorithm and battery control system, then built a practical sizing tool in Excel to help implement these systems in rural communities.
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Evaluation innovation in Africa: Towards indigenously responsive evaluation (IRE) philosophies, methods and practices in Ghana
This study examines how indigenous Ghanaian cultural values, social structures, and knowledge systems can inform evaluation practices. The researchers found that traditional evaluative approaches embedded in community norms, relational patterns, and cultural wisdom offer valuable dimensions that contemporary evaluation frameworks should incorporate. These indigenous evaluative impulses can enhance and deepen modern evaluation philosophies and practices in Ghana.
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Microfinance as a Tool of Socio Economic Empowerment of Rural Women
Microfinance through self-help groups empowers rural women in Assam, India by providing sustainable income sources. The study collected primary data from women in rural areas with SHG experience and found that microfinance significantly improves their socio-economic conditions. The research demonstrates microfinance's proven success in developing Asian countries and identifies strong potential for continued growth in Northeast India.
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Towards a low-cost sustainable broadband solution in rural areas of low and middle-income countries: Tanzania’s backhaul perspective
This paper compares microwave and broadband over power line (BPL) technologies for rural backhaul infrastructure in Tanzania. Both technologies deliver adequate broadband capacity, but BPL costs significantly less—one microwave link costs roughly six times more than a BPL link. The findings suggest BPL offers a more economically viable solution for extending broadband to remote rural areas in low and middle-income countries.
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Quadruple Helix Model in Building Communalism and Social Resilience in Handling Poverty in Rural Communities
This study examines how the quadruple helix model—involving government, business, academia, and civil society—reduces rural poverty through social resources and community solidarity. The research finds that social institutions and collective action strengthen communalism and social resilience, enabling rural communities to address poverty more effectively than structural government approaches alone.
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Integration of renewable resources into the electricity energy matrix. Practical case applied to a small rural municipality
This paper designs and manages renewable energy resources for a small rural municipality in Spain's Valencian Community. The researchers modeled how solar, wind, and other renewables could meet the municipality's annual electricity demand while maximizing self-consumption and reducing grid dependence. Results demonstrate that rural communities can achieve high renewable self-sufficiency, supporting Europe's energy transition away from fossil fuels.
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Village Fund for Renewable Energy Development: A Case Study of Rural Area in Indonesia
Indonesia's Village Fund program allocates government resources to rural energy development. This case study examined fund allocation from 2018–2020 and found that Kalimantan and Sulawesi invested most heavily in renewable energy, while Java lagged significantly. The research concludes that current funding levels fall short of meeting Sustainable Development Goal 7 targets and recommends increased government support for affordable clean energy access in villages, not just infrastructure projects.
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Analyzing the Progress and Disparities in Access to Clean Energy Technologies: A Comparative Study of Rural and Urban Areas of India
Between 2010 and 2020, India made progress expanding access to clean cooking fuels and electricity, but rural areas lagged significantly behind urban areas. Rural populations faced slower adoption of clean cooking technologies and lower electricity access rates. The study identifies persistent energy poverty in rural regions and calls for targeted policies to ensure equitable clean energy access across both rural and urban areas.
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Assessing the Economic Benefits of Demand Response for Rural Area Off-Grid Microgrids in Emerging Markets
Researchers tested demand response programs in a rural Namibian microgrid serving five households with renewable electricity and internet access. Using actual consumption data and economic modeling, they found that demand response reduces system costs, extends battery storage lifespan, and lowers the levelized cost of energy. These results support scaling the approach from small microgrids to larger mini-grids in emerging markets.
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Análise aplicada a sistemas fotovoltaicos off-grid em processos industriais na zona rural
Rural industrial organizations in Brazil face frequent power supply interruptions due to inadequate grid infrastructure investment, causing production losses. This paper analyzes the technical and financial viability of off-grid photovoltaic systems as an alternative energy solution. The study demonstrates that solar photovoltaic systems can effectively replace conventional diesel generators, providing a reliable, efficient, and renewable energy source for rural industrial operations.
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Evaluation of Road Traffic Noise Change due to Bus Route Variation of Demand Responsive Transit Scenario in Rural Area
This study evaluates how demand-responsive transit (DRT) bus services affect road traffic noise in rural areas. Researchers compared noise levels from a fixed bus route against five DRT scenarios using a three-dimensional prediction model. DRT operations reduced noise in certain areas, particularly in low-traffic locations surrounded by mountains. The noise reduction depended on traffic volume and local topography.
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The Alberta Indigenous Mentorship in Health Innovation Network: approach, activities and reflections of an Indigenous mentorship network programme
The Alberta Indigenous Mentorship in Health Innovation Network supports First Nations, Métis, and Inuit scholars pursuing health research careers through intergenerational mentorship, funding, and professional development activities. The program strengthens scholars' personal and professional resources while advocating for systemic changes in academia and health research to promote Indigenous success. The authors describe their mentorship philosophy, organizational structure, and adaptations made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Advancing agriculture through Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in South African indigenous or black communities
South African indigenous communities developed sophisticated agricultural practices through traditional knowledge systems long before modern globalization. This qualitative study demonstrates that indigenous farming, harvesting, and related practices were effective and sustainable without relying on Western approaches. The research argues for recognizing and valuing these traditional knowledge systems rather than exclusively crediting modern, neoliberal agricultural methods.
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REVITALIZING INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES: MANUGAL AS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE FARMING METHOD IN DAYAK NGAJU, INDONESIA
The Dayak Ngaju people of Central Kalimantan have practiced Manugal, a traditional rice cultivation method using direct planting, rainwater, and natural materials without synthetic inputs, for thousands of years. The Green Revolution marginalized this practice in favor of intensive agriculture with chemical inputs. This study examines how modernization damaged local traditions and proposes strategies to revive Manugal farming as an ecologically sustainable alternative to monoculture systems.
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Indigenous technical knowledge of Assam for pests management – Exploit potential in organic agriculture
A survey of 500 farmers in Assam's Brahmaputra valley zones found that only 22% fully practice indigenous pest management techniques, though 48% know about them. Researchers documented 30 different indigenous technologies across rice, pulses, tubers, vegetables, and fruits. The study suggests validating these traditional methods could strengthen organic farming in the region.
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Strategy in Developing Microfinance Institution to Support Beef Cattle Farming Business in Rural Areas
Microfinance institutions in rural areas can effectively support beef cattle farming by leveraging their accessibility, simple procedures, and lack of collateral requirements. The study identifies MFI strengths including proximity to farmers and community trust, and recommends strategies focused on strengthening member engagement through social bonds and cooperative spirit. Sustainable MFIs can drive rural economic growth and poverty reduction.
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A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF URBAN AND RURAL BROADBAND PENETRATION AND ACCESS TRENDS IN SOUTH AFRICA
This paper compares broadband penetration and access patterns between urban and rural areas in South Africa. The authors examine how broadband connectivity differences affect socio-economic development opportunities, highlighting the disparities in ICT access between these regions and their implications for development outcomes.
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The importance of education innovation and degree of innovative practices by principals in rural secondary schools in South Africa
Rural secondary school principals in South Africa's Vhembe District understand the importance of educational innovation and actively implement new leadership and management practices to improve student achievement. The study surveyed 70 principals and found they recognize innovation's role in enhancing instruction quality and school performance, despite obstacles facing rural schools. These findings suggest that promoting educational innovation can strengthen learner outcomes and education quality in rural South African secondary schools.
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Augmented Reality for Teaching Storytelling in a Rural Foundation Phase Primary School: Integrating a Place-Based Approach
This study combined augmented reality technology with place-based teaching to improve storytelling instruction in a rural South African primary school. Teachers and students using AR-enhanced activities showed greater motivation, engagement, and problem-solving skills compared to traditional instruction. The research demonstrates that technology-integrated, team-based learning approaches significantly improve literacy outcomes in rural classroom settings.
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Renewable energy adoption and rural livelihoods in Ethiopia
A study in Ethiopia shows that subsidizing biogas digesters by 10% shifts household energy use toward renewable sources and reallocates labor from fuelwood collection to farming. The subsidy increases net household incomes by 0.93% for wealthier households and 3.44% for poorer ones, with benefits exceeding program costs. Crop production patterns remain largely unchanged despite competition for resources.
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‘Just’ access to electricity: Energy justice in Indonesia’s rural electrification (LISDES) program
Indonesia's rural electrification program (LISDES) fails to deliver just access to electricity due to three types of injustice. Distributive injustice stems from unequal incomes, geography, and population spread. Procedural injustice arises from poor information sharing, weak participation by local actors, and inadequate legal frameworks. Recognition injustice reflects failure to understand electricity's role in welfare and to acknowledge Indonesia's diverse socioeconomic conditions. Addressing all three requires clear long-term program goals.
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Analysis of transportable off-grid solar power generation for rural electricity supply: an application study of Sanliurfa, Turkey
This paper designs and models a transportable off-grid solar power system for rural electricity supply in Sanliurfa, Turkey. The researchers developed a 60.75 kWp photovoltaic system with battery storage and diesel backup, then simulated its performance over 24-hour cycles. They evaluated the system's financial viability, technical efficiency, and battery performance, demonstrating that mobile microgrids can deliver sustainable, cost-effective electricity to remote areas without grid access.
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Design and Simulation of a Hybrid Wind/Solar/Diesel/ Battery Off-Grid System for Rural Areas: A case Study in Al-Mahmudiyah Tribal Zone of Iraq
This paper designs a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar, wind, and diesel power for remote off-grid rural areas in Iraq. Using HOMER optimization software, the authors modeled different configurations and found that solar generation provides 77% of power while wind contributes 19%. The optimized system achieves a net present cost of $225,575 and electricity costs of $0.40 per kilowatt-hour, making it economically viable for rural electrification.
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Optimal capacity configuration of PV water pumping system for off-grid rural communities
This paper develops a techno-economic method to optimally size photovoltaic water pumping systems for off-grid rural communities. The approach determines the best combination of solar panel capacity and water storage tank volume while accounting for solar radiation variability and system reliability. Applied to a village in Egypt's Western Desert, the method balances lifecycle costs against water supply reliability, offering practical solutions for rural areas lacking electrical grid access.
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Process Innovation Capability and Performance of Indigenous Oil and Gas Companies in South-South, Nigeria
This study examined 33 indigenous oil and gas companies in Nigeria's South-South region and found that process innovation capability directly improves company performance, measured by sales volume, profitability, and growth. Market innovation also drives performance. The research recommends that management adopt policies supporting process innovation and invest in strategies that optimize human resources, resource mobilization, and monitoring to enhance operational efficiency.
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Agriculture Teachers’ Perceptions on the Inclusion of Indigenous Technical Knowledge in Secondary School Agriculture Curriculum, Nakuru County, Kenya
Agriculture teachers in Nakuru County, Kenya recognize the value of indigenous technical knowledge in farming. Over 50% of teachers are aware of indigenous crop and livestock practices and view them as cheap, reliable, and enriching. Most teachers support including this knowledge in secondary school agriculture curriculum because it equips students with practical, diverse farming skills. Some teachers resist inclusion, citing curriculum overcrowding and outdated practices.
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Scope economies from rural and urban microfinance services
Microfinance institutions serving both rural and urban markets experience different cost outcomes depending on their business model. Loan-only MFIs gain cost advantages from diversification across markets, achieving 16.6% scope economies. However, savings-and-loan MFIs face 11.7% scope diseconomies, suggesting they perform better by specializing. Over time, loan-only MFIs improved at serving harder-to-reach clients while savings-and-loan MFIs reduced their cost disadvantages from diversification.
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Research on the current situation of rural poverty alleviation and future development innovation in the era of big data
Big data technology can accelerate rural poverty alleviation by improving agricultural production, increasing sales, and reducing costs. The paper argues that integrating big data with agriculture—by introducing market information, improved planting methods, and talent to rural areas—offers an effective pathway for rural development and poverty reduction.
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A Smart Innovation Development of Agriculture Based Irrigation Systems for Rural Heritages
Smart irrigation systems are critical for rural agriculture, delivering water reliably and preventing soil erosion while improving crop yields. However, these systems face challenges including high installation and maintenance costs, water loss, and over-irrigation risks. The paper recommends farmers adopt water conservation practices like drip irrigation and water recycling, research efficient systems suited to local conditions, and monitor systems carefully to address problems.
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ENABLING INNOVATION IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Rural development requires innovation to achieve sustainable development goals, but rural areas face resource constraints that limit their capacity for change. The paper proposes a three-dimensional model combining pro-social technological innovation policy, rural innovation governance, and dynamic networks connecting rural and urban innovation systems. Frugal, inclusive, and social innovation types suit rural contexts better than traditional approaches. Examples from China demonstrate how rural areas can leverage urban technologies, networks, and resources to create new economic growth engines.
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Agricultural Chambers in the Process of Transfer of Knowledge and Innovations for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas in Poland
Agricultural chambers in Poland function as part of the EU's Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System, facilitating technology and knowledge transfer to farms. Research across Polish regions shows these chambers significantly influenced EU Rural Development Program fund absorption. However, Polish chambers prove less effective at driving agricultural development than counterparts in other EU countries. The study recommends chambers strengthen their roles in policy formation, income stabilization, information dissemination, and farmer advocacy.
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Study on the Strategy of “Double Innovation” Education in Universities to Serve Rural Development in the Context of Rural Revitalization
Chinese universities must redesign innovation and entrepreneurship education to develop talent for rural revitalization. The paper argues that a comprehensive system with four key drivers—treated as mechanism guarantees—enables higher education institutions to produce innovative entrepreneurs who can support China's rural development strategy.
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Research on the Innovation of Institutional Mechanisms for Urban-Rural Integration Development in Henan Province in the Context of New Urbanization
This paper evaluates urban-rural integration development in Henan Province, China during 2010–2020 using an indicator system and entropy weighting method. The analysis shows the integration index rose from 0.15 to 0.86, with strong coupling between new urbanization and rural-urban development systems. The authors recommend institutional innovations tailored to local conditions that integrate production and urbanization to improve coordinated growth efficiency.
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The Digital Divide and Gender Disparity: A Study of Rural Students in the Republic ofMoldova
A study of 1,526 rural middle school students in Moldova found that gender gaps in digital skills are narrowing. Boys and girls showed equal competence in navigation, communication, and problem-solving. However, girls significantly outperformed boys in digital content creation and online safety, with boys showing concerning vulnerabilities to digital threats. The research reveals a complex, evolving picture of gender and digital inequality in rural Moldova.
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Enhancing the local workforce outcomes for rural LICs: what is the role of the local health service in leading innovation in medical education?
A rural health service in South Australia created the Riverland Academy of Clinical Excellence to train its own medical workforce, increasing local doctors by over 20% in one year. By offering extended training contracts and a complete pathway from medical school through advanced practice in the region, the health service successfully recruited junior doctors and specialists committed to rural practice, demonstrating that local health services can lead medical education innovation to address rural workforce shortages.
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A FRAMEWORK FOR GOVERNMENT POLICY, ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP, AND MANAGEMENT INNOVATION THAT EFFECT TO THE SUCCESS OF SMES IN CHINA'S RURAL COMMUNITIES
This paper develops a framework showing how government policy, entrepreneurial leadership, and management innovation work together to drive success for small and medium-sized enterprises in rural China. The analysis identifies how these three factors interact and provides recommendations for policymakers and business owners to improve rural SME performance and support sustainable economic development in rural communities.
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Place-based generosity during the pandemic: Innovative rural philanthropic organizations’ responses to COVID-19 and (re-)building resilient rural communities in Canada
Rural philanthropic organizations in Canada adapted their operations during COVID-19 to address emerging community vulnerabilities. Interviews with leaders across Atlantic Canada, Ontario, and British Columbia reveal that these place-based organizations pivoted services and developed innovative strategies to meet changing rural needs. The findings highlight their commitment to building resilient communities and offer insights for strengthening philanthropic sustainability and rural recovery policy.
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Study on the Design of Rural Homestays Based on the Memory Place Theory: Take Weipo Village of Luoyang as an Example
This paper examines how to design rural homestays in Weipo Village, Luoyang, using memory place theory and local cultural symbols. The authors extract traditional decorative patterns from the region and integrate them with modern design to create culturally distinctive spaces. The approach improves living conditions and service quality while preserving Central Plains cultural heritage, offering a model for developing culturally characteristic rural homestays.
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Challenges Regarding Access to Higher Education among Rural Women in Punjab Pakistan: Impact & Implication
Rural women in Punjab, Pakistan face significant barriers to higher education. The study of 384 participants found that household income, family size, and distance to educational institutions directly limit access. Families with greater financial resources enable daughters to pursue higher education, while larger families struggle to allocate resources for girls' schooling. Distance from home to institutions creates additional obstacles. The research calls for targeted policies and interventions to improve educational access for rural women.
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Motives and Challenges for Participating in Open and Distance Learning in Higher Education in Tanzania: A Case of Rural Women
Rural women in Tanzania pursue higher education through open and distance learning primarily to improve their socio-economic status and advance their careers through promotions and better employment opportunities. They face significant barriers including poor infrastructure, limited financial resources, socio-cultural constraints, and inadequate learning materials. The study identifies rural infrastructure development as critical to enabling greater participation of women in higher education.
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Techno-economic feasibility of photovoltaic, BESS, diesel and hybrid electrification for off-grid rural systems in Algeria
This paper evaluates hybrid energy systems combining photovoltaic panels, battery storage, and diesel generators for three off-grid rural communities in Algeria. The authors optimize system sizing to minimize fossil fuel consumption and costs, then model hourly performance across seasons and calculate investment payback periods. Sensitivity analysis shows how diesel price fluctuations affect economic viability of the hybrid approach.
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Integrated Management Framework for Performance Challenges in Rural Off-Grid Microgrids: Addressing Deterioration in Electrification Systems
Rural off-grid microgrids in developing countries face early failure due to interconnected financial, community, and technical challenges. This study develops a management framework identifying how funding gaps and poor stakeholder communication cascade into component deterioration and power system degradation. The framework helps operators and managers systematically address these deterioration risks during microgrid operation.
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Assessing the feasibility of off-grid photovoltaic systems for rural electrification
Researchers modeled an off-grid photovoltaic system for a rural residence in Konya, Turkey, designed to meet daily energy consumption of 39,974 Wh. A 9.45 kWp system with optimized angles fulfilled 90.8% of annual energy requirements. Summer production exceeded demand and fully charged batteries, while winter production fell short. The system demonstrates technical feasibility for rural electrification in areas without grid access, though seasonal variations significantly affect performance.
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A mixed-methods study on the determinants of solar home systems utilization in rural, off-grid Nigeria
This study examines what drives rural Nigerian households to adopt solar home systems in off-grid areas. Using surveys of 400 households and interviews, researchers found that higher income and education increase adoption, while gender creates disparities. Surprisingly, satisfaction with current energy sources reduces interest in solar systems. Households farther from the electrical grid show stronger willingness to pay for solar. The findings suggest policymakers need tailored strategies addressing household differences to boost solar adoption.
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Techno-Economic Modeling and Analysis of Off-Grid Microgrids for Rural Electrification in China
This paper develops a techno-economic model for off-grid microgrids using renewable energy to electrify remote rural areas in China. The authors model microgrid system structures, generation units, economic costs, and rural electricity consumption patterns including household and agricultural use. They apply the model to three Chinese villages, using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to simulate renewable energy output, and recommend suitable generation technologies and capacities based on village characteristics and local policies.
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Life cycle cost of mobility electrification with renewable energy in an off-grid rural area: The Karya Jadi village case in Indonesia
In an off-grid Indonesian village, solar photovoltaic systems installed by government programs failed after three years due to battery deterioration, leaving functional panels underutilized during daylight hours. This study demonstrates that electric motorbikes charged by existing PV systems can generate significant financial savings compared to gasoline motorbikes, which are expensive in remote areas due to transportation costs. The analysis uses life cycle cost methodology to show how electrifying rural transportation can extend the economic viability of renewable energy infrastructure.
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Cultural values and innovation in indigenous entrepreneurship: a case study from Indonesia
Cultural values shape innovation in indigenous hand weaving enterprises in Lombok, Indonesia. Strong community integration and social capital facilitate knowledge transfer and collective learning, promoting innovation. However, tradition-focused values and past-time orientation limit market expansion and future-oriented change. These same values enable entrepreneurs to respond effectively to current market trends, creating a tension between adaptive and transformative innovation.
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Multiperspective Pedagogy Innovation in Indigenous History to Enhance Happiness Historical Consciousness of Secondary School Students in the Cultural Diversity Area of Thailand
Researchers developed and tested the MITH Model, a multiperspective pedagogy innovation for teaching indigenous history to secondary students in culturally diverse areas of Thailand. The model combines motivation, independent learning, task-based learning, and holistic approaches through hybrid e-learning. Students who participated showed significantly higher levels of happiness historical consciousness and developed greater awareness of social issues, positioning them as engaged future citizens.
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From technology transfer to indigenous innovation in China
China's development since 1978 combined government investment in human capital and infrastructure with foreign technology learning to build indigenous innovation capacity. The paper identifies three main pathways: joint ventures with foreign multinationals, global value chains, and repatriation of advanced technologies. It demonstrates successful indigenous innovation in computing, automotive, and communications sectors, showing how Chinese firms leveraged foreign learning to compete globally.
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PROMOTION AND PRESERVATION OF EU AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FROM INDIGENOUS SPECIES AND ITS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE
The paper examines how intellectual property rights can protect local livestock breeds, plant varieties, and traditional knowledge associated with them in EU agriculture. Preserving these indigenous agricultural resources and their cultural practices requires legal mechanisms to control access and ensure communities benefit from their use.
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Identification Of Different Indigenous Technical Knowledge Application In Agriculture And Allied Sector In Some Selected Areas Of West Bengal
This study documents indigenous technical knowledge in agriculture, animal husbandry, and allied sectors across three blocks in West Bengal's Birbhum district. Researchers interviewed 90 respondents from nine villages and catalogued traditional practices spanning seed germination to post-harvest management, animal health, traditional implements, and medicinal plants. The findings show farmers value these environment-friendly, cost-effective, location-specific methods passed down through generations. Integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches can create sustainable, locally applicable agricultural technologies.
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“Empowering Rural Bihar: The Role of Microfinance In Economic Development”
Microfinance institutions in rural Bihar provide crucial financial services to underbanked populations, enabling small-scale entrepreneurs—particularly women—to start and expand businesses. The study finds that microloans increase household income, employment, and economic resilience. The research recommends policy interventions to scale microfinance initiatives and integrate them with other development programs to drive inclusive growth.
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Role of Microfinance and Self Help Groups in Rural Women Empowerment – A Study of Two Sub district under Mahisagar District, Gujarat
Microfinance and self-help groups in rural Gujarat empower women economically and socially. The study examined 150 women across 20 self-help groups in two sub-districts of Mahisagar district. Linking SHGs with banks enables poor households to access credit at lower costs with higher repayment rates. Women gain productive surplus funds, expand operations, and improve household welfare through increased economic participation and financial inclusion.
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Loyalty of rural microfinance borrowers: International evidence
Rural microfinance borrowers demonstrate loyalty to their service providers, as measured by retention rates, according to analysis of 1,101 microfinance institutions worldwide from 2010–2018. However, loyalty levels vary depending on the analytical methods, geographic subsamples, and measurement approaches used. Customer retention is critical for microfinance institution sustainability and performance.
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Engaging Community Colleges in Rural Development: A Meta-Synthesis of Doctoral Dissertations
Meta-synthesis of 20 doctoral dissertations (2009-2020) on the role of community colleges in rural community, economic, and workforce development, surfacing recurring themes and a research agenda for rural-serving institutions.
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Innovation networks for social impact: An empirical study on multi-actor collaboration in projects for smart cities
Examines what drives the formation of innovation networks for smart-city projects involving companies, government, and society. Identifies searching, acting, and convincing as core activities; argues smart-city innovation requires public-private-citizen configuration.
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Rural innovation system: Revitalize the countryside for a sustainable development
Proposes a 'rural innovation system' framework drawing on new growth theory, institutional theory, and innovation systems theory, with three pillars: technology innovation, institutional/management innovation, and community-based network/intermediary platforms. Compares rural and urban innovation systems.
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Implications of the digital divide on rural SME resilience
Rural SMEs in Wales face reduced resilience during economic crises due to the digital divide. While broadband infrastructure investments improved connectivity, many rural businesses still lack reliable digital connections. Distance from urban areas significantly predicts poor connectivity, limiting businesses' ability to diversify activities and develop resilience. The pandemic accelerated digital-dependent business operations, leaving poorly connected rural SMEs more vulnerable.
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Place-Based Resentment in Contemporary U.S. Elections: The Individual Sources of America’s Urban-Rural Divide
Rural Americans harbor significant resentment toward urban communities, and this place-based animosity strongly predicts voting behavior in U.S. elections. The researchers analyzed survey data from 2018 to 2020 and found that rural resentment was a powerful predictor of vote choice in both the 2018 midterm and 2020 general elections, independent of partisanship and racial attitudes. The findings explain a key driver of America's urban-rural political divide.
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Environmental regulation, agricultural green technology innovation, and agricultural green total factor productivity
Environmental regulations in Chinese provinces drive agricultural green technology innovation and productivity gains, but the effect depends on regional economic development levels. In poorer regions, regulations have minimal impact. As regions develop economically, environmental regulations increasingly spur green innovation and boost agricultural productivity. Regulations affect overall productivity more than technology adoption alone.
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Challenges of rural women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh to survive their family entrepreneurship: a narrative inquiry through storytelling
Rural women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh face three major obstacles to sustaining family businesses: social and cultural barriers rooted in societal attitudes toward women's roles, severe financial constraints, and inadequate business skills. The study reveals that these challenges disproportionately affect rural women's ability to maintain viable family enterprises, despite entrepreneurship's importance for socio-economic development in developing countries.
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Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation, Spatial Spillover and Agricultural Green Development—Taking 30 Provinces in China as the Research Object
Agricultural science and technology innovation significantly promotes green agricultural development in China through spatial spillover effects. Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces (2006–2019), the study finds that innovation improvements benefit both individual provinces and neighboring regions. Eastern provinces show declining green development while southwestern provinces improve. The research demonstrates that increased agricultural science and technology investment generates positive spillover effects across provincial boundaries, supporting evidence-based regional policy design.
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Does Directed Innovation Mitigate Climate Damage? Evidence from U.S. Agriculture
Innovation in U.S. agriculture has shifted toward crops increasingly exposed to extreme temperatures since the mid-twentieth century, driven by adaptation-focused technologies. This directed innovation significantly reduces economic damage from temperature extremes at the county level. The authors estimate that innovation has offset 20% of potential agricultural land value losses from climate trends since 1960 and could offset 13% of projected damage by 2100, demonstrating that technological adaptation provides meaningful but incomplete protection against climate change.
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Challenges hindering women entrepreneurship sustainability in rural livelihoods: Case of Manicaland province
Women entrepreneurs in rural Zimbabwe face significant barriers to business sustainability, including lack of collateral for loans, poor access to market information, and insufficient government support. The study of 30 women in vegetable vending, clothing markets, and cross-border trading identifies patriarchal social structures and role conflicts between family and business as major obstacles. Recommendations include entrepreneurship training, government schemes, and community networks to support women's economic activities.
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Rural Entrepreneurship: An Analysis of Current and Emerging Issues from the Sustainable Livelihood Framework
Rural entrepreneurship differs fundamentally from urban entrepreneurship because it operates under resource constraints. This literature review examines rural entrepreneurship through a sustainable livelihood framework, identifying key themes: women entrepreneurs, poverty reduction, youth engagement, social entrepreneurship, and institutional support. Social and human capital emerge as critical resources. The authors highlight research gaps in social entrepreneurship, governance, institutional development, livelihood growth, and eco-entrepreneurship.
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Developing a Conceptual Partner Matching Framework for Digital Green Innovation of Agricultural High-End Equipment Manufacturing System Toward Agriculture 5.0: A Novel Niche Field Model Combined With Fuzzy VIKOR
This paper develops a partner matching framework for agricultural equipment manufacturers pursuing digital green innovation. Using niche theory and fuzzy VIKOR analysis, the authors identify three core elements—technology superposition, mutual benefit, and mutual trust—that enable knowledge transfer from research institutes to industry. The framework helps manufacturers select innovation partners and implement digital green strategies in high-end equipment development.
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Understanding Farmers’ Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture Innovations: A Systematic Literature Review
Farmers adopt sustainable agriculture innovations at low rates globally, especially in the Global South. This systematic review examines sociopsychological factors driving adoption decisions. Researchers find that existing models rely on constructs borrowed from other sectors and repeat variables like attitude and subjective norms while neglecting agriculture-specific factors like knowledge. The review concludes that better-tailored determinants and context-specific measurements are needed to explain farmer adoption behavior.
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Evaluating Brazilian Agriculturalists’ IoT Smart Agriculture Adoption Barriers: Understanding Stakeholder Salience Prior to Launching an Innovation
Brazilian agriculturalists who adopted IoT smart agriculture technologies were educated, tech-savvy opinion leaders. Successful innovations were simple, easy to communicate, socially accepted, and highly functional. Observability, compatibility, and low complexity drove adoption decisions. Farmers cited excessive complexity and poor compatibility as main barriers. The study recommends targeting opinion leaders, simplifying technologies, and expanding farmer education programs.
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Factors Influencing Returning Migrants’ Entrepreneurship Intentions for Rural E-Commerce: An Empirical Investigation in China
Returning migrants in rural China show stronger intentions to start e-commerce businesses when they face urban employment barriers, receive government policy support, and have access to good infrastructure. High startup costs discourage rural e-commerce entrepreneurship. Government policies significantly mediate the relationship between startup costs and entrepreneurial intentions. The study recommends strengthening policy support, improving rural infrastructure, and reducing startup costs to encourage returning migrants to launch e-commerce ventures.
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The long way to innovation adoption: insights from precision agriculture
Italian farms adopt precision agriculture technologies at low rates despite their potential for sustainable soil management. This study uses the awareness-knowledge-adoption-product framework to identify barriers to adoption, including farm characteristics, socio-economic factors, and psychological complexity. The research finds that agricultural knowledge and innovation systems play a critical mediating role in promoting technology uptake, and strengthening these systems across all adoption phases could increase farmer understanding and reduce adoption barriers.
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Digital Villages Construction Accelerates High-Quality Economic Development in Rural China through Promoting Digital Entrepreneurship
Digital village construction in rural China drives high-quality economic development, with digital entrepreneurship serving as the key mechanism. Using entropy weight TOPSIS and mediation analysis across four regions, the study finds a positive correlation between digital infrastructure investment and rural economic growth. Digital industry entrepreneurship activity directly transmits digitalization benefits to rural economies.
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Broadband adoption and availability: Impacts on rural employment during COVID-19
During COVID-19 lockdowns in April and May 2020, rural U.S. counties with higher broadband availability and wired broadband adoption rates experienced significantly higher employment rates. Using two-stage least squares analysis while controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors, the authors demonstrate that both broadband infrastructure and household adoption directly supported rural employment when work moved online.
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Reconnecting Farmers with Nature through Agroecological Transitions: Interacting Niches and Experimentation and the Role of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems
Farmers in Almeria's greenhouse sector reconnect with nature through agroecological practices like biological control, soil health management, and ecological restoration. The study shows that experimental niches within conventional agricultural systems help farmers develop deeper ecosystem understanding and transition toward sustainability. By engaging with nature-based practices, farmers gain ecosystem services and move away from industrial agriculture's disconnection from natural systems.
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Developing a framework for radical and incremental social innovation in rural areas
Social innovation in rural areas takes two forms: radical and incremental. Using case studies from Spain and Scotland, the authors show that radical social innovation requires conflict management and new skills, while incremental innovation suits communities with different aspirations. Both pathways drive sustainable development, but they reshape communities differently. Public actors should recognize local aspirations and support appropriate innovation types.
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Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development
Global agriculture faces existential challenges that require innovation to achieve sustainable development. The paper examines how agricultural innovation can address these challenges and contribute to sustainability goals. It analyzes the relationship between technological advancement in farming and broader sustainable development objectives.
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A research agenda for evaluating living labs as an open innovation model for environmental and agricultural sustainability
Living labs—collaborative spaces where stakeholders co-create and test innovations in real-world settings—show promise for addressing environmental and agricultural challenges. This paper presents a research agenda developed through expert consultation to identify gaps in how living labs are evaluated and made effective. The authors find that living labs remain underutilized in environmental and agricultural sectors and call for better understanding of stakeholder diversity, evaluation methods, and conditions that enable their success.
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Rural Digital Innovation Hubs as a Paradigm for Sustainable Business Models in Europe’s Rural Areas
Rural Digital Innovation Hubs improve sustainability in European rural areas by connecting local businesses, people, and authorities with digital technology and skilled support. A case study of a wine hub in Slovenia shows that DIHs reduce costs, create jobs, optimize operations, lower environmental impact, and increase digital inclusion. The authors conclude that rural DIHs should be integrated into smart rural development policies.
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Introducing ‘microAKIS’: a farmer-centric approach to understanding the contribution of advice to agricultural innovation
This paper introduces microAKIS, a farmer-centered framework for analyzing how agricultural advice systems contribute to innovation on farms. The approach shifts focus from institutional structures to individual farmer experiences and decision-making, examining how advisory services actually influence farmers' adoption of new practices and technologies. The framework helps identify which advice mechanisms most effectively support agricultural innovation at the farm level.
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Urban/Rural Digital Divide Exists in Older Adults: Does It Vary by Racial/Ethnic Groups?
Older Americans in rural areas use the internet significantly less than urban counterparts, and this gap is worse for Black and Hispanic seniors. Using data from 17,372 Americans aged 50+, the study found that rural residence and racial/ethnic minority status both independently reduce internet use. Rural living creates an especially severe digital divide for older Black Americans compared to older White Americans, indicating that targeted interventions must address the compounded barriers facing rural minority seniors.
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Tourism entrepreneurship in rural destinations: measuring the effects of capital configurations using the fsQCA approach
This study examines how different types of capital combine to enable tourism entrepreneurship in rural China. Analyzing 140 rural enterprise owners, the researchers identified four distinct capital configurations that promote tourism entrepreneurship. Human and physical capital emerged as most critical. The findings show multiple pathways to success exist, and entrepreneurs must strategically combine various capital forms—human, physical, venture, and social—rather than relying on single factors alone.
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In pursuit of responsible innovation for precision agriculture technologies
Agricultural decision support systems using satellite data, drones, and machine learning reshape how farms operate, but create uneven benefits and risks. Research with farmers in Vermont and South Dakota reveals these technologies transform knowledge production, change labor arrangements, and distribute advantages unevenly. Developers must adopt inclusive deliberative processes when designing these systems to ensure ethical, equitable, and sustainable outcomes.
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The Role of Actors in Social Innovation in Rural Areas
Social innovation in rural areas depends on specific types of actors playing distinct roles. This study interviewed key informants from three socially innovative initiatives in rural Spain and Scotland. Local actors and processes prove central, while facilitators and neutral intermediaries significantly impact outcomes. Social economy organizations coordinate networks effectively, and public sector involvement through LEADER programs shapes how rural communities address social needs and opportunities.
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Social Innovation in Rural Areas of the European Union Learnings from Neo-Endogenous Development Projects in Italy and Spain
Social innovation in rural EU areas, particularly in Spain and Italy, succeeds through public-private partnerships and the LEADER approach. Local leaders, social enterprises, and Local Action Groups drive participation by overcoming community resistance. Effective projects require collective learning, sustained long-term commitment, and integration of both external and internal knowledge. Network complexity influences outcomes, and intangible contributions often go undervalued in rural development practice.
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Stimulating small-scale farmer innovation and adaptation with Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA): Lessons from successful implementation in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and South Asia
PICSA is a participatory approach that trains smallholder farmers to use climate and weather information for agricultural decision-making. Evaluations across seven countries show 87% of trained farmers made beneficial changes to crops, livestock, or livelihoods. The approach succeeds by treating farmers as decision-makers, tailoring information to local contexts, and strengthening extension and meteorological services. Over 200,000 farmers in 23 countries have been trained, and the method is now integrated into policy and training programs.
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Access to finance and rural youth entrepreneurship in Benin: Is there a gender gap?
Rural youth in Benin face significant barriers to entrepreneurship, particularly access to finance. Using survey data from over 900 youths, the study finds that access to finance increases the probability of youth entrepreneurship by 15.2%. However, a substantial gender gap exists: young women with access to finance are 5.24% less likely to start ventures than young men. Age, education, poverty status, agricultural experience, and bank branch proximity all influence finance access. The authors recommend policymakers reduce collateral requirements to expand financing for youth, especially women.
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Organic agriculture: A fountain of alternative innovations for social, economic, and environmental challenges of conventional agriculture in a developing country context
Organic farming in Kenya generates multiple innovations addressing conventional agriculture's failures. Farmers adopted financial innovations, peer learning systems, and agro-tourism. They converted waste into pest control and soil fertility products, created new marketing channels like farmers' markets and delivery schemes, and established participatory certification systems. These innovations reduce information gaps, market risk, and financial service barriers. However, government policy support remains insufficient.
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Global investment gap in agricultural research and innovation to meet Sustainable Development Goals for hunger and Paris Agreement climate change mitigation
Agricultural research and development investments must increase by $4 billion annually, plus $6.5 billion yearly for climate-smart farming technologies, to end global hunger by 2030 and meet Paris Agreement climate targets. The analysis models how conservation tillage, improved nitrogen use, better livestock management, and other sustainable practices reduce greenhouse gas emissions while cutting hunger to 5% worldwide.
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Does Digital Financial Inclusion Reduce China’s Rural Household Vulnerability to Poverty: An Empirical Analysis From the Perspective of Household Entrepreneurship
Digital financial inclusion reduces rural poverty vulnerability in China by enabling household entrepreneurship. The study finds that digital financial services are particularly effective for low-income households in regions with limited financial development and human capital. The research recommends that China develop digital financial inclusion infrastructure and coordinate it with other poverty-reduction policies to prevent households from returning to poverty.
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Disruption disrupted? Reflecting on the relationship between responsible innovation and digital agriculture research and development at multiple levels in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
Digital agriculture technologies promise productivity gains but create socio-ethical challenges. This paper examines responsible innovation practices in Australian and New Zealand public agricultural research organizations. The authors find that responsible innovation remains only partially implemented, with gaps between stated goals and actual practice. They argue that systemic organizational changes—including new performance measures and reward structures—are necessary to embed responsibility across research teams and enhance socially beneficial outcomes in digital agriculture development.
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Progress towards enhanced access and use of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic: A need to be mindful of the continued digital divide for many rural and northern communities
COVID-19 accelerated technology adoption in rural and northern areas, but widened the digital divide for many residents. Older adults increased their technology use, and organizations deployed new tools for healthcare, social engagement, and caregiver support. The paper examines strategies to bridge this divide and recommends that policymakers leverage pandemic lessons to ensure rural and northern communities gain lasting benefits from technology access and close persistent digital gaps.
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The green side of social innovation: Using sustainable development goals to classify environmental impacts of rural grassroots initiatives
Rural grassroots social innovations across Europe and the Mediterranean region deliver measurable environmental benefits. Analyzing 238 initiatives, the researchers found that 68% directly address sustainable development goals, with the strongest impacts in natural resource management, sustainable food production, and land access. The study demonstrates that SDG classification effectively categorizes and communicates the environmental value of community-led rural innovations.
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Effectiveness of Climate-Smart Agriculture Innovations in Smallholder Agriculture System in Ethiopia
This study evaluated how climate-smart agriculture innovations affect smallholder farmers in Ethiopia's highlands. Using data from 424 farmers, researchers found that improved crop varieties, compost, row planting, and agroforestry simultaneously boost food security, climate adaptation, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Crop rotation and soil conservation each delivered two of these three benefits. Crop residue management failed to meet the targets. The authors recommend farmers adopt a portfolio combining improved varieties, crop rotation, compost, row planting, soil conservation, and agroforestry.
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The contingent nature of broadband as an engine for business startups in rural areas
Ultrafast broadband deployment in rural France increased business startups, but only in municipalities with strong existing conditions like good economic climate, natural amenities, and favorable demographics. Broadband alone cannot revitalize structurally weak rural areas; it requires complementary local assets to be effective.
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Effects of perceptions on adoption of climate-smart agriculture innovations: empirical evidence from the upper Blue Nile Highlands of Ethiopia
Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia's Upper Blue Nile Highlands adopt climate-smart agriculture innovations like improved crop varieties, soil conservation, and agroforestry when they perceive these practices increase productivity, enhance soil fertility, and reduce climate vulnerability. Positive perceptions about benefits for food security and climate adaptation drive adoption. The study recommends strengthening farmer awareness through extension services and local institutions to boost CSA uptake.
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Techno-economic analysis of off-grid PV-Diesel power generation system for rural electrification: A case study of Chilubi district in Zambia
A techno-economic analysis of hybrid power systems for rural electrification in Chilubi district, Zambia shows that standalone diesel generators are economically unsustainable due to high fuel costs and maintenance. Pure photovoltaic systems with battery storage deliver the lowest levelized cost of energy, despite higher upfront capital costs. Declining solar installation costs make PV systems increasingly attractive for off-grid rural electrification compared to diesel alternatives.
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Optimal Design of a Hybrid Off-Grid Renewable Energy System Using Techno-Economic and Sensitivity Analysis for a Rural Remote Location
Researchers designed an optimal hybrid renewable energy system for a remote rural village in India using solar, wind, diesel, and hydrogen storage. The system minimizes costs while maximizing renewable energy use, achieving 84% renewable fraction at $0.244 per kilowatt-hour. Solar paired with battery storage proved most economical. Sensitivity analysis tested performance across varying loads, project lifespans, and equipment degradation.
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Designing and Sensitivity Analysis of an Off-Grid Hybrid Wind-Solar Power Plant with Diesel Generator and Battery Backup for the Rural Area in Iran
Researchers designed and analyzed off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems for a rural Iranian village lacking grid electricity. Using HOMER software, they evaluated combinations of solar, wind, diesel generators, and batteries to meet daily energy demands of 22 kWh. Sensitivity analysis tested how variations in solar radiation, light reflection, and wind speed affected system performance. Four hybrid configurations emerged as viable options, with solar-wind-generator-battery systems offering cost-effective solutions for remote areas.
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Optimizing the performance of hybrid renewable energy systems to accelerate a sustainable energy transition in Nigeria: A case study of a rural healthcare centre in Kano
A hybrid renewable energy system combining solar panels and diesel generators was designed and tested for a rural healthcare facility in Kano, Nigeria. The solar-diesel configuration proved most cost-effective, generating $30,583 in annual savings with a 1.3-year payback period while reducing CO2 emissions by 75 tons annually. This approach addresses severe energy shortages in rural African healthcare facilities and offers a practical alternative to relying solely on diesel generators.
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Can China’s digital inclusive finance help rural revitalization? A perspective based on rural economic development and income disparity
Digital inclusive finance in China promotes rural revitalization by expanding economic growth and reducing urban-rural income gaps. The effect varies by region, with stronger impacts in eastern and central provinces than western areas. Coverage breadth and usage depth drive revitalization, while digitalization shows a U-shaped relationship. A threshold effect exists: below certain levels, digital finance facilitates revitalization; above thresholds, effects strengthen significantly.
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Parents' perceptions of distance learning during COVID-19 in rural Indonesia
Parents in rural Indonesia adapted to distance learning during COVID-19 school closures through mixed online and offline approaches. While parents accepted the necessity, distance learning created economic, psychological, and social burdens on families. Many parents lacked time and teaching skills to support their children effectively. Despite parental efforts to provide internet access and homework help, children's learning motivation and cognitive abilities declined. Parents wanted schools to reopen rather than extend remote learning.
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On the urban-rural bus transit system with passenger-freight mixed flow
This paper examines bus transit systems that serve both urban and rural areas while carrying mixed passenger and freight loads. The authors analyze how combining these functions affects system efficiency and operations, providing insights into integrated transportation solutions that can serve dispersed rural populations while maintaining economic viability through freight revenue.
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Optimization of Hybrid Renewable Energy Microgrid for Rural Agricultural Area in Southern Philippines
Researchers designed and optimized a hybrid renewable energy microgrid for rural agricultural communities in Southern Philippines, combining hydropower, solar panels, diesel generation, and battery storage. Using optimization algorithms, they identified component sizes that minimize power outages, energy costs, and emissions simultaneously. The optimal system includes 100 solar panels, 100 kWh battery storage, and a 13 kW diesel generator, achieving reliable power supply with low costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
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Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on Rural High‐Quality Development: Evidence from China
Digital inclusive finance significantly promotes rural economic development in China by improving economic efficiency, urban-rural structure, ecological sustainability, livelihoods, and innovation capacity. The relationship is nonlinear, initially restraining growth before accelerating after a threshold. The authors recommend expanding rural digital infrastructure and inclusive finance services, particularly in economically underdeveloped regions.
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Impact of Population Aging and Renewable Energy Consumption on Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity in Rural China: Evidence from Panel VAR Approach
Using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces (2000–2019), this study finds that population aging and renewable energy consumption both positively impact agricultural green total factor productivity in the long run. Population aging contributes 2.23% and renewable energy use contributes 0.56% to productivity gains over a 15-year lag period. The authors recommend improving agricultural infrastructure, increasing technology investment, building human capital, and strengthening international cooperation.
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Performance and reliability analysis of an off-grid PV mini-grid system in rural tropical Africa: A case study in southern Ethiopia
A solar photovoltaic mini-grid system in rural Ethiopia generated 46.6% less electricity than estimated, delivering only 87% of produced power to users due to capture and system losses. The system performed poorly with 13% capacity factor and 8.76% overall efficiency, forcing 13 hours of daily power cuts. The study shows that accurate demand forecasting and proper system sizing accounting for local weather and future growth are essential for reliable off-grid rural electrification.
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The pursuit of indigenous innovation amid the Tech Cold War: The case of a Chinese high-tech firm
A Chinese high-tech firm pursued indigenous innovation during geopolitical tensions by leveraging organizational cultural attributes including patriotism, elitism, and endurance of hardship. The study shows how emerging market firms develop advanced capabilities to reduce dependence on international knowledge sources when facing techno-nationalist restrictions. Organizational culture and state policies significantly shape innovation strategies for firms operating under geopolitical constraints.
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Credit risk in Islamic microfinance institutions: The role of women, groups, and rural borrowers
Islamic microfinance institutions reduce credit risk by offering more group loans, serving more women, and lending to rural borrowers. Conventional microfinance institutions show opposite patterns, benefiting from fewer group loans and rural lending. The findings demonstrate that Islamic MFIs can successfully promote financial inclusion for women and rural populations while maintaining strong credit quality by leveraging social dynamics within Muslim communities.
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Analysing citizens’ perceptions of renewable energies in rural areas: A case study on wind farms in Spain
Wind energy installations in rural Spain create mixed socio-economic effects that vary significantly by location and stakeholder group. A survey of residents in Campo de Belchite found heterogeneous perceptions of wind farms' impacts on employment, demographics, and local economies. The study shows that management models critically influence social acceptance, and recommends more decentralized, participatory, and transparent governance approaches to maximize rural development benefits.
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Performance characterization of low-cost air quality sensors for off-grid deployment in rural Malawi
Low-cost air quality sensors deployed in rural Malawi can effectively monitor air pollution when calibrated using data from regulatory sites in wealthier regions. Machine learning models, particularly k-nearest neighbors hybrid approaches, successfully calibrate electrochemical gas sensors and transfer well to deployment conditions. Optical particle counters performed poorly in high humidity and near biomass burning. Data recovery was limited by power constraints, but sensors showed no decay over one year. The study demonstrates feasibility while identifying needs for improved power systems and regional monitoring infrastructure.
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A renewable energy-centred research agenda for planning and financing Nexus development objectives in rural sub-Saharan Africa
Rural sub-Saharan Africa faces overlapping development gaps: most cropland relies on rainfall alone, smallholder farmers lack electricity for irrigation and storage, and two-thirds of rural residents have no power access. This paper proposes a research agenda integrating renewable energy, water, climate, and agriculture to develop sustainable business models that help smallholder farmers increase yields and escape poverty while accounting for population growth and climate extremes.
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Policy Pathways for Mapping Clean Energy Access for Cooking in the Global South—A Case for Rural Communities
Rural communities in the Global South lack access to modern cooking energy, affecting 1.5 billion people. This study maps clean cooking technologies and policies for three countries—Fiji, Ghana, and Nigeria—by surveying end-users, energy suppliers, and interest groups. The research proposes policy pathways that coordinate governments, NGOs, energy developers, and businesses, with a business model progressing from government-driven to incentive-driven to private-sector-driven as technology adoption increases.
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Understanding the Antecedents of Entrepreneurship and Renewable Energies to Promote the Development of Community Renewable Energy in Rural Areas
Community renewable energy projects in rural areas depend on entrepreneurship and renewable energy technology adoption. This systematic review identifies five interconnected capital factors—economic, human, social, physical, and natural—that enable or constrain these projects in developed countries. Northern Europe leads in community renewable energy development while Southern Europe lags. The study maps causal relationships between these factors to guide policymakers in designing strategies that strengthen rural renewable energy initiatives.
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Islands of Indigenous innovation: reclaiming and reconceptualising innovation within, against and beyond colonial‐capitalism
This paper challenges the dominant capitalist definition of innovation by examining Indigenous innovation through a critical lens. Using case studies from Te Moana-nui-a-kiwa (the Pacific), the authors demonstrate that Indigenous communities practice innovation outside and against colonial-capitalism, focused on collective wellbeing rather than profit. The paper reclaims innovation as central to Indigeneity and expands its meaning to include collective struggle and survival.
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Finding the context indigenous innovation in village enterprise knowledge structure: a topic modeling
Indigenous communities possess deep knowledge of environmental sustainability and natural resource use that drives rural economic growth. This study analyzed 1,440 research articles on village enterprises using topic modeling to map their knowledge structure. The analysis identified key topics including local ownership, land use, services, economy, microfinance, environmental management, and social entrepreneurship. Four natural resource-based sectors emerged: traditional food production, bio-energy, agriculture, and tourism. The resulting knowledge structure provides a foundation for evaluating village enterprises and guiding future research.
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Integration of Renewable Energies in Mobile Employment Promotion Units for Rural Populations
This paper evaluates hybrid renewable energy systems for mobile service units delivering healthcare, training, and employment services to rural populations. The researchers tested two solar photovoltaic installations on trucks, modeled energy performance across seasons, and simulated different battery-storage combinations. Results show that larger solar arrays (3.54 kWp) capture significantly more energy and reduce battery cycling, while optimized PV-battery configurations decrease reliance on diesel generators.
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Optimal Operation of an Integrated Hybrid Renewable Energy System with Demand-Side Management in a Rural Context
This study designs an optimal hybrid renewable energy system for five remote, grid-disconnected villages in Odisha, India. The researchers modeled six system configurations using different battery technologies and dispatch strategies, then tested them with and without demand-side management. A nickel-iron battery system with load-following strategy and high-efficiency appliances achieved the lowest lifecycle cost at USD 522,945. The Salp Swarm Algorithm proved most effective for optimization, and interest rate fluctuations significantly affected system performance.
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Electrification of Rural Remote Areas Using Renewable Energy Sources: Literature Review
Renewable energy sources effectively electrify remote rural settlements worldwide, with systems ranging from kilowatts to megawatts. The paper reviews global practices for designing isolated energy systems, focusing on optimizing equipment composition and structure. Key challenges include balancing multiple objectives—minimizing energy costs and fossil fuel use while maximizing reliability and living standards—and implementing support mechanisms for environmentally friendly generation in remote areas.
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Optimal planning of renewable integrated rural microgrid for sustainable energy supply
This paper develops an optimization method for designing standalone microgrids in rural areas that combine renewable energy sources with battery storage. Using a case study in rural India, the researchers apply grey wolf optimization to minimize energy costs and emissions while meeting local electricity demand. The optimal system configuration achieved a levelized cost of 0.203 $/kWh with 92% renewable energy, demonstrating technical and economic feasibility for remote rural electrification.
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Indigenous versus foreign innovation and ecological footprint: Dynamic threshold effect of corruption
Indigenous and foreign innovation affect ecological footprint differently across developed and developing countries. In developed nations, both types of innovation reduce environmental impact, but this benefit reverses when corruption rises above a threshold. In developing countries, innovation increases ecological footprint, with corruption further worsening this effect. Economic growth and urbanization drive higher footprints globally.
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An Overview of Energy Access Solutions for Rural Healthcare Facilities
Rural healthcare facilities in Sub-Saharan Africa lack reliable electricity access, limiting medical equipment operation and increasing mortality rates. This review identifies hybrid renewable energy systems with solar panels and batteries as effective solutions for powering rural health centers. Combining these systems with demand-side management reduces installation costs and improves efficiency. Energy access modeling tools support rural electrification planning for healthcare facilities.
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How Far is Microfinance Relevant for Empowering Rural Women? An Empirical Investigation
Microfinance institutions significantly improve economic, social, and psychological empowerment for rural women borrowers in West Bengal, India. The study analyzed primary data from backward districts using statistical regression methods and found that microfinance programs meaningfully enhance women's standard of living and overall empowerment. The research identifies key determinants driving these positive outcomes.
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Does a joint United Nations microfinance ‘plus’ program empower female farmers in rural Ethiopia? Evidence using the pro-WEAI
A UN microfinance program in rural Ethiopia using women-run savings cooperatives increased intrinsic agency and spousal trust among women farmers who maintained credit access. However, some beneficiaries dropped out or lost access early, suggesting implementation challenges or community resistance. The study demonstrates that standardized empowerment metrics can effectively measure development program impacts on rural women in smallholder agriculture.
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Optimization of Electric Bus Scheduling for Mixed Passenger and Freight Flow in an Urban-Rural Transit System
This paper proposes an integrated passenger-freight transit system for urban-rural corridors that addresses low bus utilization and scattered freight demand. The authors develop an optimization model using mixed-integer linear programming to schedule electric buses that alternate between dedicated passenger trips and mixed on-demand passenger-freight trips, accounting for charging needs and service time windows. Testing on real and simulated networks shows the approach reduces travel costs while improving connectivity and resource efficiency in rural areas.
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Enabling Indigenous innovations to re-centre social licence to operate in the Blue Economy
The paper argues that sustainable Blue Economy development requires centering Indigenous perspectives on social licence to operate. It calls for shifting governance practices so Indigenous groups grant consent based on their own values at every project stage, not just initial approval. The authors propose collaborative arrangements and Indigenous-led platforms that respect historical, social, cultural, and economic contexts, enabling Indigenous peoples to participate equitably in ocean-based industries and business agreements.
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Equal goods, but inequitable capabilities? A gender-differentiated study of off-grid solar energy in rural Tanzania
Off-grid solar systems in rural Tanzania provide equal access to energy goods but create unequal capabilities, particularly for women and low-income households. The poorest households cannot afford solar home systems, while wealthier households use them as backup power. Solar energy remains underutilized for income generation. The study recommends policy reforms and tracking frameworks to ensure women and low-income groups gain equitable capability benefits from off-grid solar expansion.
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Complementarity or Substitution: A Study of the Impacts of Internet Finance and Rural Financial Development on Agricultural Economic Growth
Using Chinese county-level data from 2014–2018, this study examines how internet finance and rural finance affect agricultural economic growth. The researchers found that both contribute to growth, but show substitution effects—internet finance reduces the marginal impact of traditional rural finance. Internet finance benefits wealthy counties but hinders development in poorer regions. The findings suggest policymakers should restructure rural financial markets and modernize traditional financial institutions.
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Building a Sustainable Energy Community: Design and Integrate Variable Renewable Energy Systems for Rural Communities
Researchers designed a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar and wind power for a rural community in Saudi Arabia. The system serves residential buildings and irrigation needs, optimized using HOMER software and artificial neural networks. Results show the system achieves 65% renewable energy penetration at $0.1053 per kilowatt-hour while reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by 233 tons.
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Microfinance and micropreneurship in rural South-East Nigeria: an exploration of the effects of institutions
This study examines 30 women micropreneurs in rural South-East Nigeria to understand how institutions affect their entrepreneurial activities. While microfinance is widely promoted as a solution to institutional gaps in poor regions, the research finds that socio-cultural barriers and patriarchal traditions significantly limit women's trust and engagement with microfinance services. The authors conclude that effective enterprise support in developing nations must address local socio-cultural institutions and lived realities rather than relying solely on financial interventions.
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Socio-economic impacts of energy access through off-grid systems in rural communities: a case study of southwest Nigeria
Off-grid energy systems in rural southwest Nigeria created new businesses and jobs while reducing energy costs and increasing household income. The study analyzed how factors like gender, education, business age, and operating hours influenced income generation among electrified enterprises. Results demonstrate that energy access through off-grid systems drives measurable economic development in rural communities.
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Solar-Battery-Integrated Hybrid AC/DC Off-Grid System for Rural Households Based on a Novel Multioutput Converter
This paper presents a hybrid solar-battery system designed for rural households that simultaneously powers AC and DC appliances without grid connection. The proposed two-stage converter reduces complexity and cost compared to existing off-grid systems by eliminating unnecessary converter stages, incorporating maximum power point tracking, battery protection, and voltage regulation in a single integrated design. Laboratory testing on a 400-watt prototype validates the system's performance.
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A Rising Role for Decentralized Solar Minigrids in Integrated Rural Electrification Planning? Large-Scale, Least-Cost, and Customer-Wise Design of Grid and Off-Grid Supply Systems in Uganda
Uganda faces severe electrification challenges, especially in rural areas. This paper develops an integrated planning model that combines grid extension, solar minigrids, and standalone systems to find the lowest-cost electrification strategy. Applied to southern Uganda, the model shows that minigrids can deliver reliable electricity at significantly lower cost than grid extension in many locations, suggesting they should become central to national electrification planning rather than temporary solutions.
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Entrepreneurial activities and women empowerment in rural India between microfinance and social capital
Microfinance alone does not empower rural women in India. The study finds that social capital—the networks and relationships within peer-lending groups—enables women to access loans and repay them. However, genuine empowerment occurs only when women use these financial resources to start their own businesses and pursue self-determined goals, not simply to fulfill household obligations.
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Renewable-Energy-Powered Cellular Base-Stations in Kuwait’s Rural Areas
This paper evaluates hybrid renewable energy systems to power remote cellular base-stations in two rural areas of Kuwait. The researchers modeled wind turbine and solar panel configurations using local climate data and optimization software. Wind turbines with battery storage proved most cost-effective at the windier site, while solar panels with batteries worked best at the sunnier location. Both configurations eliminated diesel generator use, reduced costs, and achieved zero emissions compared to conventional diesel-powered stations.
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Integrated techno-economic-environmental design of off-grid microgrid model for rural power supply in India
This paper designs an off-grid microgrid system for rural Indian villages using solar, wind, methanol, and diesel generators combined with battery storage. The researchers optimized the system across technical, economic, and environmental metrics using a slime mould algorithm. The hybrid PV-wind-methanol-diesel configuration achieved the best balance of power reliability, cost, and emissions compared to other combinations.
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Intersecting Knowledge With Landscape: Indigenous Agriculture, Sustainable Food Production and Response to Climate Change – A Case Study of Chuktia Bhunjia Tribe of Odisha, India
The Chuktia Bhunjia tribe in Odisha, India practices sustainable agriculture rooted in local ecology, beliefs, and rituals. Their methods—intercropping, agroforestry, crop rotation, and rainwater harvesting—maintain soil fertility, reduce greenhouse gases, and adapt to climate change while remaining cost-effective. The tribe's knowledge, culturally transmitted through ritual practice, supports both food security and ecosystem conservation. Displacement from a tiger conservation project threatens this integrated system.
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Analysis of a Hybrid Nuclear Renewable Energy Resource in a Distributed Energy System for a Rural Area in Nigeria
This paper analyzes hybrid energy systems combining nuclear microreactors with renewable sources for rural Nigeria. Using simulation software, the authors tested distributed energy configurations and found that a photovoltaic-nuclear-battery system performed best, followed by photovoltaic-nuclear-wind-battery systems. Nuclear microreactors address renewable energy's intermittency problems while providing stable, clean electricity in decentralized rural settings.
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Assessment of crop residues for off-grid rural electrification options in Ghana
Ghana's rural areas lack electricity access for 28% of the population. This study assessed crop residues as a biomass energy source for off-grid rural electrification. Researchers found 29 million tonnes of surplus crop residues could generate 401 petajoules annually. Gasification and combustion technologies produce electricity at $0.29–$0.34 per kilowatt-hour, exceeding current residential tariffs. Despite higher costs, crop residue-based electricity generation remains viable for rural Ghana with financial support.
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A systematic PLS-SEM approach on assessment of indigenous knowledge in adapting to floods; A way forward to sustainable agriculture
Indigenous knowledge significantly influences how farmers adapt to floods and practice sustainable agriculture. The study identifies key factors affecting farmers' flood knowledge through statistical analysis, with age showing no relationship to this knowledge. The findings support policy recommendations for governments to develop integrated flood management strategies that protect farmers, ecosystems, and food systems while promoting sustainable agricultural development.
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Roadmapping 5.0 Technologies in Agriculture: A Technological Proposal for Developing the Coffee Plant Centered on Indigenous Producers’ Requirements from Mexico, via Knowledge Management
This study develops a technology roadmap for Mexican indigenous coffee producers to adopt Industry 5.0 technologies. Researchers analyzed needs across five Mexican localities and identified key practices—monitoring, soil analysis, organic fertilizer production, and experimentation—that should be supported by mobile apps, sensors, virtual platforms, greenhouses, and spectrophotometric tools. The proposal prioritizes producer requirements and local contexts to address pest-related production losses affecting global coffee economies.
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Factors Influencing the Coupling of the Development of Rural Urbanization and Rural Finance: Evidence from Rural China
This study analyzes how rural urbanization and rural finance develop together in China using data from 31 provinces between 2010 and 2019. The research finds that coupling between these two areas remains low across most regions, indicating uncoordinated development. Urban population density reduces coupling effectiveness, while per capita GDP, fiscal spending, and built-up area strengthen it. Financial development's impact varies by region: in less-developed areas it boosts coordination, but in more-developed areas it weakens it.
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Application of MOPSO to the Optimisation of an Off-Grid Photovoltaic System in a Rural Fruit Farm
Researchers optimized an off-grid solar power system for a 60-acre fruit farm in Egypt using multi-objective algorithms. The study determined the ideal number of solar panels and battery banks to minimize total costs while ensuring reliable power supply. Results show the system's net present cost, cost per kilowatt-hour, and energy surplus levels, enabling profitable renewable energy adoption for agricultural operations.
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A feasibility study and cost benefit analysis of an off-grid hybrid system for a rural area electrification
Researchers designed an off-grid hybrid solar and biogas power system for rural facilities in Uttar Pradesh, India, using HOMER optimization software. The system serves two schools and a community building. Analysis shows the hybrid configuration is technically and economically feasible, with sensitivity testing confirming viability across varying biomass availability, costs, solar conditions, and electricity demand.
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Optimal Decision-Making on Hybrid Off-Grid Energy Systems for Rural and Remote Areas Electrification in the Northern Cameroon
Researchers compared ten hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in northern Cameroon using optimization software. A solar-diesel-battery system proved most cost-effective at $0.36–0.39 per kilowatt-hour, while pure solar-battery systems achieved zero emissions with 100% renewable penetration. The solar-diesel option balanced economics and environment with 95–96% renewable energy. System attractiveness improved with longer project lifespans, lower fuel prices, and reduced discount rates.
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Demand Response Transit Scheduling Research Based on Urban and Rural Transportation Station Optimization
Researchers developed a clustering algorithm combining DBSCAN and K-means to optimize demand-responsive transit routes between urban and rural areas. Testing in Henan Province, China, the system reduced operating costs by 9.5% and running time by 9.0% compared to regional flexible buses. The approach preprocesses passenger demand and optimizes station locations to improve service efficiency while promoting urban-rural integration.
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Technology Innovation and Digital Journalism Practice by Indigenous African-language Newspapers: The Case of <i>uMthunywa</i> in Zimbabwe
This paper examines how uMthunywa, a Zimbabwean indigenous-language newspaper, adopted digital journalism practices after stopping print production in 2020. The study finds that technological innovation remained limited due to organizational barriers including technophobia, poor capitalization, and staff lacking digital skills. The newspaper selectively adopted new digital practices primarily for survival rather than comprehensive transformation.
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Integrating Local and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge (IEK) Systems into Climate Adaptation Policy for Resilience Building, and Sustainability in Agriculture
Local and indigenous ecological knowledge systems help rural communities in southern Bangladesh adapt to climate change impacts on agriculture. The paper documents how these traditional adaptation strategies strengthen resilience and sustainability among poor farmers facing environmental pressures. The author argues policymakers must integrate indigenous knowledge into climate adaptation and development policies, especially in resource-scarce regions where communities depend on these proven strategies.
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Analysis and Optimum Energy Management of Renewable Integrated Rural Distribution Network
This paper develops an optimization algorithm to manage rural distribution networks that integrate renewable energy sources like solar and wind. The researchers use a differential evolution algorithm to solve operational problems including voltage violations, power losses, and poor power factor. Testing on a real distribution network shows the algorithm improves voltage stability, power factor, and reduces energy losses.
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Adoption of renewable energy innovations in the Portuguese rural tourist accommodation sector
Portuguese rural tourism accommodation owners hold positive views toward renewable energy but rarely adopt it. The study identifies a significant gap between perception and action, driven by unfavorable market conditions and institutional barriers including legal and regulatory obstacles. Geographic location influenced adoption, but unit characteristics and owner demographics did not.
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Power to the people: Applying citizen science and computer vision to home mapping for rural energy access
Researchers combined citizen science, satellite imagery, and computer vision to map remote homes in Uganda, Kenya, and Sierra Leone for rural electricity planning. Thousands of volunteers annotated 578,010 homes on the Zooniverse platform, achieving 93% recall. These annotations trained a machine learning model that mapped homes at scale with 67% precision, demonstrating that citizen science and computer vision can rapidly identify where rural populations live to support energy system design.
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Water insecurity, food insecurity and social capital associated with a group-led microfinance programme in semi-rural Kenya
A microfinance programme in semi-rural Kenya reduced water and food insecurity through increased social capital. Higher social capital—measured by group cohesion, trust, and mutual support—directly lowered water insecurity, which in turn reduced food insecurity. The findings suggest that programmes building social connections can address interconnected food and water security challenges in rural low- and middle-income communities.
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Digital inclusive finance and the development of sports industry: An empirical study from the perspective of upgrading the living level of rural residents
Digital inclusive finance promotes sports industry development in rural China by increasing rural residents' disposable income and improving their consumption patterns. The study analyzes provincial data from 2015–2019 and finds that digital finance creates scale effects that boost sports industry growth while upgrading rural living standards. Digital finance's precision targeting helps reshape rural consumption toward sports-related goods and services.
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Techno-Economic and Environmental Analysis of Renewable Mix Hybrid Energy System for Sustainable Electrification of Al-Dhafrat Rural Area in Oman
This paper designs and models a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar, wind, and diesel generation for a rural area in Oman. Using HOMER optimization software, researchers found that a PV-wind-diesel microgrid reduces energy costs by 55%, diesel consumption by 70%, and greenhouse gas emissions by 70% compared to the current diesel-only system. The study demonstrates that Oman can achieve sustainable rural electrification through hybrid microgrids.
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Case study on demand side management‐based cost optimized battery integrated hybrid renewable energy system for remote rural electrification
This study designs a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar, wind, diesel, and battery storage to electrify remote villages in India. Using demand-side management strategies—load shifting and strategic conservation—the system reduces net present costs by 37% compared to conventional approaches. Zinc-bromide batteries with predictive dispatch control deliver the optimal configuration for village clusters, and the model can be applied to similar geographic regions.
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Rural low‐carbon energy development in the information age: Can internet access drive the farmer to participate in personal carbon trading schemes related to bioenergy?
Internet access increases farmers' willingness to participate in personal carbon trading schemes for bioenergy in rural China. The study finds that farmers with internet access show higher participation rates and demand higher carbon prices. Male, younger, and less-educated farmers respond most strongly to internet access. Longer internet use correlates with greater participation willingness, suggesting rural broadband infrastructure can promote carbon trading adoption and reduce rural poverty.
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Off-grid households’ preferences for electricity services: Policy implications for mini-grid deployment in rural Tanzania
Mini-grid electricity projects in rural Tanzania face revenue challenges that limit expansion. This study surveyed off-grid households to understand their preferences for electricity services. Households showed diverse preferences linked to gender, income, and energy behaviors. The researchers recommend tiered tariff structures tailored to different customer segments, competition with solar home systems, and targeted support for female-led households to improve mini-grid financial viability and deployment.
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Does the digital economy promote “innovation and entrepreneurship” in rural tourism in China?
Digital economy development in rural China drives tourism entrepreneurship by promoting innovation. Using data from 150 counties in the Yangtze River Delta, the authors show that higher rural digitalization correlates with more model villages and increased tourism entrepreneurial activity. Digital tools reduce innovation costs, enabling rural entrepreneurs to develop new tourism products that attract more business creation.
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Social Innovation: The Promise and the Reality in Marginalised Rural Areas in Europe
Social innovation offers a practical approach to addressing challenges in marginal rural European areas, but the concept lacks clear theoretical grounding and suffers from definitional confusion. Three European case studies demonstrate that when committed local actors, enabling institutions, and supportive policies align, social innovation delivers positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes in specific places. However, the concept faces competition from established frameworks like community-led local development and emerging approaches like smart villages.
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Social Innovation Impacts and Their Assessment: An Exploratory Study of a Social Innovation Initiative from a Portuguese Rural Region
This case study examines how a social innovation initiative in rural Portugal creates measurable impacts across multiple sectors and timeframes. The research finds that the local development association ADC Moura generates effects spanning social, economic, institutional, and environmental domains, with strongest influence at the municipal level. The study demonstrates that social innovation assessment in rural contexts requires multi-dimensional frameworks capturing impacts beyond single sectors.
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A social innovation model for equitable access to quality health services for rural populations: a case from Sumapaz, a rural district of Bogota, Colombia
A social innovation model developed in rural Sumapaz, Colombia demonstrates how to achieve equitable healthcare access for vulnerable populations through community participation and holistic health approaches. The model addresses systemic gaps in care coordination and upstream health factors, enhancing service quality while generating broader community benefits in agriculture and development. The case shows that creative strategies can extend Universal Health Coverage to remote areas.
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The Role of Farmers’ Umbrella Organizations in Building Transformative Capacity around Grassroots Innovations in Rural Agri-Food Systems in Guatemala
Farmers' umbrella organizations in rural Guatemala catalyze transformative capacity for grassroots innovations in food systems. These organizations enable socio-technical transitions by creating shared sustainability visions, supporting experimentation, providing technical assistance, and connecting farmers across household, community, and institutional levels. Gender and generational gaps limit this potential and require further attention.
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Innovations in Community-Based Tourism: Social Responsibility Actions in the Rural Tourism in the Province of Santa Elena–Ecuador
Community-based tourism in rural Ecuador integrates social responsibility practices that enable local participation, protect cultural heritage, and distribute benefits equitably. This qualitative study identifies how social responsibility actions in tourism operations strengthen local organization and sustainable development. The research reveals that informal community tourism practices embody social responsibility dimensions comparable to formal organizations, establishing indicators for measuring sustainable rural tourism outcomes.
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Hacking Hekla: Exploring the dynamics of digital innovation in rural areas
This study examines a hackathon called Hacking Hekla in rural Iceland to understand how digital innovation actually works in practice. The researchers found a significant gap between regional policies promoting digitalization and what actually happens in rural communities. Digital innovation in rural areas proves far more complex than policymakers assume, requiring long-term commitment rather than quick fixes to produce meaningful results.
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A rural laboratory in the Austrian alm—Tracing the contingent processes fostering social innovation at the local level
Social innovation in rural areas emerges through evolving ecosystems and infrastructures rather than isolated projects. This study of Austria's Mühlviertel region shows how local perceptions and development ideas become institutionalized through governance networks over time, combining incremental and radical innovations in contingent, temporally dependent processes.
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Rural Community Development Click-by-Click. Processes and dynamics of digitally supported social innovations in peripheral rural areas
Digital tools are transforming how peripheral rural communities address local challenges in communication, healthcare, and mobility. This study of five German villages identifies how digitally supported social innovations develop through three phases: inspiration, emergence, and consolidation. The process follows a linear-circular pattern, combining targeted problem-solving with creative feedback loops that generate new ideas throughout implementation.
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‘Regenerative’ Social Innovation for European Rural Regions? Lessons from Regenerative Farming
Regenerative agriculture represents an emerging form of rural social innovation in Europe, where grassroots farming initiatives embed food production within social and ecological systems. These practices encourage shared responsibility for resource use and challenge mainstream development models. The paper argues regenerative farming offers a pathway toward non-extractivist economies that fundamentally rethink growth and production systems.
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Public Institutions and Ngos Cooperation for Social Innovations in Post-Socialist Rural Poland
Public institutions in rural Poland implement social innovations to address community problems, often partnering with NGOs. A survey of 330 public institutions and 400 NGOs found that cooperation with NGOs does not distinguish institutions that successfully implemented social innovations from those that did not. The financial and human resources available to NGOs also had no significant effect on whether public institutions chose to collaborate with them.
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Does BLE technology contribute towards improving marketing strategies, customers’ satisfaction and loyalty? The role of open innovation
This study examines how Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon technology affects marketing strategies and customer loyalty in retail settings. Researchers surveyed 138 customers across 159 stores in Dubai's Global Village and found that adopting BLE technology through open innovation significantly improves customer satisfaction and loyalty. Proximity marketing emerged as the most effective strategy for converting potential customers into loyal brand advocates.
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Exploring the boundaries of open innovation: Evidence from social media mining
This study analyzes Twitter conversations about open innovation using machine learning and topic modeling to identify public sentiment and key themes. The analysis of nearly 600,000 tweets reveals eight major topics, with negative sentiment concentrated in culture and business model discussions, positive sentiment in community and creative projects, and neutral sentiment in entrepreneurship and technology. The researchers identify 20 limitations of open innovation based on this social media evidence.
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Complex Thinking in the Framework of Education 4.0 and Open Innovation—A Systematic Literature Review
This systematic review of 35 studies examines how complex thinking—including critical, systemic, scientific, and innovative thinking—develops in Education 4.0 environments. The research finds that critical thinking receives the most attention, qualitative methods dominate studies, and teaching methods are the primary Education 4.0 component. Key challenges include project feasibility, research gaps, and skill development needed for reasoning in complex systems.
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Towards a collaboration framework for circular economy: The role of dynamic capabilities and open innovation
This paper develops a framework for cross-sectoral collaboration in circular economy transitions by combining relational view, open innovation, and dynamic capabilities theories. Studying the Circle-House-Project in Danish construction, the authors find that successful circular economy scaling depends on knowledge-sharing routines and ecocentric dynamic capabilities built through collaborative networks. The framework shows how diverse sectors working together can advance circular production practices.
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Digital transformation of healthcare sector. What is impeding adoption and continued usage of technology-driven innovations by end-users?
Healthcare providers in the United Kingdom resist adopting and using digital health innovations due to multiple barriers. The study identifies task-related, patient-care, and system barriers from providers; threat perception and infrastructure issues from organizations; usability and resource problems from patients; and self-efficacy, tradition, and image concerns from end-users generally. The authors propose a framework grounded in innovation resistance theory to explain this resistance and offer practical recommendations to accelerate digital health adoption.
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Measuring Institutions’ Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Online Learning Environments: Integrating the Innovation Diffusion Theory with Technology Adoption Rate
This study examines how governmental institutions in the Gulf region adopt artificial intelligence applications in online learning environments. Using innovation diffusion theory, researchers found that adoption properties like trialability, observability, and compatibility positively influence ease of doing business and technology export. The findings suggest government authorities should prioritize implementation factors based on their significance to improve service delivery and user accessibility.
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The limits to open innovation and its impact on innovation performance
This study examines how open innovation affects UK firm performance across sectors and regions. Using data from nearly 20,000 firm observations, the researchers find that limits to open knowledge collaboration vary significantly by industry and geography. Creative sectors face the greatest barriers to collaborating on knowledge both domestically and internationally. The findings reveal that transaction costs and knowledge protection concerns constrain open innovation differently depending on sector type and location.
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Networking and knowledge creation: Social capital and collaborative innovation in responding to the COVID-19 crisis
Social capital drives collaborative innovation and collective intelligence in manufacturing firms during crises. A study of 289 managers at Jordan's top 50 manufacturers found that strong social networks significantly boost collaborative innovation, collective problem-solving, and organizational sustainability during COVID-19. Collective intelligence itself further strengthens both innovation and sustainability, demonstrating how dynamic capabilities help organizations survive and recover from unprecedented disruptions.
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The evolution of the digital service ecosystem and digital business model innovation in retail: The emergence of meta-ecosystems and the value of physical interactions
Traditional retailers transitioning to digital business models collaborate with specialized digital service providers, creating hybrid "meta-ecosystems" that combine retail and digital services. Rather than eliminating physical interactions, successful digital retailers use face-to-face relationships with service providers, suppliers, and customers as a key competitive differentiator. The study identifies two stages: initial digital implementation through partnerships, then differentiation through maintaining personal connections.
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Smart Production Workers in Terms of Creativity and Innovation: The Implication for Open Innovation
This paper develops a framework of skills and competencies needed by employees in companies transitioning to Industry 4.0, focusing on creativity and innovation. The authors analyzed job recruitment offers from Polish steel companies implementing smart manufacturing and educational programs from Polish technical universities in metallurgy. They found that the paper establishes an occupational profile for Industry 4.0 workers and examines how much Polish metallurgical companies and universities emphasize creativity and innovation in hiring and training.
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Universal Chiplet Interconnect Express (UCIe): An Open Industry Standard for Innovations With Chiplets at Package Level
UCIe is an open industry standard that enables chiplets from different suppliers to work together in any package configuration. The paper describes the architectural, circuit, channel, and packaging design choices that went into the UCIe 1.0 specification and presents implementation results from their channel and circuit studies.
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A call for action: The impact of business model innovation on business ecosystems, society and planet
Business model innovation significantly affects companies, their ecosystems, and the environment. This paper distinguishes between standard business model innovation, sustainable variants, and ecosystem-level approaches. The authors argue that research must examine how these innovations create or destroy value and evolve over time, particularly as sustainability pressures intensify.
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Linking Digital Capacity to Innovation Performance: the Mediating Role of Absorptive Capacity
Digital technologies boost firm innovation, but their effectiveness depends on absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to acquire and use external knowledge. A survey of 1,014 Greek manufacturing firms shows digital capacity directly improves innovation performance, but this effect strengthens significantly when firms possess strong absorptive capacity. The findings suggest digital investment alone is insufficient; firms must also invest in R&D, training, and knowledge networks to maximize innovation gains.
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The linkage between open innovation, absorptive capacity and managerial ties: A cross-country perspective
Managerial ties and absorptive capacity drive open innovation across France, Malaysia, and the UAE. The study of 530 companies shows that managers' external relationships directly enable inbound open innovation in all three countries, while outbound innovation depends on managerial ties in France and the UAE. Absorptive capacity mediates these relationships in France and the UAE, meaning companies must develop internal knowledge-absorption capabilities to convert external connections into innovation.
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Social capital and innovation performance of digital firms: Serial mediation effect of cross-border knowledge search and absorptive capacity
Social capital significantly boosts innovation performance in Chinese digital firms, even during COVID-19. Cross-border knowledge search mediates this relationship for structural and relational capital but not cognitive capital. Absorptive capacity further strengthens the effect when combined with knowledge search. Digital firms should build social capital to enable cross-border knowledge acquisition and develop capacity to leverage diverse external knowledge for innovation.
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A Two-Staged SEM-Artificial Neural Network Approach to Analyze the Impact of FinTech Adoption on the Sustainability Performance of Banking Firms: The Mediating Effect of Green Finance and Innovation
Banks in Bangladesh that adopt financial technology improve their sustainability performance through two mechanisms: increased green finance and green innovation. The study analyzed 351 banking employees and found that FinTech adoption directly strengthens both green finance and innovation, which then drive sustainability outcomes. Green finance and innovation fully mediate the relationship between technology adoption and sustainability performance.
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Digital Innovations in MSMEs during Economic Disruptions: Experiences and Challenges of Young Entrepreneurs
Filipino young entrepreneurs shifted their micro, small, and medium enterprises to digital platforms during COVID-19 economic disruption. The study identifies intrinsic motivations like personal growth and extrinsic drivers including mobility restrictions and market conditions. Key barriers include inadequate digital skills, internet infrastructure gaps, market challenges on digital platforms, and pandemic restrictions. Findings support developing government policies and support programs for digital entrepreneurship in developing economies.
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Coopetition in business Ecosystems: The key role of absorptive capacity and supply chain agility
Firms in tech-city business ecosystems benefit from coopetition—simultaneous cooperation and competition—but not directly. Instead, coopetition enhances absorptive capacity, which improves supply chain agility and ultimately firm performance. The study surveyed 214 firms and found these indirect effects matter more than direct relationships, establishing a validated measurement scale for coopetition.
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How to convert green entrepreneurial orientation into green innovation: The role of knowledge creation process and green absorptive capacity
Green entrepreneurial orientation drives green innovation through knowledge creation processes. The study surveyed 173 managers and found that companies with strong green entrepreneurial orientation generate more knowledge exchange and integration. Green absorptive capacity strengthens this relationship. Both knowledge exchange and integration mediate the path from entrepreneurial orientation to green product and process innovation, offering enterprises a practical framework for implementing green innovation.
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Optimizing the Financial Performance of SMEs Based on Sharia Economy: Perspective of Economic Business Sustainability and Open Innovation
This study examines how Islamic fintech and business practices improve financial performance and sustainability of small and medium enterprises in Makassar, Indonesia. Researchers surveyed 350 SME operators across 15 districts and found that human resource capacity and business diversification account for 42% of financial performance improvements. Islamic fintech, combined with workforce development, diversification, and productivity measures, explains 66% of business sustainability outcomes. The findings support adopting Islamic finance models to strengthen SME operations.
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Financial Inclusion, Technological Innovations, and Environmental Quality: Analyzing the Role of Green Openness
Financial inclusion in BRICS countries increases CO2 emissions and environmental degradation, but technological innovation and green openness reduce emissions. Economic growth and energy consumption also drive environmental harm. The study finds that financial inclusion, technological innovation, and green openness influence each other and collectively affect emissions. BRICS nations should combine financial inclusion with environmental policies while promoting green technology and openness to meet climate goals.
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The Influence of E-Payment and E-Commerce Services on Supply Chain Performance: Implications of Open Innovation and Solutions for the Digitalization of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia
E-payment and e-commerce services significantly improve supply chain performance for Indonesian micro, small, and medium enterprises. The study of 164 MSMEs identifies ten key barriers to digitalization and proposes open innovation solutions to overcome them. The findings support government efforts to accelerate MSME digitization through digital financial and commercial tools.
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Enhancing sustainable development: Innovation ecosystem coopetition, environmental resource orchestration, and disruptive green innovation
Manufacturing firms in China that balance cooperation and competition within innovation ecosystems develop stronger environmental resource management capabilities, which drives disruptive green innovation. Big data analytics amplifies the cooperation-to-resource-orchestration pathway but not the competition pathway. Both ecosystem cooperation and competition independently boost environmental resource orchestration, which then enables breakthrough green innovations.
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Constructs of Project Programme Management Supporting Open Innovation at the Strategic Level of the Organisation
This study identifies four key constructs of programme management that support open innovation at the organizational strategic level: cooperation with the environment, knowledge and technology transfer, organizational maturity, and implementation capacity. Through quantitative analysis of 578 programme management experts internationally, the authors demonstrate that structured programme management approaches enable organizations to achieve strategic innovation outcomes and reshape organizational structures accordingly.
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How Artificial Intelligence Drives Sustainable Frugal Innovation: A Multitheoretical Perspective
This paper examines how artificial intelligence can drive sustainable frugal innovation—doing more with fewer resources while considering environmental and social impacts. Using grey DEMATEL analysis and a Danish case study, the authors identify critical success factors for integrating AI with frugal innovation. Understanding AI concepts and investment levels emerge as most influential. The findings help industries adopt AI-enabled frugal practices to maintain competitiveness during disruptions while advancing sustainability.
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Digital innovation ecosystems in agri-food: design principles and organizational framework
Digital innovation in agri-food requires complex ecosystem approaches involving multiple stakeholders. This paper analyzes 73 million euros of European public-private projects from 2011-2021 to develop a framework for designing viable digital innovation ecosystems. The framework identifies six key concepts and 21 design principles, emphasizing multi-actor collaboration, shared technical infrastructure, value stream identification, and strategic partner engagement. Success requires substantial investment and time; isolated actor analysis fails.
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Investigation of open educational resources adoption in higher education using Rogers’ diffusion of innovation theory
Faculty adoption of open educational resources in higher education depends on perceived relative advantage, observability, and complexity, according to Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory. Survey data from 422 faculty members reveals that trialability correlates positively with complexity and compatibility, while relative advantage improves complexity but reduces perceived compatibility. The study concludes that institutional leaders must implement initiatives addressing trialability, complexity, and compatibility barriers to increase OER adoption rates.
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Regional innovation systems in an era of grand societal challenges: reorientation versus transformation
Regional innovation systems must adapt to address major societal challenges through either reorientation or transformation strategies. Reorientation leverages existing regional assets and institutions to tackle challenge-related problems. Transformation goes further, requiring new actors, institutional changes, and disrupted network linkages to create entirely new regional innovation elements. The choice between strategies depends on regional conditions and specific challenges.
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Dynamic ARDL Simulations Effects of Fiscal Decentralization, Green Technological Innovation, Trade Openness, and Institutional Quality on Environmental Sustainability: Evidence from South Africa
This study examines how fiscal decentralization, green technological innovation, trade openness, and institutional quality affect carbon emissions in South Africa from 1960 to 2020. Fiscal decentralization, green innovation, and institutional quality reduce emissions in both short and long term. Trade openness worsens environmental quality long-term. Population and energy consumption increase emissions. The findings support an environmental Kuznets curve and suggest that clear government responsibility allocation across governance tiers is essential for achieving low-carbon objectives.
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Joining forces to create value: The emergence of an innovation ecosystem
During rapid technological change, firms form alliances to access new resources and capabilities. This study traces how Volvo Car Group's autonomous driving development evolved from internal constraints into a collaborative innovation ecosystem. Resource limitations drove the company to seek partnerships, which transformed their technology platform from closed to modular. This modularity enabled multiple actors to co-create value around shared standards and interfaces, establishing an innovation ecosystem.
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Deep Learning Meets Deep Democracy: Deliberative Governance and Responsible Innovation in Artificial Intelligence
The paper argues that responsible AI innovation requires public deliberation involving industry, government, and civil society actors. It identifies opacity and knowledge gaps between experts and citizens as barriers to informed democratic debate about AI. The authors propose a deliberative governance framework that enables AI industry actors to engage effectively with experts and the public across different venues, building trust and enabling democratic oversight of AI systems.
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Environmental collaboration, responsible innovation, and firm performance: The moderating role of stakeholder pressure
Environmental collaboration drives responsible innovation in firms, which improves performance. This effect strengthens when stakeholder pressure increases. The study of 225 firms demonstrates that responsible innovation mediates the relationship between environmental collaboration and firm performance, advancing understanding of how companies can leverage environmental strategies to achieve business success.
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Digital Influencers, Food and Tourism—A New Model of Open Innovation for Businesses in the Ho.Re.Ca. Sector
This paper examines how digital influencer marketing functions as open innovation for food and tourism businesses. Researchers analyzed Instagram posts by major influencer Chiara Ferragni promoting Italian food and tourist destinations during the COVID-19 economic crisis. Using netnographic analysis and the AGIL model, they measured how local food enhanced destination appeal across different contexts. The study proposes a new open innovation model for advertising and promoting food and catering businesses through influencer-driven social media campaigns.
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Green innovation output in the supply chain network with environmental information disclosure: An empirical analysis of Chinese listed firms
Supply chain network structure influences green innovation in Chinese firms. Network power and cohesion both boost green innovation output, but their combined effect reduces it due to information overload. Environmental information disclosure strengthens the positive relationship between network structure and green innovation. The study analyzed 1,048 Chinese listed firms from 2012 to 2019.
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Open Innovation in Times of Crisis: An Overview of the Healthcare Sector in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare organizations rapidly developed innovations in personal protective equipment, medical devices, testing, treatment, and vaccines through open innovation and cross-organizational collaboration. This paper reviews open innovation strategies during the crisis using a business ecosystem framework, identifies key emerging themes in UK and global healthcare sectors, and offers policy recommendations for crisis recovery.
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The role of open innovation in fostering SMEs’ business model innovation during the COVID-19 pandemic
Open innovation practices enabled small and medium enterprises to transform their business models during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study examined six SMEs across traditional sectors and found that external pressure from the crisis drove business model innovation, with open innovation management playing a central role in this transformation. Digital transformation often accompanied these changes.
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Supply chain innovation research: A bibliometric network analysis and literature review
This bibliometric analysis of 230 supply chain innovation articles identifies 12 research clusters spanning 1997–2021, including green supply chain innovation, knowledge management, and supply chain integration. The authors develop a matrix linking operational and management practices to innovation outcomes, revealing that modern supply chain innovation emphasizes eco-innovation, digitalization, and collaboration. The framework helps practitioners design supply chain innovation strategies and measure performance impacts.
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Investigating the Research Trends on Strategic Ambidexterity, Agility, and Open Innovation in SMEs: Perceptions from Bibliometric Analysis
This bibliometric analysis of 606 articles from 2008–2021 examines how small and medium enterprises can combine strategic ambidexterity, agility, and open innovation to survive crises like COVID-19. The authors propose a business model integrating these three elements, showing that open innovation helps SMEs develop ambidexterity and agility for competitive advantage. British scholars dominate citations on this topic.
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Network cooperation and economic performance of SMEs: Direct and mediating impacts of innovation and internationalisation
Network cooperation drives SME economic performance through two pathways: innovation and internationalization. Studying 117 Indian exporting firms, the research shows that customer and R&D organization networks boost performance primarily via innovation, while government agencies, customers, and R&D organizations influence performance through internationalization. Both innovation and internationalization act as critical mediators between network relationships and firm economic outcomes.
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Examining the Impact of Adoption of Emerging Technology and Supply Chain Resilience on Firm Performance: Moderating Role of Absorptive Capacity and Leadership Support
Firms with stronger intellectual capability, agility, and integration adopt emerging technologies more readily, which improves supply chain resilience and performance. Absorptive capacity strengthens the link between intellectual capital and technology adoption, while leadership support amplifies the positive effect of technology adoption on firm performance. The study validates this model across multiple firms.
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The interactive effect of innovation capability and potential absorptive capacity on innovation performance
This study examined how innovation capability and absorptive capacity work together to improve firm performance. Researchers surveyed 238 firms in Peru's cultural tourism destinations and found that the combination of these two factors significantly boosts innovation performance. The findings help companies in tourism-dependent regions develop strategies to enhance competitiveness and sustainability.
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Stimulating frugal innovation via information technology resources, knowledge sources and market turbulence: a mediation-moderation approach
IT resources directly boost frugal innovation in small and medium enterprises, and this effect is partly mediated by knowledge sources. Market turbulence strengthens how knowledge sources drive innovation in functionality and ecosystem design, but weakens their impact on cost reduction. The study surveyed 355 Pakistani SME employees and identifies IT investment and knowledge management as levers for developing-country firms to build frugal innovation capabilities.
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Modeling nonlinear systems using the tensor network B‐spline and the multi‐innovation identification theory
This paper develops a tensor network B-spline method to model nonlinear autoregressive exogenous systems with high dimensions. The approach uses multi-innovation identification theory and hierarchical principles to create a recursive algorithm that handles Gaussian noise. The method outperforms traditional polynomial and neural network approaches by reducing computational burden while maintaining strong fitting capacity for highly nonlinear systems.
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Green innovation networks: A research agenda
Green innovations emerge from organizational collaborations, yet little research examines the networks driving them. This literature review of 63 papers identifies green innovations across products, services, processes, business models, and marketing. The authors map different actor types, network structures, and engagement motivations. They propose three research priorities: horizontal collaborations among peers, cross-sectoral partnerships including public-private arrangements, and the role of users as active network participants in developing green innovations.
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Big data analytics capabilities and MSME innovation and performance: A double mediation model of digital platform and network capabilities
Big data analytics capabilities directly improve financial performance in small and medium manufacturing enterprises by strengthening their digital platform and network capabilities. Network capabilities mediate the relationship between analytics and both supply chain innovation and financial performance, while digital platforms specifically enhance supply chain innovation. These findings demonstrate how data analytics drives MSME performance through interconnected digital and networking infrastructure.
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Economic, Functional, and Social Factors Influencing Electric Vehicles’ Adoption: An Empirical Study Based on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory
This study identifies factors driving electric vehicle adoption using diffusion of innovation theory. Survey data from 375 respondents reveals that perceived compatibility, complexity, and relative advantage predict EV adoption. Economic factors like subsidies and price risk, functional factors like intelligent features and sustainability concerns, and social factors like status and reputation significantly influence these perceptions. The findings help explain why EV market penetration lags despite environmental benefits.
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The Impact of Absorptive Capacity on Innovation: The Mediating Role of Organizational Learning
This study examines how absorptive capacity drives innovation in small and medium-sized Spanish companies, revealing that organizational learning acts as a critical mediator in this relationship. Using structural equation modeling on 306 company surveys, the research shows that absorptive capacity translates into actual innovation primarily when learning capability is actively engaged. The findings help organizations understand how to manage knowledge more effectively to boost innovation performance.
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Adaptive Legal Frameworks and Economic Dynamics in Emerging Tech-nologies: Navigating the Intersection for Responsible Innovation
This paper examines how legal frameworks must adapt to regulate emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, and biotechnology responsibly. The authors argue that effective regulation requires flexibility, interdisciplinary collaboration, and balance between stability and innovation incentives. They recommend building corporate responsibility cultures, educating policymakers, and aligning technological progress with ethical standards to enable responsible innovation.
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How incumbents realize disruptive circular innovation ‐ Overcoming the innovator's dilemma for a circular economy
Established companies struggle to adopt circular economy innovations because these threaten their existing profitable linear business models. This paper analyzes how incumbents can overcome this dilemma using disruptive innovation theory. Two case studies show that creating separate organizational units helps implement circular innovations, but success requires clear strategy, strategic partnerships, supportive culture, and relevant competencies.
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Last Mile Innovation: The Case of the Locker Alliance Network
Singapore's government proposed a Locker Alliance network of public lockers in residential areas to improve parcel delivery efficiency. Using data analytics and facility location modeling, researchers found that optimal locker placement should not focus solely on high-volume delivery areas, but instead serve residential neighborhoods. A 250-meter coverage distance emerged as appropriate for Singapore's network, enabling better utilization despite lacking complete customer transit data.
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Research on the influence of network embeddedness on innovation performance: Evidence from China's listed firms
Network embeddedness significantly influences innovation performance in Chinese listed firms. Structural embeddedness has a positive effect on innovation, while relational embeddedness shows an inverted U-shaped relationship. Technological diversification mediates these effects. State-owned enterprises depend less on network resources than private firms but benefit more from structural embeddedness.
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Achieving superior performance in international markets: the roles of organizational agility and absorptive capacity
Korean export companies with high organizational agility achieve superior performance in global markets during Industry 4.0 transformation. The study of 228 exporters shows that realized absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to apply acquired knowledge—strengthens this relationship, while potential absorptive capacity has no significant moderating effect. Agility and knowledge application together drive international competitiveness.
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3D‐Printed Soft and Hard Meta‐Structures with Supreme Energy Absorption and Dissipation Capacities in Cyclic Loading Conditions
Researchers developed 3D-printed auxetic meta-structures using soft and hard polymers to absorb and dissipate energy under repeated loading. They tested thermoplastic polyurethane and polyamide designs inspired by snowflake geometry, using multi-jet fusion printing. Both materials showed strong energy absorption with large recoverable deformations and high dissipation capacity. Computational models accurately predicted experimental results. The structures could enable lightweight, energy-absorbing components for drones and UAVs.
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Neo-Triple Helix Model of Innovation Ecosystems: Integrating Triple, Quadruple and Quintuple Helix Models
This paper proposes an integrated neo-Triple Helix model that combines Triple, Quadruple, and Quintuple Helix frameworks to explain innovation ecosystems. The model operates at two levels: university-industry-government interactions at the innovation dynamics level, and the relationship between innovation dynamics, social structures, and the natural environment at the system level. The framework uses neo-institutional and neo-evolutionary perspectives to explain how these elements interact and evolve together.
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Innovation systems for technology diffusion: An analytical framework and two case studies
This paper develops a diffusion innovation system framework that analyzes technology adoption by examining institutions, infrastructure, and supply-side dynamics together. Applied to Swedish renewable energy cases—solar photovoltaics and wind power—the framework shows how these factors co-develop over time through feedback loops that either support or hinder diffusion. The approach identifies specific barriers that policy and business strategy could address.
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Green innovation peer effects in common institutional ownership networks
Chinese firms imitate their peers' green innovation decisions when they share common institutional investors. The study finds two mechanisms drive this: institutional investors sharing information about green innovation, and competitive pressure between firms with shared investors. Firms with tight finances and lower risk tolerance imitate more, preferring peers in similar industries with matching ownership structures. This peer-driven imitation improves firm value, suggesting it reflects genuine strategic adoption rather than hollow mimicry.
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Knowledge management process as a mediator between collaborative culture and frugal innovation: the moderating role of perceived organizational support
Collaborative culture in Pakistani manufacturing and service firms drives frugal innovation through knowledge management processes. Knowledge management partially mediates the relationship between collaborative culture and two types of frugal innovation—functional improvements and cost reduction—but not ecosystem innovation. Perceived organizational support strengthens the effect of collaborative culture on knowledge management and functional innovation, while weakening its effect on cost reduction and ecosystem innovation.
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Global drug diffusion and innovation with the medicines patent pool
The Medicines Patent Pool, a joint licensing platform for patented drugs, significantly increases generic drug supply in developing countries, especially those with stronger patent protection. The pool enables generic firms worldwide to license drug bundles affordably for sales in designated developing nations. Analysis of licensing contracts, procurement data, clinical trials, and drug approvals shows the pool also generates modest increases in clinical trials and new drug approvals, primarily from non-pool firms.
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Strategic orientations and responsible innovation in SMEs: The moderating effects of environmental turbulence
This study examines how strategic orientations drive responsible innovation in Chinese SMEs under different environmental conditions. Using data from 194 firms, the researchers found that digital and environmental orientations both boost responsible innovation, with environmental orientation having stronger effects. Market and technological turbulence strengthen the link between digital orientation and responsible innovation, but weaken the link between environmental orientation and responsible innovation.
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From ego‐systems to open innovation ecosystems: A process model of inter‐firm openness
This study identifies how firms transition from closed innovation systems to open ecosystems through four distinct phases: realization, socialization, strategic alignment, and two-way openness. Based on 54 interviews with Australian business park managers, the research shows that phase transitions begin spontaneously but grow more complex as openness increases. Interdependence, social exchange, and trust drive successful ecosystem development.
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Exploring the determinants of adoption of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) in India: A study based on diffusion of innovation theory
This study examines why Indian customers adopt the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) mobile payment system using diffusion of innovation theory. The research finds that perceived relative advantage, low complexity, and observability significantly drive users' intention to adopt UPI. Higher usage intention and satisfaction also increase customers' likelihood to recommend UPI to others. The findings reveal key factors that influence both adoption and word-of-mouth promotion of the payment platform.
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Green Innovation Sustainability: How Green Market Orientation and Absorptive Capacity Matter?
This study examines how green market orientation and absorptive capacity drive green innovation in manufacturing firms. Using survey data from 262 Chinese firms, the authors find that green market orientation boosts only green product innovation, while absorptive capacity improves both product and process innovation. The two factors interact positively to enhance both innovation types. The research reveals differential effects of internal capabilities on different forms of green innovation.
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ZnO/ZnS heterostructure with enhanced interfacial lithium absorption for robust and large-capacity energy storage
Researchers developed a zinc oxide and zinc sulfide heterostructure anode material that improves lithium absorption at the interface between the two materials. This design increases energy storage capacity in batteries by combining metal oxides with sulfides, offering a more robust solution for large-capacity energy storage applications.
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The role of supply chain resilience and absorptive capacity in the relationship between marketing–supply chain management alignment and firm performance: a moderated-mediation analysis
This study examines how aligning marketing and supply chain management processes improves firm performance in Saudi Arabian consumer goods companies. The research finds that this alignment strengthens supply chain resilience, which then boosts performance. Absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to learn and apply new knowledge—can substitute for resilience when it's weak. The findings suggest companies should invest in absorptive capacity alongside supply chain alignment to handle future uncertainties.
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Measuring green innovation through total quality management and corporate social responsibility within SMEs: green theory under the lens
This study examines how total quality management (TQM) practices drive green innovation in small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in Pakistan. The research finds that TQM significantly improves both green product and process innovation. Corporate social responsibility partially mediates this relationship, meaning CSR practices strengthen the link between TQM and green innovation outcomes. The findings provide manufacturing SMEs with a roadmap for reducing waste and improving innovation through integrated TQM and CSR strategies.
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Autonomous Vehicles Acceptance: A Perceived Risk Extension of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and Diffusion of Innovation, Evidence from Tehran, Iran
This study examines what factors influence people's acceptance of autonomous vehicles in Tehran, Iran by combining three theoretical frameworks: technology acceptance theory, innovation diffusion theory, and perceived risk. Survey data from 641 residents shows that performance expectations and effort expectations drive acceptance most strongly, while perceived risk reduces it. Trialability and observability of the technology have modest positive effects on acceptance.
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Knowledge management in offshoring innovation by SMEs: role of internal knowledge creation capability, absorptive capacity and formal knowledge-sharing routines
This study examines how small and medium-sized enterprises manage knowledge when innovating through offshore supplier relationships. The research finds that internal knowledge creation strengthens a firm's ability to absorb external knowledge, which then improves innovation performance. Surprisingly, formal knowledge-sharing routines actually weaken this relationship, suggesting that SMEs benefit more from flexible, informal knowledge exchange with offshore partners than rigid procedures.
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Exploring the Research Regarding Frugal Innovation and Business Sustainability through Bibliometric Analysis
This bibliometric analysis examines 2,072 scientific documents on frugal innovation and business sustainability using Web of Science data and science mapping software. The research identifies growing international interest in how frugal innovation contributes to sustainable business practices and consumer behavior. The USA, Germany, England, the Netherlands, and India lead research activity, with European scholars most prominent. The analysis maps the field's intellectual structure, highlights key journals and authors, and identifies emerging research directions.
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Innovation Diffusion Processes: Concepts, Models, and Predictions
This paper reviews mathematical models of how innovations spread through societies, integrating marketing and epidemiological approaches. The authors examine barriers to diffusion, the role of word-of-mouth communication, and how policy interventions can promote beneficial innovations while preventing harmful ones. They use deterministic models based on differential equations to analyze critical innovations essential for human progress.
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Digital revolution for the agroecological transition of food systems: A responsible research and innovation perspective
Digital technologies in agriculture have focused on precision farming for large-scale conventional systems. This paper argues that digital agriculture can instead accelerate agroecological transitions by redirecting research toward new data sources, processing methods, and connectivity. Using responsible research and innovation principles, an interdisciplinary team developed a research agenda prioritizing digitalization that empowers farmers, manages territories as commons, and supports local food systems while addressing tensions between rationalization and farming diversity.
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The dynamic contribution of innovation ecosystems to schumpeterian firms: A multi-level analysis
This study examines how proximity to innovation ecosystem agents affects Schumpeterian firms' innovation performance. Using firm-level data from 2002–2014 covering 3,074 observations, the authors apply knowledge spillover theory to show that geographical closeness to ecosystem agents drives innovation outcomes. The research clarifies how firm size moderates these effects and identifies specific mechanisms through which knowledge spillovers enhance firm performance.
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Innovations and stepwise evolution of CBFs/DREB1s and their regulatory networks in angiosperms
This paper traces the evolutionary origin of CBF/DREB1 genes, which regulate cold tolerance in flowering plants. The researchers found that CBF/DREB1 evolved from tandem duplication of an ancestral DREB III gene, then split into two clades through whole genome duplication. Only one clade developed cold sensitivity. Gene duplications accelerated during the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary and Ice Age, when global temperatures dropped. These duplications rewired regulatory networks that enabled plants to survive colder climates.
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Global buyer–supplier networks and innovation: The role of technological distance and technological breadth
Firms that source from global suppliers with diverse technological capabilities innovate more effectively, but only when technological distance between buyer and supplier remains manageable. The study analyzes 246 firms and their supplier networks, finding that broad supplier knowledge boosts innovation while excessive technological gaps hinder it. Global sourcing itself improves innovation, though this benefit diminishes when suppliers operate in distant technological domains.
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Investigation of the energy absorption capacity of foam-filled 3D-printed glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic auxetic honeycomb structures
This paper examines how foam-filled 3D-printed glass fiber reinforced auxetic honeycomb structures absorb energy under compression. Researchers tested both hollow and foam-filled lattice structures, finding that foam increased energy absorption by 20% for PLA and 70% for PA materials. They validated results through finite element analysis and developed a theoretical model to predict failure behavior, showing that adjusting strut angles affects both load capacity and the structure's auxetic properties.
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Responsible innovation with digital platforms: Cases in India and Canada
This study examines two digital platforms in India and Canada that serve marginalized communities by addressing grand challenges like education, healthcare, and livelihood access. The platforms orchestrate ecosystems involving marginalized individuals, government agencies, and other entities to deliver physical, digital, and societal solutions. The research demonstrates how responsible innovation principles—anticipation, reflexivity, inclusion, and responsiveness—operate through digital platforms to generate simultaneous economic and social value for vulnerable populations.
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Responsible innovation and ethical corporate behavior in the Asian fashion industry: A systematic literature review and avenues ahead
Fashion companies have moved manufacturing to Asia to cut costs but face pressure for sustainability and transparency. This systematic review of 114 papers examines how responsible innovation and ethical corporate behavior connect in the fashion industry. The research finds that while brands attempt to adopt responsible innovation across supply chains, misalignment between corporate ethics and local cultural values blocks progress toward sustainable business models and UN development goals.
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The effects of entrepreneurial ecosystems, knowledge management capabilities, and knowledge spillovers on international open innovation
This study analyzes how entrepreneurial ecosystems, knowledge management capabilities, and knowledge spillovers influence international open innovation collaborations. Using data from nearly 99,000 firms across 15 EU countries, the research finds that knowledge spillovers directly boost open innovation engagement. Knowledge management capabilities mediate this relationship, while entrepreneurial ecosystems strengthen the link between firm capabilities and innovation outcomes. Strong ecosystems enhance firms' knowledge management and foster spillovers within their networks.
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Innovation adoption in inter-organizational healthcare networks – the role of artificial intelligence
This paper examines how artificial intelligence adoption improves buyer-supplier relationships in healthcare networks. AI reduces information asymmetry by providing real-time access to supplier data, pricing, inventory, and delivery status. The authors position AI as both a technology tool and an innovation strategy that strengthens vertical alliances and cooperation across the healthcare supply chain, enabling better operational transparency and performance outcomes.
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Adoption of Sustainability Innovations and Environmental Opinion Leadership: A Way to Foster Environmental Sustainability through Diffusion of Innovation Theory
This study examines how Pakistani hospitals can adopt sustainability innovations by leveraging environmental opinion leadership. Using survey data from hospital employees, the research identifies five key factors that drive adoption: trialability, innovativeness, compatibility, simplicity, and relative advantage. The findings provide practical guidance for improving environmental sustainability in Pakistan's hospital sector.
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Frugal innovation and sustainability outcomes: findings from a systematic literature review
This systematic review of 130 empirical studies examines how frugal innovation drives sustainability outcomes. The authors find that frugal innovation's potential to improve social, environmental, and economic conditions depends on who develops it—whether large firms, small firms, or non-profit actors, and whether they are foreign or local. Collaboration across innovation stages proves critical. The review identifies gaps in understanding when and where frugal innovation most effectively produces sustainability benefits.
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Frugal innovation in the midst of societal and operational pressures
Frugal innovation—developing solutions under resource and societal constraints—delivers sustainable outcomes primarily through business model design rather than technological sophistication. The authors establish a framework linking frugal innovation to sustainable business models, analyzing three firms to show that sustainability results depend on how companies integrate societal concerns with operational activities across their business model elements.
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Disruptive innovation and spatial inequality
Disruptive innovations cluster geographically during industrial revolutions but disperse in other periods, according to analysis of US patents from 1920 to 2010. The locations capturing the most disruptive innovation shift substantially across industrial revolutions. Disruptive innovation significantly influences spatial patterns of economic output and income inequality across US regions.
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Dynamic capabilities for transitioning from product platform ecosystem to innovation platform ecosystem
Incumbent firms face disruption from platform-native competitors and must transition from product platforms to innovation platforms. This study identifies four dynamic capabilities required for this transition: resource curation, ecosystem preservation, resource reconfiguration, and ecosystem diversification. The findings emerge from analyzing perspectives of platform owners, partners, and end-users in enterprise software ecosystems.
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How Responsible Innovation Builds Business Network Resilience to Achieve Sustainable Performance During Global Outbreaks: An Extended Resource-Based View
Responsible innovation strengthens business network resilience, which in turn improves firms' sustainable performance during crises like COVID-19. A study of 422 Chinese manufacturing firms found that absorptive capacity and social media adoption enhance these relationships. The research demonstrates that firms adopting responsible innovation practices become more resilient and better positioned to maintain sustainable operations when facing global disruptions.
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Managing innovation ecosystems around Big Science Organizations
Big Science Organizations are massive research institutions addressing complex scientific challenges through large networks of suppliers, collaborators, and partners. These organizations function as influential innovation ecosystems with permeable boundaries enabling technology transfer, knowledge sharing, and business creation. The paper introduces a special issue examining innovation and entrepreneurship around BSOs, providing a comprehensive overview of how these institutions drive innovation across science, government, and business sectors.
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Gaming innovation ecosystem: actors, roles and co-innovation processes
This study examines Poland's gaming innovation ecosystem to understand how different actors contribute to co-innovation. Researchers conducted interviews and observations over three years and identified 21 types of actors playing four distinct roles: direct value creation, supporting value creation, encouraging entrepreneurship, and leadership. The co-innovation process unfolds across five stages from discovery through dissemination, with actors varying their engagement intensity at each phase.
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An evaluation of the effectiveness of innovation ecosystems in facilitating the adoption of sustainable entrepreneurship
This paper develops a hierarchical decision model framework to assess how innovation ecosystems support sustainable entrepreneurship adoption. The researchers identify policies and strategies that drive innovation across entrepreneurial ecosystems and propose a comprehensive measurement model to guide policymakers in strengthening ecosystem effectiveness and accelerating sustainable business innovation.
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Innovation context and technology traits explain heterogeneity across studies of agricultural technology adoption: A meta‐analysis
A meta-analysis of 304 farm-level adoption studies across 60+ countries reveals that agricultural technology adoption depends on matching innovation characteristics with local contexts. Land, capital, and knowledge constraints matter most when technologies require those resources intensively, but constraints weaken where resources are abundant. Rural development and extension programs should tailor strategies to fit both geographic conditions and specific technology traits.
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Multi-actor co-innovation partnerships in agriculture, forestry and related sectors in Europe: Contrasting approaches to implementation
This paper analyzes 200 multi-actor co-innovation partnerships across Europe involving farmers and foresters. The authors develop a typology identifying eight ideal types of co-innovation partnerships based on organizational structure and interaction attitudes. They find that successful partnerships take different forms depending on context—actor capacities, networks, topic, and enabling environment—rather than one approach being universally superior. The framework helps policymakers design targeted interventions suited to local circumstances.
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Innovation in agriculture: An analysis of Swedish agricultural and non-agricultural firms
Swedish agricultural firms innovate at similar rates to non-agricultural firms, with one-third being innovation creators. Agriculture shows higher process innovation but not more technology adoption than other sectors. The key difference lies in how agricultural firms source knowledge—they rely less on external collaboration and more on internal capacity. Innovation support policies should strengthen in-house knowledge capabilities in agricultural firms rather than emphasizing collaborative research partnerships.
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Towards climate smart agriculture : How does innovation meet sustainability?
Precision farming and climate-smart agriculture innovations enable sustainable food production by efficiently using natural resources and reducing environmental harm. The authors argue that farming strategies based on farmer cooperation, technologies that minimize health risks, and de-growth principles are essential for sustainability. Strengthening rural areas and helping farmers adopt competitive, innovative practices through cooperation is necessary for maintaining a sustainable economy.
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Do Federal Place-Based Policies Improve Economic Opportunity in Rural Communities?
Federal place-based policies increased substantially in rural counties between 1990 and 2015. The study finds that rural youth who received more place-based funding in their counties achieved higher educational attainment and earnings in adulthood, but only if they migrated away. Place-based investment appears to improve economic opportunity by enabling geographic mobility rather than creating local prosperity.
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Contextualising rural entrepreneurship – A strong structuration perspective on gendered-local agency
This paper uses Strong Structuration Theory to examine rural entrepreneurship through a case study of a woman entrepreneur in Sweden. The authors introduce the concept of gendered-local agency to explain how rural entrepreneurs actively navigate constraints and opportunities shaped by gender and locality. They show that agency emerges from the interplay between individual entrepreneurs and rural structures, demonstrating how everyday entrepreneurial actions both challenge and reinforce rural contexts.
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Serving rural low‐income markets through a social entrepreneurship approach: Venture creation and growth
Social entrepreneurs in rural Latin America create and grow ventures serving low-income communities by continuously revising goals and building capabilities, embedding operations deeply in communities, and innovating business models suited to resource-constrained environments. The study of three ventures reveals that success requires treating communities as resource sources, not just customers, and adapting distribution, marketing, and management practices to local conditions.
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Causal Link between Technological Innovation and Inequality Moderated by Public Spending, Manufacturing, Agricultural Employment, and Export Diversification
Technological innovation increases income inequality across most income distribution levels, according to analysis of 73 countries. Government spending effectively reduces inequality, while agriculture employment and export diversification show mixed effects. Policymakers pursuing sustainable development must leverage public spending as a tool to counteract innovation's inequality-widening effects and promote social cohesion.
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Institutional Innovations for Climate Smart Agriculture: Assessment of Climate-Smart Village Approach in Nepal
Nepal's Climate Smart Village approach uses institutional collaboration among government, private, and civil society organizations to introduce climate-adapted agricultural technologies to smallholder farmers. The study finds that this institutional innovation successfully increased farmer awareness and adoption of climate-smart practices in the Gandaki region, though scaling remains challenging. Multi-stakeholder partnerships proved effective for communicating climate science and developing locally appropriate farming solutions.
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Innovations in smallholder agricultural financing and economic efficiency of maize production in Ghana’s northern region
Maize farmers in northern Ghana who use innovative financing methods achieve 4-10% higher economic efficiency than non-users. The study finds that mechanized services unexpectedly reduced technical efficiency. Policymakers should prioritize reducing inefficiency through extension services, timely equipment access, and market linkages rather than introducing new technologies. Village Savings and Loans Associations and informal financing options help poor farmers access credit and inputs.
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Process framework for innovation through tradition and its antecedents in rural heritage B&B
Rural heritage bed-and-breakfast businesses in China successfully innovate by blending tradition with modern practices. The study identifies a five-phase framework—idea generation, evaluation, initial implementation, continuing implementation, and sustaining improvement—that guides this innovation process. Three key factors enable success: entrepreneurs' travel experience, business networks, and institutional support. These findings show how rural heritage businesses can compete by strategically modernizing traditional offerings.
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Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Rural E-Commerce: Identifying Entrepreneurs in Practitioners by Using Deep Neural Networks Approach
Rural residents increasingly pursue e-commerce businesses as digital technology narrows the urban-rural divide. This study surveyed 162 rural e-commerce practitioners and used deep neural networks to identify which ones qualify as entrepreneurs. The researchers developed an indicator system based on entrepreneurial event models, achieving over 90% prediction accuracy. Results show that perceived feasibility and desirability are key factors influencing rural residents' ability to start e-commerce businesses. Local governments and platforms should provide tailored support addressing these practical concerns.
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On (Dis)Connections and Transformations: The Role of the Agricultural Innovation System in the Adoption of Improved Forages in Colombia
Colombia has developed 23 improved forage cultivars with superior quality and environmental benefits, yet adoption remains low. This study examines the agricultural innovation system to understand why. Researchers found that weak connections between research institutions, poor coordination, and misaligned objectives create barriers to technology adoption. The study recommends restructuring institutional relationships and improving R&D funding allocation to enable effective forage technology scaling.
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Living Labs as an Approach to Strengthen Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems
Living Labs bring together farmers, businesses, and public agencies to co-create and test agricultural innovations. This study evaluated six Living Labs across Europe from 2018 to 2021 and identified four critical conditions for success: the challenge must be appropriately complex, the enabling environment must support collaboration, facilitation must be skilled, and participants must maintain momentum. These findings help policymakers and practitioners design more effective Living Labs for sustainable farming.
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Can 5G Fixed Broadband Bridge the Rural Digital Divide?
5G fixed wireless access (FWA) can effectively bridge the rural digital divide by delivering broadband speeds comparable to urban services. The authors examine how 5G architecture improvements in recent 3GPP standards enhance rural FWA performance. They identify significant challenges operators face in planning and deploying rural 5G networks and outline research priorities needed to realize this technology's potential for rural communities.
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Relative advantage and complexity: Predicting the rate of adoption of agricultural innovations
Farmers adopt agricultural innovations at rates determined by perceived complexity and relative advantage, not just novelty. A survey of 200 New Zealand dairy farmers found that simple technologies take months to adopt while complex ones take years. Critically, originality doesn't predict integration difficulty—apparently simple practices often prove hard to implement in real farm systems. Understanding farm-system integration requirements is essential for predicting adoption timelines and assessing farmers' adaptive capacity to climate change.
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Rural Broadband and Precision Agriculture: A Frame Analysis of United States Federal Policy Outreach under the Biden Administration
The Biden administration's communications about rural broadband emphasize economic benefits, equity, and urgency, but largely ignore precision agriculture's role in sustainable farming. Analysis of federal policy messaging reveals five main frames, with broadband expansion framed as a nationwide issue affecting both rural and urban areas. The study finds a critical gap: policymakers rarely connect broadband access to agricultural sustainability, potentially undermining precision agriculture adoption in rural regions.
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Rural proofing entrepreneurship in two fields of research
This systematic review of 97 papers from entrepreneurship and rural studies journals reveals that rural entrepreneurship research inadequately addresses what makes rural contexts distinctive. While 56 papers engage with at least one dimension of rurality—remoteness, accessibility, or sense of place—41 papers ignore these dimensions entirely. Entrepreneurship journals particularly neglect rurality, focusing instead on generic topics like social capital and networks. The authors call for stronger collaboration between the two fields to develop more contextually grounded rural entrepreneurship research.
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Promoting uptake and integration of climate smart agriculture technologies, innovations and management practices into policy and practice in Nigeria
Nigerian farmers face major barriers to adopting climate-smart agriculture technologies and practices, including lack of government policies, poor farmer awareness, and weak extension services. The study identifies insufficient funding, policy inconsistencies, and farmer resistance as key obstacles. Researchers recommend targeted awareness campaigns through local media, dedicated CSA departments in each state, increased agricultural budget allocation to 10%, and strengthened links between researchers, extension agents, and farmers.
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Agroecology and communal innovation: LabCampesino, a pedagogical experience from the rural youth in Sumapaz Colombia
Rural youth in Colombia's Sumapaz province participated in LabCampesino, a collaborative laboratory combining agroecology, co-creation, and community organization. Through exploration, experimentation, and prototyping sessions, young farmers built and documented innovations for territorial management and sustainable development. The initiative demonstrated that rural laboratories enable practical, situated education and communal innovation while strengthening agroecological practices and local social organization, offering an alternative to rural-to-urban migration.
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Measuring the social and ecological performance of agricultural innovations on rangelands: Progress and plans for an indicator framework in the LTAR network
The Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network developed an indicator framework to measure how agricultural innovations on rangelands perform across five domains: environment, productivity, economics, human condition, and social outcomes. The framework compares management innovations against site-specific benchmarks applicable to grazinglands worldwide. A key challenge remains scaling measurements from fine scales like individual ranches to broader landscape and community levels.
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The multi-actor approach in thematic networks for agriculture and forestry innovation
Horizon2020 Thematic Networks use multi-actor approaches to share agricultural and forestry knowledge across different expertise types. The study finds that participation remains unequal across actor types, limiting demand-driven outcomes. Facilitators strengthen relationships between actors, while digital platforms combined with demonstration activities and peer exchange significantly improve knowledge sharing and innovation impact.
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Assessing climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and agricultural innovation systems in the Niger Delta
This study evaluates climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies for agriculture in Nigeria's Niger Delta region by analyzing 129 previous studies and surveying 282 extension agents. The researchers developed a method to assess how innovative these strategies are for building sustainable agricultural innovation systems. They found that many recommended strategies face adoption barriers and don't effectively support regional agricultural innovation systems. The work explains why farmers reject most climate strategies and proposes a new scoring approach for agricultural innovations.
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Spin-Offs, Innovation Spillover and the Formation of Agricultural Clusters: The Case of the Vegetable Cluster in Shouguang City, Shandong Province, China
Agricultural clusters in rural China form through three interconnected mechanisms: farmer spin-offs that transform traditional producers into enterprises, network spillovers that spread agricultural innovations across regions, and spatial integration of farming activities. The study of Shouguang's vegetable cluster reveals that entrepreneurial farmers adopting new knowledge create specialized enterprises that cluster together, generating increasing returns to scale and establishing local agricultural innovation systems that mark cluster maturity.
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How Does Internet Use Promote Farmer Entrepreneurship: Evidence from Rural China
Internet use significantly increases farmer entrepreneurship in rural China, particularly necessity-driven entrepreneurship. The effect operates through three mechanisms: improved risk attitudes, expanded social capital, and better information access. Social capital expansion accounts for the largest share of this impact. These findings suggest internet infrastructure investments can effectively promote rural entrepreneurship and economic development.
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Climate-Smart Agricultural Extension Service Innovation Approaches in Uganda: Review Paper
Uganda's agricultural extension services employ diverse providers—government, NGOs, universities, and commercial organizations—to deliver climate-smart farming practices. Extension approaches include soil fertility management, crop rotation, agroforestry, and farmer field schools. Innovative methods leverage ICT platforms, mass media campaigns, and climate-smart villages to help farmers adapt to climate change. The paper recommends integrating ICT across extension systems and developing strategic plans to increase women's participation in agricultural advisory services.
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A Coupling Mechanism and the Measurement of Science and Technology Innovation and Rural Revitalization Systems
This paper develops a measurement framework to assess how scientific and technological innovation couples with rural revitalization efforts. Using data from Hebei province (2010–2019), the authors construct evaluation indices and coordination models to quantify the relationship between the two systems. Results show Hebei's coupling coordination improved from mild imbalance to primary coordination, with projections reaching good coordination by 2024. The framework provides policymakers with tools for managing regional agricultural development.
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Short-run effects of grid electricity access on rural non-farm entrepreneurship and employment in Ethiopia and Nigeria
Rural electrification in Ethiopia and Nigeria between 2010–2015 did not significantly increase non-farm entrepreneurship or non-farm employment within 2–4 years of grid connection, according to difference-in-differences analysis. Nigeria showed some farm employment intensification. The study demonstrates that electricity access alone is insufficient to drive non-farm economic shifts in these contexts, and highlights data limitations in measuring such effects.
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Adoption of ICT-in-Agriculture Innovations by Smallholder Farmers in Kenya
Smallholder farmers in Kenya face barriers to adopting digital agricultural tools despite their potential to boost productivity and market access. A study of 100 farmers in Siaya County found that cost, illiteracy, ICT skills, information quality, and gender significantly influence whether farmers adopt agricultural technology innovations. Female smallholders practicing traditional farming methods remain the primary demographic needing support.
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Research on the Efficiency of Green Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Resource Allocation Based on a Three-Stage DEA Model—A Case Study of Anhui Province, China
This study evaluates how efficiently Anhui Province allocates resources for green agricultural technology innovation. Using a three-stage data envelopment analysis model, researchers found that overall resource allocation efficiency improved over time, but scale efficiency remained low. Technical efficiency was strong across 16 cities, yet scale efficiency varied significantly by region. Hefei and Fuyang led in allocation efficiency. The study recommends improving scale efficiency through better government-market coordination, stronger research platforms, talent development, and open knowledge-sharing mechanisms.
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Diffusion of Agricultural Technology Innovation: Research Progress of Innovation Diffusion in Chinese Agricultural Science and Technology Parks
Chinese agricultural science and technology parks drive technology diffusion through a systematic model. The research analyzes how these parks function as innovation hubs, examining both the spatial and temporal patterns of technology spread. It identifies key factors influencing farmer adoption of new agricultural technologies and explores how different environmental conditions and technology types affect adoption behavior. The study reveals a "point-axis" diffusion pattern and highlights emerging adoption behaviors among new business agents in agricultural innovation.
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The role of social capital in developing sustainable micro-entrepreneurship among rural women in India: a theoretical framework
Social capital—built through self-help groups, SHG federations, and NGOs—drives sustainable micro-entrepreneurship among rural women in India. Self-help groups and federations enable financial inclusion and social support, while NGOs provide training and business networks. This combination generates employment, stable income, and improved livelihoods while addressing broader social and economic challenges.
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Interrogating “entrepreneurship for development”: a counter-narrative based on local stories of women in rural Ethiopia
This study challenges the dominant narrative that entrepreneurship solves development problems by examining women's actual experiences in rural Ethiopia. Through interviews and focus groups, researchers found that while women entrepreneurs gain financial benefits and social recognition, they also face significant downsides including personal safety concerns, stress, limited social life, and fear of poverty. The findings urge policymakers to reconsider uncritical promotion of entrepreneurship and recognize its complex, sometimes harmful effects on women's lives.
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Digital divide, craft firms’ websites and urban-rural disparities—empirical evidence from a web-scraping approach
Using web-scraping data from 345,000 German small firms, this study reveals a significant digital divide between urban and rural areas. Rural firms are half as likely to operate websites as urban firms, despite similar adoption of social media and website maintenance practices. Population density, youth, and education positively correlate with website adoption, while GDP per capita shows a surprising negative association in urban regions. The findings challenge the "death of distance" hypothesis and highlight persistent spatial inequalities in digitalization.
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Socio-cultural factors as driving forces of rural entrepreneurship in Oman
This study examines why rural entrepreneurship participation remains low in Oman despite government diversification efforts. Through interviews with twenty rural entrepreneurs, the researchers identified three entrepreneurial community orientations driven by cultural values. Cultural factors—particularly Islamic and Omani traditions—prove far more influential than economic or infrastructure conditions in determining whether people pursue entrepreneurship. The findings suggest that understanding culture-specific values is essential for developing effective rural development policies in Oman and similar Gulf countries.
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Realizing common prosperity: The action logic of social entrepreneurship community mobilization in rural tourism
Village leaders in rural China use social entrepreneurship to mobilize residents into collective tourism ventures, improving quality of life and community transformation. Research in Shaanxi Province reveals a three-stage process where entrepreneurs shift residents' attitudes through strategic engagement. Success requires incorporating local people into value networks early and linking them to tangible benefits, enabling residents to act as both producers and collaborators in sustainable rural tourism development.
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Building a Culture of Entrepreneurial Initiative in Rural Regions Based on Sustainable Development Goals: A Case Study of University of Applied Sciences–Municipality Innovation Partnership
Universities and municipalities can build entrepreneurial culture in rural regions through creative partnerships that extend beyond economic contributions. The study examines a university-municipality innovation partnership, showing that universities should integrate social, environmental, and economic dimensions across teaching, research, and community engagement. Governments should move beyond regulation to actively collaborate with universities in fostering regional entrepreneurial initiatives aligned with sustainable development goals.
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Research on Rural Entrepreneurship in Terms of the Literature: Definition Problems and Selected Research Issues
Rural entrepreneurship represents a critical research area amid significant socio-economic changes in rural regions. This paper reviews Polish and international literature on rural entrepreneurship, emphasizing geographical perspectives. The authors organize existing theoretical research, propose a definition of rural entrepreneurship, and identify future research directions and opportunities.
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Bridging the rural digital divide: avoiding the user churn of rural public digital cultural services
Rural users abandon public digital cultural services due to physical barriers, lack of digital skills, and service ineffectiveness. The study identifies these factors—physical access limitations, ability gaps, and poor service quality—as key drivers of user churn. Addressing these issues is essential to bridging the rural digital divide and retaining rural users in digital cultural platforms.
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Making the case for place based governance in rural health workforce recruitment and retention: Lessons from Canada and Australia
Rural communities worldwide struggle to recruit and retain health workers, creating healthcare access gaps between rural and urban areas. This study examines place-based governance approaches through case studies in Canada and Australia. The authors argue that effective rural health workforce strategies require context-specific benchmarks and cross-national collaboration to understand how place-making strategies can improve recruitment and retention in rural health services.
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Does the Application of ICTs Improve the Efficiency of Agricultural Carbon Reduction? Evidence from Broadband Adoption in Rural China
Rural broadband adoption in China improves agricultural carbon reduction efficiency, according to analysis of 30 provinces from 2011 to 2019. The effect strengthens when land transfer rates are high and farmers invest more in production equipment. Income and efficiency follow an inverted U-shaped relationship, confirming the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis. These findings suggest broadband and smart equipment adoption can help farmers in developing countries reduce agricultural emissions.
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The Role of Women's Entrepreneurial Motivation in Mediating the Relationship Between Entrepreneurship Training and Entrepreneurial Intentions in the Rural
Entrepreneurship training for rural women in Indonesia significantly increases both their entrepreneurial motivation and intentions to start businesses. However, motivation does not mediate this relationship—training directly influences intentions without motivation acting as an intermediary factor. The study examined women managers in a village waste-management enterprise using structural equation modeling.
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Motivational factors and challenges of women entrepreneurship: insights from rural Uttarakhand
Women entrepreneurs in rural Uttarakhand face significant obstacles including individual, family, societal, and location-based challenges that threaten business sustainability. The study identifies four key themes: family and personal barriers, social constraints, geographic disadvantages, and motivational factors that keep women engaged in entrepreneurship. Understanding these motivators helps explain why women persist despite substantial obstacles to building successful ventures.
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Is the Rural Population Caught in the Whirlwind of the Digital Divide?
Rural populations in Spain face significant digital divides compared to urban areas, particularly among vulnerable groups like the elderly, unemployed, and women. Using structural equation modeling on survey data, the study reveals that digital access and technology use gaps correlate directly with users' socioeconomic status. The findings demonstrate that technology adoption in rural agriculture requires urgent policy intervention to address inequality and ensure equitable access across demographic groups.
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Understanding the Relationship of Science and Mathematics Place-Based Workforce Development on Adolescents’ Motivation and Rural Aspirations
Place-based workforce development in science and mathematics classes strengthens rural adolescents' motivation and aspirations to remain in their communities. Students exposed to more local STEM-related content and assets showed higher expectancy beliefs, greater interest in STEM careers, and stronger intentions to stay. The study confirms that connecting classroom learning to community needs and local opportunities cultivates both career interest and rural retention.
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Challenges, solutions and future directions for public health innovations targeting dementia prevention for rural and remote populations
Rural and remote populations in Australia face 80% higher dementia risk and 1.4 times greater chronic disease burden than metropolitan areas, yet health interventions remain designed for urban populations. This paper identifies challenges in cognitive health service delivery for rural communities and proposes short and long-term policy and clinical practice innovations to improve dementia prevention in these underserved regions.
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Challenges and innovations in access to community‐based rural primary care services during the Covid‐19 pandemic in Australia
Rural Australian general practices faced evolving challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic while developing innovations to maintain accessible primary care. Over a year of interviews, eleven practices reported implementing new planning processes, digital health options, and protective measures for patients and staff. The study identifies reflexive action as a common theme, showing how rural practices adapted their service delivery models to sustain access during the pandemic's changing conditions.
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Managing innovation: a qualitative study on the implementation of telehealth services in rural emergency departments
This study examined how six U.S. healthcare systems implemented telehealth services in 65 rural emergency departments. Researchers interviewed 18 key staff members and identified three implementation stages: startup, utilization, and sustainment. They found that eight factors—strategies, capability, relationships, financials, protocols, environment, service characteristics, and accountability—either facilitated or hindered success at each stage. Healthcare systems can improve telehealth adoption by addressing these specific domains.
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Developing social entrepreneurship in rural areas: A path mediation framework
Local wisdom strengthens social entrepreneurship development in rural microfinance groups in East Sumba, Indonesia. The study shows that incorporating traditional knowledge helps microfinance organizations overcome capital constraints and achieve sustainability. Local governments should design policies supporting social enterprise development that build on existing community wisdom and create environments where stakeholders can foster entrepreneurship.
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A new model of rural development based on human capital and entrepreneurship
Rural development depends heavily on entrepreneurship and human capital, which together drive economic growth in rural areas. The paper reviews academic literature on rural development and presents research findings on economic growth models for rural regions in the 21st century. The authors argue that connecting rural amenities with socio-economic development is essential and demonstrate how successful rural economic growth models can be implemented in Serbia.
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Push them forward: Challenges in intergovernmental organizations' influence on rural broadband infrastructure expansion
Regional Planning Commissions in rural Missouri struggle to advance broadband infrastructure despite it being a core goal. Interviews with 16 commissions reveal they face competing stakeholder pressures from residents, local governments, internet service providers, and state/federal agencies. While commissions advocate for broadband priorities to elected officials, they lack sufficient expertise and self-efficacy to effectively support planning efforts. The study proposes a framework combining behavioral and stakeholder theories to explain these dynamics.
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Place‐based learning processes in a family science workshop: Discussion prompts supporting families sensemaking and rural science connections using a community water model
A study of family learning in informal science workshops reveals how discussion prompts help parents and children make sense of water quality science and connect it to their rural community. Analysis of 12 families showed six types of sensemaking conversations emerged, with families using physical gestures across multiple surfaces to support their understanding. Discussion prompts that link abstract science to local experiences strengthen family engagement in informal science education.
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Digitalization Technology for Sustainable Rural Entrepreneurship and Inequality
Digitalization transforms rural entrepreneurship by creating decent work and local economic growth, but simultaneously increases inequality and threatens traditional markets. The study finds that social solidarity economic models grounded in local wisdom can mitigate these negative effects. The research combines surveys, interviews, and ethnographic observation to show how digital transformation affects rural entrepreneurial behavior and sustainable development outcomes.
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Appalachian social entrepreneurship ecosystem: A framework for rural development
Social enterprises in rural Appalachian Ohio create economic development by leveraging regional champions, university partnerships, and multiple forms of capital. The study shows that successful rural social enterprise ecosystems depend on integrating community and economic development while preserving ecosystem services. This approach represents a fourth wave of rural economic development that moves beyond traditional models.
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To know is to accept. Uncovering the perception of renewables as a behavioural trigger of rural energy transition
Rural communities in Poland show broad awareness of renewable energy but lack deep, balanced knowledge about specific sources and their local applications. The study finds that personal experience with small-scale renewable installations drives attitude change and motivates new energy investments. Direct community involvement in renewable projects ensures both costs and benefits are distributed fairly across rural areas, making inclusive, place-based approaches essential for sustainable energy transitions.
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An optimized off-grid hybrid system for power generation in rural areas
Researchers optimized a hybrid power system for a cow farm in Jordan combining solar panels, biogas generators, diesel generators, wind turbines, and batteries. The best configuration used solar, biogas, batteries, and diesel generation, achieving 94% renewable energy production, reducing emissions by 92%, and costing $0.06 per kilowatt-hour. This off-grid system meets the farm's daily electrical needs economically and sustainably.
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The geography of innovation in times of crisis: a comparison of rural and urban RDI patterns during COVID-19
Rural firms in Finland lagged behind urban firms in securing competitive research and development funding before COVID-19, but this gap narrowed significantly during the pandemic. Rural enterprises demonstrated strategic flexibility and resilience by taking advantage of more accessible and flexible funding mechanisms introduced during the crisis. The findings challenge assumptions that rural innovation capacity is fragile during economic shocks.
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Comprehensive land improvement innovation for rural revitalization: Public value creation and realization
This paper examines how comprehensive land improvement innovations create and realize public value for rural revitalization. The authors analyze mechanisms through which land improvement projects generate benefits for rural communities, focusing on the processes that transform potential public value into actual realized outcomes. The work addresses how innovation in land management and improvement practices supports broader rural development goals.
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Exploring the impact of participative place-based community archaeology in rural Europe: Community archaeology in rural environments meeting societal challenges
A participative archaeology project in rural Czech Republic, Netherlands, and Poland demonstrates that community-led excavations within villages are popular and effective. Residents conducted test pit excavations in their own communities, generating both archaeological knowledge and social benefits. The approach successfully attracted and sustained local interest in heritage participation across all three countries, proving the feasibility of this participatory method in rural European contexts.
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The role of permaculture in the integration of indigenous and modern agricultural knowledge: Evidence from Konso, Ethiopia
Farmers in Konso, Ethiopia adopt some modern agricultural practices like improved seeds and pest control methods, but remain skeptical about chemical fertilizers and seed varieties that threaten local crops. The study finds that permaculture offers a promising bridge between indigenous and modern farming systems because its philosophy aligns with traditional knowledge while addressing food security challenges. Properly implemented permaculture can integrate both approaches effectively.
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THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BACKYARD AS A LOCAL LEVEL INNOVATION INTERMEDIARY IN RURAL CHINA
Science and Technology Backyards (STBs) in rural China function as innovation intermediaries that support agricultural change by facilitating technological, social, and institutional innovation together. STBs evolved from simple knowledge brokers into systemic intermediaries that help farmers adopt improved practices. Villages with STBs showed higher adoption rates of improved tillage methods and better learning environments than villages without them. However, individual STBs have limited impact beyond their communities, requiring collaboration networks to scale innovation across regions.
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Strength of cross‐sector collaborations in co‐designing an extended rural and remote nursing placement innovation: Focusing on student learning in preference to student churning
A cross-sector collaboration between Australian universities and rural health services co-designed an extended nursing placement program to improve student learning in remote areas. The program addresses short placements that limit students' exposure to rural practice and their ability to consider rural careers. By involving stakeholders in program design and implementation, the collaboration created a rural-ready nursing workforce while reducing student attrition from rural regions.
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Effect of Broadband Infrastructure on Rural Household CO2 Emissions in China: A Quasi-Natural Experiment of a “Broadband Village”
Broadband infrastructure in rural China increases household carbon dioxide emissions, with a coefficient of 1.7 according to difference-in-differences analysis of a "Broadband Village" pilot program. However, this growth effect weakens significantly once broadband penetration exceeds 31.32%, revealing a threshold effect. The findings suggest policymakers should coordinate digital village expansion with carbon reduction and income redistribution strategies.
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Dimensions and Strategies of Sustainable Rural Entrepreneurship Ecosystem: An Explorative-Mixed Research Study
Rural entrepreneurship operates as a distinct ecosystem with unique characteristics requiring tailored support. This study identifies six dimensions and thirty-six strategies for sustainable rural entrepreneurship ecosystems through expert interviews and analytical hierarchy analysis. The findings show rural entrepreneurship differs fundamentally from other ecosystems and demands context-specific approaches that account for bio-resource conservation and local conditions.
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Perceived Obstacles and Performance of Food and Agribusiness Enterprises: Implications for Urban and Rural Entrepreneurship Development
This study analyzes 699 food and agribusiness firms using World Bank survey data to compare rural and urban enterprises. The researchers found significant differences in firm characteristics, business performance, and perceived obstacles between rural and urban locations. Results show that obstacles to doing business vary substantially by region, suggesting policymakers should tailor entrepreneurship support strategies to address location-specific challenges.
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Design and Simulation of an Inverter Drive System with a Display for a Renewable Energy System in the Rural Isolated Communities of Uganda
Researchers designed and simulated an inverter system that converts single-phase AC power to three-phase DC power for rural health facilities in Uganda. The five-level inverter uses passive and active components to reduce distortion and ripples while improving efficiency. Testing showed the system can suppress power ripples using smaller capacitors than conventional converters, enabling three-phase medical equipment to run reliably in isolated communities with limited electrical infrastructure.
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Rural renewable energy development: lessons learned from community-based renewable energy business model in East Sumba, Indonesia
Community-based renewable energy projects in East Sumba, Indonesia require four key strategies to succeed: developing village leadership, building business management capacity, establishing meaningful community roles in energy operations, and fostering stakeholder collaboration. The paper examines renewable energy initiatives in two villages and identifies these capacity-building approaches as essential for rural communities to implement and sustain renewable energy business models effectively.
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Optimisation of a Renewable Energy System for Rural Electrification
This paper optimizes anaerobic digestion systems that convert cattle waste into biogas for rural electricity generation. Using Tabu Search optimization, the authors determine the ideal system size and operating method to maximize revenue for a given number of cattle. The findings show that properly sized waste-to-energy systems can effectively increase electricity access in rural Uganda.
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Awareness of the population in rural regions of Serbia about renewable energy sources
Rural Serbians lack awareness about renewable energy sources, limiting public support for sustainable energy projects. A survey of over 400 respondents across southern, eastern, and central Serbia found that rural populations are poorly informed about both general energy production and specific renewable energy benefits. The study calls for intensive public information campaigns to build support for renewable energy adoption in Serbia's energy sector.
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Transition to the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Africa’s Science, Technology and Innovation Framework and Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Africa's science, technology, and innovation policies fail to adequately integrate indigenous and traditional knowledge systems into fourth industrial revolution strategies. The paper argues that African nations must develop deliberate, indigenous knowledge-sensitive STI frameworks to leverage local knowledge systems and ensure equitable participation in the bioeconomy and broader 4IR innovation ecosystem.
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Examining the Role of Regulation in the Commercialisation of Indigenous Innovation in Sub-Saharan African Economies: Evidence from the Ghanaian Small-Scale Industry
Regulation significantly boosts the commercialization of indigenous innovation in Ghana's small-scale industry. A survey of 557 firms found that regulation positively affects sales, employment, and owner satisfaction, while also strengthening how finance and organizational factors drive firm performance. The study challenges the deregulation narrative, arguing that low-income economies need balanced, appropriate regulations to support indigenous innovation.
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National, regional, and urban-rural patterns in fixed-terrestrial broadband internet access and cardiac rehabilitation utilization in the United States
Rural and Southern US regions show high cardiac rehabilitation eligibility but low participation rates, alongside widespread broadband internet gaps. The study reveals that rural areas lack broadband access more than urban areas, creating a critical barrier to telehealth cardiac rehabilitation. Policymakers must address broadband infrastructure before expanding telehealth rehabilitation programs in underserved regions.
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Analysis on the Social Environment of College Students’ Rural Employment and Entrepreneurship
College students in rural areas face employment and entrepreneurship barriers. This paper analyzes the social environment affecting their success through surveys and data analysis. Results show students prefer job fairs (77.2%) and online/media channels (69.6%), while fewer pursue independent entrepreneurship (15.4%). The authors propose optimization strategies across four domains: policy, capital, education, and cultural environments to improve rural employment and entrepreneurship outcomes.
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Understanding the Impact of Rural Returnees’ Hometown Identity on Their Successful Entrepreneurship with the Operations Research Framework
Rural returnees in China with strong hometown identity achieve greater entrepreneurial success, particularly in e-commerce and live broadcast villages. Knowledge agglomeration mediates this relationship, while returnee creativity amplifies it. The study, based on field data from Jiangsu Province villages, shows that government policies supporting returnee entrepreneurs with hometown attachment can effectively revitalize rural areas and retain population.
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Rural E-Commerce Entrepreneurship Education in Higher Education Institutions: Model Construction via Empirical Analysis
Rural e-commerce entrepreneurship education in Chinese higher education institutions needs stronger student input and process design, though educational support and feedback mechanisms perform well. The study evaluated one engineering institute using a hierarchical analysis model and found that while institutional support is adequate, learning engagement and curriculum delivery require improvement to better prepare students for rural e-commerce careers.
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Capital Factors Influencing Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Entrepreneurship Development: An Australian Perspective
This study surveyed 188 women entrepreneurs in rural, regional, and remote Queensland, Australia to understand how economic, social, and cultural capital influence their entrepreneurial engagement. Social capital emerged as the strongest driver of entrepreneurial success and engagement preferences, even more than formal qualifications or credentials. The researchers attribute this to how rural communities rely on networks as survival mechanisms. The findings offer insights for policymakers designing programs to support women's entrepreneurship in remote areas.
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Literature Review on Entrepreneurship Practice in Agriculture, Rural and Farmers under the Background of Rural Revitalization
This literature review examines entrepreneurship across agricultural, rural, and farmer contexts during rural revitalization. The paper distinguishes three related but separate concepts: rural entrepreneurship (focused on entrepreneurial environment), agricultural entrepreneurship (focused on agricultural industries), and farmer entrepreneurship (focused on farmer entrepreneur characteristics). The author identifies overlaps in how these types address entrepreneurial opportunities and resources, then proposes future research directions that recognize rural entrepreneurship's distinct logic and value compared to industrial entrepreneurship.
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Cultural industry development from entrepreneurship under the background of rural revitalization strategy
This paper develops a framework to measure cultural industry competitiveness in rural China under the rural revitalization strategy. Using projection pursuit and data envelopment analysis models, the authors evaluate regional cultural industry performance across base, dominant, and potential competitiveness dimensions. Results show strong performance metrics across all three areas, with findings offering guidance for improving cultural industry development and addressing current growth challenges in rural regions.
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Russian Rural Place Names and Features of Their Derivational Structure (Based on the Toponymy of East Kazakhstan)
This paper analyzes Russian place names in rural settlements across three districts of East Kazakhstan, identifying three toponymic layers: Turkic, Slavic, and German. The authors examine how Russian names derive from productive word-formation patterns and show increasing semantic independence in the naming system. The study reveals how linguistic patterns and historical factors shape rural place-naming conventions, with names like Vladimirovka becoming instantly recognizable as settlement names through their linguistic features alone.
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Immersive Place-Based Attachments in Rural Australia: An Overview of an Allied Health Program and Its Outcomes
An Australian university's rural immersive attachment program for allied health students significantly increased rural practice intentions among both metropolitan and rural-origin students. Graduates who completed longer placements (18+ weeks) were 2 to 2.7 times more likely to work in rural or remote areas within 1–3 years post-graduation compared to those with shorter placements. Extended rural immersive experiences effectively drive rural workforce placement independent of students' geographic background.
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Feasibility Study of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System for a Remote Rural Community Using HOMER Pro
Researchers designed a hybrid renewable energy system for a remote Philippine rural community by combining solar, wind, and existing micro-hydro power using HOMER Pro modeling. The optimal configuration adds solar panels, batteries, and a converter to the existing micro-hydro plant, costing PHP 3.98 per kW and delivering 24/7 electricity. The study provides technical specifications, cost calculations, and sustainability strategies for implementation.
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Inventory of Water–Energy–Waste Resources in Rural Houses in Gran Canaria Island: Application and Potential of Renewable Resources and Mitigation of Carbon Footprint and GHG
Rural houses in Gran Canaria can substantially reduce their carbon footprint by adopting renewable energy technologies including solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, and waste methanation. The study inventoried water, energy, and waste resources across rural tourism properties and found that renewable energy generation tailored to available surface area significantly lowers environmental impact while supporting sustainable rural tourism development and EU decarbonization targets.
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Broadening energy access for poor households in rural malawi: How pico solar, mobile money, and cloud-based services are being combined to address energy exclusion
In rural Malawi, most poor households lack electricity and cannot afford solar systems upfront. A solar company called Yellow combined pay-as-you-go payments, mobile money, and cloud-based services into a platform called Ofeefee that delivers affordable solar lighting to off-grid communities. This approach provides better quality lighting at lower cost than traditional options, while avoiding exploitative microfinance. The paper argues that energy access programs should distinguish between energy and lighting to better address the specific needs of energy-poor communities.
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Design Considerations for Reducing Battery Storage in Off-Grid, Stand-Alone, Photovoltaic-Powered Cold Storage in Rural Applications
This paper examines how to design off-grid solar-powered cold storage units for rural areas while minimizing battery size. Using a case study from rural South Africa, the authors identify key design factors including photovoltaic panel orientation, container positioning, and electrical component sizing. Their mathematical models and field data show how these design choices reduce cooling demands in hot climates, making solar cold storage more feasible and sustainable for improving food security and rural livelihoods.
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How rurality influences interactive innovation processes: lessons learnt from 15 case studies in 12 countries
Rural regions innovate differently based on their distance from urban centers. Analyzing 15 case studies across Europe, the authors found that remote rural areas rely on external ideas and established networks, with individual entrepreneurs driving innovation despite thin support systems and limited private funding. NGOs and producer organizations become critical support mechanisms in the most isolated regions, while the private sector can compensate for weak agricultural knowledge systems.
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Is farmland financial innovation narrowing the urban-rural income gap? A cross-regional study of China
Farmland financial innovation significantly narrows China's urban-rural income gap, according to analysis of 30 provinces from 2006 to 2017. The mechanism works through two pathways: enabling permanent labor migration away from farming and upgrading rural industrial structure. The authors recommend governments promote farmland financial innovation and establish rural property rights systems to facilitate farmer mobility and reduce income inequality.
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Revelatory Case Study for the Emergence of Powerships: The Floating Power Plant Innovation for Rural Electrification
Powerships are floating power plants designed to provide electricity to energy-deficient countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia where building traditional land-based power plants is difficult. This case study examines how Powerships emerged as an innovation, where they operate, their operational challenges and benefits, and the company's successful market launch strategy through interviews with company officials and literature review.
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Does mobile broadband use promote smallholder entrepreneurship? Evidence from rural China
Mobile broadband use significantly increases smallholder entrepreneurship in rural China. The study found that mobile broadband access raises the probability of entrepreneurial engagement by 15.1 percentage points and entrepreneurial willingness by 50.9 percentage points. Effects vary by region and income level, with high-income smallholders showing greater engagement gains and low-income smallholders showing greater willingness gains.
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Entrepreneurship and Industrialization for Rural Development: Business Incubation Approach
Business incubators supporting agricultural firms drive rural development in Tanzania by nurturing startups and creating jobs. Government-operated incubators provide managerial advice, accessible finance, facilities, business guidance, export facilitation, networking, and market access. The study of ten incubators shows they significantly impact the economy and job creation. Developing countries should integrate business incubators into policy and strategic planning.
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The rural household’s entrepreneurship under the land certification in China
Land certification in China significantly increases agricultural entrepreneurship among rural households by at least 25%, but does not affect non-agricultural entrepreneurship. Certification with clear boundaries and household-level titling proves most effective. The policy works by enabling land transfers, improving labor allocation, and facilitating capital access. The findings support standardizing rural labor markets and advancing land financial reforms to boost agricultural entrepreneurship.
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Did the cyberspace foster the entrepreneurship of women with children in rural China?
Internet access significantly promotes entrepreneurship among rural mothers in China by enabling three key mechanisms: improving gender equality perceptions, providing business information and learning opportunities, and facilitating access to financing. The study demonstrates that cyberspace adoption directly supports self-managed enterprise creation among women with children in less developed rural areas.
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Artificial Intelligence Network Embedding, Entrepreneurial Intention, and Behavior Analysis for College Students’ Rural Tourism Entrepreneurship
College students in Xi'an show strong entrepreneurial intentions toward rural tourism when supported by effective education. Using artificial intelligence neural networks optimized with genetic algorithms, researchers analyzed factors influencing entrepreneurial behavior with 92% accuracy. The findings demonstrate that improved machine learning methods can reliably predict student entrepreneurship, helping universities design better entrepreneurship education programs to develop rural tourism ventures and strengthen rural economies.
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An Inclusive Entrepreneurial Path Model Based on Rural Digital Entrepreneurship Data in Zhejiang Province Using Few-Shot Learning
Rural farmers in Zhejiang Province who engage in entrepreneurship rely heavily on operational resources and network connections rather than knowledge resources. Social and industrial network embeddedness significantly helps migrant workers access the resources needed to start businesses. The study recommends policies supporting farmer entrepreneurship, attracting business investment to rural areas, and providing agricultural knowledge and market guidance to boost rural employment.
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Empowering Rural Entrepreneurs through Independent-Entrepreneurship Literacy Program
An entrepreneurship literacy program in an Indonesian village improved bamboo craftsmen's business competencies through training in business management, financial literacy, and digital marketing. The program used participatory action research to address illiteracy and low entrepreneurial skills that hindered rural economic development. While the training enhanced craftsmen's abilities to develop their businesses, sustained progress requires ongoing support from local government and private companies.
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Social entrepreneurship in tourism: a chance for rural communities
Social enterprises developing tourism in rural Ukrainian communities can improve resident well-being, but success requires local awareness, sustainable resource management, and alignment with community values. The paper shows that diversified tourism approaches outperform single-activity models like ski resorts, which create economic vulnerability. Social tourism enterprises deliver greater positive social impact than conventional tourism businesses when they maximize local resources and respect traditions.
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Corporate governance and firm innovation: Evidence from indigenous oil firms in Sub-Saharan Africa
This study examines how corporate governance affects innovation in indigenous oil firms in Nigeria. The research finds that board effectiveness, commitment, and involvement significantly boost both process innovation and product/service innovation. The findings suggest that strengthening corporate governance practices helps indigenous oil firms remain competitive and sustainable in their sector.
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Women’s Economic Contribution, Relationship Status and Risky Sexual Behaviours: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from a Microfinance-Plus Programme in Rural South Africa
A study of 626 rural South African women in a microfinance-plus program found that married older women had higher rates of inconsistent condom use, while women contributing all household income reported more multiple sexual partners but less transactional sex. Economic strengthening alone does not reduce sexual risk behaviors; interventions must address broader social and economic drivers alongside income support.
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Analyzing the mechanism among rural financing constraint mitigation, agricultural development, and carbon emissions in China: A sustainable development paradigm
China's policy to ease rural financing constraints for agriculture increased farm production and farmer income, but also raised agricultural carbon emissions per unit area. The emissions increase came from higher input intensity per hectare. However, mechanization and agricultural scale expansion can offset these emissions. The policy's effects varied by region based on economic development and agricultural conditions. Other developing countries can learn from China's experience to balance agricultural growth with emission control.
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L’Agriculture biologique, une innovation territoriale au service du développement rural : le cas du Gers
Organic agriculture in the Gers department of France demonstrates how rural areas drive innovation through territorial anchoring. The study finds strong institutional and economic support for organic farming development, positioning it as intelligent specialization that diversifies the existing agricultural system. However, competing visions of organic agriculture among stakeholders may hinder its further development as a territorial innovation.
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Conceptual distinction between agricultural innovation and rural innovation: implications for scientific research and public policy
This paper distinguishes agricultural innovation from rural innovation as separate conceptual approaches. Agricultural innovation focuses on farming technology and competitiveness, while rural innovation emphasizes endogenous development and social change. Analysis of Mexican research trends (2014-2018) and policies (2013-2018) shows that scientific work addressed both approaches, but government policy only pursued agricultural innovation despite widespread rural marginalization. The authors argue that recognizing these distinctions improves research clarity and enables policymakers to design interventions addressing rural inequality.
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Bridging the Urban-Rural Broadband Connectivity Gap using 5G Enabled HAPs Communication Exploiting TVWS Spectrum
This paper proposes using 5G-enabled high-altitude platforms (HAPs) and television white space (TVWS) spectrum to close broadband connectivity gaps between urban and rural areas. The approach leverages unused TV frequencies and aerial communication platforms to deliver internet access to underserved rural regions, offering a practical technical solution to rural digital inequality.
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Disputed futures: rural entrepreneurship and migration in postsecondary trajectories on the Ecuador–Colombia Border
This ethnographic study examines how schools in the Ecuador-Colombia border region use rural entrepreneurship projects to shape young people's futures and align their aspirations with state priorities. The research reveals tensions between institutionalized entrepreneurship initiatives and students' actual desires for geographical and social mobility, showing how the future functions as a tool of government control over youth.
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Enacting aspirational rural schooling towards sustainable futures: exploring students’ ethnographic imaginations implications for place-based pedagogy
Rural students in Ghana have limited career aspirations shaped primarily by their immediate environment. The study shows that place-based pedagogy can improve educational outcomes by integrating indigenous apprenticeship methods and local skills with global opportunities. Teachers must become geographically sensitive and help students connect their community knowledge to broader possibilities while respecting their home cultural capital.
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The impact of system contraction on the rural youth access to higher education in Poland
After Poland's higher education system contracted post-2005, rural youth—historically disadvantaged in accessing university—gained greater entry to prestigious public institutions. The study challenges the conventional belief that system expansion reduces educational inequality. Instead, contraction forced elite universities to become less selective and more inclusive when traditional student pools dried up and state-funded places needed filling.
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“You're Poor, so You're Not Going to Do Anything:” Socioeconomic Status and Capital Accumulation as a Means to Access Higher Education for Rural Youth<sup>☆</sup>
Rural first-generation college students receive minimal practical guidance from family, school, and community members when deciding on higher education. Family educational background strongly influences whether students follow adult advice. Non-first-generation students choose selective universities primarily through family connections. State merit-based scholarships motivate rural students to attend top public universities regardless of first-generation status, with distance to campus playing a minor role in college choice decisions.
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Solar powered vaccine refrigerator for rural off-grid areas in Nigeria
Nigerian researchers designed an affordable solar-powered vaccine refrigerator system for rural off-grid health facilities. The system uses a 100W solar panel, battery storage, and charge controller to power a 75W refrigerator holding 50 litres of vaccine, costing approximately N135,000 per health centre. This replaces unreliable diesel generators and enables reliable vaccine storage in remote areas, potentially reducing infant and maternal mortality.
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When digital technology innovation enhances Indigenous Peoples’ e-participation in climate change resilience-building: perspectives under the “e-GIS Smart, Inclusive, and, Climate-resilient Indigenous Peoples Landscape and Community Clearing-House Mechanism Solution”
Digital GIS and satellite technology tools can help Indigenous Peoples participate in climate resilience and biodiversity conservation on their territories. The paper presents an e-GIS platform with mobile and app interfaces designed to facilitate Indigenous participation in decision-making and climate action while supporting data sovereignty and decolonization. Implementation requires state support and alignment with UN agendas on Indigenous affairs.
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Indigenous-led First Peoples health interprofessional and simulation-based learning innovations: mixed methods study of nursing academics’ experience of working in partnership
Nursing academics working with Indigenous leaders developed culturally safe curriculum innovations through partnership. The study shows that educating educators about cultural safety in teaching, learning, and research is essential. Non-Indigenous academics can effectively collaborate within Indigenous-led pedagogical approaches to create culturally appropriate health education programs.
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Innovation as translation in Indigenous entrepreneurship: lessons from Mapuche entrepreneurs in Chile
Innovation in Indigenous entrepreneurship operates as cultural translation, not Western adoption. Mapuche entrepreneurs in Chile transform traditional daily practices into market-valued products by reconfiguring commercial practices through their own cultural frameworks. This process challenges homogenized innovation discourse and reveals how Indigenous enterprises strategically adapt rather than simply adopt external innovation models.
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The Role of Microfinance in China’s Rural Public Health: Evidence from the Anti-Poverty Microcredit Program
A microcredit program in impoverished Chinese villages improved rural residents' health levels and health insurance uptake. The effect operated through poverty reduction and was strongest among low-income households with high credit ratings and strong social networks. Remaining debt reduced health gains, while formal credit access increased health spending by relaxing financial constraints.
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The Data Analytics of Finance Impact on the Rural Development Combining Financial Constraint and Economic Growth Theory
Rural Commercial Banks in China drive rural economic development through agricultural lending and deposit mobilization. Analysis of D County Rural Commercial Bank shows rural deposits grew from 2.2 billion yuan in 2012 to 6.0 billion yuan in 2018. The study proposes financial innovation strategies for rural banks to sustain economic growth and demonstrates how rural finance institutions can provide new pathways for stable rural development.
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On-Grid and Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System Designs with HOMER: A Case Study of Rural Electrification in Turkey
Researchers designed hybrid renewable energy systems for a rural Turkish area using solar, wind, and hydroelectric sources. On-grid systems connected to the main grid proved most economical, while off-grid systems with battery storage reduced environmental impact. Adding grid restrictions further lowered carbon emissions. Sensitivity analyses showed that increasing renewable capacity delivered both economic and environmental benefits.
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Grass Hopper Optimization Algorithm for Off-Grid Rural Electrification of an Integrated Renewable Energy System
This paper develops an optimization algorithm to size integrated renewable energy systems for off-grid rural electrification. The Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm determines optimal combinations of solar panels, wind turbines, biomass generators, and battery storage to minimize power supply failures in remote microgrids. Testing shows the algorithm outperforms existing optimization methods in finding cost-effective system configurations.
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Rural Electrification and the Uptake of Renewable Energy in Nigeria: Lessons from Kenya
Nigeria's rural electrification programs fail to achieve meaningful renewable energy adoption due to four key barriers: insufficient funding, high upfront technology costs, lack of community involvement, and no dedicated agency to drive renewable energy promotion. Without addressing these obstacles, rural electricity access will remain limited. Kenya's experience offers comparative lessons for overcoming these challenges.
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Sensitivity analysis for a hybrid off-grid PV/DG/BATT system for the electrification of rural communities
This paper evaluates a hybrid solar-diesel-battery power system for electrifying rural communities in Ecuador. Using optimization software, researchers designed a system combining 23 kW solar panels, a 27 kW diesel generator, and battery storage, achieving an energy cost of $0.359 per kilowatt-hour. Sensitivity analysis shows the system's viability depends heavily on fuel prices and component costs, with pure solar-battery systems becoming preferable when diesel exceeds $0.83 per liter.
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America or India: Identifying a Suitable Off-Grid Rural Electrification Model for Nigeria.
Nigeria's rural electrification lags because grid expansion is slow and centralized. This paper compares American and Indian approaches to rural electrification. America built a robust national grid, while India rapidly expanded rural access through decentralized, renewable energy-based off-grid systems. India's model proves faster and more effective for rural electrification in developing countries like Nigeria.
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Innovation through indigenous knowledge sharing, organisational memory, and indigenous knowledge erosion on indigenous batik enterprise (a structural equation model in action)
Indigenous batik enterprises preserve traditional knowledge through generational sharing, but face erosion pressures. This study finds that innovation and knowledge-sharing practices strengthen organizational memory in these enterprises. Critically, innovation also accelerates knowledge erosion, while erosion simultaneously reduces knowledge-sharing capacity. The findings reveal tensions between modernization and cultural preservation in indigenous craft businesses.
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Financial Intermediation by Microfinance Banks in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa: Financial Intermediation Theoretical Approach
Microfinance banks in rural Uganda improve financial inclusion of poor households through two key mechanisms: market penetration and service quality. These factors together explain 22 percent of variation in financial inclusion. Both dimensions independently show significant positive effects on bringing poor rural households into the formal financial system. The study recommends policies strengthening financial intermediaries in rural sub-Saharan Africa where traditional banks are scarce.
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OVERVIEW PAPER ON MICROFINANCE THROUGH SELF-HELP GROUP-BANK LINKAGE PROGRAM FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN RURAL INDIA
India's Self-Help Group-Bank Linkage Program, established by NABARD in 1992, delivers microfinance to rural poor communities. The program reduces poverty and financially empowers rural women, increasing savings, asset creation, and school enrollment. However, challenges remain including high interest rates, transaction costs, skill gaps, and inconsistent implementation across regions.
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A Study on Self-help Group based Microfinance Impacting Poor Rural Households
Self-help group microfinance programs in Orissa, India significantly improve rural household outcomes. The study finds that participating households experience increased income, employment days, and literacy rates, while migration decreases. Microfinance shows stronger impacts on households engaged in micro-enterprise and trading than those dependent on agriculture, demonstrating that livelihood type shapes program effectiveness.
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Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Local Finance and Development Strategies. Case of Urban and Rural Areas in the Mazovia Region
COVID-19 reduced local government revenues across urban and rural areas in Poland's Mazovia region while expenditures rose, creating a fiscal squeeze. Rural and urban local administrative units responded differently to this crisis, with their distinct characteristics shaping their resilience and recovery strategies. The pandemic forced local governments to adjust development plans based on their financial capacity.
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Unpacking the multiple spaces of innovation hubs
Conceptualizes innovation hubs as constituted by multiple overlapping spaces (physical, social, virtual, symbolic) and argues that attending to all of them gives a richer reading of how hubs do or do not foster development.
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Has Digital Financial Inclusion Narrowed the Urban-Rural Income Gap: The Role of Entrepreneurship in China
Digital financial inclusion significantly narrows China's urban-rural income gap, primarily through expanding access to financing. The effect operates mainly by enabling rural residents to start businesses and create jobs. Coverage breadth matters most; depth of use and digitalization show weaker effects. The impact is strongest in economically disadvantaged regions with lower education levels. The paper recommends policies leveraging digital finance to promote rural entrepreneurship.
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Disparities in Technology and Broadband Internet Access Across Rurality
Rural school districts in Washington State have significantly lower technology and broadband access than urban districts. Only 80% of rural students had adequate internet-enabled devices for online learning, compared to 90% in urban areas. Rural youth face greater barriers including geographic isolation, affordability, and reliance on smartphones. These disparities limit access to telehealth and remote education in rural communities.
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Foresighting Australian digital agricultural futures: Applying responsible innovation thinking to anticipate research and development impact under different scenarios
Australian researchers used foresighting workshops to explore how digital technologies will shape agriculture's future and identify social and ethical implications. Participants developed four scenarios based on resource security and farm business model changes. The analysis reveals that reflexivity in research and development is essential to ensure digital agriculture benefits farming communities equitably and addresses potential inequities in technology adoption across value chains.
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Rural Financial Development Impacts on Agricultural Technology Innovation: Evidence from China
Rural financial development significantly boosts agricultural technology innovation in China. The study of 31 Chinese provinces from 2003 to 2015 shows that rural finance efficiency drives innovation in low-marketization regions, while rural finance scale matters more in high-marketization regions. Stronger agricultural technology innovation subsequently supports rural economic development.
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Rural broadband speeds and business startup rates
Using county-level data from 2014, this study examines how broadband speeds affect rural business startup rates across different industries. The researchers find that broadband coverage significantly influences startup activity, with download speeds mattering more than upload speeds. Mobile broadband also plays a role. Importantly, the impact varies by industry type—what drives startups in one sector may not apply to another. The findings confirm that broadband access is increasingly critical for rural entrepreneurship.
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A new approach to stimulate rural entrepreneurship through village-owned enterprises in Indonesia
Village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) in Indonesia successfully encourage rural entrepreneurship by leveraging local resources and involving community stakeholders in exploration, empowerment, and capacity building. However, implementation faces significant obstacles: misalignment between regulations and practice, insufficient skilled managers, and weak coordination between village governments and enterprises.
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Entrepreneurship in rural hospitality and tourism. A systematic literature review of past achievements and future promises
This systematic review of 101 articles from 2000–2020 examines entrepreneurship in rural hospitality and tourism. The authors identify six key research themes: barriers and enablers, entrepreneur roles, women entrepreneurs, firm performance drivers, innovation, and value creation. They find that entrepreneurship journals have given limited attention to rural hospitality, most studies are qualitative, and research concentrates heavily in Europe. The review proposes an ecosystem framework and outlines six future research directions.
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Rural Schools and the Digital Divide
Rural teachers use various educational technology tools but lack formal training, relying instead on trial and error to learn new systems. Budget constraints emerge as the primary barrier to technology adoption, followed by students' limited home internet access. Teachers hold mixed views on technology effectiveness. The study recommends strategies for administrators and educators to better integrate appropriate tools and improve student learning outcomes.
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Social Innovation for Sustainability Transformation and its Diverging Development Paths in Marginalised Rural Areas
Social innovation—collaborative responses from civic society to societal challenges—drives sustainable development in marginalised rural areas facing biophysical limits and funding shortages. Analysis of 211 social innovation examples and 11 in-depth cases identified four distinct development paths for social innovation. The research shows that social innovation requires both local and external actors, but depends critically on internal local activity and knowledge to succeed in transforming marginalised rural communities.
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Can Social Innovation Make a Change in European and Mediterranean Marginalized Areas? Social Innovation Impact Assessment in Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, and Rural Development
Social innovation initiatives in European and Mediterranean marginalized rural areas produce measurable impacts across economic, social, environmental, and governance dimensions. The study evaluated nine social innovation projects in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and rural development. Results show these initiatives generate cross-sectoral and multi-level benefits that improve societal well-being and reduce marginalization within their territories.
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How digitalisation interacts with ecologisation? Perspectives from actors of the French Agricultural Innovation System
French agricultural actors—conventional farmers, organic farmers, and digital technology promoters—all engage with agricultural digitalization, but they perceive different benefits and risks. Organic and conventional actors implement distinct innovation processes despite apparent convergence. Digital actors fail to recognize these differences in perception, which risks excluding organic farming and agroecology from digital development benefits.
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Rurality and social innovation processes and outcomes: A realist evaluation of rural social enterprise activities
Rural social enterprises drive social innovation through both push and pull factors. The paper finds that rural context shapes how innovation happens—not the outcomes themselves. Different rural areas deploy distinct mechanisms to address similar challenges based on local resources. Rural social innovation policies should remain flexible rather than prescriptive, since context determines both the problems and the solutions available.
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‘Sharing the space’ in the agricultural knowledge and innovation system: multi-actor innovation partnerships with farmers and foresters in Europe
This paper reviews 200 European agricultural and forestry partnerships involving farmers and foresters to assess how multi-actor networks foster knowledge sharing and co-innovation. The researchers found that various EU and non-EU funding instruments effectively engage users in collaborative innovation across agriculture, forestry, and value chains. The study reveals that successful co-innovation requires recognizing diverse partnership approaches—both formal and informal—and better coordination between programs to reach currently underengaged actor groups.
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Social innovation in rural governance: A comparative case study across the marginalised rural EU
Rural marginalisation across the EU intensified after 2008, as traditional state governance failed to serve remote communities. This study examines how beyond-the-state governance systems—horizontal, networked, and collaborative—address this gap. Comparing three marginalised regions in Austria, Portugal, and Greece, the authors identify key factors enabling socially innovative governance: decentralised government structures, strong interregional networks, stakeholder discourse, and institutional stability. The findings reveal conditions necessary for embedding social innovation in rural governance.
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Participatory design of digital innovation in agricultural research-for-development: insights from practice
Participatory design methodologies improve ICT adoption in agriculture, but implementing them in smallholder farming contexts creates real challenges. The authors document tensions between design ideals and project realities in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, including mismatched stakeholder expectations, top-down hierarchies, neglected digital ecosystems, and poor software reuse. They offer practical guidance for agricultural researchers to conduct more effective participatory design processes that produce meaningful digital innovations.
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Understanding Smallholder Farmers’ Intention to Adopt Agricultural Apps: The Role of Mastery Approach and Innovation Hubs in Mexico
Mexican smallholder farmers' willingness to adopt agricultural advice apps depends primarily on their assessment of technical infrastructure and ability to learn through the app. Performance expectations drive adoption across all farmers. Mastery-approach goals matter only for younger farmers and those outside innovation hubs. Innovation hubs reduce the importance of learning motivation, suggesting they provide alternative knowledge pathways for adoption decisions.
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The transformative innovation potential of cellular agriculture: Political and policy stakeholders’ perceptions of cultured meat in Germany
German political and policy stakeholders recognize that conventional animal agriculture faces serious environmental and economic problems, but they doubt cultured meat will transform the food system soon. The study identifies drivers and barriers to cellular agriculture adoption, finding that while stakeholders understand change is necessary, they view large-scale transition to cell-based farming as unlikely in the near term.
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Digital agriculture platforms: Driving data‐enabled agricultural innovation in a world fraught with privacy and security concerns
Digital agriculture platforms enable data sharing and collaboration across agricultural value chains, but face significant challenges around data quality, privacy, and intellectual property. This paper develops a taxonomy of the digital agriculture landscape and analyzes platforms against technical and use requirements, establishing a common vocabulary for understanding how these systems support data-enabled agricultural innovation.
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Understanding inclusive innovation processes in agricultural systems: A middle-range conceptual model
This paper develops a middle-range theory explaining how inclusive innovation works in smallholder agricultural systems across the Global South. By analyzing three cases from South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa, the author identifies a consistent pattern: initial activities alter local context, triggering social learning, social capital strengthening, and consensus formation. These mechanisms drive technical, organizational, and institutional innovation. The model provides practitioners and researchers with a framework for understanding, facilitating, and evaluating inclusive agricultural innovation processes.
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Modeling the Effects of Agricultural Innovation and Biocapacity on Carbon Dioxide Emissions in an Agrarian-Based Economy: Evidence From the Dynamic ARDL Simulations
This study examines how agricultural innovation, energy use, income, and biocapacity affect carbon dioxide emissions in Nigeria from 1981 to 2014. Agricultural innovation and energy use increase emissions, while higher income and biocapacity reduce them long-term. The research confirms the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis and shows agricultural innovation accounts for nearly half of CO2 emission changes. The authors recommend prioritizing energy efficiency, clean energy adoption, and ecosystem management to address climate change.
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Unpacking sustainable business models in the Swedish agricultural sector– the challenges of technological, social and organisational innovation
Swedish agri-food companies employ eight distinct sustainable business models, grouped into three archetypes. A survey of 1,143 companies found no regional differences in technological or social innovation, but significant regional variation in organisational innovation. Northern Sweden showed stronger organisational innovation than southern and eastern regions, likely driven by greater environmental and economic pressures. The study identifies pathways for translating social and environmental value into competitive advantage.
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Rural women entrepreneurship: a systematic literature review and beyond
This systematic literature review examines 192 academic papers on rural women entrepreneurship published over 20 years. Research interest surged in the last decade, with India leading in publication volume and the United Kingdom in citation impact. Studies focus on factors influencing entrepreneurship, gender effects, and government support schemes. The review identifies underexplored areas including entrepreneurial education, microcredit, and information technology's impact on rural women entrepreneurs.
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Bridging the Digital Divide for Rural Older Adults by Family Intergenerational Learning: A Classroom Case in a Rural Primary School in China
Rural older adults in China struggle with digital literacy due to formal training programs that ignore their individual needs. This study tested family intergenerational learning, where grandchildren taught grandparents digital skills at home. Over three months, ten grandparent-grandchild pairs participated. Results show the approach successfully helped older adults gain digital knowledge, improve skills, adopt new lifestyles, and understand technology's role in society. Grandchildren also developed awareness of lifelong learning and responsibility toward elders.
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Does broadband infrastructure really affect consumption of rural households? – A quasi-natural experiment evidence from China
China's "Broadband Countryside" pilot project increased rural household consumption by 16.69%, primarily through mobile internet access rather than computer use. The infrastructure investment boosted everyday consumption and high-quality goods purchases, though consumption upgrading remained limited. The study uses quasi-experimental methods to establish that broadband infrastructure directly drives rural household spending patterns.
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Women empowerment through entrepreneurship: case study of a social entrepreneurial intervention in rural India
A social entrepreneurial initiative called Pahal in rural India enabled women to start a food delivery business, increasing their economic independence, household decision-making power, and social status. Men's attitudes shifted positively when women generated income. However, when the initiative stopped after one year, women's economic activities and social gains reversed, demonstrating that sustained institutional support is critical for lasting women's empowerment in patriarchal contexts.
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Rural Entrepreneurship Success Factors: An Empirical Investigation in an Emerging Market
This study identifies key factors distinguishing successful from failed small businesses in rural emerging markets. Using logistic regression on 230 rural businesses, the researchers found that capital, industry experience, staffing, and marketing skills most significantly predict success. The Lussier prediction model achieved 71% accuracy, validating its use across both advanced and developing economies and providing practical guidance for rural entrepreneurs, policymakers, and financial institutions.
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Implementing SDGs to a Sustainable Rural Village Development from Community Empowerment: Linking Energy, Education, Innovation, and Research
Rural areas worldwide suffer from depopulation and lack access to modern energy services, education, and healthcare. This paper describes the ALMIA project in Almatret, Spain, which transformed a small rural municipality through community empowerment. The project created networks connecting local residents with experts and researchers to drive energy transition, involved local administration, and promoted technological and socio-community development. The authors demonstrate how these activities align with UN Sustainable Development Goals and argue that community empowerment is key to reversing rural decline.
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Entrepreneurship, Broadband, and Gender: Evidence from Establishment Births in Rural America
Broadband access significantly increases business formation rates in rural America, with the strongest effects on nonemployer businesses, women-led enterprises, and remote establishments. The study uses instrumental variable methods to show that broadband enables rural entrepreneurs—particularly women—to reach nontraditional markets without physical storefronts, overcoming the constraints of thin local markets.
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Does investment in innovation impact firm performance in emerging economies? An empirical investigation of the Indian food and agricultural manufacturing industry
R&D investment significantly boosts firm growth in India's food and agricultural manufacturing sector. Younger firms benefit most from innovation spending. The study finds that exporting firms gain competitive advantages through R&D, while those importing raw materials face headwinds. Government fiscal incentives and R&D subsidies can accelerate private innovation investment and firm expansion in this emerging economy.
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Entrepreneurial Intention among Rural Youth in Moroccan Agricultural Cooperatives: The Future of Rural Entrepreneurship
Rural youth in Moroccan agricultural cooperatives face significant barriers to entrepreneurship. Using planned behavior theory, researchers surveyed 130 young cooperative members and found that financing constraints and agribusiness risks discourage entrepreneurial intentions, particularly among women. Socio-demographic factors, personal perceptions, prior experience, and cooperative activities all influence whether youth pursue self-employment or remain cooperative members.
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Exploring the readiness of publicly funded researchers to practice responsible research and innovation in digital agriculture
Irish publicly funded researchers show alignment with responsible research and innovation principles in digital agriculture, but face challenges implementing integrated RRI approaches. Interviews with 15 scientists and funders revealed three key concerns: unintended cultural consequences of technology, ensuring farm-level usability, and clarifying scientist responsibilities. The study identifies gaps in how RRI frameworks are framed and supported within academic institutions.
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A New Path of Sustainable Development in Traditional Agricultural Areas from the Perspective of Open Innovation—A Coupling and Coordination Study on the Agricultural Industry and the Tourism Industry
In Henan province, China, agricultural and tourism industries show increasing coordination from 2009 to 2018, with coordination scores rising from 0.278 to 0.921. The study demonstrates that integrating these two industries effectively drives rural economic development and poverty alleviation. The authors recommend optimizing agricultural structure, extending tourism chains, and implementing supportive policies to sustain this integrated development model.
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Is There Any Difference in the Impact of Digital Transformation on the Quantity and Efficiency of Enterprise Technological Innovation? Taking China’s Agricultural Listed Companies as an Example
Digital transformation in China's agricultural companies increases the quantity of technological innovations but does not improve innovation efficiency. The effect varies by company ownership type and depends on operating expense ratios. When operating expenses fall below a critical threshold, digital transformation significantly boosts innovation efficiency. These findings reveal that digitalization alone does not guarantee better-quality innovations in agricultural enterprises.
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Using diffusion of innovations theory to understand agricultural producer perspectives on cover cropping in the inland Pacific Northwest, USA
Farmers in the inland Pacific Northwest resist adopting cover crops despite research showing benefits. Using diffusion of innovations theory, interviews with 28 producers revealed that low perceived profitability, incompatibility with existing systems, and complexity of experimentation deter adoption. Focus groups with 48 stakeholders identified opportunities to improve adoption by providing region-specific agronomic and economic data, aligning policies with producer goals, and tailoring outreach to local conditions.
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Village public innovations during COVID19 pandemic in rural areas: Phenomena in Madura, Indonesia
During the COVID-19 pandemic, village administrations in Sampang Regency, Indonesia implemented three types of public innovations to maintain their green zone status and adapt to new living habits. These included product innovations like cash assistance programs and free internet networks, process innovations using call centers and digital communication tools, and policy innovations establishing volunteer teams and social distancing protocols at the village level.
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Empowerment or employment? Uncovering the paradoxes of social entrepreneurship for women via Husk Power Systems in rural North India
Social enterprises deploying off-grid solar systems in rural India face significant challenges beyond market imperfections. The study reveals that successful deployment requires managing community engagement, stakeholder coordination, and organizational capacity building. Mini-grid sustainability depends on integrating social and technical design aspects. Multi-criteria decision tools help planners avoid unintended consequences when scaling off-grid energy solutions in low-income markets.
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On the role of key players in rural social innovation processes
Rural social innovation projects succeed when led by assertive key players embedded in strong communities capable of collective action. This study of two German communities building rural infrastructure systems reveals that key players navigate internal opposition and external barriers by combining micro-, meso-, and macro-level strategies. Communities seeking independence from remote political and economic control benefit most when leaders and residents work together to overcome resistance to novel approaches.
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Systemic Innovation Areas for Heritage-Led Rural Regeneration: A Multilevel Repository of Best Practices
This paper analyzes 20 case studies of heritage-led rural regeneration projects across multiple countries. Using the Community Capitals Framework, researchers identified six systemic innovation areas that enable successful capital transfer in these projects. The study created a repository of best practices showing how cultural and natural heritage drives economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability in rural communities, positioning culture as essential to sustainable rural development.
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Social innovation and rural territories: Exploring invisible contexts and actors in Portugal and India
Social innovation in rural areas drives personal and socioeconomic development by meeting citizen needs and promoting empowerment. This study compares social innovation emergence in rural Portugal and India, revealing how top-down and bottom-up approaches shape innovation differently across contrasting socioeconomic contexts. The research fills a gap by examining rural innovation dynamics in both western and non-western settings.
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Social Capital, Financial Literacy, and Rural Household Entrepreneurship: A Mediating Effect Analysis
Social capital promotes rural entrepreneurship in China by improving financial literacy among household members. The study uses survey data to show that bridging social capital—connections across different groups—increases entrepreneurial activity. Information and communication technologies amplify this effect by facilitating knowledge sharing. The findings support policies encouraging entrepreneurship through social networks and digital infrastructure in rural areas.
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Rural Measures: A Quantitative Study of The Rural Digital Divide
This study develops and tests an inexpensive methodology to accurately measure the rural-urban digital divide by combining broadband quality and availability metrics with quality-of-life measures from the consumer perspective. Two pilot studies refined the approach, demonstrating that reliable measurement is possible. The authors provide recommendations for policymakers and researchers seeking to direct public assistance more effectively.
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Reconstructive Social Innovation Cycles in Women-Led Initiatives in Rural Areas
Women-led social innovations in rural Canada, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, and Serbia address gender equity challenges by reconstructing discriminatory practices, institutions, and beliefs. The study identifies a reconstructive social innovation cycle—cyclical processes where women engage through civil society initiatives to question and transform marginalizing norms. These innovations operate across everyday practices, institutional structures, and cognitive frames, offering concrete pathways for rural women to overcome patriarchal barriers and create opportunities for education and employment.
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What innovations impact agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa?
This study analyzes which agricultural innovations boost productivity across 22 Sub-Saharan African countries from 1996 to 2014. Pesticides and irrigation increase productivity, while fertilizer shows mixed results. Crop diversification improves profits and output. Labor-saving machinery like tractors and harvesters significantly raise productivity. The findings inform policy recommendations for agricultural development in the region.
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Rural and non-rural digital divide persists in older adults: Internet access, usage, and attitudes toward technology
Rural older adults have significantly lower internet access rates (54%) compared to urban (66%) and suburban residents (61%). Rural seniors use communication, financial, and media technologies less frequently and hold more negative attitudes toward technology, viewing it as complicated and hard to learn. Targeted interventions are needed to reduce the digital divide in rural communities.
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Renewable energy systems based on micro-hydro and solar photovoltaic for rural areas: A case study in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
This paper designs hybrid renewable energy systems combining micro-hydro and solar power for rural areas in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, where many communities lack electricity access. Using particle swarm optimization, the researchers analyzed local hydropower and solar potential to determine optimal system capacities. The analysis evaluated designs based on capital costs, grid sales revenue, energy costs, and net present value to identify the most economically viable configuration.
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Can digital technologies reshape rural microfinance? Implications for savings, credit, & insurance
Digital technologies like mobile money, digital credit scoring, and satellite imagery can address rural microfinance challenges by reducing information gaps and transaction costs in savings, credit, and insurance markets. The paper reviews evidence across these three domains and finds promising potential, but warns that digital tools have limitations requiring careful evaluation and oversight to ensure the resulting financial systems are more efficient and equitable than current alternatives.
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The role of SMEs in rural development: Access of SMEs to finance as a mediator
Small and medium enterprises drive rural development in Pakistan, but financing access is critical. This study surveyed 338 rural entrepreneurs across three districts and found that SME growth directly improves rural development outcomes. Access to finance significantly strengthens this relationship, acting as a key mediator between SME evolution and rural development gains. The findings highlight the importance of improving credit availability for rural SMEs.
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Achieving universal electrification of rural healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa with decentralized renewable energy technologies
Rural health centers across sub-Saharan Africa lack electricity, limiting medical equipment access. Decentralized photovoltaic systems can reliably electrify over 50,000 facilities for EUR 484 million, enabling 281 million people to reduce healthcare travel time by an average of 50 minutes. Solar power offers a clean, cost-effective solution to bridge this critical gap.
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Barriers and Drivers of Renewable Energy Penetration in Rural Areas
Rural communities face significant barriers to adopting renewable energy despite government climate policies and technological advances like smart grids and microgeneration. The paper identifies obstacles and enablers for renewable energy penetration in rural areas, where energy cooperatives and citizen prosumers can drive low-carbon transitions. It offers policy recommendations to accelerate renewable energy adoption in rural communities.
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Climate change and small-scale agriculture in Africa: Does indigenous knowledge matter? Insights from Kenya and South Africa
Small-scale farmers in Kenya and South Africa use indigenous knowledge to predict weather, manage rainfall, preserve seeds, and adapt farming practices to climate change impacts. The study of 115 respondents shows local communities deploy traditional methods effectively to cope with adverse environmental conditions. The authors argue that combining indigenous knowledge with modern science creates stronger agricultural strategies for African farmers facing climate change.
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Economic evaluation of a hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) using hybrid optimization model for electric renewable (HOMER) software—a case study of rural India
This paper designs a hybrid renewable energy system for a rural Indian village of 450 households using solar, biogas, and agricultural waste. The researchers modeled the system with HOMER software to optimize energy generation and costs. The analysis shows the system can deliver electricity at $0.032/KWh with a net present cost of $76,837, providing a practical blueprint for rural electrification through coordinated solar pumps, biogas plants, and street lighting.
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Organizational culture, organizational citizenship behavior, knowledge sharing and innovation: a study of indigenous people production organizations
This study examines how organizational culture, citizenship behavior, knowledge sharing, and innovation interact within Indigenous peoples' production organizations. Using data from 139 Indigenous workers, the research finds that organizational culture directly influences both citizenship behavior and innovation, while knowledge sharing alone does not drive innovation. Organizational citizenship behavior mediates the relationship between culture and knowledge sharing, suggesting these organizations motivate staff participation but need stronger mechanisms to translate that into innovation performance.
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Optimal design and sensitivity analysis of distributed biomass‐based hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification: Case study of different photovoltaic/wind/battery‐integrated options in Babadam, northern Cameroon
Researchers designed and optimized hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, and battery storage with biomass technologies for a remote community in northern Cameroon. Systems integrating biogas or syngas generators reduced electricity costs by 29-40% compared to solar-wind-battery alone, with the gasifier option achieving the lowest cost at $0.319/kWh. Sensitivity analysis confirms this cost advantage applies across sub-Saharan Africa, making biomass integration effective for rural electrification.
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Challenges for off-grid electrification in rural areas. Assessment of the situation in Namibia using the examples of Gam and Tsumkwe
Rural electrification in Namibia faces significant barriers despite the country's exceptional solar potential. The paper examines off-grid solar systems in Gam and Tsumkwe, revealing that current approaches fail due to one-sided legislation and inadequate community education. Namibia's reliance on coal imports and inability to connect dispersed populations to the main grid make off-grid solar solutions essential for achieving sustainability goals and supporting rural development.
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Indigenous-led responsible innovation: lessons from co-developed protocols to guide the use of drones to monitor a biocultural landscape in Kakadu National Park, Australia
Indigenous communities in Kakadu National Park, Australia co-developed protocols to responsibly introduce drone technology for monitoring their biocultural landscape. The protocols center Indigenous governance, ethical research relationships, and Indigenous-led innovation. They enable Indigenous cultural responsibilities for knowledge stewardship to guide and authorize how new technologies are designed and applied for adaptive management of Indigenous lands.
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The Importance of Local Investments Co-Financed by the European Union in the Field of Renewable Energy Sources in Rural Areas of Poland
Polish rural municipalities invested heavily in renewable energy projects between 2014 and 2020 using EU co-financing. The study of 1,117 projects found that agricultural municipalities in Eastern Poland showed the highest investment activity. Less developed municipalities pursued these projects most aggressively, viewing renewable energy as a path to economic growth. Municipal income and investment capacity were key factors determining success in securing EU funds.
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Optimal design and techno‐economic analysis of a hybrid grid‐independent renewable energy system for a rural community
This paper designs and analyzes hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in India. Using HOMER software, researchers evaluated six configurations for a village in Andhra Pradesh and identified an optimal system combining solar panels, diesel generators, batteries, and converters. This system delivers reliable power at low cost while reducing carbon emissions by 76% and achieving 97% renewable energy fraction, making it suitable for rural electrification projects.
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Rural household preferences in transition from traditional to renewable energy sources: the applicability of the energy ladder hypothesis in North Gondar Zone
Rural households in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia show strong willingness to transition from traditional to renewable energy sources. Hydropower emerges as the most preferred option, followed by solar energy. Socioeconomic factors—age, family size, income, education, and access to credit—significantly influence household energy choices. The study demonstrates that rural households are willing to pay substantial amounts for cleaner energy services, suggesting viable cost-sharing models for renewable energy implementation.
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Feasibility analysis of off-grid hybrid energy system for rural electrification in Northern Ghana
A hybrid energy system combining solar panels, diesel generators, and battery storage offers the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for electrifying off-grid rural areas in northern Ghana. Simulation analysis shows the system produces energy at $0.399 per kilowatt-hour, roughly three times current Ghana rates. However, policy support through fuel cost management and capital subsidies could make this approach economically viable for rural electrification.
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Management ownership and the performance of Islamic microfinance institutions: a panel data analysis of Indonesian Islamic rural banks
This study examines how management ownership affects the performance of Islamic microfinance institutions in Indonesia, specifically rural Islamic banks (BPRS). Using quarterly data from 2011 to 2016, researchers found that ownership by sharia supervisory boards significantly improves profitability and efficiency, while board of directors ownership reduces financing risk. Board of commissioners ownership increases financing risk. These findings highlight the importance of sharia board involvement in improving Islamic microfinance institution performance.
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Decentralized renewable energies and the water-energy-food nexus in rural Morocco
A pilot project in Morocco's Youssoufia Province demonstrates how decentralized renewable energy initiatives benefit rural communities by addressing interconnected water, energy, and food challenges. The approach builds partnerships across sectors, reduces trade-offs between competing resource demands, and improves coordination for sustainable development and community well-being in the face of climate change and pandemic disruptions.
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Energy justice, renewable energy, and the rural-urban divide: Insights from the Southwest U.S.
This study examines energy justice in rural and urban Arizona communities near a large-scale solar-wind park. Researchers found that small-scale renewable energy projects better served low-income populations than large-scale installations. Urban areas received more government and nonprofit support for renewable initiatives than rural areas. Large-scale projects created adverse community and wildlife impacts without adequate benefit-sharing. The authors recommend expanding small-scale solar capacity, increasing funding for local energy efficiency programs, and supporting low-income housing and community facilities.
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A Comprehensive Approach to the Design of a Renewable Energy Microgrid for Rural Ethiopia: The Technical and Social Perspectives
This study designs a renewable energy microgrid for rural Ethiopia combining solar and small-scale hydropower to power irrigation while providing electricity for community needs. Researchers conducted fieldwork interviews to understand local energy demands and social preferences, then modeled four scenarios with different reliability levels. The microgrid proved technically feasible and socially acceptable to the community, with costs sensitive to equipment choices. The authors recommend educational programs and clear policies before implementation.
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Investments in Renewable Energy Sources in Basic Units of Local Government in Rural Areas
Rural local governments in Poland's Świętokrzyskie region invested minimally in renewable energy between 2016–2019, with only 28% of communes participating. EU funding proved essential for these investments to occur. Budget size and property expenditures correlated with renewable energy spending only in mixed urban-rural communes. The study reveals that without external EU support, local governments lack sufficient resources to transition away from coal dependence.
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Building on the strengths of African indigenous knowledge and innovation (AIK&I) for sustainable development in Africa
African indigenous knowledge and innovation practices offer proven solutions for sustainable development across the continent, yet remain underutilized in policy frameworks like the SDGs. This paper documents successful AIK&I applications in resource management and conservation across African economies, demonstrating their capacity to address development challenges. The authors argue for integrating indigenous perspectives into sustainability agendas and call for research on making these practices more scientific and widely adopted.
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The Indigenous primary health care and policy research network: Guiding innovation within primary health care with Indigenous peoples in Alberta
Alberta stakeholders convened in 2019 to address fragmented health initiatives following Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls for reform. They established the Indigenous Primary Health Care and Policy Research Network to coordinate efforts across the province. The network aims to transform primary health care delivery and achieve health equity for Indigenous peoples by aligning initiatives with reconciliation principles and implementing the Commission's health-related recommendations.
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Microfinance towards micro-enterprises development in rural Malaysia through digital finance
Microfinance significantly boosts rural micro-enterprise development in Malaysia, with digital finance playing a partial mediating role. The study surveyed 563 rural micro-enterprises and found that microfinance institutions adopting digital finance can reduce transaction costs and improve productivity. Policymakers should encourage this integration to support sustainable micro-enterprise growth and poverty alleviation.
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Selection of Renewable Energy in Rural Area Via Life Cycle Assessment-Analytical Hierarchy Process (LCA-AHP): A Case Study of Tatau, Sarawak
This study evaluated four renewable energy sources—solar, wind, biomass, and mini-hydro—for a rural area in Sarawak using life cycle assessment and analytical hierarchy process methods. Solar energy ranked highest when considering environmental, engineering, and economic criteria, followed by mini-hydro, biomass, and wind. The findings provide a systematic framework for selecting appropriate renewable energy technologies in rural developing regions.
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Techno-economic Feasibility Analysis of an Off-grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Rural Electrification
This study analyzes the technical and economic feasibility of an off-grid hybrid renewable energy system for a rural village in Balochistan, Pakistan. Researchers designed and optimized a system combining wind turbines, solar panels, and battery storage to meet local electricity demand. The optimized configuration delivers 197.74 kWh daily at a cost of $0.137 per kilowatt-hour, proving more cost-effective than grid extension for remote areas with difficult terrain.
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Research on the Optimal Operation of a Novel Renewable Multi-Energy Complementary System in Rural Areas
This paper designs a distributed multi-energy system combining wind, solar, biomass, and battery storage for rural areas. The authors develop an optimization model to maximize daily economic benefits and test it using a genetic algorithm across different weather scenarios. Results show the system operates stably and achieves economic targets, offering a practical solution for rural electrification in China and other developing countries with large rural populations.
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Renewable Minigrid Electrification in Off-Grid Rural Ghana: Exploring Households Willingness to Pay
Rural households in Ghana's five pilot renewable minigrid communities are willing to pay an average of 30 GHC per month (about 5 USD) for reliable renewable electricity—double current tariffs. Using contingent valuation surveys, researchers found households would dedicate 9-11% of discretionary income to access clean power. These findings inform tariff regulation and business model design for scaling renewable minigrids across Ghana's 600+ off-grid communities.
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The knowledge of danger signs of obstetric complications among women in rural India: evaluating an integrated microfinance and health literacy program
A program combining microfinance self-help groups with maternal health education in rural Uttar Pradesh increased women's knowledge of obstetric danger signs by 27 percent. The program also created spillover effects, spreading knowledge from participating women to non-members in the same villages. Results held across different socioeconomic groups, suggesting the health messages reached women uniformly regardless of their background or access to health services.
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Simulation-Based Optimization of Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Off-grid Rural Electrification
Researchers developed an optimization algorithm for designing hybrid renewable energy systems that serve off-grid rural communities. The algorithm minimizes energy costs and power outages while maximizing energy matching efficiency. Testing showed it reduced levelized energy costs by 6.27% compared to standard software and delivered significant carbon savings. The approach proves computationally efficient for feasibility studies in rural electrification projects.
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Modeling, simulation, and optimization of biogas‐diesel hybrid microgrid renewable energy system for electrification in rural area
Researchers modeled and optimized a biogas-diesel hybrid microgrid system for rural electrification using MATLAB and HOMER software. At 4 tons of biomass production, the system runs entirely on biogas, generating 452,820 kWh annually at $0.0484 per kilowatt-hour. The hybrid biogas system reduces costs by 85% compared to diesel-only operation, making it economically viable for rural areas.
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Acceptance and Potential of Renewable Energy Sources Based on Biomass in Rural Areas of Hungary
This study surveyed 310 residents in a rural Hungarian microregion to understand public acceptance of biomass-based renewable energy. The researchers found that trust in local authorities, knowledge about biomass technology, and education level significantly influence whether rural residents support biomass energy projects. The analysis identified distinct acceptance groups that local development strategies should consider when planning renewable energy initiatives in economically disadvantaged rural areas.
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Design and optimization of off‐grid hybrid renewable power plant with storage system for rural area in Rwanda
Researchers designed and optimized an off-grid hybrid renewable energy system for a rural village in Rwanda, combining solar photovoltaic and micro-hydropower generation with battery storage. The system was modeled to meet the village's daily energy demand of 181 kWh, with a peak load of 18.56 kW. The optimized configuration costs $78,763 upfront and delivers electricity at $0.076 per kilowatt-hour, providing a technically feasible and economically viable solution for rural electrification.
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Off-Grid Rural Electrification in India Using Renewable Energy Resources and Different Battery Technologies with a Dynamic Differential Annealed Optimization
Remote villages in Odisha, India lack grid electricity due to geographic isolation. This study designed off-grid electrification systems combining photovoltaic panels and biomass generators with three battery storage technologies: nickel-iron, lithium-ion, and lead-acid. Using optimization algorithms, the nickel-iron battery configuration proved most cost-effective at $367,586 lifecycle cost, with dynamic differential annealed optimization delivering superior results across all system designs.
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SPEAR (Solar Pyrolysis Energy Access Reactor): Theoretical Design and Evaluation of a Small-Scale Low-Cost Pyrolysis Unit for Implementation in Rural Communities
This paper presents SPEAR, a low-cost solar-powered pyrolysis reactor designed for rural Sub-Saharan Africa. The system converts agricultural waste into biochar for soil improvement and generates electricity for energy access. The design achieves 72% optical efficiency and produces at least 5 kg of biochar daily. Financial analysis shows positive returns in most scenarios, making it competitive with small-scale solar systems while delivering environmental and social benefits.
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Energy access investment, agricultural profitability, and rural development: time for an integrated approach
Rural sub-Saharan Africa faces severe electricity poverty, blocking development despite smallholder farmers driving 80% of agricultural output. High infrastructure costs and low payment security deter private investment and overwhelm governments. This paper argues that rural electrification must integrate with agricultural productivity improvements, generating local income that attracts private energy investment across residential and productive sectors. Data modelling and policy research are essential to enable this synergistic approach.
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Electric Two-Wheeler Vehicle Integration into Rural Off-Grid Photovoltaic System in Kenya
This paper models the integration of electric two-wheeler vehicles into an off-grid solar photovoltaic system serving rural Kenya. Using energy optimization modeling, researchers analyzed a Water-Energy Hub in Western Kenya and found that solar generation exceeds annual demand. They developed a load optimization method that reduces electricity deficits and enables the system to charge four additional e-bike batteries daily, demonstrating how renewable energy can support electric vehicle adoption while reducing emissions in rural areas.
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Assessing Opportunities for Solar Lanterns to Improve Educational Outcomes in Off-Grid Rural Areas: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial
A randomized controlled trial in rural Zambia tested whether solar lanterns improve children's educational outcomes. The study found no relationship between receiving a solar lantern and improved exam performance or study habits. The researchers conclude that solar lanterns are not cost-effective for improving education in developing countries, partly because flashlights already dominate rural lighting and improved energy access alone does not significantly impact learning.
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The Power of Electricity: How Effective Is It in Promoting Sustainable Development in Rural Off-Grid Islands in the Philippines?
Electrification significantly impacts rural sustainable development, but effectiveness depends on access duration. The authors tested a framework measuring economic, technical, social, and environmental dimensions across two Philippine islands. Islands with 24-hour electricity access showed improvements across most indicators, while limited-access islands continued using conventional fuels and saw minimal socioeconomic gains. The framework helps policymakers assess electrification projects in off-grid rural communities.
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Rural Micro Credit Assessment using Machine Learning in a Peruvian microfinance institution
A machine learning model using artificial neural networks improves microcredit assessment for rural borrowers in Peru. The model achieved 93.72% accuracy in predicting loan defaults, outperforming the microfinance institution's traditional advisor-based method by 16.91 percentage points. This decision-support tool helps reduce credit risk by analyzing key financial and rural variables when evaluating loan applications from poor rural populations.
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Chronic disease stigma, skepticism of the health system, and socio-economic fragility: Qualitative assessment of factors impacting receptiveness to group medical visits and microfinance for non-communicable disease care in rural Kenya
Rural Kenyan communities face three major barriers to non-communicable disease care: chronic disease stigma, distrust of health systems, and economic fragility. This qualitative study of 367 participants—including patients, clinicians, and community health workers—identifies these obstacles but also reveals opportunities for group medical visits and microfinance programs to overcome them. The findings provide actionable insights for implementing NCD care innovations in low-resource settings.
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Optimal Design of Hybrid Renewable Energy for Tanzania Rural Communities
Rural communities in Tanzania lack electricity access due to high grid extension costs. This paper designs a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar, wind, and battery storage for Ngw'amkanga village in Shinyanga region. Using optimization methods, the authors determine that a solar-battery system (without wind due to insufficient local wind resources) delivers electricity at 27.18 pence per kilowatt-hour over 25 years—cheaper than Tanzania's grid-connected small power producers.
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The impact of supply structure on solar home system installations in rural off-grid areas
Market concentration in rural off-grid energy markets reduces solar home system installations in Bangladesh. Using data from 4.11 million systems installed across 503 markets over 15 years, the study shows that higher market concentration decreases both the number and capacity of installed systems. The negative effect intensifies at higher concentration levels and varies by system size and customer type. Policymakers should consider supply structure when designing rural electrification programs.
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Digitalization and Social Innovation in Rural Areas: A Case Study from Indonesia*
Digital technology adoption in rural Indonesia stimulates new social and institutional practices. The study finds that different technologies create varying adoption complexities and skill requirements, generating challenges that prompt collective learning. Cultural values significantly influence whether communities embrace digital innovation or maintain existing practices, with openness to change facilitating legitimacy for new solutions.
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>Intersectional knowledge as rural social innovation
Rural communities develop locally-rooted solutions shaped by intersecting identities of caste, race, gender, ethnicity, and class. The paper argues these grassroots innovations deserve recognition as legitimate social innovation. By centering rural actors' own knowledge and experiences—particularly marginalized groups—the authors expand how we understand and value rural social innovation beyond conventional frameworks.
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NEET Rural–Urban Ecosystems: The Role of Urban Social Innovation Diffusion in Supporting Sustainable Rural Pathways to Education, Employment, and Training
Rural youth not in education, employment, or training face greater marginalization than urban peers due to poor infrastructure, limited education access, and few job opportunities. This study analyzes 51 social interventions from the EU Youth Guarantee Programme to identify best practices in social innovation. The authors argue that sustainable rural-urban ecosystems enabling social innovation diffusion can create effective pathways for rural youth to access education, employment, and training opportunities.
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Transformative Social Innovation in Rural Areas: Insights from a Rural Development Initiative in the Portuguese Region of Baixo Alentejo
A rural development initiative in Portugal's Baixo Alentejo region demonstrates transformative social innovation by acting as a knowledge broker, resource broker, and network enabler that bridges stakeholders and promotes cooperation. The initiative triggered bottom-linked governance and knowledge exchange, though it faced implementation challenges. The study refines an analytical framework for assessing how social innovation creates broader systemic change beyond meeting immediate service gaps.
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Social innovations in rural communities in Africa's Great Lakes region. A social work perspective
Rural communities in Africa's Great Lakes region face poverty, poor infrastructure, and weak services, yet develop innovative local solutions. This study examines two social innovations: Uganda's akabondo household clusters for rural development and Rwanda's umugoroba w'ababyeyi family strengthening program. The authors analyze whether these community-led approaches qualify as social innovations, identify key implementers, assess their impact on rural communities, and discuss challenges they face.
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Risks Identification and Management Related to Rural Innovation Projects through Social Networks Analysis: A Case Study in Spain
This study identifies and maps risks in rural innovation projects by analyzing stakeholder networks. Using a Spanish irrigation optimization project as a case study, researchers conducted interviews and applied social network analysis to uncover risk factors. The analysis revealed that technical, economic, and time-related risks were most significant, concentrated among irrigation communities and project developers. The approach provides a visual framework for rural innovation managers to better assess and mitigate project risks.
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Rural Living Labs: Inclusive Digital Transformation in the Countryside
Rural areas lag behind cities in digital transformation research and implementation. This study develops a Rural Living Lab framework to support user-centered digitalization in sparsely populated regions. Based on the DigiBy project in northern Sweden, the authors identify five key components for designing digital transformation pilots: rural context, digitalization, governance and business models, facilitating methods, and multi-stakeholder engagement. The framework helps rural communities understand and apply digital opportunities for service development.
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Rationale and Methods of Evaluation for ACHO, A New Virtual Assistant to Improve Therapeutic Adherence in Rural Elderly Populations: A User-Driven Living Lab
ACHO is a voice assistant designed to help elderly patients remember medications and medical appointments. Researchers developed and tested this technology using a user-driven living lab approach, where elderly patients and multidisciplinary teams worked together to identify needs and improve the prototype across three phases. This method ensures the technology matches how elderly people actually use it, ultimately improving medication adherence and health outcomes.
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A roadmap to becoming a smart village: Experiences from living labs in rural Bavaria
Rural communities in Bavaria, Germany implemented digital solutions through the government-funded 'Digitales Dorf' project since 2016 to achieve living conditions equivalent to urban areas. The paper documents measures taken in pilot communities, identifies requirements for digital transformation, and extracts best practices for promoting digitalization in traditional rural areas. It emphasizes the transformation process itself rather than individual technological solutions.
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Key Drivers of the Engagement of Farmers in Social Innovation for Marginalised Rural Areas
Farmers in marginalised rural areas engage in social innovation initiatives when two key conditions exist: unmet social needs and the presence of a local agency that facilitates relationships. This study tested that framework using Vàzapp', a rural hub in Southern Italy that connects farmers to revitalise their communities. The findings confirm that both factors drive farmer participation, offering policymakers and social innovators concrete guidance for designing similar projects elsewhere.
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Application of a Comprehensive Methodology for the Evaluation of Social Innovations in Rural Communities
This paper applies a comprehensive evaluation framework based on OECD criteria (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability) to assess a social innovation initiative in rural Southern Italy. The evaluation methodology successfully identifies strengths and weaknesses across multiple dimensions, with 48% of indicators rated high and 36% medium. The results support communication strategies, help project managers address gaps, and provide evidence for policymakers designing cost-effective rural development policies.
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Preparation of future teachers for the introduction of digital innovation in a Rural School: problems and prospects
Rural schools struggle to attract qualified teachers prepared for digital innovation. This study surveyed future teachers about their readiness to work in remote rural areas and found a significant gap between their professional expectations and actual rural school conditions. The research emphasizes that preparing teachers for digital technologies in distance learning requires cooperation between schools, parents, communities, and local businesses to improve rural education quality.
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Modes of spread in social innovation: A social topology case in rural Portugal
Social innovation spreads through rural regions via material and discursive configurations that circulate across spatial scales and territorial boundaries. Using a network of young farmers in Portugal (EPAM) as a case study, the research demonstrates that social innovation operates simultaneously as a bounded regional object and as a trans-scalar relational process where objects, subjects, and spaces reconfigure each other. Images and infrastructure prove agential in how social innovation diffuses through peripheral rural territories.
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An exploration of potential growth pathways of social innovations in rural Europe
This paper develops a typology of growth pathways for social innovations in rural Europe. The authors synthesize existing frameworks from literature to clarify how social innovations expand and develop differently across rural contexts. They apply rural development theories to explain why certain pathways emerge in rural areas, addressing the lack of clear conceptualization around both social innovation itself and its scaling mechanisms.
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Challenges of impact assessment in Social Innovation: A qualitative study from two European rural regions
Social innovation initiatives in rural Austria and Portugal struggle to assess their impacts despite recognizing its importance. Local development organizations face conceptual and practical challenges in measuring outcomes because no uniform assessment method exists. The study reveals tensions between different approaches to impact evaluation and difficulties in determining what counts as impact across different levels of analysis.
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Digital Transformations in Agri-Food Systems: Innovation Drivers and New Threats to Sustainable Rural Development
Digital technologies transform agri-food systems globally, improving efficiency and creating new markets. However, corporate monopolization of digital processes threatens food security, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods. The paper proposes ICT-based safeguards to strengthen food security and rural development while protecting small producers from corporate concentration of land, power, and resources.
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The Relation among Organizational Culture, Knowledge Management, and Innovation Capability: Its Implication for Open Innovation
This study examined how organizational culture and knowledge management affect innovation capability in high-tech firms operating under open innovation models. Surveying 182 high-tech company representatives, the researchers found that knowledge management strongly correlates with innovation capability, and that organizational culture significantly influences knowledge management practices. Firms fostering open innovation cultures emphasizing trust, collaboration, and learning—supported by participative leadership—achieve more effective knowledge management and stronger innovation capabilities.
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Economic Growth, Increasing Productivity of SMEs, and Open Innovation
Economic growth driven by technological innovation significantly boosts small and medium enterprise productivity and welfare. Government policies, capital support, and human resource development together explain 97.6% of SME development outcomes. The study recommends that governments adopt innovation-based economic growth strategies to increase productivity of community enterprises.
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Dynamic capabilities for ecosystem orchestration A capability-based framework for smart city innovation initiatives
Firms leading smart city innovation ecosystems need three core dynamic capabilities to succeed: configuring partnerships, deploying value propositions, and governing ecosystem alignment. The study identifies specific micro-routines underlying sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring activities that enable ecosystem leaders to orchestrate innovation in digitalized, sustainability-focused environments. These capabilities help firms gain competitive advantage by effectively managing emerging ecosystem partnerships.
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A generative co-design framework for healthcare innovation: development and application of an end-user engagement framework
This paper presents a three-phase co-design framework for healthcare innovation that actively involves healthcare workers and patients in designing health systems and services. The authors developed and tested the framework on a virtual healthcare project for children with chronic conditions, demonstrating that end-users can contribute practical knowledge and creative insights to shape improvements. The framework guides innovators through pre-design, co-design, and post-design phases to ensure new healthcare solutions meet real user needs.
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Theories of power and social change. Power contestations and their implications for research on social change and innovation
This paper develops a meta-theoretical framework for understanding power in social change and innovation processes. It identifies seven key contested dimensions of power—including power over versus power to, centralized versus diffused, and empowerment versus disempowerment—and shows how different theoretical approaches to power translate into specific empirical research questions for studying innovation.
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Does Emotional Intelligence Contribute to Quality of Strategic Decisions? The Mediating Role of Open Innovation
Emotional intelligence in top managers directly improves the quality of strategic decisions they make. Open innovation mediates this relationship, enhancing decision-making through intelligent information systems. A survey of 213 UAE bank managers found strong positive links between managers' emotional intelligence and decision quality, with open innovation practices amplifying this effect.
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How Industry 4.0 technologies and open innovation can improve green innovation performance?
Industry 4.0 technologies boost green innovation performance in Malaysian manufacturing firms by enabling open innovation practices, which in turn strengthens green innovation behavior. The study surveyed 217 firms and found that adopting Industry 4.0 and collaborative innovation approaches creates conditions for sustainable innovations. Policymakers should incentivize firms to adopt these technologies to achieve competitive advantage while meeting environmental goals.
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Factors Affecting Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty in Online Food Delivery Service during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Its Relation with Open Innovation
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, online food delivery services saw surging demand. This study surveyed 253 customers to identify what drives satisfaction and loyalty. Hedonic motivation—the enjoyment of using the service—had the strongest impact, followed by price, information quality, and promotions. Surprisingly, ease of use and navigation design did not significantly affect satisfaction, challenging conventional assumptions about digital service design.
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How open is innovation? A retrospective and ideas forward
This paper updates a foundational 2010 framework on open innovation by examining how technological, organizational, and societal changes over the past decade reshape innovation practices. The authors confirm their original four types of openness—sourcing, acquiring, selling, and revealing—remain relevant but identify emerging questions about tradeoffs between openness modes, data governance, new organizational designs, legal instruments, and multilevel factors affecting how open innovation operates.
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Connecting the Parts with the Whole: Toward an Information Ecology Theory of Digital Innovation Ecosystems
Digital innovation ecosystems bring together diverse autonomous actors across organizational boundaries to create innovations of significant social and economic value. This paper develops an information ecology theory explaining how digital technologies integrate the efforts of independent parties into coherent wholes. The theory identifies key functions digital technologies serve in providing information to support interactions and tasks across ecosystems of varying scales, offering insights into managing part-whole relations and multilevel interactions.
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Responsible Urban Innovation with Local Government Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda
This paper examines how local governments can responsibly adopt artificial intelligence systems to address urban challenges. The authors develop a conceptual framework for responsible urban innovation with AI, arguing that technology deployment must balance costs, benefits, risks, and impacts to avoid creating new problems. They review existing literature and applications, then propose a research agenda to help policymakers understand how to implement local government AI systems responsibly.
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From user-generated data to data-driven innovation: A research agenda to understand user privacy in digital markets
This paper examines how user privacy concerns affect data-driven innovation in digital markets. Through systematic literature review, interviews, and topic modeling, the authors identify 14 key topics related to user-generated data and data-driven innovation strategies. They propose 14 research questions and 7 propositions to guide future study of privacy issues in digital markets, emphasizing privacy's critical role in sustainable data-driven business models.
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An unfinished journey? Reflections on a decade of responsible research and innovation
This paper reviews ten years of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as a policy framework developed by the European Commission. The authors trace RRI's evolution from its initial conception through the Seventh Framework Programme to Horizon 2020, examining how it became organized around five key pillars: gender equality, open access, science communication, ethics, and public engagement. They assess RRI's impact on discussions about science, innovation, and society, and consider its future role within the EC's Open Science agenda and Horizon Europe programme.
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Linking transformational leadership and frugal innovation: the mediating role of tacit and explicit knowledge sharing
Transformational leadership drives frugal innovation in Vietnamese firms through knowledge sharing mechanisms. The study of 339 employees across 120 companies shows that transformational leaders boost frugal functionality and cost reduction by facilitating both tacit and explicit knowledge sharing. These knowledge-sharing processes mediate the relationship between leadership style and innovation outcomes, offering developing-country firms a practical pathway to enhance innovation capability.
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Grand Societal Challenges and Responsible Innovation
Grand societal challenges require innovation from businesses, governments, and nonprofits working together. The paper argues that responsible innovation—a framework evaluating innovations for harmful consequences and societal benefits—offers a better approach than traditional corporate social responsibility. The authors call for research linking responsible innovation governance to addressing complex, multi-level societal problems.
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Stakeholder Governance for Responsible Innovation: A Theory of Value Creation, Appropriation, and Distribution
Organizations pursuing responsible innovation to address societal challenges lack clear governance mechanisms for distributing created value among stakeholders. This paper proposes a three-stage model of value allocation based on stakeholder governance: deciding what value to create and for whom, protecting against unintended value appropriation, and distributing value among intended stakeholders. Four novel governance mechanisms enable participative processes that align value distribution with responsible innovation intent.
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Green core competencies to prompt green absorptive capacity and bolster green innovation: the moderating role of organization’s green culture
Chinese tourism businesses that develop green core competencies—skills and resources focused on environmental sustainability—improve their green innovation performance. Green absorptive capacity, the ability to recognize and apply environmental knowledge, mediates this relationship. Organizational culture that values sustainability partially strengthens the link between absorptive capacity and innovation. Hotels and restaurants in northeast China show these effects hold in practice.
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Towards a deliberative framework for responsible innovation in artificial intelligence
The paper proposes a deliberative framework for responsible AI innovation that addresses opacity challenges through discourse principles. It examines how organizations developing AI, civil society actors, and investigative media can collaborate to enable informed public engagement and better governance of AI innovation, ensuring human autonomy, fairness, and justice are protected.
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Innovation performance: The effect of knowledge-based dynamic capabilities in cross-country innovation ecosystems
Knowledge-based dynamic capabilities drive innovation performance across different economies. The study identifies four key capabilities: knowledge creation, knowledge diffusion, knowledge absorption, and knowledge impact. Knowledge creation is the strongest driver of innovation performance in developed and developing economies, while knowledge absorption matters most in transition economies. The research proposes a framework showing how these capabilities create competitive advantage within innovation ecosystems.
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The Impacts of Emerging Technologies on Accountants’ Role and Skills: Connecting to Open Innovation—A Systematic Literature Review
This systematic literature review examines how emerging technologies reshape accountants' roles and required skills. The authors analyzed 157 articles to identify which technologies receive research attention and their specific impacts on accounting professionals. The findings clarify what skills modern accountants need and what roles they should perform. The results inform professional bodies, regulators, and educational institutions in updating standards and curriculum to match employer expectations.
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Energy transitions from the cradle to the grave: A meta-theoretical framework integrating responsible innovation, social practices, and energy justice
This paper integrates three theoretical approaches—responsible innovation, social practice theory, and energy justice—to analyze energy transitions comprehensively from design through use to end-of-life impacts. The authors apply this framework to four case studies: French nuclear power, Greek wind energy, Papua New Guinean solar energy, and Estonian oil shale. The integrated approach reveals how energy transitions create injustices and inequalities across their full lifecycle.
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Exploring the Role of Islamic Fintech in Combating the Aftershocks of COVID-19: The Open Social Innovation of the Islamic Financial System
Islamic financial technology can help economies recover from COVID-19 by combining ethical Islamic finance principles with fintech innovation. The study argues that Islamic finance's emphasis on corporate social responsibility and financial stability makes it well-suited to address pandemic-related economic disruption. Open innovation approaches in Islamic fintech enable faster, more reliable solutions than conventional finance, offering governments and policymakers a sustainable tool for economic recovery.
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Business-to-business open innovation: COVID-19 lessons for small and medium-sized enterprises from emerging markets
SMEs in emerging markets adopted open innovation strategies during COVID-19, forming new collaborations with customers and competitors despite resource constraints. Research in Bosnia and Herzegovina shows these firms shifted from traditional competitive practices toward collaborative partnerships to develop innovations during crisis. The paper provides recommendations for managers on managing openness in emerging market SMEs.
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Impact of organizational inertia on business model innovation, open innovation and corporate performance
Organizational inertia—resistance to change—undermines business model innovation and open innovation in IT firms, reducing corporate performance. The study surveyed 160 information technology companies in Tehran and found that reducing organizational inertia enables firms to adopt innovative business models and embrace open innovation practices, both of which directly improve performance outcomes.
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Triple Helix or Quadruple Helix: Which Model of Innovation to Choose for Empirical Studies?
This paper compares the Triple Helix and Quadruple Helix models of innovation to clarify which researchers should use in empirical studies. The authors review how these models appear in existing literature and find three different views on how they relate to each other, ranging from treating them as separate to fully integrated. They identify strengths and weaknesses of each model and conclude the models are largely complementary, offering potential for combined use in analyzing modern innovation processes.
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The intertwining of knowledge sharing and creation in the digital platform based ecosystem. A conceptual study on the lens of the open innovation approach
This paper develops a theoretical framework showing how knowledge sharing and creation intertwine within digital platform ecosystems under open innovation principles. The authors propose that digital platforms function as dynamic spaces where knowledge sharing and creation continuously interact, introducing the concept of "ba-sho" as a foundational element. The framework applies across micro, meso, and macro organizational levels.
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Towards Sustainable Digital Innovation of SMEs from the Developing Countries in the Context of the Digital Economy and Frugal Environment
Digital orientation, Internet of Things, and digital platforms directly drive sustainable digital innovation in small and medium enterprises. Digital platforms mediate the relationship between digital orientation and sustainable innovation, and between IoT and sustainable innovation. SMEs in developing countries can adopt frugal business models to reduce resource use and waste while competing in the digital economy.
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Open innovation in the face of the COVID‐19 grand challenge: insights from the Pan‐European hackathon ‘EUvsVirus’
The EUvsVirus hackathon mobilized thousands of participants across Europe to develop COVID-19 solutions through open innovation. The 3-day online event combined broad problem scope, participatory design, digital access, and community building to tap distributed knowledge beyond traditional organizations. The hackathon successfully engaged atypical innovators—retired experts, students, and the public—demonstrating that grand challenges require openness at societal level, not just across organizational boundaries.
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Challenges to open innovation in traditional SMEs: an analysis of pre-competitive projects in university-industry-government collaboration
Small and medium-sized enterprises in traditional, low-tech sectors struggle to participate effectively in university-industry-government collaborations focused on pre-competitive research and development. This study tracked three such projects across four phases—initiation, execution, closing, and monitoring—and identified specific firm-level and project-level obstacles that prevent these collaborations from meeting their innovation goals.
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The Innovation Delusion: How Our Obsession with the New Has Disrupted the Work That Matters Most
This paper critiques the widespread adoption of 'innovation-speak'—a Silicon Valley ideology that prioritizes disruptive change over maintenance and care. The authors argue that this rhetoric has infected cultural institutions like archives and libraries, creating a false hierarchy that devalues essential maintenance work. They demonstrate how this ideology damages organizations by neglecting the unglamorous but critical labor that keeps systems functioning, and call for institutions to adopt a 'maintenance mindset' instead.
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A structural equation modeling approach for the acceptance of driverless automated shuttles based on constructs from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and the Diffusion of Innovation Theory
This study examined public acceptance of automated shuttles through surveys of 340 people who experienced a driverless shuttle in Berlin. Compatibility with existing travel habits emerged as the strongest predictor of willingness to use automated shuttles, surpassing expected performance benefits. Trust and willingness to share rides also increased acceptance. Participants found the shuttles easy to use but expressed safety concerns without onboard supervision, preferring remote control room monitoring instead.
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The Effect of COVID-19 on the Hospitality Industry: The Implication for Open Innovation
COVID-19 devastated the hospitality industry, creating severe job insecurity among employees and damaging their mental health. A survey of 372 hospitality workers found that perceived job insecurity mediates the relationship between economic crisis fears and mental health problems, with COVID-19 fear strengthening this effect. The research recommends managers address psychological factors affecting employees and invest in digital infrastructure and smart technologies to build industry resilience.
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FinTech in the Small Food Business and Its Relation with Open Innovation
Small food businesses struggle to access traditional bank financing. This study examines what drives small food business owners to adopt financial technology (FinTech) for credit access. Using a modified UTAUT 2 model with 184 Indonesian respondents, researchers found that knowledge, safety perceptions, performance expectations, social influence, facilitation conditions, and price values all influence FinTech adoption. The research shows that adopting FinTech improves business sustainability for small food enterprises.
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Knowledge sharing in international markets for product and process innovation: moderating role of firm's absorptive capacity
Knowledge sharing between subsidiaries of multinational firms drives product and process innovation. A firm's absorptive capacity—its ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge—strengthens this relationship. The study validates a model showing that knowledge-sharing activities enhance dynamic capabilities like sensing, seizing, and transforming, ultimately improving competitiveness in international markets.
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The nexus between dynamic capabilities and competitive firm performance: the mediating role of open innovation
This study examines how firms' dynamic capabilities drive competitive performance through open innovation. Using structural equation modeling on 465 firms across innovative and non-innovative industries, the researchers found that dynamic capabilities significantly boost open innovation performance, which in turn improves competitive performance. Open innovation partially mediates the relationship between dynamic capabilities and firm competitiveness, suggesting that investing in innovation capacity, customer engagement, and innovation management strengthens competitive outcomes.
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Frugal innovation and sustainable business models
Frugal innovations emerging from grassroots communities in developing countries create sustainable business models that serve underserved customers. The study examines how individuals with limited education and resources develop affordable products through creative thinking, analyzing value proposition, creation, and capture across three cases. These innovations transform poor customers into viable consumer groups and contribute to sustainable development.
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Responsible innovation ecosystems: Ethical implications of the application of the ecosystem concept to artificial intelligence
This paper argues that innovation ecosystem frameworks lack ethical guidance and proposes integrating responsible research and innovation principles to create responsible innovation systems. Using artificial intelligence as a case study, the author demonstrates how ethical and social concerns can be embedded into innovation ecosystems to ensure technology development aligns with human values and rights.
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Central Banks Digital Currency: Detection of Optimal Countries for the Implementation of a CBDC and the Implication for Payment Industry Open Innovation
This paper identifies which countries are best positioned to implement Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) by analyzing correlations with pioneer nations like the Bahamas, China, and Uruguay. Using statistical methods, the authors find that Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland in Europe; Brazil and Uruguay in South America; Malaysia in Asia; and South Africa in Africa show the strongest alignment with successful CBDC implementation conditions.
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Measuring open innovation practices through topic modelling: Revisiting their impact on firm financial performance
This study uses topic modelling and natural language processing to analyze companies' open innovation practices and their effect on financial performance. The researchers find that overall openness improves firm performance, but specific practices show mixed results with some displaying inverted U-shaped relationships. The impact of open innovation varies by sector and by how well internal R&D complements individual practices. The findings show open innovation's effects are nuanced with no universal best practices.
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Configuring ecosystem strategies for digitally enabled process innovation: A framework for equipment suppliers in the process industries
Equipment suppliers in process industries can adopt digitalization to drive innovation, but must navigate complex ecosystems involving multiple actors. This study identifies four ecosystem strategies—orchestrator, dominator, complementor, and protector—that suppliers should match to specific customer contexts. The research provides a decision framework helping suppliers choose appropriate roles (leader or follower) and competitive approaches based on their industrial customers' needs.
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Emerging needs of social innovators and social innovation ecosystems
Social innovators tackle major societal challenges but receive little research attention compared to profit-oriented entrepreneurs. This study interviewed 28 social innovators to identify their distinct needs and developed a social innovation ecosystem model based on Isenberg's entrepreneurial ecosystem framework. The findings reveal both similarities and differences between social and entrepreneurial ecosystems, showing that social innovators require tailored support structures beyond traditional business models.
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Fintech Frontiers in Quantum Computing, Fractals, and Blockchain Distributed Ledger: Paradigm Shifts and Open Innovation
This paper examines how emerging technologies—quantum computing, fractals, and blockchain—could reshape the financial industry. The authors conduct a SWOT analysis to assess the potential impact of these technologies on fintech. They conclude that rapid technological advancement drives economic shifts, but warn that high development costs may concentrate market power among a few large corporations, limiting broader competition.
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Open innovation in SMEs: A process view towards business model innovation
Small and medium-sized enterprises transform their business models through open innovation by collaborating with external partners. This study examines European SMEs undergoing business model transformation, identifying key triggers including market turbulence, competition, and production scaling. The research reveals how SMEs navigate challenges in adopting open business models to overcome their size disadvantages and remain competitive.
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Open supply chain innovation: an extended view on supply chain collaboration
This paper develops a framework for fostering innovation in supply chains through collaboration between firms and their partners. The authors identify three key capabilities—purpose (balancing exploration and exploitation of knowledge), span (horizontal and vertical partnerships), and orientation (incremental and radical innovation)—that enable supply chains to innovate more effectively. The framework integrates open innovation and supply chain collaboration concepts to show how firms can leverage external relationships to drive continuous innovation.
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Higher Education Response in the Time of Coronavirus: Perceptions of Teachers and Students, and Open Innovation
During COVID-19 lockdowns, universities in Spain, Italy, and Ecuador shifted to virtual learning. Surveys of 573 teachers and students in journalism and communication programs revealed that while both groups acknowledged the necessity of remote education, they preferred in-person instruction. Virtual teaching did not increase teacher-student interaction; tutorials became shorter and less frequent. Students wanted diverse learning resources including podcasts and alternative assessments, but universities relied heavily on text-based materials and traditional exams.
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Digital innovation management for entrepreneurial ecosystems: services and functionalities as drivers of innovation management software adoption
Innovation Management Software adoption among German firms is driven primarily by idea management functionalities and vendor services for updates and upgrades. Surprisingly, bundling consulting services with software reduces adoption likelihood. The study surveyed 199 innovation managers and found that IMS adoption improves new product development efficiency, helping strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems through digitalized innovation processes.
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Intention to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccination in China: Application of the Diffusion of Innovations Theory and the Moderating Role of Openness to Experience
Among 6,922 Chinese university students, perceived vaccine efficacy, social media use for vaccine information, openness to experience, and descriptive norms all positively predicted intention to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Free vaccination intention reached 78.9% while self-paid vaccination reached 60.2%. Openness to experience moderated the relationship between efficacy/norms and vaccination intention, with stronger associations among those less open to experience.
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Adopting open innovation for SMEs and industrial revolution 4.0
Indonesia's small and medium enterprises can adopt open innovation strategies to succeed in Industry 4.0, but face significant barriers. Digital ecosystem readiness and knowledge management are critical enablers. The main obstacle is insufficient digital equipment, which widens gaps between large and small businesses and between urban and rural areas. Government should protect fair competition while the private sector drives most Industry 4.0 initiatives.
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Triple Helix Twins: A Framework for Achieving Innovation and UN Sustainable Development Goals
This paper proposes a 'Triple Helix Twins' framework combining two models: one linking university-industry-government for innovation, and another linking university-public-government for sustainable development. The framework addresses environmental protection, resource management, and social equality by enabling cross-border collaborations. The authors suggest solar photovoltaics development as an example of how this integrated approach can help achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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Innovation Ecosystem framework directed to Sustainable Development Goal #17 partnerships implementation
This paper examines how innovation ecosystems can support the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal #17, which calls for strengthened global partnerships. The authors analyze UN documents and literature to identify four core drivers—geographical governance, collaboration, knowledge transmission, and value co-creation—that enable multi-stakeholder networks to address sustainability challenges. The framework positions SDGs as the unifying purpose that engages diverse stakeholder groups in co-creating solutions.
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Entrepreneurial orientation and supply chain resilience of manufacturing SMEs in Yemen: the mediating effects of absorptive capacity and innovation
Manufacturing SMEs in Yemen improve their supply chain resilience through entrepreneurial orientation, but only indirectly. The relationship works through two mechanisms: absorptive capacity and innovation. Entrepreneurial orientation alone is insufficient; firms must actively develop their ability to absorb external knowledge and innovate to strengthen supply chain resilience.
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The circular economy, environmental performance and environmental management systems: the role of absorptive capacity
Organizations struggle to implement circular economy practices, but developing absorptive capacity—the ability to acquire, assimilate, transform, and exploit knowledge—significantly improves their success. Analysis of over 800 European certified organizations shows that absorptive capacity directly enables circular economy implementation and environmental management systems adoption, which together enhance organizational performance. Environmental pressure from peers does not drive commitment to circularity.
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Eco-Innovation, Sustainability and Business Model Innovation by Open Innovation Dynamics
Polish eco-innovative companies tend to develop radical rather than incremental environmental innovations, particularly in biodiversity protection. Larger firms with over 50 employees show greater capacity for both types of eco-innovation than smaller competitors. Open innovation strategies significantly boost eco-innovation generation, especially radical changes. Forward supply chain collaboration and direct market knowledge absorption drive these developments, offering a framework for post-pandemic business model innovation.
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Frugal-based innovation model for sustainable development: technological and market turbulence
This study examines how sustainable leadership drives frugal innovation in small and medium enterprises across emerging markets. Using data from 500 SMEs in China and India, the researchers found that market and technological turbulence strengthen the relationship between sustainable leadership and frugal innovation. Frugal innovation mediates the connection between sustainable leadership and business performance in these contexts.
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The Role and Meaning of the Digital Transformation As a Disruptive Innovation on Small and Medium Manufacturing Enterprises
Digital transformation acts as disruptive innovation in manufacturing SMEs, reshaping product development, production methods, and organizational structures. A Delphi study of 49 experts across eleven EU countries identified three key drivers: technological changes, innovative business models, and organizational culture. Success requires clear understanding of disruptive innovation, internal and external enablers, and mitigation strategies for obstacles. SMEs that fail to adopt disruptive innovations will not survive within 5-10 years.
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Activity-Based Costing (ABC) and Its Implication for Open Innovation
This bibliometric analysis examines 1,419 international publications on activity-based costing (ABC) systems from Web of Science and Scopus databases. The study identifies growing publication trends, collaborative networks between authors and institutions, and research themes across countries. ABC systems help organizations allocate indirect costs more accurately than traditional methods, enabling better resource management and cost control in modern economic contexts.
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Species in the wild: a typology of innovation ecosystems
This paper develops a comprehensive typology of innovation ecosystems by analyzing systematic literature reviews and identifying 50 distinct varieties. The authors extract 14 typology criteria from existing research and consolidate them into five organizing dimensions: life cycle stage, structural characteristics, innovation focus, scope of activities, and performance outcomes. This framework enables systematic classification and comparison of different innovation ecosystem types.
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The Influence of Local Economic Conditions on Start-Ups and Local Open Innovation System
Local economic conditions significantly influence startup creation in urban areas. Research across 287 Polish cities reveals that human capital and financial resources are the dominant factors enabling new ventures. Business incubators and technology parks have smaller but meaningful effects on startup formation. Direct municipal support and involvement in entrepreneurship development produces positive outcomes, suggesting cities should prioritize resource allocation to foster startup ecosystems.
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Antecedents of absorptive capacity in the development of circular economy business models of small and medium enterprises
Small and medium enterprises struggle to adopt circular economy business models. This study examined six Italian horticultural SMEs to identify what enables them to absorb and implement circular economy practices. The research found that acquisition, assimilation, transformation, and exploitation capabilities drive successful circular economy adoption. Three specific antecedents support each capability dimension.
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The Response of Islamic Financial Service to the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Open Social Innovation of the Financial System
Islamic financial services can help economies recover from COVID-19's economic damage. The paper identifies four pandemic stages and proposes ten innovative Islamic financial services for each stage, analyzing how these services address economic disruption, unemployment, and business collapse at different points in the crisis.
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Extended Reality in Higher Education, a Responsible Innovation Approach for Generation Y and Generation Z
This study examines how extended reality (XR) technologies can enhance higher education for younger generations. Researchers surveyed 103 students in Serbia and Romania about their knowledge of and attitudes toward XR in universities. Results show XR improves teaching by letting students control their learning strategies and increases interactivity. Generation Z students view XR more positively, focusing on opportunities rather than challenges.
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Reconciling Models of Diffusion and Innovation: A Theory of the Productivity Distribution and Technology Frontier
This paper develops a theory explaining how firms' choices to innovate, adopt new technology, or continue with existing methods shape the overall productivity distribution and drive economic growth. Innovation stretches the productivity gap between best and worst firms, while technology adoption compresses it. The balance between these forces determines growth rates. Adoption conditions influence innovation incentives through technology licensing and the value of waiting to adopt, ultimately affecting long-run growth.
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Variety of national innovation systems (NIS) and alternative pathways to growth beyond the middle-income stage: Balanced, imbalanced, catching-up, and trapped NIS
This study analyzes national innovation systems across 32–35 economies using patent data to identify pathways for growth beyond middle-income status. The research identifies five distinct innovation system clusters and confirms two successful catching-up pathways: balanced systems (Ireland, Spain, Hong Kong, Singapore) and imbalanced systems (Korea, Taiwan, China). Other economies remain trapped in middle-income status due to opposite characteristics in technology cycle time, originality, localization, and diversification.
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Re-designing the business organization using disruptive innovations based on blockchain-IoT integrated architecture for improving agility in future Industry 4.0
This paper proposes integrating blockchain and Internet of Things technologies to redesign business operations for greater agility in Industry 4.0. The authors demonstrate their approach using a sensorized industrial pump that monitors operations in real time and enables predictive asset management. They argue that combining blockchain's decentralization, security, and autonomous coordination features with IoT capabilities helps manufacturing, oil and gas, engineering, construction, and utility companies operate more agilely.
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How frugal innovation shape global sustainable supply chains during the pandemic crisis: lessons from the COVID-19
During the COVID-19 pandemic, frugal innovation emerged informally across global supply chains to address critical shortages of medical equipment and supplies. This study identifies key drivers of frugal-oriented sustainable supply chains in emerging countries, finding that government support, policies, and regulations—mediated by leadership and moderated by national culture—drive adoption of new technologies, volunteering, and ethical practices, which in turn strengthen supply chain talent and frugal engineering capabilities.
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Innovation of Startups, the Key to Unlocking Post-Crisis Sustainable Growth in Romanian Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Romanian startups face significant vulnerability during crises like COVID-19. The paper surveyed 168 students about entrepreneurial opportunities and found that startups must innovate through ICT-based businesses and social entrepreneurship to achieve sustainable growth. Building strong relationships with employees, industry peers, public sector, academia, and citizens, combined with green business practices, enables startups to recover and develop a resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem.
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Innovation and development of ideological and political education in colleges and universities in the network era
This paper examines how colleges and universities can innovate ideological and political education in the internet era. The internet's openness creates challenges for moral and political education, but also opportunities. The paper proposes innovative strategies for delivering ideological and political education that help students develop correct values, moral character, and life outlook despite negative internet influences.
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Determinants of frugal innovation for firms in emerging markets: the roles of leadership, knowledge sharing and collaborative culture
Transformational leadership and knowledge sharing drive frugal innovation in emerging market firms. The study of 381 participants across 116 manufacturing and service firms found that transformational leadership directly boosts frugal innovation and indirectly strengthens it through knowledge sharing. Collaborative culture amplifies how knowledge sharing translates into frugal innovation capability. Leaders practicing transformational styles and fostering organizational collaboration significantly enhance firms' ability to innovate frugally.
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Knowledge Diffusion, Trade, and Innovation across Countries and Sectors
This paper develops a framework showing how trade, innovation, and knowledge diffusion interact across countries and sectors. Using an economic model calibrated to real-world data, the authors find that reducing trade costs shifts research and development investment between sectors and changes comparative advantage. Knowledge diffusion varies across sectors and amplifies these specialization effects, creating significant welfare gains.
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3D Printing of Thermoplastic Elastomers: Role of the Chemical Composition and Printing Parameters in the Production of Parts with Controlled Energy Absorption and Damping Capacity
This paper investigates how chemical composition and 3D printing parameters affect thermoplastic elastomer parts. Researchers tested different infill densities and patterns to measure energy absorption and damping capacity. They found that a honeycomb infill pattern at 50% density produced optimal performance for both energy absorption and damping properties.
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The fall of the innovation empire and its possible rise through open science
The innovation system's effectiveness is declining because research costs rise exponentially while researcher productivity falls, resulting in flat innovation output. Three factors drive this decline: growing scientific complexity, misaligned incentives, and fragmented knowledge. Open science partnerships—public-private collaborations using open access publications, shared data and materials, and minimal intellectual property restrictions—can reverse this trend by improving system efficiency.
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Industry 4.0 transition: a systematic literature review combining the absorptive capacity theory and the data–information–knowledge hierarchy
This systematic literature review examines Industry 4.0 digital transformation through a knowledge management lens, using absorptive capacity theory and the data-information-knowledge hierarchy. Analyzing 150 papers, the authors find that big data analytics receives the most research attention across all phases of knowledge acquisition and use, while internet of things technology is explored primarily for data collection. Cybersecurity and smart manufacturing remain understudied despite their relevance to digital transitions.
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On the nexus of innovation, trade openness, financial development and economic growth in European countries: New perspective from a GMM panel VAR approach
This study analyzes relationships between innovation, trade openness, financial development, and economic growth across 11 European countries from 2001 to 2016. The research finds that economic growth drives financial development, and trade drives growth, but innovation and trade both show negative relationships with growth. The authors recommend stronger financial regulation, country-specific innovation policies, improved institutional quality, and targeted incentives for local companies to maximize benefits from trade openness.
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Cross-national knowledge transfer, absorptive capacity, and total factor productivity: the intermediary effect test of international technology spillover
Cross-national knowledge transfer improves total factor productivity across China's provinces by strengthening absorptive capacity through foreign direct investment, trade, and technology spillovers. Domestic infrastructure, R&D investment, human capital, and economic openness enhance a region's ability to absorb and use international knowledge. Import trade generates the strongest spillover effects linking knowledge transfer to productivity gains.
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To walk in beauty: Sustainable leadership, frugal innovation and environmental performance
This study examines how sustainable leadership affects environmental performance in large Pakistani manufacturing firms, with frugal innovation playing a mediating role. Researchers surveyed 500 employees and found that frugal innovation partially explains the relationship between sustainable leadership and improved environmental outcomes. The findings suggest that leaders adopting sustainable practices and resource-efficient innovation strategies can enhance their firms' environmental performance.
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Consumer Behavior in Clothing Industry and Its Relationship with Open Innovation Dynamics during the COVID-19 Pandemic
This study examined how Filipino consumers' clothing purchases changed during COVID-19. Using surveys of 457 respondents, researchers found that marketing mix strategies—including advertisements, promotions, and sales—most strongly influenced actual purchase behavior. COVID-19 severity and consumer self-efficacy also shaped purchasing decisions. The findings show that innovation in marketing approaches and health safety measures drove clothing sales during the pandemic.
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Ecosystem effectuation: creating new value through open innovation during a pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, AirAsia transformed its grounded airline operations by building an open innovation ecosystem rather than pursuing incremental improvements. The company created new value by reconfiguring its business model based on available resources and capabilities, introducing the concept of ecosystem effectuation. This case demonstrates how organizations facing financial distress can use radical ambidexterity and open innovation to survive and generate opportunities.
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Exploring blockchain adoption intentions in the supply chain: perspectives from innovation diffusion and institutional theory
Supply chain managers are more likely to adopt blockchain technology when government regulations mandate product origin tracking, organizations use modern cloud systems, and engage third-party consultants. The study finds that normative pressures, perceived advantages, compatibility with existing systems, and manageable complexity drive active blockchain adoption. These conditions identify which supply chain networks are ready for blockchain implementation.
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The Triple Helix Model and the Future of Innovation: A Reflection on the Triple Helix Research Agenda
The Triple Helix model explains how academia, industry, and government interact to drive innovation and economic growth in knowledge-based economies. This paper reflects on the model's core concepts and boundary conditions, asking whether it applies universally or only under specific circumstances. The authors examine the model's usefulness for understanding innovation dynamics in changing societies and identify key concepts embedded within Triple Helix research.
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Building Responsible Innovation in International Organizations through Intrapreneurship
International organizations like the UN struggle to innovate despite their mandate for responsible innovation. This study examines eight intrapreneurial initiatives in socially oriented organizations, finding that initiatives originating in country offices scale through two pathways: organic country-by-country expansion or strategic headquarters-driven scaling. Both approaches manage tensions differently to build competence, align structures, and extend organizational mission. Intrapreneurship enables digital transformation and develops organizational capacity for responsible innovation.
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From Responsible Research and Innovation to responsibility by design
This paper examines how Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) can create lasting impact beyond funded projects. Drawing on eight years implementing RRI in the Human Brain Project, the authors propose 'responsibility by design'—embedding ethical considerations directly into research outcomes and infrastructure so responsibility becomes inherent rather than temporary.
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Researching ecosystems in innovation contexts
The paper clarifies the concept of 'innovation ecosystem' by reviewing how scholars use the term across different contexts. The authors identify three basic types of ecosystems, all centered on producing coherent system-level outputs. They provide a framework to distinguish between different ecosystem types, reducing conceptual confusion and enabling clearer communication among researchers studying innovation.
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Supply Chain Management Open Innovation: Virtual Integration in the Network Logistics System
Modern supply chains require virtual integration through digital platforms to meet customer demands under Industry 4.0. Traditional supply chain management cannot identify individual customer needs effectively. The authors argue that logistics platforms act as virtual system integrators, enabling scalable partner networks that reduce costs and increase competitiveness. They analyze global best practices to show how platform business models create this integration in the digital economy.
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Disruptive innovation from the perspective of innovation diffusion theory
This paper examines disruptive innovation through the lens of innovation diffusion theory, focusing on how different adopter categories influence whether innovations successfully disrupt incumbent markets. The authors analyze both high-end and low-end disruptive innovations, arguing that crossing the critical gap between early niche markets and mainstream adoption depends on relative advantage and adopter group characteristics. Case studies of disk drives and computers demonstrate this framework.
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Probability-Guaranteed Distributed Filtering for Nonlinear Systems With Innovation Constraints Over Sensor Networks
This paper develops a distributed filtering algorithm for nonlinear systems across sensor networks. The method uses innovation constraints with adaptive thresholds to handle abnormal data during transmission. The algorithm keeps estimation errors within specified bounds with guaranteed probability while meeting disturbance attenuation requirements. The authors derive conditions for the filter's existence and provide optimization methods to find optimal filtering parameters.
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A comprehensive appraisal of responsible research and innovation: From roots to leaves
This paper analyzes the academic field of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and Responsible Innovation (RI) through keyword, collaboration, and reference analysis. The authors identify shared research topics and knowledge bases between these two concepts, tracing their intellectual development over time. They conclude that RRI and RI have matured into a cumulative, interconnected research area with growing scholarly consensus and interconnection, similar to established research fields.
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The Novelty of Innovation: Competition, Disruption, and Antitrust Policy
This paper develops a model showing that new entrants pursue more novel innovations than incumbents, but are less likely to disrupt established firms. When incumbents can acquire entrants after innovation, the threat of acquisition reduces innovation novelty because entrants optimize for acquisition value rather than bold innovation. The findings suggest strict antitrust enforcement encourages entrepreneurial firms to innovate more boldly.
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Innovation Ecosystem Research: Emerging Trends and Future Research
This systematic review of 136 innovation ecosystem studies identifies five major research streams: technology innovation, platform innovation ecosystems, regional development, conceptualization and theory, and entrepreneurship. The authors map the intellectual structure of innovation ecosystem research, revealing fragmented knowledge across these areas. They provide targeted recommendations for future research directions to advance the field beyond its current conceptual gaps.
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Reading the road: challenges and opportunities on the path to responsible innovation in quantum computing
Quantum computing researchers embedded in the UK's quantum programme studied how responsible innovation practices can be integrated into technology development. The team found significant challenges in embedding responsible innovation approaches and fostering dialogue between innovators and society. The authors recommend that policymakers, researchers, and industry prioritize societal considerations alongside commercial interests to ensure quantum technologies develop in ways that serve public needs and maintain public trust.
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Towards innovation performance of SMEs: investigating the role of digital platforms, innovation culture and frugal innovation in emerging economies
Digital platforms directly boost innovation performance in small and medium enterprises in emerging economies, while innovation culture mediates this relationship. Frugal innovation moderates the link between innovation culture and performance. The study surveyed 387 managers at Pakistani SMEs and found that businesses adopting digital platforms and fostering innovation culture achieve better innovation outcomes, critical for competing in dynamic emerging markets.
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Orchestrating innovation networks: Alignment and orchestration profile approach
This paper develops an orchestration profile approach for managing inter-organizational innovation networks. The authors identify three generic orchestration profiles—translative, transformative, and transcending—that align management practices with different network types and value-creation logics. These profiles provide practical guidance for managers designing effective orchestration strategies across diverse innovation networks.
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Transformative governance of innovation ecosystems
This paper examines how governance structures shape innovation ecosystems and their transformative capacity. The authors analyze funding mechanisms and institutional frameworks that support innovation development, drawing on Finnish and European research programs. They identify governance approaches that enable ecosystems to adapt and create value across multiple sectors and stakeholder groups.
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Resource constrained innovation in a technology intensive sector: Frugal medical devices from manufacturing firms in South Africa
South African manufacturing firms develop frugal medical devices by building advanced internal capabilities and forging knowledge collaborations to overcome resource constraints and institutional gaps. These firms design affordable, functional devices through bottom-up collaborative processes that address local health challenges while reducing costs in design, engineering, and manufacturing. State support and global non-profits play critical roles in scaling these innovations for public health impact.
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Knowledge innovation network externalities in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area: borrowing size or agglomeration shadow?
The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area shows unequal knowledge innovation networks where Guangzhou and Hong Kong dominate, with Shenzhen emerging as a secondary hub after 2012. Smaller cities remain peripheral and fail to benefit from core city innovation, trapped instead in their shadow. Institutional and cultural differences between cities block cooperation more than distance does. The study reveals negative network externalities, recommending the region reduce spatial disparities and restructure its innovation network.
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The role of regional innovation systems in mission-oriented innovation policy: exploring the problem-solution space in electrification of maritime transport
This paper examines how regional innovation systems contribute to mission-oriented innovation policy by studying ferry electrification in Western Norway. The research finds that transformative change succeeded because it created new regional economic opportunities while leveraging existing regional resources, actors, and institutions. The mission benefited from low technological uncertainty, multi-level coordination among actors, and strategic modification of established regional structures and regulations.
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Fixing Technology with Society: The Coproduction of Democratic Deficits and Responsible Innovation at the OECD and the European Commission
This paper examines how the OECD and European Commission have promoted 'Responsible Innovation' frameworks globally. The authors argue these institutions use a 'democratic deficit' narrative—claiming insufficient public participation in innovation governance—to justify their authority over innovation policy. This approach frames societal engagement as essential to technological adoption while reinforcing market-liberal governance structures.
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Knowledge management systems usage: application of diffusion of innovation theory
This study examines how technological factors influence knowledge management system usage among decision makers in Jordanian banks. Using diffusion of innovation theory, researchers surveyed 341 bank employees and found that relative advantage, system complexity, and knowledge quality significantly affect KMS adoption, while system compatibility does not. The findings show that knowledge quality correlates with technological factors and that banks must prioritize information quality alongside system quality to maximize KMS investment returns.
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Systematic literature review paper: the regional innovation system-university-science park nexus
Universities play nine distinct dynamic roles within regional innovation systems and science parks, operating across three relationship types: resource sharing with the RIS, brokerage between RIS and science parks, and commercialization with science parks. These roles span knowledge co-creation, acting as conduits, and relationship building, encompassing activities from networking and research collaboration to startup creation and technology transfer. University engagement directly affects science park innovation performance.
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Experimental networks for business model innovation: A way for incumbents to navigate sustainability transitions?
Incumbent firms struggle to innovate business models during sustainability transitions due to unclear pathways forward. This paper examines three case studies of emerging technology projects and shows how cross-industry networks operating on limited timescales help organizations collaboratively explore new business models for major socio-technical changes. The research introduces the concept of experimental networks as a mechanism enabling incumbents to actively shape sustainability transitions through interorganizational collaboration.
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Challenges and Opportunities for Technology Transfer Networks in the Context of Open Innovation: Russian Experience
This paper examines Russia's technology transfer networks through the lens of open innovation and ecosystem approaches. Universities serve as knowledge integrators connecting innovation actors across sectors. The authors synthesize concepts of open innovation, networks, and ecosystems to propose a prospective national technology transfer model for Russia that supports cross-sectoral collaboration and interdisciplinary innovation.
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Does absorptive capacity moderate the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and supply chain resilience?
This study examines how absorptive capacity strengthens the link between entrepreneurial orientation and supply chain resilience in small and medium enterprises. Using data from 171 Yemeni manufacturing firms, the researchers found that entrepreneurial orientation directly improves supply chain resilience, and this effect becomes stronger when firms develop greater absorptive capacity. The findings suggest Yemeni SME managers should invest in building their firms' ability to acquire and apply new knowledge to maximize the benefits of entrepreneurial practices.
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Disruptive innovation and circularity in start‐ups: A path to sustainable development
Brazilian start-ups are implementing disruptive innovations that advance circular economy principles in their business models. Through interviews with 50 start-up leaders, researchers found that these companies are partially adopting circular resource initiatives—including data management, supply chain partnerships, digitization, and new market opportunities—that support sustainable development. The study reveals varying adoption levels across market segments and identifies pathways for accelerating circular economy integration.
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The Risk of Dissolution of Sustainable Innovation Ecosystems in Times of Crisis: The Electric Vehicle during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The paper examines how the electric vehicle ecosystem evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies factors that enable ecosystem growth despite crises. The authors argue that disruptions like pandemics can create opportunities for sustainable innovations to break through by shifting established behavioral patterns. They assess whether the EV sector capitalized on pandemic-driven changes to accelerate the transition from internal combustion engines to green mobility.
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The role of internal and external sources of knowledge on frugal innovation: moderating role of innovation capabilities
Internal and external knowledge sources significantly drive frugal innovation in small and medium enterprises. Innovation capabilities strengthen this relationship. The study surveyed 288 Saudi Arabian SMEs using structural equation modeling, finding that firms combining diverse knowledge sources with strong innovation capabilities achieve greater frugal innovation outcomes.
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Indirect innovation management by platform ecosystem governance and positioning: Toward collective ambidexterity in the ecosystems
This study examines how platform ecosystem governance and positioning strategies indirectly influence complementary product innovation. Using data from 9,780 Japanese video game software titles, the research finds that increased openness and distinctiveness both encourage radical innovation. However, sales performance peaks when openness is moderate and distinctiveness is appropriately calibrated. The findings show that balanced governance strategies enable platforms to achieve ambidexterity—supporting both incremental and radical innovation simultaneously while maximizing commercial success.
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Pursuing Frugal Innovation for Sustainability at the Grassroots Level
Frugal innovation offers firms a practical approach to sustainability while serving underserved customers in developing countries. Three case studies from India show how frugal innovation creates new business models that address economic, social, and environmental challenges simultaneously. The paper argues that firms should adopt frugal innovation strategies to tackle pressing societal problems while promoting sustainability.
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Responsible Leadership Competencies in leaders around the world: Assessing stakeholder engagement, ethics and values, systems thinking and innovation competencies in leaders around the world
This study assesses responsible leadership competencies across 9,566 participants in 122 countries, measuring stakeholder engagement, ethics, systems thinking, and innovation. Self-awareness emerges as central to responsible leadership. Higher education correlates with better performance, and African region participants outperform others. Surprisingly, sustainability affinity doesn't improve scores, and executives show no improvement after leadership courses, while undergraduate students do.
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Constraint-Based Thinking: A Structured Approach for Developing Frugal Innovations
This paper introduces constraint-based thinking as a structured method for developing frugal innovations. The approach systematically identifies constraints, analyzes their root causes, maps causes to product features, and develops minimal viable products. Using medical device industry cases, the authors show how constraints become opportunities for innovation, providing a practical framework companies and researchers can use to create frugal solutions.
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Can we learn from hidden mistakes? Self-fulfilling prophecy and responsible neuroprognostic innovation
When doctors predict poor outcomes for comatose patients and withdraw life support based on that prediction, they create a self-fulfilling prophecy that prevents learning. The patient dies regardless, so doctors cannot determine if their original prediction was correct or incorrect. This epistemic problem allows false positives to persist undetected in prognostic tests, distorting research on new neuroprognostication techniques and amplifying bias toward early treatment withdrawal. The authors propose guidelines to help researchers mitigate these learning obstacles and develop more responsible innovations.
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Inter-Organizational Trust on Financial Performance: Proposing Innovation as a Mediating Variable to Sustain in a Disruptive Era
Hungarian ICT companies that build trust with business partners innovate more effectively and achieve better financial performance. The study of 100 micro, small, and medium-sized ICT firms shows that innovation acts as the mechanism linking inter-organizational trust to improved financial outcomes. Trust drives innovation, which then drives profitability in the disruptive technology sector.
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How to save the world during a pandemic event. A case study of frugal innovation
Digital makers applied frugal innovation principles to develop rapid COVID-19 solutions during the pandemic. The study examines how these makers combined resource-efficient innovation, agile methods, and open innovation strategies to address urgent local health problems. Results show this approach effectively produced practical solutions with potential for global scaling, demonstrating frugal innovation's value in responding to unexpected crises.
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The Imperative of Responsible Innovation in Reproductive Medicine
This article examines the lack of evidence supporting widespread use of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy in reproductive medicine. The authors use this case to highlight a broader problem: reproductive medicine adopts new technologies without sufficient data demonstrating their safety and effectiveness. They argue for more responsible innovation practices that require robust evidence before clinical implementation.
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Innovation ecosystem strategies of industrial firms: A multilayered approach to alignment and strategic positioning
Industrial firms in Germany and the Netherlands use two-layer innovation ecosystem strategies to manage innovation processes. Companies operate an open explorative layer to identify opportunities and a semi-closed exploitative layer to develop them into customer value. The study reveals how firms align partners and activities across these layers, create synergies between them, manage resulting tensions, and develop strategic positioning within ecosystems.
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Slow Innovation: the need for reflexivity in Responsible Innovation (RI)
This essay argues that Responsible Innovation should embrace slowness and reflexivity rather than prioritizing speed and efficiency. The author draws on personal project experiences to advocate for making time for difficult questions, vulnerable moments, and uncertainty in innovation processes. This approach supports more human-centered outcomes, including in artificial intelligence development.
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An open innovation approach to co-produce scientific knowledge: an examination of citizen science in the healthcare ecosystem
Citizen science—where lay people participate in research—can drive innovation in healthcare by enabling large-scale data collection, educating the public, and co-creating value with scientists. The authors examined citizen science projects tackling COVID-19 and found that engaging non-experts as data collectors and analysts strengthens healthcare ecosystems. They argue policymakers must support lay participation in scientific research to address major health challenges.
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Water Absorption Capacity Determines the Functionality of Vital Gluten Related to Specific Bread Volume
Vital gluten supplements weak wheat flour in baking, but different samples produce inconsistent bread volumes despite identical recipes. This study tested ten vital gluten samples and found that protein composition and chemical structure did not explain performance differences. Instead, each sample's water absorption capacity determined its optimal functionality and final bread volume, with different samples requiring different water levels to achieve peak results.
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User-centered requirements engineering to manage the fuzzy front-end of open innovation in e-health: A study on support systems for seniors’ physical activity
This study applies user-centered requirements engineering methods to manage the early stages of developing an e-health system supporting seniors' physical activity. Researchers conducted interviews with three user groups and used workshops with multidisciplinary teams to elicit, analyze, and prioritize requirements. The resulting Concept of Operations document successfully guided stakeholder recruitment and collaboration in the subsequent open innovation development process, demonstrating that involving users early produces systems meeting real-world complexity.
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Assessing E-Health adoption readiness using diffusion of innovation theory and the role mediated by each adopter's category in a Mauritian context
Healthcare workers in a Mauritian hospital show strong readiness to adopt E-Health technology, driven by desires for modernized management, improved efficiency, and faster results. Using diffusion of innovation theory, the study confirms that five key dimensions—relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability—predict E-Health adoption. Physicians and nursing managers emerge as crucial influencers whose endorsement significantly affects whether colleagues recommend the technology.
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Catching-up national innovations systems (NIS) in China and post-catching-up NIS in Korea and Taiwan: verifying the detour hypothesis and policy implications
This study examines how China, South Korea, and Taiwan developed their innovation systems during economic catch-up. China currently specializes in short-cycle technologies, while South Korea and Taiwan have shifted toward long-cycle technologies. The research confirms the 'detour hypothesis': latecomer economies first focus on short-cycle sectors to drive growth, then transition to more complex long-cycle sectors as they mature. Economic growth correlates with these technological shifts at each development stage.
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Effect of Modified Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Magnetic NPs on the Absorption Capacity of CO<sub>2</sub> in Water, Wettability Alteration of Carbonate Rock Surface, and Water–Oil Interfacial Tension for Oilfield Applications
Modified iron oxide nanoparticles coated with polymers enhance carbon dioxide absorption in water and reduce interfacial tension between oil and carbonated water. These improvements increase the effectiveness of carbonated water for enhanced oil recovery in reservoirs. The polymer-coated nanoparticles also improve water-wetting properties on carbonate rock surfaces, making them promising for oilfield applications.
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Board interlocks, absorptive capacity, and environmental performance
Firms with diverse board interlocks—connections to multiple companies, across industries, and to top performers—achieve better environmental performance. However, this benefit depends on absorptive capacity: companies must invest in research and development to actually use the knowledge gained through these board connections. The study shows that R&D intensity moderates how effectively board interlocks translate into environmental improvements.
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Reshaping Higher Educational Institutions through Frugal Open Innovation
Private higher education institutions face financial stress and competitive pressure. This study finds that these institutions can achieve frugal open innovation by leveraging intangible assets like intellectual capital and IT capabilities rather than relying solely on tangible assets. The research identifies five main challenges—structural, operational, financial, social, and technological—and proposes that sales and operating planning can address them, enabling universities to integrate better with industry and communities while improving operational efficiency.
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From ‘Publish or Perish’ to Societal Impact: Organizational Repurposing Towards Responsible Innovation through Creating a Medical Platform
An academic research project studying user innovation shifted its core purpose to become Patient Innovation, a nonprofit medical platform providing global access to solutions for rare and chronic diseases. The transformation occurred through moral emotions, serendipitous inspiration, and socially conscious participants who reframed their mission from publishing research to creating societal impact. The authors develop a model showing how organizational purpose can drift spontaneously when actors feel morally motivated to serve collective goals over self-interest.
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Reconceptualising responsible research and innovation from a Global South perspective
Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) has been developed primarily in wealthy northern countries with little consideration of how it operates in the Global South. This paper examines RRI practices across three countries—the Netherlands, Malawi, and Brazil—and finds that while some activities are comparable, important differences exist in motivations and structures. The authors propose a new theoretical framework that accounts for these regional differences, positioning RRI as a continuum rather than a fixed concept.
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Anticipating gender impacts in scaling innovations for agriculture: Insights from the literature
Small farms produce most of the world's food, but innovations often fail to address gender inequalities and may cause harm. This review identifies six critical areas where gender considerations matter when scaling agricultural innovations: team composition, innovation design, communication, business models, technology adaptation, and political economy. The authors recommend practical methods for collecting gender-disaggregated data and call for scaling tools that explicitly address gender and social marginalization.
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Entrepreneurial Talent Building for 21st Century Agricultural Innovation
Agricultural innovation requires developing entrepreneurial farmers—termed 'AgTech Pioneers'—who can participate as cocreators in cross-sector innovation ecosystems. The paper argues that talent development, interdisciplinary training programs, and innovation clusters should support farmer participation in sustainable food system transitions. This approach harnesses technological advances, reinvigorates farming careers, and accelerates application of nanoscience and nanotechnology to address agricultural challenges.
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Lifestyle Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Rural Areas: The Case of Tourism Entrepreneurs
Lifestyle entrepreneurs in rural tourism drive innovation and sustainability by leveraging their connection to place and building relationships. A survey of 221 rural tourism entrepreneurs found that familiarity with place and relational capital both boost innovation. Place familiarity strengthens relational capital, which improves knowledge absorption. Relational capital mediates the link between place attachment and innovation, creating indirect pathways to competitive advantage in rural destinations.
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Empowerment of rural young people in informal farm entrepreneurship: the role of corporate social responsibility in Nigeria’s oil producing communities
Corporate social responsibility programs by oil companies in Nigeria's Niger Delta region have mixed effects on rural youth farm entrepreneurship. While the global memorandum of understanding model significantly boosts informal farm entrepreneurship overall, it underperforms in targeted agricultural clusters. The study of 800 rural young people shows that youth-specific CSR farm projects can help close knowledge gaps and improve yields, but coordinated business investment is needed to create real agricultural competitiveness and food security.
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Can digital financial inclusion effectively stimulate technological Innovation of agricultural enterprises?—A case study on China
Digital financial inclusion significantly boosts technological innovation efficiency in Chinese agricultural enterprises. The study analyzed listed agricultural companies from 2015 to 2020 and found that digital financial inclusion promotes innovation through three mechanisms: enterprise digitization, reduced financing constraints, and improved market efficiency. Non-state-owned enterprises with higher financing levels benefit most. The positive effect strengthens as enterprises advance their innovation capabilities.
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Adoption and Dis-Adoption of Sustainable Agriculture: A Case of Farmers’ Innovations and Integrated Fruit Fly Management in Kenya
Kenyan mango farmers face severe losses from invasive fruit flies and rely heavily on pesticides despite knowing integrated pest management alternatives. The study finds that farmer adoption of sustainable IPM practices increases with education, orchard size, extension contact, and prior use of indigenous methods. Dis-adoption occurs when orchards shrink or farmers abandon non-pesticide practices. Better training and extension services can boost sustainable pest management uptake.
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Strengthening Conservation Agriculture innovation systems in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from a stakeholder analysis
Conservation Agriculture innovation in Malawi relies heavily on NGOs and government, but smallholder farmers remain passive participants rather than active stakeholders. Promoters lack technical and financial capacity, and weak collaboration between organizations limits knowledge-sharing and program integration. The paper recommends strengthening stakeholder understanding of innovation systems, building partnerships through platforms, and improving advisory mechanisms to enable joint implementation and feedback.
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Agricultural products intelligent marketing technology innovation in big data era
Big data technology improves agricultural product marketing by enabling better information services for farmers. The paper identifies problems in current intelligent marketing systems and proposes an innovation model based on data collection, storage, and analysis techniques. It outlines how to build data centers and public information platforms that farmers can use to increase income and support poverty alleviation efforts.
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The Association of Broadband Internet Access and Telemedicine Utilization in rural Western Tennessee: an observational study
Rural patients in western Tennessee with high broadband access (80-100%) were significantly more likely to use telemedicine than those with low access (0-20%), even after adjusting for income, education, and physician supply. Broadband availability emerged as a key factor enabling telemedicine adoption in rural communities, suggesting that expanding broadband infrastructure directly improves rural healthcare access.
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Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of Rice–Wheat Cropping Systems in South Asia
Rice-wheat cropping systems feed billions in Asia but face declining yields, high emissions, and environmental damage from nitrogen fertilizer and residue burning. Farmers in South Asia are adopting direct-seeded rice instead of transplanted rice, reducing water use, labor, and methane emissions. The paper recommends precision agriculture, allelopathic crops for weed control, legume incorporation for soil health, and rice-specific harvesters for residue management, while accounting for local soil conditions and farmer economics.
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Multi-actor Horizon 2020 projects in agriculture, forestry and related sectors: A Multi-level Innovation System framework (MINOS) for identifying multi-level system failures
This paper develops MINOS, a multi-level innovation system framework, to analyze 50 European Horizon 2020 agricultural research projects involving multiple actors across different countries. The framework identifies system failures occurring at European, national, project, and organizational levels, categorizing them as 'multipliers' and 'stackers'. The analysis reveals how institutional, cultural, and social contexts interact across levels to influence co-innovation and learning in multinational partnerships.
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Californian innovation ecosystem: emergence of agtechs and the new wave of agriculture
California's agtech innovation ecosystem generates radical agricultural innovations through a distinctive combination of factors. Universities and research institutions develop new knowledge, venture capital and funding enable new businesses, and diverse actors—including accelerators and multinational companies—interact in complex networks with multiple roles. These interconnected characteristics create an environment where agricultural technology disruption thrives.
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Small-scale agricultural product marketing innovation through BUMDes and MSMEs empowerment in coastal areas
Small-scale farmers in coastal areas can increase agricultural product value and market competitiveness through partnerships between village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The study proposes an innovative marketing model where these institutions work together with credit providers and farmer entrepreneurs to develop agribusiness chains, provide market information, and support technology adoption for rural communities.
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Hype, evidence gaps and digital divides: Telehealth blind spots in rural Australia
Telehealth adoption in rural Australia remains slow despite significant health service demand. The authors identify four critical blind spots hindering progress: technocentric hype that ignores unintended consequences, gaps in evidence about patient experiences, insufficient attention to digital divides and social determinants of health, and failure to involve communities in service design. They argue that understanding telehealth as a socio-technical practice rather than purely technological solution is essential for improving accessibility and effectiveness.
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An Analytical Framework to Study Multi-Actor Partnerships Engaged in Interactive Innovation Processes in the Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development Sector
This paper develops a framework for understanding multi-actor co-innovation partnerships in agriculture, forestry, and rural development across Europe. Analysis of 30 partnerships reveals that funding mechanisms often push partnerships to adapt their goals and overpromise outputs. Successful partnerships recruit experienced members with established networks who facilitate internal collaboration and navigate external political and market conditions. Aligning funding body goals with societal needs could better support partnerships pursuing socio-economic and environmental benefits.
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Rural entrepreneurship and the context: navigating contextual barriers through women's groups
Rural women in Tanzania face significant barriers to entrepreneurship including limited land access, poor market connections, weak business networks, time poverty, and insufficient capital. Women's groups overcome these obstacles by collectively accessing business services, training, grants, and networks. The study demonstrates that women with limited education can successfully pursue rural entrepreneurship when supported through group membership and targeted interventions.
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Responsible Innovation Definitions, Practices, and Motivations from Nanotechnology Researchers in Food and Agriculture
Nanotechnology researchers developing food and agriculture products define and practice responsible innovation narrowly, focusing mainly on product safety and efficiency rather than broader principles like inclusion and reflexivity. Researchers hold conflicting views on whether responsible innovation serves industry interests or public good, and some pursue it primarily for reputation protection rather than societal benefit. The study recommends deeper discussions among researchers about what responsible innovation truly means beyond technical product attributes.
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“Summer sowing”: A successful innovation to increase the adoption of key species of annual forage legumes for agriculture in Mediterranean and temperate environments
Researchers tested summer sowing of annual legume species in Australia, finding that several species with hard seeds can be sown into dry soil in late summer and establish robust pastures after winter rains. Summer-sown legumes produced 1.5 to 10 times more herbage than conventionally sown alternatives. The technique works across different species and climatic zones in Western Australia and New South Wales, offering a practical innovation for pasture renovation that removes adoption barriers.
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Actor roles and linkages in the agricultural innovation system: options for establishing a cocoa innovation platform in Ghana
Ghana's cocoa sector needs an innovation platform to boost performance. Researchers analyzed actor roles and relationships in the cocoa innovation system using social network analysis. They found that farmer groups, researchers, extension agents, policymakers, and private sector actors are critical to establishing and sustaining a cocoa innovation platform. These actors attract participation and hold the network together.
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Farmers’ Participation in Operational Groups to Foster Innovation in the Agricultural Sector: An Italian Case Study
Italian farmers participate actively in EU-supported Operational Groups that bring together multiple stakeholders to solve agricultural problems collaboratively. The study finds farmers contribute meaningfully during design and implementation phases, but their involvement fluctuates throughout the process. Sustaining farmer participation requires motivation, commitment, trust, and open communication among diverse actors working together.
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Trademark potential increase and entrepreneurship rural development: A case study of Southern Transylvania, Romania
Rural areas can drive economic development by capitalizing on cultural heritage through trademark creation and heritage tourism. This study develops a decision-making model using the Analytical Hierarchy Process to help local authorities identify and market lesser-known heritage assets as innovative tourism products. Applied to Southern Transylvania, Romania, the model shows how communities can leverage both tangible and intangible heritage to create branded tourism routes and diversify local economies.
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An Overview of Rural Entrepreneurship and Future Directions
Rural entrepreneurship operates differently from high-growth and technology-focused entrepreneurship, yet researchers often apply the same frameworks to study it. This limits understanding of entrepreneurship's actual impact on rural communities. The authors argue rural entrepreneurship deserves recognition as a distinct field of study with its own characteristics, and they identify future research directions to advance knowledge specific to rural contexts.
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Application of innovation platforms to catalyse adoption of conservation agriculture practices in South Asia
Innovation Platforms—structured forums bringing together farmers, suppliers, and extension workers—successfully increased adoption of conservation agriculture practices among smallholder farmers across Nepal, Bangladesh, and India. The platforms built trust, created micro-enterprise opportunities, and empowered rural youth and women. Results varied by location and platform design, but strong community ownership proved essential for effectiveness.
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Citizen Science as Democratic Innovation That Renews Environmental Monitoring and Assessment for the Sustainable Development Goals in Rural Areas
Citizen science offers a democratic approach to environmental monitoring that strengthens the legitimacy of data used for sustainable development in rural areas. Traditional environmental monitoring fails to adequately support local implementation of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. By incorporating citizen science into environmental assessment, rural communities can produce and use data more effectively for transformative governance, particularly for protecting land and natural resources while addressing resource conflicts.
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Characterization of Technological Innovations in Photovoltaic Rural Electrification, Based on the Experiences of Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina: Third Generation Solar Home Systems
Solar Home Systems have evolved through three generations since 1980, with third-generation systems now offering efficient LED lighting, lithium batteries, and microelectronic controls that require minimal maintenance. These newer systems cost less and enable users to manage their own electricity, making rural electrification more affordable and reliable for off-grid populations in Latin America. The research characterizes technological advances to support developers and policymakers in achieving universal energy access.
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Saving as a Path for Female Empowerment and Entrepreneurship in Rural Peru
Women's savings programs in Peru's Highlands empower female entrepreneurs more effectively than microcredit. The study found that savings interventions enable women to plan ahead, expand social networks, and start businesses while improving their economic, personal, and relational well-being. Savings programs deliver broader empowerment benefits beyond financial inclusion.
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Factors enhancing agricultural productivity under innovation technology: Insights from Cameroon
This study examines how innovation adoption—improved seeds and modern equipment—affects agricultural productivity in Cameroon, analyzing the roles of farmer education, credit access, and land tenure security. Using national survey data and addressing selection bias, the researchers find that education and credit significantly boost both adoption rates and yields. Tertiary education increases yield by 16.5–18.3% per hectare, while credit access generates 10.9–15.5% gains. The paper concludes that technology adoption alone cannot maximize productivity without complementary investments in farmer education and financial access.
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International Comparison of the Efficiency of Agricultural Science, Technology, and Innovation: A Case Study of G20 Countries
This study measures agricultural science, technology, and innovation (ASTI) efficiency across G20 countries using data envelopment analysis. Developed G20 nations show declining efficiency trends but stronger innovation capacity, while developing G20 countries demonstrate rising efficiency but lower capacity. R&D spending redundancy and insufficient agricultural research output constrain efficiency gains. Technological change drives most productivity improvements across both groups.
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How to assess agricultural innovation systems in a transformation perspective: a Delphi consensus study
This study used a modified Delphi technique with international experts to design a framework for assessing agricultural innovation systems across multiple countries. Experts reached consensus on a capacity-oriented assessment model with standardized yet flexible components. The research identifies factors that helped and hindered consensus-building, offering practical lessons for future Delphi studies and demonstrating how group-based Delphi methods can support international knowledge co-production on agricultural innovation systems.
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Formation of an Export-Oriented Agricultural Economy and Regional Open Innovations
This paper develops indicators and modeling tools to assess how agricultural investments, production output, and exports relate to each other across Russian regions. Using factor and cluster analysis, the authors identify five regional groups with distinct investment levels, production volumes, and export patterns. They find that investment intensity and agricultural production efficiency are undervalued in current assessments. The results support better institutional management of regional agricultural systems oriented toward export.
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R&D Innovation Adoption, Climatic Sensitivity, and Absorptive Ability Contribution for Agriculture TFP Growth in Pakistan
Agricultural R&D innovation adoption significantly boosts total factor productivity growth in Pakistan, particularly through tractors, improved seeds, and fertilizer use. Climate factors, especially moderate rainfall, positively affect productivity. However, farmers' weak absorptive capacity limits gains. The study recommends government investment in extension services, farmer training, and climate-smart agriculture practices including rainwater harvesting infrastructure to enhance technology adoption and farmer knowledge.
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Word of Mouth, Digital Media, and Open Innovation at the Agricultural SMEs
Agricultural SMEs in Hungary's local markets rely on two main information channels: word-of-mouth and digital media. Research with 156 consumers at Budapest's Central Market Hall found that older consumers prefer word-of-mouth, while educated, foreign, or socially isolated consumers choose digital platforms. The study recommends SMEs strengthen product quality and develop two-way digital communication strategies to reach diverse customer segments.
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A Techno-Economic Framework for Installing Broadband Networks in Rural and Remote Areas
This paper develops a techno-economic framework for deploying broadband networks in rural and remote areas, addressing the challenge of high infrastructure costs versus low operator revenue. Using cost-of-ownership analysis and financial feasibility techniques, the authors demonstrate how to reduce subscription costs for end-users while maintaining operator profitability. A case study in the Brazilian Amazon shows the framework can deliver equitable digital access by lowering deployment expenses.
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Interpreting community enterprises’ ability to survive in depleted contexts through the Humane Entrepreneurship lens: evidence from Italian rural areas
Community enterprises in depleted Italian rural areas survive by adopting humane entrepreneurship—a strategic approach that balances economic goals with environmental and social values. This framework better explains why entrepreneurs operate in high-risk contexts and reveals how community involvement and altruistic values enable these businesses to succeed where conventional ventures fail.
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Climate variability, innovation and firm performance: evidence from the European agricultural sector
Climate variability drives agricultural firms to develop adaptation innovations, which significantly improve their performance. Using panel data from European farms between 2007 and 2017, the authors find that firms generating knowledge about climate adaptation technologies perform better, particularly in aquaculture and fishing sectors in northern Europe. Innovation emerges as a key mechanism linking climate stress to business success.
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From Policy Promises to Result through Innovation in African Agriculture?
Agricultural innovation can help African countries achieve food security and poverty reduction goals, but moving from policy promises to real results remains difficult. The paper identifies technological and institutional innovations that boost smallholder farmer productivity and income, yet barriers—including weak governance, limited resources, and knowledge gaps—prevent their adoption. Effective implementation mechanisms beyond goal-setting are essential to deliver promised outcomes.
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Overcoming constraints of scaling: Critical and empirical perspectives on agricultural innovation scaling
Agricultural innovation scaling in Ethiopia requires balancing technical and social factors, not just linear technology rollout. Scaling succeeds through flexible, stepwise strategies that build long-term partnerships, trust, and continuous learning rather than rigid predetermined plans. Social dynamics, actor relationships, and emergent processes matter as much as technical requirements for achieving real impact on rural livelihoods.
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To zoom or not to zoom: The impact of rural broadband on online learning
Rural students face significant barriers to online learning due to inadequate broadband access, creating a digital divide that affects their ability to participate in synchronous and asynchronous course delivery. The paper examines how rural broadband availability constrains higher education access and argues that faculty must consider internet infrastructure limitations when choosing content delivery formats to serve rural student populations effectively.
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The effect of broadband access on electronic patient engagement activities: Assessment of urban‐rural differences
Rural residents without broadband access use electronic patient engagement tools like email, text, and video consultations far less than urban counterparts. Between 2014 and 2018, rural areas consistently lagged in adopting these digital health technologies. Lack of broadband connectivity in rural areas significantly increased the likelihood of non-use of electronic patient engagement tools, suggesting that expanding rural broadband infrastructure could improve patient-provider communication.
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5G and 6G Broadband Cellular Network Technologies as Enablers of New Avenues for Behavioral Influence with Examples from Reduced Rural-Urban Digital Divide
Fifth and sixth generation broadband networks enable faster feedback loops for persuasive design and behavioral influence. The authors argue these technologies can reduce the rural-urban digital divide, but only if rural populations gain actual access. Without equitable deployment, next-generation networks risk widening existing inequalities rather than closing them.
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Opportunity, necessity, and no one in the middle: A closer look at small, rural, and female‐led entrepreneurship in the United States
Female entrepreneurs in rural America start businesses at higher rates in both the poorest and wealthiest counties, following a U-shaped pattern tied to per capita income. The poorest counties show necessity-driven entrepreneurship, while the wealthiest show opportunity-driven ventures. This finding supports place-based policies that address the distinct challenges women face in rural economic development.
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A machine learning approach to rural entrepreneurship
Machine learning models trained on Life in Transition Survey data identify key factors associated with rural business success and failure across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Capital constraints, age, trust levels, awareness of trends, media use, competitive character, institutional support, and education all predict entrepreneurial outcomes with 72–92% accuracy. The findings reveal which personal and structural factors determine whether rural entrepreneurs successfully launch businesses.
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Entrepreneurial ecosystems and local economy sustainability: institutional actors' views on neo-rural entrepreneurship in low-density Portuguese territories
Neo-rural entrepreneurs in low-density Portuguese territories drive local economic development and sustainability, according to institutional actors interviewed in this study. The research identifies territorial attractiveness factors and institutional support from municipalities and polytechnic institutes, but also reveals significant entrepreneurial obstacles. Most neo-rural ventures are necessity-driven rather than opportunity-driven, suggesting these entrepreneurs fill economic gaps in declining rural areas.
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What a Pandemic Has Taught Us About the Potential for Innovation in Rural Health: Commencing an Ethnography in Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Australia
The paper examines how rural health systems in Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Australia built resilience and capacity during the pandemic. Using antifragility as a framework—the concept that systems strengthen under stress—the authors conducted ethnographic research to understand how rural health innovations emerged and persisted through crisis conditions.
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Challenges for entrepreneurship development in rural economies: the case of micro and small-scale enterprises in Ethiopia
Government support programs for micro and small-scale enterprises in Ethiopia reduce entrepreneurial activity by encouraging market entry among entrepreneurs without sound business strategies. Direct government involvement, sector-specific incentives, and programs pursuing social or political goals undermine rather than strengthen early-stage entrepreneurship. The study shows that institutional environment and business formation processes critically shape entrepreneurial outcomes in low-trust, high-population contexts.
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Methods of State Support of Innovative Entrepreneurship. The Example of Rural Tourism
Kazakhstan's small business sector needs stronger state support systems to drive innovation, particularly in rural tourism. The authors analyze how developed countries support innovative entrepreneurship and propose tailored strategies for Kazakhstan that account for local cultural and institutional contexts. They emphasize that effective legal frameworks and corruption prevention are essential, and highlight how tourism and hospitality sectors were severely impacted by COVID-19.
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A Place-Based Pedagogical Action Study to Enrich Rural Sustainability: Knowledge Ties of National Taiwan University’s 10-Year Partnership with Pinglin
Rural communities lose young people and local knowledge, threatening sustainability. National Taiwan University partnered with Pinglin for a decade using place-based pedagogy to connect students and faculty with rural communities. The researchers developed the Knowledge-Ties Youth Rural Sustainability framework, which integrates local tacit knowledge with contemporary science to create economic and cultural networks that retain young talent and sustain rural livelihoods.
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Can public medical insurance promote rural entrepreneurship? Evidence from China
China's National Cooperative Medical Scheme, a subsidized public health insurance program for rural populations, increases rural entrepreneurship by reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses. The wealth effect from lower healthcare costs drives entrepreneurial investment. The effect is strongest among wealthier households, those with better insurance coverage, and those with younger household heads.
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THE DIGITAL ACCOUNTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETENCY FOR SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE OF THE RURAL MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (MSMES): AN EMPIRICAL REVIEW
Rural micro, small, and medium enterprises need digital accounting competency to survive and thrive, especially during crises like Covid-19. This review of empirical research identifies seven key factors that drive sustainable performance: entrepreneurial competency, marketing capability, knowledge sharing, financial resources, technology usage, change management, and individual competency. Digital accounting entrepreneurship significantly strengthens rural MSMEs' ability to operate online and reach customers.
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Determinants of innovation by agri-food firms in rural Spain: an MCA PLS-SEM analysis
Small and medium agri-food firms in Spain innovate primarily to increase sales, enter new markets, and improve product quality, driven by firm capacity and financial resources. Smaller and younger firms face greater barriers to innovation. The study finds that firms rarely innovate to reduce costs or meet regulatory requirements. Public policy should address environmental compliance and employment maintenance, while supporting market-driven innovation incentives.
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Potential for Deep Rural Broadband Coverage With Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Radio Networks
Rural areas lag behind cities in broadband connectivity because sparse populations make wireless networks economically unviable with current technology. This paper examines two emerging solutions: satellite-based non-terrestrial networks and sparse terrestrial networks using tall towers and large antenna arrays. Both approaches can serve remote areas cost-effectively, but they excel in different scenarios and complement each other depending on traffic demands and infrastructure requirements.
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Societal Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Asian Rural Societies: A Multi-Sectoral Social Capital Approach in Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan
Small-scale farmers in Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan collaborate across public, private, and third sectors to address agricultural crises including aging producers, falling prices, and biodiversity loss. The paper identifies how different types of social capital—solutions, advocacy, and reconciliation—drive these multi-sectoral initiatives and enable sustainable community development and scaling of solutions, with distinct drivers emerging in each country context.
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Investigating the Performance of Rural Off-Grid Photovoltaic System with Electric-Mobility Solutions: A Case Study Based on Kenya
This paper models an off-grid photovoltaic charging station in Kenya to provide reliable, low-emission electricity for rural applications including water purification and electric vehicle charging. The system outperforms diesel generators in cost and environmental impact. The model adapts to different regions by adjusting solar radiation, temperature, and load parameters, offering a replicable solution for rural electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Enhancing integration of Indigenous agricultural knowledge into USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service cost-share initiatives
Indigenous agricultural knowledge practices in the American Southwest have sustained ecosystems for millennia, yet only 2% of USDA conservation cost-share contracts go to American Indian farms despite comprising 2.9% of U.S. farms. The paper demonstrates that Hopi dryland farming, Chippewa wild rice harvesting, and Menominee forestry practices align with NRCS conservation goals. The authors argue for integrating Indigenous practices directly into NRCS technical guides rather than requiring ad hoc approval processes, removing barriers to participation and preserving both ecosystems and Indigenous cultures.
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Influencing factor modeled examination on internet rural logistics talent innovation mechanism based on fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method
China's rural logistics system lags behind urban development, limiting talent innovation in e-commerce. This paper identifies factors hindering rural e-commerce talent innovation and proposes countermeasures to improve practitioner skills. Using fuzzy comprehensive evaluation and system analysis methods on company data, the authors achieve a 98% recognition rate and 20% faster processing speed than existing approaches, aiming to boost agricultural development.
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Innovation and Development of Rural Leisure Tourism Industry Using Mobile Cloud IoT Computing
This paper demonstrates how mobile cloud IoT computing improves rural leisure tourism in China by enabling data analysis and intelligent guidance systems. The research shows that IoT applications help optimize tourist distribution across regions, reducing geographical concentration and spreading economic benefits more evenly throughout rural areas. Better information systems allow tourists to make smarter decisions, supporting sustainable rural economic development.
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Innovative Rural Entrepreneurship in Chile
Rural areas in Chile show high entrepreneurship rates despite economic disadvantages, challenging stereotypes that innovation requires high-tech sophistication. The paper argues that middle-income countries can foster more innovative rural entrepreneurship through systemic, amenity-based territorial policies that improve local public goods and living conditions, rather than assuming rural entrepreneurship must remain unsophisticated.
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Exploring the best hybrid energy system for the off-grid rural energy scheme in Bangladesh using a comprehensive decision framework
This study develops a decision framework combining optimization modeling and multi-criteria analysis to select hybrid energy systems for off-grid rural areas in Bangladesh. The research identifies a photovoltaic-diesel-battery system as optimal, delivering energy at 0.32 USD/kWh—cheaper than the national grid and 64% cleaner than diesel-only alternatives. The framework successfully balances technical, economic, environmental, and social factors to guide rural electrification decisions in developing countries.
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Hidden Champions and their integration in rural regional innovation systems: Insights from Germany
Hidden Champions—little-known global market leaders—show weak integration into rural German regional innovation systems despite their high innovation capacity. The study of 57 expert interviews reveals that family ownership, firm size, organizational structure, and local economic conditions shape integration levels. Family businesses integrate more than other firm types, though with significant variation, primarily because their international focus and technological specialization limit local knowledge exchange.
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Can the income level of rural residents be improved by the Chinese “Broadband Village?”: Evidence from a regression discontinuity design of the six pilot provinces
China's Broadband Village initiative significantly increased rural residents' income in six western provinces between 2015 and 2019, with incomes rising 1.47–1.52 times higher in participating counties. However, the policy's benefits decreased for higher-income residents and showed an inverted U-shaped effect over time. Highly educated farmers gained the most from broadband access.
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Rural Broadband Development in Canada’s Provinces: An Overview of Policy Approaches
Canadian provinces have used a mix of competitive market policies and targeted subsidies to achieve near-universal Internet access in rural and remote communities. The paper examines how public sector initiatives address private sector under-investment in rural broadband networks, showing that this combined approach effectively narrows the urban-rural digital divide.
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Decentralized Solar Energy Access and Assessment of Performance Parameters for Rural Communities in India
Solar energy policies in rural India have created opportunities for decentralized renewable energy, but the market has stalled due to poor promotion, weak financial models, and negative perceptions among low-income households. The paper examines energy poverty in remote communities and identifies why solar technologies fail to expand despite government support. It proposes strategies to overcome market barriers and accelerate adoption of decentralized solar systems in underserved areas.
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Rural–urban financial inclusion: Implications on the cost sustainability of microfinance lenders
Microfinance institutions typically avoid rural lending because they believe it costs more than urban lending. This study analyzed data from 1,729 microfinance institutions worldwide between 2008 and 2018. The findings contradict conventional wisdom: rural lending is actually more cost-efficient than urban lending, even when accounting for different measurement approaches and potential statistical biases.
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EFFECT OF MICROFINANCE ADOPTION ON RURAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN SELECTED UPAZILA OF KUSHTIA DISTRICT OF BANGLADESH
Microfinance adoption in rural Bangladesh shows mixed effects on household income. The study of 350 households in Kushtia district found that age, household size, and credit amount negatively impact income, while spouse's income positively affects it. Borrowing decisions are discouraged by higher income, older age, and larger household size. Participants face barriers including high interest rates, credit delays, and short repayment periods.
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Counter-urbanization, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Rural Development in Developing Countries: The Nigerian Example
Counter-urbanization presents an opportunity for rural development in Nigeria by leveraging entrepreneurship and local resources. The paper argues that rural areas can achieve sustainable development by mobilizing endogenous capital, local knowledge, land, skills, and social networks. Success requires reformed rural development policies that strengthen local institutions, build trust, and support entrepreneurial activity among both rural residents and counter-urbanizing migrants.
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Poultry production in Nigeria: exploiting its potentials for rural youth empowerment and entrepreneurship
Poultry production offers significant potential to reduce youth unemployment in Nigeria's rural and peri-urban areas through entrepreneurship. The paper argues that government, financial institutions, and corporations should collaborate to support young farmers with soft loans, infrastructure, and extension services. Establishing a well-funded poultry advisory system would make farming attractive to youth and ensure sustainable rural development through employment creation.
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS THE BASIS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL COMMUNES IN EASTERN POLAND
Entrepreneurship drives rural development in eastern Poland. Researchers assessed entrepreneurship levels across 484 rural communes using data from 2009 and 2018, applying the TOPSIS method. They found entrepreneurship scores ranged from 0.07 to 0.63, while development scores ranged from 0.23 to 0.62. Rural communes showed greater variation in entrepreneurship than in overall development, and entrepreneurship levels correlated positively with development outcomes.
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Trust in Collective Entrepreneurship in the Context of the Development of Rural Areas in Poland
Personal trust matters more than institutional trust for collective entrepreneurship in rural Poland. The study surveyed 132 people in agricultural producer organizations, women's circles, and local action groups. Social factors outweigh economic ones in determining success. Trust grows over time and strengthens both economic and social dimensions of collective enterprises, with social benefits slightly exceeding economic gains.
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Structural and functional principles of entrepreneurship development in rural areas
This paper outlines the structural and functional principles of rural entrepreneurship development using institutional theory. The authors identify key functions, development factors, and institutional environment elements that support rural business growth. They argue that effective rural entrepreneurship requires multilevel, bottom-up implementation of support measures, with state involvement playing a crucial role in achieving inclusive rural development.
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Place-based perceptions, resilience and adaptation to climate change by smallholder farmers in rural South Africa
Smallholder farmers in South Africa's Joe Gqabi District respond to climate change through diverse adaptation and resilience strategies. Their choices depend on household characteristics, access to information and technology, assets, and climate perceptions. The study finds farmers lack institutional support and awareness. Strengthening farmer and institutional capacity, building on existing knowledge, and implementing supportive policies are essential for sustaining production under changing climate conditions.
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Renewable Energy Plants and Business Models: A New Rural Development Perspective
Renewable energy plants in Spain create opportunities for rural development through local economic activities and business model innovation. Some businesses directly connect to energy plants and generate stable jobs, while others diversify through land leasing arrangements. The study finds that renewable energy integration requires stronger governance frameworks and strategic planning to align energy transition with sustainable development goals and rural community well-being.
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Techno-economic analysis and design of hybrid renewable energy microgrid for rural electrification
This paper designs a hybrid renewable energy microgrid for rural electrification in Ethiopia using techno-economic analysis. Researchers modeled a standalone microgrid for the village of Jarre in the Somali region, comparing it economically against grid extension. Using particle swarm optimization, they identified the most cost-effective and reliable configuration of renewable energy sources to meet local electricity demand while ensuring system reliability.
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Optimal Design of Hybrid Grid-connected Microgrid with Renewable Energy and Storage in a Rural Area in Turkey by Using HOMER
Researchers designed an optimal hybrid microgrid system for a rural Turkish village using HOMER software. The system combines photovoltaic modules, wind turbines, small hydroelectric plants, fuel cells, and hydrogen storage to reduce electricity costs and carbon emissions. Analysis of local solar radiation, wind speed, water flow, and power demand determined the best combination of renewable resources for both grid-connected and off-grid operation.
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Analysis of the gap in enterprise access to renewable energy between rural and urban areas in Cameroon
Rural enterprises in Cameroon have significantly lower access to renewable energy than urban enterprises. The study of over 209,000 firms reveals that education, bank credit, microfinance, and formalization reduce this gap. Gender discrimination, sector barriers, and business environment challenges widen it. Improving rural finance access and promoting formalization are key to closing the rural-urban renewable energy divide.
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Does Microfinance Empower Women from Economic, Social, and Political Perspectives ? : Empirical Evidence from Rural Gujarat
Microfinance through self-help groups significantly empowers rural women economically in Gujarat, India. Women gain moderate social empowerment, though some social gains existed before joining. Political empowerment remains limited. Overall, women experience meaningful empowerment after participating in microfinance groups, with economic gains being the strongest outcome.
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Rewards and employee creativity among rural healthcare employees: the mediating role of organizational support for innovation and the moderating impact of supervisory support
Rewards boost employee creativity in rural hospitals primarily by fostering organizational support for innovation. Supervisory support strengthens this relationship—when supervisors actively support innovation, the path from rewards to creativity through organizational support becomes significantly stronger. The study demonstrates that rural healthcare workers' creative contributions depend on how management structures rewards, organizational backing, and supervisory engagement together.
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Aspects of ICT connectivity among older adults living in rural subsidized housing: reassessing the digital divide
Low-income older adults in rural New England subsidized housing show unequal internet access and use despite living in broadband-accessible areas. Age and education significantly influence technology adoption for email and social media. While housing sites had broadband and nearby libraries, few offered free Wi-Fi to residents. Individual internet access varied widely, affecting social connections with family and friends, revealing persistent digital inequity among economically disadvantaged seniors.
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Distance Learning and Character Building in Rural Area During the Covid-19 Pandemic
During COVID-19, rural teachers in Indonesia adapted distance learning through WhatsApp-based online classes, offline instruction, and hybrid approaches. Teachers used direct feedback, narrative examples with pictures, and activity checklists to build student character. Rural schools faced significant barriers including limited facilities, weak parental support, and unprepared teachers. The study found that effective rural education requires collaboration among teachers, parents, and community stakeholders to overcome pandemic-related obstacles.
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Techno‐Economic Potential of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Rural Health Units in the Philippines
This study evaluated hybrid renewable energy systems for rural health clinics in the Philippines, comparing grid-connected and off-grid configurations. Solar photovoltaic panels paired with either the grid or battery-generator systems reduced energy costs by 37–42 percent and carbon emissions by 59 percent while meeting at least 70 percent of facility electricity demand. The findings support integrating these systems into rural healthcare facilities to improve energy access, resilience, and sustainability.
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Design and Control of a PV-FC-BESS-Based Hybrid Renewable Energy System Working in LabVIEW Environment for Short/Long-Duration Irrigation Support in Remote Rural Areas for Paddy Fields
This paper presents a hybrid renewable energy system combining photovoltaic panels, fuel cells, and battery storage to replace diesel pumps for irrigation in remote paddy fields. The system generates 0.4 kW of single-phase power and operates reliably under varying solar and load conditions, supporting rice production while reducing carbon emissions. Control systems were developed and tested in LabVIEW.
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Thermodynamic analysis of a hybrid wind turbine and biomass gasifier for energy supply in a rural off-grid region of Nigeria
Researchers designed and analyzed a hybrid renewable energy system combining a biomass gasifier and wind turbine to supply electricity, heating, and cooling to 2,000 rural homes in Nigeria. The system achieved 48% energy efficiency and 25% exergy efficiency, with the biomass gasifier accounting for 95% of energy losses. The analysis identifies how performance varies with changing environmental conditions and operational parameters.
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Indigenous Knowledge for Climate Smart Agriculture—A Review
Indigenous knowledge systems in sub-Saharan Africa offer proven strategies for climate-smart agriculture that help rural farmers adapt to rising temperatures, changing rainfall, and extreme weather. Farmers have successfully used traditional practices passed down through generations to manage climate risks. Despite evidence that integrating indigenous knowledge with modern climate-smart agricultural innovations improves adaptation and resilience, adoption remains low in developing countries. Strengthening indigenous knowledge systems through capacity building could enhance smallholder farmer resilience to climate change.
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Bringing innovation back in–strategies and driving forces behind entrepreneurial responses in small-scale rural industries in Sweden
Small-scale dairy businesses in Sweden innovate primarily through business model changes and imitation rather than disruptive innovation. Social capital and collective action enable firms to break established patterns and create new markets. The study distinguishes rural entrepreneurship from self-employment, showing both drive economic growth. Support mechanisms like flexible regulations and knowledge-sharing help rural firms innovate and survive.
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Impacts of socio-cultural practices on family support system for rural women entrepreneurship development in Nigeria: a comparative analysis
Rural women entrepreneurs in Southwest and Southeast Nigeria receive varying levels of family support, which is significantly shaped by socio-cultural practices. The study found that cultural norms discourage women from passing businesses to their children and limit entrepreneurial growth. The research recommends that husbands challenge restrictive cultural practices to enable family business succession, sustainable economic empowerment, and poverty reduction in rural areas.
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RURAL GREEN TOURISM AS AN INNOVATIVE FORM OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Rural green tourism represents an innovative entrepreneurship model that drives rural development in Ukraine. The paper identifies key factors enabling agritourism, agro-ecotourism, and rural tourism enterprises, and develops a framework for their growth. It demonstrates how green tourism entrepreneurship achieves economic, environmental, social, and cultural goals while addressing barriers to expansion. The authors recommend specific government support measures to strengthen this sector.
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The role of entrepreneurship, cooperation and agro-industrial integration in the development of rural areas
Entrepreneurship, cooperation, and agro-industrial integration are essential for sustainable rural development. The paper identifies organizational and economic components needed to support these activities and demonstrates that entrepreneurship drives stable agrarian economy growth through integration and cooperation. The authors forecast entrepreneurial structure development through 2025 and provide recommendations for state policies supporting agricultural sector growth and rural transformation.
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Comparison of Marketing Activities among the Rural Women of Omid Entrepreneurship Fund and Agricultural Development Specialized Holding Companies in Fars Province
Rural women entrepreneurs in Iran's Fars Province who received support from Agricultural Development Specialized Holding Companies demonstrated stronger marketing capabilities than those funded by the Omid Entrepreneurship Fund. Women in Holding Companies showed greater awareness of marketing methods, better grasp of marketing strategies, and superior personality traits for entrepreneurship including risk-taking and creativity. The study recommends targeted improvements to enhance marketing activities for women in microfinance programs.
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Is place or person more important in determining higher rural cancer mortality? A data-linkage study to compare individual versus area-based measures of deprivation
Rural cancer patients in Northeast Scotland living over 60 minutes from treatment centers experienced worse one-year survival rates than those living closer, despite receiving timely treatment more often. This geographic disadvantage persisted regardless of whether researchers adjusted for area-based or individual socioeconomic status, indicating that distance to services, not personal characteristics, drives poorer rural cancer outcomes.
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Surveying the Socioeconomic and Business Dimensions of Microfinance Institutions in Rural Sierra Leone before the Ebola Outbreak: A Descriptive Statistical Approach
Microfinance institutions in rural Sierra Leone before the 2013 Ebola outbreak successfully provided access to credit for business, farming, and construction activities, with strong delivery of financial services scoring 8 out of 10 for accessibility. However, skills training and community support programs were ineffective, and while individual beneficiaries improved their living standards, these gains did not extend to broader community development.
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The density of microfinance institutions and multiple borrowing in Ghana: Are rural borrowers vulnerable?
This study examines multiple borrowing patterns in Ghana, finding that 35% of borrowers use multiple microfinance institutions simultaneously. While higher density of MFIs reduces multiple borrowing overall, rural borrowers show greater vulnerability to overlapping loans and respond differently to various institutional features. The findings highlight how MFI expansion affects client sustainability and economic wellbeing.
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Exploration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Model in Higher Vocational Colleges based on Rural Revitalization Strategy
Higher vocational colleges can support rural revitalization by integrating innovation and entrepreneurship education into their programs. The paper argues that vocational education institutions have a responsibility to train skilled entrepreneurs who can contribute to rural development, particularly as COVID-19 and poverty alleviation challenges intensify. The authors propose specific measures to align vocational entrepreneurship education with national rural revitalization goals.
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Spaces of Innovation and Women Rural Entrepreneurship in Italy
Women farmers across Italian regions drive innovation adoption through entrepreneurial orientation, creating distinct innovation spaces within both conventional and alternative agrifood networks. The research identifies multiple "worlds of female innovation" and argues that policymakers must design differentiated policy actions targeting these entrepreneurial spaces to support gender mainstreaming in EU rural development.
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A Case Study: Broadband Over Powerline for Rural Area Deployment in Sarawak
Broadband over powerline (BPL) technology transmits internet signals through existing low-voltage electricity lines, eliminating the need for new infrastructure. Researchers deployed a hybrid BPL system in rural Sarawak using custom equipment mounted on electricity poles. A pilot project at two longhouses demonstrated the technology's feasibility, advantages, and limitations as a cost-effective alternative for expanding internet connectivity to remote areas.
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Does Distance Learning Facilitate Diversity and Access to MSW Education in Rural and Underserved Areas?
Distance learning in social work education does expand access to rural and underserved areas. Analysis of 2018 graduate survey data shows that online and blended Master of Social Work programs increase workforce diversity by attracting older, working adults who might not attend traditional in-person programs, and graduates from these programs practice more frequently in rural and underserved communities.
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Modeling Renewable Energy Systems in Rural Areas with Flexible Operating Units
This paper develops a modeling method for designing renewable energy systems in rural areas using biomass resources like wood, grass, and manure. The approach uses flexible operating units that can tolerate varying input material ratios, enabling more accurate equipment models. Applied to a case study, the method optimizes the collection, transportation, and processing of local biomass through fermenters and combined heat and power plants, achieving 31% higher profit with reduced computational effort.
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Design of a self‐sustained hybrid renewable energy microgrid for rural electrification of dry lands
This paper designs a hybrid renewable energy microgrid for rural electrification in India's drought-prone Ramanathapuram district. The system combines solar photovoltaic and wind generation with electric vehicle battery storage to smooth power intermittency. Using real field data, the authors model a coordinated control system that manages battery state-of-charge to provide reliable, self-sustained power to dry land communities facing energy shortages.
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Feasibility study of hybrid energy system for off-grid electrification in rural areas
A hybrid energy system combining photovoltaic, wind, battery storage, and diesel generation can reliably electrify a remote rural village in eastern Iraq at lower cost than single-source systems. Optimization modeling shows a 6 kW solar array, 35 kW wind turbines, battery storage, and inverter can meet 30 kW daily demand at $0.117/kWh while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 tons CO2 annually.
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Perceived attributes and adoption of Indigenous Technological Knowledge on agriculture - a case study from Bhirkot municipality of Syangja District, Nepal
Farmers in Nepal's Syangja District possess moderate knowledge of indigenous agricultural technologies, with practices like farmyard manure use and scarecrows proving most adoptable. Mixed cropping, green manuring, and ash-based seed storage remain common. However, adoption faces barriers including farmer preference for commercial inputs, social constraints, slow results, and insufficient government support. The study calls for government documentation and scientific validation of indigenous methods.
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Layering of a health, nutrition and sanitation programme onto microfinance-oriented self-help groups in rural India: results from a process evaluation
A health and nutrition program integrated into rural microfinance self-help groups in Bihar, India improved maternal and child health outcomes. Community mobilizers trained on health, nutrition, and sanitation topics shared knowledge in monthly group meetings and home visits. Trained mobilizers demonstrated significantly higher knowledge levels and were more likely to conduct related activities, collect health data, and seek guidance from block-level coordinators. The study shows that non-health programs can effectively deliver health services through dedicated local staff.
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The Moral Economy of Microfinance in Rural Bangladesh: <i>Dharma</i>, Gender and Social Change
Microfinance in rural Bangladesh operates through a moral economy that reinforces existing social hierarchies rather than challenging them. Fieldworkers use moral narratives to legitimize microfinance among men, while framing women's borrowing as dharma—a moral duty to secure male guardianship. Rather than empowering borrowers to escape poverty, microfinance motivates conformity to gendered and hierarchical norms, explaining why people continue borrowing despite underwhelming outcomes.
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A Survey of 5G for Rural Broadband Connectivity
5G networks using sub-6 bands can deliver broadband connectivity to rural and remote areas where two billion people lack wireless coverage. The paper analyzes 5G applications in agriculture, e-health, and e-education for underserved populations. It identifies financial barriers mobile operators face and proposes sustainable approaches to overcome technical and economic challenges in rural 5G deployment.
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Coverage is Not Binary: Quantifying Mobile Broadband Quality in Urban, Rural, and Tribal Contexts
This paper measures mobile broadband quality across urban, rural, and tribal areas in the United States. The researchers found that LTE networks in tribal and rural regions deliver significantly worse performance than urban networks, with 9 times poorer video quality, 10 times higher video delays, and 11 times worse throughput, even when customers have identical service plans. Coverage alone does not guarantee usable service.
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Modelling of a renewable energy‐based AC interconnected rural microgrid system for the provision of uninterrupted power supply
This paper models interconnected rural microgrids powered by wind, solar, and biogas to provide reliable electricity in remote areas. The researchers simulated two microgrids connected by AC lines, with one also linked to the main grid. Using PI controllers to manage frequency and voltage, they tested system stability under load changes and variable renewable power. The microgrids maintained stable frequency and voltage after disturbances, demonstrating that this renewable-based approach can deliver uninterrupted rural power supply.
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Off-grid rural electrification using integrated renewable energy sources
This study evaluates hybrid renewable energy systems for off-grid rural electrification in Nsukka, Nigeria. Researchers designed an optimal system combining solar panels, wind turbines, and biodiesel generators to meet a school's annual electricity demand. The resulting hybrid system—1kW solar, biodiesel generator, and battery storage—produces electricity at $0.0898/kWh, significantly cheaper than grid extension at $0.126/kWh. The 25-year system proves economically viable, technically feasible, and environmentally sustainable.
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Renewable energy development in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh: Current status, technologies and CO2 mitigation analysis
Rural areas in Uttar Pradesh, India face severe energy deficiency affecting millions in poverty. This paper analyzes renewable energy technologies for rural electrification, examining current status, available options including hybrid systems, and CO2 mitigation potential. The authors assess power generation capacity against demand, calculate emissions reductions from different renewable sources, and evaluate cost savings to support India's 175 GW renewable energy target by 2022.
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The Concept for the Development of Biogas as Renewable Energy in Rural Indonesia
Indonesia's energy policy targets 5% renewable energy by 2025. Jimbaran Village, where 1,663 families raise dairy cattle, produces substantial animal waste currently dumped untreated into the environment. The authors propose converting this livestock waste into biogas through a communal system. Energy performance analysis shows the biogas system generates over 100% of required energy, with surplus capacity to replace grid electricity and produce compost for agricultural use.
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REVIEW ON RURAL ENERGY ACCESS POLICIES
Rural energy access remains neglected in developing countries, leaving nearly two billion people without electricity or clean cooking. This systematic review examines rural energy policies as solutions to energy poverty, analyzing challenges, barriers, and alternatives. The authors argue that comprehensive rural energy policy is essential for achieving universal energy access and sustainable development, with particular focus on Latin America and the health and environmental impacts on rural communities.
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Optimization of a Micro-grid with Solar PV, Wind Energy and Battery Storage Hybrid System for an agro-based off-grid rural landscape
This paper optimizes a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar PV, wind turbines, and battery storage for off-grid rural agricultural communities. Using HOMER Pro software, the authors determine the most cost-effective sizing of components to reliably power both residential loads and irrigation systems in remote areas, addressing the gap between variable renewable supply and agricultural demand.
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The Mahaboworn Model of Social Studies Learning Network Innovation to Develop of Indigenous History Learning Resources in Northern Thailand
Researchers in northern Thailand developed indigenous history learning resources by documenting the legend of Phra Nang Malika through participatory workshops with community leaders, monks, teachers, and youth. They created murals and a picture book that integrate local historical knowledge about women rulers in the Lanna Kingdom. The Mahabowon Model brought together universities, communities, temples, and schools to produce high-quality educational materials grounded in indigenous history.
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Documenting the agriculture based indigenous traditional knowledge in Manipur State of North Eastern India
Researchers surveyed eight districts across Manipur in northeastern India to document indigenous agricultural knowledge practices. They identified and validated 15 distinct traditional knowledge systems used by farmers through interviews and triangulation methods. The study argues that combining indigenous practices with modern agricultural approaches—called technology blending—can create new innovations while preserving traditional knowledge before it disappears.
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Microfinance as a Mechanism against Financial Exclusion in the European Rural Areas – an Inspiration for the Czech Republic
Microfinance institutions in Europe show better repayment performance in rural areas than urban areas, according to analysis of a European microfinance database. The Czech Republic lacks microfinance infrastructure, forcing rural entrepreneurs to rely on expensive consumer credit. The authors recommend that policymakers develop legal frameworks supporting microfinance systems to reduce financial exclusion and disparities between rural and urban regions.
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Performance Analysis of Islamic Micro Finance Institutions on Sustainable Rural Development in Indonesia
Islamic microfinance institutions in Central Java strengthen agricultural and fisheries sectors, driving sustainable rural development. Service quality alone doesn't help, but accessibility and philanthropic characteristics do boost sector strength. The study of 85 farm and fishery business actors shows that stronger agricultural sectors directly improve rural sustainability, establishing a financing model for these sectors.
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Navigating the Digital Divide: Barriers to Telehealth in Rural Areas
Telehealth can expand healthcare access in rural areas, but structural barriers prevent widespread adoption where it's needed most. The paper identifies three critical obstacles: inadequate broadband infrastructure, lack of interstate medical licensing agreements, and absence of reimbursement parity laws. Rural populations, racial minorities, elderly people, and those with low education face the steepest disparities. The authors map broadband availability and state policy adoption across the country and recommend policy changes to accelerate rural telehealth implementation.
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Tapping the full potential of the digital revolution for agricultural extension: an emerging innovation agenda
Agricultural extension in the Global South can leverage digital technologies far more effectively by adopting user-centred design and problem-oriented approaches. The paper reviews why many agro-advisory initiatives failed—typically because they pushed specific technologies rather than addressing actual user communication needs. It identifies eight emerging ICT applications for agricultural extension and emphasizes that successful digital innovation requires supportive institutions alongside technological development.
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From Digital Divide to Social Inclusion: A Tale of Mobile Platform Empowerment in Rural Areas
A mobile platform called WeCountry reduces China's rural digital divide by improving digital capability and user skills. The platform empowers villagers across structural, psychological, and resource dimensions, enabling political inclusion, social participation, and economic inclusion. Platform providers and government partnerships prove essential for bridging the divide and achieving social inclusion in rural areas.
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Community-driven social innovation and quadruple helix coordination in rural development. Case study on LEADER group Aktion Österbotten
Social innovations in rural areas emerge through collaboration between universities, industry, government, and civil society—the quadruple helix model. This study of Finland's LEADER programme shows that community-driven projects succeed when local knowledge combines with external actors' expertise. Cultural events, nature activities, and social gatherings strengthen community identity and spark entrepreneurial ventures in tourism and social services. Local community involvement proved decisive for project success.
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Rural Poverty Alleviation Strategies and Social Capital Link: The Mediation Role of Women Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation
Women entrepreneurs in rural Ghana's agribusiness sector leverage social capital from formal and informal networks to reduce poverty. The study of 333 women entrepreneurs found that women's entrepreneurial growth directly alleviates rural poverty, while social innovation and relational social capital strengthen this effect. Policymakers should expand women's entrepreneurial opportunities in agribusiness to combat rural poverty in developing countries.
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Social Innovation and Food Provisioning during Covid-19: The Case of Urban–Rural Initiatives in the Province of Naples
During Covid-19 lockdowns in Naples, Italy, self-organized urban-rural initiatives emerged to improve food access when mobility was restricted. The paper maps these initiatives and identifies Masseria Ferraioli, which distributes vegetables from mafia-confiscated land to people unable to afford food, as a leading social innovation example. Local communities and volunteer associations proved essential in addressing food provisioning challenges and reviving interest in local food systems.
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Government Interventions to Promote Agricultural Innovation
Government interventions can effectively promote agricultural innovation by reducing farmers' adoption barriers and encouraging technology uptake. The paper analyzes how subsidies, information programs, and other policy tools influence farmers' decisions to adopt new practices. Strategic government support accelerates innovation diffusion and helps farmers improve productivity while reducing environmental impact.
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Climate‐Smart Innovations and Rural Poverty in Ethiopia: Exploring Impacts and Pathways
Conservation agriculture practices reduce rural poverty in Ethiopia, particularly in rainfall-stressed areas. Minimum tillage and cereal-legume intercropping effectively lower poverty incidence and depth by mitigating climate risks. However, crop residue retention alone provides limited economic benefit. The study cautions against overstating conservation agriculture's universal benefits and recommends tailored, portfolio-based approaches rather than rigid prescriptions.
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Predicting Adoption of Innovations by Farmers: What is Different in Smallholder Agriculture?
Adoption prediction models developed for large-scale farms in wealthy countries fail to account for key differences in smallholder farming systems. Smallholder farmers face greater resource constraints, cultural influences, and subsistence priorities. They discount future benefits more heavily, rely on multiple income sources, and experience slower information diffusion. Extension services vary widely in quality and reach. These factors substantially alter how quickly and widely new agricultural technologies spread among smallholder populations.
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Microbiome Innovation in Agriculture: Development of Microbial Based Tools for Insect Pest Management
This review examines how microbes can improve sustainable pest management in agriculture. The authors explain how insect-microbe relationships affect pest nutrition, immunity, and pesticide resistance, then describe methods to manipulate microbiomes to alter pest traits. They identify microbiomes as sources for discovering new biopesticides and show how beneficial microbes enhance mass-reared insects used in sterile insect and incompatible insect control techniques.
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Effects and mechanisms of rural E‐commerce clusters on households' entrepreneurship behavior in China
Rural e-commerce clusters in China's Taobao Villages significantly boost household entrepreneurship. The study identifies four key mechanisms: local resource endowment, entrepreneurial atmosphere and culture, low entrepreneurship thresholds, and demonstrative leadership all positively influence entrepreneurial behavior. External support from government and business environments further strengthens e-commerce development. These clusters effectively stimulate entrepreneurial enthusiasm and increase entrepreneurial activity among rural households.
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Platform, Participation, and Power: How Dominant and Minority Stakeholders Shape Agricultural Innovation
In Kenya's Yatta Sub-county, smallholder farmers participating in agricultural innovation initiatives face significant power imbalances with dominant stakeholders. Policy actors prioritize commercialization and modernization, but existing social hierarchies limit farmers' access to platform resources and control over decisions. These disparities risk marginalizing vulnerable groups further and reinforcing existing power structures, undermining inclusive and sustainable farmer-driven innovation.
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Whose Narrative is it Anyway? Narratives of Social Innovation in Rural Areas – A Comparative Analysis of Community‐Led Initiatives in Scotland and Spain
Social innovation in rural communities relies on compelling narratives that mobilize people around shared challenges. This study analyzes narratives from three community-led initiatives in Scotland and Spain using a framework examining problematization, solutions, actors, and plot. The research finds that marginalisation, environmental concerns, and community activation dominate these narratives. Collective leadership and supportive policies strengthen narratives over time, improving project sustainability and reducing power imbalances.
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Does Digital Inclusive Finance Promote Coastal Rural Entrepreneurship?
Digital inclusive finance significantly promotes rural entrepreneurship in China, particularly in central inland regions. The study analyzes payment services and monetary fund indices using national panel data, finding that digital finance reduces financial exclusion and improves access to capital. However, the effect varies by region—coastal and western areas show weaker impacts than inland central regions.
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Key actors in community-driven social innovation in rural areas in the Nordic countries
Nordic rural communities facing demographic decline and service closures have developed social innovation projects. Analysis of 18 projects reveals that community members, civil society organizations, and local government drive project initiation, while civil society organizations dominate implementation. Success depends on local actors' ability to generate ideas, secure resources, and manage decisions effectively.
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Smart Villagers as Actors of Digital Social Innovation in Rural Areas
Rural inhabitants drive digital social innovation to address problems like poor mobility, demographic decline, and digital inequality. Two German villages demonstrate how local innovators—termed Smart Villagers—create solutions like community apps and car-sharing systems. These bottom-up actors work as drivers, supporters, and users, collaborating with external professionals. The research shows Smart Villagers are motivated and skilled but require outside support to sustain their initiatives.
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Revealing power dynamics and staging conflicts in agricultural system transitions: Case studies of innovation platforms in New Zealand
Innovation platforms in New Zealand's agricultural sector reveal how power dynamics shape agricultural transitions toward sustainability. When actors strategically stage conflicts of interest, they can shift power relations from one-sided to mutual dependency, enabling actors to acknowledge and solve disagreements. Platforms that fail to stage conflicts maintain antagonistic power relations and block progress. The research shows that power relations are dynamic, context-specific forces that fundamentally shape transition outcomes, not merely tools wielded by incumbent actors.
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Why we should rethink ‘adoption’ in agricultural innovation: Empirical insights from Malawi
This study challenges the standard adoption framework for measuring agricultural innovation in Malawi. Using participatory research, the authors show that farmer decision-making around conservation agriculture is dynamic, multidimensional, and contextual—not the linear process assumed by typical technology transfer models. They identify four key factors shaping adoption: social dynamics, contextual costs and benefits, risk aversion, and practice adaptation. Effective scaling requires building on existing farming systems and knowledge.
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Responsible Agricultural Mechanization Innovation for the Sustainable Development of Nepal’s Hillside Farming System
Nepal's 2014 Agricultural Mechanization Promotion Policy attempted to shift from industrial mechanization favoring flat farmland toward small-scale mechanization for hillside farming. The policy addressed smallholder production challenges, gender inequality, and farmer exclusion that prior mechanization efforts had ignored. However, the study finds it remains unclear whether the policy actually delivers sustainable agricultural development in Nepal's hills and mountains.
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The Evolutionary Game Analysis of Multiple Stakeholders in the Low-Carbon Agricultural Innovation Diffusion
This paper uses evolutionary game theory to model interactions between agricultural enterprises, government, and farmers in adopting low-carbon farming technologies. The analysis shows that government subsidies and carbon taxes effectively incentivize enterprises and farmers to participate in low-carbon agriculture. The findings provide evidence for designing targeted policies that accelerate the diffusion of sustainable agricultural innovations.
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Thinking Together Digitalization and Social Innovation in Rural Areas: An Exploration of Rural Digitalization Projects in Germany
This paper examines how digitalization and social innovation work together in rural German communities. The author develops a conceptual framework connecting these two areas, which are typically studied separately, and uses it to analyze existing rural digitalization projects in Germany. The framework helps identify the range of initiatives and provides a systematic approach for supporting smart villages that integrate both digital technologies and social innovation.
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Telehealth, Rural America, and the Digital Divide
Rural America faces significant barriers to telehealth adoption due to the digital divide. Limited broadband access, inadequate infrastructure, and connectivity gaps prevent rural patients and providers from effectively using remote healthcare technologies. The paper examines how these digital inequities undermine telehealth's potential to address rural healthcare shortages and improve access to medical services in underserved communities.
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The role of soil water monitoring tools and agricultural innovation platforms in improving food security and income of farmers in smallholder irrigation schemes in Tanzania
Soil water monitoring tools and agricultural innovation platforms significantly improve food security and household income for smallholder farmers in Tanzania's irrigation schemes. The study combined quantitative data from farmer field books and household surveys with qualitative focus group data across two schemes. Both interventions together, and the innovation platform alone, demonstrably enhanced farmers' food security and income outcomes.
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‘Workable utopias’ for social change through inclusion and empowerment? Community supported agriculture (CSA) in Wales as social innovation
Community supported agriculture (CSA) projects in Wales function as social innovations that address food system problems through bottom-up initiatives. These CSA models meet demand for ecologically sound, ethically produced food while empowering individuals and communities. The study finds CSA initiatives operate as viable small-scale social enterprises, but identifies barriers preventing their replication, policy participation, and scaling up that must be overcome for broader transformative impact.
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Understanding Adoption of Innovations and Behavior Change to Improve Agricultural Policy
Agricultural adoption research shows that farmers make adoption decisions as ongoing processes shaped by learning and diverse motivations, not just profit. The paper identifies gaps in predicting adoption and understanding how innovation characteristics influence farmer decisions. Policy opportunities include supporting women farmers in developing countries and applying marketing techniques to extension programs.
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A land of cheese: from food innovation to tourism development in rural Catalonia
Artisanal cheese production in rural Catalonia drives economic innovation and community development through food tourism. Small producers diversify income by attracting visitors to cheese-making operations, which preserves cultural heritage and local landscapes. The research shows how cheese tourism enables rural agri-food companies to survive economically while strengthening regional identity and entrepreneurship in the Catalan Pyrenees.
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Women Farmers and Agricultural Innovation: Marital Status and Normative Expectations in Rural Ethiopia
Marital status significantly shapes women farmers' capacity to innovate in rural Ethiopia. Single women own more land and control production decisions, yet face legal and customary barriers to resource access. Married women innovate successfully only within collaborative spousal relationships. Gender-based violence undermines women's achievements across both groups. Customary norms consistently constrain women's effective land use and agricultural innovation regardless of household headship.
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Gendered Intra‐Household Decision‐Making Dynamics in Agricultural Innovation Processes: Assets, Norms and Bargaining Power
This study examines how household members make decisions about adopting agricultural innovations among smallholder farmers in Uganda. Men dominate decision-making about which innovations to adopt and how to use outputs, particularly for income-generating crops. These patterns reflect and reinforce existing gender inequalities in asset ownership and are shaped by social norms and control over production resources.
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Rural entrepreneurship: towards collaborative participative models for economic sustainability
Rural entrepreneurship through village-owned enterprises (BUMDes) in West Java, Indonesia creates local economic activity and reduces poverty. The study examined three BUMDes using qualitative case research and identified three sustainability dimensions: economic, social, and market sustainability. The authors propose a collaborative stakeholder model that optimizes BUMDes performance by strengthening coordination among local actors to achieve rural entrepreneurship sustainability.
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Organisational Innovation Systems for multi-actor co-innovation in European agriculture, forestry and related sectors: Diversity and common attributes
This study examined 200 multi-actor co-innovation partnerships across European agriculture and forestry sectors. Partnerships succeeded when they brought together actors with complementary knowledge, involved stakeholders throughout the innovation process, and fostered effective knowledge sharing. Most partnerships co-designed objectives, prioritized communication beyond their boundaries, and received external funding. The research reveals that current policy interpretations of agricultural knowledge systems may not adequately reflect regional differences in how European co-innovation partnerships actually operate.
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Making room for manoeuvre: addressing gender norms to strengthen the enabling environment for agricultural innovation
Gender norms significantly shape whether agricultural innovation succeeds or fails at the local level, yet development research has largely overlooked them. Drawing on the GENNOVATE research initiative, the authors show that gender norms interact with individual agency to determine agricultural outcomes. Effective agricultural development requires explicitly addressing these norms and challenging underlying inequality structures, not just focusing on policies, markets, and institutions.
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Climate, insurance and innovation: the case of drought and innovations in drought-tolerant traits in US agriculture
Crop insurance in US agriculture reduces innovation in drought-tolerant traits by approximately 23 percent, despite farmers increasing innovation activities in response to climate variation. Subsidized insurance weakens this adaptive response, potentially undermining long-term agricultural resilience to climate change by discouraging the development of climate-adapted crops.
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Entrepreneurship and Innovation Towards Rural Development Evidence from a Peripheral Area in Portugal
Rural entrepreneurship and innovation in Portugal's Montemuro region demonstrate how endogenous, community-driven initiatives reverse depopulation and economic decline. Over thirty years, local entrepreneurs developed innovative projects that increased population, revitalized socio-economic activity, and created jobs. The study shows that leveraging internal resources and community energy proves essential for rural development in peripheral, mountainous areas facing crisis.
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A gender- and class-sensitive explanatory model for rural women entrepreneurship in Turkey
Rural women's agricultural cooperatives in Turkey have declined despite government promotion as vehicles for economic integration. This paper develops a gender- and class-sensitive framework combining macro, meso, and micro-level factors to explain why. Using intersectional theory, it identifies how policymaking, implementation, and everyday experiences create disadvantages for rural women entrepreneurs. The research calls for holistic policy reform at state and cooperative levels to address structural inequalities.
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The Role of Agency in the Emergence and Development of Social Innovations in Rural Areas. Analysis of Two Cases of Social Farming in Italy and The Netherlands
This paper examines how agency—the ability to turn challenges into opportunities—drives social innovation in rural agriculture. Researchers studied two social farming cases in Italy and the Netherlands, developing a framework to evaluate agency dimensions using both quantitative and qualitative data. The findings show that a strong innovation idea, agency resilience, and the agency's embeddedness in local context are critical for social innovations to emerge and develop in rural areas.
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Agricultural Innovation and the Protection of Traditional Rice Varieties: Kerala a Case Study
India's plant variety protection and geographical indication laws aim to promote agricultural innovation and benefit farmers growing traditional crops. A survey of 401 rice farmers in Kerala found most were unaware of these laws or misunderstood them. Farmers rarely registered their varieties or claimed benefits when their crops were used commercially. The study concludes that awareness campaigns are essential before these policies can effectively support agricultural innovation.
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Innovation and firm growth in agricultural inputs industry: empirical evidence from India
R&D investments in India's agricultural input firms—seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, and machinery—drive firm growth, with stronger effects for younger companies. Export-oriented firms and those importing raw materials show different growth patterns. The study of 1,320 firm-year observations from 2001–2019 demonstrates that innovation benefits compound over time and help firms capture industry externalities, suggesting governments should subsidize R&D to boost agricultural input sector competitiveness.
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Understanding social innovation processes in rural areas: empirical evidence from social enterprises in Germany
German rural communities increasingly rely on social enterprises called community cooperatives to address infrastructure loss and provide public goods. This study examines how these cooperatives drive social innovation through formalized collective action. The research finds that macro-level policy financing matters, but local public actors rarely initiate innovation alone—they need private incentives. Actor networks and resource patterns differ between establishing new infrastructure versus maintaining existing services, yet all successful innovations require legitimizing formal processes.
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Evaluating Innovation in European Rural Development Programmes: Application of the Social Return on Investment (SROI) Method
This paper evaluates social innovation outcomes from England's Rural Development Programme using Social Return on Investment methodology. Analysis of 196 beneficiaries found that innovation support generated £170 million in benefits through individual behavior changes, operational improvements, relational shifts, and institutional reforms. The authors argue that traditional performance measures fail to capture social innovation's full value and call for comprehensive evaluation approaches that better connect innovation outcomes to rural policy decisions.
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The influence of multi-stakeholder platforms on farmers' innovation and rural development in emerging economies: a systematic literature review
Multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) in emerging economies create interfaces connecting diverse actors to support farmer innovation. This systematic review of 44 studies finds that MSPs achieve different innovation outcomes depending on their organizational goals and activities. The research identifies key gaps: disciplinary fragmentation, linear thinking, insufficient attention to informal institutions, and overlooked power dynamics that affect how MSPs influence farmer innovation.
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Entrepreneurship in rural regions: the role of industry experience and home advantage for newly founded firms
Industry experience improves survival rates for new firms across all regions, but home advantage—where local entrepreneurs outperform outsiders—only benefits firms in rural areas. Native rural entrepreneurs create substantially more jobs than non-local founders, suggesting that local knowledge and networks matter most in rural contexts.
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Teachers Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural Schools with 1:1 Computing
A study of rural Florida teachers implementing 1:1 computing found that perceived ease of use and usefulness predicted adoption. Teachers integrated the technology primarily to build digital literacy, enable collaboration, and assess students. Their motivation centered on boosting engagement, personalizing learning, and improving productivity.
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Testing a Framework to Co-Construct Social Innovation Actions: Insights from Seven Marginalized Rural Areas
This study tested a governance framework for developing social innovation actions across seven marginalized rural areas in Europe and the Mediterranean. The researchers found that early-stage support for social innovators and local actors is critical for addressing rural challenges. Defining social innovations requires ongoing engagement and refinement. Feasibility assessments helped identify key success factors: managing social networks, ensuring financial sustainability, and building local knowledge. The framework's lessons apply broadly across rural sectors.
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The Politics of Good Enough: Rural Broadband and Policy Failure in the United States
U.S. rural broadband policy has failed to close the digital divide despite universal service mandates and billions in deployment funding. The author identifies three policy failures—meaning, mapping, and money—rooted in a "politics of good enough" that accepts inadequate standards. Over 42 million Americans, predominantly rural residents, lack high-speed internet access, a crisis intensified by COVID-19's shift to remote work and learning.
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Using nature-based water storage for smallholder irrigated agriculture in African drylands: Lessons from frugal innovation pilots in Mozambique and Zimbabwe
Smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe and Mozambique can access water for irrigation from shallow sand river aquifers using low-cost well-points and solar pumps, costing under $1,000 per 0.2 hectares. Pilots show water availability is not the constraint; instead, success depends on farmers' prior experience, market access, and willingness to adopt individual commercial farming rather than traditional communal irrigation schemes. The approach scales gradually as farmers expand operations.
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Exploring social innovation through co-creation in rural India using action research
Co-creation workshops in rural Indian villages successfully generated socially innovative solutions to development challenges. The study used action research and co-design techniques to involve citizens in identifying innovative ideas. The authors developed a framework showing how facilitated co-creation effectively produces social innovation, offering practitioners a replicable method for designing more impactful public policies in disadvantaged rural communities.
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Social Innovation in Rural Areas? The Case of Andalusian Olive Oil Co-Operatives
Andalusian olive oil cooperatives function as social innovations that address rural development challenges by helping farmers compete internationally while preserving rural livelihoods. The study finds that these cooperatives are slowly adopting organizational and management innovations with broader social benefits. Despite historical market competition difficulties, cooperatives maintain rural populations and improve quality of life, warranting government support as public goods.
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Modelling and optimization of an off-grid hybrid renewable energy system for electrification in a rural areas
This paper designs and optimizes an off-grid hybrid renewable energy system to electrify three villages in Karnataka, India. Using genetic algorithms and HOMER Pro software, the authors compared four hybrid configurations combining biogas, biomass, solar, wind, and fuel cells with battery storage. The optimal system achieved zero unmet load at $0.163 per kilowatt-hour, reducing total system costs and emissions while outperforming conventional optimization methods.
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Renewable energy for sustainable rural development: Synergies and mismatches
Renewable energy development in rural areas is promoted as an economic opportunity, but this potential remains largely unfulfilled because the link between energy transition and rural development has been assumed rather than actively cultivated. This review examines experiences in Denmark and Scotland, revealing policy mismatches that prevent renewable energy from effectively supporting rural development. The authors argue that rural communities and their needs must be central to energy transition planning for genuine synergies to emerge.
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Economic feasibility analysis and optimization of hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in Peru
Hybrid solar-wind-diesel systems provide the most economically viable option for electrifying remote Peruvian villages without grid access. Analysis of three communities in different climatic zones shows hybrid configurations achieve the lowest net present costs while generating 94-97% renewable energy and reducing CO2 emissions to 2.7-9.9% of diesel-only systems. These optimal designs serve as templates for similar rural electrification projects.
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Feasibility Study and Comparative Analysis of Hybrid Renewable Power System for off-Grid Rural Electrification in a Typical Remote Village Located in Nigeria
This study designs and evaluates a hybrid renewable energy system combining hydro, solar, wind, diesel, and battery storage to electrify a remote village in Nigeria without grid connection. Using simulation modeling, researchers compared multiple energy combinations and found that a hybrid hydro/PV/wind/diesel/battery system delivered the lowest cost and highest environmental performance, achieving 77% renewable energy with minimal emissions while meeting electricity demand affordably.
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COVID-19, Distance Learning and Educational Inequality in Rural Ethiopia
Ethiopia implemented distance learning through radio, TV, and online programs after COVID-19 school closures in March 2020. Rural students face significant disadvantages compared to urban peers due to limited access to technology and infrastructure. The one-size-fits-all approach to distance education deepens existing educational inequalities rather than bridging them.
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Economic Viability and Socio-Environmental Impacts of Solar Home Systems for Off-Grid Rural Electrification in Bangladesh
Solar home systems in rural Bangladesh prove economically viable and environmentally beneficial. Systems above 30 watts capacity generate positive returns with payback periods and internal rates of return between 16% and 131%. These systems work best for micro-enterprises and low-income households, not just lighting use. Over 20 years, they avoid 6–7 tonnes of CO2 emissions while delivering lighting, health, information, and economic benefits.
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Mobile phones, household welfare, and women’s empowerment: evidence from rural off-grid regions of Bangladesh
Mobile phone access in rural off-grid Bangladesh increases household income by 3–10 percent through small businesses and remittances, improves women's empowerment, and helps households manage consumption during economic shocks. The study recommends policies supporting mobile technology investment, affordable tariffs, and mobile financial services to reduce digital divides and enable balanced regional development.
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Role of Islamic microfinance in women’s empowerment: evidence from Rural Development Scheme of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited
Islamic microfinance services provided by Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited significantly empowered rural women in Bangladesh. The services shifted families from agriculture to retail businesses, increased household income and savings, improved living standards, and enhanced economic and socio-cultural empowerment. However, increased familial authority showed no significant effect on overall empowerment, suggesting potential tensions between different dimensions of women's empowerment.
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Design and Modeling of a Standalone DC-Microgrid for Off-Grid Schools in Rural Areas of Developing Countries
This paper designs a DC microgrid system to provide electricity to off-grid rural schools in Ethiopia, where 76% of primary schools lack power. The researchers modeled the system using different appliance efficiency scenarios and found that DC microgrids effectively meet school electricity demands. High-efficiency appliances reduce system costs by 51%, making this solution applicable across sub-Saharan Africa to improve educational access and quality.
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Feasibility and Sensitivity Analysis of a Hybrid Photovoltaic/Wind/Biogas/Fuel-Cell/Diesel/Battery System for Off-Grid Rural Electrification Using homer
Researchers designed and analyzed a hybrid renewable energy system combining photovoltaic, wind, biogas, fuel cells, diesel, and battery storage for remote rural electrification. Using HOMER software, they tested seven scenarios and found that photovoltaic, wind, and biogas together delivered the lowest energy cost at $0.207/kWh, dropping to $0.12/kWh with policy support and carbon cost accounting. Sensitivity analysis showed system costs most respond to changes in energy demand and least to wind speed variations.
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Rurality and access to higher education
Rural populations face significant barriers to accessing higher education compared to urban populations, both globally and within individual countries. These disparities reflect historical inequalities rooted in colonialism and neo-imperialism, which continue to marginalize rural knowledge systems. The paper examines how rurality mediates educational access and employment opportunities across diverse geographic contexts, revealing that rural-urban inequalities persist in both the global South and North, though often more starkly in the South.
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Assessment the role of renewable energy in socio-economic development of rural and Arctic regions
Renewable energy can drive socio-economic development in rural and Arctic regions by replacing depleting traditional energy sources. The study examines Russian and international renewable energy policies, assesses market growth potential in Russia's Northwestern region, and identifies applications for energy-deficient peripheral areas lacking electrical grids. Effective energy policy must balance environmental and economic goals while prioritizing renewable deployment in remote regions.
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100% Renewable Energy Grid for Rural Electrification of Remote Areas: A Case Study in Jordan
A hybrid renewable energy system combining wind, solar, and hydropower with battery storage can reliably electrify the rural Jordanian city of Al-Tafilah while meeting 100% of demand. The optimized system achieves 99% renewable energy fraction, reduces electricity costs to match current tariffs, and avoids nearly 47,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. This decentralized approach addresses rural electrification gaps in developing countries and is replicable across Jordan's other rural areas.
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Applying Lithium-Ion Second Life Batteries for Off-Grid Solar Powered System—A Socio-Economic Case Study for Rural Development
A hybrid solar and second-life lithium-ion battery system successfully powered an island community in Lake Victoria, Tanzania, supplying 42 kWh daily to hospitals, schools, and fishing operations. The system paid for itself within four years and outperformed diesel generators economically and environmentally. This demonstrates how repurposed electric vehicle batteries can electrify remote African regions while addressing rural development needs.
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The impact of microfinance on Indonesian rural households' welfare
Microfinance significantly improves welfare for rural Indonesian households, with loan purpose, income, expenditure, interest rates, loan amount, education, and marital status all influencing borrowers' welfare gains. The study surveyed rural households in Yogyakarta Province and used logistic modeling to measure microcredit impacts, providing evidence to guide Indonesian policymakers in strengthening microfinance programs.
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Microfinance Facility for Rural Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan: An Empirical Analysis
Microfinance programs targeting rural women entrepreneurs in Pakistan increase borrowers' income and consumption, creating financial stability and community-wide benefits. However, the programs fail to reach the extremely poor, limiting their effectiveness as a poverty reduction tool. The study uses difference-in-difference methods to isolate microfinance effects on female borrowers' welfare.
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Renewable Energy Options for a Rural Village in North Korea
This study designs renewable energy systems for a rural village in North Korea, where electrification rates are critically low. Using optimization modeling, the researchers compared off-grid hybrid systems (combining solar, wind, batteries, and diesel) against grid extension. The hybrid system proved most cost-effective, with grid extension becoming competitive only beyond 9.7–20.6 kilometers depending on discount rates. The findings support hybrid renewable systems as a practical solution to expand rural electrification in remote North Korean areas.
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Integration of Renewable Energy Project: A Technical Proposal for Rural Electrification to Local Communities
Pakistan faces severe electricity shortages of 8-12 hours daily. This paper evaluates wind energy potential along Pakistan's 1600 km coastal belt in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces to power rural communities. Using real-time wind data and optimal probability functions, the authors identify the best locations for wind turbines and propose a technical framework for integrating wind farms into rural electrification projects, aiming to attract energy sector investment.
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Evaluating renewable energy choices among rural communities in Nigeria. An insight for energy policy
Rural communities in North-Central Nigeria show strong demand for renewable energy, particularly solar photovoltaic systems. Awareness, income, and availability significantly influence adoption rates. High installation and maintenance costs, combined with reliability concerns and weak policy incentives, remain major barriers. The study recommends government funding partnerships and subsidies to reduce costs, increase awareness, and enable private firms to supply affordable renewable energy to rural households currently dependent on firewood.
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Using developmental evaluation to enhance continuous reflection, learning and adaptation of an innovation platform in Australian Indigenous primary healthcare
This paper describes how developmental evaluation enhanced an innovation platform designed to improve primary healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. The platform brought together diverse stakeholders to address complex health challenges through collaborative decision-making and quality improvement. Developmental evaluation provided real-time feedback that guided continuous adaptation of the platform's formation and functioning, proving well-suited to evaluating complex multi-stakeholder networks.
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Electricity Access, Community Healthcare Service Delivery, and Rural Development Nexus: Analysis of 3 Solar Electrified CHPS in Off-Grid Communities in Ghana
Solar photovoltaic systems installed at three community health facilities in Ghana generate sufficient electricity for healthcare services and excess capacity for income-generating activities like phone charging and cold storage. Electrified health facilities improved service delivery and saved residents 15–43 hours monthly, with greater benefits for women and children. The study demonstrates that rural electricity access through solar systems strengthens healthcare delivery and creates time for productive work, driving rural development.
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Two years’ experience of implementing a comprehensive telemedical stroke network comprising in mainly rural region: the Transregional Network for Stroke Intervention with Telemedicine (TRANSIT-Stroke)
A telemedicine stroke network in rural Bavaria, Germany, improved quality of care across hospitals of different specialization levels over two years. Level-I hospitals without specialized stroke units showed significant improvement in diagnostic processes and organization, while level-II and level-III hospitals maintained high quality standards throughout. By the end of the study period, ten of thirteen quality indicators met predefined targets, demonstrating that comprehensive telemedical networks enhance stroke care delivery in rural regions.
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THEORETICAL IMPLICATIONS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY USING IMPROVED COOKING STOVES FOR RURAL HOUSEHOLDS
Improved cooking stoves using solar energy and biomass reduce rural households' vulnerability to climate change in developing countries. The study shows that efficient renewable energy use decreases dependence on traditional biomass, improves health outcomes, and strengthens socio-economic status and education. Environmental benefits include reduced emissions and better adaptive capacity for agricultural communities facing climate risks.
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Renewable Energy Utilization in Rural Residential Housing: Economic and Environmental Facets
Rural Polish homeowners can dramatically reduce energy costs and carbon emissions by retrofitting houses with renewable energy systems like solar panels and heat pumps. The study compares construction costs and operating expenses across scenarios, finding that energy-neutral homes cost more upfront but cut energy bills substantially and reduce annual CO2 emissions by roughly 90 percent compared to coal-heated homes. Retrofitting existing rural houses offers greater environmental and economic benefits than new construction alone.
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Use of Renewable Energy Sources for Energy Generation in Rural Areas in the Island of Crete, Greece
Crete's rural areas harness diverse renewable energy sources—solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and geothermal—which currently supply 30% of installed capacity and generate over 20% of annual electricity. The island possesses sufficient renewable resources to meet nearly all energy needs, enabling transition to a low-carbon economy. Future grid interconnection and emerging technologies will expand renewable applications, creating local jobs while reducing fossil fuel imports and meeting EU climate targets.
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Beyond Access and Inclusion: Dalit Experiences of Participation in Higher Education in Rural Punjab
This study examines how Dalit students experience higher education in rural Punjab, India, beyond mere access. Through interviews and focus groups at a government institute, researchers found that despite enrollment policies, Dalit students face persistent social exclusion, financial hardship, and discrimination in classrooms and peer interactions. Caste, class, and gender intersect to undermine genuine inclusion, making affirmative action policies ineffective without addressing daily lived experiences.
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Development and Assessment of Renewable Energy–Integrated Multigeneration System for Rural Communities in Nigeria: Case Study
Researchers designed a renewable energy system for a rural Nigerian community using biogas from agricultural waste to generate electricity and thermal outputs. The system combines three power cycles to produce 970 kW of electricity, meeting the 944 kW demand of Emure-Ekiti community, while also providing cooling, hot water, and greenhouse heating. The system achieved 62.72% energy efficiency and 23.49% exergy efficiency, addressing Nigeria's rural electrification gap where 40% lack electricity access.
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Performance Analysis of Renewable Energy Resources in Rural Areas: A Case Study of Solar Energy
This paper analyzes solar photovoltaic and concentrated solar power systems in rural Tanzania, comparing their costs and energy storage capabilities. The authors examine how ambient temperature affects solar module performance and model how cell surface temperature and module orientation influence power generation. They also evaluate solar axis tracking as a method to increase output. The study focuses on Tanzania's coastal region as a case study for harnessing solar irradiance in rural areas.
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Implications of China's innovation policy shift: Does “indigenous” mean closed?
China's indigenous innovation policy encourages firms to develop new technologies domestically, but companies adopt different strategies. Firms using closed innovation collaborate locally through personal networks and learning-by-doing, while open innovation firms partner across distances using science and technology-based learning. This reveals that indigenous innovation in China is not uniform—some firms remain geographically isolated while others engage globally.
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Analysis of the causal effects of imports and foreign direct investments on indigenous innovation in developing countries
Imports and foreign direct investment drive domestic research and development spending in developing countries, with combined effects on innovation output and economic growth. The study of 20 middle-income countries from 1994 to 2018 shows that foreign technologies enhance indigenous innovation when countries absorb and apply them to produce novel products. Policy should encourage technology absorption to strengthen the innovation pipeline from R&D to commercial output.
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Entwining indigenous knowledge and science knowledge for sustainable agricultural extension: exploring the strengths and challenges
Indigenous knowledge offers significant potential for sustainable agriculture but remains largely excluded from extension programs. This study identifies barriers to integration including perceived value gaps, knowledge protocols, cultural constraints, and intellectual property concerns. However, combining indigenous knowledge with science strengthens sustainable practices. The findings suggest extension policies should better recognize and protect indigenous knowledge while addressing accessibility and property rights issues.
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Labour Market Participation of Women in Rural Bangladesh: The Role of Microfinance
Microfinance in rural Bangladesh increases labour market participation differently for men and women. While microfinance access helps smooth seasonal employment through self-employment activities, men's off-farm participation rises significantly more than women's, despite credit programmes targeting women. The benefits of microfinance for labour supply prove asymmetrical by gender and occupation type.
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Multi-Objective Optimization of Complex Measures on Supplying Energy to Rural Residential Buildings in Uzbekistan Using Renewable Energy Sources
This study optimizes rural residential building designs in Uzbekistan to minimize energy costs and carbon emissions using renewable sources. Researchers modeled four-room houses with varying insulation levels and tested three scenarios: minimizing reconstruction costs, reducing primary energy consumption to zero, and achieving low-carbon communities. Results show optimal insulation thicknesses for roofs, floors, and walls, plus solar collector sizing across regions, though renewable solutions remain economically unviable at current electricity prices.
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Design and Simulation of Off-Grid Solar/Mini-Hydro Renewable Energy System using Homer Pro Software: Case of Muyuka Rural Community
Rural electrification in Cameroon faces barriers including dispersed populations, terrain challenges, and low revenues that deter investment. This paper designs a hybrid solar and mini-hydropower system for Muyuka using HOMER Pro simulation software. The off-grid renewable energy approach replaces costly, polluting diesel generators and offers a decentralized solution to provide reliable electricity to remote communities, potentially reducing rural-to-urban migration.
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Rural Electrification through an Optimized Off-grid Microgrid based on Biogas, Solar, and Hydro Power
This paper analyzes an off-grid microgrid system combining biogas from cattle manure, solar, and hydropower to electrify rural areas in Pakistan. The researchers conducted a techno-economic analysis of the proposed system in Mandi Yazman to identify the optimal resource combination that minimizes energy costs and net present costs, leveraging agricultural and livestock resources available in rural farming communities.
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Informing Canadian Innovation Policy Through a Decolonizing Lens on Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Indigenous entrepreneurship remains invisible in Canadian policy despite its economic potential. This paper examines how government frames Indigenous entrepreneurial activities and argues such framing risks exploiting Indigenous lands and knowledge. Drawing on interviews with 13 Manitoba Indigenous entrepreneurs and an ecosystem approach, the author identifies three core concerns: land and community relationships, education relevance, and cultural survival. The paper calls for systemic decolonizing change in how Canadian government policy and higher education institutions approach Indigenous innovation.
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From Social Entrepreneurship to Social Innovation: The Role of Social Capital. Study Case in Colombian Rural Communities Victim of Armed Conflict
Social enterprises in rural Colombian communities affected by armed conflict generate social capital by integrating into social networks. This social capital enables interactive learning, institutional change, and social innovation. The study demonstrates that social entrepreneurs who build strong network connections develop enhanced capabilities that transform their enterprises into successful social innovations addressing community needs.
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Social Innovation in Rural Regions: Older Adults and Creative Community Development*
Disadvantaged rural regions face demographic decline and economic challenges while being pressured to innovate. This paper examines how social innovations actually emerge in these regions and challenges the assumption that older adults cannot be innovators. Drawing on a research project in rural municipalities, the authors show that older adults actively drive and participate in socially innovative community development projects, with their contributions shaped by personal motivations, community interests, and available resources.
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Local Development Initiatives as Promoters of Social Innovation: Evidence from Two European Rural Regions
Local Action Groups and Local Development Associations in rural Austria and Portugal actively promote social innovation to address regional problems. These organizations drive rural development through community-led initiatives, though they face significant operational challenges. The study fills a gap in rural innovation research by demonstrating how local institutions catalyze social change in peripheral areas.
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A Canadian Rural Living Lab Hospital: Implementing solutions for improving rural emergency care
A rural hospital in Quebec established a living lab to develop and test solutions for improving emergency care in remote areas. The initiative brings together stakeholders to implement and evaluate innovations including simulation training, telemedicine, point-of-care ultrasound, and drone delivery. The authors expect these interventions to save lives, improve working conditions for rural healthcare staff, and serve as a model for other regions.
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Empowering rural women crafters in KwaZulu-Natal: The dynamics of intellectual property, traditional cultural expressions, innovation and social entrepreneurship
Rural women bead-makers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa use collaborative innovation and social entrepreneurship to achieve significant economic empowerment. Although the formal intellectual property system offers limited accessible protections for their traditional cultural expressions, inclusive innovation practices and social entrepreneurship models effectively empower these craftspeople and support their livelihoods.
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Towards a path-transformative heuristic in inclusive innovation initiatives: an exploratory case in rural communities in Colombia
This study develops a framework to understand how inclusive innovation initiatives transform rural communities. Using a case study in Cumbal, Colombia, the authors identify institutional entrepreneurs as key change agents who drive innovation supported by national entities. The framework successfully explains the transformation process in local communities by combining insights from inclusive innovation, institutional entrepreneurship, and path dependence theories.
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Entrepreneurial Strategies to Address Rural-Urban Climate-Induced Vulnerabilities: Assessing Adaptation and Innovation Measures in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Climate change drives rural-urban migration to Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the city pursues technology-based innovation for adaptation. The study finds that effective innovations prioritize community ownership over technological sophistication. Misaligned definitions of risk between recipients, corporations, and government undermine projects. Even technical climate measures carry political dimensions. The authors recommend recognizing innovation lifecycles and broadening how cities define innovation to enable more inclusive, effective adaptation.
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How Social Innovation can be Supported in Structurally Weak Rural Regions
Social innovation initiatives flourish across rural Europe, driven by residents and entrepreneurs addressing societal challenges. This paper analyzes conditions enabling rural social innovation to emerge and identifies critical factors supporting or hindering its success. The research reconstructs actor constellations and innovation phases, pinpoints obstacles that derail initiatives, and determines which support strategies help social innovation develop in structurally weak rural regions.
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Municipal Social Innovation in a Rural Region
Swedish rural municipalities in Norrbotten recognize social innovation as essential for improving public services, but adoption varies significantly. Resource constraints from declining populations, aging demographics, shrinking tax bases, and labor shortages limit their capacity to implement social innovation despite national and international promotion efforts.
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To recover faster from Covid-19, open up: Managerial implications from an open innovation perspective
The paper argues that open innovation approaches are essential for economic recovery from Covid-19. It examines how organizations have responded to the pandemic and extracts lessons about managing innovation during recovery. The author contends that opening innovation processes—collaborating across organizational boundaries—enables faster adaptation and problem-solving in crisis situations.
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The role of absorptive capacity and innovation strategy in the design of industry 4.0 business Models - A comparison between SMEs and large enterprises
This study examines how German industrial companies redesign their business models in response to Industry 4.0 by analyzing absorptive capacity and innovation strategy. Using data from 221 enterprises, the research shows that companies' ability to acquire, assimilate, transform, and exploit external knowledge enables both exploratory and exploitative innovation strategies, which then drive either efficiency-centered or novelty-centered business model changes. SMEs and large enterprises exhibit distinct patterns in this process.
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Factors influencing autonomous vehicle adoption: an application of the technology acceptance model and innovation diffusion theory
This study examined what factors influence people's willingness to adopt autonomous vehicles using technology acceptance and innovation diffusion theories. Survey data from 274 respondents showed that perceived usefulness and ease of use drive adoption intentions. The research also found that innovation characteristics—including relative advantage, compatibility, image, demonstrability, visibility, and trialability—shape how useful and easy people perceive AVs to be, offering insights for promoting autonomous vehicle adoption.
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The Culture for Open Innovation Dynamics
This paper develops a concept model explaining how organizational culture drives open innovation dynamics. The authors identify three entrepreneurship dimensions—novice entrepreneurship, employee intrapreneurship, and organizational entrepreneurship—whose balance determines the type of culture that emerges. The model shows culture can control open innovation complexity and motivate innovation activity. The framework was validated through analysis of 23 related studies.
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Green Knowledge Sharing, Stakeholder Pressure, Absorptive Capacity, and Green Innovation: Evidence from Chinese Manufacturing Firms
Chinese manufacturing firms can improve green innovation by sharing environmental knowledge within supply chains, but only if they develop strong absorptive capacity—the ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new information. Stakeholder pressure amplifies this effect. The study of 247 firms shows that absorptive capacity fully mediates the relationship between knowledge sharing and green innovation outcomes.
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Transformative innovation and translocal diffusion
Transformative innovations emerge from locally rooted sustainability initiatives that challenge unsustainable systems by developing alternatives. These innovations grow through replication, partnership, and embedding, spreading across regions via translocal networks that share ideas and practices. The paper synthesizes European research to show how connecting local initiatives across contexts creates potential for sustainability transitions, though governance support remains necessary.
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Artificial intelligence in health care: laying the Foundation for Responsible, sustainable, and inclusive innovation in low- and middle-income countries
AI technology offers potential to reduce health inequalities in low- and middle-income countries, but most applications are developed in wealthy nations without local evaluation. The authors propose five building blocks to guide responsible, sustainable, and inclusive AI healthcare development and implementation in resource-limited settings, addressing both benefits and risks.
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The Open Innovation in Science research field: a collaborative conceptualisation approach
This paper develops a unified framework for understanding open and collaborative practices in scientific research. Forty-seven scholars from multiple disciplines collaborated to integrate fragmented knowledge about open innovation and open science, identifying factors at individual, team, organizational, field, and societal levels that shape these practices. The framework connects research antecedents, contingencies, and consequences across the entire process of generating, disseminating, and translating scientific insights into innovation.
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Open Innovation 4.0 as an Enhancer of Sustainable Innovation Ecosystems
Open innovation frameworks strengthen sustainable innovation ecosystems by connecting universities, industry, government, and communities through knowledge flows and collaborative networks. The study demonstrates that public policy supporting open innovation environments—including legal frameworks, innovation procurement, and shared R&D risk—drives regional digitalization, startup emergence, and digital transition. Universities play a central role in promoting smart, responsible innovation cycles that benefit entire ecosystems.
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Innovating Pedagogy 2020: Open University Innovation Report 8
This report identifies ten pedagogical innovations with potential to transform educational practice. Researchers from the Open University in the UK and University of Cape Town in South Africa reviewed published studies and expert input to select innovations in teaching, learning, and assessment designed for interactive learning environments. The report aims to guide teachers and policymakers in adopting productive educational innovations.
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Hand in Glove: Open Innovation and the Dynamic Capabilities Framework
Open innovation represents a critical strategic function that companies must integrate into broader management frameworks. This paper connects open innovation to dynamic capabilities theory, showing how firms build and leverage capabilities to manage external knowledge and partnerships. A case study of China's Haier demonstrates how treating open innovation as a dynamic capability strengthens enterprise strategy and competitive advantage.
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3D printed Mg-NiTi interpenetrating-phase composites with high strength, damping capacity, and energy absorption efficiency
Researchers developed a magnesium-nickel-titanium composite using 3D printing and melt infiltration that overcomes the typical trade-off between strength and damping in metals. The material combines high strength across temperature ranges, excellent damage tolerance, strong damping capacity, and efficient energy absorption. Heat treatment can recover both shape and strength after deformation, opening new possibilities for structural and biomedical applications.
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The past, present and future of open innovation
This literature review analyzes 1,772 open innovation papers published between 2003 and 2018 to identify major research themes and their evolution. The authors identify nine key thematic areas: context-dependency, collaborative frameworks, organizational dimensions, performance outcomes, external search strategies, SME applications, pharmaceutical industry focus, intellectual property considerations, and technology. The review provides recommendations for future research directions across these established areas.
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A Tool to Analyze, Ideate and Develop Circular Innovation Ecosystems
This paper presents the Circularity Deck, a card-based tool designed to help organizations analyze and develop circular economy innovations across their ecosystems. The tool organizes circular economy principles by strategy type (narrowing, slowing, closing, regenerating material flows) and innovation scope (product, business model, ecosystem level). Tested with 136 participants across 62 organizations in 12 workshops, the Circularity Deck enables groups of loosely coupled organizations to collectively redesign their interactions and resource flows.
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Innovation in the Mining Industry: Technological Trends and a Case Study of the Challenges of Disruptive Innovation
Innovation drives efficiency and cost reduction in mining while addressing environmental and social concerns. The paper reviews how mining companies pursue innovation through various mechanisms and actors, examines digital transformation trends, and analyzes a case study showing the technical and economic challenges of implementing disruptive innovations in mining operations.
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Technological Capabilities, Open Innovation, and Eco-Innovation: Dynamic Capabilities to Increase Corporate Performance of SMEs
Small and medium enterprises in Mexico improve corporate performance through technological capabilities that enable open innovation and eco-innovation practices. The study of 684 SMEs shows technological capability does not directly boost performance, but works through open innovation or eco-innovation. Both open and eco-innovation independently strengthen corporate performance, demonstrating that encouraging these practices in SMEs yields measurable business benefits.
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The Role of Open Innovation and Value Co-creation in the Challenging Transition from Industry 4.0 to Society 5.0: Toward a Theoretical Framework
This paper develops a theoretical framework connecting Industry 4.0 technologies—advanced manufacturing, augmented reality, cloud computing, and big data—to Society 5.0, a vision prioritizing social and global well-being. The authors argue that open innovation and value co-creation are critical mechanisms enabling this transition. The framework helps managers design strategies to capitalize on opportunities and address challenges as firms navigate from technology-focused industrial advancement toward society-wide benefits.
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Knowledge transfer for frugal innovation: where do entrepreneurial universities stand?
Entrepreneurial universities drive frugal innovation in emerging economies through strategic knowledge transfer and university-industry partnerships. The study of Brazil's University of Campinas reveals that universities foster frugal innovations by leveraging internal capabilities, connecting innovations to markets, and embedding themselves within broader innovation ecosystems and institutional frameworks. Universities can advance sustainable development and meet societal challenges by adopting inclusive, frugal innovation practices.
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Environmental Innovation, Open Innovation Dynamics and Competitive Advantage of Medium and Large-Sized Firms
Greek medium and large firms implement environmental innovation at moderate levels, with ISO 14001 certification and toxic substance reduction as most common practices. Environmental process and product innovation both positively impact competitive advantage. The study surveyed 225 firms and found increasing adoption of environmental management systems, while open innovation dynamics contribute to environmental innovation outcomes.
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Valuing Value in Innovation Ecosystems: How Cross-Sector Actors Overcome Tensions in Collaborative Sustainable Business Model Development
Cross-sector innovation ecosystems pursuing sustainability goals face three key tensions: balancing value creation against value capture, collective versus individual benefits, and gains versus losses for different actors. This study of four collaborative projects identifies two patterns—collective orchestration and continuous search—that ecosystems use to navigate these tensions and develop sustainable business models that satisfy all partners.
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The influence of responsible leadership on environmental innovation and environmental performance: The moderating role of managerial discretion
Responsible leadership drives environmental innovation in manufacturing firms. The study found that relationship building, relational governance, and sharing orientation boost incremental environmental innovation, while relational governance and sharing orientation increase radical environmental innovation. Both innovation types improve environmental performance. Managerial discretion strengthens these relationships, particularly between sharing orientation and both innovation types, and between relational governance and radical innovation.
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The Passway of Women Entrepreneurship: Starting from Social Capital with Open Innovation, through to Knowledge Sharing and Innovative Performance
Social capital positively influences business performance for women entrepreneurs in Bali, Indonesia, enabling them to share information and create innovations. However, women entrepreneurs face significant barriers including limited access to capital and credit, weak technological and managerial skills, poor market access, bureaucratic obstacles, and cultural norms that position men as superior. These constraints severely limit women's entrepreneurial opportunities despite their ability to leverage social networks.
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Frugal innovation: Conception, development, diffusion, and outcome
Frugal innovation enables resource-constrained entrepreneurs in low-income countries to develop and commercialize products for underserved markets. This study examines how grassroots innovators conceptualize, develop, and diffuse frugal innovations, identifying the motivations, processes, and challenges from inception to commercial success. The research reveals that frugal innovations create new markets, drive sustainability, and require dual-business models to serve low-income customers effectively in emerging economies.
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Sustainable open innovation to address a grand challenge
Carlsberg developed the Green Fiber Bottle through open innovation partnerships to address sustainability challenges in food and beverage manufacturing. The case demonstrates that grand challenges require leveraging external collaboration, pursuing sustainability beyond profit motives, adopting new business models, achieving early wins for scaling, and maintaining long-term vision. The Nordic context proved important to success.
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Tackling Societal Challenges with Open Innovation
Open innovation—combining external knowledge and market pathways with internal processes—has traditionally served business goals. This paper argues that open innovation can address societal challenges, though doing so creates trade-offs and tensions. The authors introduce articles from the World Open Innovation Conference examining how organizations deploy open innovation to tackle broader social problems beyond profit.
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Organisational institutionalisation of responsible innovation
This paper examines how responsible innovation became institutionalized at the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and its funded universities between 2010 and 2020. The authors find that while the EPSRC successfully embedded responsible innovation practices before publishing its 2013 policy, universities struggled to adopt it due to competing institutional priorities and different research cultures. The process remains incomplete and contested.
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Perceptions toward Artificial Intelligence among Academic Library Employees and Alignment with the Diffusion of Innovations’ Adopter Categories
This study surveyed academic librarians about their perceptions of artificial intelligence and how they adopt new technologies. Researchers matched librarians' adoption patterns to Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations model categories—innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards. The findings show how librarians' self-identified adoption categories relate to their knowledge and attitudes toward AI in library settings, offering insights for managing technology adoption among library staff.
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Organizational learning ambidexterity and openness, as determinants of SMEs' innovation performance
Small and medium enterprises in Ghana achieve stronger innovation performance by combining both exploitative and exploratory learning strategies simultaneously—a practice called organizational learning ambidexterity—rather than relying on either approach alone. Openness to external knowledge further strengthens this effect. SME managers should adopt both learning strategies together to gain competitive advantage.
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Cryptocurrency Market Analysis from the Open Innovation Perspective
This paper analyzes the cryptocurrency market through an open innovation lens, proposing a pool complexity approach to identify promising digital currencies. The analysis examines social activity, trading parameters, and technical indicators across cryptocurrencies. The study identifies EOS as the most effective cryptocurrency due to its low complexity and commission levels, making it suitable for third-party applications.
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Living Labs and user engagement for innovation and sustainability
Living Labs engage stakeholders and users in co-creating sustainable innovations through a Quadruple Helix Model approach. Research across multiple case studies shows that Living Labs successfully involve firms, businesses, and communities in developing solutions that benefit the economy, society, and environment. The study identifies best practices and policy recommendations for establishing Living Labs that advance local sustainable development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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Openness and firm innovation performance: the moderating effect of ambidextrous knowledge search strategy
External knowledge openness improves firm innovation performance, but only up to a point—the relationship follows an inverted-U curve. A balanced knowledge search strategy that pursues both depth and breadth of external knowledge strengthens this relationship. High-technology firms that strategically combine deep and broad external knowledge searches gain the most innovation benefits from opening their boundaries.
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Board Networks and Corporate Innovation
Well-connected corporate boards drive stronger innovation performance and output quality. The effect intensifies when firms need more external advice or face agency problems. Companies seeking external financing gain particular advantage from board connections to bankers. The researchers establish causality through director deaths, retirements, and regulatory changes affecting board composition, and show that connection types and director characteristics explain variation in outcomes.
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Administrative environmental innovations, supply network structure, and environmental disclosure
Administrative environmental innovations help firms track and manage environmental impacts, leading to greater environmental disclosure. The relationship strengthens when firms implement both internal and external innovations together. A firm's position within its supply network—measured by accessibility, control, and interconnectedness—moderates this relationship, affecting how network learning and status influence environmental reporting.
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A systematic literature review of open innovation in the public sector: comparing barriers and governance strategies of digital and non-digital open innovation
This systematic review examines how barriers and governance strategies differ between digital and non-digital open innovation in the public sector. Relational barriers dominate non-digital initiatives, while capacity and technical barriers challenge digital ones. Political commitment and intermediaries work universally, but coercive strategies only suit inter-governmental contexts. Offline participation requires persuasive, relationship-focused governance; online participation demands technical capacity building.
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The Impact of the Regulatory Sandbox on the Fintech Industry, with a Discussion on the Relation between Regulatory Sandboxes and Open Innovation
Regulatory sandboxes—controlled environments allowing fintech companies to test innovations with regulatory flexibility—significantly boost venture capital investment in fintech ecosystems. Analysis of nine countries that adopted sandboxes first shows these frameworks reduce regulatory uncertainty and attract venture funding. The study provides empirical evidence that sandboxes effectively stimulate fintech industry growth and ecosystem development.
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Harvesting reflective knowledge exchange for inbound open innovation in complex collaborative networks: an empirical verification in Europe
Open innovation collaboration modes significantly boost innovation performance by stimulating reflective knowledge exchange among firms in complex networks. Analysis of European Union firms from 2014–2019 shows that external knowledge sourcing, knowledge transfer, and big data analytics strengthen patent applications. Reflective knowledge exchange emerges as a critical mechanism enabling firms to maximize returns from innovation within inter-organizational networks.
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The Role of Green Innovation between Green Market Orientation and Business Performance: Its Implication for Open Innovation
Green market orientation directly improves business performance in Indonesian manufacturing small and medium enterprises, and this effect is strengthened when companies adopt green innovation practices. The study of 175 MSME owners in East Java shows that balancing economic, environmental, and social concerns through green strategies enhances business outcomes, supporting sustainability theory in the Indonesian context.
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Digital transformation of industrial firms: an innovation diffusion perspective
This paper applies innovation diffusion theory to explain digital transformation in large industrial firms. By studying General Electric and Siemens, the authors identify common drivers and inhibitors of successful digital transformation. The innovation diffusion framework effectively identifies factors that help or hinder firms' transformation processes, offering researchers and managers better tools to analyze and plan digital transformation strategies.
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Open innovation for sustainability through creating shared value-role of knowledge management system, openness and organizational structure
Open innovation for sustainability requires three critical conditions working together: knowledge management systems, organizational openness, and appropriate organizational structure. Manufacturing micro, small, and medium enterprises must configure these elements at different levels to create shared value with partners and stakeholders. Organizations succeed by expanding beyond internal resources to collaborate actively with manufacturers, retailers, and other stakeholders on sustainability problem-solving.
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Frugal innovation in a crisis: the digital fabrication maker response to COVID‐19
During COVID-19, maker communities used digital fabrication tools to produce critical items like masks and ventilators, demonstrating frugal innovation—doing more with less for more people. Case studies from Italy and India show makers employed similar resource-constrained approaches despite different economic contexts. The research expands frugal innovation theory beyond emerging markets, establishing digital fabrication as a key enabler for distributed innovation networks responding to crises.
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Differential moderating effects of strategic and operational reconfiguration on the relationship between open innovation practices and innovation performance
This study examines how open innovation practices affect innovation performance in service firms. Using UK survey data, the researchers find that strategic reconfiguration capability enhances the impact of coupled open innovation on radical innovation, while operational reconfiguration capability strengthens its effect on incremental innovation. The results show that firms need different internal capabilities depending on the type of innovation they pursue.
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The intervention of organizational sustainability in the effect of organizational culture on open innovation performance: A case of thai and chinese SMEs
This study examines 300 SMEs in Thailand and China to understand how organizational culture drives open innovation performance. The research finds that organizational sustainability acts as a critical mediator between culture and innovation outcomes. Companies with strong cultural foundations in leadership, teamwork, and climate that invest in sustainability practices across marketing, operations, and customer orientation achieve better open innovation results.
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Integrating Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) into classroom instruction: teaching tips for hospitality educators from a diffusion of innovation approach
This paper examines barriers preventing university academics from adopting ICT in teaching and identifies practical solutions to overcome resistance. Using Diffusion of Innovation theory, the authors analyze why educators hesitate to integrate new technologies into classroom instruction and provide teaching tips to guide academics in adopting ICT-enhanced pedagogical practices.
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Does international entrepreneurial orientation foster innovation performance? The mediating role of social media and open innovation
International entrepreneurial orientation drives innovation performance in small and medium-sized enterprises through two mechanisms: open innovation and social media usage. The study of 128 SMEs shows that social media usage enables open innovation, which in turn translates entrepreneurial orientation into better innovation outcomes. Companies pursuing international expansion with entrepreneurial mindsets achieve stronger innovation results when they embrace open innovation practices and leverage social media.
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Higher Education in Innovation Ecosystems
Universities drive innovation and sustainability through their participation in innovation ecosystems. This editorial synthesizes 16 articles to establish a framework showing how higher education institutions function within these ecosystems. The authors define innovation ecosystems and identify three distinct roles universities play in fostering innovation and sustainable development across various contexts.
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User idea implementation in open innovation communities: Evidence from a new product development crowdsourcing community
This study examines what determines whether user-generated ideas get implemented in crowdsourcing communities for product development. Using data from Xiaomi's MIUI community with over 43,000 ideas, the researchers found that users' past success follows an inverted U-shape with implementation likelihood, longer idea descriptions increase chances of adoption, supporting evidence shows an inverted U-shape relationship, and negative feedback paradoxically increases implementation odds while positive feedback decreases them.
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Networking to accelerate the pace of SME innovations
Early innovation by small and medium enterprises builds capabilities that accelerate their future innovation pace. Firms that innovate quickly initially maintain faster innovation rates. Companies that start innovating late can catch up by actively networking to access external resources and capabilities. The study of 203 SMEs shows that networking behavior moderates the relationship between time to first innovation and subsequent innovation speed.
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The influence of open innovation on firm performance
Open innovation—acquiring external technology, exploiting technology externally, and coupled innovation—drives firm growth and competitiveness. This literature review examines how open innovation practices influence business performance and identifies key research themes, offering directions for future investigation into the relationship between open innovation strategies and firm outcomes.
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Changing the game to compete: Innovations in the fashion retail industry from the disruptive business model
This paper examines how disruptive business models are transforming the fashion retail industry. Three key innovations—born-digital brands, AI-enabled demand forecasting and design, and collaborative consumption—successfully address unmet customer needs like affordable quality and sustainability. These models also solve operational challenges in demand uncertainty and inventory management that plague traditional push-based supply chains, offering retailers more responsive and efficient alternatives.
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Values in responsible research and innovation: from entities to practices
This paper critiques how Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) frameworks understand values. The authors argue that mainstream RRI approaches treat values as fixed entities available for direct reflection, missing the interpretive work required to identify them. They propose instead viewing values as dynamic outcomes of ongoing valuing processes, lived and interactive. This practice-based approach better captures the complexity of how values actually function in research and innovation contexts.
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Process innovation in small- and medium-sized enterprises: The critical roles of external knowledge sourcing and absorptive capacity
External knowledge sourcing and absorptive capacity drive process innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises. A study of 124 automotive SMEs in challenging institutional environments found that broad external knowledge search—but not deep search—correlates with process innovation development. Process innovation subsequently improves firm performance.
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Favourable social innovation ecosystem(s)? – An explorative approach
Social innovation ecosystems differ fundamentally from business-focused innovation systems. This research identifies three key requirements for effective social innovation ecosystems: integrated governance involving civil society and multiple sectors, intermediary institutions like hubs and labs that accelerate activities, and strategies combining different innovation modes. The study finds no single best model exists due to the diversity and local nature of social innovation work across Europe.
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The structure of an innovation ecosystem: foundations for future research
This systematic review examines how innovation ecosystems are structured by analyzing 26 years of peer-reviewed research. The authors identify three main structural classifications: ecosystem life cycles (birth through self-renewal), hierarchical levels (macroscopic to microscopic), and layered architectures including core-periphery and triple-layer models. The review reveals that ecosystem structure research remains concentrated among few authors and proposes the triple-layer core-periphery framework and 6C framework as benchmarks for future studies.
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The dawn of an open exploration era: Emergent principles and practices of open science and innovation of university research teams in a digital world
Universities are adopting open science practices—including open data sharing, open access publishing, and participatory design—that reshape how research teams conduct innovation. These practices accelerate knowledge creation, speed solutions to major societal challenges, and develop entrepreneurial researchers. The study identifies emergent principles and mechanisms of open science and innovation at universities, proposing governance models to increase societal value in the digital era.
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How entrepreneurship ecosystem influences the development of frugal innovation and informal entrepreneurship
This study examines how entrepreneurial ecosystems shape frugal innovation and informal business development in Nigeria. Through interviews with 20 business owners and focus groups with association leaders, the researchers identified key determinants: formal and informal rules, market access, and family networks. These elements enable knowledge sharing, networking, and resource distribution among informal entrepreneurs operating under institutional constraints.
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Organizational change and the dynamics of innovation: Formal R&D structure and intrafirm inventor networks
Centralizing R&D budget authority in diversified firms increases connections between internal inventors, leading to broader innovation that spans more technologies. Decentralization does not reverse this effect. The paper shows that formal organizational structure influences innovation outcomes through changes in inventor collaboration networks, though organizational inertia creates time lags in these effects.
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Investigating open innovation strategies and firm performance: the moderating role of technological capability and market information management capability
This study examines how technological capability and market information management capability influence the relationship between open innovation strategies and firm performance. Using survey data from 238 Chinese high-tech enterprises, the researchers found that technological capability strengthens inbound open innovation's impact on performance. For outbound open innovation, high technological capability combined with high market information management capability produces superior results. The findings reveal specific capability combinations that maximize the performance benefits of different open innovation approaches.
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Sustainability Condition of Open Innovation: Dynamic Growth of Alibaba from SME to Large Enterprise
Alibaba rapidly became a global e-commerce leader by adopting open innovation business models while managing the complexity and transaction costs these models create. The company succeeded through developing an open-innovation-friendly culture rooted in consumer confidence and relationship-building (Guanxi), combined with an expanding feedback loop platform that continuously strengthened its business model. This cultural foundation allowed Alibaba to control complexity costs inherent in open innovation.
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The Role of Natural and Human Resources on Economic Growth and Regional Development: With Discussion of Open Innovation Dynamics
Natural resources alone do not drive economic growth in Bulukumba Regency, Indonesia. The study finds that combining natural resource optimization with human resource development significantly boosts regional economic growth, accounting for 47.2% of variation. Community culture and regulation also matter. The authors recommend strengthening human capacity through technology adoption and cultural change to accelerate economic development.
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Insights on entrepreneurial bricolage and frugal innovation for sustainable performance
Sustainable leadership drives sustainable performance in emerging markets through frugal innovation and entrepreneurial bricolage. The paper proposes that leaders who practice sustainable leadership influence organizational performance by enabling frugal innovation—doing more with less—particularly when combined with entrepreneurial bricolage. The framework addresses poverty alleviation, sustainable education, and community development as pathways to economic growth and environmental protection.
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Universities as orchestrators of the development of regional innovation ecosystems in emerging economies
Universities in Porto Alegre, Brazil orchestrate regional innovation ecosystems by coordinating multiple stakeholders beyond traditional teaching and research roles. Three competing universities jointly foster knowledge mobility, manage innovation appropriability, and stabilize networks to support entrepreneurship. Unlike firm-based networks, university-led ecosystems distribute benefits across the broader region, not just participating organizations. Universities drive collective action by assuming leadership positions and delegating power to other actors.
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Nonprofit Service Continuity and Responses in the Pandemic: Disruptions, Ambiguity, Innovation, and Challenges
Nonprofit organizations providing homeless support services rapidly adapted their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by government mandates and urgent human needs. Using interviews and website analysis, researchers identified how these organizations innovated to maintain service continuity despite disruptions and ambiguity. The study reveals that nonprofits demonstrated agility and developed practical adaptations that offer lessons for managing service delivery during crises.
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A service ecosystem perspective on the diffusion of sustainability-oriented user innovations
This paper argues that service ecosystem theory better explains how sustainability-focused user innovations spread through markets and communities. The authors identify three key insights: diffusion involves multiple levels and actors working together, user innovators must be integrated as active ecosystem participants, and innovation spreads through ongoing co-creation rather than one-way adoption. The findings suggest policymakers should build innovation infrastructure that recognizes and supports users as drivers of sustainable change.
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Interfirm Exchange and Innovation in Platform Ecosystems: Evidence from Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference
Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference creates opportunities for app developers to exchange knowledge and collaborate. The study finds that developers attending the conference released more major app updates with positive consumer feedback. Larger and more established firms benefited most, likely because they had greater resources and experience to leverage these exchanges. Learning and collaboration accounted for part of these innovation gains.
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Investigating the impact of networking capability on firm innovation performance: using the resource-action-performance framework
Networking capability drives firm innovation performance through a self-reinforcing cycle involving inter-organizational knowledge mechanisms and co-learning. The study examined Iranian automotive companies and found that these three elements work together cumulatively to boost innovation outcomes. Firms that effectively apply knowledge-sharing mechanisms within networks achieve stronger innovation performance than those focusing on isolated capabilities.
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Exploring supplier–supplier innovations within the Toyota supply network: A supply network perspective
This study examines how supplier firms within Toyota's supply network develop joint innovations through co-patenting. The research finds that a supplier's ability to innovate with other network members depends on the number and direction of its connections. Firms with more direct ties generate more co-innovations, but being embedded in tight clusters or having high closeness centrality actually reduces innovation output. Operating multiple manufacturing plants in Japan strengthens the innovation effect.
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Asymmetry of the technological cycle of disruptive innovations
This paper develops a model to measure how disruptive technologies grow relative to established technologies in competitive markets. Using the US music recording industry as a case study, the research finds that disruptive technologies grow disproportionately fast, follow an asymmetric cycle with longer growth phases than decline phases, and undergo multiple technological advances that enable market dominance. The findings expand disruptive innovation theory and offer management guidance.
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Disruptive Innovation in Dentistry: What It Is and What Could Be Next
Artificial intelligence drives disruptive innovation in dentistry by enabling personalized treatment through analysis of patient eHealth data, genomic information, and clinical records. AI integration with teledentistry, virtual reality, and intraoral scanning transforms clinical workflows and service delivery. The paper emphasizes that while these technologies promise improved outcomes and cost-effectiveness, their adoption requires rigorous scientific validation, careful ethical consideration of diagnostic accuracy, and responsible handling of sensitive patient data.
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Stock Market Reaction to COVID-19: Evidence in Customer Goods Sector with the Implication for Open Innovation
This paper analyzes stock market reactions in the consumer goods sector before and after COVID-19 emerged. Using daily stock price and trading volume data from 90 days before and after the pandemic's onset, researchers found significant differences in market behavior. The findings support the efficient market hypothesis and suggest investors should prioritize consumer goods companies producing essential products like food, beverages, and pharmaceuticals during economic crises.
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The Impact of Enterprise Resource Planning on Business Performance: With the Discussion on Its Relationship with Open Innovation
Enterprise resource planning systems improve financial and non-financial performance in Saudi small and medium enterprises. The study surveyed 120 Saudi SMEs and found that management support, user satisfaction, and training significantly drive effective ERP adoption. These systems enhance overall business performance, helping SMEs compete in increasingly crowded markets.
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Multiplex Network Ties and the Spatial Diffusion of Radical Innovations: Martin Luther’s Leadership in the Early Reformation
Martin Luther's personal networks drove the Reformation's spread across Europe. The study reconstructs Luther's influence network using his correspondence, visits, and student enrollments to show that cities with direct personal ties to Luther—through multiple relationship types—adopted Protestantism at higher rates. Combined with existing trade routes, these multiplex personal connections enabled the Reformation to expand from a regional movement into a continent-wide institutional transformation.
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Open Innovation Engineering—Preliminary Study on New Entrance of Technology to Market
This paper develops a conceptual model of open innovation engineering to address how technology reaches markets in the fourth industrial revolution. The authors identify open innovation channels that function as knowledge funnels to overcome capitalism's growth limits. They validate the model through literature review and apply it to papers from a 2019 special issue, establishing a foundation for further research on innovation channels and market entry mechanisms.
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Innovation as the key to gain performance from absorptive capacity and human capital
This study examines how Spanish wine companies achieve strong organizational performance through innovation, absorptive capacity, and human capital. The research of 138 firms shows that absorptive capacity and human capital enable businesses to fully realize the benefits of innovation. The findings demonstrate that these three resources—absorptive capacity, human capital, and innovation—drive performance and competitive advantage.
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Knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity: interdependency and complementarity
This study resolves contradictions about how knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity relate to each other. The authors show that absorptive capacity has two dimensions—potential and realized—and that knowledge sharing bridges between them. Knowledge donation emerges as an output of absorptive capacity rather than just an input. The findings apply to team and firm-level management, emphasizing knowledge collection's central role in leveraging organizational learning.
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Technology, Value Co-Creation and Innovation in Service Ecosystems: Toward Sustainable Co-Innovation
This paper develops a framework for managing value co-creation and sustainable innovation in service ecosystems through technology-mediated resource and knowledge integration. The framework identifies four key drivers—co-design, co-development, co-delivery, and co-learning—operating across micro, meso, and macro levels. A case study of an Italian wood packaging company demonstrates how managers can leverage these mechanisms to enable continuous sustainable innovation and knowledge renewal.
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The evolution of cooperation in the face of conflict: Evidence from the innovation ecosystem for mobile telecom standards development
This study examines how firms cooperate within innovation ecosystems despite patent litigation conflicts. Using data from mobile telecom standards development, the authors find that firms increase cooperation with litigation opponents while simultaneously strengthening ties with other partners to influence standards direction. Technological complementarities and network position determine whether firms pursue direct cooperation with adversaries or alternative partnerships.
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Multilingual English users’ linguistic innovation
This paper examines whether non-native English speakers can innovate linguistically in English. Using social media data from multilingual users in the Sinophone world, the author demonstrates that creative language mixing combining English with other languages and semiotic resources constitutes genuine linguistic innovation rather than error. A translanguaging perspective reveals these expressions as socio-politically meaningful innovations and challenges traditional notions of discrete named languages.
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Information technology and firm performance: mediation role of absorptive capacity and corporate entrepreneurship in manufacturing SMEs
This study examines how information technology capabilities improve performance in manufacturing SMEs in Pakistan. The research finds that absorptive capacity and corporate entrepreneurship partially explain this relationship. IT technical skills that flow through absorptive capacity and then corporate entrepreneurship most strongly predict firm performance, revealing the mechanisms through which technology investments translate into business success.
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High CO2 absorption capacity of metal-based ionic liquids: A molecular dynamics study
Metal-based ionic liquids enhance CO2 absorption through molecular dynamics simulations. The study shows these liquids create hydrogen bond networks that increase CO2 absorption capacity while promoting diffusion. Metal-chloride bond length and anion volume determine absorption performance. Findings enable rational design of ionic liquids for carbon capture and chemical engineering applications.
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Idea Convergence Quality in Open Innovation Crowdsourcing: A Cognitive Load Perspective
Open innovation crowdsourcing generates many ideas but struggles to identify quality ones for development. This study tested how different types of cognitive load affect idea convergence quality using laboratory experiments. Germane cognitive load—mental effort directly supporting the task—improved convergence quality and satisfaction, while intrinsic and extraneous cognitive loads reduced satisfaction. Knowledge self-efficacy, goal clarity, and need for cognition strengthened these positive effects, offering practical guidance for designing crowdsourcing tasks.
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Aligning firm's value system and open innovation: a new framework of business process management beyond the business model innovation
This paper develops a framework integrating open innovation principles with business process management to improve how firms create and capture value. The authors connect strategic value systems with operational processes, showing how firms can align their internal value creation with external innovation ecosystems. The framework bridges the gap between strategy and operations literature, offering a comprehensive approach to managing value co-creation beyond traditional business model innovation.
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Business Model, Open Innovation, and Sustainability in Car Sharing Industry—Comparing Three Economies
Car-sharing companies Uber, DiDi Chuxing, and KakaoT adopt different business models shaped by open innovation strategies and interactions with government, taxi industries, public transit, and automakers. The study finds business models are dynamic rather than fixed, and open innovation approaches directly determine how these firms structure revenue, responsibility, and system operations across the United States, China, and South Korea.
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Regional innovation systems: what can we learn from 25 years of scientific achievements?
This paper reviews 25 years of research on regional innovation systems, identifying four main clusters in the literature: regional knowledge systems, institutional systems, research and development systems, and network systems. The authors map different theoretical approaches to regional innovation systems using bibliometric analysis, providing a foundation for policymakers and researchers to design new territorial innovation policies and guide future research directions.
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The impact of open-border organization culture and employees’ knowledge, attitudes, and rewards with regards to open innovation: an empirical study
Organizations with open-border cultures are significantly more likely to adopt open innovation practices. Employee knowledge and rewards act as key mediators strengthening this relationship. The study analyzed 528 employees across 28 industrial sectors in 37 European countries, finding that organizational openness directly increases open innovation adoption, while employee knowledge and reward systems amplify this effect.
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Achieving enhanced electromagnetic shielding and absorption capacity of cellulose-derived carbon aerogels <i>via</i> tuning the carbonization temperature
Researchers developed cellulose-derived carbon aerogels with improved electromagnetic shielding and absorption properties by adjusting carbonization temperature during manufacturing. The simple temperature-tuning approach enhances the material's ability to block and absorb electromagnetic radiation, offering practical applications in shielding technology.
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The impact of knowledge management on performance in nonprofit sports clubs: the mediating role of attitude toward innovation, open innovation, and innovativeness
Knowledge management directly improves performance in nonprofit sports clubs and indirectly boosts it by fostering positive attitudes toward innovation and open innovation practices. Clubs that systematically develop and share knowledge—from both internal and external sources—enhance their ability to adopt external ideas, build innovation-friendly cultures, and ultimately innovate more effectively and perform better organizationally.
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Evolving a Value Chain to an Open Innovation Ecosystem: Cognitive Engagement of Stakeholders in Customizing Medical Implants
A medical device firm transformed its traditional value chain into an open innovation ecosystem to customize orthopedic implants using 3D printing. The company used cognitive artifacts—shared visual and conceptual tools—to help diverse stakeholders develop common understanding and collaborate effectively. This approach enabled the firm to pursue mass customization while avoiding suboptimal local strategies and managing the constraints that external partnerships can impose on innovation strategy.
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Technological Disruptions in Restaurant Services: Impact of Innovations and Delivery Services
This study examines how food delivery innovations have disrupted restaurant services over the past two decades. The research shows that restaurant delivery service terminology has become as common as fast food service since 2014. The author develops a model showing how technological innovations reshape restaurant service hierarchies and identifies major disruptions including changes in industry classification, increased distance between providers and customers, and potential service quality impacts. The work outlines both opportunities and challenges from these technological shifts.
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Social labs as an inclusive methodology to implement and study social change: the case of responsible research and innovation
This paper proposes a social lab methodology to implement and study responsible research and innovation (RRI) in practice. The methodology combines agility and real-world focus with action research and experiential learning, enabling parallel investigation and promotion of RRI while addressing the circular challenge of needing evidence to establish practices that don't yet exist widely.
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Web mining for innovation ecosystem mapping: a framework and a large-scale pilot study
This paper develops a web mining framework to map innovation ecosystems by analyzing firm websites at scale. Testing on 2.4 million German firms, the authors extract innovation-related information from websites to identify products, services, and business cooperation. They find systematic biases: larger, older, urban, and patenting firms are overrepresented because they maintain more sophisticated websites, while low broadband availability excludes some firms entirely. The framework successfully maps Berlin's artificial intelligence sector and demonstrates web mining as a cost-effective alternative to traditional innovation surveys.
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Studying disruptive events: Innovations in behaviour, opportunities for lower carbon transport policy?
Transport policy assumes travel patterns are fixed, leading to over-reliance on technological solutions like electric vehicles. This paper examines how people actually adapt mobility during disruptive events, revealing greater capacity for behavior change than policy recognizes. The authors argue that broadening interventions beyond technology to address when and how mobility matters for daily activities could reduce travel demand and carbon emissions more effectively.
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Social Entrepreneurship Education as an Innovation Hub for Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: The Case of the KAIST Social Entrepreneurship MBA Program
Social entrepreneurship education programs function as innovation hubs that build entrepreneurial ecosystems by cultivating entrepreneurs' ability to connect diverse stakeholders. The authors propose a framework emphasizing internal connectivity among program members and external connectivity with universities, firms, government, civil society, and environmental entities. Analysis of a Korean MBA program identifies isolated entities needing stronger interaction to achieve social entrepreneurship education's goals.
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Effects of high-performance work systems (HPWSs) on intellectual capital, organizational ambidexterity and knowledge absorptive capacity: evidence from the hotel industry
High-performance work systems in hotels strengthen intellectual capital, which in turn enables organizational ambidexterity and knowledge absorptive capacity. The study surveyed senior managers at four and five-star hotels and found intellectual capital fully mediates the relationship between work systems and these organizational capabilities. This addresses a gap in hospitality research by establishing how HR practices drive innovation capacity.
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Effect of network embeddedness on innovation performance of small and medium-sized enterprises
Network embeddedness significantly boosts innovation performance in small and medium-sized enterprises. SMEs that combine strong network connections with openness to innovation achieve substantially better innovation outcomes than those relying on networks alone. The study of 388 Ghanaian SMEs shows that organizational structures emphasizing trust and collaborative openness enable effective knowledge transfer and innovation.
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Tackling COVID-19 through Responsible AI Innovation: Five Steps in the Right Direction
AI and machine learning innovations can help combat COVID-19 across biomedical, epidemiological, and socioeconomic challenges, but raise serious ethical concerns around data sharing, surveillance, privacy, and bias. The author proposes five steps for responsible AI innovation: open research, accountable processes, equitable design, democratic governance, and public trust. These practices enable faster global response while protecting civil liberties and preventing harm to vulnerable populations.
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Policy Innovation Adoption Across the Diffusion Life Course
This study analyzes 566 policies adopted between 1960 and 2016 to understand how states adopt policy innovations across different stages of the diffusion process. The research finds that adoption drivers shift over time: neighboring state adoptions influence early adopters, while ideological learning consistently matters throughout. Less professionalized states adopt later, and wealthier, larger states increasingly drive adoption as policies spread. The findings reveal that predictors of policy adoption vary significantly across the diffusion life course.
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Research on the Regional Differences and Influencing Factors of the Innovation Efficiency of China’s High-Tech Industries: Based on a Shared Inputs Two-Stage Network DEA
This study measures innovation efficiency across China's high-tech industries in 29 provinces from 1999 to 2018 using a two-stage network DEA model. Eastern coastal provinces show significantly higher innovation efficiency than central and western regions. Government support, R&D investment intensity, industry clustering, economic openness, and modern service sector development all influence innovation efficiency levels.
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Restructuring existing value networks to diffuse sustainable innovations in food packaging
Sustainable food packaging innovations struggle to reach markets because existing industry networks resist change. This study examines how value networks must restructure to enable diffusion of sustainable packaging made from agro-food waste. The research identifies necessary changes across firm, network, and macro levels: recognizing opportunities, integrating new actors and resources, building new relationships, creating supportive regulations, and stimulating market demand. Adopting sustainable packaging requires fundamental reorganization of entire value networks, not just product innovation.
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RRI legacies: co-creation for responsible, equitable and fair innovation in Horizon Europe
The paper argues that Horizon Europe's shift from research-focused H2020 to innovation-centered funding requires Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) to evolve. The authors contend that co-creation—particularly fair and equitable approaches—should anchor new policy initiatives like Missions and Open Innovation 2.0. They position co-creation as a bridge connecting open science principles with open innovation practices, embedding responsible innovation methods throughout the funding framework.
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Learning to do responsible innovation in industry: six lessons
Companies can adopt responsible research and innovation (RRI) practices, but require strategic shifts in approach. The authors distill six lessons from engaging industrial partners: prioritize stakeholder engagement, expand assessment methods, emphasize values, experiment iteratively, track progress, and pursue shared value creation. These findings apply to both industrial RRI implementation and broader RRI development.
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Superstar Cities and Left-Behind Places: Disruptive Innovation, Labor Demand, and Interregional Inequality
The paper explains why economic inequality between U.S. regions increased after 1980, reversing decades of convergence. The authors argue that disruptive technologies concentrate demand for skilled workers in certain places initially, then eventually spread that demand elsewhere. Labor supply follows these shifts, creating cycles of regional concentration and dispersal. This theory accounts for observed patterns of rising and falling interregional inequality over time.
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The Role of Venture Capital Investment in Startups’ Sustainable Growth and Performance: Focusing on Absorptive Capacity and Venture Capitalists’ Reputation
Venture capital investment at early stages significantly improves startup growth and performance, particularly when startups possess high potential absorptive capacity. The study analyzed 363 listed firms from 2000 to 2007 and found that initial-stage VC funding creates stronger sustainable growth than later-stage investment. Realized absorptive capacity showed no moderating effect, but potential absorptive capacity strengthened the relationship between early VC investment and firm performance.
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Effect of entrepreneurial orientation on radical innovation performance among manufacturing SMEs: the mediating role of absorptive capacity
Manufacturing SMEs in Ghana that combine entrepreneurial orientation with strong absorptive capacity—the ability to acquire and apply new knowledge—achieve significantly better radical innovation performance. The study shows that both potential absorptive capacity (acquiring knowledge) and realized absorptive capacity (applying knowledge) mediate this relationship, with balance between the two capacities producing the strongest innovation outcomes.
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The evolution of knowledge-intensive innovation ecosystems: co-evolving entrepreneurial activity and innovation policy in the West Swedish maritime system
This paper examines how innovation ecosystems emerge by studying Sweden's West Swedish maritime cluster. The authors argue that sustainable innovation requires both top-down policy exploration by government and bottom-up entrepreneurial activity. They find that knowledge-intensive entrepreneurship combined with experimental policymaking and new collaborative approaches drive progress toward innovation-led sustainable development.
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Exploring regional innovation ecosystems: an empirical study in China
This study examines regional innovation ecosystems in China through three case studies, developing a 4C framework covering construct, cooperation, configuration, and capability. The research shows that organizations coevolve within ecosystems, and that complementarity-based collaboration within and between regional ecosystems—supported by government—strengthens national innovation capacity. The framework helps redistribute roles, coordinate resources, and identify partnership opportunities.
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Dual Networking: How Collaborators Network in Their Quest for Innovation
Organizations divide innovation work between specialist and generalist roles. This study finds that collaborating pairs perform better when they network within the same groups but connect to different individuals, rather than splitting into entirely separate networks. This dual networking approach enables partners to interpret information from multiple angles, influence stakeholders more effectively, and champion ideas more successfully than pure divide-and-conquer strategies.
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Toward an Evolutionary and Sustainability Perspective of the Innovation Ecosystem: Revisiting the Panarchy Model
This paper applies the Panarchy model to innovation ecosystems, arguing that they evolve through four phases: exploitation, conservation, decline, and reorganization. The framework shows how innovation ecosystems avoid technology lock-in and rigidity by balancing exploitative and generative functions. This evolutionary perspective helps policymakers and practitioners understand how ecosystems build resilience and competitiveness when facing major disruptions.
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Responsible Innovation for Sustainable Development Goals in Business: An Agenda for Cooperative Firms
Responsible Innovation can help cooperative firms and social and solidarity economy businesses implement Sustainable Development Goals. The paper finds that these firms benefit from responsible innovation through business model transformation and contribute to SDGs by enabling partnerships and innovation. Cooperatives extend SDG implementation beyond their traditional principles to become key enablers of sustainable development across business sectors.
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Strategic renewal of SMEs: the impact of social capital, strategic agility and absorptive capacity
Social capital drives strategic renewal in Pakistani manufacturing SMEs through strategic agility, with absorptive capacity amplifying this effect. The study surveyed 519 leaders across 123 firms in agricultural machinery, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, IT, and garments. Results show social capital directly improves strategic renewal, strategic agility mediates this relationship, and absorptive capacity strengthens the overall pathway.
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A structural analysis approach to identify technology innovation and evolution path: a case of m-payment technology ecosystem
This paper analyzes how mobile payment technology has evolved by examining patent citation networks and identifying key innovation trajectories. The researchers map the m-payment ecosystem and identify three main categories: mobile financial transaction systems, payee mobile device payment selection systems, and e-wallet services. The structural analysis approach reveals the systematic patterns through which m-payment technology has developed and provides a method for tracking technological evolution in innovation ecosystems.
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Mapping Europe’s institutional landscape for forest ecosystem service provision, innovations and governance
This paper analyzes European forest policies across national strategies on forests, biodiversity, and bioeconomy to map how institutions govern ecosystem service provision. The researchers found that policies focus heavily on wood and bioenergy value chains, while neglecting non-wood products, cultural heritage, and recreation. Regulating ecosystem services lack sufficient policy attention and innovation support, despite forests' prominence in sustainability agendas. The institutional landscape shows significant gaps where new governance mechanisms and innovations could better promote ecosystem service provision.
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External knowledge search and firms’ incremental innovation capability: the joint moderating effect of technological proximity and network embeddedness
External knowledge search strengthens firms' incremental innovation capability, especially when firms share similar technology with their partners and occupy central positions in innovation networks. The study analyzed patents in the unmanned aerial vehicle industry from 2004 to 2018, finding that technological proximity and network embeddedness jointly amplify how external knowledge collaboration drives incremental innovation.
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Embedding responsible innovation within synthetic biology research and innovation: insights from a UK multi-disciplinary research centre
A UK synthetic biology research centre embedded responsible innovation practices into its operations from 2014 to 2019, moving beyond public engagement to include anticipation, reflexivity, and deliberation. The centre struggled to measure how these interventions changed scientists' daily practices and research outcomes. Success required strong leadership, institutional support, openness to change, and robust impact measurement mechanisms.
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In search of the frugal innovation strategy
This paper systematically reviews frugal innovation literature to establish it as a coherent business strategy for resource-constrained environments. Through co-citation analysis and systematic review of 42 papers, the authors clarify the scattered concept, define boundaries between frugal innovation and related approaches, and develop a framework with four strategic positions. They propose testable assumptions and explain when and how companies can apply frugal innovation strategy.
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Development of a method for determining oil absorption capacity in pulse flours and protein materials
Researchers developed an improved laboratory method for measuring oil absorption capacity in pulse and soybean flours and protein products. The new method addresses problems with conventional testing by using a lower sample-to-oil ratio, reduced centrifugal force, and a filter paper apparatus to prevent material loss. The simplified procedure produces reliable, reproducible results and enables faster testing of multiple samples while accurately distinguishing between different pulse and soybean ingredients.
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Improving Green Market Orientation, Green Supply Chain Relationship Quality, and Green Absorptive Capacity to Enhance Green Competitive Advantage in the Green Supply Chain
This study examines how green market orientation, supply chain relationship quality, and absorptive capacity drive competitive advantage in green supply chains. The research finds that green market orientation significantly influences competitive advantage, but this effect operates entirely through supply chain relationship quality and absorptive capacity as mediators. Employee culture emphasizing environmental responsibility emerges as a critical driver of competitive success in green supply chains.
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Frugal innovation enablers: a comprehensive framework
This paper identifies fourteen key enablers of frugal innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises through literature review, expert interviews, and survey analysis of 200 employees and managers in Iran's home appliance manufacturing sector. The enablers include world-class design, human and social aspects, marketing, knowledge, prototyping, cultural and environmental considerations, brand creation, cost-cutting business models, and local R&D. The framework helps managers evaluate and develop capabilities for implementing frugal innovation.
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Disruptive technological innovations in construction field and fourth industrial revolution intervention in the achievement of the sustainable development goal 9
This study examines how disruptive technologies and fourth industrial revolution innovations can help the construction industry achieve sustainable development goals. Researchers surveyed 50 construction professionals about awareness, barriers, and success factors for adopting disruptive technologies. The findings show that disruptive innovation is essential for technological progress in construction and propose deployment strategies for sustainable building practices aligned with development objectives.
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Exploring Mission-Oriented Innovation Ecosystems for Sustainability: Towards a Literature-Based Typology
This paper develops a typology of mission-oriented innovation ecosystems designed to address sustainability challenges. By analyzing literature and using bibliometric methods, the author finds that ecosystems vary significantly depending on their mission type, with differences in which actors participate and their roles throughout innovation processes. The research emphasizes the state's critical role in driving system-level transformations, the necessity of civil society participation, and the need for research organizations to adapt to new requirements.
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Bricolage as capability for frugal innovation in emerging markets in times of crisis
Brazilian companies develop frugal innovations more effectively during crises when they possess bricolage capability—the ability to creatively combine available resources in unconventional ways. This study of 215 Brazilian firms confirms that bricolage is a required managerial capability for emerging market companies to innovate under resource constraints. The research identifies bricolage skills as essential for managers seeking to drive frugal innovation during economic downturns.
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A Nexus among Strategic Orientation, Social Network, Knowledge Sharing, Organizational Innovation, and MSMEs Performance
This study examines how resource orientation, market orientation, social networks, and knowledge sharing drive organizational innovation in small and medium enterprises, which in turn improves business performance. Research with batik MSMEs in Central Java, Indonesia shows that strategic practices, social connections, and knowledge exchange significantly boost innovation. The findings provide a comprehensive model for understanding what factors enable organizational innovation and enhance MSME performance.
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A Conceptual Framework for Developing of Regional Innovation Ecosystems
This paper develops a conceptual framework for regional innovation ecosystems in Ukraine and the EU, defining key dimensions including ecosystem goals, actors, environment, and relationships. The authors identify innovation hotspots concentrated in three EU macro-clusters and propose using Ukraine's existing regional research centers as institutional support tools. They recommend establishing regional innovation councils at NUTS 2 level to coordinate ecosystem development.
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Modified 2016 American College of Rheumatology Fibromyalgia Criteria, the Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations Innovations Opportunities and Networks–American Pain Society Pain Taxonomy, and the Prevalence of Fibromyalgia
This paper is not about rural innovation. It reports on fibromyalgia prevalence in the German general population using two diagnostic criteria sets, finding that AAPT criteria identify 73% more cases than the 2016 ACR criteria, though with lower symptom severity. The study compares diagnostic accuracy and clinical characteristics between the two approaches.
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How Firm Performs Under Stakeholder Pressure: Unpacking the Role of Absorptive Capacity and Innovation Capability
Stakeholder pressure drives small and medium-sized enterprises to develop absorptive capacity—the ability to learn and integrate new knowledge—which in turn builds innovation capability. The study of 291 manufacturing SMEs shows that absorptive capacity mediates how stakeholder pressure influences innovation capability, and innovation capability mediates how absorptive capacity affects firm performance. This chain demonstrates that managing external pressure through learning capacity directly improves business outcomes.
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Digital platforms and responsible innovation: expanding value sensitive design to overcome ontological uncertainty
Digital platforms create unpredictable value impacts that traditional design methods cannot anticipate. The authors expand value sensitive design to handle ontological uncertainty—situations where even complete information cannot predict how users will actually employ platforms. They propose extending design across a platform's entire lifecycle, adding reflexive learning about which values matter, and introducing moral sandboxing and prototyping tools to navigate this uncertainty.
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Collaborative Innovation for Sustainable Construction: The Case of an Industrial Construction Project Network
This paper examines how multiple organizations collaborate to drive innovation in sustainable construction. Using social network analysis of a Chinese industrial construction project, the researchers identified key actors and structural patterns that enable inter-organizational collaboration. The study reveals which factors influence successful collaboration and how network structures replace traditional hierarchies to improve innovation performance and construction efficiency.
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Evolution and structure of technological systems - An innovation output network
This study maps how innovations spread across Swedish industries from 1970 to 2013, revealing that supply-and-use networks predict 30% of innovation patterns. The innovation network forms hierarchical structures with industry hubs creating tightly connected communities. Historical technological linkages and proximity strongly shape which industries innovate together, more so than skill or knowledge similarities alone. Innovations emerge from synergistic communities driven by technological requirements and imbalances rather than simple economic interdependencies.
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Developing process and product innovation through internal and external knowledge sources in manufacturing Malaysian firms: the role of absorptive capacity
Manufacturing firms in Malaysia improve their innovation performance by developing absorptive capacity—the ability to acquire, disseminate, and use knowledge. The study finds that a firm's own experience strongly builds absorptive capacity, while external R&D partnerships show mixed results. Absorptive capacity itself strongly predicts whether firms successfully innovate in products and processes.
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Open innovation ecosystems of restaurants: geographical economics of successful restaurants from three cities
Small restaurants succeed by adopting open innovation strategies across ingredients, recipes, and service delivery. The study of successful restaurants in Naples and South Korea shows that restaurants cannot rely on closed innovation alone. Instead, they must strategically open at least some aspects of their operations—whether sourcing ingredients, sharing recipes, or collaborating on service—to maintain competitive advantage and generate additional revenue streams.
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Evaluation of Circular and Integration Potentials of Innovation Ecosystems for Industrial Sustainability
This paper develops methods to assess industrial ecosystem potential by examining circular economy and symbiotic integration principles. The authors analyze two real industrial ecosystems—Kalundborg Symbiosis and Baltic Industrial Symbiosis—to evaluate their circular and integration capabilities. They find that Kalundborg achieves productive but incomplete circularity. The framework helps policymakers and stakeholders understand how industrial symbiosis reduces environmental problems and advances sustainable development.
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Evaluation of Farm Fresh Food Boxes: A Hybrid Alternative Food Network Market Innovation
Researchers evaluated Farm Fresh Food Boxes, a market innovation combining CSA-style produce with rural retail distribution across Vermont, Washington, and California. The model expanded farmer markets and improved rural food access, though profits remained modest. Consumers valued the fresh local produce and convenience, while farmers and retailers appreciated brand development and customer base expansion despite added labor demands. The innovation addressed rural food deserts and supply chain vulnerabilities.
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The effect of process tailoring on software project performance: The role of team absorptive capacity and its knowledge‐based enablers
This study examines how software teams tailor development processes to fit specific project needs and how this affects project success. The research finds that team experience, communication quality, and trust build absorptive capacity—the ability to learn and apply new knowledge—which then improves how teams conduct process tailoring and ultimately enhances project performance. The findings provide guidance for managing software development teams.
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Regional innovation system research trends: toward knowledge management and entrepreneurial ecosystems
This bibliometric analysis of regional innovation system research identifies three major research trends: innovation systems studies from the 1990s, knowledge management research from the 2000s onward, and entrepreneurial ecosystems research in recent years. The study examines Web of Science publications through 2017, revealing that knowledge, innovation, clusters, policy, networks, and R&D are central concepts in RIS research. The field has grown substantially, attracting attention from scientists, policymakers, and international organizations.
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Open innovation, network embeddedness and incremental innovation capability
This study examines how a firm's position within innovation networks affects its ability to make incremental improvements. Using patent data from 54 smartphone companies, the researchers found that being deeply embedded in a tightly-knit network actually reduces incremental innovation, while having strong personal relationships within networks boosts it. Open innovation practices amplify both effects. The findings suggest firms should strategically position themselves in networks and adopt open innovation to enhance their innovation capabilities.
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Responsible leadership and triple-bottom-line performance—do corporate reputation and innovation mediate this relationship?
Responsible leadership directly improves social, economic, and environmental performance in organizations. Innovation mediates this relationship across all three performance dimensions. Corporate reputation mediates the relationship for social and economic performance but not environmental performance. The study surveyed Pakistani managers and used structural equation modeling to test these connections.
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Financial Technology and Disruptive Innovation in Business
Financial technology (FinTech) expands banking services to underserved populations through non-traditional providers, disrupting traditional financial sectors. This study examines Indonesian FinTech companies, analyzing their characteristics through text mining and comparing them against global competitors. The research finds that local FinTech organizations can compete effectively with international players by offering automated, user-friendly, efficient, and transparent financial products.
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Chile as a key enabler country for global plant breeding, agricultural innovation, and biotechnology
Chile has become a global leader in seed production, particularly for counter-season markets and research. Between 2009 and 2018, Chile conducted over 1,000 seed-planting events for crop development and multiplication, including genetically modified seeds. Every major commodity crop with global cultivation status has undergone field testing in Chile. The country's new regulatory framework for plant breeding techniques positions it to maintain its role as a hub for agricultural biotechnology innovation.
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Shifting from Fragmentation to Integration: A Proposed Framework for Strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System in Egypt
Agricultural knowledge and innovation systems in Egypt's Dakhalia governorate suffer from fragmentation caused by weak regulatory frameworks, poor infrastructure, and ineffective intermediary organizations. The study proposes a framework to strengthen these systems by improving actor linkages, fostering public-private partnerships, and distributing appropriate technologies. Better coordination between farmers, researchers, and support organizations can boost agricultural productivity and sustainability.
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Empowering Women and Building Sustainable Food Systems: A Case Study of Cuba's Local Agricultural Innovation Project
Cuba's Local Agricultural Innovation Project (PIAL) uses participatory plant-breeding and agroecological methods to build sustainable food systems while empowering women farmers. Operating across 75 municipalities, PIAL increases women's participation in farm innovation, boosts their confidence and income through diversified production and micro-enterprises, and strengthens community resilience. The program challenges gender norms, engages youth, connects local farmers with research institutions, and embeds itself in government structures to ensure long-term sustainability.
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Anchoring innovation methodologies to ‘go-to-scale’; a framework to guide agricultural research for development
Research for development projects use innovation platforms to solve agricultural problems, but scaling these approaches to new contexts remains unclear. This paper develops a framework for anchoring innovation methodologies across networking, institutional, and methodological dimensions. Testing the framework on a farmer research group in Ethiopia, the authors identify which anchoring tasks succeeded or failed and provide concrete recommendations for R4D projects seeking to scale their innovations effectively across different contexts.
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Do agricultural innovation platforms and soil moisture and nutrient monitoring tools improve the production and livelihood of smallholder irrigators in Mozambique?
A four-year project in Mozambique introduced agricultural innovation platforms and soil monitoring tools to smallholder irrigators. Farmers used these tools to improve irrigation and fertilizer management, increasing crop production. The innovation platforms strengthened market links and information access, boosting farmer incomes and well-being while addressing supply chain and infrastructure barriers.
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Performance Analysis of Mobile Broadband Networks With 5G Trends and Beyond: Rural Areas Scope in Malaysia
This paper measures mobile broadband performance across 3G and 4G networks in rural Malaysia, testing three major operators in Johor, Sarawak, and Sabah. The researchers conducted drive tests measuring coverage, latency, speed, and user satisfaction for web browsing and video streaming. Results show 4G networks significantly outperform 3G across all metrics and operators, with 4G achieving lower latency and higher download speeds. The findings provide guidance for planning 5G deployment in rural areas.
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Trust and Other Historical Proxies of Social Capital: Do They Matter in Promoting Social Entrepreneurship in Greek Rural Areas?
This study examines how trust and social capital foster social entrepreneurship in a mountainous Greek rural area. The researchers argue that trustworthy relationships generate social capital, which in turn supports social entrepreneurship development. By analyzing these dynamics, the paper develops policy recommendations for promoting the social economy in rural regions.
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Sustainable tourism development in rural and marginal areas and opportunities for female entrepreneurship: lessons from an exploratory study
Female entrepreneurs in rural mountain areas drive sustainable tourism development by creating authentic, experiential services and building local stakeholder networks. A study of 11 businesswomen in Italy's Trentino region found that women entrepreneurs naturally emphasize innovation and community collaboration, making them key agents for tourism growth in marginal rural areas where development remains limited.
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Discovering innovation opportunities based on SECI model: reconfiguring knowledge dynamics of the agricultural artisan production of agave-mezcal, using emerging technologies
This study examined 44 mezcal producers in Oaxaca, Mexico to identify innovation opportunities in agave-mezcal production using the SECI knowledge model. Researchers found that producers need digital tools to improve their work and external connections. The study recommends developing a user-friendly mobile application for mezcal producers and creating a collaborative mezcal-tech-hub to strengthen producer networks and knowledge sharing.
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The barriers hindering the application of the value chain in the context of rural entrepreneurship
This study identifies the main barriers preventing rural entrepreneurs in Iran from applying value chain approaches. Lack of proper financing mechanisms and weak government support emerge as the primary obstacles. Different sectors face distinct challenges: service entrepreneurs need entrepreneurial skills training, animal farmers require stronger government policies, and agricultural entrepreneurs lack specialized advisors and financial resources. The findings suggest coordinated action among financial institutions and training organizations to address these barriers.
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Exploring how to sustain ‘place-based’ rural health academic research for informing rural health systems: a qualitative investigation
Rural health researchers in Australia face seven major sustainability challenges: poor recognition, excessive workloads, weak networks, inadequate funding mechanisms, unsupportive organizational culture, job insecurity, and limited career advancement. The study of 17 early-career rural researchers reveals that strategic grants ignore generalist research, fixed-term contracts undermine retention, and isolation from main campuses limits opportunities. The authors recommend establishing research hubs, collaborative networks, targeted funding, and career development pathways to sustain this critical field.
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Features of the Content and Implementation of Innovation and Investment Projects for the Development of Enterprises in the Field of Rural Green Tourism
Rural green tourism enterprises in Ukraine face underdevelopment despite significant tourist resources and 5 million potential self-employed rural workers. The paper identifies innovation and investment project structures, competitive advantages, and funding sources needed for growth. Budget support combined with private investment from agribusiness and communities proved effective in the 2000s-2010s, rapidly expanding rural tourism entrepreneurship, but these programs were later discontinued.
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Charting the media innovations landscape for regional and rural newspapers
This paper develops a framework for understanding media innovation in rural Australian newspapers. Rather than pursuing a narrow 'digital first' strategy, the authors propose a six-dimensional approach that integrates digital, social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental concerns. They argue that rural news organizations should prioritize building resilience and relevance for their communities and environments, not just organizational survival.
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Agricultural education and extension curriculum innovation: the nexus of climate change, food security, and community resilience
Agricultural education and extension programs must integrate climate change, food security, and community resilience into their curricula. Rising natural disasters threaten food production and livelihoods. The paper argues that educators and extension agents need updated training and resources to help rural communities adapt to climate impacts, strengthen food systems, and build long-term resilience through practical, community-centered learning approaches.
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Rural and Non-Rural Digital Divide Persists in Older Adults: Internet Access, Usage, and Perception
Older adults in rural America face a persistent digital divide compared to urban peers. Rural residents aged 50+ have 29% lower odds of internet access and use technology less across communication, financial, health, and media applications. Rural non-users also perceive technology as overly complicated and difficult to learn. The study calls for targeted interventions to expand broadband infrastructure and digital skills training in rural communities.
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A Capability Approach to Entrepreneurship Education: The Sprouting Entrepreneurs Programme in Rural South African Schools
The Sprouting Entrepreneurs Programme teaches entrepreneurship and agriculture in rural South African schools to combat food insecurity, youth unemployment, and poverty. The programme combines the EntreComp framework with Amartya Sen's capability approach, emphasizing how young people develop freedoms and capabilities to create value through entrepreneurial ideas. It uses the Sustainable Development Goals as a learning medium.
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Young People’s Perceptions about the Difficulties of Entrepreneurship and Developing Rural Properties in Family Agriculture
Young rural entrepreneurs in Brazil identify economic constraints as the primary barrier to investing in family farms, cited in 34% of cases. Workforce shortages and low qualification rank second at 12.6%, while unfavorable producer prices account for 7.6%. The study surveyed 98 young entrepreneurs at a rural youth sustainability event in Santa Catarina, combining qualitative and quantitative analysis to reveal the practical challenges facing the next generation of family farm operators.
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An Assessment of Seaweed Extracts: Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture
Seaweed-based plant growth regulators reduce fertilizer inputs while improving pear production. Field trials in Italy cut primary nutrients by 35–46% and total fertilization by 13%, while increasing fruit weight by 5% and yield by 19–55%. The agronomic efficiency of the seaweed treatment exceeded conventional fertilization by five to nine times, demonstrating that farmers can achieve better results with fewer inputs.
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On the Way to Eco-Innovations in Agriculture: Concepts, Implementation and Effects at National and Local Level. The Case of Poland
Polish agriculture adopted eco-innovations through two pathways: policy-driven organizational changes like organic certification and CAP greening mechanisms, which expanded organic farms from 0.5% to 4.6% of holdings between 2005–2016; and farmer-led product and process innovations driven by individual knowledge, family capital, and local institutional support. Both approaches proved effective at increasing sustainable farming practices and soil-protective crops.
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The impact of entrepreneurship training on self-employment of rural female entrepreneurs in Uganda
Entrepreneurship training significantly improves self-employment outcomes for rural women in Uganda. A survey of 300 rural women before and after training showed that increased business knowledge raised self-employment probability by 6%, while improved business competence raised it by 2.7%. These results demonstrate that targeted training programmes effectively enhance labour market outcomes for women in rural Uganda.
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‘Not All of Us Can Be Nurses’: Proposing and Resisting Entrepreneurship Education in Rural Lesotho
Lesotho introduced entrepreneurship education to help youth build informal economy livelihoods as formal employment became scarce. Ethnographic research in two rural primary schools found the curriculum failed to shift students' deep-rooted aspirations toward salaried professional jobs like nursing and teaching. The education also disconnected from students' actual expectations of rural livelihoods, making it ineffective at preparing young people for either pathway.
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Household welfare impacts of an agricultural innovation platform in Uganda
An agricultural innovation platform in Uganda that brought together researchers and farmers to develop improved cassava varieties and establish a seed entrepreneurship system increased household consumption expenditure by 47.4% among participating farmers. The platform's impact varied by household characteristics like gender, suggesting that targeted interventions for specific farm groups could improve rural livelihoods further.
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Network Structure and Influencing Factors of Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Spatial Correlation Network—A Study Based on Data from 30 Provinces in China
This study maps how agricultural science and technology innovation spreads across 30 Chinese provinces through two stages: R&D and technology application. Using network analysis, researchers found that innovation shows clear spatial correlation and spillover effects across regions. The network has a core-periphery structure with strong stability. Market differences, government agricultural support, geographic proximity, and regional economic development drive innovation spread. The findings support cross-regional coordination mechanisms to address uneven distribution of innovation resources.
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Making Darkness a Place-Based Resource: How the Fight against Light Pollution Reconfigures Rural Areas in France
French rural communities are turning darkness into an economic and environmental resource by fighting light pollution. The paper identifies three approaches: economicizing darkness for profit, protecting it for biodiversity conservation, and integrating it into sustainable development planning. These rural areas become experimental spaces where communities resolve conflicts between different visions of darkness protection, ultimately enabling new development trajectories that balance economic, ecological, and energy goals.
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AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION AS AN INNOVATION FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Agricultural cooperatives serve as a mechanism for integrated rural development in Ukraine, addressing economic and settlement challenges while increasing investment attractiveness. The study analyzes European cooperative models and identifies growth points in Ukrainian rural areas—meat, construction, tourism, and recreational clusters—where cooperatives can reduce costs for members and support small and medium-sized businesses. The research concludes that cooperatives require stronger state institutional support to function effectively as mechanisms for economic self-regulation and rural prosperity.
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Opportunities and tensions in supporting intercultural productive activities: The case of urban and rural Mapuche entrepreneurship programs
Entrepreneurship programs in Chile targeting Mapuche people in rural and urban areas create both opportunities and tensions. Based on interviews with 17 Mapuche entrepreneurs, the study finds that programs support business development but reveal conflicts between mainstream business practices and Mapuche cultural values. Success depends on programs recognizing cultural identity and adapting to intercultural contexts rather than imposing standardized approaches.
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How Knowledge-Based Local and Global Networks Foster Innovations in Rural Areas
Rural micro-businesses in peripheral areas innovate by combining local and global knowledge networks. Analysis of three German case studies shows that extra-local knowledge sources spark initial ideas and support product marketing, while local ties prove essential for production. The findings challenge rural development policies that focus solely on local networks, demonstrating that global knowledge flows significantly enable innovation even in institutionally thin regions.
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How can agricultural extension and rural advisory services support agricultural innovation to adapt to climate change in the agriculture sector?
Agricultural extension and advisory services must expand their roles to support farm innovation for climate adaptation. The paper finds that these services should connect diverse actors across sectors, facilitate learning and collaboration, and help farmers develop collective approaches to climate change. This broader, more networked approach to extension work is essential for agricultural sustainability under changing climate conditions.
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Agroecological Entrepreneurship, Public Support, and Sustainable Development: The Case of Rural Yucatan (Mexico)
Rural entrepreneurs in Yucatan, Mexico pursue agroecological businesses to support sustainable development, but face significant barriers. Public institutions provide minimal support due to competing political priorities, entrepreneurs lack training in agroecological methods, distribution channels are inadequate, and bureaucratic obstacles hinder business formation. Low consumer environmental awareness and weak producer networks further constrain these enterprises from generating wealth and rural development.
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Assessment of rural households’ mobile phone usage status for rural innovation services in Gomma Woreda, Southwest Ethiopia
Rural households in Southwest Ethiopia use mobile phones primarily to access marketing services, with educated farmers adopting more innovation services than less educated ones. The study surveyed 188 households and found mobile phones enable access to agricultural extension, health services, and marketing. Stakeholders must address barriers to mobile phone utilization in rural areas to expand these innovation services.
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Capacity and Coverage Analysis of High Altitude Platform (HAP) Antenna Arrays for Rural Vehicular Broadband Services
High altitude platforms using millimeter-wave technology can deliver broadband services to rural vehicles lacking connectivity. The study analyzes antenna array configurations to optimize coverage and data rates. Results show that 900-element arrays achieve 95% coverage with average user capacity between 34–135 Mbps, while 64-element arrays deliver 50 Mbps even at network edges despite higher path loss.
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‘Hybrid’ top down bottom up health system innovation in rural China: A qualitative analysis
China's Rural Health Reform Project piloted a hybrid top-down and bottom-up approach to health system reforms across rural counties serving 21 million people. Initial implementation struggled because counties lacked autonomy and initiative, but tight top-down supervision combined with expert support helped counties develop the mindset and capabilities to tailor reforms to local needs. Successful counties achieved sustainable improvements and developed advanced learning capabilities.
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Rural Women Entrepreneurship and Media Literacy: Experience from Japan and Turkey
Rural women in Japan and Turkey use media and digital technology to build entrepreneurial capacity in agriculture. The study compares policies and activities in both countries between 2010 and 2020, showing how media literacy helps women entrepreneurs adapt to technology despite different economic contexts. The research highlights agriculture-specific evidence for rural women's entrepreneurship development.
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Innovation and Management by Regional Rural Banks in Achieving the Dream of Financial Inclusion in India: Challenges and Prospects.
Regional Rural Banks in India use innovative deposit mobilization, credit expansion, and loan recovery methods to achieve financial inclusion in rural areas. A study of 96 bank officials in Uttar Pradesh found they effectively serve neglected populations despite facing challenges in deposit mobilization and credit expansion. Political interference affects bank operations, but officials report overall proper functioning. The findings help policymakers design schemes to reach the poorest rural customers.
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Indigenous Knowledge and Acceptability of Treated Effluent in Agriculture
This study examined whether indigenous knowledge can increase acceptance of treated effluent from human waste in agriculture. Researchers conducted focus groups in rural and peri-urban South Africa and found that communities showed willingness to grow and consume food using treated effluent. Participants referenced indigenous practices supporting recycling and reuse of human excreta. The findings suggest leveraging traditional knowledge to address food insecurity and sanitation challenges simultaneously in rural and peri-urban areas.
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Rural Areas Interoperability Framework: Intelligent Assessment of Renewable Energy Security Issues in PAKISTAN
Pakistan's rural areas suffer severe electricity shortages, with 45% lacking access and experiencing 12-14 hours of daily load shedding. This paper proposes a Rural Areas Interoperability framework that analyzes geographical, environmental, and social conditions across Sindh, Balochistan, KPK, and Punjab to recommend suitable renewable energy solutions—solar, wind, hydro, biomass, or thermal—while assessing security risks for each region's specific circumstances.
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How rural is too rural for transit? Optimal transit subsidies and supply in rural areas
This paper models optimal public transit supply in low-density rural areas by analyzing trade-offs between passenger welfare and operating costs. Using data from a rural corridor, the authors test different network lengths, service frequencies, and population sizes across car, bus, and rail modes. They find that adjusting rail frequency generates the largest welfare gains, that existing rail networks provide marginal benefits until major repairs are needed, and that bus service remains worthwhile even when rail closure becomes optimal as populations decline.
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Designing Rural Policies for Sustainable Innovations through a Participatory Approach
This paper examines how involving local stakeholders in policy design strengthens rural innovation outcomes. Researchers applied a participatory approach using SWOT analysis with experts and stakeholders in an Italian region developing a Rural Development Program. The analysis identified that sustainable innovations, rural services, and training require improvement, and that financial resources dedicated to these areas must increase.
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Entrepreneurship in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises of Rural Women of Fars Province: Application of Lifespan Resilience Scale-Business (LRS-B)
This study measures entrepreneurial resilience among rural women operating small and medium-sized enterprises in Fars Province using the Lifespan Resilience Scale-Business tool. The research assesses how well rural women entrepreneurs maintain and recover from business challenges throughout their entrepreneurial careers, providing empirical data on resilience factors that support their enterprise success.
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Impulsores, barreras y motivaciones para el emprendimiento rural de los millennials en Antioquia-Colombia/ Drivers, barriers and motivations for rural entrepreneurship of millennials in Antioquia-Colombia
Researchers developed and validated a measurement instrument to assess drivers, barriers, and motivations for rural entrepreneurship among millennials in Antioquia, Colombia. Using expert judgment and the Delphi method with 16 specialists, they confirmed the instrument's reliability across three domains: motivations (93.7% adequate), drivers (92% adequate), and barriers (84% adequate). All Cronbach's Alpha values exceeded 0.9, demonstrating the instrument's validity for measuring factors influencing young people's rural business ventures.
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Eco-Innovation Activities in the Czech Economy 2008–2014: Impact of the Eco-Innovative Approach to the Profit Stream and Differences in Urban and Rural Enterprises
Rural and urban enterprises in the Czech Republic show similar capacity to develop and market eco-innovations, despite urban firms engaging more broadly in innovation activities. Rural enterprises that relocated to countryside areas actually achieved higher sales from innovative goods and services. High-tech industries paradoxically show lower rates of eco-innovation adoption. The study reveals that eco-innovation represents a viable strategy for both rural and urban businesses, with location having minimal impact on R&D intensity or new-to-market eco-innovation success.
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Innovations in rural tourism in Poland and Romania
Rural tourism in Poland and Romania is growing due to economic and social demand from both residents and visitors. Tourist businesses in rural areas are implementing innovative products and services to meet this demand. This study examines what types of innovations rural tourism businesses adopt, using case studies and interviews with owners of tourist facilities in both countries.
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The Role of Entrepreneurship Development for Women Welfare in Rural Area
Women in rural Indonesia remain underrepresented in entrepreneurship despite the country's rising entrepreneurial rate. This paper argues that rural women entrepreneurs are critical for economic development and welfare improvement in rural communities. The authors identify barriers including low confidence, limited entrepreneurship education access, and pessimism about entrepreneurial ability. They apply Schumpeter's innovation theory and hope theory to explain why entrepreneurship matters for rural women's advancement.
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Study of Factors Affecting Rural Development, With A Focus on the Role of Agricultural Entrepreneurship (Case Study: North Khorasan Province)
Agricultural entrepreneurship significantly drives rural development in North Khorasan Province. The study identifies key factors that influence how farming enterprises contribute to economic growth, employment, and community prosperity in rural areas. Entrepreneurial activities in agriculture create pathways for rural residents to increase incomes and improve living standards through business innovation and market engagement.
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System Platform Enabling Peer-to-Peer Electricity Market Model for Off-Grid Microgrids in Rural Africa
Off-grid microgrids powered by solar and battery storage can electrify remote African villages more cost-effectively than grid extension. The authors present a peer-to-peer electricity market platform that bundles power, connectivity, and digital services. A pilot in Namibia demonstrates that this approach improves investment efficiency and strengthens community integration while expanding electricity access beyond the 22% baseline in rural Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Off-Grid Power Plant Load Management System Applied in a Rural Area of Africa
This paper develops a load management system for off-grid solar power plants in rural areas using machine learning. The system combines support vector machines and fruit fly optimization to predict energy demand and detect anomalies in real time. Applied to a 50-household solar installation in Tanzania, the approach improves energy efficiency and utilization rates, offering a practical solution for sustainable rural electrification in Africa.
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Design and Control of an Off-Grid Solar System for a Rural House in Pakistan
Researchers designed and modeled an off-grid solar photovoltaic system for a rural Pakistani household requiring 40 kWh monthly. The system uses 560 watts of solar panels, battery storage, and a 1 kW inverter to meet year-round electrical needs. Computer simulation using local solar irradiance, temperature, and humidity data validated the design. The paper also presents control methods and data-logging approaches for the system.
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Applications and innovations in typeface design for North American Indigenous languages
Indigenous North American language speakers face significant barriers when typing their languages due to inadequate typeface support. The paper documents typeface innovations developed by Indigenous communities and identifies the critical role of designers in creating tailored solutions. It highlights how cross-platform consistency remains unavailable for most Indigenous languages, contrasting with dominant languages, while celebrating emerging collaborations between type designers and Indigenous communities that offer promise for addressing these longstanding technical inequities.
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Microfinance and Vulnerability to Seasonal Famine in a Rural Economy: Evidence from Monga in Bangladesh
Microfinance membership in Northern Bangladesh improves food security during seasonal famine periods, particularly for the poorest households. The benefit operates through consumption smoothing rather than income growth, since microfinance does not increase migration for work or reduce distress labor sales. The study uses land ownership thresholds in microfinance screening to identify causal effects across 143,000 poor households.
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Digitalizing rural entrepreneurship: towards a model of Pangalengan digital agropolitan development
Rural communities in Pangalengan, Indonesia possess agricultural potential but lack the skills to use digital technologies for value-added production and marketing. This study develops a framework to build digital literacy and entrepreneurial capacity among agribusiness operators, drawing lessons from Kintamani, Bali, where coffee farmers successfully used digital tools and the internet to improve production knowledge and market reach.
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Breaking the Digital Divide in Rural Africa
Telecentres reduce the digital divide between urban and rural areas in developing countries. When properly organized and functional, with adequate awareness campaigns, telecentres enable rural populations to access digital services and information. The paper examines how these community technology hubs bridge connectivity gaps and support rural development in Africa.
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Remote and rural placements occurring during early medical training as a multidimensional place-based medical education experience
A medical school in Northern Ontario places second-year students in remote and rural communities for four-week clinical rotations to prepare them for rural practice. The study found that students, instructors, and institutions shared five core educational aims but differed significantly in emphasis and priorities. Students valued clinical training but undervalued community engagement, while teachers prioritized broader place-based learning. The research recommends curricula explicitly address these expectation gaps to improve rural medical education outcomes.
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RENEWABLE ENERGY ACCESS CHALLENGE AT HOUSEHOLD LEVEL FOR THE POOR IN RURAL ZIMBABWE: IS BIOGAS ENERGY A REMEDY?
This study examines renewable energy access for poor rural households in Zimbabwe, specifically investigating whether biogas energy can address energy poverty. The research finds that biogas alone cannot solve Zimbabwe's energy crisis. Key barriers include lack of knowledge about biogas technology, insufficient startup capital, high installation costs, inadequate funding, and negative community attitudes. The paper argues that sustainable energy solutions require addressing root causes of energy poverty beyond technology provision.
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Hybrid Renewable System based Pumped Energy Storage for the Electrification of Rural Areas
This paper examines hybrid solar-pumped hydro storage systems for electrifying rural areas in Sarawak. The authors modeled an off-grid micro-hybrid system combining photovoltaic panels with pumped hydro energy storage using MATLAB Simulink. Results demonstrate that pumped hydro storage significantly improves system reliability and enables continuous power supply to rural communities, even under uncertain conditions.
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Business Model Design for Rural Off-the-Grid Electrification and Digitalization Concept
Microgrids can provide electricity to remote rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa, but lack clear business models. This paper analyzes an integrated off-grid concept delivering renewable electricity, internet connectivity, and digital services together using a business model canvas approach. The authors propose a framework for developing sustainable rural microgrids in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Markers of identification in Indigenous academic writing: A case study of genre innovation
Māori scholars writing in the journal AlterNative use distinctive linguistic features—ambiguous collective pronouns, personal storytelling, and prominent acknowledgment of Elders' knowledge—that reflect Indigenous knowledge-making practices and protocols. These features represent genre innovation within academic writing, showing how Indigenous epistemes reshape dominant academic discourse while maintaining social relations with communities both inside and outside the academy.
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Review of Rural Marketing in India and Innovations in Rural Marketing
Rural India's 833 million people represent a growing market attracting businesses. As rural literacy and awareness increase, consumers demand better value. Successful rural marketing requires understanding local consumers, direct engagement, and product demonstrations. The paper reviews marketing innovations and strategies that have emerged to serve rural Indian markets, concluding that rural marketing development offers significant economic opportunities for both businesses and rural communities.
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Management of Innovation of the Economic Potential of the Rural Enterprises
Rural enterprises face innovation challenges that threaten their stability and viability. This paper develops a clustering methodology to identify the economic potential of rural settlements across four dimensions: economic, social, infrastructure, and environmental. Using data from Czech municipalities, the authors create models to classify areas by their innovation capacity and define business potential through regression analysis. The method enables practitioners to identify which rural locations have suitable conditions for innovation and economic development.
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Minnesota's Digital Divide: How Minnesota Can Replicate the Rural Electrification Act to Deliver Rural Broadband
Rural Minnesota students lack adequate broadband access, which undermines their constitutional right to education. The paper argues that Minnesota legislators should adopt a policy framework modeled on the New Deal's Rural Electrification Act to build broadband infrastructure in underserved rural areas and ensure equitable educational opportunities.
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The role of European funds in developing and sustaining rural entrepreneurship in Romania
European Union funding through Romania's National Rural Development Program (2014-2020) supports rural entrepreneurship by enabling SMEs to access grants for business development. The study analyzes program results using official statistics and reports, measuring outcomes like job creation and population reach. It identifies how EU funds drive rural economic development while documenting persistent challenges Romanian rural entrepreneurs face despite these funding mechanisms.
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IDENTIFYING THE BEST DECENTRALIZED RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION IN NEPAL
This paper evaluates decentralized renewable energy systems for rural electrification in Nepal using nineteen sustainability indicators across technical, social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Using an Analytical Hierarchy Process model, the researchers ranked five energy options. Micro-hydropower emerged as the best choice for rural electrification, followed by solar home systems, solar mini-grids, and wind-solar hybrids, while biomass ranked lowest. The findings guide policymakers in designing sustainable energy policies and programs for Nepal.
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Integration and Control of Renewable Energy-Based Rural Microgrids
This paper develops a control system for rural microgrids that integrate wind, solar, and biogas energy sources. The system maintains stable frequency and voltage by automatically adjusting biogas generation to compensate for fluctuations in renewable energy supply or changes in power demand. The approach prevents excess power flow between interconnected microgrids and enables seamless switching between grid-connected and off-grid operation.
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Determinants of Rural Households’ Participation in Microfinance Program: The Case of Omo Microfinance Institution, Sodo Woreda, Southern Nations Nationalities, and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia
Rural households in Ethiopia who participate in microfinance programs earn significantly higher incomes and accumulate more assets than non-participants. Family size, education level, and extension contact increase participation, while dependent members, complex credit procedures, borrowing risk perception, and distance from the lender reduce it. Participants showed better agricultural input use, food consumption, and livestock holdings, demonstrating microfinance's positive impact on rural livelihoods.
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The relationship between a microfinance-based healthcare delivery platform, health insurance coverage, health screenings, and disease management in rural Western Kenya
A microfinance program integrated with health screenings in rural Western Kenya significantly increased rates of health screening for multiple conditions including diabetes and cervical cancer among participants. However, microfinance membership did not improve health insurance uptake or disease management outcomes. The findings suggest that combining microfinance with healthcare delivery can overcome structural barriers to screening access, though additional interventions are needed to improve insurance coverage and disease management in low-resource settings.
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Financialising governance? State actor engagement with private finance for rural development in the Northern Territory of Australia
Government officials in Australia's Northern Territory actively shape agricultural finance investments rather than passively enabling them. The paper examines how local officials translate national development policies into practice by attracting private capital while moderating its activities. This reveals the state as an engaged actor assembling financial investment patterns, not simply a structural backdrop for financialisation.
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Innovations in Agricultural Credit Disbursement and Payment Systems for Financial Inclusion in Rural India
India has implemented several innovative credit and payment systems to improve agricultural financing and financial inclusion. Kisan Credit Cards, Self-Help Group bank linkages, Joint Liability Groups, and Farmer Producer Organizations have expanded institutional credit access, with most showing strong recent performance. Card-based and mobile payment systems have increased transparency. Farmer adoption of these innovations varies by age, education, farm size, and land holdings.
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Measuring urban and rural establishment innovation in the United States
Patents are commonly used to measure innovation, but this study tests whether they work equally well in rural and urban areas. Using data from nearly 11,000 U.S. establishments, researchers compared patents against 39 alternative innovation measures. They found that patents reliably capture innovation in urban areas but perform poorly for rural establishments. The study recommends using different measurement approaches depending on whether establishments are urban or rural.
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Social Capital, Entrepreneurship and Rural Development
Retired migrant workers returning to Arjowilangun Village in Indonesia possess strong social capital—built on kinship, trust, and mutual cooperation—that directly influences their decision to start businesses. Social network analysis identified 14 key community figures capable of spreading entrepreneurial information. Higher social capital significantly correlates with entrepreneurship uptake, which drives village development and reduces dependence on remittances alone.
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Economic Contribution and Inequality Mitigation of Wicker Handicraft Entrepreneurship in Rural Kashmir, India
Wicker handicraft entrepreneurship in Kashmir generates substantial income for rural households and significantly reduces income inequality in the region. The study found that wicker handicraft income contributes nearly 67% of total household income and lowers the Gini coefficient from 53.14 to 21.85, indicating a strong equalizing effect. Education, family composition, housing status, and prior income levels are key factors determining entrepreneurial success in this forest-based cottage industry.
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Decentralised Renewable Energy and Rural Development: Lessons from Odisha’s First Solar Village
A solar energy project transformed Barapita village in Odisha into India's first 100% solar-powered village, initially succeeding with the Ho tribal community. However, technical failures and maintenance problems caused usage to decline. The study recommends training villagers as solar engineers using Gandhian principles and Nai Talim pedagogy to enable communities to manage renewable energy systems independently and sustain rural development.
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Optimal Design and Techno-economic Analysis of Off-grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Remote Rural Electrification: A Case Study of Southwest China
Off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, and biomass power generation offer a cost-effective and reliable alternative to grid extension for electrifying remote villages in Southwest China. The study modeled different system configurations to meet residential, community, and agricultural electricity demands while accounting for seasonal variations. Results demonstrate that hybrid systems deliver both economic and environmental benefits compared to traditional grid extension approaches.
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Assessing the asymmetric linkages between foreign direct investments and indigenous innovation in developing countries: A non-linear panel auto-regressive distributed lag approach
Foreign direct investment and indigenous innovation in developing countries have an asymmetric relationship. Increases in FDI boost innovation, while decreases in FDI reduce innovation output. However, FDI declines do not suppress positive innovation changes already underway. The study analyzed 20 developing countries from 1993 to 2017 using non-linear methods, revealing that policymakers must account for these asymmetries when designing development strategies.
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Rural Development Research and Policy: Perspectives from Federal and State Experiences with an Application to Broadband
Rural economies persistently face disadvantages despite changing over time. This paper examines rural development research and policy at federal and state levels, drawing on broadband work experience. The author argues that better integration among federal and state governments, academia, and the private sector is essential for solving rural economic challenges. Stronger relationships between researchers and field practitioners would help anticipate future needs and enable timely problem-solving support.
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Shaping “Digital Futures” in Alberta: Community Engagement for Rural Broadband Development
This paper examines the Digital Futures initiative in Alberta, a biannual symposium bringing together public, private, and community stakeholders to address rural broadband development. The authors show how iterative community engagement mechanisms create a productive cycle linking research and practice, demonstrating how engaged communications research tailored to local contexts can advance broadband deployment and sustainability in rural areas.
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Innovation supports for small-scale development in rural regions: a create, build, test and learn approach
Small rural manufacturers face resource constraints that limit innovation despite needing it to survive market downturns. This paper presents a support toolbox designed to help these firms develop new products through learning cycles and communicative prototyping. The approach formalizes their existing trial-and-error methods while building organizational learning capabilities into early-stage product development work.
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Improving competitiveness between EU rural regions through access to tertiary education and sources of innovation
Rural EU regions suffer from poor educational access, weak role models, and low dietary standards, creating limited social mobility and health problems. The authors propose integrating tertiary education with agricultural innovation to address these interconnected challenges. They argue that combining educational access with sector-specific innovation can improve regional competitiveness, social welfare, and economic viability in marginalized rural areas.
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Cultural innovation in the face of modernization: a study of emerging community-based care in rural Cambodia
Rural Cambodian communities have developed a Buddhist ritual called sângkeahăh that functions as community-based care in response to modernization and rising medical costs. The ritual, performed at homes of ill persons, collects donations for families while allowing participants to earn merit. This practice represents a grassroots, culturally-rooted response that shifts care from private to public spheres, demonstrating how traditional values support adaptation to rapid social change.
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EUROPEAN UNION REGIONAL POLICY SUPPORT FOR INVESTMENTS IN RENEWABLE ENERGY IN RURAL AREAS OF THE MAZOVIAN VOIVODSHIP
EU regional policy funding supported renewable energy investments in rural Poland's Mazovian Voivodship, but only wind and solar projects by local governments and enterprises received support. The study finds that eligible cost ceilings and low EU funding shares forced projects to rely heavily on non-EU sources. Insufficient funding emerged as the primary barrier to rural development, causing authorities to prioritize other initiatives over renewable energy.
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Renewable Energy (Solar) and its Impact on Rural Households’ Welfare (Case Study of Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan)
Solar energy adoption in rural Afghanistan improves household welfare by reducing health issues, increasing savings, and decreasing environmental damage from wood collection. Study of 200 households in Badakhshan province found that solar systems cut hospital visits and lowered energy costs compared to generators, though studying hours remained unchanged. The research calls for greater government investment in solar household systems to meet basic rural energy needs.
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Renewable Energy for Rural Development in Bangladesh
Bangladesh faces energy poverty in rural areas where 65% of the population lacks reliable electricity. Conventional fossil fuel power plants worsen climate change, threatening Bangladesh's low-lying agricultural lands and water security. The paper examines renewable energy sources as a solution for sustainable rural development, presenting current conditions and future prospects for renewable energy adoption in Bangladesh.
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Improved RLS Algorithm for Voltage Regulation of Wind-Solar Rural Renewable Energy System
Rural renewable energy systems powered by wind and solar face voltage regulation problems when connected to weak distribution networks. This paper proposes using an improved recursive least squares algorithm to control a grid-connected converter integrated with voltage compensation equipment, enabling better voltage stability despite fluctuating renewable power and irregular load conditions. Simulations demonstrate the approach effectively regulates voltage in these systems.
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The Role of Microfinance in Climate Change Adaptation: Evidence from Rural Rwanda
Microloans from Urwego Bank help Rwandan farmers increase agricultural productivity and income by providing access to seeds and fertilizer, strengthening their ability to cope with climate impacts like drought and erratic rainfall. However, loans alone do not fund broader climate adaptations like irrigation or contour digging. While cooperatives and VSLAs create safety nets, they risk deepening socio-economic inequality. The bank's informal flexibility on repayment during poor harvests raises questions about long-term financial sustainability as climate impacts intensify.
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Empowering Rural Women’s Involvement in Income Generating Activities Through BRAC Microfinance Institution in Sylhet District, Bangladesh
Microcredit from BRAC in Bangladesh's Sylhet District empowers rural women to start income-generating activities and achieve socioeconomic advancement. Women who accessed these loans gained business skills, confidence, decision-making power, and self-esteem. The study identifies barriers to loan access and repayment as obstacles that stakeholders must address to maximize microfinance's contribution to sustainable development and women's financial independence.
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Automated pastures and the digital divide: How agricultural technologies are shaping labour and rural communities
Agricultural digitalization in North America, particularly Canada, is reshaping farm labour and rural communities through automation, sensors, and artificial intelligence. The paper identifies three critical tensions: rising land costs paired with automation reducing labour demand, creation of a bifurcated labour market with few high-skill and many low-skill jobs, and corporate control of farm data. Using a social justice lens, the authors argue that digital technologies intensify exploitation of marginalized agricultural workers and deepen rural inequality, calling for policy and research to redirect digitalization toward supporting both food production and vulnerable farm labourers.
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Transformative social innovation for sustainable rural development: An analytical framework to assist community-based initiatives
This paper develops an analytical framework for understanding how local community initiatives and government structures work together to achieve sustainable rural development. Using a Costa Rica case study, the authors identify that successful social innovation requires 'bottom-linked governance'—where actors across different political levels and sectors share decision-making. They find that bridging roles (network enabler, knowledge broker, resource broker, conflict resolver, vision champion) and power-sharing are critical for social innovation to scale up and transform governance systems.
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The same course, different access: the digital divide between urban and rural distance education students in South Africa
Rural and urban students in South Africa experience vastly different access to distance education because of unequal ICT infrastructure. While open distance learning institutions can expand higher education access to marginalized communities, poor internet connectivity in rural and peri-urban areas severely limits students' ability to engage with online coursework. The digital divide directly determines educational outcomes regardless of institutional intent.
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Rural entrepreneurship in place: an integrated framework
Rural entrepreneurship requires a different analytical approach than agglomeration-based theories used in urban contexts. The authors develop a place-sensitive framework that identifies the specific conditions enabling entrepreneurship in rural communities. This meso-level framework helps policymakers and researchers understand rural entrepreneurial places holistically, moving beyond generic ecosystem models to address the distinct characteristics of rural contexts.
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Digitalisation in the New Zealand Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System: Initial understandings and emerging organisational responses to digital agriculture
Agricultural knowledge providers in New Zealand understand digital agriculture primarily as farm-focused, despite its broader disruptive potential. Organizations respond with ad-hoc adaptations to capabilities and services rather than strategic planning. The study reveals that uncertainty about digital agriculture's early development drives reactive rather than proactive approaches. Agricultural innovation systems should better support knowledge providers in developing deliberate digitalization strategies that anticipate future scenarios and reshape business models.
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Conceptualising the DAIS: Implications of the ‘Digitalisation of Agricultural Innovation Systems’ on technology and policy at multiple levels
Digital technologies are transforming agriculture, raising critical questions about data ownership, privacy, and governance. This paper examines Australia's Digiscape Future Science Platform and argues that agricultural industries need proactive policy frameworks and stakeholder forums to manage digital innovation systems effectively. The authors propose that deliberate attention to societal values in technology policy can help agriculture capitalize on digitalization opportunities while mitigating risks.
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Local institutions and indigenous knowledge in adoption and scaling of climate-smart agricultural innovations among sub-Saharan smallholder farmers
Local institutions and indigenous knowledge systems significantly improve how smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa adopt and scale climate-smart agricultural innovations. Development programs succeed when they build on existing indigenous practices rather than replace them, enhance information sharing, mobilize local resources, strengthen stakeholder networks, and develop farmer capacity. Participatory approaches that treat rural communities as active partners in designing adaptation programs produce better scaling outcomes.
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Re-designing irrigated intensive cereal systems through bundling precision agronomic innovations for transitioning towards agricultural sustainability in North-West India
Researchers tested bundled precision farming innovations in irrigated cereal systems across North-West India, combining subsurface drip irrigation with conservation agriculture. Systems with drip irrigation achieved 13% higher profitability in rice-wheat rotations and 5% in maize-wheat rotations compared to flood-irrigated alternatives, even without subsidies, while improving agricultural sustainability.
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Diverse diversities—Open innovation in small towns and rural areas
Innovation thrives in small towns and rural areas, not just cities. This study of seven successful Swiss firms shows that rural innovation depends on three types of diversity: internal workforce diversity, multiplexed interactions across hierarchical levels, and external connections beyond the region. The findings challenge the assumption that geographic density and agglomeration are necessary for innovation, demonstrating that rural networks can be equally diverse along certain dimensions.
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Inclusive Finance, Farm Households Entrepreneurship, and Inclusive Rural Transformation in Rural Poverty-stricken Areas in China
Financial inclusion drives rural entrepreneurship and poverty reduction in China's impoverished counties. Using survey data from 988 farm households, the study shows that actually using credit—not merely accessing it—encourages entrepreneurial activities. Formal and informal credit operate through separate channels but both support entrepreneurship. Farm household entrepreneurship directly increases household income, making financial inclusion critical for inclusive rural transformation.
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Urban and rural differences in geographical accessibility to inpatient palliative and end-of-life (PEoLC) facilities and place of death: a national population-based study in England, UK
Rural patients in England live farther from hospices and palliative care facilities than urban patients, and this distance significantly affects where they die. Patients more than 10 minutes' drive from inpatient palliative care were substantially less likely to die in hospices or hospitals and more likely to die at home. The geographic barrier was stronger in rural areas than urban areas, indicating that distance to facilities shapes end-of-life outcomes and that policy must address rural-urban disparities in care access.
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Social Innovation to Sustain Rural Communities: Overcoming Institutional Challenges in Serbia
Social innovations in rural Serbia address poverty, inequality, and migration despite institutional obstacles like weak law enforcement, poor infrastructure, and low trust. The study of nine rural initiatives reveals that social innovators operate through subsistence, idealistic, or lifestyle goals, creating new social values. Solutions to institutional gaps include developing context-specific organizations, strengthening legal frameworks, and designing innovative financing mechanisms.
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Place-based landscape services and potential of participatory spatial planning in multifunctional rural landscapes in Southern highlands, Tanzania
Rural communities in Tanzania's southern highlands benefit most from landscape services related to social gathering sites and cultivation. Participatory mapping methods effectively engaged 313 local residents in identifying and spatializing these services, revealing that cultural services cluster in small areas while provisioning services reflect biophysical patterns. Workshops demonstrated that maps and satellite imagery empower communities to express spatial opinions and participate in landscape planning, offering practical value for data-scarce regions.
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Farmers’ Demand and the Traits and Diffusion of Agricultural Innovations in Developing Countries
Agricultural innovations developed by international research often fail adoption among smallholder farmers in developing countries despite yield potential. This review examines why, analyzing technology traits and farmer constraints. Farmers frequently prioritize reducing variance, water use, or labor over maximizing yields. When external constraints ease, farmers reallocate resources in ways that don't increase yield intensity. Agronomical trial results poorly predict actual farmer demand in real conditions, requiring research and policy adjustments.
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Teachers' ICT Adoption in South African Rural Schools: A Study of Technology Readiness and Implications for the South Africa Connect Broadband Policy
Rural teachers in South African schools show strong optimism about using ICTs for teaching, indicating readiness to adopt technology despite financial and skills barriers. However, most schools ban student personal devices, creating a conflict with South Africa's Connect broadband policy goals of universal internet access and digital skills development by 2030. The study reveals a disconnect between school policies and national broadband objectives.
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Innovations for a Shrinking Agricultural Workforce
The paper examines how agricultural businesses adopt labor-saving technologies in response to a shrinking workforce. It argues that investment in new farm technologies must account for long-term labor supply decline in the U.S. and rising education levels in traditional agricultural worker regions, requiring strategic planning for a smaller but more educated workforce.
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Responsible Innovation for Life: Five Challenges Agriculture Offers for Responsible Innovation in Agriculture and Food, and the Necessity of an Ethics of Innovation
This paper examines how Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) can be applied to agriculture and food systems. The authors argue that agricultural innovation must balance economic, environmental, and social-ethical concerns, including animal welfare and food security. They identify five key challenges for implementing RRI in agriculture and call for ethical reflection on responsibility and innovation practices in the sector.
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How to Strengthen Innovation Support Services in Agriculture with Regard to Multi-Stakeholder Approaches
The EU AgriSpin project analyzed 57 agricultural innovation case studies to identify effective innovation support services. The research shows that support needs vary by innovation phase: early stages require network building and innovator support, while later phases need training and credit services. Brokering functions and knowledge co-production services prove essential for helping farmers and value chains innovate across farm, supply chain, and territorial levels.
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DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP SOLUTION TO RURAL POVERTY: THEORY, PRACTICE AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Digital entrepreneurship can reduce rural poverty by addressing structural barriers and improving rural entrepreneurs' financial outcomes. The paper develops a framework linking digital ecosystems to poverty reduction, examining how local government policies enable or hinder this process. Case studies reveal tensions between market forces, technology adoption, business viability, and government support in developing economies, with implications for rural development policy.
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How Can Innovation in Urban Agriculture Contribute to Sustainability? A Characterization and Evaluation Study from Five Western European Cities
Urban agriculture in five Western European cities generates innovations driven by specific problems farmers aim to solve. The study identified 147 novelties across environmental, social, and economic dimensions, with more innovations in environmental and social areas than economic ones. External stakeholders significantly supported these projects. The research demonstrates that greater innovativeness directly enhances overall sustainability outcomes in urban agriculture.
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Agriculture, seed, and innovation in Nepal: industry and policy issues for the future
Nepal's agricultural sector spans three distinct geographic regions—the Terai, Hills, and Mountains—each with different productive capacities. The Terai and inner Terai, at the lowest altitudes, generate the highest agricultural output. The paper examines seed industry development and agricultural innovation policy issues critical to Nepal's future farming productivity across these varied landscapes.
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Innovations in Sustainable Agriculture: Case Study of Lis Valley Irrigation District, Portugal
Portuguese agricultural innovation in the Lis Valley Irrigation District reveals a gap between policy frameworks and practical outcomes. The Rural Development Program's narrow definition of innovation fails to capture social innovation and process improvements essential to agriculture. The study shows that implementing water management innovations for sustainability requires policy reform to align agricultural priorities with environmental protection and rural development goals.
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Money or Management? A Field Experiment on Constraints to Entrepreneurship in Rural Pakistan
A field experiment in rural Pakistan tested whether microfinance clients benefit more from business training or larger loans. Training significantly improved business knowledge, reduced failures, enhanced practices, and increased household spending by $82 annually, with stronger effects for men. Larger loans had minimal impact, suggesting existing loan sizes already meet demand. Training proved effective but not cost-effective for lenders.
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Scaling practices within agricultural innovation platforms: Between pushing and pulling
Innovation platforms in Rwanda combine two scaling approaches: push strategies that solve immediate problems and pull strategies that build networks across multiple levels. The study finds that platforms most effectively increase farmer revenues when their activities align with government policies and existing conditions. Successful scaling requires protected spaces, flexibility to handle complexity, and strategic balance between both approaches to transform agriculture across Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Eco-efficiency and agricultural innovation systems in developing countries: Evidence from macro-level analysis
This study examines how agricultural innovation systems contribute to eco-efficiency across 79 developing countries. The researchers found that public research spending significantly boosts eco-efficiency in emerging economies, while foreign aid for extension services matters most in less developed countries. Foreign aid for research showed no significant effect. The findings demonstrate that effective agricultural innovation requires context-specific policy interventions tailored to each country's development level, rather than uniform global approaches.
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Innovation for inclusive rural transformation: the role of the state
Governments in developing countries must actively support rural innovation to achieve inclusive development. Analysis of programs across Algeria, Vietnam, South Africa, Peru, India, and Argentina shows state involvement succeeds most when coupled with local community participation. The state's critical roles include promoting agricultural innovation, building rural capacity, and delivering pro-poor social innovations. Success requires governments to support local capability building and bridge knowledge gaps between innovation producers and rural communities.
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The rural creative class: An analysis of in‐migration tourism entrepreneurship
In-migrants with creative skills have established tourism businesses in two Chinese rural townships, driving organizational innovation and competitive advantage. These entrepreneurs, fleeing urban life, bring entrepreneurial practices that reshape local tourism industries. Their ventures demonstrate how creative in-migration strengthens rural economies through innovation and sustainability.
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Service-Learning for Sustainability Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas: What Is Its Global Impact on Business University Students?
Service-learning in sustainability entrepreneurship improves business students' outcomes in Spain. Students working with rural entrepreneurs to develop business plans reported gains in social responsibility, sustainability commitment, and professional skills. Service-learning participants achieved significantly higher academic performance than non-participating peers, demonstrating the method's effectiveness for holistic business education.
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Gendered mobilities and immobilities: Women’s and men’s capacities for agricultural innovation in Kenya and Nigeria
Gender norms restrict women's mobility in Kenya and Nigeria, limiting their access to agricultural services and farmer groups compared to men. Women face constraints on where they can travel, when, and for how long. The study reveals that access to agricultural innovation networks often reflects gender role expectations rather than individual choice, creating time pressures that affect capacity to innovate. Interventions must address how norms and agency intersect to support equitable participation in agricultural innovation.
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THE INNOVATION OF LEARNING TRAJECTORY ON MULTIPLICATION OPERATIONS FOR RURAL AREA STUDENTS IN INDONESIA
Rural students in Indonesia struggle to learn multiplication because teachers teach formulas without building conceptual understanding. This study designed a learning trajectory using Math GASING that progresses from informal to formal instruction, emphasizing concepts over formulas. Students using this approach mastered multiplication operations more easily, developed their own strategies, and showed greater interest in learning.
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Scaling up research-for-development innovations in food and agricultural systems
Research-for-development innovations in food and agriculture often fail to scale despite successful pilots, particularly in poor regions. The Canadian International Food Security Research Fund supported applied research to develop and scale innovations. Key lessons show that successful scaling requires embedding innovations within local socio-ecological systems, engaging end users throughout research, enabling participatory decision-making, and ensuring innovations deliver returns for end-users.
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Supporting bottom-up innovative initiatives throughout the spiral of innovations: Lessons from rural Greece
Bottom-up innovative initiatives emerge in rural areas even under difficult conditions. The Spiral of Innovations framework, applied non-linearly, helps track how these initiatives develop. Innovation Support Services tailored to each initiative and its development stage prove critical for success. Networking between diverse actors—farmers, researchers, businesses, policymakers—drives innovation co-generation and strengthens rural economies.
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Digital Divide and Poverty Eradication in the Rural Region of Northern Peninsular Malaysia
Rural communities in northern Peninsular Malaysia face a digital divide that limits their access to information and communication technologies. Despite government initiatives to close this gap, ICT access remains significantly lower than in urban areas. The study finds that ICTs alone cannot reduce poverty without strategic central policies and practical grassroots implementation working together to address barriers to access and socio-economic growth.
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Rural Entrepreneurship Strategies: Empirical Experience in the Northern Sub-Plateau of Spain
Rural entrepreneurship strategies in Spain's depopulated Northern Sub-Plateau work best when designed and evaluated by local beneficiaries from the start. The authors implemented a participatory entrepreneurship strategy in Ávila province using an adapted 'Working With People' model, finding that community-led approaches significantly strengthen rural entrepreneurship initiatives in aging, depopulated regions.
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Exploring the impact of innovation adoption in agriculture: how and where Precision Agriculture Technologies can be suitable for the Italian farm system?
Precision agriculture technologies using IoT and ICT can improve farm efficiency and sustainability by reducing inputs while protecting resources. This study identifies barriers to adoption in Italy, including cultural resistance to innovation, limited awareness of benefits, and small average farm sizes that make investment difficult. Analysis shows northeastern Italy is most suitable for precision agriculture technology adoption.
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Exploring potential climate-related entrepreneurship opportunities and challenges for rural Nigerian women
Rural women in southwest Nigeria recognize climate change impacts on their livelihoods and show strong interest in entrepreneurship as adaptation. Crop farmers demonstrate the highest climate awareness. Women report soil fertility loss, unpredictable rainfall, and extended dry seasons severely affecting their activities. The study identifies technological, institutional, and infrastructural innovations as opportunities to build adaptive capacity and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the need for government support and collaboration between local authorities, community organizations, and public-private actors.
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Gendered processes of agricultural innovation in the Northern uplands of Vietnam
Ethnic minority women in Vietnam's Northern uplands develop agricultural innovations through informal networks and family structures rather than formal institutions. Their innovations are incremental, small-scale, and linked to entrepreneurship, strengthening their household position and economy. Understanding these gendered innovation processes reveals that women's approaches differ fundamentally from men's, requiring policymakers to redesign agricultural support programs to fit women's actual practices and preferences rather than imposing standardized packages.
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Design and environmental sustainability assessment of small-scale off-grid energy systems for remote rural communities
This study designs and evaluates 21 off-grid renewable energy systems for a rural Philippine community using life cycle assessment. Hybrid solar-wind systems with storage reduce environmental impacts 17–40% compared to stand-alone installations. Batteries create major environmental burdens, accounting for up to 88% of impacts. Community micro-grids with wind turbines and household solar panels combined with shared lithium-ion batteries emerge as the most environmentally sustainable configuration for remote rural electrification.
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Optimization and cost-benefit assessment of hybrid power systems for off-grid rural electrification in Ethiopia
A hybrid power system combining solar, wind, battery storage, and diesel generation can reliably electrify remote rural villages in Ethiopia at lower cost than standalone solar systems. Researchers modeled an optimal system for a specific village, finding it generates electricity at $0.207 per kilowatt-hour while reducing annual carbon emissions by 37.3 tons compared to diesel-only generation.
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Decentralized rural electrification in Kenya: Speeding up universal energy access
This paper maps Kenya's energy infrastructure and develops a spatial model to identify cost-effective rural electrification strategies. The model evaluates diesel generators, solar, wind, hydro mini-grids, hybrid systems, and grid extension for remote areas. Comparing the model's results with Kenya's national Rural Electrification Master Plan reveals complementarities in planning approaches. The analysis shows that decentralized renewable energy systems can deliver universal energy access to rural households competitively.
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Development of Renewable Energy Technologies in rural areas of Pakistan
Pakistan has significant renewable energy potential in solar, wind, biomass, and hydroelectricity, yet few companies develop these technologies in rural areas. This study examines renewable energy technology development and policy implementation for rural Pakistan. Rural households consume less electricity than urban ones despite agriculture being the primary income source. The authors recommend governments expand renewable energy projects in rural areas to create employment, improve living standards, and boost the economy, while adopting policies similar to China and the US.
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Chefs as change-makers from the kitchen: indigenous knowledge and traditional food as sustainability innovations
Kitchens and chefs drive food system transformation by leveraging traditional knowledge of local food species to create nutritious, delicious dishes. The paper identifies cooks as key innovators addressing food security and sustainability challenges. By connecting indigenous food knowledge to contemporary culinary practice, chefs help build more equitable and environmentally sustainable food systems.
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Off‐grid hybrid renewable energy system for rural healthcare centers: A case study in Nigeria
This study designs an optimal off-grid hybrid renewable energy system for rural healthcare centers across Nigeria's six regions. Researchers evaluated combinations of solar, wind, diesel, and battery systems using technical and economic analysis, including sensitivity testing for fuel subsidy removal. A solar-diesel-battery configuration proved most cost-effective across all locations, delivering 70-80% renewable energy with energy costs between $0.51-0.54 per kilowatt-hour.
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Benefits and challenges to productive use of off-grid rural electrification: The case of mini-hydropower in Bulongwa-Tanzania
A mini-hydropower minigrid in southern Tanzania enabled productive uses including barber shops, welding, phone charging, and salons. However, the system faces sustainability challenges: poor initial planning, lack of technicians and spare parts, inadequate tariffs that don't reflect market prices, and insufficient power capacity requiring load shedding. Subsidized electricity alone cannot drive rural business growth without addressing technical resources, planning, and pricing structures.
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Associations Between Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment and Intimate Partner Violence: Findings From a Microfinance Plus Program in Rural North West Province, South Africa
A microfinance program in rural South Africa shows that women's economic empowerment reduces physical and sexual intimate partner violence, but the relationship between specific economic indicators and different abuse types remains inconsistent. Economic stress and traditional gender roles within marriages influence violence risk. The study finds that complementary programming addressing multiple empowerment dimensions is needed, as different aspects of women's economic situation affect different forms of abuse differently.
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Sizing of renewable energy based hybrid system for rural electrification using grey wolf optimisation approach
This paper develops an optimization method for sizing hybrid renewable energy systems in rural villages. Using grey wolf optimization, researchers designed a solar, biomass, biogas, and battery system to provide reliable electricity to households in Haryana, India. The proposed approach outperformed existing optimization methods like harmony search and particle swarm optimization.
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Bridging the rural efficiency gap: expanding access to energy efficiency upgrades in remote and high energy cost communities
Rural communities in the USA, particularly in Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, face a "rural energy efficiency gap" where residents pay 33% higher energy burdens than urban areas but struggle to access efficiency upgrades. Geographic isolation, financial constraints, and lack of awareness create barriers that prevent those most needing efficiency improvements from obtaining them. The paper identifies these barriers and documents strategies that help rural residents access home energy upgrades, reduce bills, and improve comfort.
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Design, Simulation, and Economic Optimization of an Off-Grid Photovoltaic System for Rural Electrification
This paper designs and optimizes an off-grid solar photovoltaic system for a rural house in Morocco. The system combines 1080 Wp of solar panels with battery storage and a diesel generator backup, achieving 79% solar coverage and electricity costs of $0.57/kWh. Further optimization reduces costs to $0.356/kWh by lowering solar capacity, demonstrating how renewable energy systems can provide affordable, clean power to rural African communities.
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Industry relatedness, FDI liberalization and the indigenous innovation process in China
This study examines how Chinese firms innovate through related industries, particularly when foreign ownership restrictions ease. The research shows that R&D investment drives innovation output, which boosts productivity. Related industries consistently support innovation across all stages. When FDI liberalization occurs, firms increasingly leverage relatedness to adapt foreign technologies locally, recombine knowledge from adjacent sectors, and solve organizational challenges—strengthening their indigenous innovation capacity.
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Unfulfilled Promise of Educational Meritocracy? Academic Ability and China's Urban-Rural Gap in Access to Higher Education
China's rapid higher education expansion has not eliminated urban-rural enrollment gaps despite meritocratic ideals. Academic ability affects college access differently for urban and rural students. Rural adolescents with high academic ability gain stronger advantages in academic college enrollment, while low-achieving rural students see minimal benefit. The largest disparities occur in vocational college access for low-achieving students, revealing that structural and policy barriers—not merit alone—drive persistent rural disadvantage in higher education.
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MicroFEWs: A Food–Energy–Water Systems Approach to Renewable Energy Decisions in Islanded Microgrid Communities in Rural Alaska
Remote Alaskan communities face interconnected challenges across food, energy, and water systems. This paper introduces the MicroFEWs approach, which helps these isolated communities make renewable energy decisions while protecting food security. Using Cordova, Alaska as a case study, the authors show how increased renewable energy generation affects the local fish processing industry and overall community resilience. The framework offers a replicable model for other remote regions.
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Innovation to prevent sudden infant death: the wahakura as an Indigenous vision for a safe sleep environment
Māori communities in New Zealand developed the wahakura, a flax bassinet designed to prevent sudden infant death while respecting cultural practices like bedsharing. Research demonstrated its safety and acceptability. Distribution of wahakura and related safe sleep devices through health boards, combined with culturally appropriate education, contributed to a 29% drop in infant mortality between 2009-2015, with the largest gains among Māori infants, showing how indigenous knowledge and community engagement reduce health inequities.
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Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis of an Off-Grid Hybrid Energy System for Rural Electrification in Nigeria
This study evaluates the feasibility of a hybrid solar-wind-battery-diesel system for rural electrification in Nigeria, specifically for a secondary school in Moriki. Using HOMER simulation software, researchers found that a solar-battery configuration is optimal, with a net present cost of $18,161 and energy cost of $0.233/kWh. The system eliminates greenhouse gas emissions entirely through 100% renewable energy generation, offering a cost-effective alternative to diesel generators and biomass currently used in off-grid rural areas.
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The Impact of Foreign and Indigenous Innovations on the Energy Intensity of China’s Industries
Indigenous innovation drives down industrial energy intensity in China more effectively than foreign innovation. Foreign direct investment and imports reduce energy intensity, while exports increase it. The relationship between foreign innovation and energy intensity depends on a sector's technological absorptive capacity. Policymakers should maximize technology spillovers and consider sector-specific factors when targeting industrial energy efficiency.
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Optimal Design of Standalone Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems with Biochar Production in Remote Rural Areas: A Case Study
Remote rural areas can efficiently generate power using local renewable resources instead of long-distance electricity transmission. This paper develops an optimization model for hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, and biomass. A case study in the Philippines shows an optimal configuration producing $940 daily profit while sequestering 3,339 kg CO2 equivalent per day, demonstrating both economic and environmental benefits for agriculture-based rural communities.
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Alternate energy sources for lighting among rural households in the Himalayan region of Pakistan: Access and impact
Rural households in Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region use five energy sources for lighting: electricity, kerosene, candles, solar energy, and batteries. Education and wealth strongly influence adoption of cleaner energy sources. Electricity access significantly increases household appliance use and extends evening work hours, demonstrating tangible benefits for rural livelihoods in this Himalayan region.
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Intervention with Microfinance for AIDS and Gender Equity (IMAGE): Women’s Engagement with the Scaled-up IMAGE Programme and Experience of Intimate Partner Violence in Rural South Africa
A scaled-up microfinance intervention in rural South Africa improved women's relationship quality and reduced intimate partner violence, particularly economic abuse. Women who received multiple types of support from group members experienced significantly lower past-year violence. The program was widely acceptable, though younger women require targeted engagement. Group support emerged as a critical intervention component.
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Potential of microfinanced solar water pumping systems for irrigation in rural areas of Burkina Faso
Solar water pumping systems can replace diesel pumps for irrigation in rural Burkina Faso, reducing costs and climate vulnerability. A profitability analysis in Korsimoro village shows that microfinanced solar systems work best for medium and large-scale farmers and pump service providers, particularly when paired with storage tanks for cloudy days. At typical microfinance interest rates, only larger operations achieve acceptable payback periods.
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Renewable Energy Perception by Rural Residents of a Peripheral EU Region
Rural residents in eastern Poland were surveyed to understand their attitudes toward renewable energy. The study found that residents are more likely to support renewable energy if they already practice energy-saving behaviors, have specific demographic characteristics, and recognize health risks from coal pollution. These findings can guide future programs to build rural support for renewable energy installations.
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Effects of intellectual capital and university knowledge in indigenous innovation: evidence from Indian SMEs
Intellectual capital and university partnerships both strengthen indigenous innovation in Indian SMEs, with their combined effect exceeding individual contributions. Dysfunctional competition amplifies intellectual capital's impact on innovation, while environmental uncertainty weakens university knowledge's effect. Indigenous innovation directly improves business performance, with competitive intensity enhancing this relationship but uncertainty reducing it.
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Optimization of Hybrid Renewable Energy in Sarawak Remote Rural Area Using HOMER Software
This paper analyzes five hybrid renewable energy systems for three remote rural areas in Sarawak, Malaysia using HOMER optimization software. The researchers compared combinations of solar, hydro, wind, and biomass generators across different locations. Hybrid hydro systems with battery storage proved cheapest and most technically effective. Hybrid renewable systems outperformed standalone diesel generators in cost-effectiveness and carbon emission reduction, offering viable solutions for rural electrification.
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Microfinance for Wives: Fresh Insights Obtained from a Study of Poor Rural Women in Pakistan
Social networking enables poor rural women in Pakistan to access and effectively use microloans for business ventures. The study finds that successful microfinance use encourages further entrepreneurship and strengthens social networks. However, some rural women cannot escape poverty through microloans alone. The research highlights demand-side credit barriers and calls for holistic microfinance assessment that considers economic, social, and psychological impacts on families and gender relationships.
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Perceptions of local population on the impacts of substitution of fossil energies by renewables: A case study applied to a Spanish rural area
This study surveyed 231 people in a Spanish rural region to understand how local communities perceive the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The research measured willingness to pay for complete renewable energy replacement and identified which economic, social, and environmental impacts matter most to rural residents affected by this energy transition.
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INDIGENOUS INNOVATION, FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND THE EXPORT PERFORMANCE OF CHINA’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
Domestic innovation efforts in China's manufacturing industries boost export performance, but skill shortages limit their impact. Foreign technology transfer and knowledge spillovers from foreign enterprises prove even more effective at driving exports than domestic innovation. Over time, China's industrial exports show increasing domestic content, indicating growing reliance on internal innovation alongside foreign technology channels.
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The Experience, Dilemma, and Solutions of Sustainable Development of Inclusive Finance in Rural China: Based on the Perspective of Synergy
This paper examines inclusive finance development in rural China from 2011 to 2017, identifying barriers to sustainable growth caused by resistance among financial institutions, regulators, and other stakeholders. The authors analyze cooperative dynamics between these parties and propose solutions through numerical simulations to overcome obstacles preventing inclusive finance from reaching rural populations effectively.
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Optimization of Hybrid Renewable Energy in Malaysia Remote Rural Area Using HOMER Software
Researchers evaluated hybrid renewable energy systems for three remote rural areas in Malaysia using HOMER software. Biomass energy proved most cost-effective at $0.342/kWh and feasible across all locations due to abundant empty fruit bunch resources. Solar systems showed promise, with Kerteh requiring the smallest panel size (350 kW) while meeting demand at $0.442/kWh. Wind energy was not viable due to Malaysia's low wind speeds. Biomass emerged as the optimal solution for rural electrification.
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Renewable Energy Solution for Electricity Access in Rural South Africa
South Africa's rural electrification lags far behind urban areas, limiting economic and social development. This paper designs a renewable energy microgrid for Jozini municipality using solar, wind, biomass, and hydro sources. The proposed system delivers electricity at one-third the cost of the national grid while producing zero carbon emissions, compared to the grid's 0.99 kg CO2 per kilowatt-hour.
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Living Labs for Rural Areas: Contextualization of Living Lab Frameworks, Concepts and Practices
Living Labs—participatory spaces for co-creating innovation—offer rural areas a framework for sustainable development and smart village initiatives. The paper argues that Living Labs can bridge rural-urban opportunity gaps, drive digital transformation, support circular economy practices, and foster local self-sufficiency. Community engagement and social change emerge as essential elements for enabling sustainable rural living through these collaborative innovation environments.
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How Social Media Can Foster Social Innovation in Disadvantaged Rural Communities
Social media, particularly Facebook, has limited adoption in disadvantaged rural Japanese communities despite its potential to foster social innovation through remote networking. Most communities that adopted Facebook failed to expand their social networks. External supporters and migrants proved essential for successful networking outcomes. The findings suggest that policy interventions must address barriers to social media adoption and network expansion in peripheral rural areas.
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The Importance of Social Innovations in Rural Areas
Social innovations—new ideas addressing existing social problems—play a critical role in rural development that technical innovations alone cannot fulfill. The paper distinguishes social from technical innovation and examines how social innovations expand employment and support rural development. Successful rural strategies require active participation from citizens and civil organizations, supported by strong local identity and community cohesion. Technical solutions are insufficient; social innovations addressing disadvantaged groups and underdeveloped regions are essential for sustainable rural progress.
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Internet of Things innovation in rural water supply in sub-Saharan Africa: a critical assessment of emerging ICT
IoT and digital technologies are transforming rural water supply in sub-Saharan Africa, but their sustainability and integration into existing systems remain under-researched. This paper contextualizes rural water challenges in Tanzania as a complex problem, evaluates emerging ICT and IoT solutions, and argues that practitioners and policymakers must adopt a service delivery approach supported by better data collection and information flows to improve sustainability.
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A study on knowledge and attitude towards digital health of rural population of india - Innovations in practice to improve healthcare in the rural population
This study surveyed 131 rural residents in India to assess their knowledge and attitudes toward digital health services. Researchers found that innovations like e-health, telemedicine, virtual consultations, and smart pills are currently concentrated in urban areas. The paper argues these digital health technologies can be adapted and implemented in rural areas to improve healthcare access and outcomes for India's rural population.
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Living labs in integrated agriculture and tourism activities: Driving innovation for sustainable rural development
Living labs—structures that involve end-users directly in research and innovation—offer promise for rural development in Bulgaria. The paper analyzes living labs through SWOT analysis to assess their potential for driving sustainable agriculture and tourism in rural areas. It examines how living labs can encourage entrepreneurship, ensure quality and safety, and address the practical challenge of reviving rural regions through integrated agricultural and tourism activities.
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Diffusion of innovations
This review of 200 publications on innovation diffusion over 50 years reveals that research heavily focuses on consumer durables (70%) rather than cultural products or B2B goods. Functional products diffuse downward from wealthy to lower-income groups, driven by price and affordability. Cultural products follow the opposite pattern, spreading upward from lower to upper classes through identity formation and status signaling. The authors develop a theory of reverse diffusion to explain how cultural innovations spread differently than functional ones.
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Strategic Management of Open Innovation: A Dynamic Capabilities Perspective
This paper applies dynamic capabilities theory to explain how organizations strategically manage open innovation. The authors argue that understanding open innovation's benefits and limitations requires a strategic management lens. They develop a framework showing how dynamic capabilities help explain both success and failure in open innovation initiatives, drawing on papers presented at the World Open Innovation Conference.
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Does social capital matter for supply chain resilience? The role of absorptive capacity and marketing-supply chain management alignment
Social capital from business relationships improves supply chain resilience, but only when firms can absorb and apply external knowledge effectively. The study of 265 Turkish companies shows that strong alignment between marketing and supply chain management strengthens these relationships. Resilient supply chains directly boost organizational performance, making social capital valuable only when paired with absorptive capacity and internal coordination.
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Green innovation to respond to environmental regulation: How external knowledge adoption and green absorptive capacity matter?
Environmental regulations drive green innovation in manufacturing firms, but the mechanism depends on how firms adopt external knowledge. Using survey data from 237 Chinese manufacturers, the study finds that both command-and-control and market-based regulations increase external knowledge adoption, which then drives green product and process innovation. A firm's capacity to absorb and use green knowledge strengthens the effect of market-based regulations specifically.
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Promising Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<i><sub>x</sub></i> MXene/Ni Chain Hybrid with Excellent Electromagnetic Wave Absorption and Shielding Capacity
This paper is not about rural innovation. It describes the development of a composite material combining MXene and nickel chains for electromagnetic wave absorption and shielding applications. The research focuses on materials science and engineering, demonstrating how combining conductive and magnetic components improves electromagnetic performance. No rural innovation content is present.
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Integrating Technology Acceptance Model With Innovation Diffusion Theory: An Empirical Investigation on Students’ Intention to Use E-Learning Systems
This study examined what influences Malaysian students' willingness to use e-learning systems by combining technology acceptance and innovation diffusion theories. Surveying 1,286 students, researchers found that six innovation characteristics—relative advantage, observability, trialability, compatibility, complexity, and perceived enjoyment—significantly shaped how students viewed the ease of use and usefulness of e-learning platforms. The integrated model provides universities and colleges with evidence-based guidance for implementing e-learning systems effectively.
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Combinations of bonding, bridging, and linking social capital for farm innovation: How farmers configure different support networks
Farmers adopt new agricultural technologies and practices through different support networks combining bonding, bridging, and linking social capital. This Chilean study identifies five distinct network configurations farmers use to explore new knowledge while implementing innovations. Rather than a single optimal approach, farmers customize their networks based on personal motivations, innovation goals, and available resources. All configuration types successfully achieve farm innovation, suggesting support strategies must adapt to individual farmer circumstances.
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Micro- and Macro-Dynamics of Open Innovation with a Quadruple-Helix Model
Open innovation drives sustainability in the fourth industrial revolution through a quadruple-helix model involving industry, government, universities, and society. Industry builds innovation ecosystems on open platforms, government shifts from regulation to facilitation, universities engage in technology transfer and knowledge co-creation, and society participates in shared economy models. The paper proposes a framework addressing social, environmental, economic, cultural, policy, and knowledge sustainability across manufacturing and service sectors.
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Universities and innovation ecosystems: a dynamic capabilities perspective
Universities drive innovation ecosystems by developing talent, advancing technology, and partnering with industry and government. The paper applies dynamic capabilities theory to explain how universities can flexibly manage these ecosystem roles. Three case studies show universities successfully launching new industries, fostering entrepreneurship, and revitalizing local economies through strategic partner engagement.
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Integrating innovation diffusion theory with technology acceptance model: supporting students’ attitude towards using a massive open online courses (MOOCs) systems
This study examines what influences students to use massive open online courses (MOOCs) by combining two technology adoption theories. Surveying 1,148 Malaysian students, researchers found that six innovation features—relative advantage, complexity, trialability, observability, compatibility, and perceived enjoyment—significantly affect how students perceive the ease of use and usefulness of MOOC systems. The integrated model provides universities and colleges with evidence-based guidance for implementing MOOCs to improve student learning outcomes.
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Looking through a responsible innovation lens at uneven engagements with digital farming
Digital farming platforms in North America are built on narrow values that favor large-scale commodity crop farmers over organic and smaller operations. Designers and engineers select agricultural data that prioritizes agronomic metrics while excluding data relevant to diverse farming practices. The paper argues that responsible innovation in agricultural technology requires engaging a wider range of food system actors and incorporating diverse values into data infrastructure decisions from the outset.
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Sustainable Tourism in the Open Innovation Realm: A Bibliometric Analysis
This bibliometric analysis examines how sustainable tourism and open innovation intersect in academic research. The authors map the field's conceptual structure, identify leading trends, key journals, influential papers and authors, and track geographic contributions. The findings reveal the current state of sustainable tourism research in the digital era and highlight emerging themes to guide future scholarship and practice.
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Dynamics of digital entrepreneurship and the innovation ecosystem
This study examines how digital entrepreneurship develops within innovation ecosystems by analyzing an IT company in Brazil. The research reveals that as companies progress through different levels of digitalization, the supporting ecosystem actors and relationships they rely on change significantly. Strategic partners play a crucial role in helping small and medium enterprises transform their business models and create value through digital innovation.
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Ethics of smart farming: Current questions and directions for responsible innovation towards the future
Smart farming technologies like sensors, drones, and robots raise three major ethical challenges: data ownership and access, power distribution, and impacts on human life and society. The paper finds that current discussions lack resolution because stakeholders hold conflicting views about digital farming's purpose. The authors recommend future research prioritize clarifying societal and commercial goals, then use those goals to determine data sharing practices, build stakeholder trust, and establish guidelines for responsible farm digitalization.
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Impact of knowledge absorptive capacity on corporate sustainability with mediating role of CSR: analysis from the Asian context
This study examines how employees' ability to absorb and apply knowledge affects manufacturing companies' corporate social responsibility practices and sustainability performance in the Asia Pacific region. Analyzing data from 587 multinational corporations, the research finds that knowledge absorptive capacity directly improves sustainability outcomes and indirectly influences them through corporate social responsibility practices. Knowledge absorptive capacity proves more important than CSR alone for achieving sustainability goals.
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Intellectual capital and business performance: the role of dimensions of absorptive capacity
This study examines how intellectual capital affects business performance, testing whether absorptive capacity mediates this relationship. Using survey data from 192 managers, the researchers found that realized absorptive capacity—the ability to transform and exploit knowledge—positively mediates the link between intellectual capital and performance. Human and organizational capital strongly predict performance, while social capital has weak effects. Potential absorptive capacity showed no mediating role.
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Analysis of the relationship between open innovation, knowledge management capability and dual innovation
Open innovation and knowledge management capability both positively influence dual innovation (exploration and exploitation). Inward-oriented open innovation more strongly drives exploitation innovation, while outward-oriented open innovation more strongly drives exploration innovation. Knowledge management capability partially mediates the relationship between open innovation and dual innovation outcomes.
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Hybrid Orchestration in Multi-stakeholder Innovation Networks: Practices of mobilizing multiple, diverse stakeholders across organizational boundaries
This study examines how orchestrators manage multi-stakeholder innovation networks by identifying three core practices: connecting, facilitating, and governing. The research finds that successful orchestrators switch between dominating and consensus-based approaches depending on emerging network challenges. These hybrid orchestration strategies help orchestrators navigate the complexity of coordinating diverse stakeholders across organizational boundaries and achieve distinct innovation outcomes over time.
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Advanced Introduction to Regional Innovation Systems
This advanced introduction examines regional innovation systems as a framework for understanding how innovation develops and spreads across geographic areas. The work synthesizes key concepts and theories that explain how regions build competitive advantage through interconnected networks of firms, institutions, and knowledge flows.
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A comprehensive concept of social innovation and its implications for the local context – on the growing importance of social innovation ecosystems and infrastructures
This paper develops a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding social innovation and its role in addressing twenty-first-century challenges. The authors ground social innovation in social theory, examine its relationship to social change, and introduce social innovation ecosystems as a model for understanding local-level initiatives. Drawing on global mapping data from the SI-DRIVE research project, they demonstrate the diversity of social innovation efforts across multiple sectors and contexts.
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Open Government Data as an Innovation Process: Lessons from a Living Lab Experiment
A living lab experiment in the Netherlands tested open government data as an innovation process over two years. While interventions successfully increased data use and government awareness, scaling remained blocked by organizational barriers. The research finds that realizing open data's potential requires strong management commitment and systemic changes to rules, technology, and practices—not just making data available.
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Traditional ecological knowledge in innovation governance: a framework for responsible and just innovation
Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is often eroded by Western innovation focused on economic growth and technological modernization. This paper argues that innovation governance must shift away from growth-oriented definitions toward frameworks emphasizing societal goals. The authors contend that responsible innovation approaches alone cannot address TEK integration without confronting underlying decolonization and social justice issues that shape how traditional communities experience and control change.
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Is it too complex? The curious case of supply network complexity and focal firm innovation
Supply network complexity affects how well firms innovate. Using data from 201 firms across six industries, the authors find that horizontal and vertical complexity boost innovation but with diminishing returns, while spreading suppliers across many locations harms innovation. A firm's strategic focus and power over suppliers shapes these relationships. The findings guide managers on sourcing decisions.
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Collaboration beyond the supply network for green innovation: insight from 11 cases
Firms collaborate on green innovation across industry boundaries through horizontal partnerships and extended networks including suppliers and customers. Digital technologies, connectivity, and big data enable knowledge sharing and drive environmental improvements in energy efficiency, materials, emissions reduction, and recycling. Successful green innovation requires developing business models and finding collaboration partners that facilitate transformation toward connected products and services.
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The Penetration of Green Innovation on Firm Performance: Effects of Absorptive Capacity and Managerial Environmental Concern
Green innovation significantly improves firm performance across operational, financial, and environmental dimensions in Chinese companies. A firm's ability to absorb new knowledge and managers' environmental commitment both strengthen this positive relationship. The study demonstrates that combining green innovation with organizational capacity and leadership values creates integrated benefits for business performance.
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Quadruple helix as a network of relationships: creating value within a Swedish regional innovation system
This study examines a Swedish regional innovation initiative through the quadruple helix framework, which includes industry, government, academia, and users/civil society. The research reveals that the fourth helix is not a separate actor but a complex arena where the other three helices take on different roles to create value for society, such as new jobs or improved elderly care services. Users within this framework vary by context and can include businesses, organizations, and citizens.
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Effects of sources of knowledge on frugal innovation: moderating role of environmental turbulence
Internal and external knowledge sources both significantly drive frugal innovation in small and medium enterprises. Technological turbulence strengthens the impact of both knowledge sources on frugal innovation. Market turbulence amplifies the effect of external knowledge but surprisingly weakens the effect of internal knowledge. Managers must strategically choose which knowledge sources to prioritize depending on market conditions.
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Technological innovation to achieve sustainable development—Renewable energy technologies diffusion in developing countries
Renewable energy technologies spread slowly in developing countries due to economic barriers and market failures. This paper examines diffusion obstacles through innovation systems theory, showing how socioeconomic factors affect renewable energy adoption. Governments can strengthen infant renewable markets by understanding these barriers and building robust innovation ecosystems that address poverty and inequality while creating competitive advantages.
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Universities and open innovation: the determinants of network centrality
Universities with central positions in university-industry networks show higher involvement in spin-off generation and externally funded research. Patenting activity correlates negatively with network centrality. Geographic location has minimal impact on a university's network position. The study reveals that specific institutional characteristics either enable or constrain universities' open innovation engagement.
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Translocal empowerment in transformative social innovation networks
This paper examines how people gain power and capacity to achieve goals through both local and transnational social innovation networks. The authors analyze five global networks—FEBEA, DESIS, Global Ecovillage Network, Impact Hub, and Slow Food—to understand empowerment mechanisms. They find that translocal connections, linking local initiatives with global networks, enable actors to mobilize resources and drive social change through intrinsic motivation and self-determination.
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New developments in innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems
This special section examines innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems through multi-level analysis of agents, institutions, and regions. The authors synthesize research across the section, identifying key questions, theories, and methods used to study how ecosystems shape innovation and entrepreneurship. They propose a research agenda addressing context, process, and impact of these ecosystems.
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Social Business Model Innovation: A Quadruple/Quintuple Helix-Based Social Innovation Ecosystem
This paper proposes an ecosystem framework for social business model innovation using quadruple and quintuple helix models. The framework integrates civil society, political structures, environment, and sustainability to enable social innovation that improves human well-being. Case studies demonstrate that open innovation and clearly defined social missions drive successful social business models through collaborative knowledge creation and exploitation.
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Who Are Your Neighbors? The Role of Ideology and Decline of Geographic Proximity in the Diffusion of Policy Innovations
This study examines how U.S. states adopt policy innovations between 1960 and 2014, analyzing 556 policies to understand what drives adoption decisions. The research finds that ideological similarity between states remains a stable predictor of policy adoption, while geographic proximity to neighboring states has become less influential over time. Political polarization strengthens the role of ideology in shaping which states copy each other's policies.
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Responsible innovation in business: a critical reflection on deliberative engagement as a central governance mechanism
This paper examines whether deliberative engagement with stakeholders can effectively govern responsible innovation in business settings. The authors identify tensions between the responsible innovation framework's ideals and competitive market realities. They conclude that responsible innovation in business requires either fundamental market changes, modified engagement approaches, or a pragmatic balance between these options.
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Towards Responsible and Sustainable Supply Chains – Innovation, Multi-stakeholder Approach and Governance
Supply chains create significant societal and environmental burdens. This paper argues that companies must implement responsibility and sustainability across supply chains through three mechanisms: research and innovation support, multi-stakeholder collaboration involving industry and government, and shared responsibility across organizations rather than individual companies. The author uses Sedex, a collaborative platform, as a case study demonstrating how technological, political, and ethical solutions with sound governance models can balance economic, environmental, and social sustainability.
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Re‐storying the Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Concepts: The Model‐Narrative Review Method
This paper introduces a model-narrative review method to systematically analyze how business, innovation, and entrepreneurial ecosystem concepts are constructed and communicated in academic literature. The authors examine seminal works through thematic, enstoried, and rhetorical reading to reveal dominant narratives, hidden assumptions, and underlying meanings. The method exposes how researchers construct plots, characters, and moral lessons around ecosystems, enhancing conceptual clarity and enabling critical comparison across related concepts.
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The Three Stages of Disruptive Innovation: Idea Generation, Incubation, and Scaling
Large established firms can successfully develop disruptive innovations by mastering three distinct disciplines: generating new business ideas through ideation, validating those ideas in the market through incubation, and growing successful ventures through scaling. Amazon and IBM demonstrate effective approaches across all three stages.
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Open innovation practices and related internal dynamics: case studies of Italian ICT SMEs
Italian ICT small and medium-sized enterprises face distinct challenges and enabling factors when adopting open innovation practices. The study identifies specific internal dynamics for each practice type through interviews with eight companies. Results show that understanding these practice-specific obstacles and facilitators helps SMEs sustain open innovation and improve competitiveness.
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Citizen participation in public administration: investigating open government for social innovation
Local governments increasingly adopt open innovation platforms to engage citizens in generating social innovations. This study examines what motivates citizens to participate in a government ideation platform. The researchers find that intrinsic motivation drives content creation and consumption, while external pressures discourage active contributions. However, external regulation does encourage citizens to evaluate others' ideas, showing that different motivations drive different participation behaviors.
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Identifying and describing constituents of innovation ecosystems
This paper systematically reviews 30 publications on innovation ecosystems to clarify how scholars define and study them. The authors identify different approaches across industries and organizational levels, examining how value is created and captured, the role of orchestrators, and success factors. They find European and American scholars emphasize different aspects, and note that most research focuses on European contexts. The review provides practitioners with management guidance for establishing and managing innovation ecosystems.
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Co-Creation for Social Innovation in the Ecosystem Context: The Role of Higher Educational Institutions
Higher educational institutions can drive social innovation by adopting co-creation approaches that emphasize collaborative learning, systemic thinking, and engagement with communities. The study identifies key activities—mutual learning, knowledge sharing across disciplines, technology-enabled collaboration, and relational transformation—that enable HEIs to move beyond traditional teaching and research roles to address socio-economic problems through open platforms for collective action.
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Innovation Ecosystems as Structures for Value Co-Creation
Innovation ecosystems enable value creation through collaborative networks rather than isolated firm activities. The paper argues that both service providers and customers participate in large external networks to generate value together. This shift moves away from viewing innovation as something companies do alone toward recognizing it as a dynamic, interconnected process involving multiple stakeholders working in concert.
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Unpacking the social innovation ecosystem: an empirically grounded typology of empowering network constellations
Social innovation networks require three key elements to empower initiatives addressing societal challenges: local embedding, transnational connectivity, and discursive resonance. This study analyzed 20 transnational social innovation networks across countries and developed a typology identifying five ecosystem types, ranging from locally focused co-creation hubs to globally connected political movements. The findings show that effective social innovation ecosystems vary significantly in structure and scope.
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Knowledge co-creation in Open Innovation Digital Platforms: processes, tools and services
Open Innovation Digital Platforms facilitate knowledge co-creation by acting as intermediaries that connect firms and support collaborative innovation processes. The study of Regione Lombardia's platform shows how these platforms evolved from simple partner-matching tools into engagement platforms offering dedicated processes, tools, and services that help firms explore, acquire, integrate, and develop valuable knowledge through open innovation approaches.
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How Does Outside-In Open Innovation Influence Innovation Performance? Analyzing the Mediating Roles of Knowledge Sharing and Innovation Strategy
Outside-in open innovation improves organizational innovation performance, but the effect depends on two critical mediating factors: knowledge sharing and innovation strategy. Analysis of 112 firms across industries shows that external knowledge only translates into better innovation performance when organizations actively share that knowledge internally and align it with a deliberate innovation strategy.
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Digitalization needs a cultural change – examples of applying Agility and Open Innovation to drive the digital transformation
Companies pursuing digital transformation need cultural change, not just new tools and processes. This paper examines two approaches—Agility and Open Innovation—that foster the customer-centric, fast-moving culture required for successful digitalization. The authors draw on real-world applications to show how opening development processes to external stakeholders and adopting agile methods accelerate digital transformation and market responsiveness.
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How does open innovation lead competitive advantage? A dynamic capability view perspective
Open innovation creates competitive advantage through product innovation, but only when organizations develop the right capabilities. The study identifies three critical capabilities: transforming capability acts as a foundation that enables sensing and seizing capabilities, which together drive product innovation and competitive advantage. Organizations pursuing open innovation must deliberately build these interconnected capabilities to succeed.
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Knowledge management and open innovation in agri-food crowdfunding
Knowledge management capabilities drive successful open innovation in agri-food businesses using crowdfunding. IT-based knowledge exploitation enables open innovation strategies, while knowledge exploration capabilities mediate the relationship between IT capabilities and innovation outcomes. The study surveyed 80 agri-food crowdfunding businesses and found these knowledge management practices critical for innovation success.
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The function of ability, benevolence, and integrity-based trust in innovation networks
This study examines how trust operates in Norwegian innovation networks, analyzing three trust dimensions: perceived ability, benevolence, and integrity. Using mixed methods across five networks, the researchers found that benevolence-based trust proves most critical for fostering open communication and knowledge sharing at both organizational and network levels. Trust functions differently depending on whether it operates between individual organizations or across the entire network, with benevolence-based trust driving successful collaboration and innovation outcomes.
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Managing Open Innovation: A Project-Level Perspective
This study examines how innovation project characteristics—specifically complexity and uncertainty—influence successful open innovation management. Using survey data from 201 American innovation projects, the authors identify five key management factors: openness level, external partner selection, mechanism choice, collaboration formalization, and internal practices. The research demonstrates that project-level attributes matter more than firm-level characteristics alone for managing open innovation effectively.
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Building University-Industry Co-Innovation Networks in Transnational Innovation Ecosystems: Towards a Transdisciplinary Approach of Integrating Social Sciences and Artificial Intelligence
This paper addresses weak connections between transnational industry and university cooperation in innovation ecosystems. The authors propose matching industrial firms across countries through shared university partnerships, combining social science theory with machine learning techniques. Using EU-China science and technology cooperation as a case study, they demonstrate how integrating innovation studies and social network analysis with artificial intelligence can strengthen synergies between industry and university actors in transnational innovation networks.
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Entrepreneurial co‐creation: societal impact through open innovation
This paper examines how for-profit and not-for-profit entrepreneurs collaborate through open innovation initiatives like accelerators and living labs to create both business and social value. The authors find that different entrepreneur types pursuing shared opportunities generate competing social and business values. They identify four propositions showing how entrepreneurs' profit orientation and resource contributions determine what kinds of social value emerge from co-creation efforts.
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The Impact of Higher Education on Entrepreneurship and the Innovation Ecosystem: A Case Study in Mexico
A Master's program in technology commercialization at the University of Texas trained Mexican students in business creation methodologies. Survey data from 109 graduates shows the program successfully generated technology-based startups and built entrepreneurial skills. The research demonstrates that higher education can strengthen innovation ecosystems by connecting students, businesses, and technology transfer, offering a model other Latin American countries could adopt.
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Disruptive innovation from a process view: A systematic literature review
This systematic literature review examines how disruptive innovation unfolds over time rather than treating it as a fixed outcome. The authors identify three key dynamics: timing of market entry, synchronization of events and actions, and adaptability of strategic responses. They argue disruptive innovation emerges through complex, non-linear processes shaped by these interconnected factors, offering managers better tools to recognize and guide disruption as it develops.
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Antitrust and Innovation: Welcoming and Protecting Disruption
Antitrust policy should protect competition because rivalry drives firms to innovate. Horizontal mergers between competitors reduce innovation incentives by eliminating parallel R&D efforts, though merger synergies may offset this harm. Dominant firms may use exclusionary conduct to suppress disruptive competitors, which reduces both the threat of disruption and incumbent incentives to innovate. The authors develop a taxonomy of merger cases and exclusionary strategies using US and EU examples.
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Employee-level open innovation in emerging markets: linking internal, external, and managerial resources
This study examines how individual employees in Vietnamese telecommunications companies use internal and external knowledge sources to drive innovation. The research finds that employees who access both internal organizational knowledge and external sources produce more innovative work, and that managers' characteristics influence this relationship. The findings emphasize that open innovation operates at the employee level in emerging markets, not just at the firm level, and requires distributed organizational engagement.
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The Role of Stakeholders in the Context of Responsible Innovation: A Meta-Synthesis
This meta-synthesis of seven empirical studies examines how stakeholders participate in responsible research and innovation (RRI) projects. The authors find that stakeholders typically join late in the innovation process, during market launch, limiting their influence on design. Academic researchers and multi-institutional project leaders orchestrate participation. The paper argues that innovation management practices—particularly early user involvement—should be integrated into RRI governance to enable more responsible outcomes and meaningful stakeholder influence.
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Knowledge infrastructure capability, absorptive capacity and inbound open innovation: evidence from SMEs in France
French SMEs with stronger knowledge infrastructure capabilities—spanning technology, structure, and culture—absorb external knowledge more effectively and implement open innovation more successfully. Absorptive capacity partially mediates this relationship. The study validates a measurement instrument for knowledge infrastructure capability and demonstrates its direct positive impact on both absorptive capacity and inbound open innovation performance in small and medium enterprises.
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Motivation Gaps and Implementation Traps: The Paradoxical and Time‐Varying Effects of Family Ownership on Firm Absorptive Capacity
Family ownership affects how firms absorb and use external knowledge in contradictory ways. The authors identify two gaps—motivation and implementation—that explain why family ownership can either strengthen or weaken a firm's capacity to acquire and exploit new knowledge. The effects depend on specific conditions and change over time, particularly during ownership succession periods.
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Interdependence, Perception, and Investment Choices: An Experimental Approach to Decision Making in Innovation Ecosystems
Decision makers systematically overestimate success in interdependent innovation projects. When success probabilities are presented separately for each partner rather than as a combined probability, people become more optimistic, especially with more partners involved. This leads to inflated project valuations, adding unnecessary partners, and overinvestment in individual components. The pattern holds across different risk contexts and participant groups from students to executives.
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The importance of vocational education institutions in manufacturing regions: adding content to a broad definition of regional innovation systems
Vocational education institutions play a critical role in regional innovation systems by developing skilled workers who implement new manufacturing technologies. This study of two Norwegian manufacturing regions shows how vocational schools and industry collaborate to create tailored education programs that enhance manufacturer competitiveness. The research demonstrates that skilled workers and engineering technicians are essential for adopting emerging technologies, and that vocational institutions co-evolve with industries as technology demands shift.
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Containing the Not-Invented-Here Syndrome in external knowledge absorption and open innovation: The role of indirect countermeasures
The Not-Invented-Here Syndrome causes organizations to reject external knowledge, harming innovation. This paper identifies two types of countermeasures: direct approaches that change negative attitudes toward external knowledge, and indirect approaches that reduce the behavioral impact of those attitudes without changing them. Research across 32 interviews and 565 R&D projects shows perspective-taking effectively reduces NIHS effects and improves external knowledge absorption and project success.
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Goal Multiplicity and Innovation: How Social and Economic Goals Affect Open Innovation and Innovation Performance
Commercial firms pursuing both social and economic goals source external knowledge more effectively and achieve better innovation performance than those focused on economics alone. Analysis of 1,257 Belgian firms shows social and economic goals are independent, not conflicting. Firms benefit most when both goal types are strongly emphasized together. Social goals uniquely drive external collaboration, while economic goals alone limit open innovation adoption.
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Complementors as connectors: managing open innovation around digital product platforms
This paper examines how firms coordinate open innovation through digital platform ecosystems. Using Philips Hue smart lighting as a case study, the authors identify three increasingly complex ways independent companies connect complementary products to a focal platform. Managing these connections requires a hybrid approach combining open interfaces for many partners with intensive collaboration for select partners. The research reveals that managing interconnections across multiple digital platforms creates significant coordination challenges.
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Responsible innovation by social entrepreneurs: an exploratory study of values integration in innovations
Social entrepreneurs integrate ethical values into their innovations by creating direct socio-ethical value for beneficiaries, coordinating stakeholder action, and evaluating impact. This study of 42 social enterprises reveals they develop bottom-up solutions that scale through institutional support, enabling systems-level change. The research provides a practical model for implementing and scaling responsible innovation in business contexts.
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Expanding the field of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) – from responsible research to responsible innovation
Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) has become prominent in policy but remains narrow and top-down. This special issue broadens RRI by examining how researchers, firms, and other actors actually practice responsible innovation across sectors and regions. The authors expand RRI beyond research processes to include how knowledge becomes innovation in society, and encompass non-research-driven innovation. Ten case studies reveal heterogeneous responsibility practices, leading to recommendations for a multidimensional, multi-scale RRI framework.
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Effect of probiotics on the occurrence of nutrition absorption capacities in healthy children: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled pilot study.
This study tested whether probiotics improve nutrient absorption in healthy children aged 14-18. Researchers randomly assigned 40 participants to receive probiotics or placebo for 10 weeks, measuring blood levels of vitamins D and A, calcium, zinc, and iron at baseline, 5 weeks, and 10 weeks. Probiotics significantly increased absorption biomarkers compared to placebo after 10 weeks of use.
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Crowdsourcing without profit: the role of the seeker in open social innovation
Government agencies use crowdsourcing to solve social problems by engaging citizens, a practice called citizensourcing. This study of 18 local government agencies reveals that government crowdsourcing differs fundamentally from corporate crowdsourcing because both seekers and solvers are motivated by non-monetary goals. The researchers show how government organizational choices, team capabilities, and engagement strategies directly shape crowdsourcing project outcomes and success.
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RETRACTED ARTICLE: Startups and the innovation ecosystem in Industry 4.0
Startups incubated at a Brazilian innovation center drive digital manufacturing through open innovation partnerships with companies, universities, and government agencies. These collaborations operate informally and remain at early maturity stages, yet the complex ecosystem of knowledge sources functions as a strategic asset. The study reveals how startup partnerships advance Industry 4.0 adoption while exposing significant implementation challenges in Brazil.
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Understanding the diffusion and adoption of digital finance innovation in emerging economies: M-Pesa money mobile transfer service in Kenya
M-Pesa's rapid adoption in Kenya demonstrates how digital financial innovations succeed in emerging economies. The study applies technological innovation systems theory to explain M-Pesa's growth, finding that local adaptation, coordination, learning, and localized capabilities drive diffusion. The research reveals that standard innovation frameworks miss critical factors specific to emerging markets, and recommends policies to stimulate digital financial innovation across Africa.
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Open innovation in the public sector: creating public value through civic hackathons
Civic hackathons across the United States generate three main outcomes: digital prototypes, public engagement, and government awareness of open data. Public engagement and relationship building prove more valuable than technical prototypes. These open innovation initiatives enhance public value through better outcomes, democratic accountability, and procedural legitimacy, though their impact remains limited by early adoption stages and low external participation rates.
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Smart City 4.0 from the Perspective of Open Innovation
Smart cities can solve urban problems and improve quality of life by leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies and open innovation platforms. The paper argues that cities function as platforms where connectivity and innovation drive economic value creation. Through digital twins, cloud computing, and citizen participation via mobile devices, cities self-organize like complex adaptive systems. The authors propose a self-organizing city model based on a Smart City Tech-Socio framework to guide implementation strategies.
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INITIATING OPEN INNOVATION COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN INCUMBENTS AND STARTUPS: HOW CAN DAVID AND GOLIATH GET ALONG?
This study examines how large established firms select startup partners for open innovation collaborations. Using qualitative research with perspectives from both incumbents and startups plus external experts, the authors develop a process model showing how partner selection works in these asymmetric partnerships. The research addresses a gap in understanding how open innovation collaborations actually get initiated, beyond just their success factors.
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Innovating Pedagogy 2019: Open University Innovation Report 7
This report identifies ten emerging pedagogical innovations already in use but not yet widely adopted in education systems. The innovations address teaching, learning, and assessment for interactive environments. The report aims to guide teachers and policymakers in implementing these approaches effectively to improve educational outcomes.
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Key settings for successful Open Innovation Arena
This paper identifies the key conditions for establishing successful open innovation arenas within organizations. Through a survey of 25 researchers at a Portuguese engineering institute, the authors find that culture, leadership, and strategy are the primary drivers enabling firms to access external knowledge and collaborate effectively. Culture emerges as the most critical factor, followed by resources, processes, and measurement systems that support open innovation practices.
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Exploring Innovation Ecosystem from the Perspective of Sustainability: Towards a Conceptual Framework
This paper develops a conceptual framework connecting innovation and sustainability across three levels: individual firms, supply chains, and broader ecosystems. The authors argue that achieving sustainable innovation requires involving multiple stakeholders—customers, partners, government, and universities—working together systematically. The framework emerges from literature review and case studies, identifying how different actors can collaborate to embed sustainability into innovation processes.
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Jack of All, Master of Some: Information Network and Innovation in Crowdsourcing Communities
Firms that operate both customer support and innovation crowdsourcing communities gain significant advantages. Participants who engage in customer support communities accumulate knowledge about customer needs and solutions, which they then apply to generate higher-quality, more novel and feasible ideas in innovation communities. Companies can identify high-potential innovators by tracking their customer support activities and strategically mobilize them for innovation tasks.
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Absorptive capacity, marketing capabilities, and innovation commercialisation in Nigeria
Nigerian manufacturing and service firms that invest in absorptive capacity—through openness to external knowledge and formal training—and develop marketing capabilities for new products commercialize innovations more successfully. The study reveals that learning capacity and marketing skills directly drive innovation performance, suggesting government policies should support both knowledge absorption and marketing innovation to help firms capture value from their innovations.
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Aligning sustainability assessment with responsible research and innovation: Towards a framework for Constructive Sustainability Assessment
This paper develops a Constructive Sustainability Assessment framework that combines life-cycle thinking with responsible research and innovation principles to evaluate emerging technologies. The framework uses four design principles—transdisciplinarity, opening-up, exploring uncertainty, and anticipation—and a three-step process involving stakeholder collaboration, sustainability evaluation, and deliberative interpretation. The approach enables scientists, engineers, and policymakers to govern emerging technologies toward sustainability outcomes.
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How does IT capability affect open innovation performance? The mediating effect of absorptive capacity
This study examines how information technology capability drives open innovation performance in Chinese firms. Using survey data from 232 companies, the researchers found that both internal and external IT capabilities boost open innovation performance. Absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge—mediates this relationship. The findings suggest Chinese businesses should strengthen the connection between IT investment, knowledge absorption, and innovation outcomes.
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Towards regional responsible research and innovation? Integrating RRI and RIS3 in European innovation policy
This paper proposes integrating two European Union innovation policy frameworks—Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3)—at the regional level. The authors identify tensions between the approaches: RIS3 emphasizes place-based strategies but lacks RRI's attention to diverse stakeholder values, while RRI lacks geographical specificity. The paper argues that combining both frameworks' strengths is necessary to address Europe's innovation challenges.
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Evaluating the Determinants of EU Funds Absorption across Old and New Member States – the Role of Administrative Capacity and Political Governance
This study examines how administrative capacity and political governance affect EU structural and cohesion fund absorption across member states from 2007 to 2015. Government effectiveness and corruption control significantly boosted fund absorption, particularly in newer member states that faced lower absorption rates than older EU members. The financial crisis reduced absorption capacity. The authors recommend strengthening administrative systems and combating corruption in new member states and lagging regions to improve fund utilization.
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The design and testing of a tool for developing responsible innovation in start-up enterprises
This paper develops and tests a tool designed to help startup enterprises integrate responsible innovation practices into their operations. The researchers tracked the tool's effectiveness across 12 sustainability-focused startups in agriculture, food, and energy sectors. The tool enables innovators to systematically identify socio-ethical issues through experiential learning cycles. The study demonstrates that completing full learning cycles allows the tool to successfully embed responsible innovation principles into real-world competitive business settings.
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Decision-makers’ underestimation of user innovation
Managers and policymakers dramatically underestimate how much innovation comes from users. While research shows users generate 54% of valuable innovations across nine industries, decision-makers estimate only 22%. Academic textbooks and business media rarely mention user innovation, explaining this gap. The authors propose that this misperception leads to poor resource allocation and reduced innovation performance in companies and societies.
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Evolving Absorptive Capacity: The Mediating Role of Systematic Knowledge Management
Absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to acquire and use external knowledge—drives innovation more effectively when supported by systematic knowledge management practices. The study of 127 manufacturing and technology firms in Croatia found that firms with stronger knowledge acquisition and transformation capabilities can build better knowledge management systems, which then produce higher innovation output. This explains why knowledge management alone sometimes fails to boost innovation.
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Measurement of Social Networks for Innovation within Community Disaster Resilience
Social networks are critical for community disaster resilience, but measuring their impact has lacked standardized methods. This paper reviews empirical studies from the Global South using social network analysis to quantify social capital in disaster risk reduction. The authors find that robust social network analysis methodologies are emerging, enabling better cross-study comparison. They argue that mapping local social networks is essential for effective disaster preparedness policy, and recommend social network analysis as a core methodology for future resilience research and planning.
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Network centrality and innovation performance: the role of formal and informal institutions in emerging economies
Network centrality affects innovation performance differently depending on institutional context. In Chinese entrepreneurial firms, strong market institutions boost the positive effect of network centrality on innovation, while strong social cohesion weakens it. The combination matters most: firms gain maximum innovation benefits from central networks when markets are competitive and social ties are loose.
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How social capital affects innovation in a cultural network
Bonding and bridging social capital play distinct roles in innovation within cultural networks of firms. Bridging social capital—open relationships across distant sources—enables idea experimentation and combination, while bonding social capital—tight emotional ties—better supports implementing innovations. Both dimensions work together throughout the innovation process, with each contributing uniquely at different stages.
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Enhancing competitive advantage in Hong Kong higher education: Linking knowledge sharing, absorptive capacity and innovation capability
This study examines how knowledge sharing drives competitive advantage in Hong Kong's higher education sector. Research with 166 academics reveals that knowledge sharing strengthens absorptive capacity, which then enhances innovation capability, ultimately boosting competitive advantage. The findings suggest university leaders should prioritize knowledge-sharing strategies and policies to improve institutional competitiveness.
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Synthesizing an implementation framework for responsible research and innovation
This paper synthesizes existing frameworks for Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) into a practical implementation guide. The authors reviewed policy papers, EU projects, and academic literature from 2011-2016 to identify common RRI principles and develop a unified framework that researchers and engineers can actually use. The framework clarifies what RRI means in practice and identifies common pitfalls to avoid, helping move RRI from abstract concept to tangible application.
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Collaborative innovation and human-machine networks
Digital technology shapes how public organizations collaborate and innovate. Through case studies of cross-sector coordination, the authors show that technology is not neutral—it actively determines who participates, how they interact, and what outcomes emerge. Technology can either enable or obstruct effective collaboration depending on how it structures human-machine interactions.
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Applying open innovation strategies in the context of a regional innovation ecosystem: The case of Janssen Pharmaceuticals
Janssen Pharmaceuticals in Belgium actively shaped a regional innovation ecosystem around its R&D center by opening firm boundaries, sharing infrastructure, mobilizing funding, and influencing policy to attract external talent and expertise. The company moved beyond traditional open innovation to strategically embed itself in a regional environment, creating a world-class research hub. This approach integrates open innovation, innovation ecosystems, and regional economics theories.
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Network Centrality and Open Innovation: A Social Network Analysis of an SME Manufacturing Cluster
Small and medium-sized manufacturers in an Irish cluster benefit from their position within innovation networks. Firms occupying central network positions—connected to more cluster members—show greater innovation activity in product development. Firm size, absorptive capacity, and managerial orientation determine a firm's network position. Despite knowledge-sharing concerns, networking activity correlates positively with innovation performance in low-technology manufacturing.
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Strategic marketing approaches for the diffusion of innovation in highly regulated industrial markets: the value of market access
Two multinational healthcare companies in Italy overcame regulatory barriers to product diffusion by adopting three strategic approaches: conducting educational activities with opinion leaders and patient associations, simulating innovation impacts on the healthcare system, and establishing dedicated market access units. These strategies enabled firms to achieve regulatory compliance while promoting new product adoption in highly regulated markets.
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Agglomeration, absorptive capacity and knowledge governance: implications for public–private firm innovation in China
Private enterprises in China innovate more efficiently than state-owned enterprises, even when both possess similar absorptive capacity. Local spillovers from related industries boost innovation, particularly for firms with strong learning abilities. The research shows that absorptive capacity alone doesn't guarantee successful knowledge integration; private firms' superior governance procedures enable them to leverage external knowledge more effectively than state-owned counterparts.
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Frugal innovation in developed markets – Adaption of a criteria-based evaluation model
This paper develops an evaluation model to assess why frugal innovations succeed or fail in developed markets. The authors adapt existing criteria for frugal innovation and introduce the concept of "second-degree frugal innovation" to distinguish developed-market frugal products from those in developing markets. Through three case studies, they demonstrate that frugal innovation success depends heavily on market context, with differences in usability, quality, and pricing. The model provides practitioners with tools like value analysis to optimize frugal product development.
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The global connectivity of regional innovation systems in Italy: a core–periphery perspective
This study examines how Italian regional innovation systems connect to global knowledge sources. The research finds that foreign companies and entities drive Italy's access to global innovation networks, while Italian firms show weak outward connections. Foreign investment and presence in Italian regions, rather than Italian firms reaching outward, explains the country's growing integration into global innovation systems.
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Enriching innovation ecosystems: The role of government in a university science park
This case study of a Chinese science park shows how local government acts as an 'ecosystem enricher' by fostering connections between universities, industry, and other innovation stakeholders. The government's top-down approach successfully drove university-industry partnerships, but the researchers identify gaps in priority-setting, collaboration frameworks, and intermediary support. They argue that innovation ecosystems need hybrid governance combining top-down direction with bottom-up policies.
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Network Embeddedness and Innovation: Evidence From the Alternative Energy Field
This study examines how network embeddedness affects innovation outcomes in a large U.S. energy company. Using 16 years of patent data from 1,561 inventors, the researchers find that relational and structural embeddedness both strengthen exploitative innovation but show inverted U-shaped relationships with exploratory innovation. The overall network structure matters significantly. The findings suggest innovators should adjust their network embeddedness levels strategically depending on the type of innovation they pursue.
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Virtual user communities contributing to upscaling innovations in transitions: The case of electric vehicles
Virtual communities of electric vehicle users contribute significantly to scaling up EV adoption by enabling knowledge exchange across distances. The authors studied a large online EV community using internet ethnography and identified how virtual communities foster technology upscaling through distinctive participation mechanisms. These communities play an important role in promoting electric vehicle use beyond early technology development phases.
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The Impact of Local Government Policy on Innovation Ecosystem in Knowledge Resource Scarce Region: Case Study of Changzhou, China
This case study of Changzhou, China examines how local government policies shaped innovation ecosystem development from 2001 to 2015 in a region with limited universities and research institutes. The authors map policy changes across ecosystem formation stages and identify key interactions between government, universities, industry, and research institutions. They propose a framework highlighting critical policy areas for innovation promotion in knowledge-scarce regions.
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Toward A Theory on the Reproduction of Social Innovations in Subsistence Marketplaces
Social innovations often fail to spread in subsistence contexts despite their potential to address poverty. This paper develops a theory explaining how social innovations get reproduced in sub-Saharan Africa by examining what innovation attributes and actor capacities enable duplication. The authors identify three reproduction archetypes—mimetic, facilitated, and complex—based on the resource and knowledge requirements of innovations versus the capabilities of subsistence users and intermediaries. The framework reveals when users can independently reproduce innovations, when they need external support, and when innovations exceed local capacity.
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Open social innovation dynamics and impact: exploratory study of a fab lab network
Open social innovation through fab labs and makerspaces in Eastern Europe enables rapid local adaptation and social impact. A study of 170 fab labs in the CMIT network found that despite identical initial funding and rules, an open approach produced three distinct types—Education, Industry, and Residential—each tailored to local needs. This decentralized strategy delivered measurable social impact within years, outperforming top-down approaches. The research identifies key challenges social entrepreneurs face and proposes sustainability strategies.
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THE ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP AND CONFIGURING CORE INNOVATION CAPABILITIES TO ENHANCE INNOVATION PERFORMANCE IN A DISRUPTIVE ENVIRONMENT
Entrepreneurial leadership drives innovation performance in disrupted industries by shaping innovation strategy, while configuring core innovation capabilities—balancing exploration of new opportunities with exploitation of existing strengths—enhances performance during implementation. The study of Indonesia's telecommunications and banking sectors shows that entrepreneurial leadership and culture work together symbiotically, and firms should avoid collaborative innovation approaches that risk triggering core rigidities.
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Building Networks to Harness Innovation Synergies: Towards an Open Systems Approach to Sustainable Development
Open innovation networks enable individuals, firms, and organizations to share knowledge across boundaries and drive sustainable development. The paper proposes an open systems model with institutional support that accelerates knowledge flows, expands participation among diverse socioeconomic agents, and promotes environmental greening and social equity. Examples show how farms, businesses, and organizations can connect with critical knowledge nodes to participate actively in innovation networks.
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Developing the Transformative Capacity of Social Innovation through Learning: A Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda for the Roles of Network Leadership
This paper develops a conceptual framework for understanding how learning processes and network leadership build transformative capacity in social innovation. The authors extend Transformative Social Innovation theory by defining transformative change across three institutional dimensions—depth, width, and length—and explain how different types of learning support this change. They outline network leadership roles in facilitating learning across multiple levels and propose a research agenda for empirically testing these relationships in sustainability contexts.
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Lowering in water absorption capacity and mechanical degradation of sisal/epoxy composite by sodium bicarbonate treatment and PLA coating
Researchers treated sisal fibers with sodium bicarbonate and coated them with polylactic acid to create stronger, water-resistant biocomposites. The treated and coated sisal-epoxy composites absorbed 30% less water than untreated versions and showed minimal mechanical degradation when exposed to moisture, maintaining superior tensile strength, flexural strength, and hardness compared to conventional sisal composites.
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Innovating with Limited Resources: The Antecedents and Consequences of Frugal Innovation
Frugal innovation—developing affordable solutions with limited resources—drives performance improvements for firms in emerging markets. The study identifies two types: cost innovation and affordable value innovation. Firms facing institutional, technological, and market constraints generate more frugal innovations when they possess strong institutional leverage and bricolage capabilities. Dysfunctional competition also spurs frugal innovation. These findings show how resource-constrained emerging-market firms can compete effectively through resourceful product development.
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Universities in the National Innovation Systems: Emerging Innovation Landscapes in Asia-Pacific
Universities across Asia-Pacific play increasingly central roles in national innovation systems, though their contributions vary significantly by country. While Southeast Asian universities and India focus primarily on teaching and workforce development, countries like Singapore, China, Taiwan, and Japan have transformed universities into entrepreneurial institutions through innovation policies, technology transfer offices, and science parks. Australia and New Zealand have successfully commercialized research alongside exporting higher education services regionally.
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Planning, Land and Housing in the Digital Data Revolution/The Politics of Digital Transformations of Housing/Digital Innovations, PropTech and Housing – the View from Melbourne/Digital Housing and Renters: Disrupting the Australian Rental Bond System and Tenant Advocacy/Prospects for an Intelligent Planning System/What are the Prospects for a Politically Intelligent Planning System?
Digital planning systems promise to predict urban development outcomes, but housing data gaps systematically undercount vulnerable populations. The author's research in Portland, Oregon reveals that despite regional modeling capacity, comprehensive rental housing data remains unavailable due to political and market barriers, not technical limitations. This prevents planners from accurately forecasting displacement risks when transit investments reshape neighborhoods.
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The effect of enterprise social networks use on exploitative and exploratory innovations
Enterprise social networks boost both exploitative and exploratory innovation in Tunisian ICT firms, but through different mechanisms. Human capital mediates the link to exploitative innovation, while human and social capital together mediate the link to exploratory innovation. The study reveals how internal social networks strengthen intellectual capital dimensions that drive different innovation types.
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Higher education institutions, private sector and government collaboration for innovation within the framework of the Triple Helix Model
This research examines collaboration between universities, industry, and government under the Triple Helix Model for innovation. The study identifies weaknesses in existing partnerships and proposes a new framework to strengthen these relationships. Key recommendations include clarifying government's role, improving research commercialization, and ensuring network actors possess adequate knowledge to adapt the model to changing needs.
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A retrospective analysis of responsible innovation for low-technology innovation in the Global South
Low-technology innovation in the Global South receives insufficient attention despite its potential to address global challenges. This retrospective analysis examines how researchers applied responsible innovation frameworks to low-technology projects in development contexts. The study finds that responsible innovation can facilitate stakeholder engagement and reflection, but remains difficult to implement in practice. A key barrier emerges: deficit-based public engagement models undermine inclusive participation. Notably, low-technology innovators face the same engagement challenges as high-technology developers when attempting to give end-users meaningful input into innovations that affect them.
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Technological Frames and User Innovation
Online community moderators on Reddit who migrated to Discord faced scaling and design challenges. They responded by creating custom scripts and bots using Discord's API to modify the platform and replicate Reddit's functionality. End-user programming enabled these communities to innovate solutions to unanticipated design problems, transforming new platforms to match their existing expectations and workflows.
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Innovation diffusion theory and customers’ behavioral intention for Islamic credit card
This paper examines what drives customers to adopt Islamic credit cards using innovation diffusion theory and theory of reasoned action. Analysis of 762 bank customers reveals that relative advantage, compatibility, customer awareness, satisfaction, and attitude are the strongest predictors of intention to use Islamic credit cards. The combined theoretical framework effectively explains adoption of this Islamic banking service.
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Digital innovation evaluation: user perceptions of innovation readiness, digital confidence, innovation adoption, user experience and behaviour change
This paper develops short user-reported measures to assess healthcare innovation adoption by evaluating user perceptions of capability, opportunity, and motivation for behavior change. The measures map onto existing frameworks for understanding why health innovations succeed or fail at scale. These tools help predict whether digital health innovations will spread successfully across health systems.
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Research on Financial Technology Innovation and Application Based on 5G Network
5G technology enables financial institutions to innovate services through faster, more secure transactions and real-time mobile trading. The paper examines how 5G networks support fintech applications including backbone network evolution, drone-based facility inspection, and cash transport monitoring. These capabilities reduce financial sector risks, increase productivity, and improve customer satisfaction while strengthening transaction security.
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Responsible innovation as empowering ways of knowing
This paper examines responsible innovation through a case study of biogasification projects in rural India. The authors argue that inclusion in innovation governance often overlooks fundamental issues of how different groups know and understand the world. They show that exclusion happens when local communities lose control over their own knowledge and their ways of understanding are dismissed as outdated. The paper calls for responsible innovation to prioritize empowering communities' own ways of knowing.
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The Moderating Role of Top‐Down Supports in Horizontal Innovation Diffusion
This study examines how government support policies affect the spread of administrative innovations across municipalities. Using data from China's one-stop government centers between 1997 and 2012, the authors find that strong central and provincial policy signals actually reduce the influence of neighboring cities' adoption decisions. Top-down government support substitutes for horizontal peer pressure rather than complementing it, suggesting different diffusion mechanisms compete for influence on local innovation adoption.
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Relationship between R&D grants, R&D investment, and innovation performance: The moderating effect of absorptive capacity
Government R&D grants and private investment both boost regional innovation performance in China, but grants can crowd out private investment. A region's absorptive capacity—its ability to acquire and use knowledge—strengthens the link between R&D spending and innovation results, yet weakens the grant-to-innovation relationship. China should improve institutions and talent flow to enhance innovation efficiency.
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Genotype network intersections promote evolutionary innovation
This paper investigates how evolutionary innovations emerge by studying genotype networks—the sets of genetic variants producing identical traits. Using high-throughput sequencing of catalytic RNA molecules, researchers found that innovations occur where two different genotype networks overlap. Multiple genetic sequences can perform both functions at these intersections. Neutral evolution periods allow populations to explore genotype networks more broadly, accelerating adaptation to new functions. The findings suggest natural evolutionary innovations may arise through overlapping genetic networks.
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A synthesized framework for the formation of startups’ innovation ecosystem
This systematic literature review synthesizes research on startup innovation ecosystems from 2008-2018 to develop a new framework. The authors identify key actors—incubators, financial suppliers, accelerators, universities, and companies—and map their interactions through structures, infrastructures, and networks. They classify startup innovation processes into three mechanisms: genesis, growth, and development. The framework helps policymakers understand startup requirements and design effective innovation policies.
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From knowledge sharing to quality performance: The role of absorptive capacity, ambidexterity and innovation capability in creative industry
Knowledge sharing drives absorptive capacity and ambidexterity in creative industry firms, which together strengthen innovation capability and ultimately improve quality performance. A mixed-methods study of 150 creative industry entrepreneurs in Indonesia found positive relationships across this chain: knowledge sharing boosts both absorptive capacity and ambidexterity, which enhance innovation capability, which increases company quality performance.
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Toward a Theory of Activist‐Driven Responsible Innovation: How Activists Pressure Firms to Adopt More Responsible Practices
Activists pressure firms to adopt responsible innovation through strategic use of claims that create pressure beyond simple information sharing. This study examines four activist organizations across six campaigns, developing a theory of how activists drive companies toward socially and environmentally responsible practices. The research shows that activist characteristics and firm features shape whether pressure campaigns succeed in creating socioenvironmental value.
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International handbook on responsible innovation. A global resource
This handbook provides a comprehensive global overview of responsible innovation as a field of study and practice. It synthesizes current knowledge about how innovation can be developed and implemented in ways that consider ethical, social, and environmental impacts across diverse contexts worldwide.
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Practising innovation in the healthcare ecosystem: the agency of third-party actors
Third-party actors in digital healthcare ecosystems drive innovation by brokering connections between multiple stakeholders, mediating between different practices, and coalescing resources across networks. These intermediaries challenge established healthcare practices and enable new service co-creation opportunities by connecting diverse actors, institutions, and resources in ways that reshape how healthcare services are delivered.
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International networking in dynamic internationalization capability: the moderating role of absorptive capacity
Small and medium-sized manufacturing firms that build international networks strengthen their dynamic internationalization capability and improve international performance. Absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to acquire and apply knowledge—enhances this relationship. The study of 211 firms shows that combining international exploration and exploitation strategies creates competitive advantage in global markets.
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Combined Influence of Absorptive Capacity and Corporate Entrepreneurship on Performance
This study examines how absorptive capacity and corporate entrepreneurship together affect organizational performance in Spanish firms. The research finds that proactiveness drives innovativeness, which both strengthen a company's ability to absorb and apply new knowledge. Realized absorptive capacity then enables new business ventures and organizational renewal. Proactiveness and new business venturing directly improve performance, while companies must develop both potential and realized absorptive capacities simultaneously to succeed in corporate entrepreneurial projects.
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Social innovation, sustainability and the governance of protected areas: revealing theory as it plays out in practice in Costa Rica
This paper examines how social innovation drives adaptive governance in Costa Rica's Juan Castro Blanco National Water Park. Local community mobilization sparked social innovation that produced three key outcomes: satisfied stakeholder interests, effective governance arrangements, and community empowerment. The socially-innovative approach to park management improved both environmental sustainability and social-ecological outcomes across multiple levels.
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Technology in the Age of Innovation: Responsible Innovation as a New Subdomain Within the Philosophy of Technology
This paper examines responsible innovation frameworks through a philosophical lens, arguing that current RI approaches fail to question the technological nature of innovation itself. The authors contend that innovation is presupposed as inherently technological within a techno-economic paradigm, which actually constrains rather than enables responsible steering of innovation outcomes. They conclude that RI frameworks are themselves shaped by the very paradigm they attempt to direct.
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Innovation Challenges and Opportunities in European Rural SMEs
Rural small and medium enterprises across Europe face significant barriers to innovation adoption, including weak innovation environments, inadequate policies, skill shortages, and difficulty attracting talent compared to urban competitors. The paper identifies these obstacles through literature review and stakeholder consultations in six European countries, then recommends policy solutions focused on fostering business networks, training programs, targeted innovation support, improved marketing, and workforce development.
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Do translocal networks matter for agricultural innovation? A case study on advice sharing in small-scale farming communities in Northeast Thailand
Social networks drive agricultural innovation in Northeast Thailand's farming communities. The study maps advice-sharing patterns for sugarcane and rice farming over five years, finding that translocal networks—connections across migrant communities—carry substantial innovation knowledge. Extension agencies and elite farmers dominate formal advice channels, but migration experience itself enables bottom-up innovations that reach less-connected farmers. Translocal networks boost adaptive capacity when innovations fit small-scale farming practices and limited resources.
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The effects of rural–urban migration on corporate innovation: Evidence from a natural experiment in China
Rural-to-urban migration of low-skilled workers in China reduces corporate innovation in receiving cities. Using China's relaxed household registration policies as a natural experiment, the study finds firms in cities adopting these policies innovate significantly less than firms in non-adopting cities. An abundant supply of low-skilled labor makes existing technology more profitable, reducing incentives to develop new innovations.
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Sustainability, Innovation and Rural Development: The Case of Parmigiano-Reggiano PDO
This paper develops a framework to measure sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions in food quality schemes. Using Parmigiano-Reggiano PDO as a case study, the authors track how innovations between 2000 and 2018 affected product quality, value chain performance, and rural development. They create synthetic indexes showing how these innovations shifted the overall sustainability of the production system over time.
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Research and innovation in agriculture: beyond productivity?
Agricultural research impact assessment has traditionally focused on productivity gains, but this approach is insufficient. The paper argues that emerging concepts—bioeconomy, circular economy, eco-innovation, life cycle assessment, and ecosystem services—require rethinking how we measure research effects. While aggregate productivity metrics remain relevant, researchers need more nuanced analytical frameworks and broader definitions of productivity that account for environmental performance and sustainability outcomes.
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Innovation-Sustainability Nexus in Agriculture Transition: Case of Agroecology
Agroecology offers a promising pathway for sustainable agricultural transition by combining innovation and sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The paper argues that agroecology can harmonize these goals, though not all traditional practices qualify as agroecological, and farmer-led innovations require careful evaluation. Clarifying relationships between agroecology as science, movement, and practice remains essential for maximizing agricultural transition potential.
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Review of climate change issues: A forcing function perspective in agricultural and energy innovation
Climate change creates urgent innovation opportunities in agriculture, energy, and food systems. Rising temperatures increase cooling demands and energy stress, while droughts threaten food production despite projected 60% global food demand increases by 2050. The paper argues that innovations in agri-food and energy sectors can simultaneously reduce emissions, build climate resilience, improve food security, and reduce poverty. These sectors hold significant potential for novel products, processes, and policies that accelerate both climate mitigation and adaptation.
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Innovation Issues in Water, Agriculture and Food
Agriculture must produce more food despite growing competition for water and land, climate change, and droughts. This special issue examines innovations in agricultural water management across field and basin scales, focusing on irrigation efficiency, water productivity, sustainable practices, and inclusive water governance. Papers address crop water use, irrigation scheduling, system adaptation to water scarcity, drought impacts, water quality, remote sensing technologies, and participatory governance approaches to ensure food security and rural welfare.
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Place-Based Policies for Sustainability and Rural Development: The Case of a Portuguese Village “Spun” in Traditional Linen
European rural development policies increasingly emphasize place-based approaches that leverage local resources for sustainability. This study examines a Portuguese village that revitalized itself through traditional linen production, using collective action and local identity to combat depopulation and marginalization. The case demonstrates how place-based policies enable sustainable practices that improve both social well-being and economic conditions in rural communities facing demographic decline.
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Organic cultivation and farm entrepreneurship: a case of small tea growers in rural Assam, India
Small tea growers in rural Assam shifted to organic production for ecological and economic benefits, but faced obstacles including insufficient training, technical knowledge gaps, and limited market access. Despite these challenges, some growers succeeded by demonstrating entrepreneurial traits—innovation, risk-taking, and opportunity-seeking. The study concludes that developing entrepreneurial skills among small growers is essential for expanding organic tea cultivation in the region.
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Impact of Gender-Specific Causes on Women Entrepreneurship: An Opportunity Structure for Entrepreneurial Women in Rural Areas
Gender discrimination, limited female education, and restricted access to capital drive women's entrepreneurship in rural Pakistan, while illiteracy, cultural restrictions, early marriage, weak government support, and male market dominance create major barriers. The study of 342 rural residents identifies these obstacles and argues that supportive environments and advanced opportunities can enable rural women entrepreneurs to contribute to social and economic development.
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Scaling up innovations in smallholder agriculture: Lessons from the Canadian international food security research fund
Linear technology-transfer approaches to scaling agricultural innovations in low-income rural areas often fail because they ignore complexity, climate variability, and economic risks affecting smallholder farmers. This paper analyzes Canadian-funded projects that successfully scaled innovations and catalyzed sector-wide change. It proposes scaling principles that account for socio-ecological dynamics and recommends redefining impact metrics beyond narrow economic indicators to include sustainable agri-food system outcomes.
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Female Access and Rights to Land, and Rural Non‐farm Entrepreneurship in Four African Countries
Women's access to land and secure land rights significantly increase their likelihood of starting non-farm businesses in rural Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Malawi, but not in Nigeria. The study analyzed household data from 2013–15 across four African countries using logistic regression. The researchers attribute these varying results to country-specific contexts and offer policy recommendations to strengthen women's entrepreneurship through land security.
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Capacity development for scaling up Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) innovations: agricultural extension's role in mitigating climate change effects in Gqumashe community, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Farmers in Gqumashe, Eastern Cape, South Africa recognize climate change threatens their agricultural production. The study recommends that agricultural extension agents increase targeted training on climate change awareness, conduct regular farm visits to share information about new technologies and techniques to adapt to climate variability, and provide market information and storage facility guidance to help farmers build resilience.
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Overcoming Challenges of Incorporating Higher Tier Data in Ecological Risk Assessments and Risk Management of Pesticides in the United States: Findings and Recommendations from the 2017 Workshop on Regulation and Innovation in Agriculture
U.S. pesticide regulation uses tiered testing to assess ecological risk, but lacks clear guidance on incorporating advanced higher-tier studies into risk decisions. A 2019 workshop brought together EPA, USDA, NOAA, universities, and industry to recommend improved communication between registrants and regulators, simpler study designs, transparent risk management criteria, and retrospective analysis of past decisions to strengthen how advanced data informs pesticide approval.
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Land tenure system innovation and agricultural technology adoption in Burkina Faso: Comparing empirical evidence to the worsening situation of both rural people vulnerability and vulnerable groups’ access to land
Burkina Faso's 2009 land reform gave farmers formal property rights to encourage agricultural technology adoption. The study finds formal land rights do increase adoption of soil fertility technologies compared to customary rights. However, the law's actual implementation worsens rural livelihoods and reduces vulnerable groups' land access, creating a gap between theory and practice. The authors conclude additional measures are needed to protect rural people despite technology gains.
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5G New Radio for Rural Broadband: How to Achieve Long-Range Coverage on the 3.5 GHz Band
This paper demonstrates that 5G New Radio technology can deliver high-speed broadband to rural areas using the 3.5 GHz band. The authors propose network enhancements including massive MIMO antennas deployed on existing GSM sites and TV towers, combined with low-cost booster equipment for user terminals. Their approach achieves over 100 Mbps downlink speeds at cell edges, and with hardware improvements, exceeds 350 Mbps downlink and 30 Mbps uplink performance while extending coverage significantly beyond conventional GSM infrastructure.
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Rethinking rural entrepreneurship in the era of globalization: some observations from Iran
This longitudinal study of 40 rural entrepreneurs and experts across four Iranian provinces identifies four distinct types of rural entrepreneurship: orthodox economic, technology-driven, applied scientific, and development-supplementary approaches. The authors argue for a fifth model—anti-globalized cultural rural entrepreneurship—that shifts focus from productivist agriculture toward multifunctional farming and social movements, moving beyond rural-urban divides.
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Withdrawn as duplicate: Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) urges Congress to ensure efforts to increase and enhance broadband internet access in rural areas
The Society for Behavioral Medicine advocates for Congress to expand high-speed broadband access in rural U.S. areas to enable telehealth services. Better internet infrastructure would allow real-time healthcare delivery, increase access to specialists, and reduce rural health disparities. The organization calls for protecting and enhancing the National Broadband Plan through adequate funding, infrastructure investment, and regulatory reform to make rural internet services both high-quality and affordable.
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Can an innovation platform support a local process of climate-smart agriculture implementation? A case study in Cauca, Colombia
An innovation platform in Cauca, Colombia brought together farmers, NGOs, local authorities, and associations to implement climate-smart agriculture. The platform improved stakeholder interactions, increased farmer knowledge about climate change, and led to adoption of practices like crop diversification and reduced fertilizer use. Innovation platforms can effectively enable farmers to understand and adopt climate-smart agriculture suited to their local conditions.
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Multidisciplinary assessment of agricultural innovation and its impact: a case study of lowland rice variety WITA 9 in Côte d’Ivoire
WITA 9, a lowland rice variety released in Côte d'Ivoire, outperforms other varieties in yield and disease resistance. A comprehensive evaluation found 24% farmer adoption, with adopters gaining 0.7 tons per hectare in yield and $91 additional income per season. Consumers prefer WITA 9 to locally produced alternatives and value it similarly to imported rice. The variety offers significant potential for boosting productivity and reducing rice imports, though better seed systems and awareness campaigns are needed.
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Innovations in Value-Addition of Agricultural By-Products in Uganda
Uganda generates millions of tons of agricultural by-products from crops, livestock, fish, and forestry annually. Current innovations convert these materials into briquettes, biogas, biochar, organic fertilizers, and composite building materials. The review identifies additional opportunities: bones for soft tissue and buttons, blood for adhesives and fertilizers, and fish oil for food enrichment. These value-addition strategies reduce waste while creating new products and income sources.
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Middle years students’ engagement with science in rural and urban communities in Australia: exploring science capital, place-based knowledges and familial relationships
Rural and urban Australian middle-school students develop science engagement differently based on family relationships and local knowledge. The study of 45 Year 8 students reveals that place-based knowledge and family social capital significantly influence science identity formation. Rural students draw on different knowledge resources than urban peers. Teachers can better support science engagement by recognizing and building on students' existing family knowledge and local expertise rather than assuming uniform science capital across communities.
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Digital Divide of Rural Territories in Russia
Rural territories in Russia face severe digital inequality that undermines agricultural competitiveness and widens the urban-rural quality-of-life gap. The paper develops a qualitative analytical method to measure the digital divide in rural areas, addressing how unequal ICT access excludes rural populations from economic and social progress.
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The role of actors’ cooperation, local anchoring and innovation in creating culinary tourism experiences in the rural Slovenian Mediterranean
Rural culinary tourism experiences in Slovenia's Mediterranean region drive sustainable development when local actors cooperate closely and embed community values. The researchers analyzed 213 culinary experiences, examining ten in depth across cooperation, local anchoring, and innovation. They found that innovation significantly influences success and that experience types correlate with organizer types, making culinary tourism a viable alternative to mass coastal tourism.
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Language Education for Newcomers in Rural Canada: Needs, Opportunities, and Innovations
Rural areas across Canada are receiving growing numbers of immigrants and refugees, yet research on their integration remains concentrated in major cities. Language education is critical for newcomer integration, enabling access to social, economic, cultural, and civic participation. This paper examines barriers and opportunities for language learning in rural Canadian communities, identifies promising practices and innovations already in use, and analyzes teacher education programs to support effective language instruction in smaller centres.
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Applying the model of diffusion of innovations to understand facilitators for the implementation of maternal and neonatal health programmes in rural Uganda
Two maternal and neonatal health projects in rural Uganda—one using vouchers to reduce financial barriers and another strengthening health systems—were analyzed using a diffusion of innovations framework. The analysis revealed key barriers and facilitators to implementing health interventions. The researchers found that understanding how innovations are adopted and spread after external support ends requires studying projects beyond their initial implementation period.
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Associations between local land use/land cover and place-based landscape service patterns in rural Tanzania
This study maps how landscape services relate to land use patterns in three rural Tanzanian villages. Researchers used participatory mapping to identify eight provisioning and one cultural service, then analyzed their spatial associations with local land cover. The findings show that land use patterns significantly predict landscape service distribution, with both village-specific patterns and common associations across sites. This suggests land use data could help estimate landscape services at larger scales.
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Dynamics in rural entrepreneurship – the role of knowledge acquisition, entrepreneurial orientation, and emotional intelligence in network reliance and performance relationship
Rural farmer entrepreneurs in China who rely on business networks improve their performance primarily through acquiring knowledge. Emotional intelligence directly boosts knowledge acquisition, while entrepreneurial orientation strengthens the link between knowledge and performance. The study recommends that extension education prioritize knowledge-building programs and that policymakers focus on developing rural farmers' social capital and entrepreneurial capabilities to enhance business outcomes.
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Self-employment and development of non-agricultural entrepreneurship in rural areas
Rural self-employment and non-agricultural entrepreneurship drive economic development in rural areas. The paper examines how farmers and rural residents shift toward business activities beyond agriculture, creating new income sources and employment opportunities. This diversification strengthens rural economies and reduces dependence on traditional farming.
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Evaluating the Real-World Performance of 5G Fixed Wireless Broadband in Rural Areas
This paper evaluates two 5G technologies for delivering broadband to rural UK communities. TV White Space (TVWS) technology proved reliable for stable broadband service in rural areas, while millimetre wave (mmWave) solutions, despite offering high speeds, suffered from rain interference and line-of-sight limitations that made them unsuitable for irregular terrain. TVWS emerged as the more practical option for rural deployment.
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Investigating the possibility of producing animal feed from sugarcane bagasse using oyster mushrooms: a case in rural entrepreneurship
Researchers processed sugarcane bagasse with oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus florida) to create animal feed. Laboratory and animal feeding trials showed that mushroom-treated bagasse improved nutritional quality, increasing protein content and digestibility while reducing fiber compared to raw bagasse. The treated material performed as well as wheat and barley straw, making it a viable alternative roughage for feeding livestock.
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Rural Farmers Use of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Agriculture for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Southeast Nigeria
Farmers in Southeast Nigeria use traditional indigenous knowledge practices to adapt to and mitigate climate change. The study surveyed 360 farmers and found they employ crop diversification, rotation, mulching, agroforestry, water storage, and natural pest control methods. These proven practices remain effective and safe, and the researchers recommend integrating them with modern agricultural techniques.
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Innovation and Investment in the Roman Rural Economy Through the Lens of Marzuolo (Tuscany, Italy)*
This historical study of a Roman pottery production site in Tuscany reveals that rural innovation was driven by local smallholders experimenting with production techniques, not by elite landowners as traditionally assumed. Local experimentation was limited by lack of capital, while later large-scale production involved a landowner appropriating the facility. The findings reframe innovation as a process rooted in human capital, labor, and production relationships rather than external investment.
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Innovation, Spatial Loyalty, and ICTs as Locational Determinants of Rural Development in the Catalan Pyrenees
Information and communication technologies enable rural and mountain development by dispersing economic activity from cities and connecting local territories to global markets. In the Catalan Pyrenees, companies leverage local identity and lower costs while performing high-value activities like design locally and manufacturing elsewhere. ICTs support education, workforce development, and new business creation in these areas, offsetting labor shortages through small company structures and spatial loyalty among clustered firms.
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Relationship Between Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Dimensions of Rural Women in Fars Province
Entrepreneurship and empowerment reinforce each other in rural development. A survey of 393 rural women entrepreneurs in Fars Province found that entrepreneurship motivation, development, training participation, knowledge, information use, business environment, supportive policies, and business planning skills predicted 56% of women's empowerment gains. Entrepreneurship motivation had the strongest effect. The study recommends improving access to materials, enacting supportive laws, expanding training, enhancing product sales conditions, and addressing women's professional needs.
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Application of Internet of the Things(IOT) for the Water Conservation and Entrepreneurship in the Rural Area
This paper proposes using Internet of Things technology to address water management and create entrepreneurship opportunities in rural Indian villages. The authors argue that IoT-enabled smart village systems can improve water conservation despite adequate rainfall, reduce unemployment, and prevent rural-to-urban migration by generating local economic opportunities. The approach treats water management as a priority domain where digital tools can deliver measurable improvements in rural living standards and economic conditions.
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Techno-Economic analysis of hybrid renewable energy systems for rural area energization in Pakistan
This paper designs and compares four hybrid renewable energy systems for rural electrification in Pakistan using solar, wind, and biomass resources. The researchers used HOMER Pro optimization software to evaluate each system based on net present cost, levelized cost of energy, and payback period. A hybrid system combining all three renewable sources proved most feasible, delivering the lowest energy cost at Rs 14.40 per unit with a 2.54-year payback period, while a solar-biomass system alone was least cost-effective.
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Evolving Rural Community Colleges With Innovation and Agility
Rural community colleges face growing pressure to innovate and adapt. The paper examines successful innovative practices already underway at various rural community colleges and provides recommendations for fostering and maintaining innovation across the sector. These changes help rural institutions meet evolving workforce and community needs.
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The impact of external knowledge sourcing on innovation outcomes in rural and urban businesses in the U.S.
External knowledge sourcing drives innovation in U.S. rural and urban businesses, but with different patterns. Rural firms benefit significantly from knowledge sources outside their own industry and from non-local organizations, while urban firms rely more on within-industry sources. The study uses survey data covering product, process, and green innovations across multiple industries, revealing that rural businesses depend more heavily on distant external knowledge networks to innovate successfully.
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Exploring the Potential for Rural Entrepreneurship through Integrated Community-based Intervention Strategies
This study validates a measurement model for integrated community intervention strategies in ecotourism destinations across four protected areas in Kerala, India. The research identifies three intervention types—governance, eco-development, and commercial—and demonstrates that local community members develop entrepreneurial orientation across exploration, initiation, and sustenance levels. The findings provide a practical model for enhancing inclusive and sustainable resource management through enterprise development in tourism contexts.
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Local wisdom in rural microfinance: a descriptive study on villagers of East Sumba
Rural villagers in East Sumba, Indonesia use local wisdom practices for saving and investing to overcome limited access to formal financial services. The study documents how communities apply traditional knowledge and bottom-up approaches to microfinance, reducing poverty and improving financial inclusion. Local governments can adopt culture-led development policies that integrate these existing community practices into microfinance programs.
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How local resources shape innovation and path development in rural regions. Insights from rural Estonia
Local resources—physical, human, social, financial, and immaterial—shape how rural firms innovate and develop. Research in rural Estonia shows that firms actively mobilizing these place-specific resources drive innovation and extend regional development paths. However, local resources alone cannot transform regional trajectories; they enrich existing paths but require strategic firm action to create substantial change.
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Optimization Analysis of Hybrid Renewable Energy System Using Homer Software for Rural Electrification in Sarawak
Researchers designed and optimized a hybrid solar-biomass renewable energy system for rural electrification in Sarawak, Malaysia using Homer software. They collected local solar radiation and biomass resource data, assessed electricity demand, sized system components, and calculated costs. Simulation results showed optimal configurations with net present costs of $6.18 million for residential systems and $9.45 million for animal farm systems, with simulation costs within 7-9% of theoretical projections.
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Effects of Land Degradation on Agricultural Land Use: A Case Study of Smallholder Farmers Indigenous Knowledge on Land Use Planning and Management in Kalama Division, Machakos County
Smallholder farmers in Machakos County, Kenya use indigenous knowledge to manage land degradation and plan agricultural land use across different slope zones. Farmers recognize degradation indicators through local environmental knowledge and employ traditional practices like tree planting, crop rotation, organic manure application, and water conservation structures. Land use patterns and management strategies vary by terrain and zone characteristics, with tree planting and water conservation being the most common practices. The study demonstrates that place-based understanding of local decision-making can improve rural livelihood security and inform targeted land management interventions.
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Impact of Microfinance on Rural Household Poverty in Ethiopia
Microfinance institutions in Ethiopia target rural poor to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods through employment creation, income growth, and empowerment. The paper reviews whether microfinance services actually improve living standards, measuring impact through household income, education access, healthcare, nutrition, savings, and employment. Ethiopian MFIs face challenges including loan repayment failures, limited foreign capital access, and weak client follow-up that threaten institutional sustainability.
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Human Capital, Innovation and Internationalization of Micro and Small Enterprises in Rural Territory - a Case Study
This case study of Portugal's Tagus Valley agri-food sector reveals that micro and small enterprises leverage human capital and stable partnerships with intermediary organizations to drive innovation and internationalization. The research demonstrates that endogenous assets, particularly non-market resources, significantly boost rural competitiveness. Public institutions, regional governments, and business training centers working together on a shared agenda for developing local assets prove strategically vital for sustaining small enterprises dependent on collaborative networks.
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CIRCULAR ECONOMY DRIVEN INNOVATIONS WITHIN BUSINESS MODELS OF RURAL SMEs
Rural small and medium enterprises face low competitiveness due to limited scale, distance from markets, and weak innovation capacity. This research examines how circular economy principles can drive new business models in rural SMEs, enabling them to turn environmental challenges into opportunities while meeting consumer demand. Analysis of seven focus groups across six European countries reveals practical pathways for rural SMEs to adopt eco-efficient, waste-minimizing production models.
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Impact of rural entrepreneurship on migration- A case study of Dahanu (Maharashtra), India
Rural entrepreneurship in Maharashtra's Dahanu district reduces seasonal migration and improves educational outcomes. The study identifies agriculture-based and non-agriculture ventures—including warli painting, poultry farming, handicrafts, and food processing—that can operate commercially. Entrepreneurs who developed these ventures successfully stayed in their communities and kept children in school, demonstrating that rural entrepreneurship mitigates migration-driven social challenges.
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The Practice of Political Entrepreneurship in a Rural Javanese Village
This case study examines how a village head in Java practiced political entrepreneurship shaped by local culture and Islam. Javanese values emphasizing humble, exemplary leadership and Islamic principles guided the village head's actions. These cultural and religious foundations created community respect and trust, reducing vote-buying and corruption in village elections. The research shows that political entrepreneurship theory must account for cultural and religious drivers, not just institutional incentives.
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Community at a Distance: Employing a Community of Practice Framework in Online Learning for Rural Students
Online library and information science education can use a community of practice framework to help rural students build professional networks and develop digital identities. This approach reduces the geographic and professional isolation that rural librarians face by fostering meaningful interactions and collaborative work in virtual environments, preparing graduates for careers requiring online collaboration.
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Integrated Renewable Energy System Based on IREOM Model and Spatial–Temporal Series for Isolated Rural Areas in the Region of Valparaiso, Chile
This study proposes a smart integrated renewable energy system for isolated rural areas in Valparaiso, Chile, using locally available resources like solar, wind, biomass, and biogas. The researchers modified an optimization model to identify which areas could benefit from this approach and designed systems that minimize energy generation costs. Results show that renewable systems cost roughly three times less than extending the electricity grid to remote locations.
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Applicability Study of Battery Charging Stations in Off-Grid for Rural Electrification – the case of Rwanda
Rwanda's rural electrification lags at 12% coverage despite government targets. This paper proposes battery charging stations that pool solar panels from multiple households, reducing individual costs and enabling low-income families to access electricity. The approach leverages existing photovoltaic infrastructure to accelerate rural electrification while maintaining local ownership and affordability.
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Unruly entrepreneurs – investigating value creation by microfinance clients in rural Burundi
Poor entrepreneurs in rural Burundi break microfinance program rules in ways that actually create value for their households and communities. The study identifies four rule-breaking practices—consumption spending, illegitimate investment, loan juggling, and loan arrogation—and shows how they strengthen social ties and help families manage financial shocks. The researchers argue that microfinance institutions themselves drive these practices and should offer more flexible products.
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Analysis on the Innovation of Rural Tourism Marketing Strategy—Taking the Tik Tok as an Example
Rural tourism marketing has become critical as demand for short-distance leisure grows near urban areas. This paper examines TikTok as a new rural tourism marketing platform, identifying content, relationships, and users as key success factors. The authors recommend deepening vertical content creation, cultivating fan communities to generate network effects, and promoting value creation to reshape marketing effectiveness.
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Sources of Attracting Investments in Technological Innovation Projects to Ensure the Sustainable Development of Rural Areas
This study identifies funding sources for a rural innovation project using unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor pastures in Kazakhstan's Almaty Region. The researchers analyzed investment options through expert surveys and statistical analysis. Bank loans and leasing emerged as the most promising funding mechanisms for this agricultural technology initiative.
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Migration, meaning(s) of place and implications for rural innovation policy
Migration shapes how rural communities understand and value their places, which directly affects their capacity for innovation. The paper argues that rural innovation policy must account for migrants' diverse perspectives and attachments to place. Policymakers who ignore these meaning-making processes risk designing interventions that fail to engage local populations or leverage the knowledge migrants bring to rural economies.
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Agrotourism as one of the ways to develop entrepreneurship in rural areas
Agrotourism offers rural entrepreneurs a diversified income strategy that addresses unemployment, migration, and rural decline. The paper argues agrotourism delivers economic benefits through agricultural diversification and new jobs, environmental gains by conserving ecosystems and farmland, and social-cultural benefits by preserving heritage and improving farmer status. Key barriers include weak strategic planning, insufficient funding, inadequate training, and lack of professionalism. State-level policy support is essential to unlock agrotourism's potential for regional development.
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Eco-Friendly Women Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas:A Paradigm Shift for Societal Uplift
Eco-friendly women entrepreneurship in rural areas drives societal development and economic self-reliance. Women entrepreneurs, equipped with artisan skills and multitasking abilities, create sustainable businesses in agriculture and domestic sectors that address rural poverty. This paradigm shift combines traditional capitalist entrepreneurship with environmental responsibility, enabling women to contribute meaningfully to agrarian economies despite patriarchal barriers.
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A Quantile Regression Analysis of Contributing Factors Influencing Agribusiness Growth and Entrepreneurship Development: Evidence from Rural China
This study examines factors driving agribusiness growth and entrepreneurship in rural China using quantile regression analysis. The research finds that government policies, rural education, research and development investment, legal frameworks, family household development, and intellectual property protection all significantly correlate with agribusiness expansion. Rural investments show positive relationships with both agribusiness growth and entrepreneurial development, with effects varying across different quantile levels.
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Performance Appraisal of Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programs
This paper evaluates government-sponsored self-employment programs and developmental institutions in Haryana that support rural entrepreneurship. The author assesses how organizations like NABARD, KVIC, and various state agencies perform in creating micro and small enterprises in rural villages. The findings show which institutional structures and programs effectively foster rural entrepreneurship and help develop potential entrepreneurs in rural areas.
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Modelling and Dynamic Stability Study of Interconnected System of Renewable Energy Sources and Grid for Rural Electrification
This paper develops dynamic models for a renewable energy system combining wind and biogas generators with grid connection to supply power to rural villages. The system uses wind turbines with induction generators and a biogas generator for frequency and voltage regulation, plus a STATCOM device for voltage stability. Testing shows the system maintains stability under varying load and wind power disturbances.
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Economic Strategy of the Development of Renewable Energy in Rural Areas of Ukraine
This study examines how strategic orientation and market orientation affect hotel business performance in Ukraine using structural equation modeling with 183 hotel survey responses. Market orientation significantly improved hotel performance, while strategic orientation's direct effect on performance was not significant. The findings suggest market orientation mediates the relationship between strategic orientation and business outcomes in the hotel sector.
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China’s Indigenous Innovation Policies
China launched indigenous innovation policies in 2006 using public procurement, megaproject funding, and technical standards to push domestic firms toward developing their own intellectual property. International trading partners criticized these policies, making them a flashpoint in US-China trade tensions. China continues supporting indigenous innovation despite global opposition.
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Determinants of rural households participation in microfinance services: The case of Cheliya District, West Shoa Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia
Rural households in Ethiopia's Cheliya District participate in microfinance services at rates determined by specific household characteristics. Male-headed households, those with more education, larger cultivated land, more livestock, and frequent contact with extension services participate more. Households with high dependency ratios participate less. The study recommends microfinance institutions design programs to include illiterate households and increase female participation.
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Micro-financing and rural poverty reduction: A case of Rima Microfinance Bank in Goronyo Local Government Area, Sokoto State, Nigeria
A microfinance bank in rural Nigeria increased beneficiaries' average income from 47,489 to 115,678 naira and reduced poverty incidence by 6 percent through agricultural credit facilities. The study demonstrates that microfinance effectively alleviates rural poverty when combined with input credit and monitoring. Policymakers should expand credit access and strengthen oversight to maximize productivity gains among rural borrowers.
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Policies for innovations in the new Rural Development Programs (RDP): the Italian regional experience
Italy's 2014-2020 rural development policy emphasizes knowledge systems and innovation diffusion by valuing both tacit and scientific knowledge for human capital development. The policy achieves better innovation transfer results when all chain players—farmers, researchers, and advisors—participate together. An interactive approach helps identify farm problems and develop innovative solutions. This paper examines whether Europe 2020's ambitious objectives translated into actual implementation within Italy's Rural Development Regulation and identifies ongoing problems.
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Extenics based Innovation of New Professional Farmer Cultivation under the Strategy of Rural Vitalization
Rural vitalization in China faces a talent shortage limiting agricultural development. This paper identifies contradictions between supply and demand for new professional farmers using extenics theory. The authors construct a framework of essential elements for farmer cultivation, define the contradictory problems, and propose extension transformation solutions. They develop supply models to accelerate rural vitalization through improved professional farmer training.
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Bringing Broadband to The Desert: Rural New Mexico, Fiberoptic Cable, and Electric Utility Cooperatives
New Mexico should allow commercial telecommunications companies to run fiber optic cables through electric utility easements to expand broadband access to rural communities. The paper argues that existing state law would likely prohibit this practice based on a recent Eighth Circuit ruling, but New Mexico's geographic isolation and lack of commercial incentives make broadband access critical. Preemptive legislation could enable fiber deployment through utility easements without violating easement restrictions.
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Community Mangrove Aqua-Silviculture (CMAS Culture): An Innovation and Climate Resilient Practice by the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest Dependent Rural Communities of Bangladesh
Rural communities in southwestern Bangladesh have developed Community Mangrove Aqua-Silviculture (CMAS), an integrated farming system combining mangrove trees with fish and shrimp cultivation in shallow water plots. The practice produces harvestable mangrove species within 13-14 months and fish within one year, requires minimal maintenance costs, and strengthens climate resilience for forest-dependent communities in the Sundarbans region.
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Recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals in rural areas is a major, worldwide concern. Medical education has integrated community-oriented medical education strategies to help address these challenges. This study explored medical trainees' preferences regarding place of work and choice of specialty after completing training using either the traditional or mixed Problem-Based Learning/Community-Based Education and Service curriculum in Ghanaian medical schools
Medical students in Ghana trained using problem-based learning combined with community-based education and service reported significantly better preparation for rural practice than those in traditional programs. Seventy-four percent of students in the innovative curriculum felt adequately prepared for rural work, compared to just thirty-five percent in traditional training. Students in traditional programs called for curriculum reforms incorporating rural outreach to increase their interest in rural practice.
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Australian Indigenous Art Innovation and Culturepreneurship in Practice: Insights for Cultural Tourism
Indigenous art centers in Australia's Arnhem Land demonstrate successful cultural entrepreneurship through artistic innovation tied to tourism. The paper defines Indigenous culturepreneurship as a distinct practice that challenges Western definitions of culture and entrepreneurship, establishing six practical criteria for developing Indigenous cultural tourism ventures. These innovations enable Indigenous communities to maintain and promote living cultures while creating economic and social benefits.
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An Innovative Opportunity? Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Pedagogical Possibilities for Indigenous Learners
Social innovation pedagogy shares key features with Indigenous pedagogies in Canada, including experiential learning, reflection, and collaboration. The paper examines how these overlapping approaches can support Indigenous business students in building community resilience, while cautioning against forcing Indigenous knowledge systems into Eurocentric educational frameworks.
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Global Networks and Innovation in China—International Linkages and Indigenous Efforts
Chinese firms leverage both international partnerships and domestic capabilities to drive product and process innovation. This special issue examines how companies balance external global networks with internal resources to enhance innovation performance. Five empirical studies using case analysis, surveys, and data analysis reveal strategies Chinese firms use to manipulate and coordinate international and domestic networks for competitive advantage.
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MICRO FINANCE INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN GROWING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF RURAL INDIAN ECONOMY
Microfinance institutions and self-help groups play a critical role in reducing poverty and driving economic development across rural India, where 70 percent of the population lives and depends heavily on agriculture. The study examines how microfinance reaches rural communities through NGOs and local organizations, demonstrating their effectiveness in addressing financial exclusion and supporting economic growth in underserved areas.
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Evaluation of rural broadband network based on broadband universal service management system
China's rural broadband universal service program successfully expanded network access to villages in impoverished areas. Evaluation using key performance indicators shows that average network speeds reached 60 Mbps, significantly exceeding the 12 Mbps service obligation. The telecom industry's coordinated efforts have substantially increased broadband penetration in rural regions.
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Affordable Broadband with Software Defined IPv6 Network for Developing Rural Communities
This paper examines how software-defined networking with IPv6 can deliver affordable broadband to rural communities in Nepal. The authors demonstrate that transitioning from legacy networks to software-defined IPv6 networks reduces energy consumption by 31.50% on switches and 55.44% on links, lowering operational costs for service providers. These savings enable more affordable broadband services for rural customers while addressing deployment challenges around technology choice, policy, skilled labor, and costs.
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Improving schooling outcomes for Latinos in rural California: A critical place-based approach to farmworkers history
A place-based education project in California's Central Valley engaged Latino and Filipino community college students in learning about the Farmworkers Movement through oral history. Students significantly improved their historical thinking skills, biliteracy abilities, and bicultural identity. The approach shows promise for improving Latino schooling outcomes at both junior college and K–12 levels in rural agricultural regions.
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Optimum Design and Techno Economic Analysis of Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Rural Electrification- A Case Study
This paper designs and analyzes a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar, wind, and biomass generators to electrify a remote rural district in India. Using HOMER software, the authors optimized the system for local load patterns and compared costs against grid extension. The results show that off-grid hybrid renewable systems can provide cost-effective sustainable power for rural electrification.
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Assessing the Impact of Off-grid Solar Electrification in Rural Peru
Engineers Without Borders-USA partnered with a rural Peruvian community to install off-grid solar photovoltaic systems, addressing electricity access that limited students' study time and device charging. A monitoring visit one year after implementation revealed the project's sustainability and identified key lessons about training, communication, socioeconomic impact, and community empowerment in rural electrification work.
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Innovation an Eco Friendly Technology: Tanning System using Semi Chrome and Improved Indigenous Tannins (Acacia Nilotica Pods)
Researchers in Sudan developed an eco-friendly leather tanning method using semi-chrome tanning combined with indigenous plant materials—Acacia nilotica pods (Garad) and Neem bark. Testing showed the resulting leather matched or exceeded traditional tanned leather in tensile strength, tear resistance, and thermal stability. Blending these local plant tannins significantly improved leather quality while reducing environmental impact.
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Smallholder farmers' intention to adopt microfinance services in rural areas of Tanzania - a behavioural study
Tanzanian smallholder farmers show low adoption of microfinance services despite their potential to boost productivity. This study identifies key behavioral drivers: perceived benefits, subjective norms, attitude, and perceived behavioral control all increase farmers' intention to adopt microfinance. Perceived barriers reduce adoption intent. The research recommends improving financial literacy training, redesigning group-lending models to reduce individual risk, lowering interest rates, and creating financial products tailored to rural farmers' actual needs.
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Agroecology and integral microfinance: recommendations for the Colombian post-conflict avoiding the financialization of rural financing
Colombia's post-conflict recovery requires sustainable rural development for peasant families affected by armed conflict. The paper argues that agroecology combined with integrated microfinance—rather than financialized microfinance—offers the most effective approach to support small producers. This combination creates sustainable scenarios for rural livelihoods while avoiding extractive financial practices that undermine agricultural communities.
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Disciplinary Technologies of Microfinance: Fictitious Proximity, Visibility and Surveillance in Rural Microfinance in Bangladesh
This paper examines how microfinance programs in rural Bangladesh use disciplinary and surveillance techniques to ensure loan repayment. Loan officers maintain strict control over borrowers through detailed record-keeping, monitoring of family and economic activities, and differentiation between compliant and non-compliant borrowers. The research reveals that financial success in microfinance depends on these governing practices rather than genuine development outcomes.
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Sharia-compliant Financing of Infrastructure Development in Rural Area
This paper examines how Islamic financing mechanisms can fund rural infrastructure development. The authors surveyed rural residents to identify infrastructure needs, finding solid waste treatment as the priority. They determined that sharia-compliant financing through donations and musharaka (profit-sharing) schemes, managed by local community organizations, can sustainably finance rural infrastructure while avoiding interest-based lending and speculative practices.
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Tech hubs, innovation and development
Examines tech hubs in developing-country contexts, asking what 'innovation' and 'development' mean in their practice and to what extent the rhetoric matches the reality of who benefits.
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Agriculture 4.0: Broadening Responsible Innovation in an Era of Smart Farming
Smart farming technologies like AI and robotics promise productivity gains, but their social implications are often overlooked. Farmers and the public express concerns about how these technologies might reshape agricultural communities. The authors argue that responsible innovation—emphasizing anticipation, inclusion, reflexivity, and responsiveness—must guide Agriculture 4.0. They call for systemic approaches that map innovation ecosystems, broaden participation beyond traditional stakeholders, and test frameworks in practice to ensure technologies develop responsibly.
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Beyond agricultural innovation systems? Exploring an agricultural innovation ecosystems approach for niche design and development in sustainability transitions
This paper argues that agricultural innovation systems need to adopt an ecosystems approach to better support sustainability transitions. The authors show that innovation ecosystems thinking enhances traditional approaches by emphasizing power dynamics, including diverse actors and ecological factors, and enabling cross-sector collaboration. This framework enables design of transboundary innovation niches that support sustainable agriculture across multiple scales and paradigms.
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Smart Farming: Including Rights Holders for Responsible Agricultural Innovation
Agricultural innovation embeds values and shapes social relationships, not just technical problems. The paper argues that innovation design and governance must include diverse rights holders and stakeholders to ensure responsible development. Treating innovation as purely technical work ignores how farming technologies reorder social and environmental systems, requiring broader participation in decision-making.
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Opening design and innovation processes in agriculture: Insights from design and management sciences and future directions
Agricultural innovation requires more open, participatory design processes that move beyond traditional approaches. This paper synthesizes research on co-design and co-innovation in agriculture, drawing insights from management and design sciences. It identifies three priorities: expanding design tools to engage multiple senses, opening innovation networks to support sustainability transitions while addressing power dynamics, and including non-human actors like materials and ecosystems in innovation processes.
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Micro-entrepreneurship and subjective well-being: Evidence from rural Bangladesh
Microcredit-enabled entrepreneurship in rural Bangladesh reduces overall life satisfaction indirectly by increasing worry, despite having no direct negative effects. Female micro-borrowers report higher satisfaction with financial security and life achievement. Borrowers with more assets also experience greater satisfaction with financial security. The findings suggest microcredit's well-being impacts are complex and vary by gender and asset levels.
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Romancing the rural: Reconceptualizing rural entrepreneurship as engagement with context(s)
Rural entrepreneurship research often romanticizes rural contexts in misleading ways. This paper argues that understanding rural entrepreneurship requires examining how entrepreneurs actually engage with the specific contexts that define rural areas, rather than relying on idealized notions of rurality. The authors propose new methods to better understand rural entrepreneurial processes through context-focused analysis.
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Public-private partnerships as systemic agricultural innovation policy instruments – Assessing their contribution to innovation system function dynamics
Public-private partnerships function as systemic policy tools within agricultural innovation systems. This study evaluates four Dutch agricultural PPPs by examining how they influence innovation system functions and feedback loops, rather than just direct organizational benefits. The research reveals that different PPP types have varying strengths and weaknesses as systemic instruments and different capacities to coordinate other policy tools, depending on whether they target sustainability or international competitiveness.
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Food and agricultural innovation pathways for prosperity
Agricultural research investments can reduce poverty and improve rural prosperity through multiple pathways affecting farmers, laborers, value chain actors, and urban poor. The authors identify 18 plausible impact mechanisms linking agricultural research to poverty reduction outcomes and examine how urbanization and climate change reshape development contexts in low-income countries. They emphasize that measuring success requires understanding who benefits and loses, incorporating gender equity and nuanced definitions of prosperity beyond income metrics.
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Innovation intermediation in a digital age: Comparing public and private new-ICT platforms for agricultural extension in Ghana
Two new-ICT platforms for agricultural extension in Ghana—one public, one private—were compared to assess their innovation-intermediation roles. While both platforms aimed to support demand articulation and matching, their effectiveness was limited by social, organizational, and institutional factors rather than technical capacity. Informal farmer-led initiatives using WhatsApp and Telegram proved more successful at transforming interaction patterns and achieving collective goals than formally designed platforms.
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Organic agriculture in Africa: a source of innovation for agricultural development
Organic agriculture in Africa generates innovations that advance agricultural development across the continent. The paper examines how organic farming practices create new solutions for farming systems, resource management, and food production. These innovations emerge from African farmers' adaptation to local conditions and constraints, offering pathways for sustainable agricultural improvement that benefit rural communities and food security.
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Does farmer entrepreneurship alleviate rural poverty in China? Evidence from Guangxi Province
Farmer entrepreneurship significantly reduces rural poverty in China's Guangxi Province. The study surveyed 309 farm business employees and found that socio-cultural capabilities most strongly drive entrepreneurship growth, which in turn substantially decreases poverty. The research recommends equipping rural farmers with entrepreneurial skills as a sustainable, bottom-up poverty reduction strategy that other developing countries can adopt.
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How does energy matter? Rural electrification, entrepreneurship, and community development in Kenya
Rural electrification in Kenya increases household income and entrepreneurial activity. Communities with electricity access formed more new micro-enterprises than control sites. Access to power enhances individuals' future expectations and business opportunities. Women-led households benefit more from electrification than men-led ones, though income gaps persist. The findings support resource-based entrepreneurship theory and suggest electrification should be central to development policy in areas with limited electricity access.
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Challenges for the next level of digital divide in rural Indonesian communities
This study examines digital divide challenges in a rural Indonesian village by moving beyond simple access gaps to analyze four stages of internet adoption: motivation, material access, skills, and usage. Researchers found age-based disparities among digital natives and identified how internet use positively affects community participation. The analysis reveals distinct barriers at each adoption stage, leading to targeted policy recommendations for improving rural development through ICT in Indonesia and other developing countries.
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The relation between entrepreneurship and rural poverty alleviation in China
Farmer entrepreneurship significantly reduces rural poverty in China, with quality of entrepreneurship mattering more than quantity. Socio-cultural capabilities—such as social networks and cultural values—drive entrepreneurial growth more effectively than education or economic resources alone. The study surveyed 363 households across four communities in two Chinese provinces and found strong positive links between entrepreneurial development and poverty alleviation.
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Social Innovation in Rural Regions: Urban Impulses and Cross‐Border Constellations of Actors
Social innovation in rural German regions emerges through cross-border networks of actors and urban influences rather than in isolation. Ethnographic research in the Eifel, Lower Lusatia, and Uckermark regions shows that rural communities adopt knowledge and practices from urban areas, creating hybrid rural-urban innovations. These connections strengthen rural-urban relationships and reduce traditional antagonisms between them.
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Local development through rural entrepreneurship, from the Triple Helix perspective
University-industry-government collaboration programs effectively support rural entrepreneurs by creating knowledge-rich environments that benefit both individual businesses and local communities. Nascent rural entrepreneurs value this Triple Helix partnership and recognize their own contributions to economic, social, and cultural development. The study reveals how low-tech rural entrepreneurs experience and benefit from multi-stakeholder collaboration at the micro level.
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Impact of agricultural innovation adoption: a meta‐analysis
This meta-analysis of 154 studies examines how agricultural innovation adoption affects production and economic outcomes. Results show reported impacts increase over time, though publication bias exists. Study findings depend on research design, statistical methods, and region. The literature heavily favors high-yielding variety innovations while neglecting complementary technologies.
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Climate change stimulated agricultural innovation and exchange across Asia
Climate cooling events across Eurasia between 3750 and 2000 years ago reduced crop yields and forced ancient farmers to innovate. Farmers on the Tibetan Plateau and Central Asia diversified their crops in response. Chinese farmers developed new cropping systems and grain transport networks connecting north and south. In areas with worse conditions, communities shifted toward pastoralism and long-distance trade networks. These innovations emerged directly from farmers adapting to climate-driven productivity losses.
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Innovation as a booster of rural artisan entrepreneurship: a case study of black pottery
Young artisan entrepreneurs in northern Portugal have revitalized black pottery production by introducing design and process innovations while preserving traditional knowledge and local culture. These innovators built networks with other young artisans, generating commercial growth and contributing to rural development. The study shows that innovation, entrepreneurial behavior, and artisan networks are essential drivers of rural artisan business success.
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INNOVATION PLATFORMS IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT
Innovation platforms bring together agricultural stakeholders to learn, negotiate, and solve development challenges collaboratively. However, this study warns they are not universally applicable. The authors provide a decision-support tool for agencies to critically assess when innovation platforms are genuinely needed versus when simpler, cheaper alternatives exist. The tool helps determine what resources and conditions are necessary for platforms to succeed in achieving agricultural development outcomes.
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Rural entrepreneurship: the tale of a rare event
Most new ventures in rural Portuguese areas are simply businesses located in rural settings, not true rural entrepreneurship. The study of 142 rural ventures in business incubators and science parks found they tend to be smaller, serve mainly local markets, and underperform compared to urban counterparts. Only a small fraction represent genuine rural entrepreneurship that leverages rural-specific advantages.
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Big Data and Climate Smart Agriculture-Status and Implications for Agricultural Research and Innovation in India
Big data analytics can accelerate agricultural research and innovation for climate-smart agriculture in India. Climate-smart agriculture integrates technologies and practices that boost farm productivity and incomes while building resilience to climate change and reducing emissions. The paper argues that combining big data analytics with climate science enables farmers and scientists to make data-driven decisions at the farm level, transforming agriculture toward sustainability and climate resilience.
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The Unseen Digital Divide: Urban, Suburban, and Rural Teacher Use and Perceptions of Web-Based Classroom Technologies
A survey of 2,200 teachers across rural, suburban, and urban schools in a Mid-Atlantic state found significant differences in technology use and perceived effectiveness of web-based classroom tools. Urban teachers used and perceived web-based technologies as less effective than their suburban and rural counterparts. Suburban teachers rated technology effectiveness highest, followed by rural teachers. The findings suggest urban schools need targeted support to improve technology integration.
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Bridging Indonesia’s Digital Divide: Rural-Urban Linkages?
Indonesia's rural-urban internet access gap persists despite high social media use nationwide. Rural households have half the internet access of urban households. This paper examines the digital divide beyond mere access, analyzing how people actually use the internet and their digital skills. The authors identify social inequality, lack of motivation, and limited digital skills as root causes. They reject simple rural-urban categorization and propose rural-urban linkages—integrating people, information flows, and cross-sector connections like agriculture and services—to bridge the divide.
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Exploring farmer perceptions of agricultural innovations for maize-legume intensification in the mid-hills region of Nepal
Maize-legume intercropping in Nepal's mid-hills faces low adoption of proven innovations despite their productivity benefits. Researchers conducted two-year on-farm trials with farmer participation, finding that tested innovations increased yields significantly. Active farmer involvement improved their perceptions and adoption interest. However, final adoption remained limited by labor scarcity, input availability, and cultural preferences, especially for resource-poor farmers. The study demonstrates that context-specific, participatory research design is essential for rural innovation impact.
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Human Poverty Alleviation through Rural Women’s Tourism Entrepreneurship
Rural women in China who start tourism businesses reduce poverty across multiple dimensions beyond income alone. The study identifies five pathways: improved physical and mental health, increased cultural literacy, greater participation in public affairs, better living environments, and enhanced self-worth. Tourism entrepreneurship provides rural women with feasible routes to alleviate knowledge poverty, rights poverty, and overall human poverty while promoting sustainable rural development.
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Barriers to Sustainable Business Model Innovation in Swedish Agriculture
Swedish agriculture faces declining farm numbers and employment while regulatory demands and sustainability expectations increase. This qualitative study of six family farms identifies barriers preventing farmers from adopting sustainable business model innovation. The research finds that barriers are external, internal, and contextual in nature, explaining why Swedish farmers rarely pursue sustainable business model innovation despite its proven benefits for creating sustainable businesses and societies.
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Social Entrepreneurship in Agriculture, a Sustainable Practice for Social and Economic Cohesion in Rural Areas: The Case of the Czech Republic
Social farming in the Czech Republic uses agricultural enterprises to address rural social exclusion and service gaps through therapeutic activities, sheltered employment, and educational programs. The study examines fifteen Czech social farms to determine whether they meet social entrepreneurship criteria and assesses their contribution to rural development. Social farms successfully integrate vulnerable populations while supporting economic sustainability and social cohesion in countryside communities.
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Interpretations of Innovation in Rural Development. The Cases of Leader Projects in Lecce (Italy) and Granada (Spain) in 2007–2013 Period
This study examines how the Leader initiative interprets and implements innovation in rural development across Granada, Spain and Lecce, Italy from 2007–2013. The researchers analyzed projects Local Action Groups labeled as innovative and found that while social innovation is programmatically central to Leader, local implementation faces significant obstacles. Key problems include limited local understanding of social innovation's role and weak institutional support structures in these peripheral regions.
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Addressing the paradox – the divergence between smallholders’ preference and actual adoption of agricultural innovations
Smallholder farmers in Rwanda prefer certain tree species for agroforestry but don't adopt them without enabling conditions. The study identifies five critical requirements for adoption: available quality inputs, compatibility with existing farming systems, climate resilience, simple management, and market access. National one-size-fits-all strategies fail; instead, tailored approaches addressing specific constraints for priority species in different agroecological zones drive sustainable adoption.
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Factors affecting the adoption of agricultural innovations on underutilized cereals: The case of finger millet among smallholder farmers in Kenya
Smallholder finger millet farmers in Kenya adopt agricultural innovations—improved varieties, conservation tillage, pest management, and group marketing—based on specific factors. Plot size, off-farm income, household credit, and extension contact increase adoption likelihood and intensity. Technical training boosts adoption depth but sometimes discourages initial uptake. Understanding these drivers enables policymakers to design strategies that raise innovation adoption rates, improving food security and farmer incomes.
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Design, innovation, and rural creative places: Are the arts the cherry on top, or the secret sauce?
Rural establishments with strong design orientations—particularly those integrating design into core operations—grow faster economically than those without systematic design approaches. Design-intensive rural firms cluster in counties with educated workforces and performing arts organizations. The study identifies three distinct design and innovation orientations among rural businesses and confirms that design integration correlates with wage growth during economic recovery, suggesting design capability drives rural economic performance.
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Evaluation of renewable energy sources in peripheral areas and renewable energy-based rural development
This paper develops an integrated methodology to evaluate renewable energy potential in peripheral rural areas by combining three energy sources: biomass, solar, and wind. Using mapping techniques, wind farm simulation software, and geographical information systems, the authors create a comprehensive assessment framework that measures total renewable energy capacity. This approach addresses the gap in existing methods and supports evidence-based renewable energy development for rural economic growth and climate protection.
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Analyzing of a Photovoltaic/Wind/Biogas/Pumped-Hydro Off-Grid Hybrid System for Rural Electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa—Case Study of Djoundé in Northern Cameroon
This study designs and analyzes a hybrid renewable energy system combining photovoltaic, wind, biogas, and pumped-hydro storage to electrify a rural village in northern Cameroon. Using optimization software, researchers found an optimal configuration with solar panels and a biogas generator could deliver electricity at €0.256/kWh. The system is technically viable but requires substantial subsidies for widespread adoption across sub-Saharan Africa, though costs will improve as solar technology prices decline.
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Exploring peer-to-peer returns in off-grid renewable energy systems in rural India: An anthropological perspective on local energy sharing and trading
Off-grid renewable energy systems in rural India enable peer-to-peer energy sharing, but returns for energy provision extend beyond money. This ethnographic study identifies three return types—cash, in-kind, and intangible—and shows that people's preferences depend on their social relationships. Configuring returns is a sociocultural process, not purely economic. Energy practitioners should support diverse return mechanisms and engage local economies.
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Energy Management Strategy for Rural Communities’ DC Micro Grid Power System Structure with Maximum Penetration of Renewable Energy Sources
This paper develops an energy management strategy for DC microgrids serving rural communities that integrates solar, wind, fuel cells, and batteries. The strategy balances power between renewable sources and storage systems to meet variable loads while minimizing diesel generator use. The authors tested their approach through simulation and laboratory experiments, demonstrating it effectively handles dynamic load variations and improves system reliability for rural power systems.
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“Indians Don't Make Maps”: Indigenous Cartographic Traditions and Innovations
Indigenous cartographers have developed distinct mapping traditions that challenge colonial knowledge systems and assert sovereignty over territory and land relationships. The paper documents historical and contemporary Indigenous cartographic innovations and argues that expanding cartographic training in Indigenous communities strengthens cultural documentation, tribal sovereignty, and restorative justice efforts.
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A Novel Off-Grid Optimal Hybrid Energy System for Rural Electrification of Tanzania Using a Closed Loop Cooled Solar System
This paper designs an off-grid hybrid solar-wind energy system for rural Tanzania, where electrification rates are extremely low. The system includes a novel closed-loop cooled solar design that increases power output by 10.23% compared to conventional panels. Using optimization software and local resource data, the authors demonstrate a cost-effective configuration with energy costs of $0.26/kWh, suitable for remote areas with similar climates.
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Building an innovation system and indigenous knowledge in Namibia
Namibia is building an innovation system with support from international development aid, but faces challenges implementing science-technology-innovation approaches due to limited analytical capacity. The study finds that indigenous knowledge and learning-by-doing modes create real advantages for local communities and enable positive change. However, innovations based on indigenous knowledge produce limited practical outcomes. Indigenous knowledge remains valuable for innovation policy by enabling community participation in establishing innovation systems.
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Economic Analysis of Integrated Renewable Energy System for Electrification of Remote Rural Area Having Scattered Population
This study develops an integrated renewable energy system combining solar, wind, biomass, and biogas to electrify a remote village in Gujarat, India. Using optimization algorithms, researchers found that accounting for distribution losses significantly affects system design and reliability. The analysis demonstrates that renewable energy systems using locally available resources are economically more feasible than extending the electrical grid to scattered rural populations.
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The Dynamism of Nations: Toward a Theory of Indigenous Innovation
Phelps argues that standard economic models fail to explain modern economies because they ignore indigenous innovation—genuinely new ideas driven by human creativity, not just technological parameter shifts. Western nations have lost dynamism because corporatist values, regulation, and social protection have replaced the modern values of individualism and visionary thinking that historically fueled mass innovation and prosperity. Restoring economic vitality requires cultural change, not just policy reform.
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Sustainability of indigenous folk tales, music and cultural heritage through innovation
This paper documents the creation of Bah Luj Production, an innovative resource package of folk tales, music, and cultural heritage from Malaysia's indigenous Semai people. The authors argue that cultural sustainability requires collaboration between culture bearers and researchers, combined with adaptability to contemporary consumer interests. The practice-led approach demonstrates that indigenous traditions survive when they remain flexible, relevant, and open to innovation rather than preserved in static form.
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Supporting Self-Determined Indigenous Innovations: Rethinking the Digital Divide in Canada
This paper challenges the Western narrative about Indigenous peoples and technology adoption, examining how Indigenous communities in Canada engage with digital innovation on their own terms. Rather than viewing Indigenous peoples as resistant to technology, the authors argue for recognizing self-determined Indigenous innovations and rethinking how the digital divide is conceptualized in ways that respect Indigenous autonomy and knowledge systems.
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Making heart-lung machines work in India: Imports, indigenous innovation and the challenge of replicating cardiac surgery in Bombay, 1952-1962
Two Bombay surgeons successfully performed open-heart surgery using heart-lung machines in 1962, despite India's restrictions on foreign imports and currency exchange. Kersi Dastur leveraged local Parsi manufacturing networks while PK Sen used Rockefeller Foundation connections to access international training and equipment. Both faced steep learning curves adapting imported technology to local conditions. Their success required substantial resources and reflected nationalist politics valuing indigenous innovation alongside imported technology.
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THE RURAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH RENEWABLE ENERGY. THE CASE OF ROMANIA
Romania possesses substantial renewable energy resources—solar, wind, and water—that remain underutilized in rural areas. The study finds a strong correlation between renewable energy adoption and reduced import dependency from 2004–2014. Developing rural renewable energy projects would create jobs, decrease energy imports, lower emissions, and boost rural economies. The authors argue Romania must adopt supportive policies to unlock this potential.
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Factors influencing technology and innovation capability in the Nigerian indigenous oil firms
Nigerian indigenous oil and gas firms develop stronger technology and innovation capabilities when they invest in in-house research and development, allocate dedicated R&D funding, hire experienced and qualified staff, and acquire advanced machinery. Firm size, age, and employee training also matter significantly. The study recommends that government and industry jointly prioritize workforce training, R&D investment, and education to build local technical capacity in oil and gas operations.
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Absorptive Capacity in Rural Schools: Bending Not Breaking During Disruptive Innovation Implementation
Rural schools successfully implemented disruptive education policy innovations by developing absorptive capacity through specific leadership strategies and organizational processes. School leaders used buffering, bridging, and brokering tactics alongside shared goal-setting, curriculum revision, and teacher collaboration to maintain student performance while selectively adopting external reforms. These mechanisms enabled educators to assimilate and transform new knowledge without abandoning existing strengths.
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Techo-Economic Analysis of Off-grid Renewable Energy Systems for Rural Electrification in North-eastern Nigeria
This study evaluates five electricity generation systems for a remote village in northeastern Nigeria using techno-economic analysis. Solar radiation and wind speed data show the area has strong renewable potential. A hybrid photovoltaic-diesel system with battery storage proved most cost-effective, reducing expenses by 38% and emissions by 36% compared to diesel-only generation, making it the best option for rural electrification.
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Predicting Microfinance Credit Default: A Study of Nsoatreman Rural Bank, Ghana
This study develops predictive models to identify which microfinance borrowers at a rural Ghanaian bank will default on loans. Using data from Nsoatreman Rural Bank, the researchers apply machine learning techniques to forecast credit default risk. The findings help rural financial institutions better assess borrower creditworthiness and manage lending decisions more effectively.
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Policy pathways for renewable and sustainable energy utilisation in rural coastline communities in the Niger Delta zone of Nigeria
Rural coastal communities in Nigeria's Niger Delta face multiple barriers to renewable energy adoption, including policy gaps, technical challenges, financial constraints, and inadequate information systems. The paper identifies policy pathways to overcome these obstacles, emphasizing the need for coordinated action among government, oil companies, and local stakeholders. Federal renewable energy policies combined with corporate support can drive widespread adoption of renewable technologies to improve energy access and affordability in the region.
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Sustainability of Renewable Off-Grid Technology for Rural Electrification: A Comparative Study Using the IAD Framework
This study examines why renewable off-grid electricity projects in rural Indonesia often fail despite technical success. Researchers compared micro-hydropower and solar projects in Bogor Regency using sustainability indicators and institutional analysis. They found that government preference for grid connections undermines off-grid projects, leaving communities with temporary electricity access while waiting for central grid expansion, regardless of how well the standalone systems perform.
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Financing as a key factor of the strategy of sustainable rural tourism development in the Republic of Serbia
Rural tourism in Serbia remains underdeveloped due to unclear strategic direction and insufficient financial investment. The authors argue that Serbia needs an adopted strategy for sustainable rural tourism development with defined priorities and financing mechanisms across all tourism segments. New and innovative funding sources are essential, as current options are limited. This strategy would support rural economic development, reduce regional inequality, and reverse rural depopulation.
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Governance and Finance: Availability of Community and Social Development Infrastructures in Rural China
This study examines why rural Chinese communities have unequal access to infrastructure. Using data from 307 villages, the researchers found that funding sources and village governance structures significantly affect availability of public transportation, sanitation, healthcare, and aged care services. The impact of these factors varies by infrastructure type. The findings highlight how finance and governance decisions shape rural development outcomes.
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Designing and Optimization of Stand-alone Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Rural Areas of Punjab, Pakistan
Researchers designed a hybrid renewable energy system combining micro-hydro, solar, wind, and diesel generation to electrify remote areas in Punjab, Pakistan. Using HOMER optimization software, they evaluated three strategies for a canal-based site. A pure renewable approach with water management proved most cost-effective, achieving lower net present costs and energy costs with faster payback than diesel-hybrid systems, making it the most feasible option for rural electrification.
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A holistic approach to understanding the acceptance of a community‐based renewable energy project: A pathway to sustainability for Tunisia<i>'</i>s rural region
This study examines why rural communities accept or reject renewable energy projects, using a wind energy case study in Tunisia. Through interviews with multiple stakeholders, the researchers identified specific barriers and motivational factors that determine local acceptance. The findings show that project managers must understand and address these community-level concerns to successfully implement sustainable energy initiatives and achieve lasting behavior change.
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Renewable energy for rural development in Turkey
Turkey has significantly improved rural energy access over three decades, with cooking efficiency rising from 25% to 60% and nearly universal electrification achieved. The paper argues that Turkey should prioritize domestic renewable energy sources—biomass, hydropower, and others—to reduce costly fossil fuel imports and meet rural energy demand. Renewable energy offers job creation and climate benefits while providing sufficient technical potential to supply the country's electricity needs.
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PV-Hybrid Off-Grid and Mini-Grid Systems for Rural Electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant barriers to rural electrification, which limits development. This paper reviews technologies and policies adopted to expand electricity access in rural areas, emphasizing renewable energy methods. Researchers propose photovoltaic hybrid off-grid and mini-grid systems as cost-effective alternatives to diesel generation, offering viable solutions for remote electrification.
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The potential of performance targets (<i>imihigo</i>) as drivers of energy planning and extending access to off‐grid energy in rural Rwanda
Rwanda's imihigo performance contracts framework can drive rural electrification by increasing household awareness and participation in off-grid energy planning. Survey data from 218 Solar Home System users and focus groups show that village-level energy targets influence household prioritization of energy access. Including off-grid options in imihigo materials and using community meetings for feedback sharing enables private sector providers to target underserved areas and design business models matching local needs.
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Revisiting Renewable Energy Map in Indonesia: Seasonal Hydro and Solar Energy Potential for Rural Off-Grid Electrification (Provincial Level)
This paper updates Indonesia's renewable energy potential maps for hydropower and solar energy using revised global climate data. The maps help stakeholders design off-grid systems for rural electrification, identifying suitable hydropower scales from pico to large plants and showing seasonal solar potential with estimated photovoltaic output. The work supports Indonesia's renewable energy targets and rural electrification goals.
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Evaluation and Selection of Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Healthcare Centres In Rural Areas: A Techno-economic Approach
This study develops a framework to select optimal hybrid renewable energy systems for rural healthcare centres by combining technical, economic, and environmental criteria. Using simulation software and multi-criteria analysis, researchers evaluated six communities in Nigeria to identify the most cost-effective renewable energy configurations. The analysis revealed that total net present cost was the most critical factor in system selection, enabling healthcare facilities to achieve reliable clean energy access while minimizing operational expenses.
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Explaining the Diffusion of Renewable Electricity Technologies in Canadian Remote Indigenous Communities through the Technological Innovation System Approach
Remote Indigenous communities in Canada's Northwest Territories and Ontario face electricity challenges that renewable energy technologies could address. This study applies the Technological Innovation System framework to explain how renewable energy diffused in these communities from 2000 to 2016. The research identifies systemic failures blocking deployment and finds that policy interventions strengthening local learning and networking could accelerate renewable technology adoption, benefiting remote communities.
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Techno-Economic Feasibility Study of Investigation of Renewable Energy System for Rural Electrification in South Algeria
This paper evaluates renewable energy system configurations for electrifying rural areas in South Algeria. The researchers compared four different technology combinations using an energy management algorithm to identify the most cost-effective and reliable design. They analyzed each configuration based on energy costs, diesel consumption, capital and maintenance expenses, and emissions. The study found an optimal configuration that supplies continuous electricity to rural homes while minimizing operational costs and environmental impact.
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Renewable energy-based hybrid model for rural electrification
Researchers developed a hybrid renewable energy system combining biomass, biogas, and solar power to electrify rural areas in India where grid electricity is unavailable. They modeled the system for a site in Haryana, optimizing costs using particle swarm optimization. The optimal configuration achieved an annual cost of $64,109 and energy cost of $0.065 per kilowatt-hour, outperforming alternative optimization methods.
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Borrowers characteristics, credit terms and loan repayment performance among clients of microfinance institutions (MFIs): Evidence from rural Uganda
This study examined how borrower characteristics and credit terms affect loan repayment performance at microfinance institutions in rural Uganda. Researchers surveyed 51 MFIs and found that credit terms significantly predict repayment performance, while borrower characteristics do not. The findings suggest MFI managers should adjust credit terms flexibly to improve repayment rates and reduce poverty in rural areas.
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Autonomous power supply system based on a diesel generator and renewable energy sources for remote rural areas
Remote rural areas without grid access rely on diesel generators, which consume excessive fuel. This paper proposes hybrid power systems combining diesel generators with renewable energy sources, using operational load management and staggered startup of electrical receivers to reduce fuel consumption and equipment costs while maintaining reliable power supply.
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Access to energy sources in the face of climate change: Challenges faced by women in rural communities
Rural women in Botswana's Tswapong villages rely heavily on firewood for cooking and electricity for lighting, but face severe energy access challenges. Depleting wood supplies and unaffordable electricity connection costs force continued dependence on unsustainable firewood harvesting, which accelerates climate change impacts. The research recommends economic diversification, electricity subsidies, solar energy adoption, and energy-saving technologies to enable poor rural women to access affordable, sustainable energy services.
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Standalone Integrated Power Electronics System: Applications for Off-Grid Rural Locations
Despite expectations, the number of people without electricity access continues to grow, particularly in rural Africa where nearly 600 million people lack access. This paper presents a standalone integrated power electronics system designed to provide electricity to off-grid rural locations, addressing a critical energy access challenge in developing regions.
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Integrating Indigenous with Scientific Knowledge for the Development of Sustainable Agriculture: Studies in Shaanxi Province
Smallholder farmers in Shaanxi Province hold indigenous agricultural knowledge that shapes their farming decisions, yet government and scientists typically ignore this expertise. This study surveyed and interviewed farmers about how they use and acquire both indigenous and scientific knowledge from government extension systems. The research demonstrates that farmers should be active participants in agricultural knowledge development, not passive recipients of top-down scientific advice.
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The Impact of Microfinance on Rural Economic Growth: The Nigerian Experience
Microfinance banking in Nigeria from 2000 to 2015 failed to boost agricultural productivity but successfully increased rural savings. The study recommends that government invest in rural infrastructure to attract microfinance institutions, encourage relationship-based lending to farmers, and diversify farm resources to mitigate climate-related risks and improve overall rural economic growth.
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Empowering Rural Women Entrepreneurs Through Social Innovation Model
A social innovation model equipped rural women entrepreneurs in Malaysia's B40 income group with e-business and digital marketing skills through five training sessions. Participants learned to create and manage Facebook business pages, improving their marketing capabilities and business strategies. The intervention aimed to empower marginalized women entrepreneurs with practical knowledge in information technology and online commerce.
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On the Fintech Revolution: Interpreting the Forces of Innovation, Disruption, and Transformation in Financial Services
Financial services are undergoing major disruption through fintech innovations in payments, cryptocurrencies, blockchain, lending, and investment management. The paper presents a mapping approach to assess transformation across four areas: operations, technology (payments and cross-border transfers), lending and deposits (including peer-to-peer lending), and investments (including robo-advisory). Traditional financial firms risk losing dominance if they fail to adapt to these efficiency and customer-centered changes.
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Open Innovation: Research, Practices, and Policies
Open innovation has become central to academic research, business practice, and policy decisions. This article surveys the current state of open innovation across these domains, examining key trends like digital transformation and challenges such as uncertainty. The authors discuss potential solutions including EU funding programs and introduce selected papers from the World Open Innovation Conference that address these issues.
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Disruptive Innovation: An Intellectual History and Directions for Future Research
This paper reviews the intellectual history of disruptive innovation theory, showing how the concept has been misunderstood by practitioners and inconsistently engaged by researchers. The authors trace how the theory evolved from a narrow technology-change framework into a broader causal theory of innovation and competitive response. They identify gaps in empirical research and propose three underexplored areas—response strategies, performance trajectories, and innovation metrics—to guide future academic work.
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Diffusion Of Innovations Theory, Principles, And Practice
This paper explains diffusion of innovations theory and how it applies to healthcare. The authors identify key parameters of how innovations spread, clarify relationships between diffusion and related processes like implementation and scale-up, and provide principles for designing interventions. They address why beneficial healthcare innovations fail to spread quickly despite their merit.
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How to Respond to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or the Second Information Technology Revolution? Dynamic New Combinations between Technology, Market, and Society through Open Innovation
Eleven international scholars define the Fourth Industrial Revolution and propose institutional, technological, and firm-level responses to it. The paper establishes a framework for understanding how organizations can adapt through open innovation by combining technology, market dynamics, and societal needs. Rather than providing final answers, it creates a template for ongoing research into industrial transformation.
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How collaborative innovation networks affect new product performance: Product innovation capability, process innovation capability, and absorptive capacity
Collaborative innovation networks improve new product performance through product and process innovation capabilities, but only when firms possess absorptive capacity to acquire external knowledge. Research on Iranian manufacturers found that collaboration with research organizations and competitors strengthens product innovation, while collaboration with research organizations and suppliers strengthens process innovation. Absorptive capacity acts as a critical condition enabling these benefits.
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On open innovation, platforms, and entrepreneurship
Open innovation and digital platforms have fundamentally transformed entrepreneurship across industries. These shifts create new opportunities for entrepreneurs to innovate and capture value, from supplying inputs to established firms to operating as complementors on platforms. The paper identifies key factors that enable or constrain these entrepreneurial opportunities and emphasizes how regulatory policies, digitization, and globalization shape emerging business models.
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Consumer adoption of the Uber mobile application: Insights from diffusion of innovation theory and technology acceptance model
This study examines why consumers adopt Uber by combining two adoption theories: Diffusion of Innovation and Technology Acceptance Model. The research finds that relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, observability, and social influence significantly affect how useful and easy users perceive the app to be, which then shapes their attitudes and intention to use it. The findings integrate both theoretical frameworks to explain mobile app adoption in the sharing economy.
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Value Creation and Value Capture in Open Innovation
Open innovation research has focused on collaborative invention but neglected how actors create and capture value from these collaborations. This paper argues that understanding value creation and capture is essential for sustaining open innovation and gaining competitive advantage. The authors clarify conceptual confusion around value capture and propose a framework linking open innovation to value creation and capture processes among interdependent actors.
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Open innovation and its effects on economic and sustainability innovation performance
This study examines how different external partners contribute to innovation performance in industrial firms. The researchers found that collaborating with universities, customers, NGOs, and intermediaries all improve both economic and sustainability innovation outcomes. Importantly, pursuing economic and sustainability goals simultaneously is not a conflict—firms can achieve both. The findings clarify which open innovation partnerships most effectively drive performance.
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The role of digital technologies in open innovation processes: an exploratory multiple case study analysis
Digital technologies enable firms to manage open innovation by facilitating knowledge sharing across organizational boundaries. This study examines nine companies across different industries to identify the managerial actions required to implement digital technologies in open innovation processes. The research reveals how digital tools help firms capture, transfer, and manage knowledge flows more effectively, addressing coordination challenges that arise when innovation becomes more collaborative and resource-intensive.
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Absorptive capacity and relationship learning mechanisms as complementary drivers of green innovation performance
A study of 112 Spanish automotive component manufacturers finds that absorptive capacity and relationship learning both significantly boost green innovation performance. Relationship learning moderates the effect of absorptive capacity on green innovation outcomes. Managers should invest in building absorptive capacity and cultivating learning relationships with stakeholders to drive green innovation in manufacturing.
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Open innovation in SMEs: Exploring inter-organizational relationships in an ecosystem
Small and medium-sized enterprises struggle to manage open innovation because they lack resources to coordinate with external partners, despite needing them. This case study of a regional business ecosystem reveals that SMEs face challenges when their business models misalign with ecosystem partners' models. The research shows that innovation type and how organizations understand innovation shape whether open innovation succeeds, and that managing it requires attention across three levels: individual SMEs, inter-organizational relationships, and the broader ecosystem.
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Ethics and Privacy in AI and Big Data: Implementing Responsible Research and Innovation
This paper argues that responsible research and innovation (RRI) provides a framework for addressing ethical and privacy concerns in AI and big data technologies. The authors contend that stakeholder engagement, including civil society participation, is essential to ensure these technologies deliver social benefits while remaining acceptable and sustainable. They illustrate RRI implementation through the Human Brain Project.
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Agility in responding to disruptive digital innovation: Case study of an <scp>SME</scp>
Small and medium-sized enterprises achieve agility in responding to disruptive digital innovation through three key processes: reducing organizational rigidity via boundary openness, building innovative capabilities through organizational adaptability, and balancing the competing demands of exploration and exploitation despite resource constraints. The study develops a framework showing how SMEs specifically navigate these challenges differently than larger firms.
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Social Innovation: Integrating Micro, Meso, and Macro Level Insights From Institutional Theory
Social innovations require renegotiating or building institutions to address complex social problems involving multiple systems and actors. This paper presents a three-cycle model showing how social innovation operates across micro, meso, and macro levels through agentic, relational, and situated dynamics. The framework integrates institutional theory perspectives to guide understanding of how innovative solutions develop and get implemented across interconnected social systems.
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Corporate Governance for Responsible Innovation: Approaches to Corporate Governance and Their Implications for Sustainable Development
This paper argues that addressing global challenges like poverty, climate change, and pandemics requires responsible innovation supported by new corporate governance models. The authors examine how participative and reflexive governance approaches can enable businesses to generate innovations that create social and environmental benefits while avoiding harm. They demonstrate governance challenges through examples including the COVID-19 pandemic response.
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Leveraging complexity for ecosystemic innovation
This paper analyzes innovation ecosystems through complexity science, treating them as open non-linear networks where multiple actors collaborate and adapt to uncertainty. The authors distinguish innovation ecosystems from other business networks by their internal interaction complexity, review four research streams studying them, and apply complex adaptive systems theory to understand how innovation clusters function. They argue that ecosystem-based thinking better supports innovation-led economic growth than traditional industrial-era approaches.
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The capacity to innovate: a meta-analysis of absorptive capacity
This meta-analysis of 241 studies confirms that absorptive capacity strongly predicts innovation and knowledge transfer, with effects on financial performance fully mediated through these outcomes. The research reveals that absorptive capacity benefits small firms but harms larger ones, and negatively affects mature firms while showing no significant impact on young firms. These findings challenge traditional assumptions about organizational innovation patterns and firm size and age dynamics.
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Community energy storage: A responsible innovation towards a sustainable energy system?
Community energy storage systems can help transition to sustainable energy by storing power locally and meeting citizen needs. However, integrating these systems into centralized energy infrastructure requires coordinating multiple actors and technologies. The authors argue that responsible research and innovation frameworks should guide the design and implementation of community energy storage to ensure the transition is sustainable, reliable, inclusive, and affordable.
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Cattle health monitoring system using wireless sensor network: a survey from innovation perspective
Wireless sensor networks enable farmers to monitor dairy cattle health automatically across farm locations, reducing disease losses and improving milk production. These low-cost systems collect health data in real-time, store it in databases, and help farmers make better management decisions with less manual labor. The technology addresses declining farmer interest in dairy by reducing animal mortality and breeding costs through early disease detection.
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Mapping, analyzing and designing innovation ecosystems: The Ecosystem Pie Model
This paper develops the Ecosystem Pie Model, a visual strategy tool that helps managers map, analyze, and design innovation ecosystems. The tool captures how different actors interact to create and capture value together. The authors ground the model in scholarly literature and provide application guidelines, demonstrating how firms can use it to make strategic decisions about ecosystem participation and structure.
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The Adoption of Open Innovation in Large Firms
Large firms widely adopt open innovation practices, with 80 percent of surveyed companies engaging in the approach. Firms predominantly practice outside-in innovation, acquiring external knowledge while protecting their own intellectual property through outbound restrictions. At the project level, companies selectively manage knowledge flows and formalize processes as they progress from problem definition to execution, facing organizational challenges in this transition.
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Openness of technology adoption, top management support and service innovation: a social innovation perspective
This study examines how technology adoption openness and top management support drive service innovation in IT firms. Using survey data from 176 Taiwanese IT companies, the researchers found that openness to technology adoption directly enhances service innovation. Importantly, top management support strengthens this relationship. The findings suggest firms should invest in open technologies and ensure leadership actively supports service innovation initiatives to address social challenges.
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An Empirical Study on Entrepreneurial Orientation, Absorptive Capacity, and SMEs’ Innovation Performance: A Sustainable Perspective
This study surveyed 324 small and medium-sized enterprises in China's Yangtze River Delta region to examine how entrepreneurial orientation drives innovation performance. The research found that entrepreneurial orientation directly boosts innovation, and this effect strengthens when firms have higher absorptive capacity. In highly dynamic external environments, absorptive capacity becomes an even more powerful moderator of this relationship.
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Perspectives on Disruptive Innovations
This paper examines disruptive innovation from multiple theoretical perspectives—evolutionary, relational, temporal, and framing—to understand how innovations render existing business models obsolete and reshape value networks. Rather than predicting disruption, the authors propose a performative approach that helps researchers and practitioners manage in environments of continual change.
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Impact of knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity on project performance: the moderating role of social processes
Knowledge governance and sharing improve project performance in software companies by strengthening teams' ability to absorb and apply new knowledge. Social processes amplify these effects. The study of 133 Pakistani IT firms shows that organizations investing in knowledge governance systems and encouraging knowledge sharing across projects achieve better outcomes.
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An innovation diffusion perspective of e-consumers’ initial adoption of self-collection service via automated parcel station
Automated parcel stations represent a logistics innovation addressing delivery inefficiencies. This study examines why consumers adopt self-collection services via these stations. Using innovation diffusion and attitude theory, researchers surveyed 170 Singapore e-consumers and found that favorable attitudes and perceived relative advantage directly drive adoption intention, while compatibility, trialability, and complexity influence adoption indirectly through attitude formation.
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Introducing responsible innovation in health: a policy-oriented framework
This paper develops a framework for responsible innovation in health that aligns new health technologies with societal values through early stakeholder engagement. The framework identifies nine dimensions organized across five value domains: population health, health system, economic, organizational, and environmental. The authors provide policymakers with a tool to assess whether health innovations address system-level challenges like sustainability and equity.
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Absorptive capacity for need knowledge: Antecedents and effects for employee innovativeness
This study examines how employees absorb two distinct types of knowledge—understanding customer needs and understanding technological solutions—and how this absorption affects their innovativeness. Using 864 employees from a home appliance company, the researchers found that absorptive capacity for needs and solutions are separate capabilities, both boosting innovation. Interestingly, prior solution knowledge helps employees understand customer needs, but prior need knowledge actually hinders their ability to absorb solution knowledge.
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Open innovation, information, and entrepreneurship within platform ecosystems
Companies use platform ecosystems as open innovation strategies to encourage developers to create complementary products. This study examines what information within these ecosystems drives entrepreneurs to commercialize free products. The research finds that product-specific information correlates with commercialization decisions, while market information does not. Platform designers can strategically manage information to encourage commercial activity among complementors.
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Smart specialisation, innovation policy and regional innovation systems: what about new path development in less innovative regions?
Smart specialisation strategies work best when grounded in regional innovation systems that support learning and competitiveness. The paper argues that less innovative regions should pursue transformative new path development through unrelated knowledge combinations and radical path creation, not just incremental diversification. These high-risk strategies can generate structural transformation opportunities and should be included in policy design, even though they carry greater uncertainty than safer alternatives.
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Information technology for supporting the development and maintenance of open innovation capabilities
This paper examines how information technology supports open innovation by developing two types of organizational capabilities: strategic capabilities that enable companies to adopt open innovation strategies effectively, and operational capabilities that improve daily implementation. The authors connect specific ICT tools to required functions across the entire open innovation process, emphasizing collaboration, data analysis, and technology integration within organizational workflows.
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The innovative performance of firms in heterogeneous environments: The interplay between external knowledge and internal absorptive capacities
Firms in knowledge-rich environments innovate more effectively when they develop both potential and realized absorptive capacities—the ability to recognize and integrate external knowledge. Using English firm data combined with patent records, the study shows that organizational ambidexterity enables companies to leverage clustering of knowledgeable workers and external knowledge sources to boost innovation performance.
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Managing open innovation
Empowering leadership styles boost both inbound and outbound open innovation in firms. The study surveyed managers in northern India and found that empowering leaders help employees seek, integrate, and share new ideas. Employee involvement climate mediates the relationship between empowering leadership and inbound innovation, meaning leaders create environments where employees participate in decisions that enhance innovation performance.
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Network Dynamics of Innovation Processes
This paper presents a mathematical model explaining how innovations emerge through random walks on networks of interconnected ideas. The model shows that innovations occur when cognitive processes first reach new concepts, with network connections strengthening through repeated use. The framework successfully predicts both the rate at which new discoveries appear and how they correlate with each other across scientific disciplines.
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Knowledge transfer in open innovation
This paper develops a framework for understanding how knowledge flows among diverse actors in healthcare ecosystems to support open innovation. The framework identifies four key components: player categories, knowledge flows across exploration and exploitation stages, player motivations, and positions in the innovation process. The research highlights that patients, doctors, and nurses—not just R&D professionals—play critical roles in knowledge transfer and innovation development within healthcare networks.
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Green absorptive capacity: A mediation‐moderation model of knowledge for innovation
This study examines how environmental and organizational factors drive green innovation in Brazil's electric power industry. The research finds that organizational factors mediate the relationship between environmental pressures and green innovation performance. Green absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply environmental knowledge—strengthens this entire process. The findings demonstrate that firms better equipped to absorb green knowledge achieve superior innovation outcomes.
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Ego-Network Stability and Innovation in Alliances
This study examines how stable alliance networks affect firm innovation in biopharmaceutical companies. The researchers find that stable ego-networks actually reduce innovation outcomes. However, firms can mitigate this negative effect by spanning structural holes across their alliance partners. Geographic concentration of inventive activities in a single country worsens the innovation penalty from network stability.
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In Search of Precision in Absorptive Capacity Research: A Synthesis of the Literature and Consolidation of Findings
This paper clarifies what absorptive capacity means and how it affects firm performance. The authors identify three core dimensions: absorptive effort (knowledge investments), absorptive knowledge base (existing knowledge stock), and absorptive process (internal knowledge practices). Meta-analysis shows absorptive capacity significantly improves firm outcomes, with knowledge acquisition and innovation generation as key mechanisms. Effects vary depending on external knowledge conditions.
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How Does Innovation Emerge in a Service Ecosystem?
This study examines how innovation emerges within service ecosystems using four years of case study data on an Internet-of-Things technology solution. The research identifies institutional reconciliation as a previously overlooked phase in innovation development, showing that ideas are refined through four types of institutional pressures and shaped by plasticity in four distinct ways. The findings establish innovation as a systemic process and recommend that managers cultivate organizational norms, rules, and beliefs to support innovation emergence.
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Intelligent Autonomous Vehicles in digital supply chains: A framework for integrating innovations towards sustainable value networks
This paper develops a software framework for integrating intelligent autonomous vehicles into sustainable supply chains. The researchers review existing simulation tools, create an integrated framework to monitor supply chain sustainability performance with autonomous vehicles, translate it into a working software application through a five-stage process, and demonstrate the tool using a warehouse model. The framework enables flexible, decentralized supply chain reconfiguration and helps operations managers assess autonomous vehicle performance while tracking sustainability metrics.
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The Diffusion and Adoption of Public Sector Innovations: A Meta-Synthesis of the Literature
This meta-synthesis examines how public sector innovations spread and get adopted across three research areas: public management, public policy, and e-government. The authors find these fields operate independently with different models and rarely define key terms clearly. They identify that macro-institutional factors dominate public management and policy research, while e-government scholars focus more on individual-level factors. The paper proposes an integrated framework of adoption drivers and recommends future research combine multiple organizational levels, distinguish between innovation generation and adoption, and incorporate collaborative innovation approaches.
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Introducing the dilemma of societal alignment for inclusive and responsible research and innovation
This paper identifies a critical governance challenge in research and innovation: the 'dilemma of societal alignment.' The authors argue that while inclusive and responsible innovation requires alignment between research goals and societal values, this alignment remains scattered and overlooked in science and technology policy. They build on Collingridge's technology control dilemma to propose a framework for addressing how governance can better integrate social considerations into innovation development and uptake.
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Disruptive Innovation: Conceptual Foundations, Empirical Evidence, and Research Opportunities in the Digital Age
This paper examines disruptive innovation as a concept, reviewing its theoretical foundations and empirical evidence in the digital age. The authors analyze how disruptive innovations emerge and transform markets, identifying research gaps and opportunities for future study. They provide a comprehensive framework for understanding when and how innovations fundamentally reshape industries and competitive landscapes.
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Internet of Things for Green Building Management: Disruptive Innovations Through Low-Cost Sensor Technology and Artificial Intelligence
Buildings consume 60% of global electricity, but traditional management systems are expensive and impractical for small and medium-sized buildings. This paper demonstrates how Internet of Things sensors combined with artificial intelligence can monitor building energy use affordably. Low-cost IoT devices track occupancy and human activity patterns, enabling building managers to identify energy-saving opportunities and reduce consumption without expensive infrastructure.
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Measurement framework for assessing disruptive innovations
This paper develops a multidimensional framework for measuring whether product innovations will be disruptive. The framework evaluates technological features, marketplace dynamics, and external environment across ten indicators. Testing on WeChat, modularized mobile phones, and virtual/augmented reality, the authors surveyed engineering experts and found the framework reliably predicted which innovations succeeded or failed, helping companies make better decisions about product launches and resource allocation.
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Innovation in the public sector: Towards an open and collaborative approach
Public sector innovation has shifted from an internal organizational process to an open, collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders across organizations. The paper argues that scholars must now study how to engage stakeholders in innovation and integrate insights from network governance, leadership, and design thinking to produce socially relevant research.
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Potential and Realized Absorptive Capacity as Complementary Drivers of Green Product and Process Innovation Performance
Companies absorb external environmental knowledge through two mechanisms—potential capacity (acquiring and assimilating knowledge) and realized capacity (transforming and exploiting it)—to develop green innovations. A study of 112 Spanish automotive component manufacturers found that both dimensions of absorptive capacity directly drive performance in green product and process innovation, showing how firms convert external knowledge into environmental improvements.
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Frugal innovation for supply chain sustainability in SMEs: multi-method research design
This study links frugal innovation with supply chain sustainability in small and medium enterprises, particularly in emerging markets facing institutional barriers and resource constraints. The researchers developed a conceptual framework showing how frugal innovation enables sustainable supply chains and validated it through survey data. The findings demonstrate that frugal innovation capabilities help organizations achieve supply chain sustainability despite limited resources.
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External knowledge sharing and radical innovation: the downsides of uncontrolled openness
Uncontrolled sharing of business-critical knowledge with external partners damages firms' radical innovation performance through accidental knowledge leakage. A study of 150 Finnish technology firms found that excessive openness in knowledge sharing significantly reduces radical innovation outcomes, though incremental innovation remains unaffected. Firms pursuing radical innovation must carefully manage what knowledge employees share externally and with whom.
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User Service Innovation on Mobile Phone Platforms: Investigating Impacts of Lead Userness, Toolkit Support, and Design Autonomy1
This study examines how user characteristics, platform design features, and autonomy levels affect service innovation on mobile phone platforms like iOS and Android. Lead users with strong expertise, combined with toolkits that ease effort and enable exploration, plus decision-making and work-method autonomy, drive higher innovation output. The interactions between these factors matter more than individual effects alone.
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Influence of Technological Assets on Organizational Performance through Absorptive Capacity, Organizational Innovation and Internal Labour Flexibility
Technological assets drive organizational performance in European technology companies through two mechanisms: absorptive capacity and internal labor flexibility. The study finds that technological skills and competencies strengthen both potential and realized absorptive capacity, which then enhance labor flexibility and organizational innovation. Internal labor flexibility further boosts performance by enabling innovation. These relationships prove especially valuable in dynamic, turbulent technological environments.
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Determinants of Firm’s open innovation performance and the role of R & D department: an empirical evidence from Malaysian SME’s
Malaysian SMEs struggle with open innovation adoption and performance. This study identifies external knowledge, internal innovation, and R&D departments as key determinants of open innovation success in these firms. The R&D department acts as a mediator between innovation inputs and performance outcomes. The findings provide SMEs with actionable insights to strengthen their open innovation systems and boost overall business performance.
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Dietary chlorogenic acid improves growth performance of weaned pigs through maintaining antioxidant capacity and intestinal digestion and absorption function
Chlorogenic acid (CGA) supplementation in pig feed improves growth performance and reduces diarrhea in weaned pigs. At 1,000 mg/kg, CGA increased feed efficiency, daily weight gain, and nutrient digestibility while boosting antioxidant enzymes and intestinal absorption capacity. The supplement enhanced expression of genes responsible for nutrient transport in the intestines, suggesting CGA strengthens digestive function and overall animal health.
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Managerial networking and business model innovation: empirical study of new ventures in an emerging economy
This study of 311 young SMEs in Pakistan demonstrates that managerial networking significantly drives business model innovation in new ventures. Financial, business, and political networking all positively contribute to developing effective business models. The research shows that building external relationships with financial institutions and government officials helps young firms overcome resource constraints and survive in competitive markets.
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Inbound open innovation and firm performance
This study examines how inbound open innovation affects firm performance across European companies from 2008–2013. The researchers find that both internal development and external acquisition of intangible assets positively impact firm turnover. However, only internal development significantly improves financial performance and employment. The effects vary by firm size: internal development boosts economic performance for larger firms and employment for smaller firms, but shows no financial impact across all sizes.
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Social Innovation in Smart Tourism Ecosystems: How Technology and Institutions Shape Sustainable Value Co-Creation
This paper develops an integrated model of smart service ecosystems that combines service-dominant logic and service science to explain how actors, resources, technology, and institutions work together to create value in tourism. Through interviews with tourism stakeholders, the authors identify key dimensions for managing value co-creation and sustainability, showing how smart service ecosystems enable the transition from innovation to social innovation in experience-based sectors.
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Why Do Incumbents Respond Heterogeneously to Disruptive Innovations? The Interplay of Domain Identity and Role Identity
German publishing houses responded differently to digital disruption based on two identity factors: domain identity (what business they're in) and role identity (their market position). When digitalization threatened one identity while strengthening the other, companies experienced internal conflict and slower, less innovative responses. Companies with aligned identities adapted faster and more creatively.
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The openness of open innovation in ecosystems – Integrating innovation and management literature on knowledge linkages
This paper examines how knowledge transfers work in open innovation ecosystems by reviewing existing literature. The authors connect open innovation research with management theory to categorize linkages between organizations based on their openness levels and knowledge management approaches. They find that openness operates across multiple dimensions, each producing different knowledge management outcomes. The work helps firms understand which collaboration mechanisms suit their needs.
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Road Map For Diffusion Of Innovation In Health Care
Healthcare providers either adopt innovations too slowly or too quickly without proper testing, causing harm. This paper examines clinical failures from premature adoption and proposes an integrated roadmap for safely diffusing medical innovations. The framework emphasizes translating knowledge into practice, assessing changes systematically, standardizing intervention descriptions, and using technology to manage knowledge sharing across institutions.
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The Interactive Effect of Uncertainty Avoidance Cultural Values and Leadership Styles on Open Service Innovation: A Look at Malaysian Healthcare Sector
This study examined how leadership styles and cultural attitudes toward uncertainty affect open service innovation in Malaysian hospitals. Researchers surveyed 422 medical professionals and found that paternalistic, authentic, and democratic leadership all positively encourage open service innovation. Malaysia's low uncertainty avoidance culture supports greater adoption of open service innovation. The study also validated a four-dimensional model of open service innovation specific to Eastern contexts.
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The effectiveness of involving users in digital innovation: Measuring the impact of living labs
Living labs engage users directly in digital innovation development. This study measures their economic impact on participants and finds significant positive effects. The authors develop practical evaluation methods suitable for living labs' flexible, evolving nature and provide methodological recommendations for future impact assessments of similar innovation tools.
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Networks and Innovation: Accounting for Structural and Institutional Sources of Recombination in Brokerage Triads
This paper examines how firms combine knowledge across structural and institutional boundaries to drive innovation. Using biotechnology R&D alliances, the authors show that different network configurations produce different innovation outcomes: domestic partnerships increase innovation volume, foreign partnerships boost radical innovation, and mixed partnerships balance both. The findings reveal that institutional boundaries matter as much as network structure in shaping how firms recombine knowledge.
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The effect of digital leadership and innovation management for incumbent telecommunication company in the digital disruptive era
Digital leadership and innovation management both drive sustainable competitive advantage for incumbent telecom companies facing digital disruption. In a study of 100 Indonesian telecom employees, digital leadership proved more influential than innovation management alone in enabling digital transformation. The research shows that strengthening these capabilities helps incumbents compete effectively in rapidly changing digital markets.
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Open Innovation and Social Big Data for Sustainability: Evidence from the Tourism Industry
Social media data from tourists generates valuable insights for sustainable tourism innovation. A case study of an Apulia destination shows how social Big Data enables open innovation processes, allowing tourism stakeholders to involve visitors and create knowledge assets that support sustainable travel experiences.
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Perspective: Leveraging Open Innovation through Paradox
Open innovation collaborations between firms and external contributors often fail due to conflicting demands: firms seek controlled participation and selective idea adoption, while contributors want open participation and unrestricted knowledge sharing. This paper reframes these tensions as productive paradoxes rather than problems, proposing that firms can leverage open innovation by combining differentiation and integration practices to balance control and openness simultaneously.
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Responsible Research and Innovation in Industry—Challenges, Insights and Perspectives
This editorial examines Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as a framework for balancing industry's competitive pressures with social and environmental accountability. The collection of papers explores why companies adopt RRI practices, how they implement them, stakeholder involvement in innovation processes, and obstacles to wider adoption. The findings show RRI applies across different firm sizes and sectors, offering practical guidance for managers, policymakers, and researchers integrating responsibility into innovation strategies.
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The Role of Innovation Ecosystems and Social Capital in Startup Survival
Startups that actively collaborate with universities, industries, and government organizations significantly survive longer than those that don't, according to analysis of the Kauffman Firm Survey. However, the amount of social capital available in innovation ecosystems doesn't predict whether startups actually use it or live longer. The effect varies between high-tech and other startups. Active engagement with ecosystem partners matters more than ecosystem density alone.
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Open innovation and firm performance: Evidence from the Chinese mechanical manufacturing industry
Open innovation's effect on firm profitability follows an inverted U-shape curve in Chinese mechanical manufacturing. Employee education amplifies open innovation's benefits in technology-oriented firms but not production-oriented ones. Higher ratios of technical to production staff improve financial performance from open innovation in tech-oriented firms, while the opposite occurs in production-oriented firms.
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Open data outcomes: U.S. cities between product and process innovation
U.S. cities have created open data portals to increase government transparency, but this generates broader innovation outcomes than typically recognized. Research with 15 city managers reveals that open data drives two types of innovation: external product innovation (apps, websites, services) and internal process innovation (procedural changes, cultural shifts). The study recommends structural, procedural, and cultural changes to maximize open data initiative success.
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Triple Helix and the evolution of ecosystems of innovation: the case of Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley's innovation ecosystem has transformed over the past decade. The study tracks how the Triple Helix agents—universities, industry, and government—have shifted their roles and interactions. Key changes include the emergence of accelerator programs, corporations engaging startups earlier, geographic expansion into San Francisco, universities investing in capital funds, and the rise of micro-multinationals responding to talent competition.
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Reconciling the Dilemma of Knowledge Sharing: A Network Pluralism Framework of Firms’ R&D Alliance Network and Innovation Performance
Firms face a dilemma: R&D alliances provide access to external knowledge but risk knowledge leakage. This study shows that industrial networks strengthen the relationship between alliance networks and innovation performance in an inverted U-shape, while political connections weaken it. A firm's technological capability amplifies these network effects.
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How Firms Develop Capabilities for Crowdsourcing to Increase Open Innovation Performance: The Interplay between Organizational Roles and Knowledge Processes
Firms using crowdsourcing for innovation perform differently based on their internal capabilities. This study identifies how informal roles, formal roles, and knowledge processes work together to build crowdsourcing capability. The research finds that both types of organizational roles operate through knowledge articulation and codification to strengthen a firm's ability to benefit from crowdsourced solutions to technical problems.
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Effects of absorptive capacity, trust and information systems on product innovation
Trust and information systems drive product innovation in manufacturing firms, but their effects work primarily through absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge. Trust and information systems also strengthen absorptive capacity itself. The study of 276 Chinese manufacturers shows that absorptive capacity amplifies innovation when trust and information systems are strong, revealing how organizational systems and knowledge management interact to boost new product development.
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How Individuals Engage in the Absorption of New External Knowledge: A Process Model of Absorptive Capacity
This paper presents a process model showing how individuals absorb external knowledge through three stages: recognizing value by assessing motivation and feasibility, corroborating value through legitimacy and shared understanding, and championing integration by securing resources. The model reveals that individual engagement determines whether knowledge gets exploited, terminated, or stalls. The findings highlight individuals' critical role in converting potential absorptive capacity into realized organizational learning.
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Financialized Corporations in a National Innovation System: The U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry
U.S. pharmaceutical companies face a productivity crisis despite favorable institutional conditions for drug development. The paper argues that financialization—prioritizing shareholder returns through stock buybacks and dividends over R&D investment—explains this paradox. Driven by stock-based executive compensation, major U.S. firms extract value for shareholders at innovation's expense, while less-financialized European competitors successfully exploit the U.S. innovation system. The authors contend that corporate governance prioritizing innovation could unlock greater pharmaceutical productivity.
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Determinants of Retailers’ Cross-channel Integration: An Innovation Diffusion Perspective on Omni-channel Retailing
Retailers in the U.S. adopt cross-channel integration based on their information-technology capabilities and private-label offerings, according to an innovation diffusion framework. Moderate product diversity supports integration better than high or low diversity. Financial resources matter more when industry concentration is high. The study identifies technology, organizational, and environmental factors driving omni-channel retail adoption.
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Web 3.0: The Decentralized Web Blockchain networks and Protocol Innovation
This paper examines Web 3.0 as a decentralized alternative to current Web 2.0 platforms. Rather than focusing on applications and user interfaces, the author argues that Web 3.0 should prioritize developing underlying protocols and technologies that address fundamental problems created by centralized social media platforms. The paper outlines challenges in Web 2.0 and describes emerging technologies supporting decentralization.
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Sharing leadership for diffusion of innovation in professionalized settings
Healthcare organizations struggle to spread innovations beyond isolated pockets. This study reveals how shared leadership drives innovation diffusion in hospitals. Managers initially champion and fund innovations, but doctors later take the lead in persuading peers, while nurses adapt innovations to local settings. Financial performance, whether nurses adopt hybrid roles, and organizational hierarchy all shape whether shared leadership succeeds in spreading innovations across the organization.
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A workforce survey of Australian osteopathy: analysis of a nationally-representative sample of osteopaths from the Osteopathy Research and Innovation Network (ORION) project
A survey of nearly 1,000 Australian osteopaths reveals the profession's workforce composition and practice patterns. Most practitioners are female, university-educated, and work in urban multi-practitioner clinics treating musculoskeletal disorders. The osteopathy workforce delivers approximately 3 million hours of care annually to 3.9 million patients, primarily through referral networks with other healthcare providers.
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Implications of Open Innovation for Organizational Boundaries and the Governance of Contractual Relations
This paper examines how firms balance openness with control in collaborative innovation. It argues that value creation requires managing multiple organizational boundaries—competence, power, identity, and efficiency—while value capture depends on relational contract design rather than formal appropriation alone. The authors propose that firms use dynamic capabilities to strategically configure boundaries and contractual mechanisms to enable knowledge exchange while preventing unintended leakage.
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Promoting cooperation in innovation ecosystems: evidence from European traditional manufacturing SMEs
Public innovation support programmes in European traditional manufacturing SMEs do not encourage cooperation with competitors, but marginally increase cooperation with customers and suppliers, and strongly boost cooperation with knowledge providers. The research shows that policy works within existing innovation ecosystems rather than creating new ones. Support programmes help SMEs extend their networks by connecting them with both private and public sector knowledge providers.
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Management Innovation and Policy Diffusion through Leadership Transfer Networks: An Agent Network Diffusion Model
Leadership transfer networks—the career paths of public managers—drive policy innovation diffusion across regions. Using data on Chinese provincial energy governance, the study shows that when managers move between locations with similar institutional environments, they carry performance innovations with them. This network-based mechanism explains how management practices spread geographically, independent of traditional learning or competition factors.
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The role of knowledge absorptive capacity on the relationship between cognitive social capital and entrepreneurial orientation
This study examines how cognitive social capital influences entrepreneurial orientation in Spanish agri-food firms, finding a U-shaped relationship where very low and very high cognitive closeness both boost entrepreneurial behavior. Knowledge absorptive capacity strengthens this effect. Managers should cultivate cognitively close networks with shared goals and build their firm's capacity to absorb and apply new knowledge to enhance innovation and risk-taking.
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How do Scientists Contribute to the Performance of Innovative Start‐ups? An Imprinting Perspective on Open Innovation
Scientists boost innovative startup performance by promoting open innovation through broad and deep external search, but only when multiple scientist founders work together to transfer their lab-based career experiences. This advantage strengthens further when startups adopt strategic planning and commercial goals. However, scientist founders can become a liability if startups neglect strategic planning or prioritize non-commercial objectives.
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Technological development for sustainability: The role of network management in the innovation policy mix
This paper analyzes how policy can strengthen collaborative networks driving sustainable technology development. Using advanced biorefinery technology in Sweden as a case study, the authors develop a framework showing how network management strategies should evolve across different phases of technological development. They demonstrate that ignoring network management in innovation policy leads to inefficient collaboration, fragmented competing networks, and knowledge gaps.
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Innovation network, technological learning and innovation performance of high-tech cluster enterprises
High-tech cluster enterprises in China improve their innovation performance through strong innovation networks and technological learning. Network position and relationship strength directly boost technology acquisition, digestion, and exploitation. These technological learning stages build sequentially, with each stage enhancing the next, ultimately driving innovation performance. Enterprises should strengthen both their innovation networks and technological learning capabilities.
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An absorption capacity investigation of new absorbent based on polyurethane foams and rice straw for oil spill cleanup
Researchers developed a new absorbent material by combining polyurethane foam with rice straw, an agricultural residue from Vietnam, to clean up oil spills. The material achieved oil absorption capacity of 12.012 grams of oil per gram of absorbent after 120 minutes, performing 3–4 times better than pure polyurethane or cellulose-based alternatives. The optimal composition used 25% rice straw by mass with 0.5 mm particle size.
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Absorptive capacity and small family firm performance: exploring the mediation processes
Small family firms in India improve performance by developing absorptive capacity—the ability to acquire and apply new knowledge. The study shows this works indirectly: absorptive capacity enables firms to adopt entrepreneurial, market, and technology orientations, which then drive better performance. Strategic orientation acts as the mechanism linking knowledge investment to business results.
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What Health System Challenges Should Responsible Innovation in Health Address? Insights From an International Scoping Review
This scoping review of 254 studies across 99 countries identifies major health system challenges that responsible innovation should address. Service delivery, human resources, and governance emerge as the most frequent challenges globally. The analysis reveals that innovations often increase human resource demands, worsen service delivery when requiring highly skilled users, and create different pressures depending on country development levels. Rural areas particularly need flexible IT solutions. The authors argue that innovation development must address broader system vulnerabilities, not just immediate clinical needs.
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Diffusion of Marketization Innovation with Administrative Centralization in a Multilevel System: Evidence from China
This study examines how China's hierarchical government structure affects local adoption of marketization reforms. The researchers find that while central and provincial government policies each independently encourage cities to adopt pro-business innovations, their combined effect creates competition rather than cooperation. Analysis of administrative licensing centers across Chinese cities from 1997 to 2012 confirms this pattern, showing that vertical power structures shape how innovations diffuse through multilevel governance systems.
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When do states disrupt industries? Electric cars and the politics of innovation
States successfully drive technological change in mature industries when political competition among interest groups and agencies allows policymakers to build coalitions supporting new technologies, rather than relying on bureaucratic autonomy alone. Comparing Germany and the United States, the authors show that Germany's consensus-based coordination between government and incumbent automakers resulted in weak electric vehicle policy, while the United States' competitive political environment enabled strong intervention that disrupted the auto sector despite industry opposition.
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Applying social innovation theory to examine how community co-designed health services develop: using a case study approach and mixed methods
Community co-designed health services in rural Australia emerge when local participants combine contextual knowledge with external facilitation, but require manager and policymaker support to sustain. Social innovation theory effectively explains how grassroots innovations develop through three stages: growth, development, and diffusion. Political relationships and compatibility with existing health systems determine whether innovations survive beyond pilot phases.
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MOOCs, disruptive innovation and the future of higher education: A conceptual analysis
This paper examines whether MOOCs truly constitute disruptive innovation in higher education. By comparing MOOC characteristics against established criteria for disruptive innovation across performance, benefits, and market dimensions, the authors find that MOOCs do not fully meet the definition of disruptive innovation. Instead, MOOCs function as sustaining innovation, creating new educational markets for learners traditionally underserved by universities.
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Novel Negative Poisson’s Ratio Lattice Structures with Enhanced Stiffness and Energy Absorption Capacity
This paper develops three new lattice structures with negative Poisson's ratio by modifying a re-entrant design with embedded ribs. The novel lattices significantly increase stiffness, strength, and energy absorption capacity compared to standard negative Poisson's ratio materials. Researchers validated the designs through simulation and physical prototypes made via additive manufacturing, confirming the structures perform as predicted and show promise for engineering applications.
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Knowledge Management, Knowledge Creation, and Open Innovation in Icelandic SMEs
Two Icelandic SMEs—a software company and a food producer—manage knowledge and innovation differently. The software company uses inside-out open innovation, engaging customers late in development. The food company uses outside-in innovation, involving customers and suppliers early. Both treat knowledge creation as a learning process, confirming that high-tech firms favor internal-to-external strategies while low-tech firms rely on external input from the start.
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Green Governance: New Perspective from Open Innovation
This paper proposes a green governance framework that uses open innovation to balance economic development with environmental protection. The framework involves cooperation among enterprises, governments, social organizations, the public, and nature. It examines how open innovation activities can address resource and environmental externalities while coordinating economic and environmental values. The authors suggest countries and regions can adapt this framework to suit their environmental capacity and enterprises can use it to develop sustainable strategies.
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Broad Search, Deep Search, and the Absorptive Capacity Performance of Family and Nonfamily Firm R&D
Family firms and nonfamily firms learn differently from their R&D investments. Family influence strengthens the ability to convert R&D into exploitative innovations through deep external search, but weakens the ability to develop exploratory innovations through broad external search. Analysis of 346 Dutch manufacturing firms confirms this pattern.
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Varieties of responsibility: two problems of responsible innovation
This paper examines what responsibilities innovators actually bear toward society and stakeholders. The authors identify two core problems: first, innovation involves many agents and unpredictable causal chains, making it hard to assign responsibility fairly; second, backward-looking blame for failures can discourage forward-looking learning. They resolve these tensions by distinguishing between holding innovators responsible and their willingness to take responsibility, and by clarifying that responsibility applies to both innovation processes and outcomes. Accountability and virtue-based responsibility matter most.
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Open Service Innovation: The Role of Intermediary Capabilities
Intermediaries with digital service platforms develop three key capabilities—technological, marketing, and co-creation—to help clients innovate their services. Co-creation capabilities act as a higher-order capability that shapes and improves how technological and marketing capabilities work together. These intermediaries enable clients to overcome internal barriers and successfully pursue open service innovation within their service ecosystems.
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The Influence of Entrepreneurship and Social Networks on Economic Growth—From a Sustainable Innovation Perspective
Entrepreneurship and social networks both significantly drive regional economic growth in China, with effects varying by geography. Eastern regions benefit most from entrepreneurship, while central regions gain more from social networking. The study analyzed 31 Chinese provinces from 2007–2016 using dynamic panel methods, finding that entrepreneurship's impact strengthens when combined with social networks. Policymakers should tailor entrepreneurship support to regional conditions and leverage social networks to maximize economic efficiency.
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Under What Conditions Do School Districts Learn From External Partners? The Role of Absorptive Capacity
Two departments in an urban school district worked with the same external partner on improvement efforts, but only one successfully integrated the partner's ideas into policies and routines. The difference stemmed from organizational conditions that foster absorptive capacity—the ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external knowledge—and the quality of interactions between departments and their partners.
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Benefits and costs of open innovation: the BeCO framework
This study examines whether the benefits of open innovation outweigh its costs for small and medium manufacturing enterprises. The authors developed a framework identifying twelve propositions about benefits and costs of inbound and outbound open innovation. Testing this framework on 96 firms, they found that most companies experience the identified benefits and costs, but surprisingly few suffer from not-invented-here syndrome or loss of competitive advantage.
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Open innovation based knowledge management implementation: a mediating role of knowledge management design
Open innovation drives successful knowledge management implementation in organizations. The study shows that open innovation processes significantly influence how knowledge management systems should be designed, which in turn determines implementation success. Knowledge management processes reinforce each other through interaction effects. Organizations must adapt their knowledge management design based on their chosen open innovation approach to achieve effective knowledge management outcomes.
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Open data for open innovation: managing absorptive capacity in SMEs
Small and medium enterprises struggle to use open data for innovation because they lack specific capabilities to acquire, process, and apply it effectively. The study identifies core factors that shape how SMEs handle open data and finds that without developing these unique capabilities, most SMEs cannot successfully leverage open data for digital innovation, explaining why adoption remains limited.
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Frugal or Fair? The Unfulfilled Promises of Frugal Innovation
Frugal innovation has gained widespread attention among academics, practitioners, and corporations over the past two decades. This paper examines whether frugal innovation actually delivers on its promises, questioning the gap between the concept's popularity and its real-world outcomes in addressing development challenges and sustainability.
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How journalists innovate in the newsroom. Proposing a model of the diffusion of innovations in media outlets
Spanish journalists leading newsroom innovation describe how media outlets drive change through innovations in content production, internal organization, distribution, and commercialization. The study identifies key factors that shape how innovations are adopted and implemented in newsrooms, then proposes a model explaining how media innovations spread across the industry.
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Catalyzing capacity: absorptive, adaptive, and generative leadership
This paper proposes a leadership framework for organizations operating in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous conditions. Leaders who develop three capacities—absorptive, adaptive, and generative—can build organizations that continuously adjust to changing environments. The framework emphasizes diversity, learning, reflection, and humility over traditional command-and-control approaches, offering practical steps for leaders to transform their organizations.
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Beyond Education: The Role of Research Universities in Innovation Ecosystems
Research universities drive innovation ecosystems in Brazil's São Paulo state, generating patents, software, and knowledge-intensive startups. The study finds universities' effects are geographically localized to cities rather than broader regions. While human capital formation matters, research excellence at major institutions proves more influential. Policymakers face challenges: peripheral areas gain little from proximity to successful hubs, and building innovation ecosystems requires long-term investment in high-quality universities rather than short-term interventions.
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Methodologic Innovation in Creating Clinical Practice Guidelines: Insights From the 2018 Society of Critical Care Medicine Pain, Agitation/Sedation, Delirium, Immobility, and Sleep Disruption Guideline Effort
This paper describes methodological innovations used to develop clinical practice guidelines for critical care patients. The authors involved critical illness survivors throughout the guideline development process, expanded evidence assessment methods, and systematically identified evidence gaps. Their approach combined expert panels, patient perspectives, qualitative analysis, and structured voting to create recommendations that reflect both clinical evidence and patient values.
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Moderating effect of absorptive capacity on the entrepreneurial orientation of international performance of family businesses
Family businesses with stronger entrepreneurial orientation achieve better international performance. Absorptive capacity—the ability to acquire and apply new knowledge—strengthens this relationship. The study of 218 family firms shows that improving international results requires developing entrepreneurial orientation while building the firm's capacity to absorb and use external knowledge effectively.
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Differential Innovativeness Outcomes of User and Employee Participation in an Online User Innovation Community
This study examines how employees and external users contribute differently to online innovation communities. Using data from Salesforce's IdeaExchange platform, the researchers found that employees who access diverse, well-documented user ideas generate and promote more ideas themselves. Critically, ideas contributed by employees get implemented at higher rates than those from external users alone, suggesting employees play a vital but underexamined role in converting community input into actual innovation.
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Organizational Learning of Absorptive Capacity and Innovation: Does Leadership Matter?
This study examines how leadership styles affect the relationship between organizational learning and innovation. Using survey data from the United Arab Emirates, the researchers found that transformational leadership strengthens the connection between exploratory learning and innovation, while transactional leadership does not enhance the link between internal learning and innovation. The findings explain why some firms convert external knowledge into strategic innovations more effectively than others.
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The Unexplored Contribution of Responsible Innovation in Health to Sustainable Development Goals
Responsible Innovation in Health represents an emerging approach that addresses multiple Sustainable Development Goals beyond health alone. The study identified 105 health innovations, mostly from non-profits and universities, with 47% originating in the United States and targeting Africa, Central/South America, and South Asia. These innovations addressed newborn care, mobility issues, infectious diseases, and healthcare access. Most aligned with goals on reducing inequalities and partnerships, while fewer addressed economic development or environmental sustainability. The innovations combined entrepreneurship with social impact to tackle health determinants.
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Importance of innovation and flexibility in configuring supply network sustainability
This study examines how organizational culture, green supplier development, supplier relationships, flexibility, and innovation affect supply network sustainability in South African manufacturing firms. The research finds that organizational culture strengthens supplier relationships and drives innovation and flexibility. Institutional pressures from government regulations amplify the link between innovation and sustainable supply networks, particularly when firms adopt eco-friendly practices and collaborate with specialist suppliers.
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Teacher education and the GERM: policy entrepreneurship, disruptive innovation and the rhetorics of reform
This paper analyzes how the Institute for Teaching in England, influenced by global education reform movements, rhetorically constructs teacher education as a failing system and positions itself as a disruptive innovator offering practice-based solutions. The authors examine the organization's policy entrepreneurship and neo-liberal framing, concluding that despite sophisticated presentation, its arguments rely on fallacies rather than sound reasoning about complex educational problems.
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Disruptive technology and disruptive innovation: ignore at your peril!
This paper examines disruptive technologies reshaping industries worldwide, including digitalization, artificial intelligence, robotics, 3D printing, and renewable energy. These innovations will transform manufacturing, construction, energy systems, education, and retail. The authors warn that while new skills emerge, widespread job displacement will create significant socio-economic and political challenges.
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Technology convergence capability and firm innovation in the manufacturing sector: an approach based on patent network analysis
This study measures how manufacturing firms develop technology convergence capabilities—the ability to combine different technologies—using patent network analysis. The researchers analyzed the top 30 firms across four manufacturing industries and found that firms with high connectivity in their patent networks produce more patents overall, but fewer convergent innovations. Conversely, firms that bridge different technology areas generate more convergent innovations. The findings suggest firms must balance depth in similar technologies with breadth across different technology domains to effectively pursue convergence innovation.
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Experiments in interdisciplinarity: Responsible research and innovation and the public good
European responsible research and innovation (RRI) policy requires scientists, engineers, and social science scholars to collaborate early in research projects to serve the public good. The authors argue that interdisciplinary collaboration between natural scientists and humanities scholars faces real challenges, and that RRI's meaning and implementation must be determined through experimental coresearch rather than assumed in advance.
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Synergy in Knowledge-Based Innovation Systems at National and Regional Levels: The Triple-Helix Model and the Fourth Industrial Revolution
The paper argues that knowledge-based innovation systems operate through dynamic expectations that can be tested and refined. The Triple-Helix model provides a framework to measure synergy between institutions and assess how well innovation systems generate options and reduce uncertainty. The Fourth Industrial Revolution represents a shift toward model-based innovation, and the author demonstrates how to empirically evaluate whether technological revolutions are occurring using information-theoretic measures of redundancy.
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Supply chain agility: a mediator for absorptive capacity
This study examines how supply chain agility mediates the relationship between absorptive capacity and firm performance. Using data from 231 Spanish firms, the authors find that supply chain agility does indeed mediate this relationship. Firms with more agile supply chains benefit more from their investments in absorptive capacity when improving overall performance.
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Linking Transformational Leadership, Absorptive Capacity, and Corporate Entrepreneurship
Transformational leadership directly boosts corporate entrepreneurship in Pakistani small and medium enterprises, and also works indirectly through absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to recognize and use external knowledge. The study tested five entrepreneurship dimensions: innovation, new business venturing, self-renewal, proactivity, and risk-taking. Firms should hire transformational leaders and invest in absorptive capacity to strengthen entrepreneurial activities.
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Makers and clusters. Knowledge leaks in open innovation networks
This study examines how knowledge flows through open innovation networks involving makers in an Italian high-tech cluster. Using social network analysis, the researchers found that unintended knowledge leaks occur within these maker ecosystems. The findings reveal previously unstudied patterns of knowledge exchange in innovation networks, with implications for understanding how information spreads beyond formal channels in collaborative innovation environments.
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Responsible innovation in human germline gene editing: Background document to the recommendations of ESHG and ESHRE
This paper examines responsible innovation in human germline gene editing across Europe. The authors review scientific developments, legal regulations, and ethical considerations for gene editing in basic research, pre-clinical work, and clinical applications. They argue that deontological objections to gene editing lack conviction, while consequentialist concerns about safety require further research. The paper supports adapting regulations to technological progress while addressing ethical and societal concerns.
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The role of business networks for innovation
Business networks—interconnected companies linked by social and economic ties—shape innovation in two ways: innovations emerge from partner interactions, and innovations must fit within or reshape existing network patterns. This paper categorizes how different network characteristics produce incremental, radical, or disruptive innovations, and how each innovation type affects the network itself. Six case studies reveal that innovation type directly correlates with network role and consequences, filling a gap in research that typically ignores how innovations restructure business networks.
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Absorptive capacity and business performance
A study of 278 Chinese manufacturing firms shows that absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to acquire and use new knowledge—improves business performance through three pathways: directly, and indirectly through innovation and mass customization capabilities. Mass customization proved a stronger mediator than innovation alone, suggesting firms should prioritize both knowledge absorption and the ability to customize production at scale.
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Online consulting in general practice: making the move from disruptive innovation to mainstream service
Online consulting in general practice represents a shift from experimental innovation to standard healthcare delivery. The authors argue that rigorous evaluation of these services is essential to maximize their benefits while minimizing potential risks, enabling the transition from disruptive innovation to mainstream adoption in primary care.
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Institutional pressure and the implementation of corporate environment practices: examining the mediating role of absorptive capacity
Firms facing similar environmental regulations respond differently based on their absorptive capacity—their ability to acquire and use environmental knowledge. This study of Indian textile and apparel companies shows that absorptive capacity mediates between institutional pressure and actual implementation of environmental practices. Managers must develop internal capabilities to acquire and exploit external environmental knowledge to effectively respond to sustainability demands.
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Social innovations in the German energy transition: an attempt to use the heuristics of the multi-level perspective of transitions to analyze the diffusion process of social innovations
This paper examines whether the multi-level perspective framework, commonly used to analyze technological transitions, can explain how social innovations spread in Germany's energy transition. The authors studied five social innovation projects in North Rhine-Westphalia and found that the framework works only for transformative social innovations that challenge existing systems, not for incremental improvements. The multi-level perspective proves useful for understanding diffusion barriers and drivers when social innovations compete with or reshape established regimes.
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Regional innovation systems: Systematic literature review and recommendations for future research
This systematic literature review examines academic research on Regional Innovation Systems from 1997 to 2017. The authors analyze how RIS is defined across top-ranked journals, identify its key components, and establish methods for measuring RIS performance. They reveal knowledge gaps in the field and propose directions for future research on how innovation operates within regional contexts.
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Knowledge processing and ecosystem co-creation for process innovation: Managing joint knowledge processing in process innovation projects
Firms pursuing process innovation must manage knowledge sharing across ecosystems of suppliers and customers. This study of nine industrial firms identifies three technological challenges—complexity, novelty, and customization—that create knowledge-processing demands. The research shows that joint problem-solving, open communication, and end-user involvement enable ecosystem partners to navigate these demands successfully. Procurement strategies that emphasize contracting and relationship development facilitate effective knowledge processing across partners.
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Urban robotics and responsible urban innovation
This paper examines how robots can be responsibly integrated into urban environments. The author argues for designing robots that preserve desirable qualities of city life and proposes that urban robotics should address city-specific challenges through participatory approaches involving stakeholders. The paper suggests architects, urban designers, and planners must collaborate to address spatial issues created by robots in cities.
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Managerial Social Networks and Innovation: A Meta‐Analysis of Bonding and Bridging Effects across Institutional Environments
This meta-analysis of 88 studies across 26 countries examines how managerial social networks drive innovation. The research finds that institutional context determines which network type works best: cohesive networks boost innovation in weak institutions and collectivistic cultures, while diverse networks are more effective in strong institutions and individualistic cultures. Managers should align their network strategy to their institutional environment.
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Circular Economy in the Triple Helix of Innovation Systems
This paper examines how industry, government, and universities conceptualize circular economy within innovation systems. Using natural language processing, the authors find that while each sector has distinct priorities—industry focuses on global business opportunities, government on waste-related policies and economic growth, and universities on production and environmental issues—they share limited consensus around materials, products, and creating resources from waste. This consensus space, the authors argue, can drive systemic innovation if strengthened across all three sectors.
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The impact of social networks on SMEs’ innovation potential
Social networks change how businesses operate, but their role in innovation remains understudied. This exploratory study examines whether Romanian SMEs recognize that social media interactions with customers, suppliers, and academics boost innovation potential. The research finds that Romanian businesses primarily use social networks for marketing rather than deliberately engaging external parties in innovation processes.
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The effect of IT ambidexterity and cloud computing absorptive capacity on competitive advantage
Firms adopting cloud computing gain competitive advantage by balancing conflicting IT capabilities—flexibility and control—through organizational ambidexterity. The study surveyed 165 IT executives and found that cloud absorptive capacity, strengthened by this dual governance structure, drives knowledge accumulation and business performance. Companies should treat cloud adoption as strategic to remain competitive.
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A critical hermeneutic reflection on the paradigm-level assumptions underlying responsible innovation
This paper examines the underlying assumptions in responsible innovation theory by analyzing paradigm-level beliefs across different RI frameworks. The authors identify how current RI approaches implicitly carry ontological and axiological assumptions that distance them from the dominant techno-economic innovation paradigm. They argue that implementing responsible innovation requires awareness of these deep-level paradigmatic barriers and enablers to achieve meaningful change in research and innovation practices.
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Mapping Innovation: A Playbook for Navigating a Disruptive Age.
This playbook provides practical guidance for navigating innovation in disruptive times. Radziwill offers a structured approach to mapping and managing innovation processes, helping organizations understand and respond to rapid change. The work combines innovation strategy with quality management principles to support decision-making in uncertain environments.
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The role of marketing capabilities, absorptive capacity, and innovation performance
This study examines how absorptive capacity influences organizational performance in Brazilian manufacturing firms. The research finds that absorptive capacity does not directly affect performance. Instead, marketing capabilities—including innovative capability and new product development—and innovation performance fully mediate this relationship. Managers should invest in absorptive capacity and marketing capabilities to improve competitive performance.
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Managing Strategic Partnerships with Universities in Innovation Ecosystems: A Research Agenda
This paper proposes a research framework for university-company partnerships in innovation ecosystems. It identifies four key dimensions: entrepreneurial learning network dynamics, university organizational structures supporting innovation, company capacity for successful partnerships, and tools for designing and assessing collaborative initiatives. The framework helps explain how strategic partnerships develop entrepreneurial and innovative capabilities in both academic and business organizations.
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Evaluating the Collaborative Ecosystem for an Innovation-Driven Economy: A Systems Analysis and Case Study of Science Parks
This paper analyzes Taiwan's science parks as drivers of innovation-driven economic growth. Using systems thinking and causal loop analysis, the authors examine how government-academia-industry collaboration shapes innovation ecosystems. They evaluate the economic impact and employment effects of science parks over time, assess R&D performance, and identify policy lessons. The study demonstrates that strategic science park policies significantly contribute to sustainable development and high-technology industrial growth.
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Innovation ecosystems: a meta-synthesis
This metasynthesis synthesizes six qualitative case studies to build a unified theory of innovation ecosystems. The authors find that no conceptual consensus exists on the term, but identify core elements: organic, dynamic interrelationships between organizations that enable faster creation of innovative products. They propose a framework integrating global-local perspectives, showing how companies interact with dispersed strategic partners across industry dynamics and multiple organizational levels to produce innovations.
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Recognition of innovation and diffusion of welfare policy: Alleviating urban poverty in Chinese cities during fiscal recentralization
Local Chinese governments adopted innovative welfare policies to attract central government attention and secure fiscal transfers during fiscal recentralization after 1994. Cities with higher fiscal dependency innovated more strategically. Once the central government recognized and endorsed an innovation, further adoption lost its competitive advantage because cities could no longer distinguish themselves through novelty. The study traces this dynamic through China's Urban Minimum Living Standard Assistance system for poverty alleviation.
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What Fosters Individual-Level Absorptive Capacity in MNCs? An Extended Motivation–Ability–Opportunity Framework
This study examines what drives individual employees in multinational corporations to absorb new knowledge. Using data from 648 workers, the researchers found that intrinsic motivation and overall ability are the strongest predictors of absorptive capacity, while extrinsic motivation has no significant effect. International assignments to distant countries can harm knowledge absorption unless employees are open to new experiences, in which case such assignments become beneficial for capability development.
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The entrepreneur in the regional innovation system. A comparative study for high- and low-income regions
This study examines how entrepreneur characteristics influence firm innovation across Spanish regions with different income levels. Entrepreneurs' trust and growth ambition affect innovation differently depending on regional development. Low-income regions face human capital and infrastructure barriers, while high-income regions struggle with legal and financial systems. The findings show policymakers must tailor innovation strategies to regional contexts rather than applying uniform approaches.
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Open innovation and knowledge for fostering business ecosystems
This special issue examines how open innovation and knowledge sharing drive business ecosystem development. Ten papers use different theoretical approaches and methods to explore how organizations collaborate and exchange knowledge to build stronger, more interconnected business environments that foster growth and competitiveness.
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Networking towards sustainable tourism: innovations between green growth and degrowth strategies
This study examines a rural Irish tourism network using network analysis, categorizing businesses by their sustainability ideology from green growth to degrowth approaches. The research shows that sustainability networks help rural areas pursue change, but achieving genuine shifts away from conventional business practices requires degrowth strategists to play central roles in communication and collaborative activities.
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Enriching individual absorptive capacity
This study examines how individual employees develop absorptive capacity—the ability to learn and apply new knowledge. Using survey data from 125 supervisor-employee pairs, the authors find that organizational commitment to learning and intrinsic motivation both strengthen employees' potential absorptive capacity. Realized absorptive capacity then mediates the relationship between potential capacity and employee creativity, which directly improves job performance.
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Regional Innovation Systems as Complex Adaptive Systems: The Case of Lagging European Regions
This paper develops a computational model called CARIS to understand how regional innovation systems in lagging European regions can become self-sustaining. The research identifies exploration capacity, cooperation propensity, and actor competencies as key drivers of innovation performance. The authors recommend policymakers invest in R&D, support public-private partnerships, strengthen universities, and increase researcher employment to improve regional innovation outcomes.
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UK higher education institutions’ technology-enhanced learning strategies from the perspective of disruptive innovation
UK universities publish technology-enhanced learning strategies, but most focus on sustaining and efficiency innovations rather than disruptive innovation. Analysis of 44 institutional strategies reveals a misalignment between what universities plan and how students and lecturers actually use technology in practice.
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A framework of disruptive sustainable innovation: an example of the Finnish food system
This paper develops a framework for understanding disruptive sustainable innovation by combining insights from socio-technical transition research and management literature. Using four Finnish food system companies as case studies, the authors show how disruptive innovation operates across production and consumption practices, involving both producer-entrepreneurs and citizen-consumers. The framework addresses gaps in existing literature by examining business model innovation and user practices alongside technological change.
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Is point-of-care ultrasound disruptive innovation? Formulating why POCUS is different from conventional comprehensive ultrasound
Point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) represents disruptive innovation in medical imaging, fundamentally different from conventional comprehensive ultrasound. The authors apply disruptive innovation theory to show how PoCUS challenges established ultrasound specialties by offering faster, accessible imaging in emergency and critical care settings. They argue stakeholders must recognize these differences to collaborate effectively and optimize patient care across both approaches.
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Emerging issues on business innovation ecosystems: the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for knowledge management (KM) and innovation within and among enterprises
Information and communication technologies function as digital platforms enabling businesses to exchange information and knowledge within innovation ecosystems. ICTs support knowledge management and foster innovation across and within enterprises by creating networked infrastructure systems where distinct business agents collaborate and share resources.
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Innovating via building absorptive capacity: Interactive effects of top management support of learning, employee learning orientation and decentralization structure
Manufacturing firms build absorptive capacity and improve innovation through top management support for learning and employee learning orientation. Decentralized decision-making structures strengthen how management support translates into absorptive capacity and innovation, but organizational structure does not similarly affect the relationship between employee learning orientation and innovation outcomes.
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Effect of fiber loading on mechanical and water absorption capacity of Polylactic acid/Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate/Kenaf composite
Researchers blended polylactic acid with polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyhexanoate and reinforced it with kenaf fiber at varying levels. Tensile strength and stiffness improved as fiber content increased from 10 to 40 percent. Water absorption rose with both fiber content and exposure time. The biodegradable composite shows promise for automotive and other applications seeking alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.
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The potential contribution of disruptive low-carbon innovations to 1.5 °C climate mitigation
This paper identifies 99 disruptive low-carbon innovations across mobility, food, buildings, and energy sectors that could reduce emissions and help limit warming to 1.5°C. Examples include car clubs, mobility-as-a-service, prefabricated retrofits, and urban farming. Using expert surveys and UK population scaling analysis, the authors demonstrate that consumer-facing innovations offering alternative value propositions can meaningfully contribute to climate mitigation targets.
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Best Practices of Agricultural Information System in the Context of Knowledge and Innovation
Indonesia's agriculture sector employs 40 million farmers but faces declining participation and productivity. This paper proposes an agricultural knowledge and information system model designed to collect, manage, and disseminate farming knowledge and best practices. The system enables farmers to access information anytime and anywhere, helping them increase productivity and sell higher-value commodities through efficient resource management.
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Potential Benefits from Innovations to Reduce Heat and Water Stress in Agriculture
Climate change will reduce agricultural productivity in the central United States through two distinct mechanisms: heat stress and water stress. Using econometric analysis of rental rates, the author finds that by mid-century, climate damages will reach $9.5 billion annually, with heat stress causing 65% of losses and water deficit causing 32%. The spatial variation in damage sources suggests that targeted innovations addressing heat or water stress will have different benefits depending on region.
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The digital divide in India: use and non-use of ICT by rural and urban students
Rural students in Karnataka use computers far less than urban peers—only 21% versus 70%—for academic purposes. Both groups cite power failures and lack of computer skills as major barriers. The study recommends that local governments and schools invest in ICT infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, to support student career development and learning quality.
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Supporting rural Small and Medium-sized Enterprises to take up broadband-enabled technology: What works?
Rural SMEs in Lincolnshire, UK lag behind urban counterparts in broadband adoption despite improved availability. A publicly funded support programme combining training, one-to-one advice, ICT grants, and Technology Hub access significantly increased technology use and sales. Intensive personalized support and direct technology access proved more effective than basic training alone for driving rural business innovation.
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Applying a community entrepreneurship development framework to rural regional development
The paper develops a community entrepreneurship development framework for rural regions and tests it in South Australia's Barossa Valley agricultural sector. The framework helps practitioners and policymakers build entrepreneurial capacity by combining community capitals—particularly natural, human, and social capital. The research shows that successful firm-level entrepreneurship depends on leveraging a region's unique natural resources alongside human and entrepreneurial assets to drive community-wide market development.
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Seeking unconventional alliances and bridging innovations in spaces for transformative change: the seed sector and agricultural sustainability in Argentina
Argentina's seed sector demonstrates how unconventional alliances between diverse actors—including farmers, researchers, and civil society—drive transformative agricultural innovations toward sustainability. The paper identifies bridging innovations that connect conventional and alternative farming systems, showing how collaborative networks create spaces for systemic change in food production practices.
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Scaling and institutionalization within agricultural innovation systems: the case of cocoa farmer field schools in Cameroon
Farmer field schools in Cameroon's cocoa sector failed to scale effectively despite a public-private partnership. The study identifies four key barriers: the curriculum wasn't adapted to local contexts, extension workers lacked genuine commitment and resources, management approaches didn't evolve from pilot to scaling phases, and strategic leadership was absent. Successful scaling requires translating pilots to fit specific institutional conditions rather than simply rolling out standardized programs.
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Does Adoption of Agricultural Innovations Impact Farm Production and Household Welfare in Sub-Saharan Africa? A Meta-Analysis
A meta-analysis of 92 studies from sub-Saharan Africa between 2001 and 2015 finds that adopting agricultural innovations does increase farm production and household welfare, but the effects are modest. The positive impacts exist but remain relatively small, indicating a weaker relationship than might be expected from widespread innovation adoption efforts.
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Markets, institutions and policies: A perspective on the adoption of agricultural innovations
Agricultural innovation adoption succeeds when technology combines with supportive markets, institutions, and policies. Case studies show hybrid pearl millet in India and dual-purpose cowpea in Nigeria achieved high adoption through strong market demand and effective seed delivery institutions. Conversely, pigeon pea varieties in Malawi and conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe saw low adoption due to weak market conditions, misunderstood demand, and inadequate input delivery systems. Enabling conditions fundamentally determine innovation success.
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Gender Norms and Agricultural Innovation: Insights from Six Villages in Bangladesh
Gender norms in Southwest Bangladesh significantly shape how men and women engage with agricultural innovation in aquaculture, fisheries, and farming. The study of six villages reveals that gender norms interact with broader inequalities to either enable or constrain innovation differently for different people. Technical organizations promoting innovation must address underlying gender norms and their effects on motivation and outcomes, rather than simply identifying gender gaps.
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Making Room for Place-Based Knowledge in Rural Classrooms
Rural classrooms can better serve students by incorporating place-based knowledge that reflects local communities and environments. The authors argue that integrating local context into curriculum strengthens educational relevance and student engagement in rural settings, moving beyond standardized approaches that ignore regional distinctiveness and community assets.
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Facilitating affective experiences to stimulate women’s entrepreneurship in rural India
Women in rural India overcome socio-cultural barriers to entrepreneurship through cooperative ventures that foster sisterhood. Cooperative membership creates repeated positive emotional experiences through role models, mentoring, and peer support, enabling women to challenge traditional constraints and sustain entrepreneurial activity. The study of craft-based cooperatives in Bihar shows that equality-focused work environments and female solidarity generate the affective conditions necessary for lasting socio-economic change.
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Innovations in agricultural marketing: a case study of e-tendering system in Karnataka, India
An e-tendering system for agricultural marketing in Karnataka reduced transaction time, improved price transparency, and increased market revenue for pigeon pea sales. However, trader resistance prevented uniform adoption across all markets. The study identifies factors explaining why some markets successfully implemented the innovation while others failed, offering insights into barriers to agricultural marketing reforms.
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Research capacity for local innovation: the case of conservation agriculture in Ethiopia, Malawi and Mozambique
Agricultural researchers in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Mozambique lack the institutional capacity to adapt conservation agriculture to local contexts. While researchers identified specific gaps preventing CA adoption, financial, human, and social constraints within their systems prevent participatory research needed to customize farming practices for farmers. CA remains a donor-driven intervention unsuited to local conditions.
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Exploring innovation creation across rural and urban firms
Rural and urban firms create innovation differently. Using national survey data on patent applications, the study finds that urban firms better leverage their resources for innovation. Rural firms benefit from university research and development support, though they don't value university information as highly. Rural firms willing to attempt innovation, even when failing, outperform those avoiding risk. The research reveals distinct innovation characteristics between rural and urban business environments.
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Gender and agricultural innovation in Oromia region, Ethiopia: from innovator to tempered radical
Women and men farmer innovators in Ethiopia's Oromia region actively challenge restrictive gender norms and top-down extension systems while pursuing agricultural innovation. Women innovators face particular constraints, operating as precarious outsiders who carefully negotiate between social expectations and sanctions. The study uses the concept of 'tempered radicals' to explain how innovators contest dominant narratives while advancing their own farming practices, revealing significant gender differences in how they navigate competing pressures.
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An Open IoT Platform to Promote Eco‐Sustainable Innovation in Western Africa: Real Urban and Rural Testbeds
The paper presents an open IoT platform deployed across rural Senegal and Ghana and urban Togo to address environmental challenges in Western Africa. The full-stack framework reduces energy consumption and emissions while meeting the region's specific environmental, economic, and social needs. Three real testbeds demonstrate how IoT technology can support sustainable development in African contexts.
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Impact of high-speed broadband on innovation in rural firms
High-speed broadband access significantly boosts innovation capabilities in rural firms. The study shows that broadband's impact on rural business innovation operates through IT competence and digital options, which enhance organizational agility and competitive actions. These improvements directly drive innovation and firm performance. The research extends capability theory to the organizational level and provides policy-makers with evidence for allocating IT investments effectively.
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What Prompts Agricultural Innovation in Rural Nepal: A Study Using the Example of Macadamia and Walnut Trees as Novel Cash Crops
In Nepal, researchers studied what drives farmers to adopt macadamia and walnut cultivation as novel cash crops. Through household surveys and statistical analysis, they found that ethnicity, wealth, and prior experience with fruit trees significantly influence adoption. Years of tree cultivation experience and existing fruit tree income most strongly predict nut farming. The study concludes that wealthier households lead adoption, while poor, landless, and female-headed households need alternative business models and new policies to participate in this agricultural innovation.
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Efficiency of small enterprises of protected agriculture in the adoption of innovations in Mexico
Small protected agriculture enterprises in Mexico adopt innovations more efficiently when producers have higher education levels, greater farming experience, and access to extension services. The study identifies three distinct producer groups with different adoption behaviors. The research recommends strengthening connections among producers and improving extension services to support collective territorial development.
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Managing Agricultural Research for Prosperity and Food Security in 2050: Comparison of Performance, Innovation Models and Prospects
This study compares agricultural research and innovation performance across six emerging economies in Asia and Africa—Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Uganda, and Kenya. The authors find that these countries show varying levels of success in R&D investment, policy implementation, technology transfer, and public-private partnerships. They identify best practices and recommend that sustained agricultural development requires strong policies supporting research investment, strategic partnerships linking research to practice, and continuous capacity building.
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Rural Broadband Access via Clustered Collaborative Communication
This paper proposes a cluster-based network architecture to deliver broadband to rural areas in developing countries. Multiple customer devices in villages form clusters and transmit collaboratively over unused television bands to reach base stations. The authors develop protocols to optimize network throughput and energy efficiency while minimizing infrastructure costs. Simulations show the approach is cost-effective, energy-efficient, and scalable for rural connectivity.
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Understanding social enterprise, social entrepreneurship and the social economy in rural Cambodia
This study examines social enterprises in rural Northern Cambodia through interviews with three organizations, revealing that Western development agencies' views on social enterprise often conflict with local realities and community needs. As capitalist market forces advance, Cambodia's social economy is changing in ways that may exclude vulnerable community members. The research challenges Western-centric assumptions about social entrepreneurship and highlights how local social enterprises serve rural development differently than international development models predict.
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Internet Village Motoman Project in rural Cambodia: bridging the digital divide
A wireless internet project in rural Cambodia motivated users through identity, social connection, and community ownership. The system generated unintended benefits including increased social interaction, internet commerce, telemedicine, and e-government services. User adoption depended on social interactions and community dynamics, not individual decisions alone, demonstrating how practical internet infrastructure can bridge the digital divide in developing regions.
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Innovation in Rural Japan: Entrepreneurs and Residents Meeting the Challenges of Aging and Shrinking Agricultural Communities
In Japan's aging rural agricultural communities, entrepreneurs drive economic reconstruction by creating new business combinations that integrate elderly residents as a resource. Successful entrepreneurs in these shrinking regions demonstrate typical entrepreneurial traits alongside strong empathy for their communities and residents, enabling demographic challenges to become opportunities for local economic survival and redefinition.
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In-Place Training: Optimizing Rural Health Workforce Outcomes through Rural-Based Education in Australia
Extended rural clinical school placements strongly predict where medical graduates practice in their first years after graduation in Australia. Graduates who completed longer rural placements were six times more likely to work in rural areas than those without such placements. Rural background and being older at graduation also increased rural practice likelihood. Surprisingly, formal bonding agreements requiring rural practice had no effect. The study recommends expanding rural placement opportunities to address rural doctor shortages.
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Rural Tourism Entrepreneurship Survey with Emphasis on Eco-museum Concept
Rural tourism and ecotourism entrepreneurship can address unemployment and economic stagnation in villages. This study examines how eco-museums—institutions that preserve traditional material and cultural heritage—support rural business development and sustainability. Evaluating Espidan village in Iran against three criteria (public participation, eco-museum activities, and social-cultural-natural conditions), the authors find the village has significant potential to become an eco-museum, which would generate entrepreneurial opportunities and rural economic growth.
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Entrepreneurship: Solution to Unemployment and Development in Rural Communities
Entrepreneurship can address unemployment in rural communities, but South African university students face significant barriers to starting ventures. The study identifies obstacles including weak entrepreneurship curriculum, lack of work-integrated learning, poor infrastructure, and unsupportive government and university policies. The researchers recommend making entrepreneurship a core module, establishing university-community partnerships for practical learning, and implementing policies that support student entrepreneurs from the undergraduate level.
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Future of Rural Transit
This paper examines how emerging technologies like automated vehicles and hologram telecommuting will reshape rural public transportation in the United States. The authors argue that these innovations will fundamentally change how rural areas are defined geographically, moving from discrete categories to a continuous spectrum based on population density. They identify key drivers of technological change and project significant long-term impacts on rural communities and transportation systems.
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Learning the Language of Home: Using Place-based Writing Practice to Help Rural Students Connect to Their Communities
Place-based writing practices strengthen rural middle school students' connections to their home communities. The study used critical pedagogy of place as its framework, examining how writing assignments help students explore and articulate their relationship with their local environment. Conducted in a North Carolina rural middle school, the qualitative research shows that writing about place shapes student identity and deepens community engagement.
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Techno-economic study of a distributed hybrid renewable energy system supplying electrical power and heat for a rural house in China
Researchers designed a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar panels, wood-syngas generators, and batteries to power a rural house in China. Using computer modeling, they tested different system configurations to find the most cost-effective setup that meets the house's energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.
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‘Men on Transit’ and the Rural ‘Farmer Housewives’: Women in Decision-making Roles in Migrant-labour Societies in North-Western Zimbabwe
Research in north-western Zimbabwe challenges the narrative that migration harms women left behind. The study finds that male migration actually increased women's decision-making power in households and communities. Women took on prominent roles in household and societal governance, experiencing empowerment rather than marginalization. The findings highlight how migration can drive development and caution against generalizing migration's effects across different rural contexts.
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Survivalism, collectivism and proud heritage: A study of informal arts and crafts entrepreneurship in rural Zimbabwe
Rural arts and crafts entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe operate under distinct motivations shaped by their sociocultural context. Beyond poverty reduction, these traders pursue business to preserve cultural heritage and strengthen community bonds through reciprocal, collective practices. Western entrepreneurship models fail to capture these non-financial drivers and sub-Saharan African business characteristics, requiring context-specific research and policy approaches.
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A hybrid energy system based on renewable energy for the electrification of low-income rural communities
This paper proposes a hybrid renewable energy system to electrify low-income rural communities in Peru without grid access. Researchers surveyed Monte-Catache village in Cajamarca to assess energy demand and renewable resources. Simulations showed isolated photovoltaic systems with battery storage as the most viable solution. The approach offers a practical pathway for bringing electricity to remote, impoverished areas using cost-effective renewable technology.
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Making innovations work: local government–NGO partnership and collaborative governance in rural Bangladesh
A local government–NGO partnership in rural Bangladesh improved service delivery and governance at the Union Parishad level through capacity building and community mobilization. The initiative strengthened officials' mindsets, streamlined processes, reduced corruption, and increased accountability and transparency in local government operations.
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TOWARDS DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR STIMULATING RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA: A CASE STUDY OF THREE MUNICIPALITIES
Rural entrepreneurship in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province faces significant obstacles that slow small business growth despite municipal support strategies. This study examined three rural municipalities and found that while progress exists, municipalities must do more to stimulate the sector. Key recommendations include distributing land to small businesses, clustering enterprises for skills development and technology transfer, holding business exhibitions, and providing continuous mentorship and monitoring after training and financial support.
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“Moving from transactional government to enablement” in Indigenous service delivery: The era of New Public Management, service innovation and urban Aboriginal community development
Aboriginal Community Based Organisations in Newcastle, Australia have successfully driven urban Aboriginal community development and self-determination for 40 years. New Public Management reforms that treat social services as market commodities threaten this success by prioritizing transactional government over genuine community enablement. The paper argues that policy must shift toward authentic enablement that supports Aboriginal autonomy and community-led development rather than market-driven service delivery.
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Practical agricultural communication: Incorporating scientific and indigenous knowledge for climate mitigation
This research developed a practical agricultural communication framework combining scientific and indigenous knowledge to help farmers mitigate climate change. Working in Thailand's Phichit province, the authors used participatory methods to identify successful farmers practicing sustainable techniques like rice straw composting and alternative wetting and drying. These farmers became messengers, delivering practical, visually clear information through vinyl signage in community spaces. The framework emphasizes that blending scientific and indigenous knowledge strengthens relationships among people and with nature, and requires enhanced communication promotion at local and national levels.
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The CENTRAL Hub Model: Strategies and Innovations Used by Rural Women’s Shelters in Canada to Strengthen Service Delivery and Support Women
Rural women's shelters in Canada adopted a Hub Model combining community education, networking, technology, and resourceful leadership to improve service delivery for women experiencing intimate partner violence. The model successfully addressed challenges unique to rural areas where services differ significantly from urban shelters. Five innovative shelters demonstrated how this integrated approach strengthens support for the 25-30% of Canadian women affected by intimate partner violence.
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The coordination program of the studies and innovation of rural schools in Catalonia
Rural schools in Catalonia face persistent educational challenges. The University of Lleida launched a coordination program (CEIER) to improve rural school quality through innovative projects, enhanced teaching practices, and research. The program combines teacher training, scientific research, and knowledge dissemination to strengthen rural education outcomes.
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Impediments to Rural Youth Entrepreneurship towards the Hospitality Sector in Nigeria: The Case of Ihitte-Uboma, Imo State.
Rural youth in Nigeria face significant barriers to starting hospitality businesses, according to a case study from Ihitte-Uboma in Imo State. The research identifies specific impediments that prevent young people from pursuing entrepreneurship in the hospitality sector, offering insights into why rural youth struggle to establish ventures in this industry.
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COMMUNITY-BASED ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MODEL TO BOOST ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMITMENT IN RURAL MICRO ENTERPRISES
Community-based entrepreneurship programs led by higher education institutions effectively boost rural micro-enterprise development. The study finds that entrepreneurs' attitudes—particularly perceived benefits and risk tolerance—most strongly drive business development commitment. Social pressure and environmental factors have minimal influence. Perceived behavioral control and demographic characteristics like age, gender, and education significantly determine whether entrepreneurs actually implement business improvements.
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Development of rural group entrepreneurship in Indonesia: benefits, problems, and challenges
A women's business group in Central Java, Indonesia, supported by Bank Indonesia with training, tools, and market access, demonstrates that successful rural group entrepreneurship requires members with equal or complementary skills, incremental wins to maintain motivation, and careful recruitment based on members' actual motives. The group must clarify its long-term mission as either a business entity or incubator before external support ends.
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Place-based Inequality in “Energetic” Pain: The Price of Residence in Rural America
Rural households in America pay more for residential energy than urban households despite using less, creating what the authors call a rural tax. Analysis of two decades of data reveals persistent energy cost inequality between rural and urban places. This disparity poses serious risks to rural household well-being, especially during periods of sustained cost increases.
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Examining the Renewable Energy Investments in Hungarian Rural Settlements: The Gained Local Benefits and the Aspects of Local Community Involvement
This study examines renewable energy investments across 748 Hungarian rural settlements, analyzing 159 municipality responses. The research finds that while renewable energy projects generate some local benefits, direct benefits remain limited. Communities receive only moderate involvement and information efforts. The study identifies significant threats that could undermine the success of these investments and hinder future renewable energy development at the local level.
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Urban-rural relations in renewable electric energy supply – the case of a German energy region
This study examines how urban and rural regions can work together to supply renewable electricity. Using a German energy region as a case study, researchers analyzed cooperation between the city of Osnabrück and neighboring rural municipalities. They found that linking urban and rural areas increases self-sufficiency in cities but decreases it in rural regions. For example, rural Landkreis Osnabrück achieved 68% self-sufficiency alone but dropped to 60% when connected to the city, while the city's self-sufficiency rose from 27% to 60%.
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Endoscopic treatment of hydrocephalus with minimal resources: Resource utilization and indigenous innovation in developing countries like India
Indian neurosurgeons successfully treated hydrocephalus using endoscopic surgery in resource-limited public hospitals by designing indigenous equipment and coordinating across departments. They adapted available tools from anesthesia and used custom-made steel sheaths to perform 34 procedures with minimal specialized resources, achieving comparable outcomes to standard approaches and demonstrating that innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration can overcome equipment scarcity.
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PEASANT SOCIETY IN JAPAN'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON RURAL LABOUR AND FINANCE MARKETS
Peasant households in Japan developed distinctive economic strategies from the seventeenth century onward, prioritizing family labor utilization and property transmission across generations. These households shaped labor and financial markets by preferring non-agricultural work within family units, creating barriers to external labor mobility. Regional industries like weaving adapted to these household preferences through putting-out systems, while rural capital accumulation and regional financial markets reinforced this pattern, fundamentally influencing Japan's economic development trajectory.
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Entrepreneurship in the rural context: Practical reflection on success and innovation
Rural entrepreneurs identify key factors driving their success and innovation: strong customer service, hard work, social skills, competitive pricing, and accurate record-keeping. Training helps entrepreneurs avoid common mistakes. The study recommends that government and private sector increase support for rural entrepreneurs to counter the trend of rural-to-urban migration.
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A Pricing-Based Rate Allocation Game in TVWS Backhaul and Access Link for Rural Broadband
This paper proposes a pricing-based game theory model to allocate broadband data rates in TV white space networks serving rural areas. The hierarchical network connects remote user equipment through intermediate nodes to a central base station with fiber backhaul. Using a Stackelberg game approach, the model distributes available data rates among network entities based on willingness-to-pay, enabling efficient resource allocation even when each participant acts selfishly.
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Designing the Structural Equation Model of Agricultural Entrepreneurship Development in Rural Areas of Iran (Case Study: Villages of Marvdasht County)
This study develops a structural equation model explaining agricultural entrepreneurship in rural Iranian villages. Using survey data from 197 households, researchers found that social capital, subjective norms, self-efficacy beliefs, and local institutions together explain 47% of variance in agricultural entrepreneurship development. The model confirms these four factors significantly influence farmers' innovativeness, risk-taking, and proactiveness, suggesting government support and institutional strengthening can boost rural entrepreneurship.
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A Network-Based Approach for Emerging Rural Social Entrepreneurship
Rural social entrepreneurship drives rural development, but remains understudied. This paper applies network theory to rural social enterprises, examining how network structure, social innovation, social learning, and value creation shape strategy and performance. The authors argue that network approaches help rural social enterprises build competitive advantages and strengthen rural economies.
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How Rurality Affects Students’ Higher Education Access in Kazakhstan
Rural students in Kazakhstan face significant barriers to higher education access. The author's autoethnographic analysis reveals that geography substantially shapes educational outcomes. Social capital—the networks and relationships students possess—emerges as a critical factor enabling rural students to overcome disadvantages and gain entry to higher education institutions.
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Viability of renewable energies and industrialization of rural areas using high-performance concrete
High-performance concrete enables construction of solar thermal collectors and water retention structures that integrate renewable energy sources in tropical rural areas. The system combines solar heating with biomass-fired boilers, increases biomass production on degraded land, and generates biogas from agricultural waste. This integrated approach provides reliable electricity, thermal energy, and fuel while supporting livestock production and attracting industrial development to rural regions.
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A Critical Approach on Sustainable Renewable Energy Sources in Rural Area: Evidence from North-West Region of Romania
Rural residents in Romania's North-West region show positive attitudes toward renewable energy, particularly younger and more educated people. However, actual adoption remains low with little intention to switch to renewable sources in the future. The research identifies lack of knowledge as the primary barrier and calls for government-led public education campaigns to bridge the gap between positive perception and actual implementation of renewable energy adoption.
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Diverse interpretations enabling the continuity of community renewable energy projects: A case study of a woody biomass project in rural area of Japan
A Japanese woody biomass project sustained itself for over a decade by allowing members with different motivations to interpret project goals flexibly. Rather than enforcing strict quantitative targets, the project succeeded through diverse social interactions and collaborative practices. This flexibility enabled each member to define success according to their own values and contributions, creating multiple interpretations that ultimately strengthened the project's resilience and long-term viability.
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Enhancing Synergy Effects Between The Electrification Of Agricultural Machines And Renewable Energy Deployment With Semi-Stationary Energy Storage In Rural Grids
Electrified agricultural machines and renewable energy deployment both strain rural electrical grids, but combining them creates synergies. Solar power generation often aligns with peak demand from electric farm equipment. Semi-stationary energy storage systems can balance these flows, reduce grid extension needs, enable higher renewable penetration, and provide grid services. The analysis shows such storage becomes profitable when providing primary balancing power for at least 10 weeks annually.
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Material Implications of Rural Electrification—A Methodological Framework to Assess In-Use Stocks of Off-Grid Solar Products and EEE in Rural Households in Bangladesh
This paper develops a methodology to measure electrical equipment stocks in rural households using off-grid solar systems as a case study. Applying the framework to Bangladesh's 4.1 million solar home systems, the authors find that off-grid solar products are lighter and fewer in variety than standard electrical equipment, resulting in lower overall material stocks. The findings help predict future waste flows and inform recycling infrastructure planning in developing countries pursuing universal electricity access.
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Public Finance and Rural Development in Nigeria: Empirical Evidence from the Structural Equation Modeling
Public finance systems in rural Nigeria fail to effectively fund infrastructure and social amenities that improve quality of life. The study examined nine local government areas in Benue state and found that shared revenue arrangements between state and local governments create serious obstacles to financing rural development projects. The authors recommend restructuring public finance systems at the local government level to enable more efficient and prudent allocation of resources for rural development.
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Addressing Declining Rural Communities Through Youth Entrepreneurship Education
Rural communities in the United States face population decline and youth outmigration due to limited job prospects. Previous youth programs failed to address why young people leave or connect them to local opportunities. This paper recommends that Extension personnel redesign rural youth entrepreneurship education to emphasize technology and innovation, leverage 4-H as an experiential learning platform, and directly tackle the social factors driving rural youth flight.
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Planning the Electrification of Rural Villages in East Nusa Tenggara Using Renewable Energy Generation
This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of renewable energy systems for electrifying rural villages in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Using HOMER software to model three electrification scenarios, researchers compared diesel, solar PV, wind, and hybrid systems. Solar-powered renewable systems proved more cost-competitive than diesel across all scenarios, with levelized costs of energy ranging from $0.55 to $0.74 per kilowatt-hour, while delivering significant environmental benefits through reduced CO2 emissions.
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Designers' and indigenous potters' collaboration towards innovation in pottery production
Designers and indigenous potters in Ghana collaborated to innovate pottery production while preserving cultural identity. Female potters with 25+ years experience and young men using improvised machinery adopted design thinking and new production methods. Through creative skills development, potters maintained cultural consciousness and satisfaction while producing culturally relevant, market-appealing products that reflected contemporary life.
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Documenting Agricultural Indigenous Knowledge and provision of access through Online Database platform
Rural communities in Uganda possess valuable agricultural indigenous knowledge that faces extinction due to environmental and cultural changes. This study documented AIK practices across three districts and created an online database platform to preserve and share this knowledge. The researchers trained field assistants to collect data from farmers, validated findings through community workshops, and built a digital system to prevent loss of traditional agricultural expertise and problem-solving strategies.
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Impact of Microfinance on Women Empowerment : A Study of Rural Gujarat
Microfinance through self-help groups significantly empowers rural women in Gujarat across economic, social, and political dimensions. The study of 384 women in two districts found that each additional year of membership increased the probability of economic empowerment by 9%, social empowerment by 14%, and political empowerment by 11%. Microfinance interventions drive measurable societal transformation in rural India.
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From technology transfer to innovation-based rural development: A necessary turn at the Indio Hatuey experimental station
Cuba's economic crisis in the 1990s prompted the Indio Hatuey Experimental Station to shift from technology transfer to innovation-based rural development. The station adopted a holistic, territorial approach to research and education in pasture and forage production. This transformation improved farm environmental outcomes, strengthened food security and sustainable agriculture, and created horizontal networks connecting researchers, farmers, and institutions across local and provincial levels to address climate change and rural development challenges.
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‘A whole new world opened up’: the impact of place and space-based professional development on one rural South Africa primary school
A professional development program in a rural South African primary school transformed teachers' literacy instruction practices toward more culturally responsive approaches. Students' reading skills improved as teachers deepened their pedagogical knowledge. The study identifies three key characteristics of effective professional development: it must be place-based and ongoing, treated as a continuous process, and embedded within social relationships and real material practices rather than isolated training.
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Constructing A Multi-Microgrid with the Inclusion of Renewable Energy in Oman's Rural Power System
This paper examines replacing diesel generators with wind turbines in rural Oman's Al Wusta governorate by creating interconnected microgrids. The researchers modeled these linked multi-microgrids using ETAP software to analyze voltage profiles and power flow under various scenarios. The analysis demonstrates the technical feasibility of retiring diesel power plants and transitioning rural Omani communities to renewable energy systems.
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Optimal Modeling of off-grid Renewable Energy Systems for Rural Electrification in Bangladesh
This paper develops optimal models for off-grid renewable energy systems to electrify rural homes in Bangladesh, where 72% of the population lacks reliable electricity. Researchers analyzed solar, biomass, and hybrid systems for a village in Sirazganj district using HOMER optimization software. The comparative analysis evaluated net present cost and energy cost across the three models to identify the most economically viable solution for rural electrification.
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Technical-Economic Electrification Models Rural with Renewable Energies: Systematic Review of Literature
This systematic review examines technical and economic models for electrifying rural areas using renewable energy sources. The authors analyze existing literature on how renewable energy systems can be designed and deployed cost-effectively to bring electricity to rural communities, synthesizing approaches that balance technical feasibility with economic viability.
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Cost Optimization of an Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System with Battery Storage for Rural Electrification in Pakistan
This paper designs an off-grid hybrid renewable energy system combining solar, micro-hydro, biomass, and battery storage for rural electrification in Pakistan. The system prioritizes battery discharge to meet demand, bringing biomass online only during peak hours. By reducing biomass operation through strategic battery use, the system cuts fuel consumption, lowers net present cost and electricity costs, making rural electrification economically viable and reliable.
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Review on Optimised Configuration of Hybrid Solar-PV Diesel System for Off-Grid Rural Electrification.
Solar-diesel hybrid systems effectively provide reliable electricity to remote rural areas without grid access. This review examines optimized configurations of hybrid solar photovoltaic-diesel systems deployed globally for off-grid rural electrification. The hybrid approach addresses solar radiation variability, ensuring stable power supply to rural settlements in locations where grid connection is impractical.
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Bringing Solar PV Technologies for Reliable Off-grid Power in Rural India
Solar photovoltaic technology can reliably provide electricity to rural areas without grid connection, addressing poverty and enabling economic development. The authors present a market-driven model called SELL that engages local communities in assembly, sales, service, and manufacturing of solar systems, demonstrating how localized implementation of off-grid solar solutions works in practice.
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Indigenous technical knowledge for pest, disease and weed management in agriculture
This study documents indigenous technical knowledge used by tribal farmers for managing pests, diseases, and weeds in agriculture. Researchers surveyed 120 tribal farmers and compiled their traditional practices through primary and secondary sources. The findings reveal specific indigenous methods across three areas: pest management, disease management, and weed management in agricultural systems.
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Applicability of Territorial Innovation Models to Declining Resource-Based Regions: Lessons from the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland
Tests how well established territorial innovation models (regional innovation systems, learning regions, etc.) travel to declining resource-based rural regions, using Newfoundland's Northern Peninsula as the case.
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The digital divide: Patterns, policy and scenarios for connecting the ‘final few’ in rural communities across Great Britain
Rural areas across Great Britain face an entrenched digital divide compared to urban regions. The paper analyzes Ofcom data to map broadband infrastructure gaps and documents how digital exclusion affects rural households and businesses, particularly in remote areas. Current UK policy proves inadequate, so the authors evaluate community-led broadband, satellite, and mobile solutions as pathways to connect remaining unserved populations and prevent the divide from widening further.
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Resources and bridging: the role of spatial context in rural entrepreneurship
Rural entrepreneurs succeed by leveraging local resources and building connections beyond their immediate area. This study of 28 ventures identifies two key strategies: using place-specific assets and bridging to external networks. The research reveals that rural entrepreneurs are more diverse than previously recognized, and that spatial context significantly shapes how they operate and create value for their communities.
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Exploring market orientation, innovation, and financial performance in agricultural value chains in emerging economies
This study examined 190 actors in Vietnam's beef cattle value chain to understand how market orientation drives innovation and financial performance. Market orientation itself did not directly improve performance, but customer orientation and inter-functional coordination within the chain significantly boosted innovation. Innovation then directly improved financial performance. The findings reveal how agricultural value chains in emerging economies can leverage internal coordination and customer focus to drive profitability.
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Networks, Technology, and Entrepreneurship: A Field Quasi-experiment among Women in Rural India
A seven-year field experiment in 20 rural Indian villages tested how women's social networks and ICT use affect entrepreneurship. Family and community ties boosted business creation and profits, while ties to powerful men hindered them. ICT access dramatically increased new ventures—160 in intervention villages versus 40 in controls. The strongest results emerged when women had strong community networks combined with ICT access, effects that strengthened over time.
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Social network analysis of multi-stakeholder platforms in agricultural research for development: Opportunities and constraints for innovation and scaling
Multi-stakeholder platforms in Burundi, Rwanda, and Democratic Republic of Congo show structural weaknesses that limit their innovation and scaling capacity. Social network analysis reveals that NGOs dominate while the private sector is underrepresented, connections between local and higher government levels are weak, and influential actors often remain disconnected. Organizations central to knowledge exchange attract collaboration, but innovation scaling occurs mainly within single organization types rather than across different sectors.
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Innovation gaps in Scandinavian rural tourism
Rural tourism in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden has significant growth potential, but five innovation gaps prevent its realization: portfolio limitations, fragmented policy, knowledge deficits, weak change motivation, and misaligned resource interpretation. Consumer surveys reveal that new customer groups, especially from Germany, demand higher-quality, diversified products like outdoor activities and cultural events. Rural tourism businesses innovate slowly despite having assets to expand offerings without losing authenticity. The gap between customer expectations and spending patterns partly explains this sluggish innovation.
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Barriers to the development and progress of entrepreneurship in rural Pakistan
Religious, socioeconomic, and structural forces suppress social and cultural capital in rural Pakistan, explaining why entrepreneurship remains extremely low in agricultural regions. The study interviewed 84 families in interior Sindh and found that entrepreneurship requires specific socioeconomic conditions to flourish. The authors recommend policy interventions to promote entrepreneurship in agro-based rural economies.
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Theory and application of Agricultural Innovation Platforms for improved irrigation scheme management in Southern Africa
Agricultural Innovation Platforms enable small-scale irrigation scheme actors in Southern Africa to collaborate, experiment, and learn together. By fostering interaction between previously disconnected subsystems and stakeholders, these platforms build adaptive capacity, increase market-oriented production, and help farmers escape poverty more effectively than traditional infrastructure-focused interventions.
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The fourth industrial revolution, agricultural and rural innovation, and implications for public policy and investments: a case of India
India's Digital India initiative deploys networked digital solutions to boost agricultural productivity and rural welfare across 156 million households. The paper identifies three major barriers: delivering location-specific, farmer-friendly agricultural content; building digital literacy so farmers can effectively use apps; and measuring actual adoption and impact. Success requires complementary investments in physical, human, and institutional capital alongside ongoing policy reforms.
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Unpacking systemic innovation capacity as strategic ambidexterity: How projects dynamically configure capabilities for agricultural innovation
Agricultural innovation projects succeed by strategically balancing exploitation of existing capabilities with exploration of new ones across multiple levels of innovation systems. The authors studied two New Zealand projects addressing lamb survival and sustainable land management, finding that project actors must configure resources and capabilities across individual, organizational, and network levels to overcome capability gaps and break unhelpful path dependencies. Effective projects require dedicated facilitators for reflexive monitoring and alignment with innovation policies supporting sustainable development goals.
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Transitions in water harvesting practices in Jordan’s rainfed agricultural systems: Systemic problems and blocking mechanisms in an emerging technological innovation system
Water harvesting innovation in Jordan's rainfed agriculture faces three major barriers: insufficient funding, fragmented government vision, and institutional problems that prevent technology legitimization. The study reveals that donor interventions, informal land tenure laws, and cultural institutions significantly shape innovation outcomes. Effective policy requires integrated approaches, better donor coordination, and recognition that informal institutions hold equal weight to formal ones in developing countries.
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Agricultural Innovation and the Role of Institutions: Lessons from the Game of Drones
Unmanned aerial systems (drones) offer Swedish farmers significant benefits including reduced costs, higher yields, and environmental gains. However, camera surveillance legislation unexpectedly classified drones as surveillance devices, creating institutional barriers that inhibited their agricultural adoption. The study demonstrates how legislative institutions can obstruct responsible innovation and reveals conflicts between competing ethical frameworks governing technology use.
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Agricultural innovation and resilience in a long-lived early farming community: the 1,500-year sequence at Neolithic to early Chalcolithic Çatalhöyük, central Anatolia
Archaeobotanical evidence from Çatalhöyük reveals how an early farming community sustained itself for 1,500 years through continuous agricultural innovation. The community's resilience came from three factors: a diverse initial crop spectrum that provided options for later adoption, household-level experimentation enabled by modular social structure, and an agglomerated settlement that allowed successful innovations to spread community-wide. Minor crops and contaminants were recruited as major staples over time, demonstrating flexible cropping strategies that sustained long-term productivity.
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Innovation, cooperation, and the structure of three regional sustainable agriculture networks in California
Wine grape growers in three California regions form networks that support sustainability through multiple mechanisms: central actors diffuse innovations, closed triangles solve cooperation problems, and boundary-spanning ties connect specialized system components. Network structures vary by region based on geography and institutional history, affecting capacity to respond to environmental change.
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Agricultural innovation systems and farm technology adoption: findings from a study of the Ghanaian plantain sector
This study examines technology adoption in Ghana's plantain sector using social network analysis and innovation systems theory. The researchers found weak innovation systems where farmers occupy central network positions but lack influence. Social network capital significantly drives adoption of improved farm technologies. The study recommends strengthening connections between focal farmers, research institutions, and extension agents through targeted policies to enhance technology dissemination.
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Scaling Up Agricultural Innovation for Inclusive Livelihood and Productivity Outcomes in Sub‐Saharan Africa: The Case of Nigeria
Agricultural innovation programs in Nigeria significantly improved rural smallholder farmers' incomes, productivity, and income diversification through better market linkages and capacity building. When programs ended, farmers lost these gains and income diversity declined. The study recommends integrating agricultural innovation system concepts into all public extension and research programs to sustain rural livelihoods.
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The entrepreneur–opportunity nexus: discovering the forces that promote product innovations in rural micro-tourism firms
This study examines what drives product innovation in small rural tourism businesses by analyzing 40 new tourism products created by micro-firm owners in rural Sweden. The research identifies three types of forces that trigger innovation: internal factors within the firm, supply chain dynamics, and reactions to external changes. The findings show that entrepreneurial opportunities emerge through a specific nexus between entrepreneurs and opportunities, with triggering forces playing a critical role in initiating the innovation process.
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Effects of local institutions on the adoption of agroforestry innovations: evidence of farmer managed natural regeneration and its implications for rural livelihoods in the Sahel
Farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR)—where farmers actively control tree growth on their farms—significantly improves rural livelihoods across the Sahel by increasing cash income, cereal production, and caloric intake. Local institutions shape FMNR adoption unevenly: strong, independent formal and informal institutions encourage collaboration and resource management, while institutions perceived as government extensions discourage participation. FMNR works as both a productive practice and safety net across all dryland regions studied.
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Happy to Be Home: Place-Based Attachments, Family Ties, and Mobility among Rural Stayers
Rural Vermonters who choose to stay in their home state do so primarily because of place attachment and family proximity. The study reveals that contented stayers value landscape, community, and living near relatives. Beyond simple immobility, these residents actively exercise diverse forms of mobility—travel and engagement—while maintaining their commitment to home. The research shifts focus from migration patterns to understanding why people remain rooted in rural places.
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Compositional dynamics of multilevel innovation platforms in agricultural research for development
Innovation platforms in agricultural research for development require multilevel stakeholder engagement across community and national levels to fulfill key innovation system functions. The study of platforms in Central Africa reveals that different functions demand strategic involvement of specific stakeholders at particular levels, rather than equal participation across all groups. Research and dissemination activities dominated the functional sequence in these platforms, distinguishing them from business-oriented innovation platforms.
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Place-Based Rural Development and Resilience: A Lesson from a Small Community
Community resilience drives rural development. This case study of a small economically disadvantaged community identifies three key factors for building resilience: rebuilding social ties and trust within the community, creating a cascade effect where initial projects spark additional initiatives, and adopting systemic approaches that connect previously disconnected sectors and areas. Place-based policies succeed when they rely on resilient actors and communities.
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Lessons for co-innovation in agricultural innovation systems: a multiple case study analysis and a conceptual model
This study examines three agricultural innovation projects in New Zealand to identify what makes co-innovation successful. The researchers found that effective co-innovation requires network-level capability and legitimacy, clear understanding of actor priorities, and sufficient resources. Project leaders must include the right mix of stakeholders and foster open dialogue to build shared vision. The paper presents a conceptual model to guide future co-innovation efforts in agricultural systems.
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Incentives for Developing Resilient Agritourism Entrepreneurship in Rural Communities in Romania in a European Context
Economic factors like regional GDP and road infrastructure positively influence agritourism business creation in Romanian counties. Tourism-related factors—including employment, tourist numbers, and tourism sector turnover—also drive agritourism entrepreneurship. The study demonstrates that agritourism development directly supports sustainable regional development and resilient rural communities.
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In Search of Rural Entrepreneurship: Non‐farm Household Enterprises (NFEs) as Instruments of Rural Transformation in Ethiopia
Non-farm household enterprises in rural Ethiopia significantly improve livelihoods and are driven by education, cooperative membership, socioeconomic factors, transport access, communication, credit availability, and extension services. The study of 415 households shows that policies strengthening infrastructure, credit systems, extension services, and rural cooperatives can accelerate enterprise development and rural transformation across sub-Saharan Africa.
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Preinoculation of Soybean Seeds Treated with Agrichemicals up to 30 Days before Sowing: Technological Innovation for Large-Scale Agriculture
Researchers developed a method for preinoculating soybean seeds with beneficial microorganisms up to 30 days before planting, even when seeds have been treated with agrichemicals. This innovation allows large-scale farmers to prepare seeds in advance without losing the benefits of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, improving crop performance and yield.
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Intellectual Property Rights and the Ascent of Proprietary Innovation in Agriculture
Agricultural biological innovations historically lacked formal intellectual property protection, but recent decades have seen substantial strengthening of these rights. This paper documents how plant IPRs have evolved, examines economic theory on their effects, and reviews empirical evidence on innovation outcomes. The authors show how agricultural IPR experience aligns with or diverges from broader IPR literature, and discuss implications for market structure and input pricing.
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Classification of Social Innovations for Marginalized Rural Areas
This paper establishes a common definition of social innovation tailored for marginalized rural areas. The authors argue that existing definitions lack specificity for rural contexts and propose a classification framework to standardize how social innovations are identified and evaluated in rural development. This enables consistent measurement and comparison of social innovations addressing rural marginalization.
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Enterprise and entrepreneurship on islands and remote rural environments
Island and remote rural entrepreneurs face distinct challenges beyond typical rural business obstacles, shaped by isolation and peripheralization. The paper compares SME experiences across developing countries and Northern Europe, finding that social capital, cultural values, and local norms drive success. It argues policymakers must account for geographic differences and recognize how remoteness can become a competitive advantage as place-based distinctiveness gains market value.
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Understanding Indigenous Innovation in Rural West Africa: Challenges to Diffusion of Innovations Theory and Current Social Innovation Practice
Development agencies implementing social innovation in West Africa often impose external processes that disrespect indigenous creativity and ignore existing local innovation. The author documents a functioning innovation system among Hausa villagers in Niger that operates independently of development intervention, challenging diffusion of innovations theory. Supporting indigenous innovation processes proves more effective than initiating externally-designed change.
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Rural entrepreneurship and transformation: the role of learnerships
A learnership program in rural South Africa significantly empowered unemployed women and youth by providing skills training and business access. The study found the program enhanced social transformation through rural entrepreneurship, though success required sustained implementation of recommended measures. The research identifies both enabling factors and barriers to rural business development in disadvantaged communities.
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The “digital divide” for rural small businesses
Rural small businesses in North Carolina lag behind non-rural counterparts in adopting digital marketing practices, despite having improved broadband access. The digital divide for rural businesses stems not from lack of internet connectivity but from failure to use web and social media marketing tools effectively. Policymakers must address both infrastructure and business capacity to use it.
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The impact of social grant-dependency on agricultural entrepreneurship among rural households in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Social grant dependency negatively affects agricultural entrepreneurship among rural farming households in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study of 513 households found that grants create disincentive effects that inhibit entrepreneurial development. Conversely, asset ownership, government support services like extension and credit, and infrastructure access like tenure security and market access all strengthen agricultural entrepreneurship. The findings suggest policymakers should enhance household risk-bearing capacity and government support to boost smallholder farmer entrepreneurship.
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Building farmers' capacity for innovation generation: Insights from rural Ghana
Rural farmers in Ghana who participate in farmer field forums—a participatory extension approach—generate significantly more innovations than non-participants, with 27% higher probability of innovation and 49% more innovation practices implemented. Education and risk preference also drive farmer innovation. However, the program shows no spillover benefits to non-participants, raising cost-effectiveness concerns. Policies should build farmer innovation capacity through institutional arrangements enabling stakeholder interaction and learning.
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Rural entrepreneurship and rural development in Nigeria
Rural entrepreneurs in Nigeria can drive development by leveraging local resources, increasing output, and creating employment while reducing urban migration. However, they face significant barriers including insufficient funding and lack of government support. The study surveyed 200 rural entrepreneurs and recommends that governments create enabling policies and assistance to make rural areas more attractive for entrepreneurial activity.
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The challenge of rural financial inclusion – evidence from microfinance
Microfinance institutions serving rural borrowers face sustainability challenges that limit financial inclusion in rural areas. Analysis of 772 microfinance institutions from 2008–2013 shows that while rural lending doesn't directly harm sustainability, institutions with more rural borrowers struggle to achieve economies of scale and productivity gains. This structural disadvantage explains why rural financial inclusion progresses more slowly than urban inclusion.
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Grassroots Innovation Using Drones for Indigenous Mapping and Monitoring
Indigenous communities in Peru, Guyana, and Panama are adopting drone technology for territorial mapping and monitoring to defend their lands against illegal resource extraction and environmental degradation. Five implemented projects demonstrate that drones enable indigenous peoples to document environmental damage, strengthen territorial claims, and pursue environmental justice. The technology shows promise as a grassroots innovation tool that supports both indigenous rights protection and sustainable land management.
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Microfinance Intervention in Poverty Reduction: A Study of Women Farmer-Entrepreneurs in Rural Ghana
Microfinance programs combining credit provision with social intermediation successfully reduce poverty among rural women farmer-entrepreneurs in Ghana. Strong social networks and group relationships drive the scheme's effectiveness, improving credit access, business performance, and living standards. Poverty reduction programs in developing countries should integrate social and human development components into microfinancing policies.
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THE FINANCIAL EXCLUSION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL FINANCE — A STUDY BASED ON SURVEY DATA IN THE JINGJINJI RURAL AREA
Rural residents in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei face significant financial exclusion from digital finance services. The study identifies key barriers: personal characteristics like age and education, lack of understanding of digital finance, weak digital infrastructure, limited digital finance development, and unfavorable social environments. Policymakers should target interventions toward excluded groups based on demographic and economic factors to improve financial inclusion.
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Design of a solar energy centre for providing lighting and income-generating activities for off-grid rural communities in Kenya
Off-grid solar systems in rural Kenya often fail because users cannot afford ongoing costs. This paper designs a solar energy centre that combines basic lighting and phone charging with income-generating activities. The authors demonstrate that this integrated approach makes the system economically viable and sustainable, allowing communities to generate revenue that supports continued operation and maintenance of the power supply.
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Indigenous Knowledge and Developing Countries’ Innovation Systems: The Case of Namibia
Namibia's innovation system faces structural challenges in coordinating actors and resources. The paper argues that developing countries should integrate indigenous knowledge into their innovation systems through doing-using-interacting modes rather than formal institutional frameworks. This approach enables participatory development, strengthens local community resilience, and builds competitive advantage.
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Perspectives on indigenous entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise
This paper examines indigenous entrepreneurship, innovation, and enterprise development. The authors explore how indigenous peoples create and sustain businesses while maintaining cultural values and practices. The work highlights the unique characteristics of indigenous-led ventures and their contributions to economic development within indigenous communities.
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The benefits of energy appliances in the off-grid energy sector based on seven off-grid initiatives in rural Uganda
Rural electrification projects in Uganda typically prioritize lighting and phone charging, but this study identifies broader benefits of energy appliances that project designers overlook. Through interviews with 119 users across seven off-grid initiatives, the research found that beneficiaries value appliances most for business opportunities, labor reduction, health protection, personal security, food security, and comfort. Users sometimes preferred traditional energy sources like candles over modern alternatives, revealing gaps between implementer assumptions and actual community needs.
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Feasibility study for power generation using off- grid energy system from micro hydro-PV-diesel generator-battery for rural area of Ethiopia: The case of Melkey Hera village, Western Ethiopia
This study evaluates a hybrid off-grid power system combining micro hydro, solar PV, battery storage, and diesel generation for a rural village in western Ethiopia. The system design uses HOMER software to optimize configuration and meets local electricity demand cost-effectively at $0.133/kWh. Hydropower provides 79% of energy, PV provides 20%, and diesel provides 1%, with 99% renewable energy fraction. The hybrid system proves more reliable and cost-effective than grid extension for remote rural electrification.
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Renewable energy supported microgrid in rural electrification of Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa faces severe energy poverty, with 600 million people lacking electricity access. This review examines renewable energy microgrids and off-grid systems as solutions for rural electrification across the region. The paper discusses energy poverty's economic impacts, current microgrid developments, technical and implementation challenges, and the potential of renewable technologies to transform rural electrification efforts.
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Rural Electrification Efforts Based on Off-Grid Photovoltaic Systems in the Andean Region: Comparative Assessment of Their Sustainability
Off-grid solar electrification projects in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru fail to achieve sustainability across institutional, economic, environmental, and socio-cultural dimensions. Ecuador and Chile lack maintenance mechanisms, while Peru struggles with community engagement despite having funding schemes. All three countries neglect strong, decentralized institutions needed to support rural electrification, leading to project failures and abandonment.
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Emancipatory Indigenous social innovation: Shifting power through culture and technology
This paper examines how Indigenous Māori social innovators address social disparities through entrepreneurship and cultural approaches. Using a case study of a healthcare entrepreneur in New Zealand's Far North, the authors argue that meaningful social change requires power shifts rather than simply wielding power. They demonstrate how Indigenous social enterprise can overcome market and policy failures to serve underserved populations and transform healthcare provision.
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Participatory science and innovation for improved sanitation and hygiene: process and outcome evaluation of project SHINE, a school-based intervention in Rural Tanzania
Project SHINE engaged pastoralist students and communities in rural Tanzania through participatory science education to develop sustainable sanitation and hygiene improvements. Students showed significant behavioral changes including reduced unhygienic practices, increased handwashing intention, and improved social communication about sanitation. Youth demonstrated strong leadership and communities participated enthusiastically. Locally-developed projects like soap-making from local materials proved viable for long-term health and livelihood gains.
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Renewable Energy Project as a Source of Innovation in Rural Communities: Lessons from the Periphery
Renewable energy projects in northwest Romania failed to boost employment or local revenue, contrary to expectations. However, community-owned projects sparked policy innovation and interest in technological change, while privately-owned projects merely prompted consideration of similar ventures. The study shows that who controls renewable energy infrastructure—not the technology itself—determines whether rural communities experience genuine innovation and development.
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Techno-economic analysis of hybrid renewable energy system for rural electrification in India
This paper analyzes a hybrid renewable energy system designed to provide reliable, year-round electricity to off-grid rural households in India. The system combines multiple renewable sources to meet seasonal demand variations while maintaining 100% renewable energy. Results show the hybrid system reduces power interruptions and unmet demand while remaining economically viable over 25 years, offering a practical framework for electrifying underserved rural communities.
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Intellectual returnees as drivers of indigenous innovation: Evidence from the Chinese photovoltaic industry
Chinese photovoltaic firms with leaders who have international experience file significantly more patents than comparable firms without such leaders. The study analyzes patent records, industrial census data, and executive biographies to show that returnees boost innovation both within their own firms and at neighboring companies. Market liberalization and industry policy also influence patenting activity.
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The Application of Homer Optimization Software to Investigate the Prospects of Hybrid Renewable Energy System in Rural Communities of Sokoto in Nigeria
A hybrid solar and wind energy system designed for rural Sokoto, Nigeria proves cost-effective for electrification. Using NASA meteorological data and HOMER optimization software, researchers sized an optimal system combining 35.21kW solar panels, three 25kW wind turbines, and battery storage. The system costs $249,910 upfront but recovers investment in five years, delivering 25 years of maintenance-free, pollution-free electricity to remote communities at lower long-term cost than grid extension.
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Promoting Community Renewable Energy as a tool for Sustainable Development in Rural Areas of Thailand
Thailand's Ministry of Energy promoted 26 community renewable energy projects across rural areas, primarily using biogas and solar thermal systems. These projects involved 1,638 households and generated 845 kW of thermal energy and 86 kW of electricity. Projects cost an average of 1.3 million Thai baht with 60% government co-investment, producing combined annual savings or income of 5.53 million baht while supporting environmental protection.
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Disseminating Renewable Energy Products in Bangladesh: Implications of Solar Home System Adoption in Rural Households
Bangladesh faces severe electricity shortages and lacks rural distribution infrastructure. This study examines Solar Home System adoption in rural households, primarily financed through government and non-government microfinance schemes. While the SHS program proves commercially viable and socially acceptable, technical and managerial constraints limit its effectiveness. The research identifies barriers that policymakers and stakeholders must address to expand rural electrification through solar technology.
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How to Decolonize Democracy: Indigenous Governance Innovation in Bolivia and Nunavut, Canada
Bolivia and Nunavut, Canada have pioneered large-scale Indigenous governance experiments where marginalized Indigenous majorities gained democratic power. Bolivia integrated direct, participatory, and communitarian elements into its democratic system, significantly improving Indigenous representation. Nunavut's Inuit government incorporated Inuit values into Canada's governmental framework. Despite ongoing social and economic challenges, both cases achieved democratic gains by creating new participation mechanisms that expand liberal democracy beyond traditional conceptions.
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Microfinance and Violence Against Women in Rural Guatemala
A study of 883 rural Guatemalan women found that access to microfinance services reduces violence against women, particularly economic and emotional psychological violence. Women with microfinance access experienced significantly less overall violence than those without. However, microfinance showed no effect on coercive control, likely due to entrenched social and cultural norms. The findings contradict Status Inconsistency Theory by demonstrating that women's increased economic independence through microfinance reduces rather than increases violence.
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Understanding the present and the future electricity needs: Consequences for design of future Solar Home Systems for off-grid rural electrification
Solar Home Systems can provide electricity to rural populations without grid access, but system sizing must match both current and future energy needs to justify costs. Research in rural Cambodia measured actual electricity consumption from 111 existing systems, finding average daily use of 310 Wh with significant night-time demand. Field studies revealed users expect to add more appliances with varying power requirements in coming years, creating higher peak loads and deeper battery discharges. The paper presents load profiles and solutions to design systems that accommodate this anticipated growth.
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Contribution of Micro-Finance on Socio-Economic Development of Rural Community
Microfinance institutions in rural Nepal significantly contribute to socio-economic development by providing savings and credit services to poor, disadvantaged, and marginalized communities, particularly women. A study of eight microfinance organizations in Syangja district found they drove measurable social change and development across diverse activities. However, the research identifies that improving internal management systems would enable these institutions to deliver services more effectively.
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Implementing conceptual model using renewable energies in rural area of Iran
This study assesses renewable energy potential in rural Iran by analyzing wind and solar resources in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province using meteorological data and GIS mapping. Researchers selected Kahkesh village based on solar and wind potential, surveyed local biomass resources, and evaluated residents' energy needs against available renewable sources over one year. The work demonstrates how conceptual frameworks can guide renewable energy implementation to meet rural cooking, lighting, heating, and transportation demands.
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Facilitating greater energy access in rural and remote areas of sub-Saharan Africa: Small hydropower
Small hydropower offers sub-Saharan Africa a viable path to electrify rural and remote areas using abundant untapped water resources. The study identifies major barriers: insufficient funding, weak manufacturing infrastructure, inadequate policies, poor hydrological data, and limited local capacity in design and production. The authors argue that sustainable energy access requires public-private partnerships, domestication of small hydropower technology, and reduced dependence on foreign solutions.
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Descriptive analysis of building indigenous low-carbon innovation capability in Nigeria
Nigeria faces challenges transitioning to low-carbon energy systems while pursuing economic development. The paper argues that building indigenous innovation capability, rather than importing technology from developed countries, is essential for sustainable low-carbon energy. Using survey data from academics and the public, the study recommends government policy-driven models to overcome market failures and develop Nigeria's own low-carbon energy innovation capacity.
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Renewable Energy and Rural Autonomy: A Case Study with Generalizations
A Polish rural municipality currently uses no renewable energy but could meet 7.6% of electricity demand and 10.3% of thermal demand from solar, wind, water, and biogas sources. With development of thermal energy and biomass from set-aside land, the municipality could eventually supply 76.1% of resident energy needs by 2025. The study demonstrates how renewable energy can increase rural autonomy and support sustainable development.
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Renewable Energy Interventions for Sustainable Rural Development: A study on Solar Home System Dissemination in Bangladesh
Solar Home Systems have been rapidly disseminated across rural Bangladesh, where electrification rates lag far behind national averages. This study examines how off-grid solar technology delivers electricity to remote communities and generates socio-economic benefits while reducing environmental impact. The research emphasizes that sustained success requires coordinated collaboration among government, private sector, and community stakeholders to ensure long-term program viability.
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Training and integrating rural women into technology: a study of Renewable Energy Technology in Bangladesh
A USAID-funded training program in Bangladesh taught nearly 2,800 rural women to install and maintain solar home systems, but failed to integrate most into the renewable energy sector. Grameen Shakti employed fewer than 3% of trainees, relegating them to assembly work that ignored their acquired skills. Cultural barriers, weak project management, and competition from mass production undermined the initiative, though some women found income opportunities elsewhere.
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Increasing the Efficiency in Renewable Energy Challenges and Solutions for Rural India
Rural India relies heavily on renewable energy due to unreliable or unavailable grid electricity. This paper identifies multiple renewable energy sources available in rural areas and proposes a hybrid model combining them with an intelligent controller. The controller prioritizes renewable energy use and switches to traditional grid power only when renewable sources are unavailable, improving overall energy efficiency and reducing dependence on commercial supply.
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Hybrid PV/Wind/Diesel Based Distributed Generation for an Off-Grid Rural Village in Afghanistan
This paper evaluates a hybrid solar, wind, and diesel power system for an off-grid rural village in Afghanistan with average daily demand of 7.9 kWh. Using geospatial data analysis and HOMER Pro software, the authors determine optimal component capacities and costs for a reliable system. The study confirms that hybrid renewable generation is technically and economically feasible for remote Afghan communities lacking grid access.
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Smart Village Load Planning Simulations in Support of Digital Energy Management for Off-grid Rural Community Microgrids
Engineers designing renewable energy systems for isolated rural villages lack real demand data to optimize microgrid planning. This paper presents a computer simulation method that generates realistic hourly electricity load profiles for off-grid villages by modeling typical appliances and household behavior patterns. The simulated load data can be exported into energy modeling software to help engineers test smart microgrid designs, economic optimization strategies, and demand response systems before physical installation.
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Comparative Analysis of Access, and Preferences of Rural and Urban Households for Cooking Energy, and the Determinants in Nigeria: A Case of Ogun State
This study compared cooking energy use between rural and urban households in Ogun State, Nigeria, surveying 300 households. Rural areas rely heavily on firewood and charcoal, while urban areas use more electricity and gas. Education, household income, distance to energy sources, and fuel prices significantly shape energy choices. The researchers recommend reducing fuel prices and supporting low-income households to adopt cleaner cooking energy sources.
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Integration and control of an off-grid hybrid wind/PV generation system for rural applications
This paper designs and tests a standalone hybrid energy system combining solar panels and wind turbines with battery and super-capacitor storage for rural homes. The system prioritizes solar power, uses wind as backup, and manages storage to keep batteries at 80% charge, extending their lifespan. Simulations using real solar and wind data from Malaysia show the system reliably meets household demand without grid connection.
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Estimating Ridership of Rural Demand–Response Transit Services for the General Public
This study develops models to predict ridership for rural demand-response transit services. Using national transit database records and survey data from transit agencies, the researchers find that ridership increases with older adult populations and people without vehicle access, while rising fares reduce ridership. Extended service days and shorter reservation notice periods significantly boost ridership. The models outperform previous research by incorporating more detailed service characteristics.
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Promoting and sustaining rural social innovation
Rural social innovation requires addressing rural decline through innovative service delivery, empowering vulnerable groups like immigrants, and involving multiple local stakeholders. The study identifies key mechanisms: identifying urgent societal challenges, increasing rural attractiveness, mobilizing marginalized populations in service design, and using participatory workshops to develop and implement community-driven solutions.
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Social Entrepreneurship in Marginalised Rural Europe: Towards Evidence-Based Policy for Enhanced Social Innovation
Social entrepreneurs in marginalised rural European regions drive innovation by addressing local social and economic challenges. The paper calls for evidence-based policymaking to support these entrepreneurs, arguing that targeted policies can strengthen social innovation capacity in disadvantaged rural areas and improve outcomes for communities facing decline and limited opportunities.
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Social Innovations for the Disadvantaged Rural Regions: Hungarian Experiences of the New Type Social Cooperatives
Social cooperatives in disadvantaged Hungarian rural regions have successfully created long-term local employment and met social objectives, but failed to significantly develop local economies or reintegrate workers into broader labor markets. Capital shortages and limited creditworthiness prevent expansion. The study recommends developing marketing strategies targeting county and national markets to enable sustainable growth.
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Better the devil you know? A relational reading of risk and innovation in the rural water sector
A Ugandan NGO developed CBM-lite, an innovation to improve hand pump maintenance in rural water systems by replacing voluntary committees with paid operators and adding microfinance insurance for repairs. Despite addressing real sustainability problems, the innovation faced resistance because stakeholders preferred known risks of system failure over potential threats to established ideology, organizational reputation, and social norms. The study reveals that sector inertia, not technical barriers, explains why communities resist even improvements to community-based water management.
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Innovation, Openness, and Platform Control
This paper develops a mathematical model to determine optimal platform openness and intellectual property duration for business ecosystems. The authors show that closing platforms increases sponsor revenue but limits developer innovation, while longer IP protection increases developer earnings but delays public access to innovations. The model identifies trade-offs between these competing interests and provides guidance for platform strategy, organizational design, and regulatory policy.
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The ecosystem as helix: an exploratory theory‐building study of regional co‐opetitive entrepreneurial ecosystems as Quadruple/Quintuple Helix Innovation Models
This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding regional innovation ecosystems using the Quadruple/Quintuple Helix model, which integrates government, universities, industry, civil society, and environmental actors. The authors argue that regions function as complex, multi-level systems where organizations pursue both competitive and cooperative goals through entrepreneurial activities. They conceptualize these ecosystems as fractal structures with dynamic assets and propose that innovation systems can be organized by geographical and research-based properties.
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Blended : Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools
This practical guide helps K-12 educators implement blended learning by combining online instruction with traditional classroom time. The authors provide a step-by-step framework for building student-centered learning systems, explain how to maximize online learning benefits while avoiding pitfalls, and offer implementation strategies for leaders, teachers, and stakeholders navigating this educational transition.
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Socially and Environmentally Responsible Value Chain Innovations: New Operations Management Research Opportunities
This paper identifies new research opportunities in operations management focused on socially and environmentally responsible value chains. The authors argue that OM research should expand beyond traditional economic objectives to address environmental and social responsibility across emerging and developing economies, engaging diverse stakeholders including producers, consumers, governments, and nonprofits. The paper proposes this broader approach will advance both economic development and social well-being globally.
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Innovation, entrepreneurial, knowledge, and business ecosystems: Old wine in new bottles?
This theoretical paper reviews 104 sources to examine four types of ecosystems—business, innovation, entrepreneurial, and knowledge—and connects them to established territorial approaches. The authors identify common invariants across these diverging streams and propose a unified research framework that integrates ecosystem and territorial perspectives under complex evolutionary systems theory, providing foundations for future empirical research.
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On the path towards open innovation: assessing the role of knowledge management capability and environmental dynamism in SMEs
This study examines how small and medium-sized enterprises develop open innovation capabilities. The research finds that IT-supported operations and human resource practices strengthen knowledge management capability, which in turn drives open innovation. Environmental dynamism also directly influences open innovation adoption. Interdepartmental connectedness alone does not significantly affect knowledge management capability.
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The Future of Open Innovation
Open innovation—where organizations collaborate externally on research and development—has grown significantly in both practice and academic study. This overview synthesizes recent evidence about open innovation approaches and identifies theoretical perspectives needed to strengthen the field. The paper builds on prior work to assess what we know about how openness in innovation actually works.
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Lessons for Responsible Innovation in the Business Context: A Systematic Literature Review of Responsible, Social and Sustainable Innovation Practices
This systematic review of 72 empirical studies identifies innovation practices and processes that businesses can use to implement responsible innovation. The authors synthesize findings on social, sustainable, and responsible innovation to create a framework addressing six key dimensions: anticipation, reflexivity, inclusion, deliberation, responsiveness, and knowledge management. The review advances both theory and practical application of responsible innovation in business contexts.
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Managing Socio-Ethical Challenges in the Development of Smart Farming: From a Fragmented to a Comprehensive Approach for Responsible Research and Innovation
Smart farming development in New Zealand has prioritized productivity and efficiency while neglecting socio-ethical challenges and excluding citizens and consumers from decision-making. The authors apply responsible research and innovation (RRI) principles to smart dairying and find that current R&D lacks adequate consideration of broader social impacts. They recommend government leadership to embed RRI principles in project design and call for sector-specific approaches to build RRI capacity across smart farming innovation systems.
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Knowledge-driven preferences in informal inbound open innovation modes. An explorative view on small to medium enterprises
Small and medium enterprises in the United Kingdom prefer informal open innovation partnerships when they adopt a knowledge-driven approach. The study examined 175 SMEs and found that knowledge-driven strategy is the strongest factor determining whether firms choose informal over formal collaboration modes for acquiring external knowledge. Absorptive capacity and cognitive dimensions also influence these preferences.
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Dismantling Knowledge Boundaries at NASA: The Critical Role of Professional Identity in Open Innovation
A study of NASA's adoption of open innovation reveals that R&D professionals traditionally protect knowledge within disciplinary boundaries. When NASA opened innovation to outside contributors, it achieved scientific breakthroughs with limited resources, but professionals who resisted identity change rejected external solutions. Only those who refocused their professional identity truly dismantled boundaries and integrated outside knowledge. Professional identity transformation proved essential for open innovation to succeed.
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The roles of absorptive capacity and cultural balance for exploratory and exploitative innovation in SMEs
This study examines how absorptive capacity and organizational culture influence innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises. Using survey data from 138 SMEs, the researchers found that realized absorptive capacity fully mediates the effect of potential absorptive capacity on both exploratory and exploitative innovation. Balanced organizational culture strengthens how realized absorptive capacity drives innovation, though it doesn't affect the potential-to-realized capacity conversion. The findings highlight that cultural equilibrium matters for SMEs pursuing simultaneous exploratory and exploitative innovation.
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Collingridge and the dilemma of control: Towards responsible and accountable innovation
This paper examines David Collingridge's theories on controlling technology and his 'dilemma of control' concept, arguing that responsible innovation literature frequently cites but rarely deeply engages with his work. The authors reveal how Collingridge's substantive, methodological, and philosophical insights illuminate governance challenges in innovation, particularly regarding anticipatory decision-making, public participation, and institutional structures that shape technology's relationship with society.
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Big data for open innovation in SMEs and large corporations: Trends, opportunities, and challenges
Big Data enables open innovation by providing organizations access to external information sources for creating new solutions and business opportunities. This paper reviews how small-to-medium enterprises and large corporations use Big Data in open innovation strategies, identifying key trends, opportunities, and challenges each type of organization faces when implementing these approaches.
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Co-creation and open innovation: Systematic literature review
This systematic literature review of 168 open-access articles from 2014–2017 examines the relationship between open science, co-creation of knowledge, and open innovation. The research identifies that the United States and Brazil lead in publishing on this topic, primarily in business and academic sectors. The study concludes that collaborative practices and context are essential for driving innovation and open science, while highlighting challenges around opening research and innovation processes.
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The evolution of intellectual property strategy in innovation ecosystems: Uncovering complementary and substitute appropriability regimes
This paper examines how intellectual property strategy evolves within innovation ecosystems by analyzing four generations of mobile telecommunications systems from 1980 to 2015. The authors show that firms strategically manage IP through complementary and substitute appropriability regimes, balancing openness and protection across different technologies and actors. The findings demonstrate that competitive advantage depends on understanding the broader ecosystem context, not just individual IP strategies or assets.
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Understanding the human side of openness: the fit between open innovation modes and CEO characteristics
CEO characteristics significantly influence open innovation adoption in small and medium-sized enterprises. Using Korean SME data, the study finds that CEO attitudes, entrepreneurial orientation, patience, and education facilitate open innovation adoption. However, different CEO traits affect different innovation modes differently—for example, patience and entrepreneurial orientation impact adoption differently depending on uncertainty levels. The research suggests CEOs should recruit complementary management teams to offset their own characteristic gaps.
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Managing business and innovation networks—From strategic nets to business fields and ecosystems
This paper reviews network management research from 2000 to 2016 and proposes a unified theory explaining how environmental, network, and actor-level factors shape management activities. The authors consolidate fragmented knowledge across business fields, ecosystems, and platform networks, identifying activity configuration patterns that guide effective network management. The framework advances understanding of how organizations coordinate complex business networks.
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Exploring innovation ecosystems across science, technology, and business: A case of 3D printing in China
This paper examines China's 3D printing innovation ecosystem by analyzing how science, technology, and business layers interact. The researchers developed a framework assessing innovation capacity across integrated value chains and interactive networks. They found that China's 3D printing sector performs strongly in science and technology, with potential development pathways emerging from basic research and technological innovation rather than technology duplication and cost-cutting strategies.
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Open innovation in the public sector: drivers and barriers for the adoption of Challenge.gov
Federal agencies use Challenge.gov to crowdsource citizen ideas for solving public sector problems. Analysis of contest data and interviews with thirty-six managers across fourteen departments reveals that organizational barriers limit adoption of this open innovation approach. However, when innovation mandates align with an agency's core mission, organizations successfully change their procedures and how they acquire innovations.
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Managing knowledge assets for open innovation: a systematic literature review
This systematic literature review examines how knowledge management practices support open innovation activities. The authors analyzed 34 articles and organized findings around three open innovation processes: inbound, outbound, and coupled. The review identifies which knowledge management practices best support each type of open innovation activity and highlights understudied areas for future research.
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Intellectual capital, absorptive capacity and product innovation
Intellectual capital drives product innovation through absorptive capacity in firms. A study of 500 Brazilian companies found that structural and human capital most strongly influence how firms acquire, assimilate, and exploit knowledge. Transformation of knowledge benefits equally from structural and human capital. Absorptive capacity dimensions each affect product innovation differently. These findings help managers develop intangible resources and design innovation strategies.
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Business analytics-enabled decision-making effectiveness through knowledge absorptive capacity in health care
This study examines how business analytics capabilities in hospitals improve decision-making effectiveness by enhancing knowledge absorptive capacity. Using survey data from 152 Taiwanese hospitals, the researchers found that effective use of data analysis and interpretation tools indirectly strengthens decision-making through better knowledge absorption. The findings show that absorptive capacity mediates the relationship between analytics capabilities and decision outcomes, offering insights into how healthcare organizations can leverage data tools more effectively.
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How innovation drivers, networking and leadership shape public sector innovation capacity
Leadership quality has a stronger impact on public sector innovation capacity than innovation drivers or external networking, according to a survey of senior administrators in Barcelona, Copenhagen, and Rotterdam. The study found that transformational and network governance leadership styles most effectively boost innovation in Barcelona and Copenhagen, while entrepreneurial leadership proved most effective in Rotterdam. Organizational structures, processes, and external contacts matter less than strong leadership for building innovation capacity.
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Responsible research and innovation in the digital age
Responsible research and innovation demands that scientists prioritize creating solutions that benefit society, not merely advancing knowledge for its own sake. The paper argues that RRI frameworks must shift focus from pursuing excellence in isolation to ensuring research outcomes serve real-world needs and address global challenges.
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The Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) Maturity Model: Linking Theory and Practice
This paper develops a maturity model for Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) that helps companies integrate ethical and sustainable practices into their R&D processes. The authors tested the model across three industrial settings and found it practical and effective for corporate innovation management. The model bridges RRI theory with real-world business implementation, offering companies a structured framework to ensure their research is acceptable, sustainable, and socially desirable.
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How leadership matters in organizational innovation: a perspective of openness
Transformational leadership enhances organizational innovation while transactional leadership reduces it. The study reveals that leadership styles work through two mechanisms: openness breadth (absorbing diverse external knowledge) and openness depth (integrating that knowledge deeply). Both mechanisms mediate how different leadership approaches affect innovation performance in organizations.
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Networking capability in supplier relationships and its impact on product innovation and firm performance
Networking capability—the ability to initiate, develop, and end supplier relationships—drives product innovation and firm performance in automotive parts manufacturing. Firms employ two distinct approaches: some focus on deepening existing relationships, while others balance relationship development with actively seeking new partners and exiting poor relationships. Organizational readiness to engage in networking amplifies these effects.
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How Central Is Too Central? Organizing Interorganizational Collaboration Networks for Breakthrough Innovation
In the U.S. pharmaceutical industry between 1985 and 2001, firms achieved breakthrough innovation by collaborating with central alliance partners, but only up to a point. Beyond optimal centrality, innovation performance declined. Firms with more private partners relative to public partners experienced less performance loss from excessive central partner collaboration. The findings show that strategic partner selection in alliance networks directly shapes breakthrough innovation outcomes.
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How family firms execute open innovation strategies: the Loccioni case
This case study of Loccioni, an Italian family firm, reveals how family businesses execute open innovation strategies by managing knowledge flows. The firm developed two distinctive capabilities—imprinting and fraternization—that overcome barriers to acquiring and transferring external knowledge. These capabilities leverage the family firm's unique social capital and goals, demonstrating that family business characteristics can actually enable rather than hinder open innovation success.
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Effects of Socially Responsible Supplier Development and Sustainability‐Oriented Innovation on Sustainable Development: Empirical Evidence from SMEs
Socially responsible supplier development practices by large buying firms significantly strengthen sustainability-oriented innovations in their small and medium enterprise suppliers. These innovations then improve the suppliers' overall sustainability performance across economic, environmental, and social dimensions. The study demonstrates that supplier development fully mediates the relationship between responsible purchasing practices and improved sustainability outcomes.
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An integrated perspective of TOE framework and innovation diffusion in broadband mobile applications adoption by enterprises
This study identifies critical factors influencing enterprise adoption of broadband mobile applications using the Technology-Organization-Environment framework combined with Diffusion of Innovation Theory. Analysis reveals that technological, organizational, and environmental contexts significantly affect adoption decisions. The research identifies eleven critical factors across these three dimensions plus two control variables, providing guidance for enterprises seeking competitive advantage through mobile broadband technology.
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Network, knowledge and relationship impacts on innovation in tourism destinations
Tourism destinations innovate more when firms collaborate with trusted partners who share knowledge, and when they occupy central positions in local business networks. The study shows that relationship qualities like trust and shared knowledge drive innovation partnerships, while network position identifies the most successful innovators. Destination managers should encourage knowledge-sharing collaborations and position broker firms to bring in new ideas.
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Under the Wide Umbrella of Open Innovation
This paper examines open innovation as a broad framework encompassing how organizations collaborate with external partners to develop new products and services. The authors analyze how companies leverage external knowledge sources, partnerships, and ecosystems to accelerate innovation processes. They demonstrate that open innovation practices span diverse industries and organizational contexts, creating value through systematic engagement with external stakeholders and resources.
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Open collaborative innovation and digital platforms
Digital platforms enable open collaborative innovation by reducing transaction costs and improving coordination between partners. The study uses contract theory to show how platform governance affects firm operations and ambidexterity. A case analysis of TIM OPEN demonstrates that combining digital platforms with collaborative innovation strategies drives operational synergies and enhances creative processes through selective and free information sharing.
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Antecedents and effects of individual absorptive capacity: a micro-foundational perspective on open innovation
Individual employees vary in their ability to recognize and use external knowledge—called absorptive capacity—based on three factors: their prior knowledge diversity, external network diversity, and cognitive style. A bisociative thinking style (connecting unrelated ideas) matters most. This individual absorptive capacity directly affects how well employees innovate and mediates between their personal characteristics and innovation performance, making it crucial for organizations pursuing open innovation.
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(Re-)designing higher education curricula in times of systemic dysfunction: a responsible research and innovation perspective
Higher education must embed Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) into curricula to prepare students for sustainability challenges. This paper proposes design principles and a competence framework for redesigning curricula and teaching practices. It argues that universities should reject neoliberal, market-driven approaches in favor of more ethical, responsible education that equips students to become responsible innovators addressing complex global problems.
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Innovation Ecosystems vs. Innovation Systems in Terms of Collaboration and Co-creation of Value
This paper distinguishes innovation ecosystems from traditional innovation systems, emphasizing how collaborative networks create value together. The authors survey ecosystem research to identify key features and show how regional clusters, global value chains, and platforms operate as innovation ecosystems. They provide policy recommendations for governments seeking to foster innovation-conducive environments through ecosystem approaches.
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Low Buffer Capacity and Alternating Motility along the Human Gastrointestinal Tract: Implications for <i>in Vivo</i> Dissolution and Absorption of Ionizable Drugs
This paper is not about rural innovation. It is a pharmaceutical sciences study examining pH, buffer capacity, and motility in the human gastrointestinal tract to improve drug dissolution and absorption predictions. The authors measured these properties in healthy subjects after ibuprofen administration under fasted and fed conditions, finding extremely low buffer capacity throughout the upper GI tract with important implications for oral drug delivery formulation.
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The adoption of 4D BIM in the UK construction industry: an innovation diffusion approach
The UK construction industry faces project delays, prompting government targets to reduce timeframes by 50 percent through 4D Building Information Modelling (BIM). This study surveyed 97 construction planning practitioners to measure 4D BIM adoption using Rogers' Innovation Diffusion theory. Results show increasing adoption rates with a characteristic time lag between awareness and first use. The research identifies system compatibility and safe trialling as critical factors for facilitating adoption across the UK construction industry.
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Crowd Equity Investors: An Underutilized Asset for Open Innovation in Startups
Startups that actively engage with investor networks from equity crowdfunding campaigns perform better than those that don't. A study of 60 European startups found that successful founders leverage crowd investors for product, strategy, and market knowledge. Startups using these crowd networks show significantly higher success rates two years later, demonstrating that equity crowdfunding investors represent an underutilized resource for open innovation.
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Open innovation and intellectual property rights
Small and medium-sized enterprises benefit differently from open innovation and intellectual property protection than larger firms. Using Spanish innovation survey data from 2008-2013, the study finds that SMEs gain more from industrial designs than patents when collaborating openly. The effectiveness of different IP tools—patents, trademarks, copyrights, and designs—varies by company size, suggesting SMEs need tailored IP strategies to maximize innovation efficiency.
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Unravelling appropriability mechanisms and openness depth effects on firm performance across stages in the innovation process
This study examines how intellectual property protection mechanisms and collaborative openness affect innovation performance across different stages of the innovation process. Using data from 340 European manufacturing firms, the research finds that semi-formal protections like contracts boost efficiency in early stages, while formal patents actually hinder it due to imitation risks. Informal mechanisms support novelty throughout. University partnerships consistently drive novelty, while supplier and competitor collaborations show stage-dependent effects on performance.
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Process Innovation: Open Innovation and the Moderating Role of the Motivation to Achieve Legitimacy
Organizations that engage in open innovation are more likely to introduce new processes. The motivation to achieve legitimacy moderates this relationship differently depending on how firms engage externally. Cooperation with external parties combined with legitimacy motivation increases process innovation likelihood, while using external information combined with legitimacy motivation decreases it. The study uses European innovation survey data to test these relationships.
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Open innovation in multinational companies' subsidiaries: the role of internal and external knowledge
Multinational company subsidiaries innovate more effectively when they combine external knowledge from outside sources with internal knowledge from other parts of the parent company. This study surveyed 163 subsidiaries and found that openness to both external and internal knowledge sources independently boosts innovation performance. When subsidiaries simultaneously embrace both types of knowledge, the effect multiplies, creating stronger innovation outcomes than either approach alone.
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Frugal innovation-past, present, and future
Frugal innovation has evolved from targeting low-income customers in emerging markets to a global approach addressing environmental and demographic challenges. The concept now emphasizes resourceful, sustainable solutions with strong value propositions rather than simply cheap products. Advanced economies increasingly adopt frugal principles driven by resource constraints and changing consumption patterns, positioning frugal innovation as a worldwide phenomenon with significant socio-economic impact.
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Which pathway to good ideas? <scp>A</scp> n attention‐based view of innovation in social networks
People embedded in constrained networks generate good ideas through interrogation—deeply focusing attention on information from a single contact to develop domain-specific insights. Those in less constrained networks produce ideas through recombination, dividing attention across multiple contacts. In constrained networks, interrogation proves more reliable than recombination for generating good ideas.
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The role of employee autonomy for open innovation performance
Employee autonomy is essential for firms to realize financial benefits from open innovation. The study of 307 companies shows that giving employees time, freedom, and independence fully mediates the relationship between openness and innovation sales. Both inbound and outbound open innovation practices require high flexibility and experimentation, which managers must enable through discretionary job design to achieve new product introduction and revenue growth.
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Knowledge collaboration between organizations and online communities: the role of open innovation intermediaries
Open innovation intermediaries facilitate knowledge collaboration between organizations and online communities through three boundary management mechanisms: syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic. These mechanisms enable knowledge transfer, translation, and transformation respectively. The pragmatic mechanism—building organizational commitment to community engagement—proves most critical. Intermediaries must implement all three mechanisms and move beyond digital platforms to achieve effective knowledge collaboration in community-based innovation.
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Implementation of green innovations – The impact of stakeholders and their network relations
Stakeholder relationships significantly influence whether green innovations succeed or fail. This case study of an offshore wind farm in Germany shows that networks among stakeholders—including companies, government bodies, and communities—can either support or hinder green innovation implementation. The researchers argue that understanding these stakeholder interactions is essential for successfully deploying environmentally sustainable technologies.
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Company Strategies for Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI): A Conceptual Model
Companies rarely integrate responsible research and innovation (RRI) into their business strategies despite growing academic and policy interest. This paper presents a conceptual model showing how companies can embed RRI into corporate social responsibility and business strategy. It provides a framework linking RRI strategy to organizational context and practical activities, plus a process for developing company-specific performance indicators to measure RRI outcomes.
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Managing knowledge in open innovation processes: an intellectual property perspective
Firms collaborating with external partners in open innovation face challenges managing knowledge through intellectual property rights. This study identifies success drivers for knowledge management across five groups and develops an Open Innovation Life Cycle covering three stages and levels. Analysis of pharmaceutical industry cases shows that intellectual property rights have an ambivalent relationship with open innovation, and firms must carefully manage knowledge during preparation and termination phases to prevent unintended knowledge loss.
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A multi-platform collaboration innovation ecosystem: the case of China
This paper analyzes Insigma Group's multi-platform innovation ecosystem in China using a triple-layer core-periphery framework. The ecosystem integrates four platforms—ideation, entrepreneurship, financing, and innovation—that collaborate toward shared goals. The study reveals how these platforms interact and function together, and examines government policy's role in shaping enterprise-level innovation ecosystems. The framework offers a tool for analyzing heterogeneity within similar ecosystems.
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Unveiling the Microfoundations of Absorptive Capacity: A Study of Coleman’s Bathtub Model
This study examines how firms develop absorptive capacity—the ability to recognize and use new knowledge. Using data from 342 employees across 106 medical technology companies, the research shows that formal and informal integration mechanisms strengthen absorptive capacity. The effect works through individual-level processes: employees' perspective-taking and creative behavior drive organizational capability. Key employees play a critical role in explaining why some firms absorb knowledge better than others.
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The influence of platform service innovation on value co-creation activities and the network effect
Platform service innovation evolves through three stages—emergence, expansion, and maturity—each with different strategies for creating value and network effects. During emergence, platforms build infrastructure and directly stimulate network effects through innovation. During expansion, they build relationships and shift to indirect stimulation through value co-creation. At maturity, platforms create ecosystems and continue indirect stimulation. Platform managers must align their innovation focus with their developmental stage to succeed.
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Technology convergence, open innovation, and dynamic economy
Open innovation and technology convergence—particularly through emerging technologies like IoT, big data, and artificial intelligence—can drive economic growth and sustainable development. When these concepts operate within networks, they generate increasing returns and create new market demand, addressing global economic stagnation and supporting the transition to a dynamic fourth industrial revolution economy.
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Orchestrating Innovation Ecosystems: A Qualitative Analysis of Ecosystem Positioning Strategies
This paper analyzes how organizations position themselves within innovation ecosystems through inter-organizational relationships and networks. The authors examine ecosystem positioning strategies and value co-creation through boundary-spanning activities, revealing how collaborative innovation practices vary across different organizational contexts and ecosystem structures.
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The mediating role of absorptive capacity on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and technological innovation capabilities
This study examines how absorptive capacity mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and technological innovation capabilities in small and medium enterprises. Using survey data from 432 SMEs in Kurdistan, Iraq, the research finds that both entrepreneurial orientation and absorptive capacity significantly influence innovation capabilities. Absorptive capacity acts as a mechanism through which entrepreneurial orientation strengthens technological innovation, enabling firms to leverage external knowledge for innovation.
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Creating and capturing value in a regional innovation ecosystem: a study of how manufacturing SMEs develop collaborative solutions
Danish manufacturing SMEs collaborating on an automation project reveal how small firms create and capture value within regional innovation ecosystems. Common goals and financial support enable value creation, but companies must balance their own operations with ecosystem commitments. Success depends on managing knowledge flows across organizations and aligning business models with ecosystem structures. The study shows that value capture occurs at the inter-organizational level, not just individually.
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Does Information Technology Improve Open Innovation Performance? An Examination of Manufacturers in Spain
Spanish manufacturing firms using open innovation models achieve better patent and product innovation outcomes when they invest in information technology. The study finds an inverted U-shaped relationship between external R&D spending and innovation performance. IT investments reduce the costs of identifying, assimilating, and utilizing external knowledge, making open innovation a viable strategic alternative to traditional in-house R&D.
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Born‐Global SMEs, Performance, and Dynamic Absorptive Capacity: Evidence from Spanish Firms
Spanish small businesses that internationalize from startup outperform competitors through dynamic absorptive capacity—their ability to acquire, assimilate, and apply market knowledge effectively. An entrepreneurial, market-oriented culture strengthens this capability. The study of 102 Spanish born-global SMEs confirms that success depends on firms' capacity to rapidly learn and adapt knowledge to market demands.
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Smart specialization in regional innovation systems: a quadruple helix perspective
Robotdalen, a Swedish robotics initiative, demonstrates how smart specialization strategies work within regional innovation systems. The study tracked the program over ten years, examining interactions between industry, universities, government, and civil society. Three strategic practices emerged that evolved over time. The research shows how the fourth helix—civil society and users—integrates into traditional triple helix models, revealing the complexity of multi-stakeholder innovation governance.
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An alter-centric perspective on employee innovation: The importance of alters’ creative self-efficacy and network structure.
Employee innovation depends on the creative self-efficacy and innovation behavior of their social network contacts. A study of 144 U.S. product development workers found that employees with network contacts who have high creative self-efficacy and strong innovation behavior generate and implement more novel ideas themselves. This effect strengthens when those contacts have less densely connected networks. Employees with initially low creative self-efficacy also gain confidence when connected to high-efficacy contacts.
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Social media: open innovation in SMEs finds new support
Small and medium-sized enterprises use social media to conduct open innovation with limited resources. The study of a startup called Aurea Productiva reveals how Web 2.0 tools create opportunities and challenges for collaborative innovation. SMEs can leverage social media by developing strategies that emphasize resource sharing, clearly communicating their vision, and building frameworks that enable external collaboration.
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International migration and innovation diffusion: an eclectic survey
Highly skilled migrants drive innovation diffusion across countries through multiple pathways. This survey examines how migration enables knowledge transfer from origin to host countries and vice versa, as well as among destination countries. The paper emphasizes that social ties among migrants and the distinction between accessing general information versus exchanging specialized knowledge are critical factors in understanding how migration spreads innovation globally.
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Patenting motives, technology strategies, and open innovation
Swedish firms with higher levels of open innovation place greater importance on patenting, particularly for protecting product technologies and freedom to operate, and for bargaining purposes. The study surveyed large firms and SMEs, finding that open innovation strengthens most patenting motives compared to closed innovation strategies, except for attracting customers.
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Implementation of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) Practices in Industry: Providing the Right Incentives
This paper examines how to encourage industrial companies to adopt Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)—research that is ethically sound and socially beneficial. The authors propose a framework of incentives organized by type: external versus internal, instrumental versus non-instrumental, and direct versus indirect. They identify specific incentives including corporate reputation, consumer demand, certification, employee engagement, and governance structures. The paper argues that RRI adoption benefits both business competitiveness and society, and outlines conditions necessary for successful implementation in industrial settings.
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Open innovation in the food and beverage industry
Open innovation practices boost firm performance in food and beverage companies, but differently than in other sectors. The study of 10,771 European firms from 2004-2011 shows that food and beverage companies achieve optimal innovation results using fewer external knowledge sources than firms in other industries, despite following the same inverted U-shaped relationship between open innovation intensity and performance.
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Impact of knowledge sharing, learning adaptability and organizational commitment on absorptive capacity in pharmaceutical firms based in Pakistan
Pakistani pharmaceutical firms depend on absorbing external knowledge from foreign technology sources. This study shows that employee behaviors—specifically knowledge sharing, learning adaptability, and organizational commitment—significantly strengthen a firm's absorptive capacity. Knowledge acquisition functions as routine work, while adaptability and commitment matter most during strategic planning. Human capital, not just technology infrastructure, drives a firm's ability to absorb and compete with new knowledge.
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Industrial Symbiosis, Networking and Innovation: The Potential Role of Innovation Poles
Industrial symbiosis—where companies exchange waste and byproducts—succeeds better when supported by innovation poles, which are government-backed regional networks that promote innovation across industries. The authors argue that innovation poles can accelerate industrial symbiosis by facilitating knowledge sharing and networking among organizations, addressing a gap in existing research that has focused mainly on technical and economic factors rather than innovation and collaboration.
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Do Individual Employees' Learning Goal Orientation and Civic Virtue Matter? A Micro‐Foundations Perspective on Firm Absorptive Capacity
Individual employee characteristics drive firm absorptive capacity—the ability to identify, assimilate, and exploit external knowledge. Employees with learning goal orientation strengthen both potential and realized absorptive capacity. Civic virtue, employees' discretionary involvement in company issues, acts as a social integration mechanism that bridges the gap between potential and realized absorptive capacity in high-technology firms.
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Outsourcing creativity: An abductive study of open innovation using corporate accelerators
Corporate accelerators bring startups together with established companies to share innovation and funding. This study examines how these programs actually work by analyzing their strategy, resources, roles, and structure. The research reveals the characteristics and mechanisms of corporate accelerators as an open innovation model, filling a gap in empirical understanding of why companies use them and what they expect to gain.
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Implementing Responsible Research and Innovation Practices in SMEs: Insights into Drivers and Barriers from the Austrian Medical Device Sector
Austrian medical device SMEs largely lack awareness of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) as a formal concept, yet many already practice elements of it. The paper identifies drivers and barriers to RRI implementation in small firms, showing that SMEs can build on existing responsible practices to develop more comprehensive RRI approaches tailored to their organizational contexts and constraints.
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Evaluating the adoption of evidence-based practice using Rogers’s diffusion of innovation theory: a model testing study
This study applies Rogers's diffusion of innovation theory to understand evidence-based practice adoption in healthcare settings. The research identifies that attitude toward innovation has the strongest influence on adoption, alongside individual innovation capacity, knowledge, and perceived attributes of the practices themselves. The findings provide guidance for designing training programs that effectively promote evidence-based practice adoption.
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Responsible Innovation: A Complementary View from Industry with Proposals for Bridging Different Perspectives
Industry leaders argue that academic research on Responsible Research and Innovation fails to influence industrial practice because concepts and tools don't align with how companies actually operate. The authors propose bridging the gap between academic RRI frameworks and industry innovation processes by integrating related fields like corporate social responsibility, ethical leadership, and sustainable investment. They call for clearer terminology and methodologies that guide industrial innovation toward better societal outcomes.
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Open innovation search in manufacturing firms: the role of organizational slack and absorptive capacity
This study examines how organizational slack influences manufacturing firms' openness to external innovation search. Using ten years of data from 298 U.S. manufacturers, the researchers found that absorbed slack discourages open innovation search, while unabsorbed slack encourages it. Absorptive capacity moderates this relationship, reducing the negative effect of absorbed slack. The findings apply across both high-tech and low-tech firms of varying sizes.
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Is There a Doctor in the House? Expert Product Users, Organizational Roles, and Innovation
Surgeon-inventors and board members strengthen innovation in surgical instrument startups, but surgeon-executives often block it. The study of 231 ventures over 25 years shows expert users excel at generating diverse solutions but struggle with selecting the right ones for organizational strategy. Expertise backfires when organizational roles mismatch with expert capabilities, revealing how external dependencies shape young firm innovation.
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What are the most promising conduits for foreign knowledge inflows? innovation networks in the Chinese pharmaceutical industry
This study examines how Chinese pharmaceutical companies access foreign knowledge through innovation networks. The research finds that while multinational enterprises facilitate some knowledge transfer, research institutions like universities and research centers from advanced economies play a more critical role. Individual researchers from these institutions create networks that connect China to global knowledge sources more effectively than organizational MNE channels.
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Distance to Customers, Absorptive Capacity, and Innovation in High‐Tech Firms: The Dark Face of Geographical Proximity
This study of 158 high-tech firms in Italy finds that geographical proximity to customers does not drive innovation as commonly assumed. Instead, relational proximity to key customers works together with a firm's absorptive capacity to boost innovation. The research challenges the prevailing view that being physically close to customers automatically enhances innovative performance.
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Integrating Innovation Diffusion Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model: The adoption of blockchain technology from business managers’ perspective
This paper develops a unified model combining Innovation Diffusion Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model to understand why business managers adopt blockchain technology. The researchers examine factors influencing managers' intention to continue using blockchain in financial and commercial applications, moving beyond single-theory approaches to provide a more comprehensive explanation of blockchain adoption decisions.
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Efficiency of National Innovation Systems – Poland and Bulgaria in The Context of the Global Innovation Index
This paper examines how national innovation systems convert innovation inputs into outputs across countries. Using the Global Innovation Index data from 228 countries, the authors find that Poland and Bulgaria fail to follow the expected pattern where higher innovation investment produces higher innovation output. Through detailed comparison of these two cases, the paper investigates why their national innovation systems underperform relative to their resource investments.
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Comparison of the shock absorption capacities of different mouthguards
This study is not about rural innovation. It examines the protective qualities of different mouthguard designs through laboratory testing, measuring how various materials and thicknesses reduce tooth deflection and impact acceleration during collisions. The researchers found that thicker mouthguards with reinforced inserts and air spaces provided the best protection, with soft materials offering slightly better performance at lower impacts but degrading more at higher energies.
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Social Innovation and Human Development—How the Capabilities Approach and Social Innovation Theory Mutually Support Each Other
Social innovations address major social challenges by creating new configurations of social practices that drive social change. The paper grounds social innovation in social theory, examining how it emerges from different actors and cultural contexts. It demonstrates that social innovation and human development concepts mutually reinforce each other, with social practices serving as the mechanism through which innovations generate meaningful social change.
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Enabling Ecosystems for Social Enterprises and Social Innovation: A Capability Approach Perspective
Social enterprises can solve social problems innovatively, but their success depends on supportive ecosystems. This study analyzed data from 164 stakeholder interviews, 850 social enterprises across 11 EU countries, and behavioral experiments to identify what enables social innovation. The authors recommend policymakers adopt integrated, multi-disciplinary approaches to create ecosystems that help social enterprises develop and innovate effectively.
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Managing Innovation Paradox in the Sustainable Innovation Ecosystem: A Case Study of Ambidextrous Capability in a Focal Firm
A Chinese aerospace company balances competing innovation demands—profit versus breakthrough discoveries, tight versus loose organizational structures, and discipline versus passion-driven work—by developing ambidextrous capabilities across internal departments and external partners. The firm manages these tensions through dual innovation units, strengthened internal-external ties, and shared value creation, demonstrating how focal firms navigate paradoxes within sustainable innovation ecosystems.
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Intervening role of realized absorptive capacity in organizational culture–open innovation relationship
This study examines how organizational culture types influence open innovation adoption in UAE companies. Integrative cultures positively support open innovation, while hierarchical cultures inhibit it. The research shows that realized absorptive capacity—an organization's ability to use acquired knowledge—mediates these relationships. The findings help managers understand which cultural conditions enable successful open innovation initiatives.
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Innovative products and services with environmental benefits: design of search strategies for external knowledge and absorptive capacity
French firms pursuing environmental innovations use different external knowledge strategies depending on their goals. Acquiring machinery and equipment drives eco-process innovations, while external R&D partnerships specifically support eco-product development. Collaborative R&D sharing advances both types of environmental innovation. Market-based information sources consistently support all environmental innovation efforts.
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Connecting corporations and communities: Towards a theory of social inclusive open innovation
The paper argues that existing institutions fail to address persistent social needs and unmet challenges. It proposes that corporations must adopt open innovation approaches that blend grassroots ideas with corporate expertise in reciprocal and respectful ways. The authors contend that socio-ecological systems recognizing and rewarding innovation can respond quickly to emerging challenges, and that appropriate manufacturing and supply chain design must integrate with open innovation ecosystems to create jobs, build skills, and generate entrepreneurial opportunities.
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The contrasting effects of active and passive cooperation on innovation and productivity: Evidence from British local innovation networks
This study examines how different types of cooperation affect innovation and productivity in British firms. Active cooperation with suppliers and customers boosts innovation and productivity, while active cooperation among competitors actually reduces innovation rates. Passive knowledge spillovers from competitors' activities benefit firms. The findings suggest innovation policies should encourage cooperation within supply chains while discouraging direct competitor collaboration to maximize system-wide productivity gains.
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Building a middle-range theory of Transformative Social Innovation; theoretical pitfalls and methodological responses
This paper develops middle-range theory for transformative social innovation by identifying three theoretical pitfalls and proposing solutions centered on social relations and innovation processes. The authors use iterative cycles between case study research and analysis to build theory that provides practical insights into how social innovation drives transformative change. They emphasize maintaining reflexivity throughout theory development.
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How ability, motivation and opportunity influence travel agents performance: the moderating role of absorptive capacity
This study examines how travel agents' manager competencies—ability, motivation, and opportunity-seeking—influence knowledge transfer and employee performance in Egypt. The research finds that all three competencies positively affect knowledge received by employees, with absorptive capacity moderating these relationships. Employees with greater absorptive capacity better convert received knowledge into improved travel agent performance, suggesting that developing employee capacity to absorb and apply external knowledge strengthens organizational competitiveness.
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Responsible innovation as a critique of technology assessment
This paper examines how responsible research and innovation (RRI) relates to technology assessment (TA). While both approaches share similar goals and practices, the authors argue that RRI functions as a critique of TA rather than simply building on it. The paper explores this alternative interpretation of their relationship, particularly in the context of EU policy frameworks like Horizon 2020.
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A study of factors influencing disruptive innovation in Chinese SMEs
Chinese SMEs face constraints from limited funding, size, and experience, yet disruptive innovation offers them a path to compete with larger firms. This study identifies distinct factors driving two types of disruption: high-end disruption depends on government support, external knowledge, strategic backing, and strong R&D capabilities, while low-end disruption relies on venture capital partnerships, external knowledge, R&D strength, and entrepreneurial innovation drive.
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The social dynamics of heterogeneous innovation ecosystems
This paper develops a framework for analyzing innovation ecosystems that goes beyond focusing on single organizations. It examines how communities and firms interact through distributed innovation, showing how different levels of openness shape ecosystem dynamics. The authors apply their framework to two cases—the RepRap 3D printer and ARA modular smartphone—demonstrating how openness differences affect community-firm relationships and ecosystem functions.
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The business ecosystem concept in innovation policy context: building a conceptual framework
This conceptual paper examines the business ecosystem concept within innovation policy, comparing it to three established policy approaches. The ecosystem concept distinguishes itself through its focus on innovation and its self-organizing, self-renewing characteristics. The authors establish a framework for future empirical research on how business ecosystems can inform innovation policy.
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The effect of organizational structure on absorptive capacity in single and dual learning modes
This paper examines how organizational structure influences absorptive capacity—an organization's ability to acquire and use new knowledge—in both single and dual learning modes. Through literature review, the authors identify structural design characteristics that enhance absorptive capacity and propose contingency models linking organizational structure to knowledge absorption across initiation and implementation stages. The work advances theory by treating absorptive capacity as an independent variable and focusing on behavioral dimensions.
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Knowledge transfer from business schools to business organizations: the roles absorptive capacity, learning motivation, acquired knowledge and job autonomy
In-service business students in Vietnam serve as channels for knowledge transfer from business schools to organizations. The study finds that learning motivation directly drives both knowledge acquisition and transfer, while absorptive capacity only affects knowledge acquisition. Acquired knowledge itself determines successful transfer. Job autonomy moderates the relationship between acquired knowledge and transfer outcomes. These factors collectively shape how organizational knowledge flows through trained employees.
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Family firm performance: The influence of entrepreneurial orientation and absorptive capacity
This study examines how entrepreneurial orientation affects family firm performance in Spain, finding that absorptive capacity—the ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge—mediates this relationship. The research shows that family firms cannot improve performance through entrepreneurial orientation alone; they must develop absorptive capacity to translate entrepreneurial efforts into actual business results.
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A conceptual model of frugal innovation: is environmental munificence a missing link?
This paper proposes a conceptual model explaining frugal innovation and its connection to value creation. The author examines how frugal innovation—creating effective solutions with minimal resources—generates value for organizations and customers. The model identifies environmental munificence, the availability of resources in the business environment, as a potentially critical factor linking frugal innovation practices to successful value creation outcomes.
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Business Models for Open Data Ecosystem: Challenges and Motivations for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Open data ecosystems bring together data providers, consumers, and service creators to develop new business opportunities. This study interviewed six ecosystem actors to understand their motivations, relationships, and business model needs. Actors recognize significant potential in open data but identify barriers preventing win-win conditions for all participants. The research reveals both strong motivations for engagement and critical obstacles requiring resolution to enable sustainable open data businesses.
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Accelerating Innovation that Enhances Resource Recovery in the Wastewater Sector: Advancing a National Testbed Network
The paper proposes creating a national testbed network to accelerate innovation in wastewater treatment and resource recovery. This virtual network connects physical testing facilities, researchers, investors, technology providers, utilities, and regulators to speed adoption of new technologies and processes. The authors identify key challenges and opportunities for building sustainable water infrastructure through coordinated innovation efforts.
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On the geography of emerging industry technological networks: the breadth and depth of patented innovations
This study maps the global wind turbine industry's patent network to show how geographic locations contribute to technological innovation. The research reveals that locations cluster around core technologies like electricity and aerodynamics, with their patent activities determining their importance to the industry. The analysis demonstrates how existing knowledge at a location influences its position in the global network and how new entrants gain central roles in the industry's innovation ecosystem.
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Orchestration Roles to Facilitate Networked Innovation in a Healthcare Ecosystem
Healthcare systems need innovation to address rising costs and digitalization demands. This paper identifies orchestration roles that facilitate networked innovation within healthcare ecosystems. The authors examine how different actors coordinate to develop more effective, cost-efficient care models and personalized healthcare solutions through connected health technologies.
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Subsistence over symbolism: the role of transnational municipal networks on cities’ climate policy innovation and adoption
City governments that join transnational municipal networks adopt significantly more climate mitigation policies than those outside such networks. The study analyzed global data on urban environmental policy adoption and found network membership matters, with differences between networks suggesting that tailored services drive results. Networks enable cities to adopt climate policies independently when international commitments lack local enforcement, while considering co-benefits optimizes global climate strategies.
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Staging aesthetic disruption through design methods for service innovation
Design methods trigger service innovation by creating aesthetic disruption—sensory experiences that challenge participants' assumptions and destabilize their habitual behaviors. The paper argues that bodily experience, not just cognitive processes, drives meaningful change. By staging these disruptions through design methods, organizations can help actors break free from existing institutional constraints and generate genuine service innovation.
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Evolutionary Economics, Responsible Innovation and Demand: Making a Case for the Role of Consumers
This paper argues that consumer behavior fundamentally shapes responsible innovation. Using evolutionary economics and an agent-based model, the authors show that consumers' diverse preferences and limited rationality drive how innovations spread and whether they become responsible. The model represents products across multiple characteristics beyond price and quality, revealing that consumer heterogeneity directly influences which innovations succeed in markets.
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Measuring the diffusion of an innovation: A citation analysis
This paper develops a method for tracking how innovations spread across research fields using citation analysis and topic modeling. The authors identify five stages of innovation diffusion: testing, implementation, improvement, extending, and fading. They demonstrate that when innovations like Latent Dirichlet Allocation move between research areas, adoption patterns cluster among fields with similar interests, revealing how interdisciplinary knowledge transfer actually occurs.
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Toward Efficient CO<sub>2</sub> Capture Solvent Design by Analyzing the Effect of Chain Lengths and Amino Types to the Absorption Capacity, Bicarbonate/Carbamate, and Cyclic Capacity
This paper investigates how molecular structure of amine solvents affects CO2 capture efficiency. Researchers tested six diamines with varying chain lengths and amino groups, comparing them to standard monoamines. Results show that extending the carbon chain from C2 to C3 and adding substituents to nitrogen atoms both increase CO2 absorption capacity, bicarbonate formation, and desorption performance, offering guidance for designing more energy-efficient industrial CO2 capture solvents.
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Social Dynamics Shaping the Diffusion of Sustainable Aquaculture Innovations in the Solomon Islands
Small-scale tilapia farming spread unevenly across rural Solomon Islands. Wealthier, older farmers with diverse income sources adopted it first. Opinion leaders promoted adoption but couldn't teach the technical knowledge needed for success. The research shows that sustainable aquaculture innovations require attention to poor households and the social institutions that shape farming decisions, not just technology transfer.
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Grassroots Social Innovation for Human Development: An Analysis of Alternative Food Networks in the City of Valencia (Spain)
This paper examines organic food buying groups in Valencia, Spain, to understand how grassroots social innovation contributes to human development. The authors combine social innovation, grassroots innovation, and capability approach frameworks to create a new analytical model. Their analysis identifies key elements that bottom-up food initiatives must include—such as agent involvement, clear purposes, enabling drivers, and inclusive processes—to effectively advance human development and social transformation.
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Global Lessons In Frugal Innovation To Improve Health Care Delivery In The United States
This study identifies five successful low-cost healthcare innovations from global contexts and examines how they could improve US healthcare delivery. The researchers find common themes across these frugal innovations and outline critical factors for adapting them to American settings. They highlight existing US trends—shifting care to community settings, alternative payment models, and expanded use of community health workers—that create opportunities for implementing these globally-sourced innovations.
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Fabrication of Functional Polyurethane/Rare Earth Nanocomposite Membranes by Electrospinning and Its VOCs Absorption Capacity from Air
Researchers created polyurethane membranes embedded with rare earth nanoparticles using electrospinning technology to remove volatile organic compounds from air. Membranes containing 50% rare earth powder showed the strongest performance, absorbing VOCs three times better than pure polyurethane. The material effectively captured styrene, xylene, toluene, benzene, and chloroform, making it a promising solution for air pollution control.
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Diffusion of innovation among Malaysian manufacturing SMEs
Malaysian manufacturing SMEs adopt innovations based on perceived advantages, compatibility, and complexity, alongside their strategic orientation and organizational capacity. The study of 360 firms shows that these factors significantly influence product, process, and service innovation adoption and business performance. Policymakers should design support systems providing innovation information, cost-benefit analyses, and guidance on adoption processes tailored to SMEs' limited resources.
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Creative industry in supporting economy growth in Indonesia: Perspective of regional innovation system
Indonesia's government has promoted creative industries as a key economic driver since 2009, establishing a dedicated agency to develop this sector. This paper examines creative industries through a regional innovation systems lens, finding that creative industries and innovation are conceptually interconnected and together support national economic growth by shifting the economy from manufacturing-based to knowledge and intellectual asset-based models.
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New Concepts for New Dynamics: Generating Theory for the Study of Religious Innovation and Social Change
The Emerging Church movement demonstrates how religious innovation occurs through institutional entrepreneurship. Emerging Christians deconstruct and reframe mainstream Christian beliefs and practices while creating new organizational forms to legitimize their alternative approaches. This collective innovation operates through diffuse networks across geographic spaces and social groups, showing how religious change emerges not from isolated individuals but through coordinated action responding to broader societal conditions.
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Analysing the diffusion and adoption of renewable energy technologies in Africa: The functions of innovation systems perspective
Renewable energy technologies remain poorly adopted across Africa despite their potential to address energy poverty and environmental challenges. This paper argues that previous research focused too narrowly on user-level factors and neglected institutional context. The author proposes using the Technological Innovation System framework to understand how institutions enable or hinder renewable energy diffusion, and provides a framework for evaluating institutional performance to guide African policymakers.
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Organizational forgetting, absorptive capacity, and innovation performance
Organizational forgetting—deliberately discarding outdated knowledge—improves innovation performance in companies, but only when paired with absorptive capacity to learn new information. This effect strengthens in turbulent business environments. The study surveyed 320 Chinese firms and found that forgetting alone doesn't boost innovation; companies must actively absorb new knowledge to benefit from shedding old practices.
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The influence of knowledge absorptive capacity on shared value creation in social enterprises
Social enterprises that absorb and apply knowledge effectively create more shared value—combining economic and social benefits. The study tested 127 social enterprises in France and Spain, finding that knowledge absorptive capacity directly strengthens both economic and social value creation. Social value creation acts as a mechanism through which knowledge capacity drives economic gains, demonstrating that social enterprises generate profit by prioritizing social and environmental outcomes.
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Responsible research and innovation indicators for science education assessment: how to measure the impact?
This paper develops a framework for assessing responsible research and innovation (RRI) in science education. The authors identify 86 key indicators that measure RRI values, competences, and learning outcomes in science education practice. They argue that RRI-focused assessment can better capture metacognitive skills, emotional dimensions, and procedural learning, helping students develop the knowledge and citizenship skills needed to address complex societal challenges.
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National Innovation Systems of the South, Innovation and Economic Development Policies: A Multidimensional Approach
This paper reexamines the National Innovation System concept for developing countries, arguing that existing literature focuses too narrowly on technology policy without adequately addressing innovation capacity, innovation policy design, and economic development. The authors analyze how innovation policies function in developing nations, their governance structures, and the conditions that enable or hinder economic development within globalized growth contexts.
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Leveraging innovation knowledge management to create positional advantage in agricultural value chains
This study examines how beef cattle value chain actors in an emerging country leverage their resources to gain competitive advantage and improve financial performance. Researchers interviewed 190 value chain participants and found that actors' resources directly enable market positioning advantage, which in turn drives superior financial outcomes. The findings demonstrate a clear pathway from resource management to competitive advantage to profitability.
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Agriculture and crop science in China: Innovation and sustainability
China's agricultural sector is transitioning from traditional to modern crop science through innovations in hybrid rice breeding, minor cereals, legumes, rapeseed, and genomics-based research. The paper surveys advances in crop management, cotton production, and QTL mapping while identifying constraints to sustainable agricultural development. China must modernize its farming systems to meet future food security and sustainability demands.
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10 best bet innovations for adaptation in agriculture: A supplement to the UNFCCC NAP Technical Guidelines
This paper identifies ten high-impact agricultural innovations that help countries adapt to climate change while improving food security and environmental sustainability. Drawing on research from CGIAR centers, the authors present proven adaptation strategies that countries can incorporate into their National Adaptation Plans to access climate finance and implement effective agricultural practices that benefit nutrition, livelihoods, and ecosystem health.
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Multi-stakeholder process strengthens agricultural innovations and sustainable livelihoods of farmers in Southern Nigeria
Multi-stakeholder platforms in Southern Nigeria significantly boost farmers' livelihood assets compared to non-participants, with human and social capital increasing substantially. The study shows that institutionalizing these platforms within agricultural research programs, combined with extension services, strengthens cassava production efficiency and enables effective technology adoption. Knowledge dynamics and power relationships within platforms drive innovation outcomes.
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An institutional diagnostics of agricultural innovation; public-private partnerships and smallholder production in Uganda
This paper develops a diagnostic framework for analyzing public-private partnerships in agricultural innovation, using institutions as performative processes rather than fixed rules, and technology as affordance rather than input. The authors test this framework on a Uganda sorghum production partnership between the National Agricultural Research Organisation and Nile Breweries Limited, revealing institutional dynamics critical for understanding smallholder farming innovation in Africa.
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Eco-Innovations in Rural Territories: Organizational Dynamics and Resource Mobilization in Low Density Areas
Rural areas develop eco-innovation projects despite limited agglomeration. This study examines how organizational factors and environmental conditions influence eco-innovation in low-density areas. Using interviews across five French rural cases, researchers found that personal and local professional networks, combined with strong leadership, enable projects to absorb local resources effectively. While local resources remain essential, successful projects increasingly mobilize distant resources as they develop.
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Rural Enterprise Hub Supporting Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation – Case Studies from Hungary
Enterprise hubs established in rural Hungarian settlements can support entrepreneurship, but physical infrastructure alone is insufficient. The study of two hubs in Debrecen and Noszvaj over two years found that active facilitators and hosts are essential to foster real interaction networks and generate synergies among entrepreneurs, addressing the infrastructure needs of the emerging rural economy.
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Becoming Spatially Embedded: Findings from a Study on Rural Immigrant Entrepreneurship in Norway
Rural immigrant entrepreneurs in northern Norway develop businesses through social and spatial embeddedness rather than individual traits alone. The study reveals how immigrants build economic success by integrating into local communities, leveraging place-based resources, and establishing networks within their geographic context. Spatial embedding emerges as a critical factor shaping entrepreneurial outcomes in rural areas.
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Small scale entrepreneurship – understanding behaviors of aspiring entrepreneurs in a rural area
Aspiring entrepreneurs in rural Denmark benefit from business networks in different ways depending on their innovation type. Those developing new products need strong ties with consultants and network-building experts, while service innovators rely on university connections. Rural entrepreneurs connected to a regional entrepreneurship center can build strong relationships and leverage weak ties effectively. Professional support organizations help less-privileged startups compensate for lacking strong ties.
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Triggering system innovation in agricultural innovation systems: Initial insights from a community for change in New Zealand
This paper describes a process in New Zealand that brings together agricultural innovation system actors to identify systemic problems and challenge institutional barriers. Through collaborative problem-solving, reflexivity, and practical experimentation, the process helped change agents develop shared understanding of how relationships and boundaries reinforce current practices. The approach stimulated project-level actions and revealed wider system barriers, though integrating individual innovation projects with broader system-level changes remains difficult.
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The issue of digital divide in rural areas of the European Union
Rural areas across the European Union face a digital divide that limits access to internet and ICT opportunities compared to urban regions. Population aging and rural depopulation compound this inequality, creating barriers to digital convergence. The paper examines factors preventing rural communities from achieving equal digital access and socioeconomic development opportunities available in cities.
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Rural Entrepreneurship in African Countries: A Synthesis of Related Literature
This literature synthesis examines rural entrepreneurship across African countries, analyzing existing research to identify patterns, challenges, and opportunities for business development in rural African contexts. The authors synthesize findings from related studies to provide a comprehensive overview of how rural entrepreneurs operate, what barriers they face, and what factors enable their success across the African continent.
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Sustaining the Entrepreneurship in Rural Tourism Development
Rural entrepreneurs drive sustainable tourism development and local economic growth. The paper argues that stimulating entrepreneurial activities in rural tourism recovers regional potential, preserves traditions, and maintains employment while raising living standards. It examines how local communities participate in developing rural tourism entrepreneurship and addresses key challenges in this sector.
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MODELING OF FACTORS INFLUENCING INNOVATION ACTIVITIES OF AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES OF UKRAINE
This paper analyzes factors influencing innovation activities in Ukrainian agricultural enterprises. The author develops economic-mathematical models to identify latent factors affecting innovation dynamics, including costs, funding sources, and implementation rates. The research reveals patterns in how agricultural enterprises manage innovation processes and their internal and external relationships. The findings provide guidelines for determining Ukraine's innovation strategy in global agricultural markets.
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Innovation in rural development: "neo-rural" farmers branding local quality of food and territory
Neo-rural farmers in Campania, Italy are innovating through collective branding that links local food quality with territorial identity. These farmers reshape production-consumption relationships by combining economic practices with environmental and cultural values. Their narrative-based brand represents an alternative agri-food movement that promotes local development, food quality, and resource stewardship in inner rural areas.
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Strategy and Innovation of Mushroom Business in Rural Area Indonesia: Case Study of a Developed Mushroom Enterprise from Cianjur district, West Java, Indonesia
Mushroom farming in Indonesia's Cianjur district succeeds through dual strategies: technological innovations that boost yields and attract markets, and organizational innovations using contract farming agreements with local producers. These approaches reduce market failures and production risks while building community capacity. Success depends on cooperation with external sources and adaptation to local conditions.
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A framework for optimal techno-economic assessment of broadband access solutions and digital inclusion of rural population in global information society
Rural areas face persistent digital divides in broadband access compared to urban regions. This paper proposes an extended techno-economic assessment framework to identify optimal broadband deployment and adoption strategies for rural populations. The framework incorporates regression analyses of key factors influencing rural broadband solutions, integrating these findings into standard techno-economic models. A case study demonstrates the framework's effectiveness in determining efficient broadband solutions for rural scenarios.
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Macroeconomic Analysis of the Competitive Factors which Influence Innovation in Rural Entrepreneurship
This study identifies macroeconomic factors that drive entrepreneurial innovation in rural areas by analyzing competitiveness at regional levels. The research develops a descriptive model placing entrepreneurial innovation at the center of rural competitiveness, incorporating Porter's diamond framework and institutional influences. The model shows how four key elements interact with external institutions to foster innovation in rural entrepreneurship.
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Socio-cultural factors and the entrepreneurship of youths in rural regions
This paper examines how socio-cultural factors influence entrepreneurial activity among young people in rural regions. The authors demonstrate that specific cultural and social conditions significantly impact whether rural youth engage in entrepreneurship, identifying key socio-cultural drivers that shape entrepreneurial behavior in these communities.
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THE RURAL TOURIST ENTREPRENEURSHIP – NEW OPPORTUNITIES OF CAPITALIZING THE RURAL TOURIST POTENTIAL IN THE CONTEXT OF DURABLE DEVELOPMENT
Rural tourism entrepreneurship can revitalize economically disadvantaged communities by leveraging traditional agro-food products and regional food systems. The authors analyze how integrated rural tourism ventures create economic benefits at national levels across European Union countries. They develop metrics to measure rural tourism entrepreneurship potential, finding that mountainous and adjacent areas can achieve sustainable development by capitalizing on their distinctive food heritage and tourist appeal.
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The Role of Social Entrepreneurship for Rural Development
Social entrepreneurship can drive sustainable rural development in Bulgaria by addressing poverty, migration, and depopulation while creating employment. The paper analyzes economic, social, and institutional factors that enable or hinder social enterprises in rural areas. Results show that social entrepreneurship effectively solves socially significant problems and should be promoted to retain working populations in rural communities.
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Examining Key Stakeholder and Community Residents’ Understanding of Environmental Influences to Inform Place‐Based Interventions to Reduce Obesity in Rural Communities, Kentucky 2015
Rural Kentucky counties with obesity rates exceeding 40% face significant barriers to healthy living. Stakeholders and residents identified limited access to fresh produce and inadequate physical activity infrastructure as key problems. Residents concerned about obesity shopped more at supercenters, while those with information about physical activity opportunities reported better access to safe exercise spaces, sidewalks, and trails. These findings provide a foundation for designing community-specific interventions.
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Knowledge Management Strategy for Indigenous Knowledge on Land Use and Agricultural Development in Western Ethiopia
Local communities in western Ethiopia possess substantial indigenous knowledge about land use and agriculture, but fail to systematically acquire, develop, share, or preserve it. The study identifies major barriers including poor knowledge-sharing culture, lack of written records, generational disinterest, oral-only transmission, lifestyle changes, and insufficient recognition of indigenous knowledge. The authors recommend developing knowledge management strategies to better capture and utilize this local expertise.
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Innovation in the Rural Nonfarm Economy: Its Effect on Job and Earnings Growth, 2010-2014
Rural nonfarm businesses innovate at lower rates than urban establishments, but certain rural industries show high innovation intensity. Using nationally representative data from 2010-2014, the study finds that local innovation significantly influenced job and earnings growth during the post-recession recovery period, suggesting innovation drives economic resilience in rural areas.
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A New Role for Land Grant Universities in the Rural Innovation Ecosystem?
Land grant universities play a limited role in fostering innovation-driven entrepreneurship in rural America, contributing to persistent economic inequality and reduced wealth-creation opportunities. The authors identify why this gap exists and propose a new vision for how these institutions can more effectively support rural innovation and economic development through concrete actions.
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Scaling-up of Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) Cultivation in Agroforestry for Entrepreneurship and Economic Strengthening of Rural Community of India
Neem trees have multiple medicinal, religious, and agricultural uses documented in ancient Indian texts and recognized globally, yet remain underutilized in Indian agroforestry despite successful intercropping research with various crops. The paper argues that scaling up neem cultivation through agroforestry systems can create rural entrepreneurship opportunities and strengthen rural economies in India, moving beyond current limited adoption by farming communities.
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Models of entrepreneurship development in rural tourism destinations in Vojvodina
Rural tourism in Vojvodina can drive economic development through entrepreneurship models centered on farm stays, village experiences, traditional events, organic food production, and eco-tourism. The paper identifies key rural tourism products and argues that targeted investment in these entrepreneurial ventures aligned with current market demand will increase tourism income and boost rural economic growth.
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Investigating the Roles of Knowledge Management Practices in Empowering Rural Youth to Bridge the Digital Divide in Rural Sarawak
Rural youth in Sarawak who completed an ICT training program gained knowledge and skills through knowledge acquisition, utilization, and sharing practices. These graduates established home-based ICT service centers, improved digital services, and trained community members, directly reducing the rural-urban digital divide while generating income and employment for themselves.
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Elevating education of India's rural village girls through distance learning technology supported by sustainable electricity
This paper describes a distance learning program designed to improve educational access for rural girls in Jharkhand, India. The authors identify inadequate electricity and limited schooling opportunities as major barriers and propose a sustainable electrification system paired with digital learning technology to enable continuous primary and secondary education. Village interviews showed strong community support for the initiative, which addresses infrastructure, connectivity, and personnel needs alongside reliable power supply.
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Energy planning model with renewable energy using optimization multicriteria techniques for isolated rural communities: Cajamarca province, Peru
This paper develops SEPLAN, an energy planning model using multicriteria optimization to balance economic, environmental, and social objectives for isolated rural communities in Peru. Applied to Cajamarca province, the model evaluates renewable energy alternatives against six competing goals including emissions reduction, cost minimization, and universal energy access. Results show photovoltaic solar energy emerges as the priority solution when prioritizing rural electrification, offering decision-makers a practical tool for sustainable energy planning.
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Emerging ideas for innovation in Indigenous education: a research synthesis of Indigenous educative roles in mainstream and flexi schools
Indigenous staff play distinct educative roles in mainstream versus flexi schools in Australia. Flexi schools engage disproportionately high numbers of Indigenous students and staff, yet remain overlooked in Indigenous education discourse. This research synthesis reveals contrasting approaches between the two schooling types, suggesting that flexi schools' models offer insights that could reshape the broader Indigenous education agenda across all educational settings.
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Food security in rural Uganda: assessing latent effects of microfinance on pre-participation
This study examines how microfinance affects food security among rural Ugandan women before they join microfinance organizations. Researchers surveyed 130 women in two villages and found that microfinance participation creates structural links between women's social capital, empowerment, and collective action, which then increases access to additional income and improves food security outcomes.
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SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF LITHUANIA
Social entrepreneurship plays a significant role in rural development in Lithuania. The paper examines trends in Lithuanian social enterprises and identifies successful examples to inform policy recommendations. While the government has taken steps to support social entrepreneurship and innovation, substantial improvements remain necessary. Family business traditions are weak in Lithuania, having existed for only about 20 years, but rural areas show potential for young social enterprises, particularly in agriculture-based family farms.
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Disruptive innovation in rural American healthcare: the physician assistant practice
Physician assistant-owned primary care practices represent a disruptive innovation for rural healthcare. The model addresses physician shortages in underserved rural communities by offering lower costs, fewer competitors, high quality care, and sustainable competitive advantage. This business model solves chronic primary care shortages in rural areas facing educational, financial, and transportation constraints.
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Fortified Sorghum as a Potential for Food Security in Rural Areas by Adaptation of Technology and Innovation in Sudan
This paper proposes fortifying sorghum with soybean and wheat to improve food security and nutrition in rural Sudan. The authors develop local processing technologies to produce fortified sorghum products tailored for different populations—adults, children, infants, and pregnant women. They demonstrate through literature review and testing that rural soybean production is feasible and that simple fortification methods can enhance the nutritional value of traditional Sudanese sorghum-based foods.
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Deployment costs of rural broadband technologies
This paper analyzes deployment costs for three broadband technologies in rural Victoria: passive optical networks, fiber-to-the-node DSL, and WiMAX. The researchers used geographic data to map actual household locations and calculate optimized network costs. Fiber installation dominates costs for all technologies. FTTN DSL offers the lowest deployment cost for 20 Mbit/s service, while PON becomes most cost-effective at 50 Mbit/s and above.
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Reconceptualizing Rural Entrepreneurship Discourse from a Social Constructionist Perspective: A Case Study from Iran
This Iranian case study argues that the government's rural entrepreneurship program reinforces structural inequalities rather than enabling genuine rural development. The authors use social constructionism and structuration theory to show how the program operates hegemonically. They propose shifting focus from entrepreneurship discourse to multifunctional agriculture as a more effective rural development strategy.
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Factors Influencing Growth of Rural Entrepreneurship in Tripura: A Socio – Economic Perspective
Rural entrepreneurship in India's Tripura state is constrained by socio-economic factors beyond government support programs. Despite decades of initiatives since 1952 to promote rural entrepreneurship, limited improvements in entrepreneurs' lives suggest other barriers exist. This study identifies the specific socio-economic factors influencing rural entrepreneurship growth in Tripura villages, recognizing rural entrepreneurs as critical drivers of employment and wealth creation in India's villages.
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Identifying the Conditions for Rural Sustainability through Place-Based Culture: Applying the CIPM and CDPM Models into Meibei Ancient Village
This paper examines how culturally significant ancient villages in China can achieve sustainable development by analyzing Meibei village through two cultural models: the Cultural Inverted Pyramid Model and Cultural Dual Pyramid Model. The study finds that Meibei's historical prosperity resulted from integrating cultural elements across economic, social, institutional, environmental, and cultural dimensions. The paper argues that recreating a resilient cultural ecosystem combining heritage preservation with tourism can restore the village's vitality and support rural transition.
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Internet or dvd for distance learning to isolated rural health professionals, what is the best approach?
A study in Madagascar compared internet-based and DVD-based distance learning for training rural health center leaders on hypertension management. Both methods significantly improved knowledge scores. DVD training proved slightly more effective for doctors, while both methods performed equally for paramedics. The researchers recommend DVD as the preferred approach for Madagascar's remote health centers, where internet access is limited.
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Empowering Women of Rural India for Renewable Energy Adoption � An Exploratory Factor Analysis
Women's empowerment significantly influences the sustainability of renewable energy projects in rural India. The study identifies key factors for successful adoption: investment readiness, learning capacity, and awareness of financing options. Policymakers should leverage existing microfinance skills and women's self-help groups to build capacity before launching rural renewable energy initiatives.
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Prospects of rural electrification of Balochistan province with renewable energy sources
Pakistan's Balochistan province faces severe rural electrification challenges due to dispersed populations and distant grid infrastructure. This paper evaluates renewable energy sources—particularly solar and wind—alongside conventional options like coal and LPG to electrify remote areas. The analysis demonstrates that Balochistan possesses abundant renewable energy potential and identifies optimal strategies for deploying these resources to address the province's power shortage and rural access gaps.
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Key Success Factors of Renewable Energy Projects Implementation in Rural Areas of Indonesia
This study identifies six key success factors for renewable energy projects in rural Indonesia: project planning and development, community participation, active communication with beneficiaries, maintenance infrastructure and technicians, project management and institutionalization, and local government support. The research, based on interviews with project owners, managers, government officials, and communities, shows that technology performance alone cannot ensure project sustainability without these complementary organizational and social factors.
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Challenges of photovoltaic based hybrid minigrid for off-grid rural electrification in Bangladesh
Photovoltaic hybrid minigrids offer an alternative to solar home systems for rural electrification in Bangladesh. The paper identifies four key challenges across technical, economic, social, and policy domains that affect hybrid minigrid projects in remote areas. A comparative analysis reveals which challenges most significantly impact system implementation and performance.
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Documentation and Application of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) for Sustainable Agricultural Development
This paper documents indigenous traditional knowledge systems and demonstrates how they can be applied to achieve sustainable agricultural development. The authors show that indigenous practices offer practical solutions for improving agricultural productivity while maintaining environmental sustainability, providing a framework for integrating traditional wisdom with modern agricultural approaches.
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Towards an IEEE 802.22 (WRAN) based wireless broadband for rural Bangladesh — Antenna design and coverage planning
This paper evaluates IEEE 802.22 Wireless Regional Area Network technology as a solution for rural broadband in Bangladesh. The authors designed antennas and modeled coverage across the country's flat terrain using computer simulation. They found that approximately 25 antennas could cover significant territory, making WRAN an economically viable approach for delivering digital services to remote areas, though point-to-point links would require additional infrastructure.
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A Profile of Agricultural Education Teachers with Exemplary Rural Agricultural Entrepreneurship Education Programs
Teachers who run successful rural agricultural entrepreneurship programs share common traits: they have substantial teaching experience, hold advanced degrees, have personally practiced entrepreneurship, earn recognition as outstanding educators, and demonstrate open-mindedness and enthusiasm. These findings suggest that teacher quality and entrepreneurial background directly influence program effectiveness in rural agricultural education.
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Microfinance Institutions’ Successful Delivery Of Micronutrient Powders: A Randomized Trial In Rural Haiti
A randomized trial in rural Haiti tested whether microfinance institutions can effectively deliver health products to underserved populations. Micronutrient powders distributed through microfinance meetings to improve child nutrition significantly increased hemoglobin levels and reduced anemia rates compared to control groups. The results match outcomes from traditional health delivery systems, demonstrating that microfinance institutions offer a viable platform for scaling health interventions in low-income countries.
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The nexus between R&D, innovation and profitability of indigenous oil firms: A structural equilibrium model approach
Research and development spending directly boosts profitability in Nigerian oil companies and works indirectly through both technological and non-technological innovation. Technological innovation delivers stronger indirect effects than non-technological innovation. Indigenous oil firms maximize profits by investing in R&D alongside both innovation types rather than choosing one approach alone.
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Using critical realism and reflexivity to explain broadband non-adoption in rural Australia
Australia's National Broadband Network rollout measures success through both infrastructure provision and user adoption. This paper argues that adoption has plateaued and researchers should focus on understanding why people reject broadband rather than why they accept it. Using critical realism and reflexivity, the authors explain the mechanisms behind non-adoption decisions and propose targeted strategies to convert disinterested non-users into adopters.
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The Social Justice Framework in the Information Technology Rural Librarian Master’s Scholarship Program: Bridging the Rural Digital Divides
A scholarship program trained sixteen rural librarians in Appalachia to earn master's degrees through distance education, using a social justice framework. The program recruited paraprofessionals from Southern and Central Appalachian libraries and delivered part-time coursework synchronously online from 2010 to 2012. The initiative addressed digital divides by building local information technology capacity in underserved rural communities.
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Profitable small-scale renewable energy systems in agrifood industry and rural areas: demonstration in the wine sector
This EU-funded project demonstrates small-scale renewable energy systems for rural wine production, installing photovoltaic prototypes in vineyard fields and wineries. The systems reduce CO2 emissions from rural energy consumption, enable clean energy for irrigation in areas without grid access, and eliminate noise, waste, and visual impacts from traditional electrical infrastructure. The approach addresses both climate change mitigation and agricultural adaptation.
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Development of design principles of microgrid on the basis of renewable energy sources for rural settlements in Central European part of Russia
This paper develops design principles for microgrids powered by renewable energy in rural Russian settlements without access to centralized electricity networks. The authors calculate annual power consumption requirements, determine optimal combinations of solar and wind generation, and design microgrid structures that ensure reliable continuous power supply to residents.
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Design of a cost effective hybrid renewable energy system for coastal and inland rural community in Africa
Rural communities in Southern Africa lack electricity access due to distance from the grid and high connection costs. This paper designs off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems for two remote areas—one coastal, one inland—using optimization modeling. Solar-wind systems with storage work best for coastal Mbandana, while solar-biomass systems with storage suit inland Dikgomo, providing cost-effective and reliable local power generation.
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Prospective modelling of the hourly response of local renewable energy sources to the residential energy demand in a mixed urban-rural territory
This paper models how local renewable energy sources can meet residential electricity demand in a mixed urban-rural French territory by 2050. The researchers calculated hourly energy consumption using building archetypes and geographic data, estimated local renewable potential, and tested scenarios showing how different energy transition approaches affect the balance between demand and production. The analysis reveals specific challenges for residential energy transition and local renewable deployment.
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Renewable Energy – Implications for Agriculture and Rural Development in Poland
Rural areas in Poland significantly contributed to renewable energy targets between 2005–2014, with renewable energy's share of primary production doubling from 5.8% to 12.1%. Biomass dominated initially, but wind and solar grew rapidly after 2010. However, Poland's subsidy system favors large hydroelectric plants and co-combustion over citizen-led renewable initiatives, limiting economic potential in small installations and community energy development.
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Renewable Energy Source based Hybrid Power Generation Scheme for Off-grid Rural Electrification
Hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, biomass, and biogas provide reliable and cost-effective electrification for off-grid rural areas. Single renewable sources prove unreliable due to intermittent generation. The authors developed and optimized an integrated multi-source renewable energy model using particle swarm optimization, demonstrating that hybrid schemes outperform individual renewable technologies for rural power supply.
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A techno economic renewable hybrid technology mini-grid simulation and costing model for off-grid rural electrification planning in Sub-Saharan Africa
This paper presents a simulation model for designing cost-optimal hybrid renewable mini-grids for rural electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa. The model uses hourly operational simulations with meteorological data, local demand profiles, and technology costs to determine the best combination of renewable energy technologies for specific locations. The tool is transparent, reproducible, and uses free software and data, enabling practical planning for the hundreds of thousands of mini-grids needed to achieve universal electricity access.
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Microfinance and rural non-farm employment in developing countries
Microfinance institutions have expanded credit access in developing countries, enabling rural households to diversify income through non-farm employment. The rural non-farm sector now rivals agriculture as an employment source in some regions. However, further growth requires more flexible credit contracts, lower borrowing costs, and complementary support like skills training.
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Designing and Orchestrating Embedded Innovation Networks: An Inquiry into Microfranchising in Bangladesh
Longitudinal case study of an emerging microfranchise network in Bangladesh facilitated by CARE, used to examine how innovation networks are designed and orchestrated in resource-scarce settings to deliver agricultural inputs to small-scale poor farmers.
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Nanotechnology in Agriculture: Which Innovation Potential Does It Have?
Nanotechnology offers significant potential to improve agriculture by enhancing productivity and food security while reducing environmental harm. Nanomaterial-based systems—including controlled-release nutrient delivery, pesticide application, and nanosensors for monitoring soil and food quality—can support sustainable intensification and waste management. These innovations address agricultural challenges while promoting economic and social equity.
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Technological Innovations, Downside Risk, and the Modernization of Agriculture
A randomized experiment in India demonstrates that a flood-tolerant rice variety increases agricultural productivity by encouraging farmers to adopt complementary modern practices. The technology reduces downside risk, prompting greater use of labor-intensive planting methods, expanded cultivation area, increased fertilizer application, and higher credit utilization. Most productivity gains stem from these crowding-in effects, showing that risk-reducing technologies unlock broader agricultural modernization.
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Social innovation in rural development: identifying the key factors of success
Social innovation succeeds in rural development through three layers of factors: overall innovation process conditions, the actor network's operational space, and participation mechanisms. Most success factors resist external control, but rural policy can influence the room to maneuver available to innovation actors. Top-down steering of social innovation proves ineffective, questioning whether policymakers can instrumentalize social innovation for rural development.
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Non-farm entrepreneurship in rural sub-Saharan Africa: New empirical evidence
Rural households in six sub-Saharan African countries operate non-farm enterprises driven by both necessity and opportunity, concentrating in low-barrier activities like trade rather than transport or professional services. Rural, female-headed, and remote enterprises show significantly lower labor productivity than urban and male-owned counterparts. Most rural enterprises fail due to insufficient profitability, lack of financing, or unexpected shocks.
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Sustainable intensification of agricultural systems in the Central African Highlands: The need for institutional innovation
This study examines agricultural innovation in the Central African Highlands using an agricultural innovation systems approach. The research finds that constraints to sustainable intensification are primarily economic and institutional—caused by weak policies, poor market access, limited financial resources, and ineffective stakeholder collaboration. The authors conclude that 69% of constraints require institutional innovation, particularly improved credit access, services, and markets. They argue that current research and development investments focus too narrowly on farm-level productivity, neglecting the institutional and natural resource management innovations needed at national and regional levels.
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Identifying social innovations in European local rural development initiatives
This paper examines social innovation in European rural development by analyzing community-led local development initiatives across five countries. Using a Schumpeterian framework, the authors identify how new resource combinations create social value in rural areas. They find distinct processes and outcomes that generate positive change, and argue these insights should inform the design and evaluation of future rural development policies and programmes.
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Broadband Internet and New Firm Location Decisions in Rural Areas
Broadband deployment significantly increases where new firms choose to locate in rural areas. Using a difference-in-differences approach that controls for location-specific factors, the researchers found that broadband availability positively influences new firm entry decisions. The effect is strongest in more densely populated rural areas and those near metropolitan regions, indicating that broadband's impact on firm location grows stronger where agglomeration economies are present.
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The rural university campus and support for rural innovation
Rural university campuses in the UK can contribute to local innovation systems, but face significant challenges. Campuses pursuing narrow disciplinary specialization can engage niche industry clusters, though development takes years. Those focused on broad educational access struggle to connect with business. The paper concludes that using new campuses to boost rural innovation requires long-term commitment and may conflict with goals of expanding higher education access.
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Achieving food security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through innovation: Potential role of agricultural extension
Saudi Arabia faces severe food security challenges due to limited arable land and water in its desert climate, forcing heavy reliance on imports. The paper argues that agricultural extension services are critical to promoting innovative technologies—including hydroponics, greenhouse farming, seawater harvesting, and rainwater collection—that can increase domestic food production and reduce import dependency by 2050.
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Social Innovation and Sustainable Rural Development: The Case of a Brazilian Agroecology Network
The Ecovida Agroecology Network in Southern Brazil demonstrates how social innovation drives rural development. This network of farming families, NGOs, and consumer organizations created innovations in horizontal governance, participatory organic certification, and local market relationships. These innovations influenced public policy and strengthened rural-urban cooperation, showing that collaborative food networks can challenge industrial agriculture while meeting consumer demand for healthy food.
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Economic and Social Sustainable Synergies to Promote Innovations in Rural Tourism and Local Development
A rural tourism network in southern Italy demonstrates how territorial collaboration strengthens local development. The initiative connected local producers with quality-conscious consumers, reduced transaction costs, and increased competitiveness in tourism and production chains. The case reveals that rebuilding trust and social capital through traditional and hybrid institutions—supported by research organizations—is essential for rural areas to develop sustainable tourism and achieve broader socio-economic growth.
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Broadband and the creative industries in rural Scotland
Broadband connectivity is essential for rural creative professionals in Scotland. The study finds that download speeds of at least 2 megabits per second are critical for creative sector workers. Without adequate broadband access, rural creative practitioners face significant disadvantages, and communities risk losing talent to areas with better digital infrastructure, threatening rural economic viability.
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Business models for maximising the diffusion of technological innovations for climate-smart agriculture
Current business models for delivering climate-smart agricultural technologies fail to optimize diffusion because they misalign with farmer needs. The study identifies critical gaps in value propositions, distribution channels, customer relationships, resources, partnerships, and cost structures. Innovation providers and potential users hold conflicting views about what works. The authors recommend redesigning business models to better match farmer adoption requirements and accelerate climate-smart agriculture uptake.
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DO MATURE INNOVATION PLATFORMS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT? A META-ANALYSIS OF CASE STUDIES
Innovation Platforms in agricultural research for development generate local enthusiasm and bring stakeholders together, but rarely achieve impact at scale. The study analyzed eight mature platforms across three continents and found that while they can produce locally adapted, economically feasible innovations, scaling remains limited. Platforms work best when demand-driven, participatory, and embedded in broader extension networks. The authors call for rigorous measurement of platform performance to understand what process designs actually work.
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Conflicts of customary land tenure in rural Africa: is large-scale land acquisition a driver of ‘institutional innovation’?
Large-scale biofuel land acquisition in rural Sierra Leone creates new contractual arrangements between investors and local authorities, framing customary land tenure through formal registration. This institutional innovation formalizes existing power structures but deepens social inequalities, triggering conflicts between lineages, villages, families, and generations. These conflicts challenge traditional land-based social hierarchies and may reshape rural society.
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Big Data: Fueling the Next Evolution of Agricultural Innovation
Big Data technologies and sensing systems are transforming agriculture by making farm-level measurement and decision-making economically viable. Advanced analytics applied to diverse data sources create value for farmers and society through improved economic returns and reduced environmental impact. However, how value gets distributed across the agricultural sector depends on organizational collaboration and intellectual property rules, which remain uncertain.
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The Community Reclaims Control? Learning Experiences from Rural Broadband Initiatives in the Netherlands
Four Dutch rural broadband initiatives reveal that communities struggle to maintain control over digital infrastructure despite participatory ideals. Local groups must navigate competing interests from commercial providers and government authorities while managing limited social, intellectual, and financial resources. Volunteer burnout threatens project sustainability. Communities succeed only when members develop professional expertise to compete in complex broadband markets, yet learning remains secondary to achieving broadband access itself.
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Place-Based Stewardship Education: Nurturing Aspirations to Protect the Rural Commons
Place-based stewardship education in rural Michigan schools significantly increased middle school students' environmental sensitivity, responsible behaviors, community attachment, and civic confidence. Students developed stronger identification with their communities and commitment to protecting local natural resources. The program successfully linked classroom learning to collective environmental action, expanding students' aspirations to contribute meaningfully to their communities' futures.
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Capital factors and rural women entrepreneurship development
Human, social, institutional, and financial capital all significantly influence rural women's entrepreneurship decisions and success. A study of seven handloom entrepreneurs in Manipur, India found these capital factors are interconnected; integrating them strengthens entrepreneurial outcomes. The importance of each capital type varies depending on whether women had prior entrepreneurial experience.
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New challenges for public research organisations in agricultural innovation in developing economies: Evidence from Embrapa in Brazil's soybean industry
Brazil's agricultural research organization Embrapa possesses diverse technological capabilities for soybean innovation, varying in novelty and complexity across different technologies and distributed across multiple units. The paper argues that as global food demand rises and innovation becomes increasingly interdependent, indigenous public research organizations like Embrapa must fundamentally reorganize how they manage these capabilities to better support agricultural innovation and productivity growth in developing economies.
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Toward Sustainability: Novelties, Areas of Learning and Innovation in Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture in U.S. cities generates innovations across four key areas: financing, production technology, market development, and social acceptance. Researchers interviewed practitioners in New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago to identify how they overcome obstacles and drive change. The study finds that urban agriculture novelties can enhance positive impacts on cities and create opportunities for social learning and broader societal transformation.
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The evolution of the MasAgro hubs: responsiveness and serendipity as drivers of agricultural innovation in a dynamic and heterogeneous context
The MasAgro program in Mexico evolved from a narrow technology focus to a broader innovation system approach by adapting to local contexts and opportunities. Hub managers drove this shift through responsive management, creating diverse partnerships and technology portfolios suited to different regions. The research shows that effective large-scale agricultural programs require stable macro-level vision combined with flexibility at implementation levels to accommodate farmer diversity and institutional change.
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Hegemony, Technological Innovation and Corporate Identities: 50 Years of Agricultural Revolutions in Argentina
Argentine agriculture experienced two major technological shifts since the mid-1960s: the Green Revolution and the Agribusiness Paradigm. Each period was led by a different agrarian elite that framed technological adoption as essential for agricultural survival. The paper shows how agrarian leaders used technological innovation as ideology to gain political influence, with each era linking specific technologies, business models, and government policies to construct and maintain their power over agricultural development.
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Broadband and civic engagement in rural areas: What matters?
Broadband adoption, rather than mere access or infrastructure, most strongly correlates with civic engagement in rural US communities. Community anchor institutions matter specifically for neighbor interactions and school confidence. The study analyzed 19 civic engagement metrics from national surveys using state and household-level data, finding adoption consistently outperforms access and infrastructure measures in predicting community involvement.
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The Importance of Broadband for Socio-Economic Development: A Perspective from Rural Australia
Rural Australian communities lack reliable broadband access despite national infrastructure plans, creating significant disadvantages. Residents in New South Wales report that slow, unreliable connections harm business development, education, emergency services, and healthcare. The study finds that rural-urban digital disparities worsen when urban infrastructure advances without addressing remote areas. Current broadband policy fails to account for rural geographic and socio-economic contexts, requiring strategic reforms prioritizing underserved regions.
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Microfinance and the business of poverty reduction: Critical perspectives from rural Bangladesh
An ethnographic study of three Bangladeshi villages reveals that microfinance programs, despite promises to reduce poverty and empower women, actually increased indebtedness and worsened economic, social, and environmental vulnerabilities. The research shows that market-based poverty reduction approaches can undermine social capital rather than strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities in poor communities.
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Deconstructing the concept of renewable energy‐based mini‐grids for rural electrification in East Africa
Mini-grids are promoted as a solution for rural electrification in East Africa, but this study reveals most existing mini-grid projects actually serve medium-sized towns already near the grid, not rural villages. Only limited activity targets genuinely rural areas, where the real challenges lie in developing viable financing, ownership, and business models. The paper identifies research gaps and proposes directions for advancing mini-grids that actually reach rural populations.
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Women empowerment through social innovation in indigenous social enterprises
A Zapotec indigenous social enterprise in Mexico empowers women through job stability, low-interest microcredits, and gender-equality policies. These mechanisms enable economic empowerment despite male-dominated cultural norms, allowing women to start micro-enterprises and participate in decision-making. The organization improves community wellbeing and shifts cultural attitudes toward greater equality.
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Microfinance as a Development and Poverty Alleviation Tool in Rural Bangladesh: A Critical Assessment
Microfinance programs in rural Bangladesh fail to reduce poverty effectively due to high interest rates, small loan amounts, and staff corruption. Beneficiaries face weekly repayment demands and harassment. Broader structural problems—lack of jobs, education, healthcare, natural disasters, and rising living costs—perpetuate poverty despite microfinance access. The study concludes microfinance alone cannot address multidimensional poverty without complementary development interventions.
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Scoping exercise to determine load profile archetype reference shapes for solar co-generation models in isolated off-grid rural African villages
This paper develops realistic hourly energy consumption profiles for isolated rural villages in Southern Africa to support solar micro-CHP system design. The researchers created time-series load profiles for thermal and power demand in typical off-grid villages, accounting for current reliance on firewood, biomass, candles, and kerosene. These profiles enable accurate computer modeling and testing of hybrid solar systems as viable electrification solutions for remote communities.
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Feasibility study of hybrid energy system for off-grid rural electrification in southern Pakistan
A hybrid renewable energy system combining photovoltaic, wind, and diesel power with battery storage can reliably electrify remote villages in southern Pakistan. For a 100-household village, this configuration delivers 205 kWh daily at 0.45 $/kWh, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 69%, and achieves 84% renewable energy penetration. The system remains feasible across varying environmental and economic conditions.
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Analysis of Hybrid Solar/Wind/Diesel Renewable Energy System for off-grid Rural Electrification
This paper designs a hybrid solar, wind, and diesel power system for an off-grid rural parish on Ecuador's coast. Using HOMER software and local meteorological data, the authors analyze system feasibility and components under two diesel pricing scenarios—subsidized and non-subsidized. The work addresses rural electrification gaps by demonstrating how renewable hybrid systems can meet energy demand in underserved areas.
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Sustainability of rural electrification programs based on off-grid photovoltaic (PV) systems in Chile
Chile's off-grid photovoltaic programs for rural electrification face significant sustainability challenges across institutional, economic, environmental, and socio-cultural dimensions. Despite Chile's solar potential and successful pilot projects, deployment lags due to poor technology choices, inadequate system reliability, and lack of maintenance standards. Indigenous communities remain underserved because the government's approach requires communities to request electrification first, disadvantaging the poorest populations. The paper calls for improved cultural justice, equity, and environmental awareness to ensure sustainable rural electrification.
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A GIS‐based method to identify cost‐effective routes for rural deviated fixed route transit
This paper presents a GIS-based method to design cost-effective deviated fixed route transit (DFRT) services connecting rural and urban areas in the USA. Using demand distribution and road network data, the approach generates candidate routes of varying lengths and identifies the most cost-effective option by operating cost per passenger trip. A case study in Tennessee shows that optimal route length varies by location, helping government agencies select routes that minimize costs within specified budgets.
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Off grid rural electrification using integrated renewable energy system
This paper designs an off-grid renewable energy system for a rural village in India using solar, wind, and biomass resources. The authors assessed electricity demand for 101 households and available renewable resources in Khatisitara village, then used HOMER software to optimize system design. The integrated system achieves an energy cost of $0.084 per kilowatt-hour, demonstrating how locally available renewable resources can electrify remote communities and improve their socioeconomic conditions.
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Study of a hybrid renewable energy system for a rural school in Tagzirt, Morocco
Researchers designed a hybrid renewable energy system for a rural school in Morocco combining solar panels, wind turbines, diesel backup, and battery storage. Using HOMER Pro software, they optimized the system to meet the school's daily energy demand of 23 kWh. The final configuration included a 5 kW solar array, 2 kW wind turbine, and 7.8 kW diesel generator, achieving an energy cost of $1.12 per kilowatt-hour.
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Off-grid photovoltaic systems as a solution for the ambient pollution avoidance and Iraq’s rural areas electrification
Off-grid photovoltaic systems can electrify rural households in Iraq's Diyala State while reducing pollution. The study analyzed a solar system for a single household and found electricity costs of $0.51 per kilowatt-hour, competitive with conventional Iraqi grid rates. The system avoids approximately 1,840 kilograms of CO2 emissions annually compared to conventional fuel-based electricity generation, making solar viable for remote rural electrification.
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Use characteristics and demographics of rural transit riders: a case study in Tennessee
Rural transit riders in Tennessee using deviated fixed route and demand responsive services are predominantly captive riders with limited transportation alternatives. These riders typically have lower incomes, fewer cars, and are more likely to be renters and non-white. Medical care is their primary trip purpose, distinguishing them from intercity bus users. Education levels correlate with openness to using rural transit services.
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An integrated ecosystem incorporating renewable energy leading to pollution reduction for sustainable development of craft villages in rural area: a case study at sedge mats village in Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Researchers developed VICRAIZES, an integrated renewable energy system for sedge mat craft villages in Vietnam's Mekong Delta that combines biogas production from waste, wastewater treatment, and composting. The system reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 93%, BOD5 in wastewater by 97%, and generated compost worth 115 million VND annually while requiring low investment and simple operation. The approach proves viable for low-income craft villages across developing countries.
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Theoretical Framework of Organizational Intelligence: A Managerial Approach to Promote Renewable Energy in Rural Economies
Energy companies promoting renewable energy in rural communities need stronger organizational intelligence systems. This study proposes a framework combining economic intelligence, knowledge management, and organizational enablers to help companies innovate and adapt. Testing the framework at Romania's Transelectrica reveals that developing these intelligence elements enhances capacity to deploy renewable energy projects and maintain competitive advantage in changing markets.
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Weaving indigenous agricultural knowledge with formal education to enhance community food security: school competition as a pedagogical space in rural Anchetty, India
A school competition in rural Tamil Nadu, India successfully created a pedagogical space where indigenous agricultural knowledge about traditional small millets was integrated into formal education. Students, local farmers, and teachers collaborated through the competition, which strengthened community understanding of traditional farming practices and food security. Participants recognized the competition's potential to preserve indigenous knowledge while addressing local food security challenges.
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Smart Integrated Renewable Energy Systems (SIRES) for rural communities
The paper proposes Smart Integrated Renewable Energy Systems (SIRES) to address energy poverty in rural areas. SIRES combines renewable energy technologies with intelligent management to provide multiple essential services—biogas for cooking, water for domestic and irrigation use, and electricity for lighting, communication, cold storage, education, and small-scale industry. This integrated approach promotes sustainable development and improves living standards in energy-deprived rural communities.
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Systematic Assessment of Carbon Emissions from Renewable Energy Access to Improve Rural Livelihoods
Renewable energy technologies can expand electricity access in rural areas while reducing CO2 emissions. However, decision-makers often ignore the embedded energy and carbon costs of manufacturing solar panels and equipment. This study applies a multi-criteria decision-making tool to compare silicon, thin-film, and organic solar cells in a rural Cuban community. The analysis shows all three technologies meet local electricity needs and improve livelihoods, but their global environmental impacts differ significantly.
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Off-Grid Renewable Hybrid Power Generation System for a Public Health Centre in Rural Village
A hybrid solar-wind power system with battery storage provides reliable electricity to rural health centers more cost-effectively than standalone solar or wind systems. The researchers modeled and simulated different configurations using HOMER software, analyzing power supply reliability, energy storage needs, and system performance. The hybrid system delivered the lowest cost per unit of energy while meeting the health center's demand, making it the most practical solution for off-grid rural electrification.
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Valuing Indigenous Knowledge in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea: A Model for Agricultural and Environmental Education
Current agricultural and environmental education in Papua New Guinea fails to engage indigenous farmers because it ignores indigenous knowledge systems that actually guide farming and resource management. This study examined two highland villages and found that as farmers adopt cash crops, they devalue traditional knowledge in favor of Western approaches. Trust, cultural differences, and social barriers prevent knowledge sharing. The authors recommend redesigning education programs to recognize and integrate indigenous knowledge.
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Prospects for the Uptake of Renewable Energy Technologies in Rural Tanzania
Rural communities in southern Tanzania lack familiarity with renewable energy technologies and perceive them skeptically, viewing them as failed development interventions. The study found that most villagers do not use solar home systems or other renewable technologies. Understanding community perceptions and attitudes is essential before promoting renewable energy adoption in rural African areas, requiring approaches beyond the economic and regulatory models used in developed countries.
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Does microfinance redefine identity, income and insecurity among rural women? A model of women’s empowerment
JEEViKA, a World Bank-supported microfinance project in Bihar, empowers rural women by creating identity, generating income, and reducing insecurity through community resource persons. The program builds women's social networks and norms, which increase their capacity, choices, and cohesion. The study demonstrates that microfinance effectively redefines women's identity and economic security in rural contexts.
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Understanding the process of social innovation in rural regions: some Hungarian case studies
This paper examines social innovation processes in rural Hungary through case studies in the Balaton Uplands region. The research identifies key actors—entrepreneurs, scientists, and local action group managers—who drive innovation in this tourism-focused area. The innovations studied include GIS systems, smartphone applications, and entrepreneurial networks that leverage the region's natural, human, and social resources.
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From technological to social innovation: objectives, actors, and projects of the European rural development program (2007-2013) in the Puglia region
This paper examines how the European LEADER program interpreted innovation in Puglia's rural development strategy from 2007-2013. The analysis shows that innovation shifted from purely technological focus to include social and cultural dimensions. Local action groups implemented governance-centered strategies that emphasized knowledge and territorial development, particularly in economically disadvantaged rural areas, reflecting a broader European shift toward socially-oriented rural innovation.
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The open innovation research landscape: established perspectives and emerging themes across different levels of analysis
This paper reviews open innovation research across organizational, inter-organizational, and ecosystem levels of analysis. The authors identify established perspectives and emerging themes, arguing that future research must integrate insights across multiple analytical levels rather than studying open innovation in isolation. They propose new research categories and cross-domain questions to advance the field.
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What is frugal innovation? Three defining criteria
Frugal innovation lacks a clear definition despite growing interest across emerging and developed markets. This paper identifies three defining criteria: substantial cost reduction, concentration on core functionalities, and optimized performance level. The authors conducted a literature review and interviewed 45 managers and researchers to establish these criteria, enabling organizations to better understand and develop frugal innovations in diverse market contexts.
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Open innovation: current status and research opportunities
Open innovation has grown rapidly as a research field since 2003. This paper identifies key gaps in existing research, including the need for more work on outbound innovation, services, network collaboration forms like ecosystems and platforms, and adoption by small and nonprofit organizations. It calls for better measurement of open innovation's performance effects and understanding of why initiatives fail, plus stronger connections to established theories like absorptive capacity and dynamic capabilities.
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The effect of social networking sites and absorptive capacity on SMES’ innovation performance
Social networking sites significantly enhance SME innovation performance by facilitating knowledge acquisition and absorption from external actors. The study analyzed 215 small and medium enterprises across knowledge-intensive and labor-intensive sectors globally, using statistical modeling to measure relationships between social media use, absorptive capacity, and innovation outcomes. Results show that enterprises leveraging social platforms to interact with customers, institutions, and competitors effectively absorb external knowledge and generate stronger innovation performance.
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Metagoverning Collaborative Innovation in Governance Networks
Western governments increasingly use governance networks to drive public sector innovation through collaboration between public and private actors. This shift from competitive entrepreneurship to collaborative approaches requires new metagovernance strategies. The authors argue that managing networks for innovation demands different leadership approaches than traditional public management, and illustrate this through a Danish elderly care case study showing how collaborative innovation networks can improve efficiency, effectiveness, and democratic legitimacy.
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Open innovation in SMEs: a systematic literature review
Open innovation adoption improves innovation performance in small and medium-sized enterprises. This systematic review synthesizes scattered literature on the topic, finding that quantitative studies dominate the field. European researchers, along with scholars from Korea and China, have driven research development, while North American contributions remain limited. The review identifies research gaps and proposes directions for future investigation.
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Benefiting from Open Innovation: A Multidimensional Model of Absorptive Capacity*
Firms benefit from external innovation sources through absorptive capacity—their ability to recognize, assimilate, and exploit outside knowledge. This study shows that recognition capacity helps firms identify external technologies, assimilation capacity determines whether they can integrate that knowledge, and exploitation capacity directly boosts competitive advantage in product innovation. Together, these three capacities explain why some firms succeed at open innovation while others struggle.
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Dynamics from open innovation to evolutionary change
The authors develop conceptual and simulation models to analyze how open innovation drives evolutionary change in industries. Using the smartphone sector as a case study, they integrate open innovation theory with complex adaptive systems thinking to forecast dynamic effects and help organizations select future strategies.
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Ethics of healthcare robotics: Towards responsible research and innovation
This paper argues that addressing ethical issues in healthcare robotics requires more than traditional ethics analysis. The authors propose embedded ethical reflection directly within innovation practices and development contexts. They identify internal and external forms of dialogue between ethicists and technologists, discuss limitations of these approaches, and recommend policy support at national and supranational levels to integrate responsible innovation into healthcare robotics research.
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The User Innovation Paradigm: Impacts on Markets and Welfare
Individual users and consumers drive significant innovation alongside traditional producer-led research. This paper models markets where both users and firms innovate, showing that firms often delay adopting user-innovation strategies too long despite social welfare gains. When firms support and harvest user innovations, markets achieve better outcomes through complementary investments. Policy intervention may be needed to align private incentives with social welfare in mixed user-producer innovation economies.
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Innovation network
Technological progress builds cumulatively as innovations in one field enable advances in related fields. Using 1.8 million US patents and citation patterns from 1975–1994, the authors map how innovation networks function. They show that the strength of existing connections between technology fields predicts future innovation after 1995. Technology classes with more upstream innovations to build upon subsequently innovate more.
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SDVN: enabling rapid network innovation for heterogeneous vehicular communication
This paper proposes an SDN-based architecture for vehicular communication networks that abstracts heterogeneous wireless devices and infrastructure into a unified, programmable system. The approach enables flexible protocol deployment and centralized resource allocation for bandwidth and spectrum, addressing current limitations in vehicular network deployment. The authors demonstrate the architecture's effectiveness through simulation-based validation.
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The paradox of openness revisited: Collaborative innovation and patenting by UK innovators
UK firms face a paradox: they simultaneously patent and engage in open innovation collaboration. This study shows both decisions are interconnected and depend on market position. Leading firms increase patenting more when collaborating openly because they risk greater knowledge spillovers to competitors. Followers show weaker patenting responses to collaboration. The relationship between openness and patenting is therefore contingent on whether firms lead or follow their rivals.
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Knowledge transfer in university quadruple helix ecosystems: an absorptive capacity perspective
Universities transfer knowledge to regional innovation ecosystems through interactions with multiple stakeholders. This study identifies five key factors—human elements, organizational structures, knowledge types, power dynamics, and network characteristics—that determine how effectively stakeholders engage in knowledge transfer and apply it. The findings show that policymakers and practitioners need targeted interventions to strengthen knowledge exchange within regional innovation networks.
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How Frugal Innovation Promotes Social Sustainability
Frugal innovation—developing solutions with minimal resources—directly supports social sustainability by addressing key social themes. The paper builds a framework connecting both concepts and demonstrates how frugal innovation approaches help achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. This positions frugal innovation as a practical pathway to realizing social sustainability in practice.
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Mission impossible? Entrepreneurial universities and peripheral regional innovation systems
Universities are expected to drive regional innovation and entrepreneurship as part of their third mission, but this paper finds their actual economic spillovers are overstated, particularly in peripheral regions. The disconnect between universities and local entrepreneurial ecosystems explains their weak performance. Policy entrepreneurs reinforce universities' dominant role through institutional capture and policy lock-in, despite marginal economic contribution. The paper challenges this policy emphasis and outlines implications for public policy reform.
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How start-ups successfully organize and manage open innovation with large companies
Start-ups successfully manage open innovation partnerships with large companies through practices that differ significantly from those of established firms. Managers with prior large-company experience prove crucial for navigating these collaborations. Both inbound and outbound open innovation help start-ups overcome their newness and small size, though each approach presents distinct advantages and challenges that require careful orchestration.
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BIM adoption within Australian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs): an innovation diffusion model
This study examines Building Information Modeling (BIM) adoption among Australian small and medium-sized enterprises in construction. Using innovation diffusion theory and surveying 135 SMEs, researchers found that 42% use basic BIM levels, while only 5% use advanced levels. The primary barrier to adoption is not lack of knowledge but uncertainty about return on investment. The study validates a theoretical framework for understanding BIM adoption decisions in Australian construction SMEs.
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Of Mice and Academics: Examining the Effect of Openness on Innovation
Reduced access costs to research materials boost innovation by encouraging new researchers to enter fields and explore diverse research directions. Using NIH agreements that lowered costs for accessing genetically engineered mice in the late 1990s, the authors find that openness increased both researcher entry and research diversity without reducing the creation of new research tools. Strong intellectual property restrictions impose hidden costs by limiting exploration and reducing research output diversity.
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Crafting Sustainable Development Solutions: Frugal Innovations of Grassroots Entrepreneurs
Grassroots entrepreneurs in India create frugal, sustainable innovations using locally available materials and minimal resources. These bottom-of-pyramid solutions address unmet needs while reducing environmental impact and ownership costs. The study argues these grassroots innovations directly advance UN Sustainable Development Goals by improving productivity, sustainability, and poverty reduction in underserved communities.
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Strategic agency and institutional change: investigating the role of universities in regional innovation systems (RISs)
Universities shape regional innovation systems through strategic leadership and institutional entrepreneurship. The paper argues that understanding how regional innovation develops requires examining not just organizational actors but their internal dynamics and competing interests. Place-based leadership—how actors intentionally drive regional change—remains undertheorized without accounting for these organizational complexities.
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Sustainability, Social Media Driven Open Innovation, and New Product Development Performance*
Firms with strong sustainability orientation achieve better new product development performance, partly through increased customer focus. Social media-driven open innovation amplifies these benefits in two ways: activities gathering market insights directly strengthen customer focus, while those acquiring technical expertise enhance how customer focus translates into product performance. Companies should strategically integrate sustainability into product development and carefully manage social media innovation activities.
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Digital Health Innovation Ecosystems: From Systematic Literature Review to Conceptual Framework
This systematic literature review identifies key components of digital health innovation ecosystems by synthesizing research on digital health, innovation, and digital ecosystems. The authors develop a conceptual framework and comprehensive definition for digital health innovation ecosystems, drawing from academic databases and practitioner case reports. The framework aims to establish common understanding among healthcare professionals, practitioners, and academics working in digital health innovation.
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Which factors hinder the adoption of open innovation in SMEs?
This study identifies four main barriers preventing small and medium-sized enterprises from adopting open innovation: knowledge gaps, collaboration challenges, organizational constraints, and financial/strategic limitations. Using survey data from 157 Italian SMEs, the researchers found that different firm types perceive these barriers differently depending on their industry's innovativeness level. Some barriers directly impede open innovation adoption while others do not.
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A Quadruple and Quintuple Helix Approach to Regional Innovation Systems in the Transformation to a Forestry-Based Bioeconomy
This study examines how a Swedish forestry region can transform its innovation system by including more actors—particularly civil society—to develop a sustainable bioeconomy. Researchers interviewed stakeholders and found that a quintuple helix model, which adds environmental and civil society perspectives to traditional innovation systems, could drive broader societal change in consumer behavior, production, technology, and values. However, civil society involvement remains largely aspirational in current regional policy.
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How and why Organisations Use Social Media: Five Use Types and their Relation to Absorptive Capacity
Organizations adopt social media for five distinct purposes: broadcast, dialogue, collaboration, knowledge management, and sociability. The study finds that dialogue-based social media use strengthens organizational absorptive capacity and performance, while sociability-focused use does not. This challenges unsupported industry claims about social media's universal benefits.
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The Googlization of Health Research: From Disruptive Innovation to Disruptive Ethics
Large technology companies like Google and Apple are entering health research through consumer mobile devices that collect health data. While portrayed as beneficial disruption, this shift creates serious ethical problems: research quality concerns, privacy violations, and power imbalances where tech companies control data and infrastructure. The author argues that these power asymmetries deserve urgent critical attention because they shape which health research gets conducted.
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VALUES-BASED NETWORK AND BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION
Innovation management must harness networks and shared values to solve societal problems. This paper argues that values-based network and business model innovation can address complex challenges like unsustainable energy systems. The authors present a theoretical framework and facilitation methods, tested through a workshop on regional energy networks in Germany, demonstrating that values-based networks and business models create starting points for systemic sustainability innovations.
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Absorptive capacity, knowledge sharing, and innovative behaviour of R&D employees
This study examines how absorptive capacity and knowledge sharing drive innovative behavior among R&D employees. Using survey data from 138 employees at a multinational electronics company, the researchers found that both potential and realized absorptive capacity directly influence innovation. Knowledge sharing indirectly affects innovation through realized absorptive capacity. The findings show that organizations should simultaneously develop employee absorptive capacity and encourage knowledge sharing, external exposure, and internal communication to foster innovation.
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“Open innovation” and “triple helix” models of innovation: can synergy in innovation systems be measured?
This paper compares open innovation and triple helix models as frameworks for generating innovation value. While open innovation centers on firms, the triple helix distributes leadership across firms, universities, and regional governments. The authors argue that measuring redundancy—the variety of perspectives from different coordination mechanisms—indicates an innovation system's capacity to generate new options and self-organize. Higher redundancy reduces uncertainty and increases system synergy and innovativeness.
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Rare Earths: Market Disruption, Innovation, and Global Supply Chains
A 2010-2011 rare earth price spike triggered innovation across geoscience, process engineering, and materials science. Researchers improved understanding of mineral deposits, made production and recycling more efficient, and developed substitutes requiring fewer rare earths. Though global supply chains remain largely unchanged, this innovation wave will reshape rare earth markets and supply chains in unpredictable ways.
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Involving Consumers: The Role of Digital Technologies in Promoting ‘Prosumption’ and User Innovation
Digital technologies enable consumers to shift from passive buyers to active producers—a phenomenon called prosumption. The paper develops a framework showing how different digital tools (mobile networks, 3D printing) enable different types of consumer involvement in design, manufacturing, and distribution. Examples include user innovation, DIY production, the makers movement, and sharing economy platforms. The authors argue understanding prosumption's nature is critical for anticipating market disruptions.
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Driving innovation through big open linked data (BOLD): Exploring antecedents using interpretive structural modelling
This paper identifies and maps nineteen factors that drive innovation through big open linked data (BOLD). Using expert input and structural modeling, the research reveals that technical infrastructure, data quality, and external pressure form the foundation for BOLD-enabled innovation. Most factors show high interdependence, indicating the process is volatile and complex. The work provides a framework for organizations seeking to encourage and manage innovation through open data.
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Advancing regional innovation systems: What does evolutionary economic geography bring to the policy table?
Evolutionary economic geography offers valuable insights for regional innovation policy by explaining how firms' knowledge bases and co-location drive long-term regional development. The authors argue this approach strengthens regional innovation system frameworks, particularly for designing policies that support new economic paths and regional resilience. However, they caution that evolutionary frameworks risk downplaying institutions and agency without explicit attention to social factors.
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Managerial ties and open innovation: examining the role of absorptive capacity
Managerial relationships with external partners facilitate both inbound and outbound open innovation in firms. The study of 259 managers in the United Arab Emirates shows that a firm's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new information from external sources mediates this relationship. Managers should actively build ties with peers in other firms, universities, and government to improve innovation outcomes.
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The Impact of Living Lab Methodology on Open Innovation Contributions and Outcomes
Living lab methodology enhances open innovation by creating structured environments where external stakeholders contribute to innovation processes. The paper argues that organizations must balance open and closed innovation approaches rather than pursuing purely open models. Living labs provide practical frameworks for managing this balance and improving innovation outcomes through collaborative participation.
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Beyond absorptive capacity in open innovation process: the relationships between openness, capacities and firm performance
This study examines how open innovation affects firm performance in Korean companies. The researchers found that openness and innovation capacities directly influence performance, with desorptive capacity (sharing knowledge outward) playing a critical role. Knowledge management capacity strongly supports this outbound process. The findings reveal that successful open innovation depends on specific organizational capacities and demonstrate how firms across different industries adopt open innovation strategies.
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Exploring the impact of open innovation on firm performances
This study examines how open innovation practices affect firm performance in bio-pharmaceutical companies. Analyzing 110 major R&D spenders from 2008-2012, the researchers found that increased openness reduces R&D productivity and patent revenue ratios, but boosts sales growth. Operating profit shows an inverted U-relationship with inbound innovation and a U-shape with outbound innovation. The findings reveal that openness produces mixed financial and innovation outcomes, requiring managers to carefully balance collaborative innovation strategies.
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Limits to responsible innovation
Responsible Innovation (RI) is widely promoted but has significant blind spots. A case study of biofuel innovation in South India reveals major barriers to implementing RI principles: material constraints, power imbalances, unclear responsibilities, strategic behavior, and conflicting interests. These factors can make responsible innovation impossible, suggesting RI frameworks must either address these obstacles or accept that some innovations cannot proceed responsibly.
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Tourism Specialization, Absorptive Capacity, and Economic Growth
Tourism specialization boosts economic growth, but only when countries have sufficient financial system development to absorb tourism revenues effectively. The study of 129 countries from 1995–2011 shows that excessive tourism dependence eventually harms growth, even in developed economies. Financial capacity and economic development level determine whether tourism specialization benefits or damages long-term growth.
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Policy Diffusion and the Pro-innovation Bias
This paper examines policy diffusion across U.S. states using interstate compacts as a case study. The authors find that existing diffusion research focuses only on widely adopted policies, creating a bias that distorts findings. By analyzing all interstate compacts with variable adoption rates, they show this bias leads researchers to overestimate geographic and policy factors while underestimating professional networks and learning from prior adoptions.
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IT and relationship learning in networks as drivers of green innovation and customer capital: evidence from the automobile sector
In Spanish automotive component manufacturers, relationship learning between firms and customers drives both green innovation and customer capital growth. Information technology alone doesn't create competitive advantage; it requires complementary strategies like relationship learning and green innovation performance. The study of 140 companies shows relationship learning is essential for leveraging customer knowledge and achieving sustainable competitive advantage.
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Understanding the influence of absorptive capacity and ambidexterity on the process of business model change – the case of on‐premise and cloud‐computing software
This study examines how six incumbent enterprise software firms adapted their business models when cloud-based Software as a Service disrupted the traditional on-premise software market. The research identifies absorptive capacity and organizational ambidexterity as key factors enabling firms to change business models in response to disruptive innovation. The findings reveal technological and organizational factors that determine the pace and path of business model adaptation in the software industry.
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Institutional Complexity as a Driver for Innovation in Service Ecosystems
Institutional complexity—when actors face conflicting institutional arrangements—drives innovation in service ecosystems. The paper argues that this complexity activates problem-solving and provides multiple cultural and material toolkits that actors use to jointly reconstruct value creation practices and change institutional arrangements. This reconciles institutional stability with actor-driven creation of novel solutions.
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Are regional systems greening the economy? Local spillovers, green innovations and firms’ economic performances
Environmental innovations spread through local geographic spillovers within manufacturing districts in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. When many firms in the same municipality adopt green innovations, nearby firms follow suit. Companies that adopt environmental innovations experience improved productivity and economic performance, suggesting that greening the economy and achieving business gains are compatible goals.
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Appropriation strategies and open innovation in SMEs
UK small and medium-sized enterprises use appropriation mechanisms—both formal and informal—as a threshold to shift from closed to open innovation strategies. The study finds that emphasizing appropriation helps firms decide whether to engage in open innovation, but neither formal nor informal approaches significantly increase the depth of open innovation activities. Only informal IP protection correlates with greater inbound open innovation.
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Does patenting help or hinder open innovation? Evidence from new entrants in the solar industry
New companies entering the solar industry that build patent portfolios increase their open innovation partnerships overall. However, the effect varies by relationship type. Patents strongly boost partnerships in high-tech collaborations but weaken the effect in lower-tech relationships, actually reducing partnerships in the least technology-intensive ones.
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Network structure and regional innovation: A study of university–industry ties
University-industry knowledge networks shape regional innovation outcomes. Analysis of UK regions reveals that the most innovative and economically developed areas contain actors occupying central, influential positions within these networks. Network structure and the resulting stocks of structural network capital directly influence patterns of regional innovation and economic development.
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Match and manage: the use of knowledge matching and project management to integrate knowledge in collaborative inbound open innovation
Firms using inbound open innovation need more than just absorptive capacity to succeed. This study shows that how companies actively manage incoming knowledge—through project management and knowledge matching procedures—directly affects their innovation performance. The choice of governance approach matters as much as the firm's existing knowledge foundation.
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How open innovation processes vary between urban and remote environments: slow innovators, market-sourced information and frequency of interaction
The paper challenges the assumption that innovation happens mainly in cities. It shows that remote areas do produce first-to-market innovations, but through different mechanisms. Slow innovators in isolated locations rely on non-market information and infrequent contact with others, while fast innovators cluster near cities using market-sourced information and frequent interactions. This difference explains why innovation occurs in both settings.
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Determinants of absorptive capacity: the value of technology and market orientation for external knowledge acquisition
Firms acquire external technological knowledge through alliances and licensing, but success depends on internal capabilities. This paper argues that technology orientation and market orientation directly determine absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to explore, retain, and exploit external knowledge. The framework links these orientations to three absorptive capacity stages under varying environmental conditions, showing that internal technological and market knowledge are critical for effective external knowledge acquisition.
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Too much and too fast? Public investment scaling-up and absorptive capacity
Rapid scaling-up of public investment in low-income countries reduces project success rates when absorptive capacity—skills, institutions, and management capability—is limited. Analysis of World Bank projects across 80 countries from 1970 to 2007 shows projects implemented during investment scaling periods perform worse, though the effect is modest, particularly in poor and capital-scarce nations.
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Unpacking Open Innovation: Absorptive Capacity, Exploratory and Exploitative Openness, and the Growth of Entrepreneurial Biopharmaceutical Firms
Absorptive capacity and external relationships drive growth in small biopharmaceutical firms. A study of 349 firms across the US, UK, France, and Germany shows that a firm's ability to recognize and use external knowledge matters significantly for expansion. Exploratory partnerships depend on sustained R&D investment, while exploitative partnerships require stronger internal knowledge absorption capabilities.
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A triple helix model of medical innovation: <em>Supply</em>, <em>demand</em>, and <em>technological capabilities</em> in terms of Medical Subject Headings
This paper develops a triple helix model to understand medical innovation by analyzing interactions between disease demand, drug supply, and technological capabilities. Using medical research publications from MEDLINE/PubMed, the authors identify periods when these three dimensions align synergistically. They find that the strongest innovation driver is the connection between disease needs and available technologies, followed by supply-demand and supply-technology links. The model helps reduce uncertainty in medical innovation governance.
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Developing National Systems of Innovation: University-Industry Interactions in the Global South
This paper examines how universities and industries interact to build innovation systems in developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Global South. The authors analyze university-industry partnerships as critical mechanisms for strengthening national innovation capacity and economic development in regions with emerging economies.
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Evolution of strategic interactions from the triple to quad helix innovation models for sustainable development in the era of globalization
The paper argues that sustainable economic development requires strategic interaction between government, universities, and industry—the triple helix model. As globalization and the service sector expanded, civil society emerged as a necessary fourth actor, creating the quad helix model. The author contends that developing and middle-income countries must adopt global best practices in science park creation within this quad helix framework to strengthen technological innovation and build competitive economic capacity.
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The team absorptive capacity triad: a configurational study of individual, enabling, and motivating factors
Knowledge-intensive teams develop absorptive capacity through three complementary factors: individual team members' knowledge absorption abilities, organizational systems enabling knowledge integration, and motivational structures encouraging knowledge sharing. The study of 48 teams across four Dutch firms shows that weakness in any single factor reduces overall team performance, and these factors function as complements rather than substitutes.
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Not too close, not too far: testing the Goldilocks principle of ‘optimal’ distance in innovation networks
This paper tests whether firms innovate best when collaborating with partners at moderate distances across non-geographical dimensions like cognitive and organizational proximity. Analyzing 542 Norwegian firms, the researchers find that the most innovative companies partner with others at medium proximity levels, not too close and not too far. Geographical distance can be offset by proximity in other dimensions, enabling innovation despite physical separation.
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Absorptive capacity and knowledge management in small and medium enterprises
Small and medium enterprises need to access external knowledge through relationships, but research has not adequately examined how these relationships support knowledge management. This paper develops a framework using absorptive capacity to explain how SMEs manage external knowledge. It applies this framework to understand how new ventures build capabilities during startup and how knowledge flows within geographical clusters.
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The impact of coopetition-based open innovation on performance in nonprofit sports clubs
Nonprofit sports clubs in Germany that collaborate with competitors (coopetition) and adopt external knowledge improve their organizational performance. The study shows this happens through a two-step process: clubs first use outside knowledge, then implement organizational innovations like new services and business models. Both steps boost financial stability and membership growth.
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Business Model for the University-industry Collaboration in Open Innovation
Universities and industrial companies can collaborate effectively through a business model framework that leverages each partner's strengths. Companies lack certain competencies for developing competitive products, while universities provide research capabilities to solve complex problems. The study identifies how Romanian universities and industries currently collaborate and demonstrates significant potential for implementing open innovation practices to create added value.
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Towards building internal social network architecture that drives innovation: a social exchange theory perspective
Organizations spread across multiple locations can drive innovation by deliberately building internal social networks that encourage employee interactions and knowledge sharing. The paper argues that social capital and relationship-building should be prioritized alongside formal organizational structures. By fostering both strong bonds within teams and bridges across departments, companies can improve collaboration, knowledge flow, and innovation capacity in dispersed workforces.
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Intellectual Property Norms in Online Communities: How User-Organized Intellectual Property Regulation Supports Innovation
User-organized intellectual property norms in online communities like Threadless enable innovation by providing legal certainty and protecting creators' work without formal law enforcement. The study identifies an integrated system of established norms that regulate IP use, fostering cooperation and cumulative innovation in anonymous, large-scale communities. These norms-based systems compensate for formal IP law's ineffectiveness online and offer practical guidance for managing crowdsourcing platforms.
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Information systems absorptive capacity for environmentally driven IS‐enabled transformation
Organizations can leverage information systems to address environmental sustainability by developing IS-environmental absorptive capacity—the ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply environmental knowledge through IS. The study identifies that sustainable IS triggers, knowledge exposure, and prior experience build this capacity, which then drives environmentally sustainable IS adoption and improves cost savings, operational performance, and organizational reputation. Survey and case study evidence confirm the model.
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Local governance innovation in China: experimentation, diffusion, and defiance
This paper examines how local governments in China innovate through experimentation, adoption, and resistance to new governance approaches. The author analyzes the mechanisms by which innovative governance practices emerge at the local level, spread to other regions, and sometimes challenge or circumvent higher-level policies. The research reveals patterns in how Chinese localities develop and implement governance innovations.
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When do firms undertake open, collaborative activities? Introduction to the special section on open innovation and open business models
This introductory article frames the intellectual context of the World Open Innovation Conference, summarizing four leading papers on open innovation and open business models. The authors synthesize conference submissions and sessions to establish a research agenda for understanding when and why firms engage in collaborative, open innovation activities.
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Public support for innovation and the openness of firms’ innovation activities
Public support for innovation increases firms' openness to external collaboration and open innovation practices across 5,000+ European firms. However, this effect weakens for already-innovative firms, suggesting potential crowding-out. Non-financial support—institutions and policies—proves more effective than monetary subsidies at fostering open innovation, offering budget-constrained policymakers a cost-effective alternative.
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Fostering Scaleup Ecosystems for Regional Economic Growth (<i>Innovations Case Narrative</i>: Manizales-Mas and Scale Up Milwaukee)
This paper examines how regions can build scaleup ecosystems to drive economic growth. Using case studies from Manizales, Colombia and Milwaukee, USA, the authors analyze strategies for fostering entrepreneurship and scaling businesses as alternatives to traditional economic development approaches like direct investment attraction and cluster development. The work demonstrates practical methods for creating regional conditions that support growing ventures.
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The virtues of variety in regional innovation systems and entrepreneurial ecosystems
Regional innovation systems and entrepreneurial ecosystems drive growth through diverse, interconnected approaches rather than linear models. The paper examines how cooperative policy frameworks in South Korea, Scandinavia, Germany, and France foster regional innovation better than market-driven approaches. Variety in ecosystem design generates sustainable economic growth and entrepreneurial success at the regional level, outperforming individualistic growth theories.
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The effect of network structure on radical innovation in living labs
Living labs with a distributed multiplex network structure generate radical innovations, while distributed and centralized structures produce incremental innovations. The study analyzed 24 living labs across four countries and found that radical innovation also depends on the driving actor and strategic objectives. A provider- or utilizer-driven living lab combined with distributed multiplex networks and clear future-oriented goals offers the best conditions for radical innovation.
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The influences of knowledge loss and knowledge retention mechanisms on the absorptive capacity and performance of a MIS department
Knowledge loss damages MIS department performance by reducing absorptive capacity. The study surveyed 191 Taiwanese IT personnel and found that information systems and human resource management practices effectively mitigate knowledge loss. Organizations must invest in knowledge management mechanisms to retain competitive advantages, especially given high employee turnover and rapid technological change.
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Exploring the Relationships of Green Perceived Value, the Diffusion of Innovations, and the Technology Acceptance Model of Green Transportation
This study examines what drives people to use green transportation by testing how perceived value, usefulness, and ease of use affect adoption intentions. Using structural equation modeling, the research finds that perceived usefulness is the strongest predictor of green transportation adoption, while ease of use has a weaker effect. Perceived value alone doesn't directly influence adoption but works through perceived usefulness. The analysis shows early majority adopters dominate green transportation uptake, suggesting governments should emphasize usefulness and value to increase public adoption.
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Innovation in service ecosystems
This paper examines how values resonance drives innovation in service ecosystems by integrating brands, service systems, and experience spaces. Through a case study using narrative analysis, the authors identify four key lessons showing that shared values enable service innovation, strengthen brand integration, facilitate resource integration across system boundaries, and support value co-creation through coherent servicescapes.
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Absorptive capacity and firm performance: an integrative framework of benefits and downsides
This paper examines how absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to acquire and use external knowledge—affects financial performance. While absorptive capacity drives innovation and learning, the paper argues it also creates costs and organizational rigidity that can harm performance. The authors propose an inverted U-shaped relationship: moderate absorptive capacity optimizes performance, but excessive capacity generates diminishing returns through increased complexity and reduced internal innovation.
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The impact of internationalization on innovation at countries’ level: the role of absorptive capacity
This study examines how internationalization affects innovation across 40 countries, measuring innovation through patent applications. Outward foreign direct investment boosts patenting, with stronger effects in countries possessing high absorptive capacity, though returns diminish. Inward FDI harms innovation in low-capacity countries by displacing local activities. Countries with weak absorptive capacity benefit from both imports and exports for innovation performance.
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The relationship between innovation network and innovation capability: a social network perspective
This study examines how a firm's position within innovation networks affects its innovation capability in the semiconductor industry. Using social network analysis, the researchers found that firms occupying central positions in networks and operating in denser networks develop stronger innovation capabilities. However, firms with tighter connections within isolated sub-clusters show weaker innovation capability, suggesting that broader network reach matters more than local clustering.
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Absorptive Capacity and Ambidexterity in R&D: Linking Technology Alliance Diversity and Firm Innovation
Spanish manufacturing firms benefit from diverse technology alliances by leveraging their absorptive capacity and R&D ambidexterity. These internal capabilities act as mediating mechanisms that enable firms to combine knowledge from multiple alliance partners and translate it into innovation. The study demonstrates that firms with stronger knowledge-combining abilities gain greater innovation returns from their alliance portfolios.
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The Effect of Technological Innovation Capabilities and Absorptive Capacity on Firm Innovativeness: A Conceptual Framework
Firms need technological innovation capabilities and absorptive capacity to survive in changing markets. This paper develops a conceptual framework showing how these two factors drive firm innovativeness and competitive advantage. Technological innovation capabilities enable rapid response to change and new strategies, while absorptive capacity helps firms use external knowledge effectively. The authors propose a model linking these capabilities to innovativeness through literature review.
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Innovation for a steady state: a case for responsible stagnation
This paper argues that responsible innovation frameworks should explicitly consider 'responsible stagnation'—deliberately slowing or halting innovation in certain sectors. Drawing on ecological economics, the authors challenge the growth-driven paradigm and contend that managing resource consumption and development pace in over-productive or risky sectors represents a legitimate form of responsible innovation, not its failure.
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Diffusion Dynamics of Sustainable Innovation - Insights on Diffusion Patterns Based on the Analysis of 100 Sustainable Product and Service Innovations
This study analyzes 100 sustainable product and service innovations to understand what drives their market adoption. The researchers identified five distinct diffusion patterns, each shaped by different factors, actors, and institutional conditions. The findings show that sustainable innovations follow varied adoption paths, and understanding these differences helps explain why some innovations succeed while others fail.
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Disruptive Innovation: Implementation of Electronic Consultations in a Veterans Affairs Health Care System
A Veterans Affairs health system implemented electronic consultations enabling clinicians to request specialist input through the electronic health record without requiring patient visits. Between 2012 and 2013, over 7,000 e-consults were used, with nurse practitioners requesting them more frequently than physicians. Beyond initial diagnostic purposes, clinicians creatively adapted e-consults for scheduling and documentation. Requesting providers found the system highly useful, though specialists worried about workload increases.
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Cross-border regional innovation systems: conceptual backgrounds, empirical evidence and policy implications
Cross-border regional innovation systems (CBRIS) have been developed as a theoretical framework for analyzing innovation across borders, but empirical research lags far behind. The authors identify a significant gap between conceptual advances and actual evidence, showing that policy recommendations rest on weak empirical foundations. They call for rigorous empirical validation of CBRIS theory and evaluation of how border-region policies based on this framework actually perform in practice.
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Oops, I did it again! Knowledge leaks in open innovation networks with start-ups
Start-ups in open innovation networks experience unintended knowledge leaks when collaborating with larger, unequal partners. Using social network analysis and case studies in an Italian aerospace cluster, the authors demonstrate that knowledge flows—both intentional and accidental—occur across different knowledge types. The research warns managers and policymakers that start-ups' eagerness to participate may expose them to knowledge loss, while also showing how open innovation benefits from diverse collaborations.
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Regional conditions and innovation in Russia: the impact of foreign direct investment and absorptive capacity
This study examines how foreign direct investment and absorptive capacity drive regional innovation across Russia from 1997 to 2011, using patent applications and new technology development as measures. The research finds that FDI significantly boosts innovation in Russian regions. Regions with higher human capital benefit more from FDI spillovers, though human capital alone negatively affects innovation when absorptive capacity is included in the analysis.
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Responsible innovation for decent nonliberal peoples: a dilemma?
This paper argues that responsible innovation frameworks are grounded in liberal democratic values, which limits their applicability in nonliberal contexts. The author identifies a fundamental dilemma: responsible innovation as currently conceived cannot adequately address innovation challenges in societies that don't share liberal democratic assumptions. The paper calls for rethinking responsible innovation's normative foundations to accommodate diverse political and cultural perspectives beyond Western frameworks.
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Redefining the Relationship between Intellectual Capital and Innovation: The Mediating Role of Absorptive Capacity
This case study of a Brazilian paper and cardboard company demonstrates that absorptive capacity—the ability to assimilate new technologies, leverage internal knowledge, benchmark practices, and register patents—mediates the relationship between intellectual capital and innovation. The research shows that absorptive capacity strengthens how intellectual capital drives innovation, making it a critical mechanism for firms developing new products and processes.
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User voice and complaints as drivers of innovation in public services
User complaints and feedback drive innovation in public services when properly harnessed. The paper develops a framework showing how user voice prompts service improvements and identifies critical success factors for turning consumer knowledge into effective innovation. Six real-world examples demonstrate that while user input offers valuable insights for better service delivery, organizations often fail to fully develop these mechanisms.
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Frugal innovation, sustainable innovation, reverse innovation: why do they look alike? Why are they different?
This paper compares three types of innovation: frugal, sustainable, and reverse innovation. The author argues these are distinct concepts with different objectives, firm strategies, and macroeconomic effects. Frugal innovation represents a new technological paradigm, sustainable innovation directs efforts toward social and environmental needs, and reverse innovation reflects shifting global knowledge flows. The paper consolidates fragmented literature on these innovation types.
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Managing Innovation Ecosystems to Create and Capture Value in ICT Industries
Organizations seeking growth through innovation must understand innovation dynamics, develop clear strategies, and design effective processes. Success requires managing innovation ecosystems and collaborating with external partners. The paper examines how companies—both large and small—can create and capture value by orchestrating their innovation environments strategically.
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Determinants of Service Innovation in Academic Libraries through the Lens of Disruptive Innovation
Academic libraries face disruption from digital technologies and must innovate their services to remain relevant. The paper applies the Resources-Processes-Values framework to recommend that library administrators lead innovation efforts, build supportive cultures, reward innovation, create autonomous innovation teams, and partner with users and other institutions to develop new services that respond to technological change.
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Generating Democratic Legitimacy through Deliberative Innovations: The Role of Embeddedness and Disruptiveness
Deliberative innovations—structured public participation events—can strengthen democratic legitimacy only when properly embedded in existing institutions. This study compares four deliberative events across Europe and Canada, finding that institutional integration significantly affects legitimacy outcomes, while a deliberative process's disruptive potential has no bearing on its legitimacy claims.
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Disruptive innovation, stranded assets and forecasting: the rise and rise of renewable energy
Renewable energy combined with battery storage exhibits the three defining features of disruptive innovation: it occupies an expanding niche, grows exponentially, and creates stranded assets in fossil fuel infrastructure. The paper forecasts that renewable energy with storage will exceed current capacity projections and could meet 100% of global energy demand by 2050 under various scenarios, fundamentally transforming energy systems over the next three decades.
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Knowledge Processes, Absorptive Capacity and Innovation: A Mediation Analysis
Knowledge creation and absorptive capacity mediate how companies convert external knowledge into innovation. The study of 111 industrial organizations found that internal knowledge sharing drives innovation primarily through knowledge creation, while external knowledge acquisition strengthens absorptive capacity and internal sharing. Absorptive capacity itself does not directly boost innovation. Companies should prioritize creating environments where employees share ideas and develop solutions together.
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The Mediating Effect of Absorptive Capacity and Relational Capital in Alliance Learning of SMEs
Small businesses need partnerships with complementary resources to grow. This study examines how learning intent, absorptive capacity, and relational capital work together to shape what innovative SMEs learn through business alliances. The research shows how these factors interact to influence both technological and non-technological learning outcomes in collaborative relationships.
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Responsible research and innovation: a productive model for the future of medical innovation
This paper examines how responsible research and innovation (RRI) applies to healthcare by conducting focus groups in Montreal with patients, clinicians, engineers, designers, and innovation managers. The researchers use these discussions about technological solutions to healthcare challenges to develop a more detailed understanding of RRI's four dimensions: anticipation, reflexivity, inclusion, and responsiveness. The work shows how responsibility in medical innovation requires balancing perspectives across different stakeholder groups.
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Necessitated absorptive capacity and metaroutines in international technology transfer: A new model
International technology transfer to developing nations requires firms to absorb advanced knowledge effectively. This paper identifies organizational routines as key drivers of absorptive capacity—the ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external knowledge. The authors propose the Necessitated Absorptive Capacity model, which treats absorptive capacity as a dynamic organizational capability shaped by metaroutines, advancing both theoretical understanding and practical application of how firms in developing countries successfully adopt foreign technology.
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Towards an alignment of activities, aspirations and stakeholders for responsible innovation
This paper addresses how to govern technological innovation responsibly by proposing a framework that aligns innovation activities, stakeholder aspirations, and governance dimensions. The authors integrate sustainability principles with responsible innovation concepts—anticipation, reflexivity, inclusion, and responsiveness—to answer how innovation should proceed responsibly. A nanotechnology case study demonstrates the framework's practical application for government agencies, industry, and stakeholders managing innovation governance.
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Understanding the multiple factors governing social learning and the diffusion of innovations
This paper examines how animals learn from social interactions and how innovations spread through populations via social learning. The author reviews evidence from wild animals and identifies key conditions enabling social learning: sensitive developmental periods, difficulty obtaining personal information, and situations where social information outperforms individual learning. The research demonstrates that social learning mechanisms allow animal populations to adapt behaviorally to environmental changes through innovation diffusion.
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User innovation in public service broadcasts: creating public value by media entrepreneurship
Public service broadcasters can indirectly foster media entrepreneurship by creating demand for external creative sources, though they hesitate to outsource directly to small media entrepreneurs due to quality concerns. Instead, large media companies act as intermediaries, connecting broadcaster demand with independent media entrepreneurs and their user-generated innovations, turning audience creativity into professional content.
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Potential and Pitfalls of Frugal Innovation in the Water Sector: Insights from Tanzania to Global Value Chains
Frugal innovations—affordable, stripped-down solutions—offer promise for addressing water challenges in developing regions like Tanzania. However, the study finds significant pitfalls: these innovations struggle to scale and lack institutional support. Water's critical role across natural and human systems, combined with complex global supply chains, creates barriers to sustainability impact. Success requires understanding entire value chains and their water dependencies.
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The Encroachment Speed of Potentially Disruptive Innovations with Indirect Network Externalities: The Case of E‐Readers
This paper examines why e-readers adopted more slowly in Japan than the United States after 2010. Through interviews with industry leaders and document review, the authors identify three sources of slower adoption: organizational factors within publishing companies, technology factors including competing formats, and environmental factors such as regulations limiting e-book supply and pricing. The research shows that publishing industry insiders in Japan misinterpreted earlier e-reader performance and faced constraints from interdependent value networks.
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KNOWLEDGE INFLOWS FROM MARKET- AND SCIENCE-BASED ACTORS, ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY, INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE — A STUDY OF SMEs
This study examines how small and medium-sized enterprises absorb external knowledge and convert it into innovation and business performance. Using data from 838 Australian SMEs, the researchers found that knowledge from market-based sources (like customers and competitors) directly boosts innovation, while knowledge from science-based sources (like universities) works indirectly by first building the firm's absorptive capacity. Both pathways ultimately improve firm performance through innovation.
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Unravelling the link between technological M&A and innovation performance using the concept of relative absorptive capacity
This study examines how acquiring firms create innovation through technological mergers and acquisitions by analyzing 212 biopharmaceutical M&A cases from 1993 to 2007. The research finds that acquiring smaller firms with moderately similar technology produces better innovation outcomes. The study emphasizes that the relationship between the acquiring and acquired firm—including technological similarity and digestibility—determines how well knowledge gets absorbed and converted into new innovations.
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The frequency of end-user innovation: A re-estimation of extant findings
This study re-estimates how often consumers innovate by comparing two data collection methods. Telephone interviews found 10.8% of people innovate, but personal interviews revealed 39.7%—showing previous research significantly underestimated user innovation. Using this correction factor across six countries, the authors demonstrate that consumer innovation is a widespread phenomenon policymakers and businesses should recognize and support.
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Frugal Innovation and Knowledge Transferability
Western firms typically partner with emerging market companies to develop frugal innovations, assuming local partners better understand local needs. This paper argues for an alternative: high-tech firms can conduct breakthrough R&D at home while focusing on emerging market requirements. Three case studies from a Swedish medical device manufacturer demonstrate how home-based R&D successfully reconceptualizes core products for emerging markets and identifies conditions that make this approach effective.
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Innovation and its diffusion: process, actors and actions
This paper systematizes research on innovation diffusion by organizing factors into three categories: process, actors, and actions. It identifies phases of how innovations spread between organizations, clarifies the roles of innovators, adopters, and intermediaries, and recommends policy actions to support diffusion. The framework synthesizes two decades of fragmented research into a coherent structure.
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OPERATIONALIZING AN INNOVATION PLATFORM APPROACH FOR COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH ON CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE IN BURKINA FASO
Innovation platforms in three Burkina Faso villages successfully engaged farmers in developing and testing conservation agriculture practices. The platforms enabled active farmer participation in identifying cropping systems, improved their knowledge of conservation agriculture, strengthened producer networks, and established new rules for managing crop residues. The study shows innovation platforms effectively address complex agricultural innovations requiring technical, organizational, and institutional changes.
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Innovation in the Rural Areas and the Linkage with the Quintuple Helix Model
Rural areas function as productive systems where agriculture connects with other economic activities. The paper argues that protecting ecosystems and implementing the Quintuple Helix Model—which links innovation processes across multiple sectors—enables rural development based on sustainable competitiveness. Using Sicily and Italian regional data, the authors demonstrate how peripheral areas can adopt Smart Specialization Strategy to create new development models that balance economic growth with environmental protection.
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Study on rural women entrepreneurship in India: Issues and Challenges
Rural women entrepreneurs in India face significant barriers to business success, including limited property ownership, poor access to finance, inadequate entrepreneurial training, and low educational levels. The paper identifies that lack of confidence, family obligations, financial institution neglect, and limited networks with successful entrepreneurs prevent rural women from contributing fully to economic development and poverty reduction in their communities.
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Methods for assessing the impact of research on innovation and development in the agriculture and food sectors
This paper reviews methods for measuring how agricultural and food research affects innovation and development in developing countries. The authors find that quantitative impact assessment approaches face significant controversies. They examine qualitative methodological innovations as alternatives and analyze case studies to identify the strategic resources that research generates to improve its real-world impact on innovation and development.
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Rural innovation activities as a means for changing development perspectives – An assessment of more than two decades of promoting LEADER initiatives across the European Union
The LEADER approach has mobilized rural actors across the European Union since the 1990s by activating local stakeholders and leveraging endogenous potential. After integrating LEADER into EU Rural Development Programmes in 2007, implementation became mainstream but highly diverse. The paper synthesizes 25 years of European experience, focusing on Austria, finding that LEADER's main impact lies in generating learning processes and improving local governance through stakeholder involvement, rather than in quantitative measures alone.
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Does Broadband Matter for Rural Entrepreneurs and Creative Class Employees?
Using county-level data across the continental U.S., this study examines whether broadband access attracts entrepreneurs and creative-class workers to rural areas. Contrary to common assumptions, the results show that higher broadband adoption actually correlates with fewer entrepreneurs and creative-class employees in rural communities. The findings challenge the notion that broadband alone solves rural economic development challenges.
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Rural Women Entrepreneurship: 'Nari Bani Vyapari'
Rural women entrepreneurs drive innovation and economic development in India. The paper argues that women are equally capable innovators and business leaders as men, challenging societal misconceptions. It examines Indian government schemes supporting women entrepreneurship, including TREAD and Mahila Coir Yojana, and describes training institutions like NIMSME and NIESBUD that develop women entrepreneurs' capabilities and qualities.
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Entrepreneurship of Women in the Rural Space in Israel: Catalysts and Obstacles to Enterprise Development
This study examines 100 women entrepreneurs in rural Israeli settlements near Tel Aviv, finding that most operate small service businesses from home as their household's primary income source. Women start enterprises to replace declining farm income and pursue self-fulfillment, but face obstacles including capital shortages and low business confidence. Rural location offers cost savings and family flexibility but creates distance from markets and local competition challenges. These businesses prove essential for household survival and regional wellbeing.
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Intellectual Property and Agricultural Science and Innovation in Germany and the United States
The paper challenges the dominant U.S. theory that treats scientific knowledge as either a public or private good. By examining Germany's approach to agricultural science as a club good, the authors compare how the United States and Germany manage food and agricultural research differently. They argue these distinct approaches have different impacts on social welfare and call for democratic debate on how to best govern scientific knowledge for public benefit.
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Antipodean agricultural and resource economics at 60: agricultural innovation
Agricultural innovation has transformed economies and livelihoods over 150 years, but creates complex economic and policy challenges. Market failures in agricultural research, unequal income distribution effects, and difficulty attributing consequences to specific causes complicate understanding. Australian agricultural economists have contributed significantly to studying these innovation economics issues since the 1950s.
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When an initiative promises more than it delivers: a multi-actor perspective of rural entrepreneurship difficulties and failure in Thailand
A Thai rural entrepreneurship initiative failed to deliver promised outcomes because entrepreneurs lacked resources and exhibited risk aversion, passivity, and dependence on government support. One-size-fits-all policies ignored entrepreneurs' actual needs and capabilities. The study reveals that entrepreneurship failure takes multiple forms beyond business closure, including inability to meet initiative objectives, and identifies attitudinal inadequacies alongside resource weaknesses as key barriers.
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Agricultural research organisations’ role in the emergence of agricultural innovation systems
Agricultural research organizations often serve as network brokers in innovation systems, but their effectiveness depends on objectives. In Mexico's MasAgro initiative, research organizations proved suitable for developing and scaling specific technologies. However, when innovation goals include extension and education alongside technology development, other actors are better positioned to coordinate the network and achieve broader outcomes.
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Targeting, bias, and expected impact of complex innovations on developing‐country agriculture: evidence from Malawi
A participatory action research program in Malawi tested agricultural technologies with smallholder farmers to reduce poverty and improve food security. The study found that better-off farmers were systematically selected to test innovations, creating bias. After accounting for observable differences, early results showed positive effects on maize yield and harvest value, but selection bias from unobservable factors remained a concern. The authors recommend improving program design and targeting criteria to enhance external validity.
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Innovation in rural development in Puglia, Italy: critical issues and potentialities starting from empirical evidence
In Puglia, Italy, rural innovation policy under the LEADER approach emphasizes social and cultural change, yet local implementation remains narrowly focused on technological solutions and productivist goals. Despite significant CAP funding for innovation axes, governance structures at regional and local levels fail to support broader institutional and social innovation. Stakeholder interviews reveal a gap between policy intent and practice, with entrenched conservatism limiting transformative rural development.
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'Just sisters doing business between us': gender, social entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial resilience in rural Malaysia
A study of a rural women's cooperative in Sabah, Malaysia reveals how female social entrepreneurs build resilience and community impact through informal business ventures. The 20+ women in 'Annie's Co-op' function as both family breadwinners and community leaders, demonstrating strategies for overcoming entrepreneurial barriers while maintaining social responsibility. Their collective approach shows how rural women create economic and social value despite significant challenges.
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A study on research hot-spots and frontiers of agricultural science and technology innovation - visualization analysis based on the Citespace III
This paper analyzes international agricultural science and technology innovation research using citation mapping software to identify research hotspots and frontiers. The authors compare international trends with Chinese agricultural innovation research, finding disconnects between agricultural science studies and actual production, weak market mechanisms, and poor resource allocation. They map the evolution of agricultural innovation research globally to inform China's science and technology innovation system development.
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Culture and entrepreneurial opportunity in high- and low-entrepreneurship rural communities
Rural entrepreneurs in high- and low-entrepreneurship communities conceptualize business opportunities differently than existing theory suggests. The study examined six rural communities across Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Maine, finding that entrepreneurs neither simply discover nor create opportunities in the ways literature describes. Instead, cultural context shapes how entrepreneurs recognize and act on opportunities, with different community actors holding equally valid but distinct views on opportunity emergence.
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Agricultural innovations at a Late Iron Age oppidum: Archaeobotanical evidence for flax, food and fodder from Calleva Atrebatum, UK
Archaeological plant remains from a Late Iron Age settlement in Britain reveal that agricultural innovations focused on animal fodder production rather than feeding urban populations. Evidence shows flax cultivation, hay meadow management, and heathland use alongside staple crops and imported foods. These findings challenge existing theories about how proto-urban settlements sustained themselves and demonstrate that new grassland management and oil crops supported livestock rather than people.
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Fertilizer use optimization approach: An innovation to increase agricultural profitability for African farmers
African smallholder farmers underinvest in fertilizer due to uncertainty about returns, keeping yields low despite agriculture's importance to the region. Researchers developed fertilizer optimization tools tailored to 65 agro-ecological zones and 14 major crops across Sub-Saharan Africa. These tools, along with complementary nutrient substitution tables, help farmers maximize profitability and returns on fertilizer investment.
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Rural broadband initiatives in the Netherlands as a training ground for neo-endogenous development
Rural broadband initiatives in the Netherlands involve citizens, governments, and market players working together to improve internet connectivity. An analysis of 75 initiatives reveals an eight-stage development model showing how all three actors influence progress. However, market players use rigid policies to protect market share, while governments offer vague or generic policies that ignore local differences. These initiatives require substantial social, intellectual, and financial capital to succeed, but current operating conditions threaten their ability to deliver broadband to rural areas.
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Creating a smart rural economy through smart specialisation: The microsphere model
This paper proposes the microsphere model, a framework for applying smart specialisation strategies to rural economies. The model shifts innovation focus from large-scale capital investment to entrepreneurial activity, helping policymakers support innovation among small rural firms. The author tests the framework using a Scottish rural region case study, demonstrating how smart specialisation can address economic stagnation and boost regional growth through demand-led innovation strategies.
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Fablabs as Drivers for Open Innovation and Co-creation to Foster Rural Development
Fablabs function as collaborative spaces where policymakers, businesses, and citizens jointly develop innovative products and services. The paper demonstrates how these makerspaces drive rural development by examining two case studies from rural Slovenian municipalities, showing how open innovation and co-creation platforms can generate economic opportunities in rural regions.
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Rural Health Networks and Care Coordination: Health Care Innovation in Frontier Communities to Improve Patient Outcomes and Reduce Health Care Costs
A frontier community implemented a community care team and care coordination program to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. The program increased collaboration among 17 organizations serving 165 adults. Patients showed decreased emergency department use and similar physical health outcomes to national averages, though emotional health remained lower. Successful urban care coordination models applied effectively to rural settings, particularly through dedicated team facilitators, intensive coordination for complex cases, and technology-enabled specialty care access.
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Exploring the potential of local food and drink entrepreneurship in rural Wales
Rural food and drink entrepreneurs in Wales create microenterprises and food tourism initiatives that address social and economic challenges in farming communities. Case studies show how these ventures deliver sustainable local food systems with community benefits, operating within Wales's One Planet Sustainable Development framework. The research demonstrates entrepreneurship's role in translating policy into rural development, particularly as European funding and Welsh Government increasingly support food heritage tourism for rural wellbeing.
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Entrepreneurship in organic production – an incentive for sustainable rural development
Organic production entrepreneurship drives sustainable rural development by combining economic growth with environmental protection. The paper argues that organic farming, integrated with tourism and related activities, creates an effective entrepreneurial strategy that meets urban demand while preserving soil, water, biodiversity, and landscapes. This approach increases rural competitiveness through ecological technology and comprehensive management of production processes.
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Innovation Network for Entrepreneurship Development in Rural Indian Context: Exploratory Factor Analysis
Rural entrepreneurs in Gujarat, India identify three critical types of innovation networks: connections with private organizations, NGOs, and public organizations. These networks help rural entrepreneurs access scarce resources and create development opportunities. The study finds that rural entrepreneurs value innovation networks primarily for production enhancement, information accessibility, skill development, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
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Enabling community-powered co-innovation by connecting rural stakeholders with global knowledge brokers
The paper demonstrates how community-powered co-innovation improves conditions for small-scale farmers in developing countries. By connecting rural stakeholders with global knowledge brokers, the approach addresses economic, social, and ecological sustainability simultaneously. The authors show this model can be successfully implemented to support farming communities.
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The influence of entrepreneurship ecosystem for sustainable growth on the rural small and micro retail businesses : case study
This study examines how entrepreneurship ecosystems influence sustainable growth in rural small and micro retail businesses in South Africa's eThekwini Municipality. The research surveyed 64 rural retailers and found that both internal and external ecosystem factors affect business success. The paper recommends that retailers develop business and financial management skills, while provincial governments, local municipalities, and traditional leaders should provide infrastructure and entrepreneurship support to enable sustainable growth.
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A Comparative Study of Rural Entrepreneurship Romania – Greece
This comparative study examines rural entrepreneurship in Romania and Greece using statistical data on rural development indicators and country reports. The research documents how the economic crisis affected rural and urban areas differently across these European nations, while also identifying general improvements in various development domains despite persistent regional disparities.
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UHF TVWS operation in Indian scenario utilizing wireless regional area network for rural broadband access
India's telecom regulator opened TV white space spectrum for LTE auctions, but rural areas lack demand for such large bandwidths. This paper proposes using Wireless Regional Area Networks based on IEEE 802.22 standard to deliver affordable broadband to rural India. The authors present a licensing model allowing multiple service providers to operate dynamically in specific regions at lower costs, leveraging cognitive radio features for efficient spectrum access.
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Solar-Wind Renewable Energy System for Off-Grid Rural Electrification in Ecuador
This paper analyzes and designs an off-grid solar-wind renewable energy system for rural electrification in Ecuador. The authors measured local energy consumption and solar and wind resources in a remote county, then used simulation tools to estimate the community's electrical load profile and propose a complete hybrid system. They present the technical and economic specifications of the resulting wind-solar installation.
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Mapping the least-cost option for rural electrification in Burkina Faso: Scaling-up renewable energies
Rural electrification in Burkina Faso currently reaches only 2% of the rural population, with electricity lacking at schools and hospitals. This report develops a spatial analysis methodology to identify cost-effective pathways to universal access. The analysis shows that the government's grid-extension strategy is inefficient and unsustainable. Instead, distributed renewable-powered minigrids using local resources would connect more people faster, reduce fossil fuel imports, and provide a sustainable long-term energy model.
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A novel application of machine learning techniques for activity-based load disaggregation in rural off-grid, isolated solar systems
This paper develops machine learning methods to disaggregate household electricity demand in rural off-grid solar systems in India. By analyzing power usage data from individual homes, the researchers use classification and clustering algorithms to identify which appliances are running and predict future demand. Understanding activity-based electricity patterns helps rural solar systems right-size batteries and panels, reducing costs while ensuring reliable power access.
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Applying Indigenous Knowledge to Innovations in Social Work Education
This paper argues that social work doctoral programs should integrate indigenous holistic worldviews and the four Rs (relationships, responsibility, reciprocity, redistribution) alongside translational science and metacompetencies. These innovations prepare researchers for transdisciplinary teams tackling complex problems. The author contends this approach strengthens social work science, elevates its scholarly standing, embeds social work values in research, and reduces hierarchies between natural and social sciences.
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AGRO-TOURISM ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE CONTEXT OF INCREASING THE RURAL BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS IN ROMANIA
Agro-tourism entrepreneurship strengthens rural business competitiveness in Romania by leveraging local agricultural and non-agricultural resources. The paper identifies methods to promote and support agro-tourism ventures, examines mechanisms for integrating Romanian agro-tourism into international markets, and demonstrates how these investments create jobs, retain local labor, and revitalize rural communities.
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Rural Entrepreneurship and Welfare in South Africa: A Case of Nkonkobe Municipal Area in the Eastern Cape Province
Rural entrepreneurship in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province significantly improves household and community welfare. Survey data from 53 entrepreneurs shows that 83 percent rely primarily on entrepreneurial income. Rural businesses enable families to access healthcare, purchase assets, afford quality education for children, and support relatives. Entrepreneurship creates employment and integrates marginalized youth into the economy. A strong positive correlation exists between entrepreneurial income and school enrollment, demonstrating that rural entrepreneurship directly enhances livelihood quality through wealth and job creation.
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Optimal modeling of an integrated renewable energy system with battery storage for off grid electrification of remote rural area
This study designs an optimal renewable energy system for remote rural electrification in India's Karnataka state. Researchers modeled an integrated system combining micro hydro, solar, wind, biomass, and biogas with battery storage. Using genetic algorithms to minimize costs while maintaining reliability, they tested different technology combinations and resource scenarios. A hybrid system combining micro hydro, biomass, biogas, and wind turbines with battery storage proved most cost-effective for the target area.
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Cost Estimating Tool for Early Estimates for Rural and Small Urban Transit Facilities
Construction cost overruns plague rural and small urban transit projects. This paper develops a cost estimating tool and database to address the lack of compiled cost information for these facilities. Researchers reviewed literature, interviewed transportation officials and consultants, surveyed historical cost data, and built regression models to predict design and construction costs. They identified typical risk factors and their frequency levels, delivering a practical tool to support early-stage cost estimation for rural transit projects.
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The Supply and Use of Broadband in Rural Australia: An Explanatory Case Study of the Western Downs Region
Rural Australian households in the Western Downs Region rely heavily on wireless broadband, which proves less reliable and more expensive than wired alternatives. Remote and outer regional areas show particular dissatisfaction with wireless services and inadequate data quotas, creating barriers to digital participation. The study maps broadband infrastructure supply against household use and satisfaction, revealing that government policy must prioritize reliable, affordable broadband as a universal service obligation requiring coordinated public and private investment.
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Conceptualizing the Role of Leadership, Community Support, and Entrepreneurship Skill in the Performance of Community-Based Rural Homestay (CBRH) Programme in Malaysia
Malaysia's government promotes community-based rural homestay programs to develop rural economies through tourism small businesses. This paper identifies three key factors that influence program performance: leadership quality, community support, and entrepreneurship skills. The analysis shows how these determinants work together to help homestay operators deliver quality services and sustain their businesses despite government financial and non-financial support.
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Renewables, energy saving and welfare in Italian fragile rural areas
This study examines whether renewable energy development and energy-saving initiatives improve welfare in Italian rural areas. The research focuses on four rural regions with major energy infrastructure, analyzing how new jobs, royalties, and social cohesion from renewable energy projects affect communities facing population aging, poverty, and reduced social services. The findings combine institutional and network analysis to understand how energy transitions can address rural welfare challenges.
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Rethinking off-grid rural electrification in the Philippines
The Philippines shifted its off-grid rural electrification program toward private-sector leadership, offering subsidies to attract businesses into remote areas. This approach reduced the program from a comprehensive rural development strategy to a narrow focus on household lighting, driven by government targets. The paper argues for rethinking electricity delivery to support broader community development rather than just meeting electrification metrics.
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Using microfinance to facilitate household investment in sanitation in rural Cambodia
Rural Cambodian households want latrines but cannot afford them. This study tested whether microfinance loans could bridge the gap. While 27% of surveyed households expressed interest in microfinance for latrine purchase, actual loan applications remained low at 4% of attendees. Only 5% of current latrine owners used microfinance. The researchers conclude that linking sanitation markets to existing finance institutions requires stronger coordination between vendors and lenders to become scalable.
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Strategic orientations and cooperation of external agents in the innovation process of rural enterprises
Market orientation drives incremental innovation in rural enterprises, while entrepreneurial orientation supports both incremental and radical innovation. Specific external partners like suppliers and consultants help with incremental improvements, whereas universities and public research organizations primarily support radical innovation. The study of 208 rural firms reveals that strategic orientations and external collaboration patterns differ from urban business models due to rural market structures and product characteristics.
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From Arturo Escobar's development theory to Antony Giddens's structuration theory: a social constructionist analysis of rural entrepreneurship and multifunctional agriculture
This paper argues that rural entrepreneurship research relies too heavily on positivistic approaches and ignores rural contexts. Using social constructionism, Giddens's structuration theory, and Escobar's development theory, the authors propose shifting from positivistic views of rural entrepreneurship toward understanding multifunctional agriculture as a socially constructed discourse. They claim this theoretical reframing better explains how rural regions actually develop.
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Social entrepreneurship in the rural areas - a sports club's mobilisation of people, money and social capital
A sports club in a small rural community became a social entrepreneur by taking on public responsibilities and driving community development. The club succeeded by leveraging its local credibility, geographical proximity, and ability to mobilize resources. Volunteers in the club acted as change agents, demonstrating how the voluntary sector can address gaps left by traditional public institutions in peripheral rural societies.
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Can Solar Power Help Providing Broadband Cellular Coverage in Extreme-Rural Sweden?
This paper investigates whether solar power can enable broadband cellular coverage in extremely remote areas of Sweden. The authors examine the technical and practical feasibility of combining renewable energy with mobile network infrastructure to serve sparsely populated regions where traditional grid connections are unavailable or uneconomical.
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Broadband ecosystem elements in techno-economic modelling and analysing of broadband access solutions for rural areas
This paper analyzes Croatia's rural broadband market and proposes an extended techno-economic model to evaluate broadband access solutions for rural areas. The model incorporates ecosystem elements and allows detailed analysis of different rural contexts to identify the most efficient business strategies for fixed and mobile broadband technologies. The work addresses Europe's digital divide between rural and urban regions.
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Design and implementation of virtual class box 5.0 for distance learning in rural areas
Indonesian researchers designed and implemented Virtual Class Box 5.0, a videoconference device that enables distance learning in rural areas where transportation and educational resources are scarce. The system operates on low bandwidth (under 2Mbps), uses open-source software and affordable hardware components, and includes a simple interface with minimal resource consumption. The portable device connects teachers and students across different schools and comes with instructional materials for widespread adoption.
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Sustainability and development impacts of off-grid electrification in developing countries : An assessment of South Africa's rural electrification program
South Africa's rural electrification program and similar initiatives across southern Africa succeed when they combine appropriate technology with strong government support, progressive tariff systems, and sufficient energy capacity for income-generating activities. Hybrid hydro mini-grids prove most cost-effective. Programs fail without adequate spare parts supply, capable management, and designs that account for existing businesses and population growth. Cross-subsidies from high-income users sustain service for low-income households.
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Techno-Economic Evaluation of the Centralized Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems for Off-Grid Rural Electrification
This paper evaluates hybrid renewable energy systems for electrifying off-grid rural areas in Pakistan's Baluchistan region. Using Homer software, researchers compared three scenarios: solar-only, wind-only, and hybrid solar-wind systems. The analysis shows that combining solar and wind energy provides the most cost-effective and economically viable solution for rural electrification in the region.
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Rural resilience and renewable energy in North-East Groningen, the Netherlands: in search of synergies
This paper examines whether Dutch government policies recognize renewable energy's potential to strengthen rural resilience and address socio-economic decline. The authors analyze governance at multiple levels in North-East Groningen, a coastal rural region facing peripheralization while positioning itself as an energy hub. They investigate whether formal government institutions anticipate and support renewable energy's role in rural development alongside growing local renewable energy initiatives.
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Energy Sovereignty in Rural Areas: Off-Grid Paradigm for Strengthen the Use of Renewable Energy.
This paper presents the Off-Grid Box, a containerized renewable energy system designed to provide electricity, hot water, water harvesting, and purification to isolated rural communities. The system enables energy independence and sovereignty in marginal areas while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The authors demonstrate that modular off-grid systems can support sustainable livelihoods for small family farms and local communities, creating small-scale smart grids integrated into rural territories.
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Investigating the Intention of Rural Residents to Use Transit in Cixi, China
Rural residents in Cixi, China choose transit modes based on income, car ownership, and satisfaction with bus service convenience and reliability. Using structural equation modeling, the study identifies these key factors influencing transit adoption among rural and suburban residents. Findings suggest that improving bus service quality and reliability can increase rural transit use in developing Chinese regions.
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Promotion of Sustainable Livelihood through Skill Development Among Rural Youth - Role of Micro-Finance in Developmental Paradigm
Skill development alone fails to generate sustainable livelihoods for rural youth in India without addressing broader well-being and social structures. The paper examines how skill development institutions, policies, and programs linked to micro-finance can better support rural youth employment. It argues that micro-finance, operating within social relationships and collective norms, offers a more comprehensive approach than employable skills training alone to promote inclusive development.
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Significance of Agricultural Finance in Agricultural and Rural Development of Pakistan “A Case Study of Qambar Shahdadkot District”
Agricultural finance significantly improves rural development in Pakistan's Qambar Shahdadkot district. Farmers who borrowed money for agriculture earned higher revenues (76,000 rupees) compared to non-borrowers (61,750 rupees), despite higher input costs. Access to capital enabled timely use of agricultural inputs and better production. Farmers confirmed that agricultural finance improved living standards and household conditions, making it essential for rural development.
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Rural Marginalisation and the Role of Social Innovation; A Turn Towards Nexogenous Development and Rural Reconnection
Rural areas across Europe face increasing marginalization despite EU development policies, with gaps widening between prosperous and struggling regions. This paper examines whether social innovation can combat rural decline. Through three case studies, the author identifies distinctive features of rural social innovation: reliance on civic self-organization due to state withdrawal, and cross-sectoral collaboration. The paper proposes a new framework called nexogenous development, emphasizing socio-political reconnection as a driver of rural revitalization beyond traditional endogenous or exogenous approaches.
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Rural entrepreneurship or entrepreneurship in the rural – between place and space
This paper distinguishes two ideal types of entrepreneurship in rural areas. The first type—entrepreneurship in the rural—pursues profit-driven, mobile ventures with weak local ties. The second type—rural entrepreneurship—leverages local resources and maintains deep place-based connections, showing greater commitment to staying and optimizing local development. Both contribute to rural economies, but place-embedded ventures demonstrate superior potential for sustainable local growth.
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Green Revolution in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications of Imposed Innovation for the Wellbeing of Rural Smallholders
Rwanda's Green Revolution policies increased agricultural yields and reduced conventional poverty measures, but harmed most rural smallholders. The policies forced farmers to abandon subsistence polyculture for specialized market crops using modern seeds and inputs. Only wealthier farmers could comply; poorer households experienced disrupted livelihoods, increased landlessness, lost knowledge systems, and reduced autonomy. The authors recommend pro-poor tenure reforms and cooperative arrangements alongside agricultural improvements, and call for rigorous impact assessments that examine effects on different social groups.
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INNOVATION PLATFORMS: EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR INSTITUTIONAL EMBEDDING IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT
Innovation Platforms bring farmers, researchers, and stakeholders together to drive systemic agricultural innovation in sub-Saharan Africa. The paper finds that successful platforms require fundamental institutional changes within agricultural research organizations—including new mandates, incentives, procedures, and funding structures. Without these changes, platforms risk becoming superficial rebranding of traditional technology-focused approaches rather than enabling genuine paradigm shifts toward system-oriented development.
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Systemic problems affecting co-innovation in the New Zealand Agricultural Innovation System: Identification of blocking mechanisms and underlying institutional logics
This study identifies systemic barriers preventing co-innovation in New Zealand's agricultural sector, where farmers, researchers, and other actors should jointly drive technological and social change. The analysis reveals three main blocking mechanisms: competitive science operating in isolation, hands-off government innovation policy, and science-dominated approaches. These institutional barriers persist across many countries and prevent co-innovation principles from being adopted in agricultural policy. The paper argues that transformative policy instruments are needed to overcome these entrenched structures.
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Learning and Innovation Networks for Sustainable Agriculture: Processes of Co-evolution, Joint Reflection and Facilitation
Agricultural innovation requires moving beyond top-down knowledge transfer from researchers to farmers. This editorial introduces research on Learning and Innovation Networks for Sustainable Agriculture (LINSA), where farmers actively participate as innovators rather than passive technology adopters. The papers examine how joint learning and reflection among diverse actors—researchers, advisors, and producers—can support sustainable agricultural transitions and strengthen institutional support for collaborative innovation in rural Europe.
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Structural Conditions for Collaboration and Learning in Innovation Networks: Using an Innovation System Performance Lens to Analyse Agricultural Knowledge Systems
This study examines structural conditions in eight European agricultural innovation systems that enable or block collaboration and learning in multidisciplinary networks. Using an Innovation System Failure Matrix, researchers identified key barriers including insufficient funding, fragmentation between actors, and weak evaluation criteria for collaborative networks. The findings show each country's system has distinct features, requiring tailored policy approaches rather than one-size-fits-all solutions for promoting collaboration.
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Provoking identities: entrepreneurship and emerging identity positions in rural development
This ethnographic study of a declining rural community over six years reveals how entrepreneurship reshapes local identity and agency. Entrepreneurs challenged dominant narratives by repositioning their community's assets—locality, history, and place—as resources rather than liabilities. Four key tensions (change versus tradition, rational versus irrational, spectacular versus mundane, individual versus collective) shaped how local actors negotiated new identity positions and opportunities through entrepreneurial action.
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Diagnostics barriers and innovations in rural areas: insights from junior medical doctors on the frontlines of rural care in Peru
Rural doctors in Peru identify three major barriers to diagnosis: lack of point-of-care diagnostic tools for diseases like malaria, dengue, and tuberculosis; health system failures including limited funding and specialist shortages; and patient barriers to accessing referral care. Doctors propose point-of-care equipment and telemedicine as solutions, but note that technological fixes alone cannot address underlying social, organizational, and policy problems.
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Interactions between Niche and Regime: An Analysis of Learning and Innovation Networks for Sustainable Agriculture across Europe
This study examines how 17 learning and innovation networks for sustainable agriculture across Europe interact with mainstream agricultural systems. The researchers found five distinct interaction modes based on compatibility levels, which determine how sustainable practices spread into conventional agriculture. Effective interaction requires specific connecting processes like certification, regulatory exemptions, and networking support. The findings suggest agricultural transition happens through multiple adaptive changes rather than wholesale regime replacement.
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Making Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) Work for Development in Tropical Countries
Agricultural innovation systems in tropical low-income countries struggle because capacity development initiatives don't align with national efforts. A study of Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central America found that external programs focus on training individuals, while countries actually need institutional strengthening. The research recommends improving south-south collaboration and building institutional capacity to make national agricultural innovation systems more responsive to smallholder farmers' needs.
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Analyzing the Mobile “Digital Divide”: Changing Determinants of Household Phone Ownership Over Time in Rural Bangladesh
Mobile phone ownership in rural Bangladesh nearly doubled from 2008 to 2011, growing from 30% to 56% of households. Illiteracy, lack of electricity, and low wealth initially limited ownership, but these barriers weakened significantly over time. Lower-income households showed the fastest growth rates as competitive pricing and service innovations democratized access. The findings suggest mobile phones can now reach vulnerable populations for health and financial services.
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Learning and Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Development: The Use of the Concepts of Boundary Work and Boundary Objects
Boundary work and boundary objects—tools that bridge different groups and perspectives—drive learning and innovation in multi-actor agricultural networks. Analysis of six case studies shows these mechanisms take diverse forms depending on context and goals, helping align conflicting viewpoints, secure external support, and advance sustainable agriculture. Skilled facilitation of boundary work strengthens both internal network cohesion and external communication.
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Organizational Path Constitution in Technological Innovation: Evidence from Rural Telehealth1
This paper develops a theory of how technological innovation paths form within organizations, using a rural telehealth case study. It combines path dependence (historical constraints) with path creation (deliberate actor choices) to explain how organizations transform innovation patterns, merge or separate paths, and sometimes become locked into dominant patterns they struggle to escape.
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‘Stuck Out Here’: The Critical Role of Broadband for Remote Rural Places
Broadband connectivity is essential for economic and social sustainability in remote rural Scotland. Research with small rural business owners shows that internet access directly enables business development and sustainability while supporting education, leisure, and social participation. Without broadband, remote rural communities face significant disadvantages in maintaining viable livelihoods and quality of life.
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Barriers to Business Model Innovation in Swedish Agriculture
Swedish small farms face multiple barriers when attempting to innovate their business models to improve competitiveness and profitability. The study identifies three types of obstacles: human factors like attitudes and traditions, contextual barriers related to industry and company settings, and abstract barriers including government regulations, value chain position, and weather. Agricultural consultants and farmers confirmed these barriers significantly impede business model innovation efforts.
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Between capital investments and capacity building—Development and application of a conceptual framework towards a place-based rural development policy
This paper develops a framework for place-based rural development policy that divides investments into territorial capital (physical, human, natural) and capacity building (modernisation, restructuring, stabilisation). Using EU regional spending data from 2007–2011, the authors find that over half of European regions prioritise natural capital or stabilisation, while others combine multiple topics. Regional spending patterns vary significantly, reflecting how different authorities and local actors shape policy implementation across places.
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A paradigm shift in African agricultural research for development: the role of innovation platforms
Agricultural research organizations in Africa shifted from focusing solely on technology efficiency to using multi-stakeholder innovation platforms that address institutional barriers. Case studies of maize and cassava value chains in West and Central Africa show that yields and incomes increased significantly when platforms combined three capacity-building interventions: learning workshops for policymakers, skills training for facilitators, and coaching support. Success required facilitators to master observation, testing, and refinement of platform processes using practical, visualizable tools.
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User innovation and entrepreneurship: case studies from rural India
Rural innovators in India develop low-cost solutions to local problems driven by necessity rather than profit. Five case studies reveal that these user-innovators lack resources to commercialize their inventions. External actors can bridge this gap by providing support. The research proposes a framework for enabling rural innovation and entrepreneurship in developing countries, showing that successful innovations reduce poverty and create positive social impacts for entrepreneurs and their communities.
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Superfast Broadband and Rural Community Resilience: Examining the Rural Need for Speed
Superfast broadband enhances rural community resilience by enabling greater control over daily activities and providing reliable access to high-capacity services like video. Interview data from 36 rural UK residents shows that faster internet supports personal skill-building and individual empowerment. However, the relationship between broadband speed and community resilience proves complex and sometimes contradictory, with users primarily viewing the internet as an individualized tool rather than a collective resource.
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Innovation systems and technical efficiency in developing‐country agriculture
This study analyzes how agricultural innovation systems affect technical efficiency across 85 developing countries from 2004 to 2011. Mobile phone subscriptions and scientific research output both improve agricultural production efficiency. Countries in the lower technological class achieve 44% efficiency compared to 62% in the higher class, revealing substantial room for productivity gains through efficiency-focused investments in innovation infrastructure.
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Responsible to whom? Seed innovations and the corporatization of agriculture
Hybrid and genetically engineered seed innovations were developed alongside corporate and chemical industry interests, systematically disadvantaging small farmers and alternative agricultural practices. The paper traces how these technological shifts occurred with minimal public controversy because they were embedded in cultural narratives about seeds and farming that normalized corporate control. The author argues that examining seed innovation through technopolitics and cultural analysis reveals how responsibility gets built into technology design, before those choices become locked into material systems and social practice.
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What really matters? A qualitative analysis on the adoption of innovations in agriculture
Agricultural innovation adoption depends on multiple interconnected factors beyond technology alone. Research across Italy, Greece, and Turkey identified that farmers prioritize ease of use, effectiveness, usefulness, resource savings, and compatibility. Adoption accelerates through trials, demonstrations, knowledge sharing, and expert support. Public funding, agricultural policies, and market conditions significantly influence whether farmers ultimately adopt new technologies.
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Supporting rural entrepreneurship in the UK microbrewery sector
The UK microbrewery sector has grown rapidly, but declining pub numbers threaten sustainability. This study finds that rural microbreweries generate value beyond economics—including job creation, heritage preservation, and tourism benefits. Funding boosted entrepreneurial activity but risked distorting competition. As the market intensifies, microbrewers must innovate to survive, and policymakers need better tools to assess how grant funding affects local economies and entrepreneurship.
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Innovations, food storage and the origins of agriculture
The paper argues that nomadic hunter-gatherers transitioned to sedentary agriculture by building on existing skills in foraging, pottery, and food storage. As their tool kits grew heavier and more diverse, settling in one place became practical. Sedentarism then enabled specialization in the very activities that had burdened them—plant cultivation and food storage—ultimately driving the global emergence of agriculture.
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“Communities in the middle”: Interactions between drivers of change and place-based characteristics in rural forest-based communities
Rural forest-based communities in the middle of the United States—neither wilderness nor urban edges—face common shocks including industrial decline, demographic change, climate change, and new energy demands. The paper shows that communities respond differently based on interactions between local conditions and larger drivers of change. Three development trajectories emerge, shaped by the resource base, connectivity to other places, and social adaptability. The framework identifies vulnerabilities, opportunities, and novel recombinations as key to understanding how these communities adapt.
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Qualitative exploration of cultural practices inhibiting rural women entrepreneurship development in selected communities in Nigeria
Cultural practices in Nigeria significantly restrict rural women's entrepreneurship opportunities and inhibit the success of government initiatives. The study, conducted in Southeast and Southwest Nigeria using focus groups and case studies, found that traditional beliefs and customs limit which businesses women can pursue. The researchers conclude that policymakers must consider cultural factors and work toward community reorientation to effectively develop women's entrepreneurship in rural areas.
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Microfinance, Financial Literacy, and Household Power Configuration in Rural Bangladesh: An Empirical Study on Some Credit Borrowers
Microfinance alone does not empower rural women in Bangladesh; financial literacy is essential. The study examined women borrowers' perceptions of economic and socio-cultural changes in their households. Microfinance combined with financial literacy improved women's economic position and household power dynamics. Financial literacy proved more critical than credit access for meaningful empowerment, suggesting future microfinance programs should prioritize education alongside lending.
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Assessments of Wind‐Energy Potential in Selected Sites from Three Geopolitical Zones in Nigeria: Implications for Renewable/Sustainable Rural Electrification
Wind energy can provide affordable rural electrification across Nigeria's three major geopolitical zones. Analysis of wind-speed data from Katsina, Warri, and Calabar shows that even low wind-speed sites can generate electricity at economically viable costs—ranging from €0.0507 to €0.0819 per kWh—making wind turbines a practical renewable solution for electrifying remote rural communities.
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Rural tourism development and financing in Romania: A supply-side analysis
Rural tourism businesses in Romania can drive sustainable development by leveraging natural and cultural resources, but they struggle to secure bank financing. Banks identify these ventures as risky due to poor management, seasonality, and small scale, yet recognize their resilience. Rural tourism firms must diversify income, form associations, and maintain healthy debt levels to attract funding. Private domestic banks prove more willing to finance rural tourism than other bank types, and EU co-financing programs offer promising pathways for growth.
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Energy Saving, Implementation of Solar Energy and Other Renewable Energy Sources for Energy Supply in Rural Areas of Russia
This paper presents a staged implementation plan for solar and renewable energy systems in Russian rural settlements. The research analyzes regional climate, social, economic, and technical factors to develop a comprehensive energy supply strategy. The work identifies priorities, implementation sequences, and performance targets for deploying renewable energy and energy-saving measures across sparsely populated rural territories.
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Rural Off-Grid Electricity Service in Sub-Saharan Africa [Technology Leaders]
Sub-Saharan Africa faces severe electricity access challenges, with installed generation capacity far below demand for its 860 million people. Nineteen of the world's twenty least-electrified countries are in this region, and rural electrification rates fall below 15%. Decades of underinvestment have created a critical infrastructure gap that impedes development across the region.
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Rural Electrification Goes Local: Recent innovations in renewable generation, energy efficiency, and grid modernization
Rural areas face infrastructure challenges due to sparse, dispersed populations. The paper examines how renewable energy generation, energy efficiency improvements, and modernized grids address rural electrification. It notes that rural definitions vary globally but consistently describe low-density settlements where farming dominates, creating barriers to infrastructure development that limit economic activity and household incomes.
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Enhancing the Service Quality of Transit Systems in Rural Areas by Flexible Transport Services
Dial-a-Ride systems improve public transit in rural areas where fixed schedules are inefficient due to variable demand and dispersed destinations. The authors develop a mixed-integer optimization model that minimizes both operating costs and total traveler time, accounting for different user types. Testing on real data from Japan shows the approach reduces waiting times and excess ride duration compared to conventional methods.
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Feasibility Analysis and Simulation of Integrated Renewable Energy System for Power Generation: A Hypothetical Study of Rural Health Clinic
This paper analyzes the feasibility of a hybrid solar and wind renewable energy system for a rural health clinic in Nigeria. Using meteorological data and energy consumption records, researchers designed and simulated an optimal system combining 5 kW solar panels and a 7.5 kW wind turbine with battery storage. The system generates 16,628 kWh annually, meeting the clinic's full energy needs at a total cost of $137,139. The results demonstrate that stand-alone renewable systems can reliably power rural healthcare facilities.
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The Decolonized Quadruple Bottom Line: A Framework for Developing Indigenous Innovation
This paper proposes a decolonized quadruple bottom line framework for indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship. Rather than the standard triple bottom line (people, planet, profit), the authors add spirituality and culture as essential factors. The framework combines community, spirituality, sustainability, and entrepreneurship to create indigenous innovation that supports sustainable economic development for American Indian nations and communities.
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China's indigenous innovation approach: the emergence of Chinese innovation theory?
China is developing indigenous innovation capabilities to build an innovation-based economy, but existing research relies heavily on Western innovation theory. This paper proposes building a distinctly Chinese innovation theory rather than applying Western frameworks. The authors present a research agenda and seven papers that develop this Chinese-centric approach to understanding innovation in Chinese business and policy.
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Does Microfinance Impact on Rural Empowerment in Bangladesh? Differences Between Governmental and Non‐Governmental Microfinance Programs
Microfinance programs in Bangladesh increase recipient empowerment across economic, family, social, and political dimensions. Governmental microfinance providers produce larger gains in family, social, and political empowerment, while non-governmental microfinance organizations deliver greater economic empowerment improvements. The study compared 300 beneficiaries against 200 controls using multiple statistical methods.
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Social Ties and Indigenous Innovation in China's Transition Economy: The Moderating Effects of Learning Intent
This study examines how social network ties influence indigenous innovation in Chinese firms. The researchers analyzed 270 companies and found that business network ties show an inverted U-shaped relationship with all three innovation patterns (original, integrative, and re-innovation), while institutional ties affect them differently. Learning intent moderates these relationships, strengthening or weakening the effects of social ties on innovation outcomes.
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Innovation in Indigenous Health and Medical Education: The Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Network as a Community of Practice
The Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education Network operates across Australian and New Zealand medical schools to improve Indigenous health education and support Indigenous student recruitment and graduation. Using Wenger's communities of practice framework, the authors evaluate the Network's effectiveness and demonstrate how this theoretical lens helps measure its impact on curriculum implementation and student outcomes.
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Recognizing Indigenous Knowledge on Agricultural Landscape in Bali for Micro Climate and Environment Control
Indigenous agricultural practices in Bali's terraced rice landscapes demonstrate sophisticated climate and environmental control mechanisms. The study reveals how traditional knowledge—particularly the Tri Hita Karana concept—integrates forest, temples, paddies, irrigation systems, and settlements to create sustainable landscapes on steep mountain slopes. The controlled irrigation system distributes water efficiently across impossible terrain, while the vertical landscape pattern protects against environmental degradation and strengthens adaptive capacity to climate change.
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Public Good Provision in Indian Rural Areas: The Returns to Collective Action by Microfinance Groups
Self-help groups of women in rural India collectively contribute to public goods provision, which incentivizes local officials to expand their efforts across more issues. The study combines theoretical modeling with field data to show that when citizens coordinate voluntary contributions, elected officials increase their public goods provision to improve re-election prospects. This demonstrates how grassroots collective action shapes rural governance outcomes.
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Role of Microfinance in Sustainable Development in Rural Bangladesh
Microfinance in rural Bangladesh shows declining effectiveness over time. The study of 300 borrowers found that early microfinance participation generated stronger positive outcomes than recent borrowing. Farm size, repayment behavior, weekly savings, and household income significantly influenced program success. Microfinance providers effectively targeted poor, rural, and illiterate populations, though benefits diminished as programs matured.
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A Comparative Analysis of the Use of Microfinance and Formal and Informal Credit by Farmers in Less Developed Areas of Rural China
Farmers in poor rural China use different credit sources for different purposes: microfinance funds livestock and non-agricultural investments, formal credit supports crop production, and informal credit covers consumption needs. The study shows credit demand has grown significantly and recommends developing a complementary financial system that integrates microfinance, formal, and informal channels to meet farmers' production and consumption credit needs.
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Techno-economic feasibility of hybrid renewable energy system for rural health centre (RHC): The wayward for quality health delivery
Off-grid rural health clinics in areas without reliable electricity can be powered effectively using hybrid renewable energy systems. This study analyzed a health center in northern Nigeria and found that a combination of solar panels, diesel generators, and battery storage provides the most cost-effective and technically viable solution for delivering quality healthcare services to remote villages.
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Status and Benefits of Renewable Energy Technologies in the Rural Areas of Ethiopia: A Case Study on Improved Cooking Stoves and Biogas Technologies
Ethiopia's rural population relies heavily on biomass for energy, causing deforestation and health problems. The government has distributed 3.7 million improved cooking stoves and installed over 860 biogas digesters to replace traditional fuels. These technologies conserve forests and provide environmental benefits, but current programs fail to reach the rural households they target. Greater focus on rural distribution is needed to address fuel scarcity, environmental degradation, and health issues.
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Design of an off-grid energy kiosk in rural Zambia
Researchers designed an off-grid solar energy kiosk for rural Zambia that charges mobile phones and rents portable battery kits with LED lights to households. The 1.8 kW photovoltaic system operates on a fee-based retail model, with revenue funding sustainable operation and expansion. Community surveys and simulations informed the technical and business design, ensuring reliability and local appropriateness.
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Cost–Benefit Analysis of Rural and Small Urban Transit in the United States
This study measures the economic value of public transit in rural and small urban areas across the United States, which had been largely unmeasured. Using national transit database data, researchers calculated that rural transit generated $1.6 billion in benefits and small urban transit generated $3.7 billion in 2011. Benefit-cost ratios were 1.20 for rural transit and 2.16 for small urban transit, demonstrating that these systems deliver measurable returns on investment, particularly for transportation-disadvantaged populations.
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Feasibility analysis of solar DC Nano grid for off grid rural Bangladesh
Solar DC nano grids offer a practical renewable energy solution for off-grid rural areas in Bangladesh. The paper examines an installed nano grid system in Kushita district, analyzing its technical advantages and implementation challenges. The authors argue that solar DC nano grids can effectively meet growing electricity demand in rural Bangladesh while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
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Analysis of load shedding strategies for battery management in PV-based rural off-grids
Off-grid PV-diesel hybrid systems with battery backup serve rural communities but suffer from poor energy management, causing outages and excess diesel use. This paper analyzes load shedding strategies to efficiently distribute battery energy at night, prioritizing critical loads like hospitals and telecom towers to maximize energy security.
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Combined solar heat and power with microgrid storage and layered smartgrid control toward supplying off‐grid rural villages
Researchers in South Africa designed and modeled a solar-powered combined heat and power system for off-grid rural villages. The 3 kW electrical, 12 kW thermal system stores energy in a microgrid to supply power and heat day and night. Smart controls manage distribution to households by monitoring usage patterns and balancing demand across the community.
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Converging for deterring land abandonment: a systematization of experiences of a rural grassroots innovation
Rural grassroots initiatives in Portugal's Alentejo region build resilience against land abandonment and degradation through participatory governance, shared sustainability vision, and social capital. The study documents how these socially innovative projects preserve traditional land management knowledge while creating ecological and social resilience in a climate-vulnerable area.
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A lightweight mobile e-procurement solution for rural small scale traders implemented using a living lab approach
Researchers developed a lightweight mobile e-procurement application for small-scale retailers in rural South Africa to improve stock replenishment processes. Using a living lab approach, they designed the system to match local mobile capabilities, user literacy levels, and business needs. The application successfully addressed practical challenges faced by rural traders by leveraging existing mobile connectivity and devices for data communication beyond basic voice and SMS.
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Digitally Enabled Social Innovation: A Case Study of Community Empowerment in Rural China
This case study examines how rural communities in China achieve digitally enabled social innovation through self-organization. Researchers studied Daiji village, a successful Taobao Village, and identified a four-step bricolage mechanism: Recognition, Preparation, Recombination, and Governance. These steps enable communities to form and enact digital repertoires that generate social benefits and empower residents.
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Network function virtualization: Challenges and opportunities for innovations
Network function virtualization decouples software from hardware by running network functions on commercial servers instead of specialized equipment. This approach accelerates service deployment and reduces costs, but creates challenges around performance guarantees, dynamic resource management, and efficient placement of virtual network functions. The paper outlines NFV architecture, use cases, and research priorities.
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From Creativity to Innovation: The Social Network Drivers of the Four Phases of the Idea Journey
Social networks influence innovation differently across four distinct phases: idea generation, elaboration, championing, and implementation. Each phase requires different network characteristics—cognitive flexibility, support, influence, and shared vision respectively. Network features beneficial in one phase become detrimental in another. Successful innovators navigate this paradox by reframing their approach and activating different network strengths at appropriate moments, moving ideas from conception to tangible field-changing outcomes.
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Digital product innovation within four classes of innovation networks
Digital technologies reshape how innovation networks create and share knowledge by reducing communication costs, increasing connectivity, and accelerating convergence across diverse participants. The authors identify four types of digitally-enabled innovation networks—project, clan, federated, and anarchic—each requiring different approaches to knowledge sharing and integration. Digital infrastructures support these networks through representational flexibility, semantic coherence, traceability, knowledge brokering, and linguistic calibration.
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Innovation ecosystems and the pace of substitution: Re‐examining technology S‐curves
This paper explains why some new technologies rapidly replace older ones while others take decades to gain traction. The authors develop a framework examining both competing technologies and their surrounding ecosystems. They identify four distinct patterns based on how easily new technology ecosystems can emerge and how much old technology ecosystems can extend. Analysis of ten technology transitions in semiconductor lithography equipment from 1972 to 2009 confirms their predictions about substitution speed.
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Innovating Pedagogy 2015: Open University Innovation Report 4
This report identifies ten emerging pedagogical innovations with potential to transform post-secondary education. Researchers at the Open University and SRI International reviewed educational theories and practices, then selected innovations already in use but not yet widely adopted. The report sketches these ten pedagogies in order of likely implementation timescale, aiming to guide teachers and policymakers toward productive educational change.
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Open innovation: Are inbound and outbound knowledge flows really complementary?
This paper tests whether firms benefit from simultaneously engaging in inbound and outbound knowledge flows, as open innovation theory suggests. Using data from Belgian manufacturing firms, the authors find that while companies buying and selling knowledge do increase new product sales, their R&D costs rise disproportionately. The results show no complementarity between knowledge inflows and outflows, suggesting that the organizational costs of managing open innovation are higher than theory predicts.
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Non-invasive prenatal testing for aneuploidy and beyond: challenges of responsible innovation in prenatal screening
This position document from European and American genetics societies provides recommendations for responsible innovation in prenatal screening using non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). The authors argue that while NIPT improves accuracy and safety for detecting common chromosomal abnormalities, expanding screening scope requires rigorous validation and ethical evaluation. They call for governments to regulate prenatal screening as public health programs, ensuring quality counseling, professional education, and equitable access rather than allowing commercial expansion without oversight.
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3D Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanocrystals decorating carbon nanotubes to tune electromagnetic properties and enhance microwave absorption capacity
This paper is not about rural innovation. It describes a materials science study on nanostructured composites for microwave absorption applications, focusing on the electromagnetic properties of iron oxide nanocrystals decorated on carbon nanotubes.
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THE CREATION AND DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
This systematic literature review examines how innovation is created and adopted in developing countries' private sectors. The authors identify barriers to innovation and trace how new ideas and technologies spread within and across developing economies. They find that innovation capacity depends on interactions between geographical, socio-economic, political, and legal systems. Institutional contexts in developing countries significantly shape how innovations diffuse.
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From Cost to Frugal and Reverse Innovation: Mapping the Field and Implications for Global Competitiveness
This paper distinguishes between four types of innovation targeting resource-constrained customers in emerging markets: cost, good-enough, frugal, and reverse innovation. The authors clarify conceptual differences between these approaches and explain how each requires different strategic and operational implications. The framework helps managers systematically analyze their resource-constrained innovation strategies and develop appropriate processes.
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Green Process Innovation and Financial Performance in Emerging Economies: Moderating Effects of Absorptive Capacity and Green Subsidies
Green process innovation improves financial performance in manufacturing industries, particularly in emerging economies. Using ten years of Chinese industrial data, the study finds that both clean and end-of-pipe technologies boost profitability. Absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to learn and apply knowledge—strengthens this benefit, while government subsidies surprisingly weaken it. Industries gain more from leveraging internal capabilities than relying on external government support.
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Business, Innovation, and Knowledge Ecosystems: How They Differ and How to Survive and Thrive within Them
This paper examines how business, innovation, and knowledge ecosystems function and differ from one another. It applies ecological ecosystem concepts to understand how organizations and knowledge systems interact, survive, and develop within complex environments. The work helps explain the structural and operational differences between these three types of ecosystems and provides insights for thriving within them.
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Using diffusion of innovation theory to understand the factors impacting patient acceptance and use of consumer e-health innovations: a case study in a primary care clinic
A primary care clinic in Australia implemented an e-appointment scheduling service and tracked patient adoption over 29 months. Only 4% of patients adopted the service by the end of the study period. Low adoption resulted from poor communication, lack of perceived value, incompatibility with patient preferences for phone-based appointments, and barriers including low internet literacy and limited home computer access—factors linked to the population's low socioeconomic status.
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A Fad or a Phenomenon?: The Adoption of Open Innovation Practices in Large Firms
This paper examines whether open innovation practices represent a lasting shift in how large firms operate or merely a temporary trend. The authors analyze adoption patterns across major companies to determine if open innovation has become a fundamental business phenomenon or remains a passing fad in corporate strategy.
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Where and how to search? Search paths in open innovation
This paper identifies four distinct search paths firms use to find external knowledge for innovation: situated, analogical, sophisticated, and scientific paths. These paths combine two dimensions—whether firms search locally or distantly, and whether they rely on experience or cognitive reasoning. The study of 18 open innovation projects reveals how problem framing and boundary spanning mechanisms operate within each path to solve technology problems, providing a structured framework for understanding how firms conduct external knowledge searches.
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Co-creation and user innovation: The role of online 3D printing platforms
Online 3D printing platforms enable new forms of user involvement in production and co-creation. The authors develop a framework for understanding prosumption and categorize co-creation activities, then analyze 22 platforms to show how different service models support different types of co-creation. The findings reveal how these platforms reshape user innovation by changing who participates in design and manufacturing.
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What influences the diffusion of grassroots innovations for sustainability? Investigating community currency niches
Community currencies like Local Exchange Trading Schemes and time banks represent grassroots innovations for sustainability. This study of 12 community currency niches across multiple countries tests whether strategic niche management theory predicts their diffusion success. The researchers find that niche-level activity does correlate with diffusion, but identify additional factors that existing theory misses. They develop an adapted model specifically for grassroots innovations and offer recommendations for practitioners and policymakers supporting these civil society initiatives.
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How useful is the theory of disruptive innovation
This paper critically examines Clayton Christensen's theory of disruptive innovation, which has influenced business strategy and social problem-solving. The authors argue that while disruption theory offers useful warnings, it cannot replace rigorous analysis of competition and competitive advantage. Managers should not rely on simple theories or quick analogies when making strategic decisions about innovation and organizational change.
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Innovating innovation policy: the emergence of ‘Responsible Research and Innovation’
The paper traces how the European Union developed 'Responsible Research and Innovation' (RRI) as a policy framework, starting from a 2011 European Commission workshop. Through analysis of EU documents, the author shows how RRI became embedded in Horizon 2020 to direct technological innovation toward social benefits. The paper identifies tensions between RRI and other EU policies that may undermine its effectiveness.
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How do we conquer the growth limits of capitalism? Schumpeterian Dynamics of Open Innovation
This paper proposes a dynamic model of an open innovation economy system to address capitalism's growth limits. The model integrates open innovation, closed innovation, and social innovation economies in a circular dynamic process. The author validates the framework through lifecycle simulations and comparative analysis with Schumpeter's economic theory and socialist democracy, establishing theoretical and practical characteristics of how these three economy types interact to sustain economic growth.
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Information Technology Use as a Learning Mechanism: The Impact of IT Use on Knowledge Transfer Effectiveness, Absorptive Capacity, and Franchisee Performance1
This study examines how franchisees use information technology to learn and improve performance. The researchers found that IT use enhances knowledge transfer from franchisors and builds franchisees' capacity to absorb and apply that knowledge. This improved learning capacity then drives better financial performance. The findings were tested across 783 real-estate franchisees and held consistent across different analytical approaches.
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Market failure in the diffusion of consumer-developed innovations: Patterns in Finland
Consumer-developed innovations in Finland often fail to spread beyond their creators because developers lack incentives to support diffusion when others benefit. The study confirms that market failure prevents socially optimal spread of user innovations. Developers don't invest in sharing products that could help others, even when those innovations have clear value to broader populations.
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Grassroots Innovation for Urban Sustainability: Comparing the Diffusion Pathways of Three Ecovillage Projects
Three ecovillage projects successfully spread sustainable practices through education and outreach activities. One project achieved broader impact by partnering with municipal planners to create a new zoning category, enabling mainstream developers to adopt ecovillage concepts. The research shows that grassroots innovation projects bridge niche and mainstream sectors most effectively when they operate simultaneously in two distinct action domains.
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Universities’ contributions to social innovation: reflections in theory & practice
Universities contribute to knowledge-based urban development through social innovation by gaining tacit knowledge, material resources, and symbolic legitimacy. The paper argues that universities must modify internal processes to enable diverse actors to benefit from participation. Policy-makers should avoid creating disincentives through teaching and research activities that prevent universities from making substantive contributions to urban development.
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Enhancing Green Absorptive Capacity, Green Dynamic Capacities and Green Service Innovation to Improve Firm Performance: An Analysis of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)
This study examines how green absorptive capacity and green dynamic capacities drive green service innovation and improve firm performance. The research finds that green absorptive capacity directly boosts dynamic capacities, service innovation, and performance. Green dynamic capacities similarly enhance both innovation and performance. The analysis reveals that dynamic capacities and service innovation mediate the relationship between absorptive capacity and firm performance outcomes.
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Interactive Effects of Network Capability, ICT Capability, and Financial Slack on Technology-Based Small Firm Innovation Performance
Network capability, ICT capability, and financial slack together influence innovation performance in technology-based small firms. The study shows that these three factors interact to affect how well small firms innovate. Firms that combine strong external relationships, strategic use of technology, and available financial resources achieve better innovation outcomes than those lacking these elements.
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Online social networks as an enabler of innovation in organizations
Spanish hospitality firms using online social networks show significantly higher innovation capacity, which directly improves business performance. The study surveyed 193 four- and five-star hotels and found that social media platforms enhance knowledge management and business intelligence, enabling firms to develop innovation competences that drive competitive advantage in the tourism industry.
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Political Mobility and Dynamic Diffusion of Innovation: The Spread of Municipal Pro-Business Administrative Reform in China
Local officials' career ambitions drive innovation adoption in Chinese cities more than economic logic or geographic proximity. When central government mandated administrative reform, officials adopted pro-business licensing reforms to advance their political careers. Before this mandate, cities copied neighboring regions' reforms based on economic conditions. The study reveals how political mobility of officials fundamentally shapes how innovations spread across decentralized authoritarian systems.
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Stakeholder engagement for responsible innovation in the private sector: critical issues and management practices
Dutch food companies pursuing responsible innovation fall short of genuine stakeholder engagement despite policy emphasis on it. Interviews with innovative food firms and non-economic stakeholders reveal a significant gap between the ideal of mutual responsiveness promoted in responsible innovation literature and actual practices. The study identifies critical barriers to stakeholder engagement specific to private-sector innovation and proposes management practices to address these obstacles.
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Organizing for Inbound Open Innovation: How External Consultants and a Dedicated <scp>R</scp>&<scp>D</scp> Unit Influence Product Innovation Performance
Spanish manufacturing firms using external consultants in R&D activities gain stronger innovation performance from outsourced R&D, while dedicated internal R&D units reduce sensitivity to outsourcing levels. External consultants lower the optimal amount of outside knowledge needed, whereas formal R&D units require higher levels of external acquisition to achieve peak performance. Organizational structure shapes how effectively firms convert external technological knowledge into innovation.
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Whose Innovation Performance Benefits More from External Networks: Entrepreneurial or Conservative Firms?
External networks boost innovation performance more for conservative, risk-averse firms than for entrepreneurial ones. Using data from 1,978 U.S. firms, the research shows that firms with weak entrepreneurial orientation gain greater innovation benefits from learning through external networks than firms with strong entrepreneurial orientation. This effect is stronger in small and medium-sized enterprises than in large firms.
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Open innovation: a new classification and its impact on firm performance in innovative SMEs
Open innovation practices boost performance in Korean small and medium-sized enterprises. The study of 306 innovative SMEs found that broad engagement with external partners, particularly through joint R&D, user involvement, and open sourcing, improves firm performance. SMEs gain most from collaborating with non-competing partners like customers, consultants, and public research institutes. The research proposes a new classification framework for studying how SMEs adopt and implement open innovation.
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Open innovation actions and innovation performance
This systematic review of European empirical studies reveals that open innovation practices significantly boost innovation performance. Coupled open innovation activities—combining internal and external knowledge—consistently improve both product and process innovation. However, outbound open innovation receives little research attention. The paper identifies measurement inconsistencies in how scholars assess innovation performance and provides managers with strategic guidance for leveraging open innovation to enhance organizational outcomes.
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Implications of Frugal Innovations on Sustainable Development: Evaluating Water and Energy Innovations
This paper evaluates four frugal innovations in water and energy sectors against sustainability criteria covering ecological, social, and economic dimensions. The innovations outperformed existing low-income solutions in energy production and water purification capacity. However, social sustainability varied significantly: energy solutions emphasized capacity building and inclusion, while water solutions relied on traditional corporate responsibility. The authors identify three major challenges: integrating material efficiency into systems, promoting inclusive employment, and supporting local industrialization. They conclude that frugality and sustainability, though related, should not be treated as equivalent concepts.
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Diffusion of digital innovation in construction: a case study of a UK engineering firm
A UK engineering firm adopted building information modelling (BIM) technology over four years in response to government mandates for large public projects. The study reveals that digital innovation diffused through three phases: centralizing technology management, standardizing digital practices, and globalizing digital resources. Diffusion occurred along multiple, overlapping paths within the firm's complex organization, following a non-linear process shaped by changing organizational context and uncertainty.
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Rogers Theory on Diffusion of Innovation-The Most Appropriate Theoretical Model in the Study of Factors Influencing the Integration of Sustainability in Tourism Businesses
The paper examines theoretical frameworks for understanding why tourism businesses adopt sustainable practices. After reviewing multiple models used across industries, the author concludes that Rogers's diffusion of innovation theory best explains the factors influencing tourism businesses to integrate sustainability into their operations. This framework helps identify barriers and motivations for adopting sustainable tourism practices.
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Social Networks for Innovation and New Product Development
This article introduces social network analysis and examines how social networks drive innovation and new product development across four levels: within firms, across firm boundaries, between firms, and external to firms. The authors review existing research and position eight special issue papers within this multilevel framework, demonstrating how network structures and connections influence innovation outcomes.
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A Tale of Open Data Innovations in Five Smart Cities
This study examines 18 open data initiatives across five smart cities—Barcelona, Chicago, Manchester, Amsterdam, and Helsinki—to understand how open data shapes urban innovation. The research reveals how open data initiatives adapt to different city contexts and what innovations they enable across various urban domains, governance structures, and datasets within each city's open data ecosystem.
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The inconvenient truth of the relationship between open innovation activities and innovation performance
Open innovation activities affect firm performance differently depending on type and combination. Inbound activities boost radical innovation but reduce incremental innovation, while outbound activities show opposite effects. Knowledge learning and organizational capabilities mediate these relationships. Combining inbound and outbound activities can actually harm performance. Managers must strategically choose which open innovation approach fits their innovation goals.
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Open for Entrepreneurship: How Open Innovation Can Foster New Venture Creation
Open innovation practices significantly improve startup survival rates. The study examined successful and failed ventures to identify key factors: ecosystem collaboration, user involvement, and open organizational environments all directly enhance new venture survival. An entrepreneur's open mindset moderates these effects. The findings offer practical guidance for entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers seeking to support successful new ventures.
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The construct of absorptive capacity in knowledge management and intellectual capital research: content and text analyses
This paper reviews 186 articles from knowledge management and intellectual capital journals between 1990 and 2013 to examine how absorptive capacity—the ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge—was studied in these fields. The analysis finds that absorptive capacity remained underdeveloped in knowledge management and intellectual capital research, with knowledge transfer and innovation emerging as the primary research areas investigating this concept.
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The role of contracts and intellectual property rights in open innovation
Firms engaged in open innovation strongly prefer formal contracts to govern their collaborative relationships with other firms. Despite open innovation's collaborative nature, companies still view intellectual property rights as critical for protecting their innovations. The study finds that firms' openness, legal orientation, competitive market conditions, and internal R&D strength all influence how much firms prioritize intellectual property protection in open innovation partnerships.
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The Role of Ego Network Structure in Facilitating Ego Network Innovations
This paper examines how the structure of a firm's supply chain network affects innovation output. Using patent data from manufacturing joint ventures, the researchers find that network characteristics like betweenness, density, brokerage, and tie weakness significantly influence innovation. The study shows that firms innovate more effectively when they strategically leverage their network connections, not just through individual capability or knowledge.
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Knowledge management practices and absorptive capacity in small and medium‐sized enterprises: is there really a linkage?
Portuguese SMEs engage in knowledge management practices that build absorptive capacity, enabling them to adapt strategically and innovate. The study surveyed 260 SMEs and found they prioritize tacit knowledge through employee learning, collaboration with business partners, and knowledge transfer. These practices help SMEs overcome resource constraints, improve efficiency, and launch new products and services despite vulnerability to globalization and technological change.
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Making Smart Regions Smarter: Smart Specialization and the Role of Universities in Regional Innovation Ecosystems
Universities play a critical role in developing smart regions through smart specialization strategies. The paper examines how digital technologies enhance regional innovation ecosystems and addresses the gap between the popular rhetoric of 'smart regions' and the actual challenges of building genuine smartness in communities and governance.
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Interorganizational network and innovation: a bibliometric study and proposed research agenda
This bibliometric study analyzes 67 management research papers on interorganizational networks and innovation published between 1996 and 2012. The authors identify six main research themes: networks supporting firm innovation in specific contexts, network dimensions and knowledge processes, resource and knowledge sharing, firm-network characteristics and innovation effects, empirical research in dynamic industries, and industry-specific network characteristics. The analysis maps the intellectual structure of the field and identifies gaps in current knowledge.
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Examining Absorptive Capacity in Supply Chains: Linking Responsive Strategy and Firm Performance
This study examines how manufacturing firms use absorptive capacity—their ability to process information from customers and suppliers—to improve performance. Analysis of 711 firms shows that absorptive capacity fully mediates the link between responsive strategy and firm performance, making it essential for delivering innovative products. Firms blending efficient and responsive strategies struggle to develop absorptive capacity, following a U-shaped relationship pattern.
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Managerial Social Networks and Ambidexterity of SMEs: The Moderating Role of a Proactive Commitment to Innovation
Top managers' extensive social networks inside and outside their firms help small and medium-sized technology companies achieve ambidexterity—the ability to pursue both existing and new business directions simultaneously. However, networks only drive innovation when managers actively commit to pursuing innovative opportunities. The study of SME leaders confirms that network breadth matters, but only when paired with genuine proactive commitment to innovation.
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Equilibrium Innovation Ecosystems: The Dark Side of Collaborating with Complementors
Firms selling complementary products increasingly collaborate to improve system quality, but this cooperation creates a prisoner's dilemma in saturated markets. While collaboration reduces investment costs and generates more total value, firms capture no greater share of that value relative to competitors, reducing overall profitability. The paper examines how open versus closed interfaces affect firm strategy and platform emergence in competitive environments.
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Moral “Lock-In” in Responsible Innovation: The Ethical and Social Aspects of Killing Day-Old Chicks and Its Alternatives
This paper examines the ethical problems with killing day-old male chicks in poultry production and evaluates two alternative approaches. The authors develop a framework showing how the industry faces a moral lock-in that perpetuates the practice despite ethical concerns. Both alternatives address some objections but introduce new dilemmas. The framework enables structured stakeholder engagement and reflection on responsible innovation dimensions.
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Optimal dietary alpha-linolenic acid/linoleic acid ratio improved digestive and absorptive capacities and target of rapamycin gene expression of juvenile grass carp (<i>Ctenopharyngodon idellus</i>)
This study tested different ratios of alpha-linolenic acid to linoleic acid in feed for juvenile grass carp over 60 days. An optimal ratio of 1.03 to 1.08 improved weight gain, feed efficiency, and digestive enzyme activity in the liver and intestines. The same ratio enhanced gene expression related to nutrient absorption and protein synthesis, demonstrating that balanced fatty acid ratios significantly boost fish growth and digestive function.
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Evidence and Experience of Open Sustainability Innovation Practices in the Food Sector
Open sustainability innovation practices in the food sector reduce costs, accelerate time to market, and improve environmental performance while addressing food security. Analysis of ten case studies demonstrates how food companies strategically adopt these collaborative approaches to compete effectively while meeting sustainability goals.
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OPEN FOR BUSINESS: UNIVERSITIES, ENTREPRENEURIAL ACADEMICS AND OPEN INNOVATION
Universities are adopting open innovation models to engage academics with industry and society, but research shows these new collaboration activities fail to motivate entrepreneurial academics to participate. The study reveals a gap between policy intentions for open innovation and what actually drives academics to engage in knowledge transfer, suggesting universities may struggle to become truly open institutions without better understanding what motivates their researchers.
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The social network side of individual innovation
This meta-analysis examines how social network properties affect individual innovation. Brokerage—having connections across different groups—most strongly predicts innovation, followed by network size and diversity. Closure and strong ties show weaker effects. The study reveals that network size and strength influence innovation indirectly through brokerage and diversity, and that strong ties create tradeoffs with both positive and negative innovation effects.
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Explaining high and low performers in complex intervention trials: a new model based on diffusion of innovations theory
This study examined why some general practices in London successfully implemented a rapid HIV testing intervention while others struggled. Using ethnographic observation and interviews, researchers found that high-performing practices had strong leadership, good management relations, staff training culture, and available resources. Staff in these practices believed the test benefited patients and felt comfortable using it. Low-performing practices lacked these characteristics and experienced resource constraints. The diffusion of innovations theory effectively explained performance variation across organizations.
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Applying Theory of Diffusion of Innovations to Evaluate Technology Acceptance and Sustainability
The paper presents IASAM2, an improved model for evaluating technology acceptance and sustainability by applying Rogers' Theory of Diffusion of Innovations. The model combines socio-economic and socio-technical factors to assess how technologies are adopted and sustained. This approach simplifies earlier evaluation methods while addressing the critical challenge of predicting technology acceptance across different contexts.
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Network Structures in Regional Innovation Systems
This paper bridges regional innovation systems theory with social network analysis to clarify how knowledge networks actually function in regions. The authors connect network-theoretical concepts to established RIS typologies, demonstrating that applying precise network analysis methods reveals interaction patterns obscured by the RIS literature's metaphorical use of 'network'. The work shows how both fields strengthen each other through cross-disciplinary insights.
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Absorptive capacity and mass customization capability
Manufacturing firms in China improve their mass customization capabilities by absorbing knowledge from customers and suppliers. The study identifies four absorptive capacity processes—acquiring knowledge from customers and suppliers, assimilating it, and applying it—that work together to enhance customization. Knowledge from external sources drives improvements both directly and indirectly through internal knowledge management practices.
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Modifying UTAUT and innovation diffusion theory to reveal online shopping behavior
This study combines technology acceptance and innovation diffusion theories to understand online shopping behavior for smartphones. The research finds that website performance and ease of use increase familiarity with the site, while virtual communities and product trials boost product familiarity. Perceived risk reduces purchase intention. Website and product familiarity mediate the relationship between these factors and buying decisions. Managers should build online communities and provide detailed product trial information to increase consumer familiarity and purchase intent.
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Political Entrepreneurialism: Reflections of a Civil Servant on the Role of Political Institutions in Technology Innovation and Diffusion in Kenya
Kenya's ICT sector achieved global prominence through political institutions that tolerated risk and partnered with private companies. A senior civil servant applied leadership theory to drive innovation and technology diffusion across education, health, agriculture, and financial services. The paper explains why Kenya outpaced neighboring countries and identifies political stability and corruption control as critical to sustaining this success.
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A Holistic Model of Building Innovation Ecosystems
This paper systematizes the lifecycle processes required to build innovation ecosystems. The authors review existing knowledge and identify key factors that influence how these ecosystems evolve over time. They highlight open questions and suggest future research directions for understanding ecosystem development.
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How Environmental Innovations Emerge and Proliferate in Supply Networks: A Complex Adaptive Systems Perspective
Environmental innovations in supply networks emerge through self-organizing processes that cross organizational boundaries, according to this qualitative study of two firms. The research shows that once innovations enter the network, they spread through decentralized coordination rather than top-down control by dominant firms. The authors develop a process model explaining how environmental innovations come into being and proliferate across supply networks over time.
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Improving technology transfer through national systems of innovation: climate relevant innovation-system builders (CRIBs)
National systems of innovation can more effectively transfer climate technologies to developing countries than existing UNFCCC mechanisms. The authors propose establishing Climate Relevant Innovation-System Builders (CRIBs)—institutions that nurture climate-relevant innovation systems and build technological capabilities in developing nations. This approach, grounded in innovation studies and socio-technical transition literature, offers a transformative policy mechanism for climate-compatible technological change and development.
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Charting the Innovation Ecosystem
Innovation ecosystems represent a fundamental shift in how we understand innovation, moving beyond simpler network and cluster models. Unlike networks with predictable relationships, ecosystems are complex adaptive systems where the same inputs produce different outputs and behavior emerges unpredictably. Strong innovation ecosystems combine dynamic collaboration, trust, and co-creation of value around shared technologies, translating knowledge into increased value while resisting disruption.
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Acceptance Process: The Missing Link between UTAUT and Diffusion of Innovation Theory
This paper argues that the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) lacks a critical component: the actual adoption process that technologies go through. While UTAUT incorporates factors from Diffusion of Innovation theory, it omits the stages and progression of how technologies actually get adopted. The author contends that including adoption processes in UTAUT would improve predictions of technology acceptance and calls for future research to account for the environment and context surrounding technology use.
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Direct and mediated ties to universities: “Scientific” absorptive capacity and innovation performance of pharmaceutical firms
Pharmaceutical firms access university knowledge through direct collaborations or indirect ties via biotech intermediaries. The study finds that firms with strong internal scientific capacity benefit more from direct university partnerships, while firms with weaker capacity perform better using biotech brokers—unless those brokers connect to top universities. Success depends on matching a firm's research organization to its knowledge-sourcing strategy.
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Knowledge Spillovers, Absorptive Capacities and the Impact of FDI on Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence from Transition Economies
Foreign direct investment boosts economic growth in transition economies primarily through knowledge spillovers rather than capital alone. The study finds that countries with higher government and business R&D spending capture greater growth benefits from FDI. The research demonstrates that FDI targeting manufacturing sectors and focused on knowledge and efficiency gains produces stronger economic outcomes than other investment types.
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Introduction: knowledge generation and innovation diffusion in the global automotive industry--change and stability during turbulent times
This introduction examines how automotive firms generate knowledge and diffuse innovations while navigating globalization, regulation, and technological change. The papers analyze both transformations and continuities in the industry, particularly how Original Equipment Manufacturers maintain control over product architecture and supply chains despite pressures from electronics, communication, and drivetrain advances. The collection explores why some innovative practices evolve while others persist.
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Is disruption theory wearing new clothes or just naked? Analyzing recent critiques of disruptive innovation theory
This paper examines Jill Lepore's critique of Clayton Christensen's disruptive innovation theory. The author identifies three root causes underlying Lepore's criticisms: the theory lacks a precise definition of disruption, fails to maintain consistent units of analysis, and inadequately accounts for managerial agency. The paper proposes solutions to address these methodological problems and suggests how future research on disruptive innovation can advance.
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External knowledge acquisition and innovation: the role of supply chain network-oriented flexibility and organisational awareness
This study examines how companies acquire external knowledge and convert it into product innovation through flexible supply chain networks. The research finds that supply chain flexibility and information sharing structures mediate the relationship between external knowledge and innovation capability. Organizational awareness—employees' understanding and knowledge—strengthens firms' ability to leverage external knowledge and supply chain capabilities to improve product innovation and overall performance.
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The Triple Helix model for innovation: a holistic exploration of barriers and enablers
The Triple Helix model brings together academia, industry, and government to drive innovation and economic development. This paper identifies the key barriers and enablers that affect whether this collaborative approach actually works in practice. The authors examine what factors help or hinder the model's implementation across different economies, emphasizing that successful collaboration requires all three actors to work toward shared long-term goals.
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Knowledge exchanges in innovation networks: evidences from an Italian aerospace cluster
This study examines how firms, universities, and research centers in an Italian aerospace cluster exchange different types of knowledge to drive innovation. The researchers found that technological knowledge flows openly among all cluster actors, while market and managerial knowledge exchanges are more selective. Different organizations play distinct roles in these knowledge networks, suggesting that innovation emerges from combining multiple knowledge types through heterogeneous collaborations.
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Regional Innovation Cluster for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME): A Triple Helix Concept
Regional innovation clusters strengthen small and medium enterprises by fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government—a triple helix approach. These clusters form part of broader regional innovation systems that support national economic growth. Government programs promoting cluster development enhance SME competitiveness and contribute significantly to the economy.
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Students’ Satisfaction and Achievement and Absorption Capacity in Higher Education
This study of 146 business diploma students in Kuwait identifies factors driving student satisfaction and learning outcomes. College reputation, academic programs, and teaching methods directly influence satisfaction. Student participation, satisfaction, teaching quality, and program design shape achievement and absorption capacity. Tangible service quality elements matter most to students. Higher-performing students report greater satisfaction. The findings matter for institutions and employers recruiting graduates.
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Soaking It Up: Absorptive Capacity in Interorganizational New Product Development Teams
This study measures absorptive capacity—the ability to acquire, assimilate, and exploit knowledge—at the team level in interorganizational product development. Analyzing 98 teams across organizations, the researchers found that work-style similarity and moderate knowledge complementarity between partner teams strengthen absorptive capacity, while social similarity does not. Teams with higher absorptive capacity produced more innovative products, demonstrating that knowledge absorption at the team level directly drives innovation outcomes.
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Trustworthiness and Responsible Research and Innovation: The Case of the Bio-Economy
Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) can advance sustainable bio-economy development in the Netherlands and Europe by building trust among value-chain actors. The paper argues that RRI creates conditions for trustworthiness through personal relationships, third-party guarantors, institutions, and value communication. These mechanisms help address public concerns about sensitive issues like genetic modification, enabling wider adoption of biomass-based technologies across socially complex innovation trajectories.
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Responsible innovation in the light of moral responsibility
This paper examines moral responsibility within responsible innovation frameworks, particularly in supply chains and innovation networks. The authors critique responsible innovation advocates for underdeveloping the concept's normative foundations and neglecting corporate social responsibility approaches. They map ten philosophical meanings of responsibility—distinguishing negative from positive conceptions—and explore how these meanings apply practically to supply chains and innovation networks.
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Emotional attachment and multidimensional self-efficacy: extension of innovation diffusion theory in the context of eBook reader
This study extends innovation diffusion theory by incorporating emotional attachment and self-efficacy to explain eBook reader adoption. Research with university students found that relative advantage, trialability, observability, and both human-assisted and individual self-efficacy drive adoption intention. Emotional attachment to paper books, however, weakens the link between positive attitudes toward eBooks and actual adoption. The framework helps managers understand behavioral and emotional barriers when launching new technologies.
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Sustainable Innovation: A Competitive Advantage for Innovation Ecosystems
National and regional innovation systems face pressure to adapt as economies shift from manufacturing to services and socio-technical changes reshape innovation landscapes. The paper argues that sustainable innovation provides a competitive advantage for innovation ecosystems, helping countries, regions, and cities navigate structural economic changes and meet demands of the global competitive environment.
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Network centrality, organizational innovation, and performance: A meta‐analysis
Network centrality—an organization's position within its network—drives both innovation and performance across 15,860 organizations in 40 studies. Small organizations gain stronger innovation benefits from central network positions, while large organizations see stronger performance gains. Organizations in developed institutional environments and knowledge-intensive industries benefit most from network centrality.
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Experiment Earth: responsible innovation in geoengineering
This book examines geoengineering experiments and their implications for responsible science and innovation. Through three years of sociological research with scientists on major geoengineering projects, the author analyzes the politics of experimentation and argues that scientists must reconsider their responsibilities in shaping future outcomes. The work provides a framework for understanding science's role in contemporary society.
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The diffusion of grassroots innovations for sustainability in Italy and <scp>G</scp>reat <scp>B</scp>ritain: an exploratory spatial data analysis
Grassroots sustainability networks spread unevenly across space and time. Transition Towns and Solidarity Purchasing Groups diffused differently in Great Britain and Italy, with similar patterns only in central Italy. The research reveals that spatial structure matters for grassroots innovation diffusion, challenging assumptions about their universal momentum and highlighting the importance of institutional context, cross-movement collaboration, and geographic proximity.
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What contextual factors shape ‘innovation in innovation’? Integration of insights from the Triple Helix and the institutional logics perspective
The Triple Helix model of university-industry-government collaboration shapes innovation systems globally, but one-size-fits-all approaches fail. This paper integrates institutional logics with Triple Helix theory to explain how different national contexts produce varying innovation system configurations. The author identifies seven institutional logics that influence Triple Helix interactions and argues that institutional settings enable but don't determine outcomes—innovation policies and key actors ultimately decide Triple Helix development. The framework helps policymakers, especially in developing countries, design context-appropriate innovation strategies.
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Organizational learning, absorptive capacity, imitation and innovation
This study examines how Chinese firms transition from imitation to innovation by analyzing relationships among organizational learning, absorptive capacity, imitation, and innovation. Using survey data from 115 Beijing firms, the research finds that organizational learning and absorptive capacity both directly boost innovation. Imitation strengthens absorptive capacity, which then mediates the path from imitation to innovation. Absorptive capacity emerges as critical for firms moving beyond copying to genuine innovation.
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How Institutions Influence SME Innovation and Networking Practices: The Case of Vietnamese Agribusiness
Vietnamese agribusiness SMEs operate within institutional constraints that discourage long-term investment and innovation. Instead of developing new products, firms pursue cost-control strategies. Social norms drive reliance on friendship-based networks that limit knowledge sharing and business effectiveness. Institutional pressures prevent SMEs from balancing exploration and exploitation. The study demonstrates how institutional frameworks in emerging economies shape innovation behavior.
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Construction innovation diffusion in the Russian Federation
The Russian construction industry lags in innovation adoption due to financial constraints and poor legislation. A survey of 52 industry experts identified economic difficulties and regulatory barriers as the primary obstacles to innovation diffusion. The study recommends financial incentives, legislative reform, and alternative procurement methods as key strategies to accelerate innovation adoption across building and infrastructure sectors.
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Managing BYOD: how do organizations incorporate user-driven IT innovations?
Organizations respond to employees bringing personal devices to work through three distinct strategies: induction, normalization, and regulation. These responses shape how companies incorporate employee-driven IT innovations into their operations. The study reveals that reversed adoption patterns—where employees drive technology use rather than organizations—create significant organizational change opportunities if managed strategically.
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Living Labs as Open Innovation Networks - Networks, Roles and Innovation Outcomes
Living labs organize innovation by bringing together users and stakeholders in real-life environments to address socio-economic and technological challenges. This study identifies seven stakeholder roles and four role patterns in living labs, showing that successful collaboration and innovation outcomes occur without strict management objectives. Network structures—centralized, decentralized, and distributed—support different innovation types. The research provides frameworks for managers to understand and develop open innovation networks.
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Incentivizing biodiversity conservation in artisanal fishing communities through territorial user rights and business model innovation
The authors designed a market-based program in Chile that gives artisanal fishers territorial user rights and financial incentives to establish no-take marine areas. The program commodifies biodiversity benefits created by fishers' conservation actions, using simple transactional infrastructure that can scale while remaining attractive to investors. Success requires matching supply, infrastructure, and demand components to local social-ecological conditions, potentially generating significant marine conservation gains.
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Growth, digestive and absorptive capacity and antioxidant status in intestine and hepatopancreas of sub-adult grass carp Ctenopharyngodonidella fed graded levels of dietary threonine
This study examined how dietary threonine levels affect grass carp growth and health. Researchers found that optimal threonine supplementation significantly improved weight gain, feed efficiency, and digestive enzyme activity. The treatment also reduced oxidative stress markers and enhanced antioxidant defenses in the intestine and liver. The results establish that grass carp require approximately 11.6 grams of threonine per kilogram of diet for optimal growth.
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Regional Horizontal Networks within the SME Agri-Food Sector: An Innovation and Social Network Perspective
Regional horizontal networks of small and medium-sized agri-food businesses develop innovative capability through distinct life cycle stages, each requiring different strategies for knowledge exchange. The study of 11 regional networks within the Slow Food Network reveals that successful innovation depends on balancing exploratory and exploitative learning approaches as network dynamics shift over time.
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Explorative Versus Exploitative Business Model Change: The Cognitive Antecedents of Firm‐Level Responses to Disruptive Innovation
Incumbent firms respond to disruptive business model innovations through two strategies: exploring new disruptive models or exploiting existing ones. The study identifies cognitive drivers of each approach. Opportunity perception and perceived threats drive explorative adoption, while critical threats and industry tenure discourage it. Risk experience increases both strategies. These findings reveal how managers' perceptions shape strategic responses to disruption.
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If It Takes a Village to Foster Innovation, Success Depends on the Neighbors: The Effects of Global and Ego Networks on New Product Launches
This study examines how a firm's position within industry networks affects new product launches. Using alliance data from consumer packaged goods companies between 1990 and 2010, the researchers found that central network positions boost incremental product launches but harm breakthrough innovations. However, firms with dense, diverse direct partnerships and strong R&D capabilities can overcome this trade-off, using their network position to improve incremental products while protecting breakthrough innovations.
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Diffusion in the Face of Failure: The Evolution of a Management Innovation
This paper examines how management innovations spread globally despite widespread implementation failures. Comparing resource planning (RP) and total quality management, the authors show that RP succeeded through continuous evolution into variants like ERP, while total quality management experienced boom-and-bust cycles. RP's success stemmed from how field-level actors framed it discursively, the innovation's technical properties, and organizational adaptation. Embedding RP in software enabled differentiation between field-level success and organizational failures, sustaining global diffusion.
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Knowledge sharing and firm performance: the role of social networking site and innovation capability
Social networking sites enable firms to share knowledge and improve performance when combined with strong innovation capabilities. Product development capability paired with SNS use enhances knowledge sharing, while operational capability paired with SNS use drives incremental innovation and firm performance. The study shows how firms leverage digital platforms strategically to navigate market turbulence and compete effectively.
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The role of organizational and social capital in the firm’s absorptive capacity
This study examines how firms absorb and use new knowledge differently depending on their innovation goals. Researchers interviewed 23 people across three French industrial firms and found that companies pursuing incremental innovations rely more on social capital and informal networks, while those pursuing radical innovations depend more on formal organizational structures. The type of innovation a firm pursues fundamentally shapes how it acquires and processes external knowledge.
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Indicators for promoting and monitoring responsible research and innovation: report from the expert group on policy indicators for responsible research and innovation
This paper presents indicators developed by an expert group to measure and promote responsible research and innovation across policy contexts. The indicators provide frameworks for monitoring how research and innovation activities align with societal values and address public concerns, enabling policymakers to track progress toward more accountable and socially beneficial innovation systems.
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Resource-based co-innovation through platform ecosystem: experiences of mobile payment innovation in China
Chinese mobile payment providers—Alipay, Bestpay, and UnionPay—successfully innovated through inter-organizational co-innovation within platform ecosystems. Companies leveraged their superior resources and capabilities to achieve competitive advantage in a coopetitive environment where firms both cooperate and compete. The RISE model shows how strategic resource matching and ecosystem architecture enable win-win service innovation outcomes.
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The effect of human capital and networks on knowledge and innovation in SMEs
Human capital and internal networks significantly boost innovation in small and medium manufacturing firms. A survey of 462 firms in Southern Italy found that entrepreneur and worker education, plus firm-internal networks, increase both the likelihood and intensity of innovation. External production chain networks also matter, but internal human capital drives innovation most strongly in traditional manufacturing sectors.
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Open Innovation Ecosystem - Makerspaces within an Agile Innovation Process
Open Innovation Ecosystems and makerspaces enable large enterprises to accelerate idea development by breaking down rigid organizational structures and hierarchies. The paper proposes integrating agile frameworks into innovation processes, with makerspaces facilitating cross-functional networking and rapid prototyping. The authors argue this approach helps companies implement new ideas faster and more flexibly than traditional methods.
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Network externalities and the perception of innovation characteristics: mobile banking
This study examines how network externalities—the value users gain from more users and complementary services—influence adoption of mobile banking. The research finds that more users and available services make mobile banking seem easier to use and more compatible with people's lifestyles, increasing adoption intention. Technology anxiety did not affect these relationships. Banks can boost adoption by offering diverse complementary services.
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Entrepreneurs’ Assessments of Early International Entry: The Role of Foreign Social Ties, Venture Absorptive Capacity, and Generalized Trust in Others
Entrepreneurs' decisions to enter foreign markets depend on their social ties abroad, their venture's ability to absorb new knowledge, and their trust in others. The study analyzed 4,352 international entry assessments from 136 entrepreneurs and found that these three factors interact significantly to shape how entrepreneurs evaluate opportunities for early international expansion.
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Does open innovation apply to China? Exploring the contingent role of external knowledge sources and internal absorptive capacity in Chinese large firms and SMEs
Open innovation strategies work differently in China than in developed economies. Small and medium enterprises benefit most from inter-firm networking, while large firms gain advantages from university partnerships when they have strong internal capacity to absorb external knowledge. Weak domestic research expertise and limited absorptive capacity constrain Chinese firms from adopting open innovation effectively. Chinese firms should focus on building internal capabilities rather than copying the closed-to-open innovation path followed by developed countries.
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Diffusion of innovations theory applied to global tobacco control treaty ratification
This study examines how countries decide to ratify the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control by analyzing network effects among tobacco control advocates on an online forum. The researchers found that communication between countries on GLOBALink predicted when nations ratified the treaty, with influential countries playing a key role. Network effects changed over time, with external pressure mattering less as more countries adopted the treaty.
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Managing systemic and disruptive innovation: lessons from the Renault Zero Emission Initiative
Managing systemic and disruptive innovations requires specific strategies. This study of Renault's electric vehicle development program identifies three effective management approaches: creating autonomous units that bridge organizational silos, building a portfolio of locally viable systems rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, and managing multiple technology platforms concurrently. These levers help companies deploy innovations that fundamentally challenge existing technologies and customer expectations.
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Teams’ innovation: getting there through knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity
Knowledge sharing among team members drives innovation, but only when teams have strong absorptive capacity to process and apply that knowledge. The study tested this relationship across multiple Portuguese industries using 141 employees in organizational teams. Team tenure matters: longer-established teams share more knowledge than newer ones. Organizational size, geographic concentration, and gender had no significant effect on innovation outcomes.
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Foreword: responsible innovation in the private sector
Responsible Innovation is a governance framework that makes innovators and society mutually accountable for research and technology development. It emerged from public concerns about government-funded research in controversial fields like nanotechnology, genomics, and alternative energy. The concept emphasizes transparent processes ensuring innovations are ethically acceptable, sustainable, and socially desirable before reaching the market.
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National innovation systems in developing countries: Barriers to university–industry collaboration in Egypt
This study examines Egypt's national innovation system and identifies barriers and drivers to university-industry collaboration. Researchers surveyed 162 companies in industrial areas and free zones around Cairo and Alexandria, testing four hypotheses about what prevents or enables partnerships between universities and businesses. The analysis confirmed all four hypotheses, revealing specific obstacles and facilitators to collaboration in Egypt's innovation ecosystem.
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Relational capital for shared vision in innovation ecosystems
This paper examines relationship networks in three metropolitan innovation ecosystems—Austin, Minneapolis, and Paris—using Triple Helix framework and network analysis. The authors measure relational capital through network metrics and visualizations, revealing distinct patterns that structure business activity at startup, growth, and enterprise levels. They demonstrate that data-driven indicators of relational capital can guide network orchestration, inform policy decisions, and build shared vision across spatially defined business ecosystems.
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The Role of a Local Industry Association as a Catalyst for Building an Innovation Ecosystem: An Experiment in the State of Ceara in Brazil
An industrial association in Brazil's Ceara state successfully catalyzed innovation ecosystem development where government alone failed. The federation of industries' UNIEMPRE program increased actor awareness, shared knowledge, strengthened firm capabilities, built regional innovation capacity, and created sustainable long-term change through five key mechanisms.
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The role of education and training in absorptive capacity of international technology transfer in the aerospace sector
Education and training programs are essential for building absorptive capacity in newly industrialized countries seeking to adopt aerospace technology from abroad. The paper identifies seven key aspects of education and training that policymakers should coordinate to strengthen technology transfer. Tailored training for specific groups and stakeholders enhances a nation's ability to absorb and apply imported aerospace knowledge and technology effectively.
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On the theory of social innovations: Tarde's neglected contribution to the development of a sociological innovation theory
This paper develops a theoretical framework for social innovation by drawing on Gabriel Tarde's social theory, particularly his concepts of invention and imitation. The authors argue that social innovation functions as a specific mechanism of social change and propose that society itself should be understood as a site of innovation. Their work contributes to building an integrated theory of innovation applicable to analyzing and directing social transformation.
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Using TV white space spectrum to practise telemedicine: A promising technology to enhance broadband internet connectivity within healthcare facilities in rural regions of developing countries
TV white space spectrum technology offers a cost-effective way to deliver broadband internet to remote healthcare facilities in developing countries. Project Kgolagano in Botswana demonstrates this approach, using unused TV frequencies to connect clinics in underserved regions. The technology enables telemedicine services in dermatology, cancer screening, and infectious disease management, reaching populations previously without reliable internet access.
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An empirical investigation of the role of rural development policies in stimulating rural entrepreneurship in the Lazio Region of Italy
Rural development policies in Italy's Lazio region show uneven adoption by family farms, with significant variation based on family life cycle stage and farm composition. Farmers who succeed in accessing these funds demonstrate proactive, strategic behavior and coherent planning aligned with policy requirements. The analysis reveals low coordination among rural farms and highlights the need for multi-agency policy approaches that recognize entrepreneurial practices in agricultural settings.
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Examining palliative care program use and place of death in rural and urban contexts: a Canadian population-based study using linked data
This Canadian study examined palliative care program enrollment and place of death across rural and urban Nova Scotia from 2003 to 2009. Women, younger seniors, and cancer patients enrolled most frequently. Distance to palliative care services strongly predicted enrollment and hospital death, but urban-rural residence alone did not. Effects varied significantly by district, suggesting local context and service organization matter more than simple rural-urban categorization for end-of-life care access.
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Synergies at the interface of farmer–scientist partnerships: agricultural innovation through participatory research and plant breeding in Honduras
Participatory plant breeding in Honduras, involving farmer researchers, plant breeders, and NGOs, successfully developed new bean varieties with very high adoption rates among poor farmers. This farmer-scientist collaboration produced synergies that improved food security and addressed agricultural diversity better than conventional breeding alone. Long-term donor support and seed regulatory systems enabling small seed enterprises proved essential for sustaining farmer engagement in research.
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An Exploratory Study for Conceptualization of Rural Innovation in Indian Context
This study identifies three key factors driving rural innovation in India: knowledge sharing for economic efficiency, new learning for scaling up, and skill development for expanding economic scope. Based on surveys with 140 rural entrepreneurs, the research demonstrates that human capital elements—knowledge, learning, and skills—directly shape rural innovation. The findings provide a measurable framework for understanding rural innovation and offer practical implications for rural entrepreneurship development.
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Entrepreneurship development and entrepreneurial orientation in rural areas in Malawi
Rural entrepreneurs in Malawi show positive attitudes and intentions toward business despite operating mainly at subsistence income-generating levels. Poverty, low education, and lack of management skills constrain entrepreneurship practice. Education and training significantly improve entrepreneurial activity, while access to finance does not affect entrepreneurial intentions. Existing support models fail to translate entrepreneurial orientation into economic growth, requiring new practical frameworks tailored to rural economies.
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Rural Elementary Teachers and Place-Based Connections to Text During Reading Instruction
Rural elementary teachers rarely help students connect reading materials to their local communities and places. Commercial textbooks provide minimal support for place-based learning, and standardized curricula often ignore students' rural contexts. The study found that teachers themselves must actively guide students to make meaningful connections between texts and their rural surroundings, as curriculum materials alone fail to bridge school learning with community realities.
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Driving local community transformation through participatory rural entrepreneurship development
Rural entrepreneurship development drives local transformation and employment in remote communities. This action research in rural Lagos, Nigeria implemented a ten-stage practical approach using community-based organizations and revolving loans to fund rural enterprises including fisheries, barbering, piggeries, and snail production. Successful funded entrepreneurs and CBOs became models for expanding entrepreneurship and employment, lifting people out of poverty and informing rural development policy.
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Supporting Innovation in Organic Agriculture: A European Perspective Using Experience from the SOLID Project
Organic farming drives agricultural innovation through stakeholder collaboration rather than just new technologies. The SOLID project used farmer-led participatory research across Europe to identify and solve problems in organic dairy farming. Farmers lacked confidence in forage production reliability despite recognizing its importance. The study shows that combining scientific expertise with farmers' practical knowledge through systems-based approaches effectively develops sustainable innovations.
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Marketing Innovation in Rural Small Food Industries in Iran
Small food industries in rural Iran show weak marketing innovation performance overall, with more radical than incremental marketing innovation. Product and organizational innovations directly influence marketing innovation. Incremental marketing innovation is hindered by formal R&D units, product diversification, and manager experience, while radical marketing innovation depends on production capacity, product diversification, manager age, and education. Improving marketing innovation requires concurrent product and organizational innovation plus targeted manager training.
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Benchmarking innovations and new practices in rural tourism development
Rural tourism in Asia can become more sustainable by adopting innovations and best practices from both within the region and internationally. The authors reviewed case studies from nine Asian countries plus New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Lesotho, and Poland to identify successful approaches. They found that Asian countries can replicate management strategies and development models from other nations to improve their own rural tourism initiatives.
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A Predictive Model of Innovation in Rural Entrepreneurship
Rural entrepreneurs succeed when they embrace innovation. This study identifies key factors driving economic development in rural areas and builds a predictive model showing how innovation levels directly influence business success. The model helps explain the relationship between entrepreneurial innovation and rural well-being, providing practical guidance for supporting local business growth.
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Digital Divide and Caste in Rural Pakistan
A survey of 2,750 farmers in rural Punjab reveals that caste significantly influences how people adopt information and communication technologies. The study found distinct digital divides between castes, with older and newer technologies spreading at different rates across caste groups.
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Institutional Constraints to Innovation: Artisan Clusters in Rural India
Rural artisan clusters in India suffer from low innovation due to institutional constraints. Formal institutions—both public and private—remain disconnected from these informal enterprises, limiting access to finance, technology, and markets. The paper examines five handloom and handicraft clusters across Indian states, finding that sectoral approaches to cluster development fail to address underlying spatial and organizational problems. It questions whether innovation systems adequately serve poor rural producers.
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Social Media-Innovation: The Case of Indigenous Tweets
This paper develops a theoretical framework for social media innovation by analyzing Indigenous Tweets, a platform supporting minority language use on Twitter. The author identifies three key attributes of social media innovation: addressing identified social needs, supporting relevant communication capabilities, and enhancing society's capacity to act. The study finds that Indigenous Tweets' relevance varies across cultural contexts, relies on incremental experimentation, and operates within a hybrid media ecosystem shaped by multiple stakeholders.
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Beekeeping innovation for sustaining rural livelihoods. A success story
A beekeeping project in Vietnam successfully introduced modern practices to small farmers, exceeding adoption targets and increasing household incomes. Farmers gained unexpected benefits including improved health and stronger family relationships. Success resulted from the innovation's visible benefits, alignment with local sharing practices, and extension agents who simplified the technology and incorporated farmers' existing knowledge into training.
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Women’s Entrepreneurship in Rural Greece
In rural Greece, women entrepreneurs operate primarily as solo business owners or through cooperatives, focusing on direct consumer sales. While solo enterprises dominate, they struggle with survival and succession. Women's cooperatives, though created top-down, show promise as sustainable models. The paper recommends Greek policymakers reduce business registration bureaucracy, develop alternative financing, and improve information access to strengthen women's rural entrepreneurship.
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Swarm grids - Innovation in rural electrification
Swarm grids represent a decentralized approach to rural electrification that builds on existing Solar Home Systems by enabling households to trade electricity and supply additional loads with excess power. The author develops a simulation model to test swarm grid feasibility and validates it with field data from Bangladesh. Results show that swarm grids can effectively supply unelectrified households and commercial loads like irrigation pumps by capturing previously wasted solar energy, offering a scalable alternative to traditional mini-grids.
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Drivers of Innovation in Rural Tourism: the Role of Good Governance and Engaged Entrepreneurs
Good governance and engaged entrepreneurship drive innovation in rural tourism. Research in Ontario identified seven success factors: governance, human resources, investments, research, marketing, communication, and coordination. Engaged entrepreneurs enable incremental innovation that helps rural businesses survive economic challenges, while strategic governance—including bottom-up planning and federal coordination—creates conditions for sustainable tourism development. Local entrepreneurial leadership proves critical for product development and training.
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How much TV UHF band spectrum is sufficient for rural broadband coverage?
This paper addresses rural broadband coverage in India by proposing a mesh network operating in TV UHF spectrum. The authors develop an optimization tool that calculates optimal power and routing for multihop networks, accounting for rural demographics, desired speeds, and propagation models. The solution coexists with TV broadcasting through shared access mechanisms and uses frequency reuse to manage interference. The tool determines feasible power levels for broadband coverage in specific rural regions.
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Modes of entry to male immigrant entrepreneurship in a rural context: Start-up stories from Northern Norway
This study examines how nine male immigrants started businesses in Finnmark, northern Norway. The research fills gaps in entrepreneurship literature by focusing on rural immigrant entrepreneurs and their entry strategies. The analysis of their start-up narratives reveals how these men navigated business creation in a remote, sparsely populated region.
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Status of Rural Electrification in India, Energy Scenario and People's Perception of Renewable Energy Technologies
Rural electrification in India faces barriers of awareness and social attitudes toward renewable energy. A survey in Karnataka village reveals rural communities support sustainable energy but prioritize cost, reliability, and ease of use over environmental benefits. Government initiatives promote decentralized renewable technologies, but success requires targeted awareness campaigns to help communities understand how local renewable systems can meet energy needs while protecting the environment.
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Does Broadband Matter for Rural Entrepreneurs or ‘Creative Class’ Employees?
This study examines whether broadband availability affects the presence of entrepreneurs and creative-class workers in rural American counties. Using 2012 national broadband data and census measures, the researchers apply spatial econometric analysis to test whether specific broadband thresholds—such as download speeds or provider numbers—correlate with entrepreneurship levels. The work addresses whether closing the digital divide through broadband infrastructure investment can meaningfully support rural economic growth through these key worker populations.
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Hydro-based, renewable hybrid energy sytem for rural/remote electrification in Nigeria
Nigeria's remote areas lack grid electricity and conventional energy access due to cost and infrastructure barriers. The paper proposes hybrid renewable energy systems combining hydro, solar, and wind power to electrify rural and remote communities. Nigeria possesses abundant renewable resources but lacks technical expertise to harness them effectively. Hybrid systems leverage local renewable potential to provide sustainable power solutions for off-grid populations.
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Broadband policy and rural and cultural divides in Australia
Australian broadband policy fails to account for local preferences and cultural contexts, particularly among Indigenous communities. The paper argues that infrastructure alone cannot solve digital divides; instead, policies must respond to how different populations actually want to use technology. Remote Indigenous Australians prefer mobile over satellite services due to geography, culture, and economy. Addressing digital exclusion requires understanding local factors beyond just socio-economic disadvantage.
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Studying Discourse Innovations: The Case of the Indigenous Movement in Ecuador
Ecuador's indigenous movement underwent major discursive innovation in the 1970s and 1980s by reframing indigenous peoples as nationalities entitled to self-determination and autonomy. This conceptual shift introduced demands for plurinational and intercultural state reorganization, fundamentally reshaping national political discourse and giving the movement lasting influence in Ecuadorian politics.
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Innovation in Services: The Case of Rural Tourism in Argentina
Rural tourism in Argentina succeeds when providers identify distinctive attributes through collective action and self-discovery. Because rural tourism combines multiple services, coordination among small and micro producers is essential. Public policies can facilitate this cooperation, though poor connectivity in remote areas creates obstacles. Local economic effects are significant but difficult to measure.
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Entrepreneurship as a potential driving force for the further development of rural areas – good examples from Visegrad countries
Rural entrepreneurship drives development in Visegrad countries by creating local economic opportunities and employment. The paper examines successful entrepreneurial initiatives across the region, demonstrating how business creation and innovation in rural areas strengthen communities and reduce urban-rural disparities. These examples show entrepreneurship as a practical strategy for sustainable rural growth.
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Bridging the Gap between Entrepreneurship Education and Small Rural Businesses: An Experiential Service-Learning Approach
University students in retailing and hospitality management completed service-learning projects that helped small rural businesses develop sustainability plans and marketing strategies. The projects successfully built students' entrepreneurial competencies and self-efficacy while improving the competitiveness and brand image of participating rural businesses. The experiential approach combined real-world business challenges with classroom learning, demonstrating that hands-on engagement with actual rural enterprises strengthens both student skills and local business performance.
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Globalisation, indigenous innovation and national strategy: comparing China and India's wireless standardisation
China and India adopted opposite strategies for 3G wireless standards despite similar market conditions. China developed its own domestic standard (TD-SCDMA) while India allowed operators to use any international standard. The divergence stems from different industrial policies each country pursued for their electronics sectors in the 1990s, showing how historical policy choices shaped later innovation strategies.
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Merging Indigenous and Modern Knowledge in Agricultural Development
Merging indigenous knowledge with modern agricultural technology accelerates rural development in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Farmers adopt modern practices more readily when technologies align with local customs and culture. The paper argues that sustainable agricultural innovation in remote areas requires integrating traditional wisdom with contemporary systems, fostering cooperation and knowledge-sharing that generates locally appropriate innovations and policies.
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Exploring the Emergence of Community Support for School and Encouragement of Innovation for Improving Rural School Performance: Lessons Learned at Kitamburo in Tanzania
A rural primary school in Tanzania achieved strong mathematics performance on national exams through community-driven innovation. Community leadership mobilized support for the school, which encouraged teachers to develop new professional practices. The study shows that community leaders, not just school administrators, can catalyze professional learning communities that improve teaching and student outcomes in remote rural settings.
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Entrepreneurship and viral development in rural Western Negev in Israel
Rural entrepreneurs in Israel's Western Negev region show willingness to cooperate through open incubators, but lack the key personal traits and business attitudes needed for viral economic growth. Only highly motivated entrepreneurs with power-seeking drive possess both required profiles. The study identifies that mavens, connectors, and salesmen—the influential few—need targeted support and attitude improvement to catalyze regional development through collaborative business initiatives.
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Feasibility Study of Renewable Energy Resources and Optimization of Hybrid Energy System of Some Rural Area in Bangladesh
This paper designs and optimizes a hybrid renewable energy system for rural Bangladesh combining solar, biomass, and diesel backup power. Using HOMER software, researchers modeled a system generating 11 kW average hourly capacity with a cost of energy at $0.077/kWh, undercutting Bangladesh's rental power plants at $0.097/kWh. The analysis demonstrates that locally available renewable resources can reduce fossil fuel dependence while remaining economically competitive and environmentally viable.
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Techno-Financial Analysis of Energy Access through Hybrid System with Solar PV under the Various Rural Community Models for State of Uttarakhand, India
This study analyzes hybrid solar photovoltaic systems with battery storage for rural energy access in Uttarakhand, India. Researchers modeled five community-based energy systems serving remote hilly villages where grid extension is infeasible. Using HOMER simulations, they compared three hybrid configurations across different household densities and consumption patterns. Solar PV with battery storage emerged as the most cost-effective solution, offering reliable power for lighting, appliances, and mobile charging while reducing operational costs and enabling local community ownership and income generation.
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Stem Barks and Roots Extravitism in Ekiti State Nigeria: Need for Conservation as a Sustainable Innovation in Healthcare Management in Rural Areas
Rural communities in Ekiti State, Nigeria rely heavily on botanical stem and root extracts for healthcare, viewing them as safer and cheaper than conventional medicine. However, most medicinal species are wild-harvested unsustainably and face depletion from deforestation. The paper argues that conservation of these indigenous species is essential to maintain rural healthcare access and sustainability.
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The Roles of Some Antecedents of Broadband User Behavioural Intention among Students in the Rural Areas through PLS-SEM
This study examined what drives rural students to use broadband internet in northern Malaysia. Researchers surveyed 1,730 secondary school students across 40 villages using the UTAUT behavioral model. Performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and compatibility strongly influenced students' intention to adopt broadband, while social influence had a moderate effect. These factors together predict whether rural users will embrace broadband services.
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Community-Based Entrepreneurship and Rural Development
A survey of small and medium enterprises across five Central European nations examines how local institutions and conditions shape SME performance in rural regions. The research uses municipalities as the primary unit of analysis to understand the relationship between institutional organization and entrepreneurial success in rural areas.
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Prospects of Renewable Energy at Rural Areas in Bangladesh: Policy Analysis
Bangladesh faces severe energy shortages that hinder economic growth. This paper analyzes renewable energy prospects in rural areas, focusing on solar power to meet unmet demand in remote and off-grid regions. The authors examine policy frameworks and government targets to generate 5% of electricity from renewables by 2015, scaling to 10% by 2020, and identify barriers and opportunities for rural renewable energy development.
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Effectiveness of On-grid and Off-grid rural electrification approaches in India
India's rural electrification relies on on-grid and off-grid approaches to support agricultural development. Despite policy support, centralized on-grid systems perform poorly in rural areas. Decentralized off-grid electrification using renewable energy technologies proves more effective and successful. This paper evaluates both approaches across Indian villages and examines how off-grid mini and micro grids could evolve as alternatives to conventional grid distribution.
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An Indigenous Innovation: An Example from Mobile Communication Technology
Chinese developers created a homegrown 3G mobile communications standard through indigenous innovation. The study identifies three key drivers: modular design that enables technological catch-up, weak intellectual property protections that incentivize local innovation, and the lingering presence of older technology that reduces the gap new innovations must bridge. These factors enabled radical technological advancement in the global South.
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FROM WATER TO BIOFUELS: KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AMONG RURAL RESIDENTS IN EASTERN POLAND
Rural residents in eastern Poland show varying knowledge of renewable energy types, with solar and wind energy most familiar and biofuels least known. Farmers, those viewing renewable energy as important, high-income households, larger families, and married individuals demonstrate significantly higher knowledge levels. The study identifies key demographic and socioeconomic factors that predict renewable energy awareness in rural communities.
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Socio-economic Impact of IBBL Microfinance on Rural Women in a Selected District of Bangladesh
A microfinance program run by Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited improved rural women's socioeconomic conditions in Barisal district. The study of 206 beneficiaries found significant gains in social capital, non-agricultural income, sanitation, and water access. Family earning members, total loan amount, and household spending together explained 46.5% of income growth. The program delivered both financial and social benefits to participating women.
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The Challenges Confronting Small Scale Businesses in accessing Microfinance Services from MFIs Case Study: Rural Tanzania
Small-scale businesses in rural Tanzania access microfinance services but face significant barriers. The study of 195 businesses in Mvomero district found that while microfinance institutions help businesses develop and expand, strict requirements and inflexible lending practices obstruct access. The research recommends that microfinance institutions adopt more flexible terms and that governments establish supportive legal and financial frameworks to enable financing for new ventures.
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Choreography in Inter-Organizational Innovation Networks
Introduces 'choreography' as a concept for inter-organizational innovation networks — a self-organizing coordination mechanism that shapes connectivity and cohesion among hubs, semi-peripheral, and peripheral members lacking hierarchical authority.
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Creating value in ecosystems: Crossing the chasm between knowledge and business ecosystems
Studies 138 innovative start-ups in Flanders to compare their knowledge ecosystem and business ecosystem. Finds the knowledge ecosystem well-structured but the business ecosystem nearly absent locally — implications for ecosystem policy.
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The role of knowledge, attitudes and perceptions in the uptake of agricultural and agroforestry innovations among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa
Agricultural innovation adoption by smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa is slow because existing frameworks overlook intrinsic factors. This paper argues that farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions significantly influence adoption decisions alongside external factors like adopter characteristics and environment. Using agroforestry as a case study, the authors present a framework combining both intrinsic and extrinsic variables. They conclude that understanding how these factors interact is essential for designing sustainable, appropriately targeted agricultural technologies.
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Twenty Years of Rural Entrepreneurship: A Bibliometric Survey
This bibliometric analysis of 181 articles on rural entrepreneurship reveals the field remains underdeveloped theoretically despite growing research interest. Rural entrepreneurship research concentrates in Europe, particularly the UK and Spain, and focuses on organizational characteristics, policy, and governance. Empirical work emphasizes developed nations like the UK, USA, and Finland. The authors argue that weak theoretical foundations limit the field's progress and call for expanded research in less developed countries where rural entrepreneurship holds significant potential.
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RAAIS: Rapid Appraisal of Agricultural Innovation Systems (Part I). A diagnostic tool for integrated analysis of complex problems and innovation capacity
RAAIS is a diagnostic tool that analyzes complex agricultural problems by examining institutional, technological, and socio-cultural dimensions across multiple levels. It assesses innovation capacity within agricultural systems and identifies constraints affecting farmers, government, and researchers. The tool combines qualitative and quantitative methods to find entry points for innovation. Testing in Tanzania and Benin on parasitic weed problems in rice production demonstrated its effectiveness.
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Edible Mushroom Cultivation for Food Security and Rural Development in China: Bio-Innovation, Technological Dissemination and Marketing
China's mushroom cultivation sector has grown rapidly over 30 years, now employing over 25 million farmers and generating 24 billion USD annually. The industry has shifted from forest collection to farming using diverse materials including agricultural waste. The paper examines how bio-innovation, technology dissemination, and marketing drive this growth, demonstrating mushroom cultivation's contribution to food security and rural development while supporting sustainable agriculture and forestry.
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Self-employment and entrepreneurship in urban and rural labour markets
Self-employment, business creation, and innovation correlate strongly in urban areas but not in rural areas. Rural workers become self-employed more often in weak labour markets, yet this doesn't translate to entrepreneurship. When accounting for local labour market conditions, the rural gap disappears. The findings suggest self-employment in rural areas reflects necessity rather than genuine entrepreneurship, unlike in cities where these measures align.
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Agricultural Innovation Systems: An Investment Sourcebook
This World Bank reference guide explains agricultural innovation systems and their key components. It emphasizes that successful systems require collaboration through national coordination, innovation networks, market access, and farmer organization capacity. Agricultural education and training are critical for building human resources that enable these systems to function effectively.
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Strategic management implications for the adoption of technological innovations in agricultural tractor: the role of scale factors and environmental attitude
Larger Italian farms adopt more advanced tractor technologies than smaller operations. Older farmers with longer agricultural experience show stronger commitment to environmental protection and workplace safety. The study reveals that farm size and farmer demographics significantly influence technology adoption decisions, with implications for designing innovations that meet farmer needs and promote efficient, safe modern agriculture.
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Rural tourism and the development of Internet-based accommodation booking platforms: a study in the advantages, dangers and implications of innovation
Internet-based accommodation booking platforms like Booking.com have grown rapidly and now dominate rural tourism markets. While small rural businesses benefit from cheap global reach, these platforms concentrate market power and divert revenue from local and regional booking organizations that provide training, marketing, and destination promotion. The paper studies rural Norwegian accommodation providers to show how platform adoption reshapes competition, pricing, and business operations, then proposes new roles for regional organizations.
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Tourism and Community Leadership in Rural Regions: Linking Mobility, Entrepreneurship, Tourism Development and Community Well-Being
Analysis of 47 rural tourism case studies reveals that community entrepreneurs—not simply local or outsider status—drive positive tourism outcomes. Social and human capital matter more than financial investment. Governance structures prove critical for long-term success. The local-outsider distinction fails to explain tourism development effectiveness. Community entrepreneurs best support both tourism growth and destination well-being.
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Transition Management and Social Innovation in Rural Areas: Lessons from Social Farming
Social farming in Italy demonstrates how rural areas can manage transitions toward sustainability by integrating agricultural, health, and education sectors. The study shows that linking public and private actors through collective learning creates social innovation and new economic value. Extension services must be redesigned to support these cross-sector partnerships, helping rural communities adapt to welfare state challenges and build inclusive, sustainable development.
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An mHealth Model to Increase Clinic Attendance for Breast Symptoms in Rural Bangladesh: Can Bridging the Digital Divide Help Close the Cancer Divide?
A randomized controlled trial in rural Bangladesh tested a smartphone application to help community health workers identify women with breast symptoms and encourage clinic attendance. Community health workers using the smartphone app identified more abnormal cases than paper-based controls. Adding patient navigation training to the smartphone app achieved the highest clinic attendance rates, demonstrating that digital tools combined with navigation support effectively increase healthcare-seeking behavior for breast cancer symptoms in rural areas.
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The role and characteristics of social entrepreneurs in contemporary rural cooperative development in China: case studies of rural social entrepreneurship
Village leaders and entrepreneurs in rural China are driving cooperative development through social entrepreneurship, responding to government modernization policies. Research based on interviews in Yunnan and Zhejiang provinces identifies key characteristics of these social entrepreneurs and their leadership roles in building rural cooperatives. The findings show how social entrepreneurship capabilities strengthen rural community development in transitional economies.
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Female entrepreneurship in rural Vietnam: an exploratory study
Government pro-entrepreneurship policies and private sector interventions have boosted rural entrepreneurship in Vietnam, but women still face significant barriers. Female entrepreneurs in rural and remote areas struggle against societal prejudices, lack of financing, and limited access to entrepreneurship education. The study reveals that environmental factors—both supportive policies and cultural constraints—shape women's entrepreneurial outcomes in rural Vietnam.
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Cash crops and food security : contributions to income, livelihood risk and agricultural innovation
Cash crops drive food security and rural development in developing countries by generating income, employment, and agricultural investment. They stimulate innovation and institutional growth that enable commercialization. However, farmers must manage significant risks including price volatility, pests, and drought. Successful cash crop strategies require balancing production with food crops and implementing risk management approaches. Cash crops remain central to sustainable agricultural intensification that increases productivity while preserving soil and ecosystems.
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Lessons on Transdisciplinary Research in a Co-Innovation Programme in the New Zealand Agricultural Sector
New Zealand's agricultural R&D programme implements co-innovation through six innovation platforms using an agricultural innovation systems approach. The programme faces three main challenges: managing complex multi-stakeholder networks, aligning rigid research funding procedures with flexible co-innovation needs, and shifting participants from linear to interactive innovation thinking. The authors conclude that learning-by-doing is essential, and institutional changes to national R&D structures are needed to support co-innovation through updated policies, instruments, and incentives.
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Innovation in urban agricultural practices: Responding to diverse production environments
Urban farms in seven US cities develop distinct innovations to overcome space constraints, limited land access, and non-traditional growing conditions. These operations prioritize community and social missions alongside food production, creating unique production systems unlike rural agriculture. The study identifies how local environmental factors and food system structures drive farms to adopt space-intensive techniques across diverse business models, from parking lots to warehouses, and highlights major ongoing challenges facing urban agriculture.
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'Going rural': driving change through a rural medical education innovation
A South African medical school established a rural clinical school in 2011 to train doctors for rural practice. Eight students completed a year-long clerkship in district and regional hospitals rather than tertiary facilities. Students reported stronger clinical confidence, better decision-making skills, and enhanced learning approaches. Community immersion and sustained relationships with supervisors and patients drove these gains. The model demonstrates how rural-based medical education can transform student attitudes and practice, supporting broader curricular reform.
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Social Media for Enhancing Innovation in Agri-food and Rural Development: Current Dynamics in Ontario, Canada
Social media adoption in Ontario's agri-food and rural sectors remains in early stages with significant barriers. Analysis of 50 online communities reveals that farmers, entrepreneurs, scientists, and rural workers struggle to collaborate effectively on Web 2.0 platforms. Key obstacles include feedback gaps, conflicting stakeholder views on credibility and risk, and insufficient capacity to develop appropriate applications. The paper concludes that user-oriented, autonomous social media tools are essential for enabling genuine innovation in rural systems.
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Does the design and implementation of proven innovations for delivering basic primary health care services in rural communities fit the urban setting: the case of Ghana’s Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS)
Ghana's Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) system, proven effective in rural areas, was adapted for urban poor settlements. The pilot found that rural best practices could not be directly transplanted to cities due to different organizational structures and disease patterns. Urban modifications included adjusted visit schedules and expanded worker training. The authors conclude that primary health models designed for rural contexts require substantial redesign to work in urban settings.
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Applicability of diffusion of innovation theory in organic agriculture
The authors argue that diffusion of innovation theory can effectively explain how organic farming spreads and is adopted by agricultural communities. Organic farming emerged as an innovation addressing environmental problems and rural development challenges. The theory helps analyze organic farming systems by accounting for their unique characteristics and how knowledge about these practices transfers among farmers. The authors conclude the framework is applicable to studying organic farming adoption.
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Unpacking the Personal Initiative–Performance Relationship: A Multi‐Group Analysis of Innovation by Ugandan Rural and Urban Entrepreneurs
Personal initiative drives innovation differently in rural versus urban Uganda. The study identifies two mechanisms: business planning works better in dynamic environments, while social network development matters more in individualistic settings. In static, collectivistic rural contexts, personal initiative has less impact on innovation. The findings come from surveying 573 Ugandan entrepreneurs across rural and urban areas.
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Agricultural Innovation Platforms in West Africa
Innovation platforms in West Africa can create institutional change benefiting smallholders when researchers initiate them with clear principles and deep value chain analysis. Effective platforms combine technical and entrepreneurial support for smallholders with strategic mobilization of high-level actors for regulatory and market backing. Success depends on the platform's maturity and the operating environment; contentious settings limit mobilization efforts.
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Innovation – A Useful Tool in the Rural Tourism in Romania
Romanian rural tourism companies, predominantly small and medium enterprises, implement product, service, and marketing innovations to compete in global markets. The study examines innovativeness across the rural tourism sector using Eurostat's Community Innovation Survey definitions. Small tourism firms must adopt innovation as an ongoing, comprehensive strategy to differentiate themselves and survive in competitive environments.
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Connecting for Innovation: Four Universities Collaboratively Preparing Pre-service Teachers to Teach in Rural and Remote Western Australia
Four Western Australian universities collaborated to improve teacher preparation for rural and remote employment. They created seven curriculum modules aligned with professional teaching standards, established cross-institutional field experiences, and built a community of practice connecting universities, schools, and the education department. The project enhanced university capacity to prepare graduates for rural placements and demonstrated how collaborative research can inform policy and program development.
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Intermediation for technology diffusion and user innovation in a developing rural economy: a social learning perspective
Academic research centers can effectively transfer technology to rural small businesses by acting as intermediaries that broker, facilitate, and configure technology for end-users. A study of fish farming businesses in rural Colombia shows that intermediation activities help users adopt and adapt technology through social learning. The research identifies specific design components that optimize technology transfer from universities to rural industries in developing economies.
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Micro-entrepreneurship, new media technologies, and the reproduction and reconfiguration of gender in rural China
Rural Chinese micro-entrepreneurs use new media technologies like mobile phones and the internet to start businesses, but gender inequalities persist. Women and men face unequal access to capital and social networks despite technology's potential. While some women gain economic opportunities and challenge traditional gender norms through technology use, deeply entrenched power differentials mean technology often reproduces rather than overcomes existing gender hierarchies.
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Microfinance and Household Poverty Reduction: Empirical Evidence from Rural Pakistan
Microfinance access in rural Pakistan reduces household poverty, according to analysis of 1,132 households. Borrowers showed improvements across multiple indicators: higher spending on healthcare and clothing, increased household income, and better housing conditions including water supply and roof and wall quality. The study controlled for selection bias using propensity score matching.
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Are Women Better Bankers to the Poor? Evidence from Rural Microfinance Institutions
Microfinance institutions with female CEOs achieve significantly higher outreach efficiency in serving poor populations while maintaining financial sustainability compared to those led by men. Using stochastic frontier analysis on panel data from over 250 MFIs, the researchers found that female leadership correlates with better performance across both social and financial goals. Promoting women to top management positions in microfinance yields measurable benefits for both poverty alleviation and institutional viability.
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Driving rural energy access: a second-life application for electric-vehicle batteries
Retired electric vehicle batteries can power rural energy grids in developing countries more cheaply and sustainably than current lead-acid systems. The authors model how batteries from EVs sold through 2020 will generate 120–549 GWh of storage capacity by 2028, sufficient to support community-scale microgrids. Four economic scenarios across different battery chemistries show feasible deployment pathways that could significantly expand electrification in remote areas.
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Mindfulness, indigenous knowledge, indigenous innovations and entrepreneurship
Mindfulness enables indigenous communities to develop and value their own knowledge systems, fostering indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship. The paper argues that when researchers and societies practice mindfulness—appreciating non-Western forms of knowledge—they recognize indigenous communities' accumulated experiences and accumulated knowledge as valuable resources for economic development and sustainability. This recognition facilitates indigenous-led business ventures and innovations rooted in local understanding.
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Renewable Energy Sources microgrid design for rural area in South Africa
A photovoltaic battery microgrid system provides cheaper and cleaner electricity access than grid extension for rural South Africa. Researchers analyzed the Umhlabuyalingana municipality, where only 20% of residents have electricity. The PV-battery microgrid costs $0.378/kWh with zero emissions and 100% renewable energy, compared to grid extension at $0.328/kWh with significant carbon emissions. The microgrid becomes economically viable within 34 km, making it ideal for dispersed rural communities far from existing power lines.
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Indigenous innovation vs. teng-long huan-niao: policy conflicts in the development of China's flat panel industry
China's central government pursued indigenous innovation policy to develop locally owned flat panel technologies through import substitution and trade protection. Meanwhile, local governments pursued teng-long huan-niao, an export-promotion policy encouraging competition and market entry. These conflicting approaches undermined each other: the top-down indigenous innovation policy forced local governments away from their incremental industrial development strategies, while misaligned incentives between upstream and downstream industries prevented technology leapfrogging goals from succeeding.
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Sustainable Rural Development: Solar/Biomass Hybrid Renewable Energy System
Researchers developed a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar panels, battery storage, and a biomass gasifier to provide affordable electricity and clean water to rural communities lacking reliable energy and potable water access. The system uses waste heat from the biomass generator to purify saltwater through membrane distillation. Analysis shows the combined approach produces electricity and water at costs rural populations can afford, offering a viable solution for sustainable rural development.
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Sport development programmes for Indigenous Australians: innovation, inclusion and development, or a product of 'white guilt'?
This paper examines government-funded sport development programmes for Indigenous Australians, questioning whether they genuinely reduce health and educational disparities or simply reflect 'white guilt' and foster dependency. The authors analyze the tension between state provision and community independence, evaluating sport participation initiatives as either counterproductive welfare or legitimate investments in closing gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians across health, education, and employment outcomes.
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Modeling and optimization of integrated renewable energy system for a rural site
This paper designs and optimizes a hybrid renewable energy system combining solar, wind, and biomass power for rural electrification. The researchers use HOMER optimization software to determine the most cost-effective configuration of system components for supplying electricity to a remote area. The analysis identifies an optimal setup that balances reliability and affordability by leveraging multiple renewable sources to overcome individual technology limitations.
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Challenges of sustaining off-grid power generation in Nigeria rural communities
Nigeria's off-grid power projects fail at high rates due to poor planning, technology gaps, and operational challenges. The paper identifies why state governments and international donors struggle to sustain remote electricity systems where grid extension is impractical. It recommends improved planning before installation and stronger government involvement to prevent project abandonment and deliver reliable power to rural communities.
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Rural Solar Cookers, an Alternative to Reduce the Timber Resource Extraction through the Use of Renewable Energy Sources: Technology Transfer and Monitoring Project
Researchers designed and distributed 70 solar cookers to an indigenous community in Michoacán, Mexico, to replace wood-burning cooking methods. The parabolic concentrator cookers use polished aluminum reflectors and manual tracking. The project aims to cut timber consumption by 30%, reduce respiratory disease from smoke inhalation, improve household economics, and promote renewable energy adoption. Monitoring is underway to measure actual consumption reductions.
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Local action groups and the LEADER co-financing of rural development projects in Slovenia
This study examines how Local Action Groups in Slovenia evaluate rural development projects for LEADER funding. Researchers surveyed 103 LAG board members and analyzed projects funded in 2008-2009. They found that informal systems of board performance—such as personal relationships and trust—significantly influenced members' judgments about project suitability, while formal procedures had minimal impact on these decisions.
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Documenting and Disseminating Agricultural Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Food Security: The Efforts of Agricultural Research Libraries in Nigeria
Agricultural research libraries in Nigeria document and disseminate indigenous farming knowledge to improve food security. The study surveyed librarians at agricultural research institutions to identify which traditional practices have been recorded and what obstacles prevent better documentation. Findings reveal gaps in capturing indigenous agricultural knowledge and offer recommendations for improving how libraries preserve and share these practices to strengthen food production.
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Construction Management Challenges and Best Practices for Rural Transit Projects
Rural transit projects face distinct construction management challenges due to limited resources, geographic dispersion, and lack of expertise. This study surveyed 33 U.S. state transportation departments and two Canadian provinces, then validated findings through seven case studies. Key challenges include documentation gaps, staffing shortages, remote location difficulties, small contractor limitations, communication problems, and local environmental issues. The research identifies targeted best practices to address these rural-specific challenges and distinguishes construction management approaches needed for small rural projects versus large urban ones.
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How Effective is a Self-Help Group Led Microfinance Programme in Empowering Women? Evidence from Rural India
Self-Help Group microfinance programs in rural India show limited effectiveness at empowering women. Only 13.2% of participating women achieve empowerment overall. While longer membership increases economic and political empowerment, social empowerment remains unaffected. Economic gains alone do not translate into social or political advancement. The programs have potential but cannot drive broader social transformation.
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TIAR: Renewable Energy Production, Storage and Distribution; A New Multidisciplinary Approach for the Design of Rural Facility
This paper presents TIAR, an integrated renewable energy system designed for rural facilities in Italy. The project combines solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric technologies within a retrofitted rural tower structure, adding energy and thermal storage systems plus weather monitoring to balance variable renewable production with demand. The multidisciplinary approach addresses land use concerns and grid stability issues while preserving the architectural character of traditional rural buildings.
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Impact of Microfinance Services on Rural Women Empowerment: An Empirical Study
Microfinance services significantly empower rural women in Gujarat, India. The study surveyed 205 rural women and found that four key factors drive empowerment: improved socio-economic status, greater autonomy in life choices, enhanced family and social position, and positive attitudes toward child development. These findings help microfinance institutions, government agencies, and NGOs design policies that strengthen economic and social support for rural women.
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Optimal renewable energy systems for industries in rural regions
This paper applies Process Network Synthesis to design optimal renewable energy systems for rural industries. Using a case study in Austria, the authors modeled how to supply industrial complexes and households with bio-based energy while avoiding competition with food production. Results show that anaerobic digestion, combined heat and power, and wood gasification emerge as economically viable technologies. The study demonstrates that sustainable regional energy systems are achievable at current market prices, though success depends heavily on heat demand, feed-in tariffs, and local resource availability.
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Solar PV system for off-grid electrification in rural area
Researchers developed a solar photovoltaic central control system to provide electricity to an off-grid rural farming village. The system was designed to be expandable for other renewable energy sources like mini hydro, tidal, and wind power. Testing with varying loads demonstrated the system can reliably supply sufficient power to rural homes, reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity.
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Islamic Microfinance in Indonesia: A Comparative Analysis between Islamic Financial Cooperative (BMT) and<i>Shari'ah</i>Rural Bank (BPRS) on Experiences, Challenges, Prospects, and Roles in Developing Microenterprises
Islamic microfinance institutions in Indonesia—BMT cooperatives and BPRS rural banks—significantly improve microenterprise performance in sales, income, and employment. Both institutions face challenges including limited capital, staff skills, and regulatory support. The study recommends enhanced training, better customer education on Islamic finance products, and innovation in financial offerings to strengthen their development impact.
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Assembling indigeneity: Rethinking innovation, tradition and indigenous materiality in a 19th-century native toolkit
This paper analyzes iron tools from a 19th-century Nipmuc home site in Massachusetts to understand how Native woodsplint basketmaking emerged as a trade practice. The baskets were marketed as traditional and authentic to Anglo-American buyers, yet their forms, decorations, and tools were actually innovations developed in post-Revolutionary economic conditions. The author uses assemblage theory to show how Indigenous innovation and tradition coexist rather than conflict.
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Rural Women Subsistence Farmers, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Agricultural Research in South Africa
Rural women farmers in South Africa rely on indigenous knowledge systems to sustain agriculture and livelihoods, yet agricultural research and policy systematically marginalize their contributions and exclude them from resource access. The study argues that policymakers and researchers must prioritize understanding how gender and indigenous knowledge shape agricultural sustainability, as current approaches undervalue women's expertise and limit their control over farming resources.
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Microfinance Banks and Rural Development
Microfinance banks launched by Nigeria's Central Bank in 2005 have positively impacted rural development by extending credit and mobilizing deposits, though their full potential remains unrealized. The study found positive regression coefficients across key performance indicators, but effects were not statistically significant. The authors recommend government investment in infrastructure and macroeconomic stability to strengthen microfinance institutions' capacity to support rural enterprises.
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Hybrid renewable energy with membrane distillation polygeneration for rural households in Bangladesh: Pani Para Village case study
A hybrid renewable energy system combining solar panels, biogas digesters, and membrane distillation can simultaneously provide electricity, cooking fuel, and clean drinking water to rural Bangladeshi households. The system, tested in Pani Para village serving 52 households, meets electricity demand while producing cooking gas and 2-3 liters of purified water per person daily. Cost analysis shows this integrated approach outperforms other renewable energy options.
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Funding Indigenous organisations: improving governance performance through innovations in public finance management in remote Australia
Government funding structures shape how Indigenous organisations perform in remote Australia. The research found that Australian funding systems impose performance indicators rather than negotiating them, rarely reward actual performance, and don't require organisations to answer to their communities. These design flaws waste resources and weaken accountability compared to international public finance management practices.
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From Rural to Microfinance Banking: Contributions of Micro Credits to Nigeria’s Economic Growth – An ARDL Approach
This study examines how microfinance credit affects Nigeria's economic growth from 1982 to 2011. Using econometric analysis, the researchers find a significant long-term relationship between microfinance disbursements and economic growth, with causality flowing from growth to credit rather than the reverse. The study recommends expanding microfinance volume and developing longer-term credit products to strengthen microfinance's contribution to Nigeria's economy.
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Relationship between socio-economic factors and participation in decision making in microfinance scheme among rural farmers in Kano, Nigeria
This study examined how socio-economic factors influence rural farmers' participation in decision-making within microfinance schemes in Kano, Nigeria. Researchers surveyed 364 farmers and found high overall participation levels. Education showed a negative relationship with participation—educated farmers left agriculture for better jobs elsewhere. Farm product type had a weak positive relationship with participation. The authors recommend governments increase microloans and provide targeted support to educated farmers to reduce rural-urban migration and boost agricultural production.
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Decreasing the Digital Divide by Increasing E-Innovation and E-Readiness Abilities in Agriculture and Rural Areas
Rural farms in Hungary lag in digital adoption compared to service and commercial enterprises, viewing network services as unnecessary despite their potential benefits. The paper identifies e-skills gaps across EU member states and proposes targeted agri-informatics education programs to increase e-readiness and reduce the digital divide in agriculture and rural areas.
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Digital Green: A Rural Video-Based Social Network for Farmer Training (<i>Innovations Case Narrative:</i> Digital Green)
Digital Green uses locally-produced videos to train farmers in rural South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, leveraging peer learning through visual demonstration. The approach combines video technology with community facilitation and integration into existing agricultural extension systems. Deployed in India, Ghana, and Ethiopia, it enables farmers without reliable internet or electricity to learn improved agricultural and health practices from neighbors' experiences.
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Social Media, Knowledge Sharing, and Innovation: Toward a Theory of Communication Visibility
Enterprise social networking sites increase communication visibility within organizations, allowing employees to see others' messages and network connections. This visibility enhances metaknowledge—understanding who knows what and whom. Workers then learn vicariously from colleagues, recombine ideas more effectively, avoid duplicating efforts, and proactively aggregate information. These changes lead to more innovative products and services in knowledge-economy work.
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Explicating Open Innovation: Clarifying an Emerging Paradigm for Understanding Innovation
This paper clarifies the open innovation paradigm, defining it as a distributed innovation process involving purposively managed knowledge flows across organizational boundaries using both monetary and non-monetary mechanisms aligned with business models. The authors review academic literature since 2003, address critiques and divergent views on open innovation, and extend the research agenda by identifying new subjects and units of analysis for future investigation.
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Widespread contribution of transposable elements to the innovation of gene regulatory networks
This paper is not about rural innovation. It is a molecular biology study examining how transposable elements contribute to the evolution of gene regulatory networks in mammals. The authors mapped transcription factor binding sites across human and mouse cell lines and found that transposable elements account for approximately 20% of these binding sites, with significant variation across different transcription factors. They conclude that transposable elements have been a major driver of regulatory innovation during mammalian evolution.
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The influence of supply network structure on firm innovation
This study examines how supply network structure affects firm innovation in the electronics industry. Using social network analysis on 390 firms, the researchers found that firms with greater supply network accessibility and interconnectedness produce more innovation. A firm's ability to absorb knowledge and its partners' innovativeness further strengthen these effects. The findings show that embedded network relationships directly influence how knowledge and information flow through supply networks to drive innovation.
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When Is Open Innovation Beneficial? The Role of Strategic Orientation
Open innovation activities significantly boost innovation performance across multiple dimensions—new service innovativeness, financial performance, customer outcomes, and product success—in service firms. A company's strategic orientation moderates these effects. Entrepreneurial orientation strengthens open innovation's benefits most powerfully, followed by market orientation, then resource orientation. The findings demonstrate that open innovation works best within organizations that embrace proactive, entrepreneurial strategic approaches.
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Innovation with open data: Essential elements of open data ecosystems
Open data ecosystems are expected to drive innovation and citizen participation, yet little research defines what actually constitutes them. This paper identifies and analyzes the essential elements required for functional open data ecosystems, providing a framework for understanding how open data infrastructure supports innovation across sectors.
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Data-Driven Innovation through Open Government Data
Open government data creates economic and social value through innovation, but the mechanisms driving this transformation remain poorly understood. This paper uses critical realist analysis to examine how data becomes value, focusing on Opower's case. The company transformed government energy data into behavioral interventions that significantly reduced energy consumption, demonstrating how open data can drive practical innovation with measurable real-world impact.
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Innovations in climate policy: the politics of invention, diffusion, and evaluation
This paper argues that climate policy innovation at national and sub-national levels deserves greater scholarly attention. The authors propose a comprehensive framework for understanding policy innovation across three stages: invention of new policy elements, diffusion into wider use, and evaluation of effects. They identify analytical and methodological challenges in integrating these perspectives and present a framework applied throughout the volume to examine climate mitigation and adaptation policies.
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Where are the politics in responsible innovation? European governance, technology assessments, and beyond
Responsible innovation frameworks aim to make science and technology development more socially responsive by incorporating public input. However, this paper finds that both European Union policy and Flemish technology assessment approaches to responsible innovation largely ignore political dimensions—specifically how power is constituted, contested, and allocated through deliberation. The author argues these frameworks must explicitly address political questions to be genuinely responsive to societal needs.
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User Roles and Contributions in Innovation-Contest Communities
This study identifies six distinct user types in online innovation-contest communities by analyzing behavioral patterns, communication styles, and contribution quality. The researchers found that participants vary significantly in how they engage with contests and interact with others. Understanding these user roles helps organizations design better contest platforms and reward structures to encourage participation and improve innovation outcomes.
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The Determinants of Green Radical and Incremental Innovation Performance: Green Shared Vision, Green Absorptive Capacity, and Green Organizational Ambidexterity
This study introduces green organizational ambidexterity—balancing exploration and exploitation learning—as a framework for driving green innovation. The research shows that green shared vision and absorptive capacity drive both radical and incremental green innovation performance through exploration and exploitation learning pathways. Firms must strengthen these capabilities to improve their environmental innovation outcomes.
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Examining the Complementary Effect of Political Networking Capability With Absorptive Capacity on the Innovative Performance of Emerging-Market Firms
In emerging-market firms, political networking capability with government officials complements absorptive capacity to boost innovation. A survey of 108 Chinese executives shows this combination helps firms overcome resource constraints and organizational disadvantages. The effect is stronger for radical innovation than incremental innovation, and intensifies when firms face intense competition.
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How does technological diversity in supplier network drive buyer innovation? Relational process and contingencies
Technological diversity in supplier networks drives buyer firm innovation through novel information sharing. A survey of 202 Chinese manufacturing firms shows that stronger buyer-supplier relationships amplify this effect, while dense supplier networks reduce it. Competitive intensity strengthens the relationship, but technological turbulence weakens it. Firms can leverage diverse supplier networks to improve new product creativity.
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Chez Panisse: Building an Open Innovation Ecosystem
Chez Panisse built a thriving business by adopting open innovation practices that connected suppliers, alumni chefs, staff, and food writers into a collaborative ecosystem. The restaurant's success came from sharing knowledge, fostering individual growth, and establishing trust among participants. This case demonstrates how a small firm can scale through strategic ecosystem building rather than isolated operations.
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Entrepreneurial orientation‐as‐experimentation and firm performance: The enabling role of absorptive capacity
Entrepreneurial orientation increases variability in innovation outcomes, which can either boost or harm firm performance. The paper shows that absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to acquire and use new knowledge—plays a critical role. Potential absorptive capacity amplifies the innovation variability from entrepreneurial orientation, while realized absorptive capacity helps firms convert that variability into actual performance gains.
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Social Media: A Tool for Open Innovation
Companies increasingly use social media for open innovation but lack clear strategies for implementation. This study examines how firms organize and deploy social media across the full innovation cycle—from generating ideas through research and development to bringing products to market. The authors identify specific organizational and technological changes managers need to adopt to capture innovation benefits from social media engagement.
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Frugal innovation: aligning theory, practice, and public policy
Frugal innovation comprises three distinct components: mindset, process, and outcome, each driven by different conditions. Three types of innovators practice frugal innovation—grassroots, domestic enterprises, and multinational subsidiaries—each with unique incentives. Resource scarcity, weak institutions, and uncertainty tolerance encourage frugal mindsets, while poor property rights and lead markets shape frugal processes and outcomes.
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Responsible innovation across borders: tensions, paradoxes and possibilities
Researchers from Brazil and the UK convened to examine responsible innovation and governance of controversial technologies across cultural contexts. The workshop revealed significant tensions and paradoxes in how responsible innovation is understood and applied differently across regions, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for cross-cultural innovation governance frameworks.
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Coping with Open Innovation: Responding to the Challenges of External Engagement in R&D
R&D professionals face significant challenges when engaging in open innovation, including managing external relationships and coordinating across organizational boundaries. This paper identifies four specific challenges that individuals encounter in daily open innovation work and describes coping strategies they use. The authors recommend organizational practices that help staff effectively manage external engagement and collaboration.
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Responsible innovation as an endorsement of public values: the need for interdisciplinary research
Responsible innovation requires systematically including public values in technological development. The authors argue that understanding this process demands interdisciplinary research combining ethics, institutional theory, and science-technology-society studies to examine how institutions and stakeholders shape innovation. They propose using public debate as a method to identify emerging public values and address questions about whose opinions matter and how competing values should be balanced.
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Responsible innovation, the art and craft of anticipation
This paper examines anticipation as a core principle of responsible innovation and anticipatory governance. The author argues that anticipation need not predict an entirely transformed future world. Instead, anticipation can meaningfully operate within our current understanding of how the world works, even when emerging technologies may eventually change that world fundamentally. This distinction matters for how we actually practice responsible innovation.
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Being a Catalyst of Innovation: The Role of Knowledge Diversity and Network Closure
This study identifies innovation catalysts—people who support and promote colleagues' innovativeness—within organizational research teams. The researchers found that individuals with access to diverse knowledge through closed networks become effective catalysts. Analyzing 276 R&D researchers at a multinational tech company, they show catalysts significantly boost their colleagues' patent applications, revealing an important but overlooked role in the innovation process beyond inventors themselves.
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User Involvement throughout the Innovation Process in High‐Tech Industries
High-tech firms increasingly collect user feedback throughout entire innovation cycles rather than in isolated phases. This study of eight high-tech companies reveals how firms use technology and social media to gather and apply user input across all stages of product development. The authors develop a framework identifying different types of user involvement and methods for integrating customer feedback systematically into innovation processes.
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Quality criteria and indicators for responsible research and innovation: learning from transdisciplinarity
This paper develops quality criteria and performance indicators for responsible research and innovation (RRI) to make the concept more concrete and actionable. Drawing on transdisciplinary research experience and stakeholder deliberation around nanoremediation, the authors create an evaluative rubric with specific criteria and indicators. While developed for nanoparticle environmental remediation, they argue this framework can guide how other fields develop their own RRI evaluation approaches.
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The Disruption Machine: What the gospel of innovation gets wrong
Lepore critiques the widespread adoption of disruption theory in business and innovation discourse, arguing that the concept has become oversold and misapplied. She examines how disruption rhetoric dominates consulting, education, and venture capital, often promoting panic and exaggerated claims about technological and market change without grounding these ideas in rigorous evidence or historical context.
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The roles of universities in fostering knowledge-intensive clusters in Chinese regional innovation systems
Chinese universities play distinct roles in regional innovation systems compared to Western models. This study examines Shanghai's Tongji Creative Cluster, a knowledge-intensive services hub, and finds that successful innovation development combines bottom-up grassroots initiatives with top-down government coordination. This hybrid approach proves more effective than purely state-directed models for overcoming challenges in China's regional innovation systems.
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How Early Implementations Influence Later Adoptions of Innovation: Social Positioning and Skill Reproduction in the Diffusion of Robotic Surgery
This study tracks robotic surgery adoption across Italian hospitals from 1999 to 2010. Early adopters at peripheral hospitals used persuasion and skill-sharing to position themselves as exemplary users, which then drove other hospitals to adopt the technology through social pressure rather than proven technical or economic benefits. Early implementation experiences shaped the entire diffusion pattern.
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The effects of geographic and network ties on exploitative and exploratory product innovation
Industrial clusters boost firms' exploitative innovation but reduce exploratory innovation. Network ties with suppliers and buyers within clusters strengthen the positive effect on exploitative innovation. Buyer ties specifically help mitigate the negative cluster effect on exploratory innovation, while supplier ties do not.
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Social Capital and Learning Advantages: A Problem of Absorptive Capacity
Social capital and network relationships don't directly improve firm performance. Instead, absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge—mediates and moderates how learning through networks translates into business results. The study challenges the assumption that new firms automatically gain performance advantages from their social connections.
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“Open” disclosure of innovations, incentives and follow-on reuse: Theory on processes of cumulative innovation and a field experiment in computational biology
The paper examines how timing of knowledge disclosure—whether innovators share intermediate progress or only final results—affects subsequent innovation. Using theory and experiments in computational biology, the authors show that intermediate disclosure efficiently guides development toward existing solutions but reduces experimentation and technological diversity. Final disclosure encourages broader exploration. The findings reveal a fundamental tradeoff between steering innovation efficiently and enabling diverse technological search paths.
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Anticipatory life-cycle assessment for responsible research and innovation
Life-cycle assessment (LCA) can guide innovation toward beneficial outcomes, but current approaches rely on mature industries and lack stakeholder engagement. This paper proposes anticipatory LCA—a forward-looking method that explores uncertain future scenarios for emerging technologies without claiming prediction. By identifying key uncertainties and engaging decision-makers, anticipatory LCA can help researchers prioritize environmental considerations and promote responsible innovation.
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Exploring the impact of empowering leadership on knowledge sharing, absorptive capacity and team performance in IT service
Empowering leadership by team leaders significantly improves IT project team performance through two mechanisms: increased knowledge sharing among team members and enhanced team absorptive capacity. Analysis of 315 individuals across 85 IT projects demonstrates that empowering leadership proves more effective than charismatic or directive approaches for boosting team performance, with knowledge sharing directly improving project outcomes while also strengthening the relationship between absorptive capacity and performance.
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Phase Transfer‐Catalyzed Fast CO<sub>2</sub> Absorption by MgO‐Based Absorbents with High Cycling Capacity
Researchers developed a new CO2 absorption method using magnesium oxide and molten salts. The molten salts dissolve the oxide and create triple-phase boundaries where CO2 reacts more efficiently than in traditional gas-solid reactions. This approach works with other basic metal oxides and molten salts, offering a new design strategy for absorbent systems.
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Responsible innovation: motivations for a new journal
This paper introduces the concept of responsible innovation as a framework for understanding technology's role in shaping society. The authors argue that technology is not a neutral tool but an active force that reshapes the world, requiring deliberate governance and stakeholder engagement to ensure innovation serves broader social values and addresses potential harms.
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Kindred spirits or intergovernmental competition? The innovation and diffusion of energy policies in the American states (1990–2008)
States adopt energy and climate policies primarily through learning within peer groups sharing similar political cultures, rather than through geographic proximity. Using event history analysis of U.S. state policies from 1990–2008, the authors find that political ideology and culture drive policy adoption far more than environmental conditions or economic resources. Geographic diffusion models that ignore political culture produce biased results.
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The hermeneutic side of responsible research and innovation
This paper argues that hermeneutic analysis—uncovering contested meanings—must be central to responsible research and innovation (RRI) debates, particularly for emerging technologies. The author contends that understanding how different groups interpret technological futures and visions should be a primary focus rather than a secondary concern. The paper proposes a framework for hermeneutic orientation to analyze these meanings systematically.
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Open to a Select Few? Matching Partners and Knowledge Content for Open Innovation Performance
Firms collaborating with external partners on innovation achieve better performance when they work deeply with carefully selected partners rather than spreading efforts across many partners. The type of knowledge exchanged—whether exploratory or exploitative—matters significantly. Successful firms match specific knowledge types to particular partner categories, balancing the benefits of external ideas against the costs of managing diverse collaborations.
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The interaction between external and internal knowledge sources: an open innovation view
Firms combining external and internal knowledge sources innovate more effectively than those relying solely on either approach. The study finds an inverted U-shaped relationship: firms with excessive internal knowledge experience organizational inertia and reduced innovation. External knowledge sources initially substitute for internal capacity but eventually complement it, improving product innovation. Firms must strategically match their external knowledge acquisition to their existing internal knowledge base to maximize innovation outcomes.
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Linking strategy with open innovation and performance in SMEs
This study examines how business strategy influences open innovation practices and performance in small and medium enterprises. Using survey data from 107 Italian manufacturing firms, the researchers found that companies pursuing innovation strategies invest heavily in technical skills, diversification-focused firms rely on managerial open innovation practices, and efficiency-focused firms adopt open innovation with less emphasis on core competencies. The results demonstrate clear linkages between strategic choices, openness levels, and firm performance.
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Accessing resources for service innovation – the critical role of network relationships
Companies access resources for service innovation through different types of network relationships. The study identifies four resource access strategies: absorption, acquisition, sharing, and co-creation. Easily transferable resources come through weak relationships and low-intensity collaboration, while difficult-to-transfer resources like tacit knowledge require strong relationships and intensive collaboration. Managers should recognize that key innovation resources are accessible through diverse actors and relationships.
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The UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's commitment to a framework for responsible innovation
The UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council adopted a formal responsible innovation framework in 2013 after four years of development. The paper traces how this framework evolved, identifies the key influences that shaped it, and discusses implementation challenges as the council moves from defining responsible innovation to putting it into practice.
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Look who's talking: responsible innovation, the paradox of dialogue and the voice of the other in communication and negotiation processes
This paper develops a theoretical framework for stakeholder dialogue in responsible innovation processes. Rather than assuming communication succeeds through openness and harmony, the authors argue dialogue must accommodate fundamentally different interests and values. They identify four key characteristics: dialogical responsiveness enhances self-criticism, involves transformation of participant identities, exists only through actual enactment, and responds to major societal challenges. The work redefines responsiveness as central to responsible innovation.
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Rapid innovation diffusion in social networks
This paper establishes that innovations spread rapidly through social networks when the payoff advantage is sufficiently large and agents make noisy decisions. The researchers derive bounds showing diffusion speed depends primarily on payoff gains and decision noise rather than network structure. They demonstrate that with realistic parameters—such as 5% error rates and 150% payoff gains—innovations establish themselves across any network within 80 revision periods on average.
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Diffusion of Innovations and the Theory of Planned Behavior in Information Systems Research: A Metaanalysis
This meta-analysis examines how well Diffusion of Innovations and Theory of Planned Behavior predict technology adoption in information systems research. Analyzing 58 empirical studies, the authors found that attitude toward behavior, relative advantage, and compatibility are the strongest predictors of adoption, while complexity negatively affects it. These relationships hold consistently across different studies, validating core assumptions in IS innovation research.
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From computer ethics to responsible research and innovation in ICT
Computer ethics has shaped information systems research, but responsible research and innovation (RRI) offers a broader framework for governing ICT development. RRI addresses limitations in traditional computer ethics by expanding governance approaches beyond individual ethical concerns to encompass systemic oversight of technology and innovation. Adopting RRI strengthens IS research relevance and builds on existing ethical foundations.
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Innovation embedded in entrepreneurs’ networks and national educational systems
Entrepreneurs' innovation depends on where they network. Public sphere networking—especially professional and international connections—boosts innovation, while private sphere networking reduces it. However, a country's quality educational system for entrepreneurship moderates these effects, adding innovation benefits to both types of networking. Analysis of 56,611 entrepreneurs across 61 countries confirms these patterns.
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Network Closure or Structural Hole? The Conditioning Effects of Network–Level Social Capital on Innovation Performance
This study examines how network-level social capital affects firm innovation performance. Using simulation data, the researchers found that network density moderates the impact of firm-level social capital measures on innovation. In sparse networks, both direct connections and bridging positions enhance innovation. In dense networks, direct connections become less valuable and bridging positions actually harm innovation performance.
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Openness and Innovation Performance: Are Small Firms Different?
Small manufacturing plants benefit more from diverse innovation partnerships than larger plants do. Using Irish manufacturing data, the study finds that small plants gain significantly from broadening their innovation linkages, though they face diminishing returns at lower diversity levels than larger firms. Small plants also benefit more from supply chain partnerships. The research suggests small firms must choose partners carefully when expanding their innovation networks.
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Motivation and sorting of human capital in open innovation
This paper examines how open innovation projects attract and retain contributors with different motivations. Using open source software data, the authors show that developers sort themselves based on project characteristics, particularly licensing choices. Intrinsic motivation, reputation building, and career signaling drive contributions more than reciprocity. Project managers can strategically design business models to attract the right talent and improve performance.
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Association between Innovative Entrepreneurial Orientation, Absorptive Capacity, and Farm Business Performance
This study examines how innovative entrepreneurial orientation and absorptive capacity drive farm business performance among banana farmers in Ecuador. Using structural equation modeling on 199 farmers, the researchers found that trust and entrepreneurial orientation strengthen absorptive capacity, which in turn boosts innovation. However, innovation outcomes did not directly improve farm business performance, suggesting other factors mediate this relationship.
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Knowledge withholding: psychological hindrance to the innovation diffusion within an organisation
Knowledge withholding—both intentional hiding and unintentional hoarding—disrupts innovation diffusion within organizations. The paper distinguishes knowledge withholding from knowledge sharing using Herzberg's two-factor theory and identifies four territorial behaviors that drive knowledge withholding. Research has overlooked this barrier while focusing on knowledge sharing, leaving a gap in understanding what prevents innovation spread across organizational members.
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Sources of Variation in the Efficiency of Adopting Management Innovation: The Role of Absorptive Capacity Routines, Managerial Attention and Organizational Legitimacy
This paper examines how firms efficiently adopt management innovations through two case studies of offshore business service sourcing. The research shows that absorptive capacity routines—the processes firms use to learn and implement new practices—vary in their effectiveness depending on their sequence, adequacy, and interdependencies. Managerial attention and organizational legitimacy emerge as critical factors determining adoption speed and success. Top-level change agents prove more effective than local problem-solving at directing attention and building support for both the innovation and the routines needed to implement it.
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The innovation ecosystem as booster for the innovative entrepreneurship in the smart specialisation strategy
Innovation ecosystems drive regional growth by creating environments where knowledge flows among multiple stakeholders, fostering innovative entrepreneurship. The paper argues that these dynamic, multi-actor systems support knowledge creation, diffusion, and absorption, enabling regions to achieve intelligent growth and competitive positioning. The authors recommend that policymakers and researchers prioritize innovation ecosystems as central to knowledge-based regional development strategies.
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The Effects of Diversity and Network Ties on Innovations
This study analyzes how diversity affects innovation in scientific collaboration. Using data from 1,354 researchers who created the Oncofertility field through 469 publications, the authors find that innovation benefits from both homophily and diversity. Shared country residence and prior collaborations reduce uncertainty, while cognitive diversity enables the knowledge recombination necessary for breakthrough innovation.
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How controversial innovation succeeds in the periphery? A network perspective of BASF Argentina
BASF's Argentine subsidiary, despite being geographically and organizationally peripheral, successfully developed and implemented controversial innovations. Through interviews and network analysis of employee knowledge sharing, the study identifies contextual and network conditions that enable peripheral subsidiaries of multinational corporations to create and enforce innovations, challenging assumptions that innovation concentrates at corporate headquarters.
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Open innovation strategies in the food and drink industry: determinants and impact on innovation performance
Food and drink companies adopt three distinct open innovation strategies, from limited collaboration with traditional partners to broad engagement with diverse external sources. Technology pressures drive companies toward greater openness. The research shows that more open collaboration approaches significantly improve innovation performance, but only when companies establish dedicated structures to manage and leverage external knowledge effectively.
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Insights for orchestrating innovation ecosystems: the case of EIT ICT Labs and data-driven network visualisations
This paper demonstrates how data-driven network visualization and social network analysis can help orchestrate innovation ecosystems. Using EIT ICT Labs as a case study, the authors reveal key actors, connections, and characteristics within Europe's ICT innovation ecosystem. Their framework enables decision-makers to develop shared vision and strategically guide ecosystem transformation through continuous visual and quantitative analysis.
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Organising for reverse innovation in Western MNCs: the role of frugal product innovation capabilities
Western multinational companies in healthcare and electronics develop reverse innovations—products first adopted in developing countries—by locating design and development in resource-constrained subsidiaries. The study of four companies shows that frugal product innovation capabilities, not headquarters location, determine success in reverse innovation. Building these capabilities in subsidiaries operating under resource constraints proves critical for generating innovations that work in developing markets.
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Inbound and Outbound Open Innovation: Organization and Performances
This study examines how open innovation practices relate to company characteristics, R&D organization, and financial performance in 126 major bio-pharmaceutical firms from 2008-2012. Small and young companies adopt open innovation most frequently. Inbound practices (acquiring external knowledge) substitute for internal R&D and show an inverted-U relationship with performance, while outbound practices (licensing out technology) complement internal R&D but correlate with declining financial performance.
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Media Innovations, User Innovations, Societal Innovations
Media innovations involve changes in both technology and practices, driven by audiences, users, professionals, and providers. User participation in content creation increasingly shapes media and society together. Understanding media innovation requires examining how changes ripple across interconnected media systems and social structures, recognizing that media innovations are inseparable from broader societal transformations.
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Corporate Philanthropy, Research Networks, and Collaborative Innovation
Corporate direct giving to research activities increases innovation output and impact. Firms use philanthropy strategically to build research networks and collaborative partnerships that produce more influential and original innovations. Direct giving proves especially valuable for opaque firms and in competitive industries, revealing that philanthropy serves as a tool for expanding innovation networks beyond firm boundaries.
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Twitter’s diffusion in sports journalism: Role models, laggards and followers of the social media innovation
Sports journalists at major news organizations in Australia, India, and the United Kingdom adopted Twitter at different rates and for different reasons. The study used interviews and article analysis to show when and why journalists embraced the platform, and how much Twitter content appeared in sports coverage. Twitter adoption brought benefits to individual journalists and their organizations, with patterns that apply to other countries experiencing similar diffusion.
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An empirical investigation of the National Innovation System (NIS) using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the TOBIT model
This paper measures national innovation system efficiency across 20 emerging and developed countries using DEA Bootstrap analysis. The study identifies which countries perform as innovation leaders by converting inputs into outputs efficiently. For underperforming countries, the research identifies three key factors that could improve innovation efficiency: secondary school enrollment, working-age labor force participation, and business sector credit expansion.
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Smart innovation policy: How network position and project composition affect the diversity of an emerging technology
Government subsidies for collaborative innovation projects shape technological diversity in emerging technologies. This study of Dutch biogas energy innovation reveals that projects sharing many actors reduce diversity, while projects with diverse actor types increase it. Larger project consortia decrease diversity. These findings suggest policymakers can design smarter innovation programs by strategically managing network connections and project composition to foster technological diversity and avoid technological lock-in.
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Use of Social Media in Inbound Open Innovation: Building Capabilities for Absorptive Capacity
Social media use in open innovation strengthens companies' ability to absorb external knowledge. Case studies of two large high-tech firms show that social media enables transparent, multi-directional interactions that build four key capabilities: connectedness, socialization tactics, cross-functionality, and receptivity. Social media acts as a boundary-spanning tool that helps companies access and integrate external ideas more effectively.
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Diffusion of Surgical Innovations, Patient Safety, and Minimally Invasive Radical Prostatectomy
Minimally invasive radical prostatectomy using the da Vinci robot spread rapidly across U.S. hospitals starting in 2006, but early adoption was associated with worse patient safety outcomes compared to open surgery. Patients undergoing the new procedure in 2005–2007 faced double the risk of safety incidents. The study shows that surgical innovations diffuse without adequate safeguards, exposing patients to harm during the learning phase.
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Analysing organisational context: case studies on the contribution of absorptive capacity theory to understanding inter-organisational variation in performance improvement
This study examines how organizational context affects quality improvement in healthcare using absorptive capacity theory. Three UK NHS organizations with performance problems were studied through interviews with managers and external improvement teams. The organization with the highest absorptive capacity—strong strategic priorities, effective information management, and learning orientation—achieved the fastest and most comprehensive improvements. Internal characteristics enabled better engagement with external knowledge and support, even in challenging environments. Lower absorptive capacity delayed improvement efforts.
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Smart Development of Innovation Ecosystem
This paper applies complexity theory to innovation ecosystem development, treating ecosystems as complex adaptive systems. The authors argue that smart ecosystem development requires combining top-down and bottom-up management approaches, using mechanisms like pattern formation, sense-making, simple rule-setting, attractor modification, and niche mobilization to maintain productive disequilibrium.
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Do Regions Make a Difference? Regional Innovation Systems and Global Innovation Networks in the ICT Industry
Regional innovation systems shape how firms access global innovation networks in the ICT industry. The study compares European, Chinese, and Indian regions using firm surveys and case studies. Regions with weaker organizational and institutional thickness actually participate more in global networks, suggesting global connections compensate for local innovation system deficiencies.
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Development of small and medium-sized enterprise horizontal innovation networks: UK agri-food sector study
Small and medium-sized bakery businesses in the UK agri-food sector formed a horizontal innovation network to share resources and develop new products together. Over 27 months, researchers tracked how this network evolved through three distinct stages. The study shows that competing businesses can overcome rivalries through collaboration, using shared knowledge and social connections to increase competitiveness and drive joint innovation.
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Emerging Lessons From Regional and State Innovation in Value‐Based Payment Reform: Balancing Collaboration and Disruptive Innovation
Value-based payment reform projects across six U.S. states succeeded when multistakeholder coalitions had trusted leadership, external funding, and supportive regulatory environments. Key barriers included incompatible information systems, competing stakeholder priorities, and misalignment between payment models and care delivery. Successful reform required an honest broker to convene stakeholders, change management expertise, and community health infrastructure alongside pressure from payers and providers.
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X‐ray Absorption Spectroscopy Investigation of Lithium‐Rich, Cobalt‐Poor Layered‐Oxide Cathode Material with High Capacity
This paper is not about rural innovation. It presents a materials science study investigating lithium-rich cathode materials for batteries using X-ray spectroscopy. The research examines electrochemical processes in a specific cobalt-poor oxide compound, identifying the roles of manganese, nickel, cobalt, and oxygen during charging cycles. The findings reveal unexpected partial reduction of cobalt and nickel during initial activation.
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Measuring triple‐helix synergy in the <scp>R</scp>ussian innovation systems at regional, provincial, and national levels
This paper measures innovation system synergy across Russian regions by analyzing half a million firms' data on size, technological knowledge, and location. Knowledge concentrates heavily in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. High-tech manufacturing disrupts regional coordination rather than enhancing it. Knowledge-intensive services, often state-affiliated, strengthen synergy in most federal districts and administrative centers, but Russia's economy remains largely non-knowledge-based outside Moscow.
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Governance of new product development and perceptions of responsible innovation in the financial sector: insights from an ethnographic case study
An ethnographic study of a global asset management company reveals that new product development follows a structured stage-gating governance model involving multiple internal and external actors. The company frames responsible innovation primarily through client needs and risk management—operational, legal, regulatory, and reputational. Staff perceive a cautious organizational culture that minimizes destructive outcomes. The stage-gating architecture provides a mechanism for embedding broader responsible innovation concepts.
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New development: Eight and a half propositions to stimulate frugal innovation
The paper presents eight and a half propositions for stimulating frugal innovation in public services. Based on research findings, these propositions challenge conventional innovation wisdom and aim to provoke policymakers, managers, and academics into rethinking how organizations can innovate with limited resources.
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Modelling innovation support systems for regional development – analysis of cluster structures in innovation in Portugal
This paper analyzes innovation support systems across three Portuguese regions by mapping institutional innovation profiles and regional clustering patterns. Using principal coordinates analysis and Logistic Biplot methods, the authors created a typology of innovation structures showing that institutional profiles and regional innovation patterns are region-specific. The findings demonstrate significant differences in how regions organize their innovation support, offering practical tools for policymakers and businesses to understand and design regional innovation systems.
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Big Bang Disruption: Strategy in the Age of Devastating Innovation
This paper reviews a book arguing that digital technologies enable rapid market disruption through products that are simultaneously better and cheaper than existing solutions. Successful companies often fail to recognize these disruptions because they apply outdated strategic logic. The authors identify exponential technologies like mobile devices and cloud computing as drivers of disruption, replacing traditional bell-curve adoption patterns with rapid shark-fin curves that compress industry lifecycles and reward speed over incumbency.
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Diffusion of Innovations in Dynamic Networks
This paper develops a statistical model that simultaneously tracks how social networks evolve and how innovations spread through them. The model treats network changes and adoption decisions as interdependent processes, using a proportional hazards framework. The authors test their approach on adolescent cannabis use patterns and validate it through simulations.
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Symmetric Assumptions in the Theory of Disruptive Innovation: Theoretical and Managerial Implications
This paper critiques disruptive innovation theory for making asymmetric assumptions about firms. It argues that while the theory explains why established companies fail to adopt new technologies, it treats incumbent firms as internally diverse but assumes environmental firms are homogeneous. The authors propose a more symmetric theoretical framework that recognizes both incumbents and their environment contain heterogeneous actors, and that firms can actively shape their environment rather than merely respond to it.
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Absorptive capacity and network orchestration in innovation communities – promoting service innovation
Service innovation increasingly happens in loosely coupled networks called innovation communities. This paper shows that orchestrating these communities requires discrete guidance tailored to services' unique characteristics. The research identifies how orchestration mechanisms and contingency factors together build absorptive capacity—the network's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge—enabling service innovation. Managing networks demands rethinking traditional innovation management approaches.
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From<scp>TV</scp>Personality to Fans and Beyond: Indexical Bleaching and the Diffusion of a Media Innovation
This paper examines how a media phrase popularized by a television personality spreads beyond its original audience. The phrase 'lady pond' circulates from Bravo viewers to broader Twitter users while maintaining its form and meaning. However, it loses its connection to its media source through a process called indexical bleaching, where the phrase becomes detached from its original context, enabling wider adoption and diffusion.
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Government policy change and evolution of regional innovation systems in China: evidence from strategic emerging industries in Shenzhen
China shifted innovation policy from relying on foreign technology spillover to promoting indigenous innovation and domestic firms. The government designated seven strategic emerging industries to drive technological upgrading after the 2008 financial crisis. This study examines how foreign and domestic firms adapted their innovation strategies in Shenzhen's LED industry, finding that the local government eventually abandoned its LED development plan after four years, revealing how institutional changes reshape regional innovation systems.
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The preferences of users of electronic medical records in hospitals: quantifying the relative importance of barriers and facilitators of an innovation
Hospital nurses and physicians prioritize different features when adopting electronic medical records. Both groups value flexible interfaces most highly, but nurses prioritize departmental support and performance feedback, while physicians prioritize decision support functionality. Current EMR systems inadequately meet user needs, suggesting hospitals should tailor implementation strategies to different professional groups and involve users earlier in system design.
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How internal users contribute to corporate product innovation: the case of embedded users
Embedded users—employees who also use their company's products—contribute significantly to corporate innovation by bridging internal and external knowledge. Drawing on interviews across 23 firms, the study shows these employees deploy use knowledge, solution knowledge, and organizational knowledge alongside social capital throughout ideation, development, and marketing phases. Embedded users generate ideas, absorb external information, set specifications, conduct testing, and act as opinion leaders, effectively spanning organizational boundaries to bring customer needs into product development.
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Co-innovation in networks of resources — A case study in the Chinese exhibition industry
Partners in a Chinese exhibition industry joint venture achieved market success through co-innovation, strategically combining their resources to develop a growing trade show. This collaborative innovation process enabled the partners to exploit opportunities in a rapidly changing industry, building evolving capabilities that sustained competitive advantage. The study demonstrates how resource co-mingling creates value that motivates continued cooperation and business expansion.
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Open innovation, networking, and business model dynamics: the two sides
Business models must be dynamic and network-focused to survive in competitive markets. Small innovative companies face distinct challenges because their business models are embedded within those of larger partners. This study examines how large pharmaceutical companies and venture capital firms structure networked business models that shape the opportunities and constraints facing small biotech companies in open innovation partnerships.
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Twitter as Disruptive Innovation in Sport Communication
This paper argues that Twitter functions as a disruptive innovation in sport communication by shifting from traditional one-to-many television consumption to many-to-many participatory models. Users themselves defined how the platform would be used for sport engagement. The author calls for comprehensive theoretical analysis of Twitter's role in sport, noting that existing research often applies older media frameworks rather than developing new theory suited to this platform's unique characteristics.
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Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS) Use and User Innovation: High-Order Services, Geographic Hierarchies and Internet Use in Quebec's Manufacturing Sector
Geographic proximity to knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) does not improve innovation performance in Quebec's manufacturing sector. Firms seeking innovation-related services travel farther to access specialized KIBS suppliers located in central urban areas, regardless of distance. Innovators actively seek out the best service providers rather than relying on nearby options, creating a geographic hierarchy where innovation-focused KIBS concentrate in major centers.
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Rekindling network protocol innovation with user-level stacks
This paper is not about rural innovation. It addresses network protocol design and implementation in computing systems, specifically proposing user-level protocol stacks to accelerate innovation in internet transport protocols. The work presents MultiStack, a system enabling faster deployment of new network protocols and extensions without waiting for widespread adoption of kernel-level changes.
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National characteristics: innovation systems from the process efficiency perspective
This study analyzes innovation systems across 40 countries by treating them as two-stage processes: knowledge production and commercialization. Using data envelopment analysis, researchers identified efficiency levels and ranked countries by their strengths in each stage. The analysis reveals that no country excels equally at both stages, and categorizes nations into nine distinct groups based on their innovation characteristics. The findings offer policymakers benchmarks for improvement and examples of best practices to learn from.
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Disruptive Innovation vs Disruptive Technology: The Disruptive Potential of the Value Propositions of 3D Printing Technology Startups
This paper examines 3D printing technology startups and their potential to disrupt manufacturing through additive production methods. Rather than traditional subtractive or molding approaches, 3D printing builds products layer-by-layer using digital controls. The authors analyze whether these startups represent genuinely disruptive innovation or merely disruptive technology, evaluating their value propositions and market impact.
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Responsible Innovation
The paper argues that developers of tools and products must consider ethical dimensions in their work. The authors emphasize that responsible innovation requires integrating ethical considerations into the development process from the outset, rather than treating ethics as an afterthought. This framework applies broadly to technology and product development across sectors.
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Professional Learning Communities and the Diffusion of Pedagogical Innovation in the Chinese Education System
Pedagogical innovations spread unevenly across China's education system following curriculum reforms. This study finds that teacher professional learning communities—where educators frequently interact and observe each other—successfully diffuse innovative teaching ideas despite teachers' doubts about reform viability. External networks connecting designated teacher opinion leaders further accelerate innovation spread through schools.
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Woman Entrepreneurship in Rural Vietnam: Success and Motivational Factors
Women entrepreneurs in rural Vietnam's Quang Tri Province define success and motivation through their personal values and entrepreneurial beliefs. A survey of 109 respondents across six communes found that women business owners attribute their achievements to how they perceive entrepreneurship and what they value, with these same perceptions driving their motivation to start and continue their ventures.
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Agricultural Productivity and Poverty Alleviation: What Role for Technological Innovation
Agricultural productivity significantly reduces poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, with technological innovation playing a crucial role. The study analyzed 32 SSA countries from 1990-2011 and found that technological innovation directly lowers poverty and indirectly reduces it by boosting agricultural productivity and broader economic growth. Agriculture's poverty-reduction impact depends on sector growth, poor people's participation, and agriculture's economic share.
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Exploring exclusion in innovation systems: case of plantation agriculture in India
Innovation systems in India's plantation sector fail to deliver inclusive development despite policy efforts. The paper identifies multiple forms of exclusion—subordinated inclusion, illusive inclusion, sustained exclusion, and transient exclusion—within commodity boards, research institutions, and labor markets. Knowledge intensification could strengthen labor-intensive sectors in developing countries, but institutional arrangements currently perpetuate exclusion rather than enabling genuine participation in innovation benefits.
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Considering the implications of place-based approaches for improving rural community wellbeing: The value of a relational lens
Place-based rural policy often treats rural space as homogenous, limiting its effectiveness for improving community wellbeing. This paper argues that adopting a relational view of rural space—understanding it as socially created through connections and flows—offers a better framework for designing and evaluating rural health and community development policies. A relational approach helps policymakers measure outcomes more accurately and address the complex, interconnected nature of rural wellbeing.
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Embedded models of rural entrepreneurship: The case of pubs in Cumbria, North West of England
Rural pubs in Cumbria have declined sharply, damaging community networks and local employment. This study examines why pubs fail and succeed through interviews with owners, managers, and customers. The authors find that pubs function as critical community hubs providing social connection and business opportunities. They conclude that stronger involvement from local communities and public sector support is essential to preserve these rural assets.
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Social Preferences and Agricultural Innovation: An Experimental Case Study from Ethiopia
An experiment in Ethiopia shows that farmers who burn money to reduce others' earnings display strong inequality aversion based on absolute income differences. Villages where farmers engage in more money burning adopt fewer agricultural innovations in practice. This demonstrates that social preferences—particularly concerns about fairness and relative wealth—significantly influence whether farmers adopt new agricultural technologies in developing countries.
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The drivers of innovation diffusion in agriculture: evidence from Italian census data
Italian agricultural innovation spreads unevenly across regions, driven by local productive conditions, farm characteristics, and institutional frameworks. Using 2010 census data from 110 provinces, the authors mapped diffusion of product, process, organizational, and marketing innovations. Some innovations concentrate in specific areas with favorable market conditions, while others depend on individual farm features. Rural development spending and regulatory context significantly influence adoption rates, showing how productive and institutional systems interact to enable or constrain agricultural innovation.
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Examining the influence of social capital on rural women entrepreneurship
Social capital significantly influences rural women's entrepreneurship in Iran. The study surveyed 265 rural women entrepreneurs and found that three dimensions of social capital—structural, relational, and cognitive—positively predict key psychological traits including achievement motivation, innovation, personal control, self-esteem, opportunism, autonomy, and risk tolerance. This research demonstrates how specific social capital components shape entrepreneur psychology.
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The challenges of innovation for sustainable agriculture and rural development: Integrating local actions into European policies with the Reflective Learning Methodology
European agricultural policy treats farmers as passive technology adopters rather than active innovators. This paper describes a participatory action research method called Reflective Learning Methodology that bridges local farming innovation networks with European policy frameworks. The method helps translate grassroots sustainable agriculture initiatives into regional support structures, addressing the gap between how innovation actually happens on farms and how policy currently supports it.
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“We moved here for the lifestyle”: A picture of entrepreneurship in rural British Columbia
Rural entrepreneurs in British Columbia start businesses primarily for lifestyle reasons and persist despite marginal finances. The study finds that entrepreneurial opportunities and resources exist in rural environments, contrary to perceptions of hostility. Communities and governments can use these findings to develop context-specific policies supporting rural economic development.
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Women, Rural Environment and Entrepreneurship
Women in rural Spain face severe employment barriers, social exclusion, and economic marginalization that drive rural depopulation and aging. The authors analyze the socio-economic conditions of rural women and propose entrepreneurship as a pathway to improve their employability and economic opportunities, arguing that existing rural development policies lack gender-specific mechanisms to address women's particular challenges.
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Rural Entrepreneurship in India: Challenge and Problems
Rural entrepreneurs in India face significant barriers to establishing businesses, including lack of education, inadequate financial access, and insufficient infrastructure like electricity, water, and transportation. The paper identifies marketing challenges and limited technical support as major obstacles preventing rural entrepreneurship from reaching its potential as an economic opportunity for people in developing regions.
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Learning as Issue Framing in Agricultural Innovation Networks
Learning in agricultural innovation networks happens through how members frame and reframe issues together. The study tracked two networks over two years and found that sustainable agricultural practices emerge when network members gradually adjust their understanding of problems and their relationships with each other. Complex contexts affect how well members align on issues, but identifying key actor roles and facilitation methods helps networks collaborate effectively on shared concerns.
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Optimization of assured result in dynamical model of management of innovation process in the enterprise of agricultural production complex
This paper develops a dynamic mathematical model for managing innovation processes in agricultural enterprises under conditions of uncertainty and incomplete information. Rather than relying on traditional stochastic approaches that require detailed probability data, the authors propose a minimax control method that guarantees optimal results despite risks and modeling errors. The approach uses linear programming and discrete optimization to create practical computer tools for decision-making in agricultural innovation management.
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Neoliberalism, the University, Public Goods and Agricultural Innovation
Agricultural research funding has shifted from government-led public institutions toward private funding and public-private partnerships over the past four decades. This trend risks neglecting public goods that don't generate profit. The authors document funding patterns across the USA, UK, Ireland, and Germany, finding that while neoliberal approaches appear in all four countries, their implementation and effects vary significantly based on national and institutional contexts.
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Do entrepreneurial food systems innovations impact rural economies and health? Evidence and gaps.
Local food system innovations—farmers' markets, community supported agriculture, farm-to-institution programs, and food hubs—aim to strengthen rural economies and improve food access and health. The authors review evidence on whether these entrepreneurial models help producers earn viable incomes, boost local economies, increase affordable healthy food access, and improve dietary outcomes. While some evidence supports each benefit, significant research gaps remain about their actual economic and public health impacts.
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Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Rural Tourism Development
Tourism development catalyzes rural entrepreneurship by creating business opportunities for local communities to serve visitors and sell products. The paper argues that active community participation in tourism-related enterprises drives economic development in rural areas. Local entrepreneurs and workers in tourism and complementary sectors encourage broader community involvement, fostering prosperity and sustainable rural development.
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Agricultural business model innovation in Swedish food production : The influence of self-leadership and lean innovation
Swedish agricultural producers need stronger leadership and organizational practices to innovate their business models across the food value chain. The paper proposes that self-leadership and lean innovation methods can drive business model innovation in farming. It presents a framework combining these approaches and recommends action research through learning networks as a method for agricultural sectors to develop and improve operations from farm to consumer.
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Robot innovation brings to agriculture efficiency, safety, labor savings and accuracy by plowing, milking, harvesting, crop tending/picking and monitoring
Robots are transforming agriculture globally by automating traditional farming tasks including plowing, milking, harvesting, and crop monitoring. These robotic systems deliver significant labor savings, improve performance accuracy, and accelerate field coverage. The paper reviews diverse robotic applications across agricultural operations worldwide, demonstrating how automation creates practical benefits for farming operations.
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The dynamics of local innovations among formal and informal enterprises: Stories from rural South Africa
This study examines innovation in rural South African enterprises, both formal and informal. The research reveals that innovation characteristics are similar across formal and informal sectors, challenging traditional distinctions between them. Informal innovations occur throughout the rural economy regardless of sector location. The findings show that narrow categorizations of innovators obscure economic reality and identify four policy priorities for supporting rural innovation.
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Value of Social Network for Development of Rural Malay Herbal Entrepreneurship in Malaysia
Rural Malay herbal entrepreneurs in Malaysia lag behind other ethnic groups due to weak social networks. The study of ten entrepreneurs reveals that developing network skills through government support, family, relatives, friends, and support groups is essential for their business success and competitiveness.
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Barriers to Youthful Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas of Ghana
Young people in rural Ghana face significant barriers to starting businesses, primarily lack of capital, insufficient skills, inadequate support systems, limited market opportunities, and perceived risk. The study surveyed 240 youth in the Komenda, Edina, Eguafo, and Abirem Municipal Assembly areas using questionnaires and interviews. Researchers recommend equipping Ghanaian youth with entrepreneurial skills to enable economic development.
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Impact of entrepreneurship training on rural poultry farmers adoption of improved management practices in Enugu State, Nigeria
Entrepreneurship training significantly increased rural poultry farmers' adoption of improved management practices in Nigeria. Before training, 70% of farmers were unaware of practices like record-keeping and vaccination; after training, 100% knew them and 85% adopted them. Education, farming experience, income, and farm size positively influenced adoption. High input costs, low capital, loan access difficulties, and poor extension services were major barriers. The study recommends more training and government-backed soft loans to boost adoption and food security.
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Developing information to support the implementation of place-based economic development strategies: A case study of regional and rural development policy in the State of Victoria, Australia
Victoria, Australia implemented place-based regional development strategies requiring local and government partnerships. A key challenge emerged: stakeholders lacked shared understanding of government's role in promoting local economic growth. The author describes developing an information base to address this misalignment and offers lessons for practitioners implementing similar place-based economic development approaches elsewhere.
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Institutional barriers to successful innovations: Perceptions of rural farmers and key stakeholders in southwest Nigeria
Rural farmers and stakeholders in southwest Nigeria identify institutional barriers as critical to agricultural innovation success. Government policies, market conditions, financial institutions, and infrastructure significantly affect whether farmers adopt new technologies. The study recommends pairing institutional reforms with innovative inputs and strengthening farmers' cooperatives to enable successful agricultural innovation.
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A Location-Based Duplex Scheme for Cost Effective Rural Broadband Connectivity Using IEEE 802.22 Cognitive Radio Based Wireless Regional Area Networks
This paper proposes a location-based duplex scheme to improve rural broadband connectivity using IEEE 802.22 cognitive radio networks that operate on underutilized TV spectrum. The scheme eliminates cross time slot interference that occurs when adjacent wireless regional area network cells lack synchronized frames. The location-based duplex approach combines advantages of time and frequency division duplex methods, delivering asymmetric data services more efficiently than existing virtual cell approaches.
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Feasibility study of hybrid energy system for off-grid rural water supply and sanitation system in Odisha, India
Researchers designed a hybrid solar and biogas energy system for a rural village in Odisha, India to power water supply and sanitation facilities. Using optimization modeling software, they evaluated different system configurations and calculated capital costs, operating costs, and energy costs to identify a cost-effective solution for providing clean water and toilets to the village's poor residents.
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Hybrid Power System Options for Off-Grid Rural Electrification in Northern Kenya
This study evaluates hybrid energy systems combining wind, solar, and battery storage to replace diesel generators in six remote villages in northern Kenya. The researchers simulated five different configurations and used trade-off analysis to identify the optimal design. A wind-diesel-battery system with two 500 kW turbines proved most effective, reducing diesel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 98.8% while remaining economically viable.
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Significance of Microfinance Institutions in Rural Development of India
Microfinance institutions in India provide credit to rural poor people excluded from formal banking, enabling them to start small businesses and increase economic participation. The study finds that microfinance schemes significantly boost women's involvement in economic activities and decision-making. Microfinance programs deliver essential credit access and motivate rural populations to improve living standards, offering practical lessons for rural development in developing countries.
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SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION IN THE HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT OF AUSTRALIA'S DROUGHT STRICKEN RURAL COMMUNITIES
Small businesses in drought-affected rural Australian communities implemented innovations to survive economic hardship. Most changes were incremental, focusing on protecting markets, accessing resources, and improving efficiency. However, some businesses pursued radical innovations including mergers, acquisitions, and product diversification. These high-risk strategies contributed significantly to their communities. Planning and resource access reduced risks associated with major innovations.
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Rural Electrification through Renewable Energy Sources- An Overview of Challenges and Prospects
Rural electrification in India faces significant socio-economic barriers despite renewable energy's potential for decentralized power generation. The paper identifies key challenges in deploying renewables to off-grid villages and proposes solutions: making renewable devices affordable, increasing local participation, encouraging private investment, and implementing supportive government policies. These measures are essential for achieving energy security and sustainable development in rural areas.
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Indigenous knowledge systems and agricultural rural development in South Africa : past and present perspectives
Indigenous knowledge systems sustained rural livelihoods and biodiversity in South Africa for centuries until colonialism and apartheid disrupted them. The paper examines how IK can support agricultural development today, identifying gaps in research and policy. While the South African government has advanced IK protection, gaps remain in intellectual property legislation and implementation. Agricultural and soil-focused IK research needs expansion to unlock innovation potential for rural development.
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From financial exclusion to financial inclusion through microfinance: the case of rural Zimbabwe
Rural Zimbabwe's population remains largely unbanked not because they lack capacity, but because commercial banks find it unprofitable to serve areas with inadequate infrastructure. Microfinance institutions fill this gap but face significant operational challenges. The study reveals that rural communities are actually bankable, contradicting banks' claims that poverty prevents financial inclusion.
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Sustainability of rural energy access in developing countries
Rural energy access remains unresolved in developing countries despite policy efforts. This dissertation analyzes policies and their impacts on renewable energy markets, technological choices for electrification, and sustainability performance across Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The research shows market-oriented policies expand rural electrification in Nepal, identifies cost-effective technology pathways in Afghanistan and Nepal, models cooking fuel transitions in China, and introduces sustainability indices to evaluate energy technologies and country progress. Mature technologies like biomass and micro-hydro outperform solar and wind without policy support, while credit access and subsidy delivery mechanisms require innovation.
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Interrelationships between inward FDI and indigenous innovation in developing economies
Foreign direct investment and indigenous innovation in developing economies have reciprocal but opposing relationships. Higher innovation attracts more FDI, yet increased FDI reduces innovation. R&D investment and absorptive capacity drive indigenous innovation. Government effectiveness mediates these dynamics, reducing FDI's negative impact while strengthening R&D's positive effects. The study recommends improving government effectiveness and R&D spending to harness FDI spillovers for sustained innovation and economic growth.
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Who Controls Tourism Innovation Policy? The Case of Rural Tourism
Rural tourism innovation in Denmark occurs through local action groups implementing EU's LEADER program, which decentralizes policy control away from national authorities. While these groups effectively leverage local resources and incrementally upgrade tourism facilities, innovation performance remains low. The study finds that this radical decentralization undermines national coordination and strategy, making it difficult to align tourism development with broader welfare and environmental goals.
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Innovations and Opportunities for Entrepreneurial Rural Developments
Young people in rural Romania show strong interest in starting businesses, but entrepreneurial culture remains underdeveloped in villages. The research identifies barriers to rural business creation and proposes strategies to foster entrepreneurship in Romania's Central Region. Building supportive environments and promoting entrepreneurial values are essential to converting this interest into actual rural business development.
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Electronic Medical Record Adoption in Oklahoma Practices: Rural‐Urban Differences and the Role of Broadband Availability
Rural and urban physician practices in Oklahoma show similar overall electronic medical record adoption rates, but significant differences emerge in specific subcategories. Solo rural practices adopt EMRs at higher rates than urban solo practices, as do rural psychiatric practices. Broadband availability shows no statistical relationship with EMR adoption. The findings suggest that targeted policies addressing specific practice types matter more than broadband expansion alone for increasing EMR adoption.
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Mas Roig mini-grid: A renewable-energy-based rural islanded microgrid
A renewable energy microgrid deployed on a Spanish farm uses intelligent load management and real-time control to maximize renewable energy use while maintaining reliable power supply. The system classifies electrical loads by priority and controls them through networked smart sockets. After five years of operation, the project demonstrates that distributed generation and active management reduce costs and ensure energy security even during extreme weather events.
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Energy Autarky of Rural Municipality Created on the Basis of Renewable Energy Resources
This study evaluates whether a rural Polish municipality can meet its energy needs using renewable sources. Researchers assessed solar, hydro, wind, and biogas potential in Rakow municipality through 2020. Currently, renewables cover only 2.2% of total energy demand and 24% of electricity demand. However, renewable heat production already exceeds local needs by 20% and could reach 256% with biomass from set-aside land, creating exportable surplus energy.
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National Strategy of Indigenous Innovation and its Implication to China
China's indigenous innovation strategy from 2006–2020 successfully supports industrial upgrading and catch-up growth through targeted policies, but it constrains breakthrough innovation. The authors argue that China needs to embrace open innovation and market competition rather than protecting domestic enterprises from global technology systems. Only by engaging with international innovation networks can Chinese firms achieve disruptive innovation and establish China as a genuine innovation leader.
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A study on BRAC Microfinance Products for rural consumers using Service Gap Model
This study evaluates BRAC's microfinance products for rural consumers using the Service Gap Model. The research assesses whether BRAC's microfinance offerings match what rural customers actually need and want. By analyzing the gap between company-designed services and consumer expectations, the study identifies misalignments that could damage BRAC's reputation and effectiveness in serving rural markets.
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Innovation of organization model for integral rural development: Serbia case study
Serbia's rural municipalities need new organizational models to boost economic growth. Research in two Sumadija municipalities shows that effective rural development requires municipalities to pursue active financing, identity-based policies, and continuous education. Innovation should include initiative teams for decision-making, agricultural incubators combining business and technology support, and vertical merger systems.
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Optimisation of a TV White Space Broadband Market Model for Rural Entrepreneurs
This paper develops a game-theoretic model for TV white space broadband markets serving rural entrepreneurs. Using Bertrand competition theory, the authors analyze how primary spectrum users compete on price to sell access to secondary users operating mesh routers. The model optimizes inter-operator agreements based on quality-of-service metrics like delay and throughput, comparing outcomes across cost, revenue, and profit parameters to identify competitive equilibria.
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Information Network Villages: A community-focused digital divide reduction policy in rural Korea
South Korea's Information Network Village project demonstrates how digital divide policies can build sustainable rural communities. The study examines this initiative as a model for implementing community-focused digital infrastructure in small rural areas, showing how targeted policy can reduce technology gaps and strengthen local development.
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Renewable energy programs for rural electrification: Experience and lessons from India
India has electrified 94.5% of inhabited areas through grid connections, but off-grid renewable energy technologies have also spread widely. This paper documents India's experience with renewable energy-based off-grid electrification programs and extracts lessons to improve future program design and policy decisions for rural electrification.
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Towards the exploration of renewable energy technologies as an alternative to grid extension for rural electrification in South Africa
This paper evaluates whether standalone renewable energy systems—solar photovoltaic and wind turbines—can economically replace grid extension for rural electrification in South Africa. The analysis finds that solar PV costs are lower than gasoline generators and competitive with grid extension, particularly in areas with sparse populations. Wind energy proves even more cost-competitive in locations with adequate wind resources. The authors conclude both technologies are economically viable for rural electrification and propose policies to support their market development.
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Actor networks and innovation activities among rural enterprises in a South African locality
Rural enterprises in South Africa benefit significantly from actor networks that facilitate access to innovation knowledge and practices. The study finds that both private and non-profit rural businesses rely on face-to-face interactions and informal knowledge-sharing arrangements rather than formal contracts. These networks enable rural enterprises to access internal and external innovation know-how, supporting local development despite geographic isolation and resource constraints.
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Mobile Women: Investigating the Digital Gender Divide in Cellphone Use in a South African Rural Area
Rural women in South Africa's Eastern Cape actively embrace mobile phones to bridge digital divides, contrary to patterns observed in developed countries. While socio-economic barriers still limit access and use, women lead adoption in their community. The research combines focus groups and interviews to reveal how gender shapes mobile phone use in this resource-constrained rural area.
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Renewable energy from biomass cookstoves for off grid rural areas.
This paper addresses cooking challenges in off-grid rural India by proposing improved biomass cookstoves powered by thermoelectric generators. Traditional cookstoves suffer from low efficiency and toxic emissions. The authors design a system that captures waste heat from the stove to generate electricity via a thermoelectric generator, powering a fan that improves combustion efficiency. The generated power also supports lighting and mobile phone charging, making the solution practical for rural households without grid electricity access.
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Renewable energy technology means of providing sustainable electricity in Nigerian rural areas: a review.
Nigeria's rural areas lack electricity access for over 65% of the population, causing economic decline and migration. This review examines renewable energy technologies as sustainable alternatives to failed fossil fuel systems. Biomass, hydro, and solar sources are viable for rural Nigeria, but implementation remains extremely low due to absent energy policy, government neglect, and low purchasing power. The authors recommend whole-life costing analysis to optimize economic performance.
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The New Telecommunications Sector Foreign Investment Regime and Rural Broadband
Canada's new foreign investment rules and wireless spectrum auctions aim to increase competition but will likely fail rural communities. Analysis shows new entrants prefer urban markets, and current regulations weaken the government's ability to meet telecommunications policy goals. The authors argue Canada needs a comprehensive national broadband plan rather than relying on market forces to deliver 4G services to rural and remote areas.
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Croatia's rural areas - renewable energy based electricity generation for isolated grids
Croatia's rural areas suffer from aging electricity infrastructure and poor grid connections. This paper compares decentralized renewable energy systems for isolated grids against extending the public network to remote regions. The analysis shows isolated grids powered by renewables are often more cost-effective and faster to deploy. The authors call for better evaluation methods that account for non-monetary benefits and advocate an interdisciplinary approach to rural electrification.
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Integrated Operation of Trunk Routes and Branches of Rural Transit
Rural transit systems in China operate inefficiently when trunk and branch routes function separately. This paper proposes integrated operation where trunk routes function like urban transit while minibuses serve branch routes with flexible scheduling. Branch routes should connect to adjacent trunk routes, and multiple routes across neighboring towns should coordinate to maximize vehicle capacity and passenger flow. A case study in Pukou district demonstrates the practical benefits of this integrated approach.
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A Primer on Innovation, Learning, and Knowledge Flows
Working paper from Memorial University connecting New Regionalism, knowledge flows, and learning to rural and regional economic development. Frames the region as the locus where competitive advantage is distilled from social and institutional assets.
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Enhanced broadband access as a solution to the social and economic problems of the rural digital divide
Rural areas face a growing digital divide that limits access to essential services and economic participation. While broadband is increasingly vital for health, education, business, and social services, rural communities remain excluded from fast broadband development. Technological and economic barriers make rural deployment costly, and adoption remains low even where infrastructure exists. The paper examines broadband provision challenges in rural Britain and recommends policy priorities for government intervention.
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Understanding place-based entrepreneurship in rural Central Europe: A comparative institutional analysis
This study examines how local institutions shape entrepreneurial behavior in rural Central Europe across five countries. The researchers find that normative and cognitive institutions—like social norms and shared beliefs—matter more than formal regulations in driving entrepreneurship. The fit between different institutional types determines whether entrepreneurial practices emerge in specific locations. Entrepreneurs in rural transition and non-transition contexts adopt different strategies based on place-specific institutional conditions.
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Entrepreneurship Within Urban and Rural Areas: Creative People and Social Networks
Creativity drives entrepreneurship in urban areas but not rural areas, despite urban environments being more competitive and supportive. Social networks prove especially critical for rural entrepreneurs, likely because rural areas have stronger personal ties but fewer institutional support systems. Creativity itself does not improve survival rates for new businesses in either setting.
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Looking at Agricultural Innovation Platforms through an Innovation Champion Lens
Innovation platforms bring agricultural stakeholders together to drive change, but the role of 'innovation champion' within these platforms remains poorly understood. This study analyzes three West African innovation platforms and identifies different types of champions using management science frameworks. The authors find that existing champion categories don't fully capture agricultural innovation dynamics, suggesting new categories may be needed and that champion interactions deserve further investigation.
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Transforming the Roles of a Public Extension Agency to Strengthen Innovation: Lessons from the National Agricultural Extension Project in Bangladesh
Bangladesh's public agricultural extension agency attempted to transform its role from linear technology transfer to facilitating interactive communication and stakeholder collaboration. However, the agency failed to strengthen collective action because institutional barriers persisted: staff remained wedded to technology-transfer models, undervalued intermediary roles like brokering and convening, and treated extension methods as information delivery rather than interactive learning. The study identifies obstacles preventing innovation systems thinking in low-income country extension work.
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Community Matters: Successful Entrepreneurship in Remote Rural US Locations
Rural entrepreneurs in remote US towns succeed more when motivated by family income and flexibility rather than wealth or personal challenge. Entrepreneurs in communities with strong bridging social capital—networks connecting diverse groups—perform better because these connections help retain skilled workers, reduce costs, access capital, and build customer loyalty. Community characteristics matter more than general rural disadvantages in explaining entrepreneurial success.
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Examining the Digital Divide between Rural and Urban Schools: Technology Availability, Teachers’ Integration Level and Students’ Perception
This study compared technology integration in rural and urban elementary schools in southern Taiwan using surveys of 275 teachers and 293 students. Rural schools had significantly fewer devices like interactive whiteboards, desktops, and tablets than urban schools. Rural teachers showed lower technology competence and integration levels than urban teachers. Students in rural schools had less experience with technology-based learning, particularly interactive whiteboards. The digital divide between rural and urban schools affected both infrastructure and teaching practices.
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Rural Entrepreneurship in an Emerging Economy: Reading Institutional Perspectives from Entrepreneur Stories
Rural entrepreneurs in China adapt their strategies to navigate weak institutional environments. They avoid external collaboration due to poor intellectual property protection, instead relying on family networks. These entrepreneurs strategically use guanxi (personal relationships) to overcome institutional constraints and build legitimacy through alliances with established firms or approval from authority figures.
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Explaining Broadband Adoption in Rural Australia: Modes of Reflexivity and the Morphogenetic Approach1
Australia's national broadband rollout requires rural areas to adopt new infrastructure, but adoption remains complex and contested. This paper uses critical realism to examine why rural communities and small businesses accept or reject broadband. The authors argue that individual reflexivity—how people think through their own circumstances—shapes adoption decisions alongside economic, cultural, and ideological factors.
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Agricultural innovation from above and from below: Confrontation and integration on Rwanda's Hills
Rwanda's smallholder banana farmers develop their own innovations alongside top-down agricultural modernization efforts promoted by the World Bank's Green Revolution agenda. The paper shows how farmers receive and adapt macro-level innovations while simultaneously creating grassroots solutions driven by their own risk-management needs. The authors argue that policymakers must prioritize farmers' capacity for bottom-up innovation when designing Rwanda's agricultural strategies.
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How Programme Teams Progress Agricultural Innovation in the Australian Dairy Industry
Programme teams in the Australian dairy sector bring together researchers, extension workers, farmers, and policymakers to drive agricultural innovation. These teams identify stakeholder needs, design change strategies, and pilot solutions—integrating research-led and demand-pull approaches. This semi-formal governance mechanism overcomes institutional weaknesses that favor simple technology adoption, though investment in such innovation capacity remains low and inconsistent across dairy domains.
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Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Rural Areas
Rural entrepreneurship reduces poverty, migration, and creates employment in rural areas. This study identifies barriers to rural entrepreneurship—including lack of capital, poor supply chains, economic dependence, and weak institutional support—and proposes a model for sustainable rural entrepreneurship. The research concludes that comprehensive rural development requires creating conditions for sustainable entrepreneurship, which enables communities to identify local resources and opportunities while solving problems and improving village conditions.
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Innovation in Management Plans for Community Conserved Areas: Experiences from Australian Indigenous Protected Areas
Australian Indigenous Protected Areas demonstrate innovative management approaches that integrate traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary conservation practices. These community-conserved areas develop adaptive management plans that balance environmental protection with Indigenous land rights and economic development. The study documents how Indigenous communities innovate in governance structures and planning processes to achieve conservation outcomes while maintaining cultural and livelihood benefits.
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Indigenous in the city: contemporary identities and cultural innovation
This edited collection examines how Indigenous peoples in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand construct and maintain cultural identities while living in urban environments. The chapters document Indigenous urbanization patterns, community formation, legal recognition, place-making practices, and cultural innovation in cities. The work shows how Indigenous communities adapt traditional identities to contemporary urban contexts through institutions, social networks, and cultural practices like powwows.
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Voluntary Simplicity, Involuntary Complexities, and the Pull of Remove: The Radical Ruralities of off-Grid Lifestyles
Off-grid residents in Canada's Yukon pursue voluntary simplicity by disconnecting from electricity, water, gas, and other infrastructure networks. However, the paper argues this lifestyle is not freely chosen but shaped by biographical and geographical constraints. The daily complexities of off-grid living create paradoxical, marginal spaces that reveal how residents navigate contradictions between their simplicity values and the demanding realities of their chosen isolation.
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Reducing vulnerability of rain‐fed agriculture to drought through indigenous knowledge systems in north‐eastern Ghana
Farmers in north-eastern Ghana reduce drought vulnerability in rain-fed agriculture by using indigenous knowledge systems. They plant multiple drought-resistant crop varieties, stagger planting across farms, apply organic manure, control soil erosion with grass strips and stone terracing, and adopt paddy farming for water conservation. The paper recommends integrating these indigenous practices into district development and climate adaptation planning.
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Renewable energy for rural communities in Maharashtra, India
A survey of rural communities in Maharashtra, India reveals significant interest in renewable energy technologies, but adoption depends primarily on cost, reliability, and ease of use rather than environmental benefits. The study identifies social attitudes and negative preconceptions as major barriers to sustainable energy adoption and proposes strategies to improve renewable technology uptake in rural areas.
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Working together to make Indigenous health care curricula everybody’s business: A graduate attribute teaching innovation report
A nursing education program redesigned its Indigenous health curriculum to be taught by all academic staff rather than only Indigenous instructors. The change integrates Indigenous content throughout courses instead of isolating it in specific subjects. The authors describe a collaborative process that required strong leadership, safe learning spaces for staff, and acknowledgment of concerns from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous faculty and students to successfully implement this curriculum innovation.
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Agricultural Financing in Nigeria: An Empirical Study of Nigerian Agricultural Co-operative and Rural Development Bank (NACRDB): 1990-2010
Agricultural credit significantly drives economic growth in Nigeria, but loan repayment failures have hampered development. The study of Nigeria's Agricultural Co-operative and Rural Development Bank from 1990-2010 reveals a strong relationship between agricultural financing and economic growth. The research recommends increasing loan availability and reducing interest rates to boost rural agricultural development and national economic expansion.
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Access to Microfinance by Rural Women: Implications for Poverty Reduction in Rural Households in Ghana
Microfinance access reduces poverty among rural households in Ghana's Upper East Region, though modestly. Using treatment effect estimation on 500 rural participants, the study finds that receiving microfinance credit decreases poverty by 0.12 percent, measured through consumption expenditure. The authors conclude microfinance works even in extremely poor areas and recommend expanding programs while tailoring delivery to local conditions.
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SUSTAINABILITY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES IN RURAL GHANA: THE ROLE OF MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS
Microfinance institutions in rural Ghana improve small and medium enterprise performance, helping recipients enhance business activities, increase outputs, and manage finances better than non-recipients. However, challenges like delayed loan disbursement and repayment difficulties persist. The paper recommends timely credit delivery, flexible repayment terms, and awareness programs to sustain rural enterprise growth.
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Impact of Microfinance on Rural Transformation in Nigeria
Microfinance banks in Nigeria fill a critical gap left by traditional deposit money banks, providing financial services to rural poor communities. The study finds that microfinance positively impacts rural transformation through agricultural loans, investment opportunities, savings mobilization, and community development financing. However, challenges including loan repayment problems, borrower illiteracy, and weak monitoring of enterprises limit effectiveness. The authors recommend better product-customer alignment, improved cash flow analysis, expanded service offerings, and stronger regulatory oversight.
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Comparative study of economic viability of rural electrification using renewable energy resources versus diesel generator option in Saudi Arabia
This study compares the economic viability of renewable energy systems versus diesel generators for rural electrification in Saudi Arabia. Analyzing a real power station expansion, researchers calculated levelized costs of energy for wind, solar, hybrid, and diesel options under different ownership structures. Wind energy emerged as the most cost-effective choice, followed by diesel generators, hybrid systems, and solar. Capital costs drove the economic outcomes more than operating expenses.
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Microfinance Interventions and Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs Rural Constituencies in Kenya
Microfinance institutions in rural Kenya provide credit, savings, and training services to women entrepreneurs. This study examined 80 microfinance members in Mogotio Constituency and found that microcredit and training significantly improved women's empowerment, while savings programs showed no significant effect. The findings support targeted microfinance interventions designed to strengthen women entrepreneurs in rural areas.
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Development of low-CO 2 -emission vehicles and utilization of local renewable energy for the vitalization of rural areas in Japan
Japan's rural areas face energy dependency and aging populations. This project developed low-CO2 vehicles—a micro-electric vehicle for single drivers and a low-speed electric bus—designed for elderly residents and tourists. Researchers tested renewable energy sources to power these vehicles, partnering with regional industries, local universities, and municipal governments to create sustainable mobility solutions that revitalize rural communities.
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Renewable energy integration in to microgrid: Powering rural Maharashtra State of India
Maharashtra State in India faces severe energy shortages and relies heavily on depleting fossil fuels. This paper demonstrates that renewable energy resources exist at scale in rural Maharashtra and proposes integrating these sources through microgrids to eliminate forced power cuts. The authors argue that successful integration requires improved infrastructure, institutional reforms, capacity building, and attention to social and market factors.
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Foreign and Indigenous Innovation in China: Some Evidence from Shanghai
China's policy push for indigenous innovation aims to reduce reliance on foreign technology and move beyond low-cost manufacturing. This paper examines multinational R&D centers in Shanghai to assess their innovation contributions and potential unintended consequences. The authors investigate whether policies using market access and procurement to capture global R&D activity within China will achieve their goals or create unexpected problems.
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Optimal Operational Strategy of Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Rural Electrification of a Remote Algeria
This paper designs hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar, wind, and diesel generation for remote rural electrification in Algeria. Using simulation software and meteorological data from five Algerian regions, the researchers determined optimal system configurations and operating strategies. Results show that solar-diesel hybrid systems deliver the best economic performance and lowest pollution, with solar and wind energy proving cheaper and cleaner than diesel alone.
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Role of Renewable Energy Technologies for Rural Electrification in Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nepal
Renewable energy technologies can electrify rural areas in Nepal and help achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The paper examines how solar, biomass, and other renewable sources address the energy access gap in remote communities, supporting poverty reduction, improved healthcare, and education outcomes while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
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Microfinance from the Clients' Perspective: An Empirical Enquiry into Transaction Costs in Urban and Rural India
This study examines transaction costs for microfinance clients in urban and rural India, analyzing 255 individual borrowers and 48 groups. Urban clients face higher absolute transaction costs (4.81% versus 3.35%), driven by opportunity expenses and individual costs. However, rural households experience greater relative burden since transaction costs consume a larger share of their monthly expenditure. Overall, transaction costs remain modest compared to interest rates.
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Micro-Scale Wind Resource Assessment for Off-Grid Electrification Projects in Rural Communities. A Case Study in Peru
This study evaluates micro-scale wind resource assessment tools for off-grid rural electrification in remote areas. Researchers tested a computer model in two Andean communities in Peru to determine if standard wind assessment tools could work despite limited data and steep terrain. The model performed well and produced accurate resource maps at the community scale, proving suitable for designing small-scale rural electrification projects in developing countries.
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Determinants of women's participation in microfinance services: empirical evidence from Rural Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
This study identifies factors that determine whether rural women in Ethiopia use microfinance services. Researchers surveyed 203 women in Dire Dawa, comparing users and non-users. Monthly savings, family size, and land ownership significantly influenced participation decisions. The findings suggest that improving women's access to land and capital assets are essential strategies for expanding microfinance uptake in rural areas.
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Assessment of Indigenous Knowledge Practices for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria
Rural farmers in Nigeria's Idemili South region possess extensive indigenous knowledge for sustainable agriculture and food security, including practices like mulching, organic manure use, and traditional food preservation. The study identifies major barriers to wider adoption: lack of documentation, time demands, and poor recognition. Recommendations include using ICT infrastructure to document and share indigenous practices, and providing financial incentives to reduce farmers' implementation costs.
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MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF WATER SOURCES FROM THE LARGEST DISTRICT IN GREATER-ACCRA REGION, GHANA: A CALL FOR INNOVATIONAL SCHEMES TOWARDS RURAL WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
This study tested 122 water samples from various sources in Ghana's Dangme West district to assess microbiological contamination. Dams and rivers showed the highest bacterial counts, exceeding safe drinking water standards. Contamination levels differed significantly between rainy and dry seasons. The findings highlight urgent needs for improved rural water management systems and innovative approaches to protect public health in developing country water supplies.
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Developing a framework for responsible innovation
This paper presents a framework for responsible innovation governance in emerging science and technology. The authors identify four key dimensions—anticipation, reflexivity, inclusion, and responsiveness—developed through a UK geoengineering research project. They argue this framework helps democracies manage controversial innovations and has broad applicability beyond the UK research context.
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Airbnb: disruptive innovation and the rise of an informal tourism accommodation sector
Airbnb represents a disruptive innovation that leverages internet technology to enable homeowners to rent residences as tourist accommodation. The platform offers cost savings, household amenities, and authentic local experiences that appeal to mainstream consumers despite lacking traditional hotel attributes. The paper examines regulatory challenges, tax concerns, and Airbnb's potential to transform the accommodation sector with both positive and negative destination impacts.
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Triple Helix Systems: An Analytical Framework for Innovation Policy and Practice in the Knowledge Society
This paper develops the Triple Helix framework—university, industry, and government interactions—into a formal systems model for analyzing innovation. It identifies key components including R&D and non-R&D innovators, hybrid institutions, and individual actors. Five relationship types (technology transfer, collaboration, leadership, substitution, networking) connect these components across knowledge, innovation, and consensus spaces. The framework reveals how knowledge and resources circulate within regional innovation systems and identifies blockages that impede innovation.
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Knowledge Networks, Collaboration Networks, and Exploratory Innovation
Innovation depends on two distinct networks within firms: collaboration networks between researchers and knowledge networks linking knowledge elements. Using patent data from a microprocessor manufacturer, the study finds that structural holes in collaboration networks boost exploratory innovation, while structural holes in knowledge networks reduce it. Moderate centrality in knowledge networks maximizes exploration, but high centrality in collaboration networks decreases it. The two networks shape where researchers search for new discoveries.
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Network Innovation using OpenFlow: A Survey
This survey examines OpenFlow, the leading Software Defined Networking technology that separates network control from data forwarding. OpenFlow enables researchers to test new networking ideas in production environments through software-based controllers managing switch behavior. The paper reviews OpenFlow capabilities including traffic analysis and dynamic rule updates, describes applications in network management and data center virtualization, discusses existing research infrastructures, and identifies challenges for large-scale deployment.
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Closed or open innovation? Problem solving and the governance choice
Open and closed innovation represent distinct governance structures with different costs and benefits. The authors argue that innovation problems should be matched to appropriate governance forms based on problem type. They identify four open innovation models—markets, partnerships, contests, and user communities—and compare them with two closed forms: authority-based and consensus-based hierarchies. Each governance form uses different communication channels, incentives, and property rights mechanisms.
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How constraints and knowledge impact open innovation
This study examines how resource constraints and external knowledge availability shape firms' innovation strategies and performance. Using survey data from Swiss companies, the researchers find that resource constraints reduce innovative performance but push firms toward broader, shallower searches for external knowledge. Abundant external knowledge boosts performance and creates a U-shaped relationship with search breadth and depth, meaning firms either search narrowly and deeply or broadly and shallowly.
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Open service innovation and the firm's search for external knowledge
This paper examines how service firms and manufacturing companies adopting service-inclusive models engage in open innovation—collaborating across organizational boundaries to access external knowledge. Using UK firm data, the authors find that business services firms are more active open innovators than manufacturers, rely more on informal knowledge-exchange practices, and prioritize scientific and technical knowledge. Open innovation engagement increases with firm size and R&D spending.
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Absorptive Capacity and the Growth and Investment Effects of Regional Transfers: A Regression Discontinuity Design with Heterogeneous Treatment Effects
EU regional transfer programs only benefit regions with sufficient human capital and strong institutions. The study finds that just 30 percent of recipient regions convert transfers into faster income growth, and 21 percent into increased investment. A region's absorptive capacity—its ability to effectively use funds—matters far more than the average program effect, with treatment outcomes varying dramatically across regions.
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Social innovation, an answer to contemporary societal challenges? Locating the concept in theory and practice
Social innovation is promoted as a solution to societal challenges through inclusive practices and grassroots initiatives, but the concept has been stretched across so many different academic and policy contexts that it risks losing coherence. The authors argue that for social innovation to become a useful policy tool, researchers and policymakers need clearer theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence about what political and economic changes are necessary to support it effectively.
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Implementing Open Innovation in the Public Sector: The Case of Challenge.gov
The Obama administration launched Challenge.gov to bring open innovation practices from the private sector into federal government. The platform crowdsources solutions to complex public problems by tapping external problem solvers and collective intelligence. The paper examines how the General Services Administration implemented this crowdsourcing approach, documenting the change management process and lessons learned for designing open innovation in government agencies.
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Learning from openness: The dynamics of breadth in external innovation linkages
Manufacturing plants that maintain external innovation partnerships over time become more effective at converting those partnerships into innovation outputs. Irish firms with prior experience collaborating with external knowledge sources generate greater innovation returns from their current openness activities. This learning effect means experienced firms extract more value from the same breadth of external linkages compared to less experienced firms.
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Value creation and capture mechanisms in innovation ecosystems: a comparative case study
This comparative case study examines how innovation ecosystems create and capture value. The authors analyze mechanisms across different contexts to understand the processes by which organizations within ecosystems generate economic returns and distribute benefits among participants. The research identifies key patterns in value creation and appropriation strategies that vary across ecosystem types.
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Using users: When does external knowledge enhance corporate product innovation?
User knowledge significantly enhances corporate product innovation, particularly in new technology areas and radical innovations. The study examined medical device companies collaborating with innovative physicians and found that these user collaborations generate stronger innovation outcomes than relying solely on external knowledge from other firms or universities.
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Responsible Innovation Toward Sustainable Development in Small and Medium‐Sized Enterprises: a Resource Perspective
Small and medium-sized enterprises can develop responsible innovations for sustainable development even with limited resources. Research on 13 Nordic SMEs shows that equity capital is necessary, but the specific resource combinations needed vary by innovation type. Business model innovations require minimal resources—mainly equity and social capital—while environmental technology innovations demand more abundant resources, particularly industry knowledge and R&D cooperation.
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The social underpinnings of absorptive capacity: The moderating effects of structural holes on innovation generation based on external knowledge
Individual scientists and engineers who bridge structural holes in their organization's internal knowledge network generate more innovations from external knowledge sources. Using data from 276 R&D professionals at a multinational tech company, the study shows that an employee's position in the internal social network determines how effectively they convert external knowledge into innovations. Those connecting otherwise disconnected groups innovate more from outside information.
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Responsible Innovation: Managing the Responsible Emergence of Science and Innovation in Society
This book review examines a collection of essays on responsible innovation that develops frameworks for managing science and technology emergence in society. The authors define responsible innovation as a pluralistic process balancing diverse viewpoints while anticipating future impacts, operating within market-driven systems, and representing collective commitment to stewardship. The collection combines philosophical perspectives with practical approaches, addressing ethical issues in emerging fields like nanotechnology and geo-engineering through global perspectives including European normative standards for sustainability and social desirability.
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Open source and journalism: toward new frameworks for imagining news innovation
Journalists and technologists collaborate globally through open-source software projects to innovate news production. The authors examine open-source culture's core values—transparency, tinkering, iteration, and participation—and evaluate how these principles align with or challenge traditional journalism practices. They argue open-source frameworks offer new ways to understand and advance innovation in newswork.
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Open Collaboration for Innovation: Principles and Performance
Open collaboration—where participants create goods, reuse each other's work, coordinate loosely, and allow anyone to contribute—drives innovation across software, medicine, science, and everyday ventures. Using computational modeling, the authors show that open collaboration performs well even under difficult conditions: when cooperators are outnumbered, free riders exist, diversity is low, or resources are scarce. The model reveals that cooperativeness, participant diversity, and resource rivalry shape performance. Open collaboration represents a viable organizational form likely to expand beyond its current domains.
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Frugal Innovation: Core Competencies to Address Global Sustainability
Frugal innovation represents a core competency for addressing global sustainability challenges. The paper examines how resource-constrained approaches to innovation can deliver effective solutions to pressing environmental and social problems worldwide, positioning frugal methods as essential capabilities for organizations committed to sustainable development.
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Core Knowledge Employee Creativity and Firm Performance: The Moderating Role of Riskiness Orientation, Firm Size, and Realized Absorptive Capacity
This study examines how employee creativity affects firm performance in high-technology companies, finding that the relationship depends on three factors: firms with high risk tolerance see creativity hurt performance, while firms with strong absorptive capacity see it improve performance, and small firms benefit more from creativity than large firms do.
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Making the Most of Where You Are: Geography, Networks, and Innovation in Organizations
Geographic proximity to industry peers boosts innovation performance, but this effect depends on a firm's internal network structure. Companies far from competitors benefit from inefficient, diverse internal networks that generate knowledge internally. Companies near competitors perform better with cohesive networks that efficiently process information. The study analyzed nanotechnology firms in the US from 1990 to 2004.
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RETHINKING THE ROLE OF INTERMEDIARIES AS AN ARCHITECT OF COLLECTIVE EXPLORATION AND CREATION OF KNOWLEDGE IN OPEN INNOVATION
Intermediaries in open innovation do more than broker connections or facilitate networks. This paper studies two traffic safety innovation cases where intermediaries actively shaped collaborative knowledge creation by designing exploration processes and providing leadership. Rather than passive facilitators, these intermediaries acted as architects, structuring joint problem-solving when no single organization could tackle challenges alone.
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Mandate Versus Championship: Vertical government intervention and diffusion of innovation in public services in authoritarian China
In authoritarian China, vertical government intervention drives public service innovation through two distinct mechanisms. Administrative mandates create rapid, uniform policy diffusion across regions, while competition in performance-based personnel systems encourages local governments to diverge and customize policies. The study challenges conventional theories about how geography, competition, and hierarchical control shape innovation spread.
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Light‐Touch Integration of Chinese Cross‐Border M&A: The Influences of Culture and Absorptive Capacity
Chinese multinational corporations pursuing cross-border mergers and acquisitions in Germany adopt a 'light-touch integration' approach that balances preservation of acquired firms' autonomy with selective integration. This strategy accounts for cultural differences and leverages learning opportunities, enabling mutual benefits for acquiring firms, targets, and partner organizations while managing the complexities of post-acquisition integration.
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Responsible research and innovation: The role of privacy in an emerging framework
This paper defines responsible research and innovation (RRI) as a meta-responsibility framework that coordinates researchers, industry, policymakers, and civil society to ensure desirable research outcomes. It examines privacy's critical role within RRI, discusses current framework dimensions and weaknesses, and proposes directions for integrating privacy and data protection into RRI governance.
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Consensus + innovations distributed inference over networks: cooperation and sensing in networked systems
This paper presents distributed inference algorithms that combine consensus mechanisms with real-time sensing innovations across networked agents without central coordination. Agents communicate locally over sparse networks while simultaneously sensing new observations, rather than iterating to consensus between measurements. The authors develop asymptotically optimal approaches that match centralized inference performance by balancing collaboration potential against local innovation potential through mixed-scale stochastic approximation.
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Open innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises: An overview
Open innovation—combining external and internal ideas to advance technology—has become central to firm strategy since 2000. However, research focuses heavily on large multinational corporations. This special issue addresses the gap by examining how small and medium-sized enterprises adopt open innovation practices, exploring collaboration with external knowledge sources and pathways to commercialization in smaller firms.
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A vision of Responsible Innovation
The paper presents a framework for responsible innovation and proposes how governments and institutions should implement it through public policy. Von Schomberg defines what responsible innovation means and offers concrete strategies for putting this vision into practice across sectors and organizations.
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When Does Search Openness Really Matter? A Contingency Study of Health‐Care Innovation Projects
Open innovation strategies for healthcare product development show an inverted U-shaped relationship with success—too little or too much external knowledge sourcing hurts outcomes. The effectiveness of open search depends on project type, leader experience, and organizational support. Exploratory projects benefit most from openness, while experienced leaders and creative work environments maximize returns from external knowledge.
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Externalities of openness in innovation
Open innovation practices generate positive externalities that benefit firms beyond their direct participants, improving knowledge diffusion and innovation performance across industries. Using Irish manufacturing data from 1994–2008, the authors find that these externalities significantly boost firms' innovation outputs through increased knowledge spread and competition, not through adoption of open practices alone. The gap between private and social returns to openness suggests firms adopt it suboptimally, justifying public policies that encourage open innovation.
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Promoting innovation and excellence to face the rapid diffusion of Novel Psychoactive Substances in the EU: the outcomes of the ReDNet project
The ReDNet project monitored online drug markets across eight European countries to identify novel psychoactive substances and combat their rapid spread. Researchers tracked over 650 NPS products through websites and forums, then developed prevention messages delivered via websites, SMS, social media, and smartphone apps. The project demonstrated that web-monitoring combined with technology-based interventions effectively reaches young people and informs policymakers about emerging drug threats.
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Absorptive Capacity in Buyer–supplier Relationships: Empirical Evidence of Its Mediating Role
Absorptive capacity—the ability to identify, assimilate, and exploit external knowledge—mediates the relationship between organizational compatibility and performance outcomes in buyer-supplier relationships. Analysis of 153 and 199 companies supplying major retailers and distributors shows that compatibility alone does not ensure innovation and efficiency gains. Absorptive capacity drives these improvements, particularly for innovation under high demand uncertainty. Managers must prioritize partners' learning capabilities, not just compatibility.
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Breakthrough innovation: the roles of dynamic innovation capabilities and open innovation activities
Dynamic innovation capabilities show an inverted U-shaped relationship with breakthrough innovation—too much or too little hurts performance. Open innovation activities strengthen this relationship by helping firms coordinate their capabilities effectively. The study surveyed 218 Taiwanese firms with recent breakthrough innovation experience, finding that managers must balance their dynamic capabilities and engage in open innovation to succeed.
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IP Models to Orchestrate Innovation Ecosystems: IMEC, a Public Research Institute in Nano-Electronics
Public research institutes can orchestrate innovation ecosystems through intellectual property governance models. IMEC, a nano-electronics research institute, demonstrates how IP policies determine how ecosystem partners capture value from collaborative research. The institute's multi-party model involving public and private firms shows that IP governance directly influences ecosystem success and partner participation.
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Perspectives on Supply Network–Enabled Innovations
Organizations increasingly rely on their supply networks to drive innovation success. This paper presents two frameworks showing how firms can integrate their internal knowledge with supply network expertise to improve innovation performance. The frameworks draw on absorptive capacity and ambidexterity theories to explain how companies align internal research efforts with external supply network knowledge.
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Innovation intermediaries: a process view on open innovation coordination
Innovation intermediaries play a crucial role in coordinating collaborative innovation projects across organizational networks. The study identifies three strategic capabilities that distinguish intermediaries from traditional project managers and online marketplaces: matchmaking and innovation process design, collaborative project management, and project valuation with portfolio management. These intermediaries facilitate co-creation and economic exchange in nested innovation processes.
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Cloud computing networking: challenges and opportunities for innovations
Cloud computing providers face networking challenges in managing infrastructure-as-a-service facilities, particularly around resource provisioning, tenant visibility, and multi-facility federation. The paper examines existing technological approaches to these problems and proposes software-defined networking as an innovative solution for more efficient cloud infrastructure management.
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Responsible Aquaculture in 2050: Valuing Local Conditions and Human Innovations Will Be Key to Success
Aquaculture must expand sustainably by 2050 by improving management practices, emphasizing local decision-making and human capacity development, implementing risk management to prevent disease and contamination, and creating market systems that identify and promote sustainable products. The paper argues that respecting local conditions and human innovation will be essential to avoid the intensification mistakes made in agriculture.
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The Diffusion of Innovation
This paper examines how innovations spread through populations by focusing on influentials—key individuals who drive adoption. Taylor argues that understanding and targeting these influential actors is critical to accelerating the diffusion of new ideas and practices across communities.
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Do Frugal and Reverse Innovation Foster Sustainability? Introduction of a Conceptual Framework
This paper examines how frugal and reverse innovation relate to sustainability performance. The authors establish connections between these innovation approaches and sustainability across three dimensions: resource sustainability in value creation, process sustainability, and outcome sustainability. They argue that improvements in these sustainability dimensions drive better market performance for companies.
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Between local innovation and global impact: cities, networks, and the governance of climate change
Cities and city networks like the C40 Climate Leadership Group drive climate innovation outside formal international agreements, which have failed to reduce emissions. These non-state actors challenge traditional governance norms and generate coordinated responses through networks. The paper examines C40's history and network dynamics, then recommends Canada update federal climate policy to support city-network initiatives, fill policy gaps, and connect climate action to urban priorities.
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How information systems help create OM capabilities: Consequents and antecedents of operational absorptive capacity
Organizations use information systems to build knowledge management capabilities in operations departments. This study examines how technical IS design (integrated systems) and strategic alignment between business and IT enhance operational absorptive capacity—the ability to create and use operational knowledge. Analysis of 153 manufacturing firms shows that integrated IS capability strengthens both potential and realized absorptive capacity, with business-IT alignment amplifying these effects.
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From Open Data to Open Innovation Strategies: Creating E-Services Using Open Government Data
This case study examines Singapore's open government data initiative and demonstrates how open innovation strategies can encourage businesses and citizens to create e-services using publicly available datasets. The research identifies key considerations for transforming a government data portal into an open innovation platform and for motivating participation in data reuse. The findings contribute to understanding how open data initiatives can drive collaborative innovation and service development.
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Business model innovation from an open systems perspective: structural challenges and managerial solutions
Business model innovation requires firms to navigate interdependencies across organizational boundaries rather than focus solely on internal capabilities. The authors argue that because business models are systemic and span firm boundaries, companies lack complete control over their networks. They propose that managers should develop shared knowledge, build trust-based appropriability regimes, maintain network stability, and align diverse stakeholder interests to overcome these structural constraints.
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Open innovation in SMEs
Open innovation practices significantly boost UK SMEs' international competitiveness and export performance. The study of 64 UK firms shows that success depends on combining internal factors—R&D capacity and management competencies—with external factors including open innovation collaboration and government R&D grants. SMEs that collaborate with universities and other firms through open innovation achieve stronger competitive advantage than closed-innovation firms.
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The Role of Public and Private Protection in Disruptive Innovation: The Automotive Industry and the Emergence of Low‐Emission Vehicles
Car manufacturers pursuing low-emission vehicles face challenges making disruptive technology attractive to mainstream customers. This study examines how public protection levers—regulation, tax incentives, and public-private partnerships—and private levers—resource allocation, niche occupation, and collaboration—shape manufacturer strategies. Analysis of Daimler, General Motors, and Toyota across European, Japanese, and U.S. markets reveals two distinct trajectories: public protection initially drove commercialization but stalled due to systemic barriers, while private protection strategies subsequently gained momentum.
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Managing research and innovation networks: Evidence from a government sponsored cross-industry program
This paper examines how a Swedish government program called ProcessIT Innovations managed cross-industry collaboration between traditional process industries and emerging IT firms. The researchers identified specific challenges in configuring the network, orchestrating partnerships, and facilitating innovation projects. They developed a model for managing research and innovation networks that bring together different industries and connect firms with research institutions.
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Knowledge creation capability, absorptive capacity, and product innovativeness
Knowledge creation capability and absorptive capacity both independently boost product innovativeness in firms. Together, they create a synergistic effect that strengthens innovation outcomes. In highly turbulent technological environments, knowledge creation capability becomes even more critical, while absorptive capacity's impact weakens. The study surveyed 212 Chinese firms to reach these conclusions.
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Open Innovation and Firm Performance: The Mediating Role of Social Capital
Open innovation practices improve firm performance through two pathways: direct effects and indirect effects mediated by social capital. The study shows that when firms implement open innovation instruments, they build stronger social networks and relationships. These enhanced social connections then drive better firm performance. Social capital acts as a crucial mechanism linking innovation practices to business outcomes.
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An Advantage of Newness: Vicarious Learning Despite Limited Absorptive Capacity
New firms entering markets typically lack the knowledge and capabilities of established competitors, but they can overcome this disadvantage through vicarious learning from incumbents. This study shows that new entrants actually learn more effectively from external knowledge during their own experiential learning processes than established firms do. Using data from U.S. commercial banking, the researchers find that entrants gain twice as much vicarious learning relative to their experiential learning compared to incumbents, suggesting newness creates a learning advantage rather than just a liability.
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Enabling Open Innovation in Small and Medium Enterprises: A Dynamic Capabilities Approach
Small and medium manufacturing enterprises with strong dynamic capabilities—particularly in sensing market opportunities, seizing them, and reconfiguring resources—are more likely to adopt open innovation practices. The study identifies which internal capabilities enable SMEs to successfully implement collaborative innovation approaches, linking organizational competencies directly to open innovation adoption.
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The Identification and Characterization of Open Innovation Profiles in Italian Small and Medium‐sized Enterprises
Italian small and medium-sized manufacturers adopt three distinct open innovation approaches: selective low open, unselective open upstream, and mid-partners integrated open. The study surveyed 105 firms and found that these profiles differ significantly in their collaboration breadth, motivations, barriers, and performance outcomes. Companies vary in how openly they source external innovation across different phases of their innovation processes.
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Using Open Innovation to Identify the Best Ideas
Open innovation—sourcing ideas and selection from outside organizations—offers companies access to diverse knowledge and higher-quality solutions. The authors identify three strategic choices: opening idea generation, idea selection, or both. Success requires understanding what to open and managing new challenges like contracting with external contributors, shifting cost and risk to idea generators, and aligning outsider incentives with company goals.
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External knowledge sourcing from innovation cooperation and the role of absorptive capacity: empirical evidence from Norway and Sweden
Firms cannot freely access external knowledge for innovation. Using data from Norway and Sweden, this study shows that companies with strong absorptive capacity—measured by internal R&D spending, employee training, and educated workforces—successfully engage in innovation cooperation with external partners. Firms lacking these internal investments struggle to adopt open innovation approaches, revealing that sourcing external knowledge requires substantial upfront costs.
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The Effect of Selective Openness on Value Creation in User Innovation Communities
This study examines how selective openness in product design affects value creation in user innovation communities. Analyzing 309 members across 20 online communities in consumer electronics and IT hardware, the researchers found that openness increases community members' involvement and contributions. However, different forms of openness—transparency, accessibility, and replicability—have varying impacts. Users value openness in areas where they have capabilities and incentives to contribute, suggesting firms can balance external value creation with internal value capture more effectively than previously thought.
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A study of contingency relationships between supplier involvement, absorptive capacity and agile product innovation
This paper examines how supplier involvement affects product innovation performance, with absorptive capacity acting as a moderating factor. The research uses agility as a key performance dimension, showing that a firm's ability to absorb external knowledge influences the strength of the relationship between supplier partnerships and successful product innovation outcomes.
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Beating competitors to international markets: The value of geographically balanced networks for innovation
Technology-based ventures that balance local and foreign network connections develop innovations faster for international markets than those relying on either type alone. The advantage of geographic network balance grows stronger when innovations are more complex or when industries move faster. This finding challenges the debate over whether local or foreign partners matter more for innovation.
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Open Data as a Foundation for Innovation: The Enabling Effect of Free Public Sector Information for Entrepreneurs
Swedish IT entrepreneurs report that open public sector data is critical for their business success. Forty-three percent consider it essential for their plans, and 82% say access would strengthen their operations. Companies value open data not just for direct commercialization but as a foundation for testing and supporting diverse business models. The findings suggest open data's innovation-enabling role extends far beyond government transparency and e-government applications, indicating its societal value has been significantly underestimated.
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Factors influencing pharmacists’ adoption of prescribing: qualitative application of the diffusion of innovations theory
When Alberta granted pharmacists prescribing privileges in 2007, adoption varied widely among practitioners. Pharmacists adopted prescribing based on four factors: the innovation's characteristics, individual adopter traits, system readiness, and physician relationships. Those in patient-focused settings and with higher self-efficacy adopted prescribing more readily. Physician relationships significantly influenced whether pharmacists pursued independent prescribing privileges.
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Market-Based Instruments for Ecosystem Services: Institutional Innovation or Renovation?
Market-based instruments for ecosystem services have proliferated globally, but their actual institutional design varies widely from their theoretical promise. This paper examines payments for environmental services and biodiversity offsets—both labeled as market-based instruments—and finds significant gaps between the pro-market rhetoric surrounding these policies and their actual implementation. The instruments are less genuinely innovative than claimed and take diverse institutional forms depending on local context.
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The Role of Early Adopters in the Diffusion of New Products: Differences between Platform and Nonplatform Innovations
Early adopters play different roles in spreading platform versus nonplatform innovations. For platform innovations, early adopters drive diffusion by sharing their opinions and experiences with others. For nonplatform innovations, early adopters drive diffusion through imitation—later buyers adopt simply because competitors have adopted. Firms should target different early adopter segments based on innovation type to maximize diffusion success.
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The role of public open innovation intermediaries in local government and the public sector
Public open innovation intermediaries act as bridges between city governments and networks of organizations, helping cities collaborate across large cognitive distances and execute innovation projects. A study of eight cases across Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain shows these intermediaries orchestrate collaboration and boost urban innovativeness. The findings provide policy guidance for cities seeking to improve their innovation processes and competitiveness.
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Shock Absorption Capacity of Restorative Materials for Dental Implant Prostheses: An In Vitro Study
This laboratory study measured how different dental crown materials absorb shock from chewing forces. Researchers tested nine materials—zirconia, glass-ceramics, gold alloy, composite resins, and acrylic resins—using a robotic chewing machine. Acrylic and composite resin crowns absorbed the most force, transmitting the least stress to implant bone, while zirconia transmitted the highest forces. Material choice significantly affects how much force reaches the bone around dental implants.
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Water Holding Capacity and Absorption Properties of Wood Chars
Wood chars produced from poplar and pine at different temperatures show strong positive correlations between water holding capacity and total pore volume. Surface area alone does not predict water holding capacity, but pore size distribution matters significantly. Large pores facilitate water movement to smaller pores, while mesopore volume critically affects water absorption rates. These findings support using biomass char as a soil amendment.
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Realising potential: The impact of business incubation on the absorptive capacity of new technology-based firms
University technology business incubators strengthen new technology firms' ability to absorb and apply new knowledge. The study finds that collaborative dialogue between founders, mentors, advisers, and incubator directors creates an iterative process that converts potential absorptive capacity into realized capacity. This interaction directly improves how firms develop viable business models and integrate external knowledge.
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The empathic care robot: A prototype of responsible research and innovation
This paper presents a prototype care robot with emotional capabilities to explore ethical issues in emerging technologies. The authors use this fictional scenario to demonstrate how responsible research and innovation practices can anticipate and address ethical problems before technologies are deployed. They argue that integrating ethical considerations into technology development from the start helps ensure innovations are socially acceptable and desirable.
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Openness in innovation and business models: lessons from the newspaper industry
This paper examines how open business models affect the newspaper industry in Denmark. Using interviews with major media companies and data from 2002-2011, the authors show that internet technology disrupted traditional newspaper business models. They argue that openness in business models is more complex than existing literature suggests, with different implications for business viability than previously reported.
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Disruptive Innovation … in Reverse: Adding a Geographical Dimension to Disruptive Innovation Theory
This paper integrates disruptive innovation theory with reverse innovation to explain how emerging economies generate new products and technological solutions. The authors propose a geographical framework for categorizing disruptive innovation, showing that innovations originating in developing regions can challenge established markets globally. The work expands innovation theory by recognizing emerging economies as legitimate sources of disruption rather than mere adopters.
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Elementary Classroom Teachers’ Adoption of Physical Activity Promotion in the Context of a Statewide Policy: An Innovation Diffusion and Socio-Ecologic Perspective
A study of 201 elementary teachers in South Carolina examined how they adopted physical activity promotion in classrooms following a state policy mandate. Teachers with greater policy awareness and perceived school support were more likely to adopt the practice. The adoption also depended on teachers viewing the activity as compatible, simple, and observable, and on their general innovativeness. The findings identify key factors that influence whether teachers implement policy-driven physical activity initiatives.
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Evolution, roots and influence of the literature on National Systems of Innovation: a bibliometric account
This bibliometric analysis traces the National Systems of Innovation literature from its roots in innovation economics and science policy research through its evolution over 20 years. The field shows irregular publication patterns and lacks a unified analytical framework. While NSI research concentrates in the United Kingdom, Denmark, and the United States, its influence spreads globally across economics, geography, environmental studies, and business disciplines, with citations from scholars worldwide particularly in Latin America and Asia.
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Start-up absorptive capacity: Does the owner’s human and social capital matter?
Owner human and social capital significantly influence how new ventures absorb external information. Analysis of 199 Flemish start-ups shows that owner experience and bridging social capital boost absorptive capacity. Management experience helps in dynamic environments but hinders performance in stable ones. The effect of owner human capital decreases as environmental turbulence increases.
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<scp>CAP</scp> Reform and Innovation: The Role of Learning and Innovation Networks
European agricultural innovation requires networks connecting farmers, experts, businesses, and knowledge institutions to develop sustainable practices. The paper proposes Learning and Innovation Networks for Sustainable Agriculture (LINSA) as policy mechanisms that enable knowledge sharing and collaborative problem-solving across the rural economy. These networks can help agriculture adapt to future environmental and economic constraints while advancing sustainability goals.
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Framework of open innovation in SMEs in an emerging economy: firm characteristics, network openness, and network information
This study examines open innovation practices among small and medium enterprises in China using survey data from 420 firms. The research shows that firm characteristics like innovation capacity and barriers, combined with network openness and information flow, significantly influence how Chinese SMEs engage in open innovation. The findings demonstrate that open innovation represents a viable strategy for emerging market SMEs seeking to overcome resource constraints.
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An empirical study of firm’s absorptive capacity dimensions, supplier involvement and new product development performance
This study examines how manufacturing firms develop new products by analyzing the role of supplier involvement and absorptive capacity—the organization's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external knowledge. Using data from 161 firms, the research finds that absorptive capacity dimensions have varying effects on both financial and non-financial new product performance, and that absorptive capacity moderates how supplier involvement influences outcomes.
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SME innovation and learning: the role of networks and crisis events
Small and medium enterprises learn and innovate primarily through informal networks, mentoring, and coaching rather than formal training. Innovative SMEs show stronger commitment to learning, embrace shared organizational vision, and learn effectively from crisis events through reflection. Access to external mentors and informal networks significantly supports SME innovation and learning.
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Technology as system innovation: a key informant interview study of the application of the diffusion of innovation model to telecare
This study examined factors influencing adoption and use of telecare technologies through interviews with 16 key participants from organizations developing and providing these services. The research found that successful telecare implementation depends on complex interactions between technology features, individual adopters, organizational readiness, and implementation processes. Critical barriers included user system complexity, insufficient ongoing support after initial adoption, and weak connections between technology designers and end users. Telecare succeeds only when treated as a coordinated system involving multiple stakeholders, not merely as a technology.
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Special Topic Forum On Innovation In Business Networks From A Supply Chain Perspective: Current Status and Opportunities for Future Research
This editorial identifies a significant gap between how businesses value innovation in supply chain networks and the limited academic research addressing this intersection. The authors assess current research status, highlight key issues, and propose a future research agenda while acknowledging the challenges scholars will face in pursuing these directions.
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Imports and TFP at the firm level: the role of absorptive capacity
This paper examines how importing intermediate goods and capital equipment affects firm productivity in Spain between 1991 and 2002. The researchers find that importing boosts total factor productivity, but only for firms with sufficient absorptive capacity—measured by their proportion of skilled workers. Firms lacking skilled labor see minimal productivity gains from imports.
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The Geography and Structure of Global Innovation Networks: A Knowledge Base Perspective
This paper examines how global innovation networks are structured and organized geographically across two multinational companies in different industries. Using social network analysis, the authors identify two distinct organizational models: globally-organized and locally-organized networks. The study shows that a company's knowledge base fundamentally shapes both where its innovation network spreads and how it is internally organized.
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The<scp>S</scp>wedish system of innovation: Regional synergies in a knowledge‐based economy
Sweden's innovation system is highly centralized, with three metropolitan regions—Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö/Lund—generating nearly half of all regional synergy. Using firm-level data and a triple helix framework, the authors measure how geographical, technological, and organizational dimensions interact to create knowledge synergies. The analysis reveals Sweden operates as a hierarchically organized system rather than a distributed regional network.
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Firm R&D, Absorptive Capacity and Learning by Exporting: Firm‐level Evidence from China
Chinese manufacturing firms that invested in R&D before exporting gained significant and sustained productivity improvements from exporting, while firms without prior R&D saw minimal gains. The productivity boost from exporting grew stronger with more years of pre-export R&D investment. This demonstrates that absorptive capacity built through R&D enables firms to learn effectively from international trade.
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Absorptive capacity from foreign direct investment in Spanish manufacturing firms
This paper examines what determines a firm's ability to absorb knowledge from foreign direct investment in Spanish manufacturing. The researchers find that firm behavior, capabilities, and structure—including R&D activities, innovation organization, external partnerships, human capital quality, management type, and business complexity—all drive absorptive capacity. The study shows how different approaches to innovation activities mediate this capability.
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Living Labs for User-Driven Innovation: A Process Reference Model
Living labs bring together software companies, researchers, and users to co-create and test new products and services. The authors studied six living labs to develop a process reference model that outlines effective practices for managing collaboration within these innovation environments. The model helps living labs implement efficient management strategies to maximize benefits for all participants.
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The Role of Absorptive Capacity in Acquisition Knowledge Transfer
This study examines how absorptive capacity—the ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge—affects knowledge transfer during company acquisitions. The researchers identify key factors that strengthen absorptive capacity: reducing cultural differences between nations, minimizing employee withdrawal, improving communication during integration, and establishing effective knowledge processing systems. Testing their model on Finnish acquisitions, they demonstrate that absorptive capacity significantly determines whether acquired companies successfully transfer knowledge to their new owners.
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Exploring Social Network Dynamics Driving Knowledge Management for Innovation
Knowledge management drives innovation, but the process remains complex and poorly understood. This paper examines how social networks facilitate knowledge management for innovation by studying three university-industry partnerships. The research tracks how structural, relational, and cognitive social capital evolve across different innovation phases, identifying which network characteristics matter most at each stage.
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Characteristics of Nasal-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (NALT) and Nasal Absorption Capacity in Chicken
This paper examines the structure and function of nasal-associated lymphoid tissue (NALT) in chickens and their capacity to absorb antigens through the nasal mucosa. Researchers found NALT concentrated in specific nasal cavity locations and demonstrated that chicken nasal tissue can absorb various particles and inactivated avian influenza virus. Absorption increased when combined with sodium cholate or CpG DNA. These findings support development of more effective intranasal vaccines for poultry.
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Industry Platforms and Ecosystem Innovation
This paper distinguishes between internal platforms (company-specific product foundations) and external platforms (industry-wide foundations for ecosystem innovation). The authors analyze how platform leaders like Intel manage innovation, competition, and technological change. They identify design principles, economic factors, and strategic practices that enable effective platform leadership and ecosystem development across diverse industries.
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Social network analysis in innovation research: using a mixed methods approach to analyze social innovations
Social networks drive innovation diffusion and social change by enabling learning, problem-solving, and idea sharing among actors. This paper demonstrates how mixed-methods social network analysis can reveal how networks foster innovation by connecting resources and knowledge. The author applies this approach to five education networks focused on sustainable development, showing practical implementation of SNA for studying innovation processes.
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Perspective: The Green Innovation Value Chain: A Tool for Evaluating the Diffusion Prospects of Green Products
Green products often fail to replace conventional alternatives at scale despite promotion for climate and sustainability benefits. This paper introduces the green innovation value chain framework to assess financial viability across manufacturers, distributors, consumers, environment, and government. Analysis of hybrid vehicles reveals they remain financially unattractive compared to conventional cars across the entire value chain.
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Analysis of open innovation communities from the perspective of social network analysis
This paper analyzes online open innovation communities using social network analysis to understand how members participate and contribute ideas. The research measures correlations between different participation types and examines how collective intelligence evaluation methods can identify the most valuable user-generated ideas. The findings help organizations and community managers efficiently evaluate large volumes of ideas shared in online innovation platforms.
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The democratizing effects of frugal innovation
Frugal innovation in livelihood, education, infrastructure, and distribution networks strengthens democratization and state-building in countries with large base-of-pyramid populations. The paper argues that creating inclusive markets through low-cost innovations drives socio-economic development, which reinforces democratic institutions and government capacity. Multinational corporations can advance democratization by profitably serving poor populations.
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Moocs: Disruptive Innovation and the Future of Higher Education
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) exemplify disruptive innovation in higher education. The paper traces MOOC origins and explains their rapid growth in digital education. While MOOCs may not persist in current forms, examining the problems they address reveals forces reshaping higher education and offers educators opportunities to actively influence the field's future direction.
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Managing Sustainable Innovation with a User Community Toolkit: The Case of the Video Game<i><scp>T</scp>rackmania</i>
A video game company used a toolkit connected to its user community to sustain innovation over time. The toolkit enabled users to create content and participate in value creation, acting as a boundary management tool between the firm and community. The study identifies four approaches for managing sustainable innovation through user toolkits, showing that structured community participation drives long-term innovation capacity beyond short-term collaboration benefits.
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Understanding the Multi-Dimensional Nature of Absorptive Capacity
This paper clarifies absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external knowledge—by establishing it consists of four distinct capabilities: acquisition, assimilation, transformation, and exploitation. The authors demonstrate these capabilities work sequentially, each building on the previous one, and that this four-factor model directly improves firm performance. The findings resolve conflicting definitions in prior research and give managers a clearer framework for leveraging knowledge to gain competitive advantage.
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Links between Successful Innovation Diffusion and Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder engagement significantly affects whether innovations succeed and spread. The authors studied 19 construction innovation projects and found that structured, planned engagement with key stakeholders before implementation is essential for successful innovation diffusion. Without systematic stakeholder involvement and clear communication strategies, innovation efforts face unpredictable obstacles and higher failure rates.
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Social Capital and Effective Innovation in Industrial Districts: Dual Effect of Absorptive Capacity
This study examines how firms in Spanish footwear industrial districts convert social capital into effective innovation. The research finds that absorptive capacity—specifically the ability to identify and combine external knowledge—moderates this relationship. Firms with strong identification capabilities better acquire novel knowledge from external networks, while combinative capabilities strengthen that knowledge into successful innovations.
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The diffusion of innovations theory as a theoretical framework in Library and Information Science research
Kenyan agricultural research and extension organizations adopted diverse ICT tools—both digital and traditional—to improve information sharing among researchers, extension workers, and farmers. While these technologies addressed various communication needs, their expansion faced significant constraints requiring coordinated intervention from agricultural and ICT stakeholders and government support.
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Network resources and the innovation performance
Network resources significantly drive innovation performance in firms participating in global production networks. The study distinguishes between accessed resources (external) and embedded resources (internal), showing both directly improve innovation performance. Technological capability and bargaining power mediate these effects. Chinese firms that strategically form and utilize network resources gain competitive advantage.
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Innovation and Destination Governance in Denmark: Tourism, Policy Networks and Spatial Development
Danish tourist destinations lost market share over a decade despite continued reliance on traditional marketing strategies. The paper argues that innovation-oriented destination development policies were slow to adopt because tourism policy networks prioritized short-term sectoral and local interests over renewal of tourist experiences. Recent governance reforms only marginally improved prospects for more innovative destination strategies.
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Farmer innovation diffusion via network building: a case of winter greenhouse diffusion in China
Winter greenhouse technology diffused successfully across China through collaborative networks between farmers, government, and other stakeholders. The study identifies three network levels—informal farmer networks, farmer-led networks, and government-facilitated networks—as essential to innovation diffusion. Building mutual trust and enabling farmer leadership within these networks proved crucial for successful technology adoption and spread.
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A study of innovation diffusion through link sharing on stack overflow
This study examines how software developers discover and adopt innovations like tools and frameworks by analyzing link sharing on Stack Overflow. The researchers find that link sharing occurs frequently on the platform, making Stack Overflow a significant channel for spreading software development innovations. They show Stack Overflow functions as part of a larger network of interconnected online resources that developers use to find and evaluate new tools.
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The structural, relational and cognitive configuration of innovation networks between SMEs and public research organisations
This study examines how small firms and public research organizations collaborate in innovation networks. The researchers analyzed twelve case studies to understand network structure, relationships, and shared knowledge. They found that successful partnerships evolve together through different governance stages, face risks when trust becomes stagnant, and require overlapping knowledge bases and common language to function effectively.
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Diffusion of innovation in systematic review methodology: Why is study selection not yet assisted by automation?
Systematic reviews in evidence-based medicine face a growing problem: reviewers manually assess thousands of titles and abstracts. Automation could solve this, but adoption remains slow despite proven effectiveness since 2006. Using Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations framework, the paper identifies barriers: automation lacks demonstrated advantage in challenging areas like public health, lacks established procedures, appears complex to deploy, and conflicts with existing systematic review practices. Collaboration between reviewers and computer scientists is needed to develop compatible, clearly advantageous solutions.
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Using the Diffusion of Innovation Theory to Explain the Degree of English Teachers’ Adoption of Interactive Whiteboards in the Modern Systems School in Jordan: A Case Study
English teachers in a Jordanian school adopted interactive whiteboards based on five key factors: perceived relative advantage, compatibility with existing practices, ease of use, ability to trial the technology, and observability of results. Teachers who used interactive whiteboards regularly shifted from traditional teaching methods to dialogue-based, open-source, and collaborative group work. The study recommends enhanced training workshops to support technology integration.
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Greening logistics and its impact on environmental performance: an absorptive capacity perspective
Australian logistics and transport operators improve environmental performance by building absorptive capacity—the ability to acquire, assimilate, transform, and exploit green logistics knowledge. The study of 279 firms shows that enhancing knowledge exploitation through operational changes and new practices reduces CO2 emissions, fuel consumption, and environmental compliance costs. Firms must systematically integrate environmental information across channels to achieve greener logistics.
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What Does an Inventory of Recent Innovation Experiences Tell Us About Agricultural Innovation in Africa?
An inventory of 57 agricultural innovation cases across Benin, Kenya, and South Africa reveals that African smallholder farmers actively drive innovation through diverse stakeholders and market forces. Innovation processes typically unfold over long timeframes, often bundle multiple changes together, and frequently connect to external funding. The research demonstrates African agriculture's dynamic response to challenges, countering negative perceptions and highlighting the continent's innovation capacity.
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Legacy sectors: barriers to global innovation in agriculture and energy
The US innovation system contains 'legacy sectors' in agriculture and energy that resist disruptive change through subsidies, entrenched infrastructure, regulatory barriers, powerful vested interests, and established consumer habits. These structural obstacles prevent new technologies from reaching markets, even when socially beneficial. The authors argue that large-scale research investment is needed regardless of competitive costs, and that American paradigms exported globally delay innovation adoption in developing countries that need locally appropriate technologies.
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Exploring business growth and eco innovation in rural small firms
Rural small business owners implement eco-innovation by reducing waste and raw material consumption. While growth wasn't their primary motivation, all eight studied firms gained economic benefits from environmental practices. Rurality mattered significantly because owners felt climate change impacts directly and faced visibility within local communities. The findings show eco-innovation can simultaneously address environmental and economic goals in rural enterprises.
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Rural young people's opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship in globalised southern Africa: the limitations of targeting policies
Rural young people in Malawi and Lesotho face severe employment and entrepreneurship constraints rooted in structural factors at national and global levels, not just individual characteristics. Policies targeting vulnerable groups like women and orphans miss how multiple factors interact to create vulnerability. An intersectional approach combined with livelihoods analysis shows that improving conditions for all rural youth proves more effective than identifying and targeting the most vulnerable.
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Critical Systems of Learning and Innovation Competence for Addressing Complexity in Transformations to Agricultural Sustainability
Technological innovation alone cannot ensure food security in developing countries. This study examines why agricultural biodiversity-rich nations in Nepal and India fail to leverage agroecological advantages despite investing heavily in technology. The research finds that low and middle-income countries need more than technological competence—they require critical systems of learning competence that integrate social, ecological, and technical knowledge to address agricultural sustainability and food security.
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A Case Study on Empowerment of Rural Women through Micro Entrepreneurship Development
Self-help groups enable rural women to start micro-enterprises, achieving economic independence and creating employment. The paper argues that empowering rural women through micro-entrepreneurship drives family and community development, ultimately strengthening the nation. Economic independence for rural women represents a critical measure of national progress.
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Which Advisory System to Support Innovation in Conservation Agriculture? The Case of Madagascar's Lake Alaotra
In Madagascar's Lake Alaotra region, a project-funded advisory system promoting conservation agriculture relies heavily on technical recommendations from agricultural research. Despite advisors' stated willingness to address farm complexity, the system fails to engage farmers meaningfully in decision-making or build joint learning processes. External funding undermines sustainability, and farmers lack influence over project choices. The study reveals tensions between top-down technical advice and participatory approaches needed for lasting agricultural change.
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CHALLENGES OF RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SOUTH AFRICA: INSIGHTS FROM NKONKOBE MUNICIPAL AREA IN THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE
Rural entrepreneurs in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province face significant barriers to success. A survey of 53 rural business owners identified lack of finance, small markets, poor infrastructure, limited networking, corruption, and weak marketing as major obstacles. Most entrepreneurs depend entirely on their businesses for income. The study recommends improved government support, training programs, and expanded microfinance schemes to strengthen rural entrepreneurship in developing regions.
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Successful agricultural innovation in emerging economies: new genetic technologies for global food production
This edited volume examines how genetic technologies and crop biotechnology drive agricultural innovation in emerging economies to address food security. It covers the scientific basis for genetically modified crops, their adoption across Africa, Argentina, China, and India, regulatory frameworks enabling innovation, and social and ethical considerations. The work argues that new genetic technologies offer practical solutions for improving food production and nutrition in developing regions.
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Organization of Research and Innovation: a Comparative Study of Public Agricultural Research Institutions
This paper examines how four public agricultural research institutes reorganized their management models and structures. The authors compare their experiences to identify common patterns and differences in how these institutions manage research and innovation processes, policies, and workflows. The goal is to develop better approaches and tools for improving research and innovation management in public agricultural institutions.
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Moving beyond tourists’ concepts of authenticity: place-based tourism differentiation within rural zones of Chilean Patagonia
Rural tourism zones in Chilean Patagonia can differentiate themselves by leveraging local cultural practices and customs as endogenous assets rather than adopting standardized, commodified approaches. The study found that local service providers possessed authentic place-based practices that visitors failed to recognize or value, representing untapped resources for sustainable, place-based development strategies that distinguish emergent destinations from competitors.
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Migration, Remittances and Entrepreneurship: The Case of Rural Ecuador
Using Ecuador's 2005-2006 living conditions survey, this study examines how international migration and remittances affect entrepreneurship in rural areas. The findings show that migration and remittances do not increase the likelihood of rural households owning family businesses. Instead, education, access to credit, and basic services availability significantly boost entrepreneurial activity. The analysis rejects the common assumption that remittances drive rural business creation.
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN RURAL AMERICA ACROSS TYPOLOGIES, GENDER AND MOTIVATION
This study analyzes how rural location affects early-stage entrepreneurship in America, comparing necessity-driven and opportunity-driven ventures across gender. Using data from 2005-2010, the researchers find that women in rural counties show higher rates of opportunity entrepreneurship than urban counterparts, especially with college education. Men in rural areas similarly show increased opportunity entrepreneurship. College education boosts opportunity entrepreneurship for both genders, while low income drives necessity entrepreneurship for women and part-time employment does so for men.
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Literary rural tourism entrepreneurship: case study evidence from Northern Portugal
This case study examines how literary tourism entrepreneurs in Northern Portugal develop and operate their businesses. The research demonstrates that literary heritage and cultural narratives drive rural tourism ventures in the region, creating economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs who leverage regional identity and literary connections to attract visitors and build sustainable tourism enterprises.
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Beyond the Transfer of Capital? Second-Home Owners as Competence Brokers for Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Second-home owners in Norwegian rural municipalities possess significant untapped potential as competence brokers for local entrepreneurship and innovation. A survey of 2,200 second-home owners in Telemark found they demonstrate genuine interest in their communities, willingness to contribute, and extensive higher education and business experience. These characteristics position them as valuable resources for stimulating rural economic development beyond simple capital transfer.
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Wireless broadband network on TVWS for rural areas: An Indian perspective
The paper examines how television spectrum white spaces (TVWS)—unused frequency bands created by the switch from analogue to digital TV broadcasting—can provide wireless broadband connectivity to rural areas in India. The authors assess TVWS availability and propose network scenarios to deliver broadband services to underserved rural communities using this previously unutilized spectrum resource.
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Patriarchal bargains in protected spaces: a new strategy for agricultural and rural development innovation in the western hills of Nepal
Rural women in Nepal's western hills need protected spaces to negotiate for their rights within patriarchal systems, rather than relying on broad gender mainstreaming approaches. The study found that women's limited control over land and land-related services undermines their ability to secure benefits from agricultural development unless they have dedicated niches where they can struggle and bargain for their rights.
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Innovations in Practice: Dissemination and implementation of child–parent psychotherapy in rural public health agencies
Researchers trained clinicians at four rural public health agencies to deliver Child-Parent Psychotherapy, an evidence-based trauma treatment for young children. Half of the 112 client-caregiver pairs who started treatment remained enrolled or completed it. The study identifies specific barriers and facilitators to implementing this intervention in rural settings and confirms that evidence-based trauma treatment is feasible to deliver through rural community mental health agencies.
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Rural Malay Involvement in Malaysian Herbal Entrepreneurship
Rural Malay youth show growing involvement in herbal entrepreneurship in Malaysia, but technical expertise remains weak. The study of ten rural herbal entrepreneurs reveals that while the number of Malay entrepreneurs increases gradually, technical-based entrepreneurship lags significantly. Government and development planners must prioritize human capital development, technical training, and financial resources to boost participation among rural youth in this sector.
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Development of Rural Herbal Entrepreneurship in Malaysia
This study identifies critical success and failure factors among rural herbal entrepreneurs in Malaysia through case studies of ten entrepreneurs. Successful entrepreneurs possessed strong customer service knowledge and relevant past experience. Failures stemmed from limited access to government financial support, inadequate infrastructure, and corruption. The findings provide rural herbal entrepreneurs with insights into what drives business success or failure in their sector.
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Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural India
This paper examines how organizational innovations can provide affordable internet access in rural India. Using survey data from 500 people across four Indian states, the authors analyze what factors drive computer and internet adoption. They apply microeconomic models to understand usage patterns beyond simple penetration rates, revealing the local economics of digital access in rural communities.
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A TV white space broadband market model for rural entrepreneurs
This paper develops a market model enabling rural entrepreneurs to provide broadband internet using TV white space spectrum. The model treats spectrum allocation as a pricing game between a WiMAX base station (seller) and WiFi access points (buyers), with throughput determining quality of service. The approach enables cost-effective mesh networks to deliver broadband to rural schools and remote areas, offering a practical spectrum management solution for underserved regions.
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Rural Entrepreneurship: Challenges and Opportunities
Rural entrepreneurship is critical for Sweden's development, where 15.3% of the population lives in rural areas. Previous research focused narrowly on economic perspectives of rural development. This paper identifies new challenges and opportunities facing entrepreneurs in small rural firms, moving beyond purely economic analysis to provide a more comprehensive understanding of rural entrepreneurship.
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Bridging Digital Divide: &#x2018;Village wireless LAN&#x2019;, a low cost network infrastructure solution for digital communication, information dissemination &amp; education in rural Bangladesh
Researchers in Bangladesh developed a solar-powered, low-cost wireless network server built from off-the-shelf components to deliver ICT services to rural areas lacking reliable electricity and broadband infrastructure. The system creates a local Wi-Fi network enabling file sharing, instant messaging, e-education, and form submission while consuming minimal power. The solution bridges the digital divide by providing affordable, maintainable digital communication and information access to underserved rural communities.
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Design of an off-grid PV system for the rural community
This paper designs an off-grid photovoltaic system for rural communities located far from conventional electricity grids. The system provides portable and emergency power access using renewable energy, addressing the energy needs of remote populations in areas where grid connection is impractical or unavailable.
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Decolonizing design innovation: design anthropology and indigenous knowledge
Design anthropology integrates anthropological research with design thinking to create collaborative, user-centered solutions. Practitioners work in multidisciplinary teams to address real-world problems through observation, interpretation, and co-creation. The field examines how design drives cultural production and change globally, while questioning design's impact on anthropology itself. This approach emphasizes indigenous knowledge and decolonizing design practices.
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HOW EFFECTIVE IS MICROFINANCE IN REACHING THE POOREST? EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE ON PROGRAMME OUTREACH IN RURAL PAKISTAN
Microfinance institutions in rural Pakistan reach middle-income and less-poor households far more effectively than the poorest populations, despite claims otherwise. A survey of 1,132 households in Punjab shows microfinance programs fail to serve the very poor adequately. The study calls for policy reforms to deepen outreach toward the poorest rather than simply expanding program breadth.
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Adverse selections and microfinance in rural Africa: signalling through environmental services
Microfinance institutions struggle to identify creditworthy agricultural borrowers in rural Africa because farmers misrepresent their success. This paper uses game theory to show that certified environmental services, particularly carbon credits, can signal genuine farming project viability. Borrowers with certification reveal their actual farming conditions, reducing adverse selection and loan default problems.
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INNOVATION IN RURAL TOURISM: A MODEL FOR HUNGARIAN ACCOMMODATION PROVIDERS
Rural tourism accommodation providers in Hungary succeed by innovating continuously to meet shifting guest demands for experiences and knowledge rather than simple leisure. The authors developed a maturity model identifying five innovation capability areas—market knowledge, training, managing possibilities, guest orientation, and rationality—that drive success for rural accommodation providers in Veszprém County. The model helps providers understand innovation and better satisfy customer needs.
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Rural entrepreneurship in India
Rural entrepreneurship in India faces significant barriers despite its potential to drive economic development. The paper identifies challenges that prevent rural people from accessing central markets and becoming entrepreneurs, particularly in impoverished eastern states like Bihar. Government, private sector, and social organizations struggle to reach remote areas and implement innovations effectively. The paper discusses these obstacles and proposes improvements to foster rural entrepreneurship and create employment opportunities.
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Affordable broadband connectivity for rural areas
Rural Tanzania lacks affordable broadband despite 75% of the population living outside cities. Current services like GPRS and VSAT are slow and expensive. This paper proposes last-mile broadband frameworks using existing optical fiber backbones to deliver high-speed, affordable connectivity to remote communities. The authors evaluate these frameworks by deployment cost, data rates, coverage, and accessibility for rural Tanzania.
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Broadband Wireless Access Deployment Approach to Rural Communities
This paper presents a framework for deploying Wi-Fi and WiMAX wireless broadband technologies in Jeddo, a rural Nigerian community. Wireless networks offer cost-effective alternatives to wired infrastructure in remote areas. The authors outline technical specifications, network planning requirements, and infrastructure components needed to deliver broadband internet access across entire rural communities using Wi-Fi with WiMAX backhaul systems.
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An Intelligent Decision Support System for Residential Energy Consumption and Renewable Energy Utilization in Rural China
Researchers surveyed over 300 rural areas across China's provinces to build a database on residential energy consumption and renewable energy use. They developed an intelligent decision support system using fuzzy evaluation and grey relational analysis to predict future energy trends and identify renewable energy alternatives. The system helps governments create sustainable rural energy plans by analyzing consumption patterns and evaluating renewable energy feasibility.
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Impacts of Electrification with Renewable Energies on Local Economies : The Case of India’s Rural Areas
Solar mini-grid electrification in rural India generates stronger local economic impacts than grid connection, particularly through small business creation and household income growth. However, solar systems' limited capacity prevents agricultural use. The study reveals that significant portions of households remain unelectrified even in electrified villages, especially in solar mini-grid areas. Despite this equity challenge, solar energy effectively powers local markets, schools, and health centers, supporting rural economic development.
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A Disruptive Innovation Model for Indigenous Medicine Research: A Nigerian Perspective
Nigeria's pharmaceutical sector struggles to develop affordable medicines despite access to indigenous medicinal knowledge. The paper argues that the problem isn't just economic or technological constraints, but rather the absence of frameworks for scientific validation and policymakers' failure to account for local realities. The author proposes a disruptive innovation model that applies scientific rigor to traditional phytomedicinal knowledge, enabling researchers and policymakers to identify effective treatments while discarding ineffective ones.
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Disabilities and Entrepreneurship in Makonde Rural Community in Zimbabwe
This study surveyed 137 people with disabilities in rural Zimbabwe to assess their participation in entrepreneurship programs. Researchers found that entrepreneurial activities excluded people with disabilities through lack of access to education, restrictive policies, social discrimination from non-disabled peers, and denial of credit from financial institutions. The authors recommend government intervention to include disabled populations in entrepreneurship initiatives to reduce rural poverty.
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RURAL MICROFINANCE AND CLIENT RETENTION: EVIDENCE FROM MALAWI
Microfinance institutions typically avoid rural markets due to high operating costs, leaving poor rural populations underserved. Analysis of over 10,000 loans in Malawi reveals that rural clients actually show significantly higher retention rates than urban clients. This finding challenges the cost-focused argument against rural microfinance and demonstrates that serving rural markets can simultaneously improve both financial sustainability and social impact for microfinance institutions.
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Rural Innovation Theory and Supporters for Rural Regeneration
This paper examines how endogenous development theory applies to rural regeneration in Japan. The author argues that while endogenous development theory has been influential in rural studies, it needs updating to reflect current conditions. Rural innovation theory promotes exchange between urban and rural areas, and the paper notes that young urban people increasingly move to rural areas to support regeneration. The author concludes that endogenous development approaches must collaborate with outside actors, including urban youth, to succeed.
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Cognitive access to TVWS in India: TV spectrum occupancy and wireless broadband for rural areas
The paper measures TV spectrum usage in Pune, India and finds poor utilization in the TV band, creating opportunity for cognitive radio operation. The authors propose using TV white spaces—unused TV frequencies after digital switchover—to deliver wireless broadband to rural India. This approach can bridge the digital divide by enabling rural access to online governance, banking, and health services.
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Women Entrepreneurship as a Cutting Edge for Rural Development in Nigeria
Rural entrepreneurship, particularly among women, drives economic development in Nigeria by creating local employment, generating farm income, and building community resilience. The paper argues that developing entrepreneurial capabilities and skills is essential for sustainable rural growth, and identifies necessary policies to foster a supportive environment for rural entrepreneurs, especially women seeking autonomy and economic independence near their homes.
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Understanding the place based social value created by new-start social enterprises: evidence from 10 rural UK communities
Social enterprises in rural UK communities create measurable social value for residents. This study analyzed ten National Lottery-funded new social enterprise projects across rural areas to understand how different enterprise approaches generate local social impact. The findings show that social enterprises contribute meaningfully to community regeneration and economic development in deprived rural regions.
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Research on Personalized Courseware Recommendation System of Rural Distance Learning Based on Combination Recommendation Technology
This paper develops a personalized courseware recommendation system for rural distance learning by combining content filtering and collaborative filtering technologies. The authors address sparse data and cold start problems through hybrid recommendation methods and optimize system performance for rural adult learners. The system enables distance education platforms to deliver customized training services to rural users.
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Remote monitoring of off-grid renewable energy Case studies in rural Malawi, Zambia, and Gambia
Remote monitoring technologies can improve how off-grid renewable energy systems perform and last longer in developing countries. The paper presents case studies from Malawi, Gambia, and Zambia showing different remote monitoring configurations and their strengths and weaknesses. These technologies help track system performance and identify problems, supporting better sustainability of renewable energy deployments in rural areas without grid access.
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Microfinance and Poverty Reduction Nexus among Rural Women in Selected Districts in the Upper West Region of Ghana
Microfinance access enables rural women in Ghana's Upper West Region to acquire assets and improve their well-being, reducing poverty and vulnerability. The study of 200 women found that education and marital status positively correlate with asset accumulation, while household dependents negatively affect it. Women participating in microfinance programs gain financial independence and contribute more effectively to their families and communities.
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Unnoticed Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Latvia’s Rural Economy
Rural entrepreneurs in Latvia drive innovation through smallholder farming and traditional practices, yet their contributions remain largely unrecognized. The paper examines how rural Latvians, particularly those engaged in traditional activities like bath-house operations, generate economic value and foster development through entrepreneurial ventures that official statistics and policy frameworks overlook.
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Conclusions: contemporary responsible rural tourism innovations
This paper reviews innovations in responsible rural tourism across Malaysian destinations. Through analyzing case studies, the authors identify emerging approaches that enhance sustainable tourism practices from stakeholder perspectives. They argue that rural tourism's complexity creates both challenges and opportunities for responsible governance that balances economic, social, and environmental outcomes.
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After Broadband Infrastructure Saturation: The Impact of Public Investment on Rural Social Capital
South Korea's Information Network Village project achieved 98% broadband coverage in rural areas, then shifted focus to building online social networks. Public investment in digital infrastructure increased online interaction and social capital, strengthening community attachment and reducing rural-to-urban migration. This demonstrates how sustained public investment supports rural development beyond initial infrastructure deployment.
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Design and Analyzing of an Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System to Supply Electricity for Rural Areas : Case Study: Atsbi District, North Ethiopia
This paper designs and analyzes an off-grid hybrid renewable energy system to provide electricity to rural areas in Ethiopia's Atsbi District. The system combines multiple renewable sources to address the energy access gap in remote communities where grid connection is impractical or unavailable. The analysis evaluates technical feasibility and performance of the hybrid approach for rural electrification.
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Chinaʼs Indigenous Innovation Policies and the World Trade Organization
China's Indigenous Innovation Policies incentivize government procurement of products containing Chinese-owned technology and intellectual property. U.S. companies argue these policies discriminate against foreign firms and force technology transfer as a condition of market access. This article examines whether China's government procurement policies violate World Trade Organization obligations and concludes that China operates within its legal rights under international trade law.
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How Open & Indigenous Innovation Affects Industries International Competitiveness: An Empirical Study on Chinese Manufacturing Industries Based on the Panel Data from the Year 2000 to 2010
Indigenous innovation forms the foundation for Chinese manufacturing industries to improve international competitiveness. Open innovation strengthens this effect, particularly by amplifying how R&D investment drives competitiveness. The most effective approach combines both indigenous and open innovation strategies in balance. Data from 2000–2010 shows that industries pursuing integrated indigenous-open innovation strategies achieve greater competitive gains than those relying on either approach alone.
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Supporting farmer innovations, recognizing indigenous knowledge and disseminating success stories.
Farmer innovations in aquaculture drive economic growth and food security, but face barriers including limited information access, weak science policies, and insufficient government support. The paper identifies critical success factors: updated technology policies, investment incentives, targeted education, extension services, and culturally appropriate programs. Proper policy design can help developing countries harness farmer innovations to achieve food security and poverty reduction.
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Teachers’ Perceptions on Inclusion of Agricultural Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Crop Production: A Case Study of Zimbabwe’s Ordinary Level Agriculture Syllabus (5035)
Teachers in Zimbabwe recognize agricultural indigenous knowledge systems but rarely use them formally in crop production classes. While educators believe integrating these practices would promote sustainability and restore cultural identity, significant barriers exist: reliance on oral tradition and perceived inferiority to Western methods. The study recommends harmonizing indigenous and Western agricultural approaches in the curriculum and documenting indigenous knowledge in written form.
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Reviewing the Development of Rural Finance in Vietnam
Vietnam's rural financial system has developed successfully since economic reforms, contradicting theories predicting market failures in low-income countries. The study shows that rural finance progresses well when government initiates the system, market mechanisms drive operations, and rural organizations provide institutional support. The author argues against viewing old and new credit paradigms as opposites, instead demonstrating that hybrid approaches combining government leadership, market operations, and community institutions create stable, functioning rural financial markets.
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Rural schools and technology: Connecting for innovation
Three Canadian technology projects in rural schools—video conferencing, web-based distance education, and laptop computers—show that technology-driven curriculum innovations succeed when schools provide consistent, extensive support for teachers and students. Implementation challenges and successes reveal that effective distance education requires process-driven approaches that address both opportunity and strain on teaching and learning.
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Rural Retail Innovations in India: New Dimension in Marketing
Rural markets in India present significant opportunities but require different marketing approaches than urban areas. Physical distribution, channel management, poor infrastructure, and communication challenges make serving rural consumers difficult. The paper argues that rural marketers must develop creative solutions, particularly in retailing and distribution, since village retailers play a crucial role in brand success when direct consumer communication is limited.
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Comprehensive Country Ranking for Renewable Energy Based Mini-Grids Providing Rural off-Grid Electrification
Renewable energy mini-grids can bring electricity to rural areas without grid connections. The authors identify key conditions needed for sustainable business models in this sector and rank countries globally by their suitability. Rwanda and Peru emerge as top candidates with favorable conditions for deploying renewable mini-grids to rural populations. The ranking helps entrepreneurs and investors identify where to launch electrification projects.
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Techno-economic analysis of an off-grid micro-hydrokinetic river system for remote rural electrification
This study evaluates off-grid micro-hydrokinetic systems as a cost-effective electricity solution for remote rural communities near flowing water without grid access. The researchers develop a mathematical model to simulate system performance under various conditions and validate results using a test prototype. The analysis demonstrates the economic and environmental benefits of this emerging technology for rural electrification.
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Mainstream and new‐stream patterns for indigenous innovation in China
Chinese manufacturing enterprises face an innovation dilemma that requires balancing mainstream and new-stream innovation. The paper identifies two distinct innovation patterns and argues that firms should simultaneously strengthen existing mainstream innovation while breeding new technologies as future directions. Success requires convergent innovation that integrates projects, talent, products, and markets into coordinated strategies, enabling firms to upgrade technology and escape stagnation.
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Challenges Faced by the Model of Islamic Microfinance for the Development of Micro Entrepreneurs and SMEs in Rural Pakistan
Islamic microfinance models offer a comprehensive framework addressing social, financial, and religious objectives for rural micro-entrepreneurs and SMEs in Pakistan, which traditional microfinance institutions neglect. The paper identifies critical challenges in implementing these models, including organizational and operational constraints. Proper execution of Islamic microfinance can restructure rural socioeconomic conditions and enable SMEs to achieve financial self-sufficiency.
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Rural Finance, Development and Livelihoods in China
This paper examines how rural financial services in China have evolved since 1949 and shaped local livelihoods. The authors trace the expansion and diversification of financial services, particularly the growth of microfinance in rural areas since the mid-2000s. They analyze key actors and dynamics, identify gaps in existing scholarship, and propose directions for better understanding how rural finance affects development and community wellbeing in China and globally.
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Campus in the Country: Community College Involvement in Rural Community Development
Examines community-college involvement in rural community development in Canada, drawing on field research to characterise the roles colleges play as innovation and education anchors in rural areas.
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Transport poverty meets the digital divide: accessibility and connectivity in rural communities
Rural communities struggle with poor physical transport infrastructure and limited digital connectivity, creating compounded accessibility challenges absent in urban areas. This paper examines how information technologies and demand-responsive transport services can address rural transport poverty. It identifies that most research focuses on urban environments, leaving rural solutions underdeveloped, and explores barriers and opportunities for integrating transport and technology to improve rural accessibility.
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Social innovation and sustainability; how to disentangle the buzzword and its application in the field of agriculture and rural development
Social innovation is widely cited as crucial to agricultural and rural development, yet its meaning remains unclear. This paper identifies three main interpretations: innovation's social mechanisms, innovation's social responsibility, and society's need for innovation. The concept appears more relevant to rural development than agriculture alone, particularly regarding sustainable production, collaboration, and social renewal. However, social innovation is often presented as a vague bundle of processes and outcomes, which weakens its critical potential. The paper argues for clearer definition to better support and monitor social innovation's actual contribution to social change.
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Advances in Knowledge Brokering in the Agricultural Sector: Towards Innovation System Facilitation
Agricultural extension has evolved from pushing research findings to farmers toward collaborative models that recognize innovation emerges from interactions among multiple actors. Knowledge brokers now facilitate systemic change by building linkages and creating enabling contexts for technical, social, and institutional innovation. This innovation systems approach applies beyond agriculture to other sectors, requiring knowledge brokers to move beyond research uptake to broader innovation facilitation activities.
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The Rural Creative Class: Counterurbanisation and Entrepreneurship in the Danish Countryside
Well-educated urban professionals move to rural Denmark to start small businesses, seeking less stressful lives while maintaining careers. Initially, most businesses serve metropolitan markets in media and business services. Over time, these enterprises evolve into regional lifestyle businesses that blend urban-sector work with local market adaptation, reducing travel to cities. While their local impact remains limited, they extend regional networks and provide organizational energy across broader areas.
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Creative Outposts: Tourism's Place in Rural Innovation
Tourism drives innovation in rural communities by fostering social capital and enabling local entrepreneurs to diversify their economies. A case study of Jokkmokk, an Arctic village, reveals that tourism firms and local institutions co-evolve through loose, project-based networks. Tourism acts as a catalyst for institutional change and strengthens community leisure spaces, helping rural communities survive and thrive as complementary coping strategies.
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Extending the paramedic role in rural Australia: a story of flexibility and innovation
Rural paramedics in south-eastern Australia are evolving into primary healthcare providers, taking on expanded responsibilities beyond emergency response. The study identifies a Rural Expanded Scope of Practice model where paramedics engage communities, respond to emergencies, provide situated care, and deliver primary healthcare. This integrated approach connects paramedics with other health agencies to improve patient outcomes and community health in small rural areas.
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‘Recession push’ and ‘prosperity pull’ entrepreneurship in a rural developing context
This study examines how access to non-farm wage employment affects rural entrepreneurship in central Vietnam. Using household survey data from 110 communes, the authors distinguish between opportunity entrepreneurs (those pursuing business ventures) and necessity entrepreneurs (those driven by lack of alternatives). They find that better access to non-farm jobs increases opportunity entrepreneurship but does not reduce necessity entrepreneurship. This supports the 'prosperity pull' hypothesis: economic growth attracts entrepreneurs, while poverty-driven entrepreneurship persists regardless of job availability.
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Factors Affecting Farmers’ Adoption of Agricultural Innovations: A Panel Data Analysis of the Use of Artificial Insemination among Dairy Farmers in Ireland
This study analyzes why Irish dairy farmers adopt artificial insemination (AI) technology at different rates using panel data. The researchers found that both farmer characteristics and farm structure significantly influence adoption decisions. Understanding these differences helps policymakers design targeted programs to promote AI adoption and improve reproductive management practices among dairy farmers.
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Agricultural Extension, Collective Action and Innovation Systems: Lessons on Network Brokering from Peru and Mexico
Extension services in Peru and Mexico show that fostering agricultural innovation requires more than collective action alone. Peru's approach, using NGO brokers and trusted local farmers called Kamayoq, successfully built innovation networks among diverse value chain actors. Mexico's linear seed-transfer model created collective action but no innovation networks. The research concludes that extension must combine collective action with active networking to shift from technology transfer toward genuine agricultural innovation systems.
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Quantifying entrepreneurship and its impact on local economic performance: A spatial assessment in rural Switzerland
This study measures entrepreneurship in 1,706 Swiss rural municipalities and tests whether it drives local economic growth. Results show entrepreneurship correlates with higher business tax revenues and lower welfare dependency, but has weak effects on employment. The researchers conclude that while entrepreneurship helps rural economies, policymakers should temper expectations about its short-term impact on endogenous rural development.
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Impact of Small Entrepreneurship on Sustainable Livelihood Assets of Rural Poor Women in Bangladesh
Small-scale agricultural entrepreneurship significantly improves livelihood assets for rural poor women in Bangladesh. Livestock and poultry enterprises boost financial, physical, and social capital; vegetable farming strengthens natural and physical capital; fisheries enhance human capital. NGO support through microcredit and institutional assistance proves critical to success. Resource scarcity, vulnerability, and weak institutional frameworks remain major barriers to long-term sustainability.
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Rural resilience through continued learning and innovation
Rural businesses in England build resilience through continuous learning and incremental innovation. When facing economic adversity, small rural enterprises adapt by leveraging available resources and developing new practices to survive. The study shows that learning from challenges creates a resilient organizational culture, with innovation becoming essential for business continuity during difficult economic periods.
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Rurality and resilience in education: place-based partnerships and agency to moderate time and space constraints
Rural schools take longer to implement and sustain resilience-building strategies compared to urban schools, facing constraints from time, space, and place. Teachers in rural areas build resilience through relationships and prioritized needs, but must reconfigure place and agency to overcome geographic and resource barriers. When teachers adapt to local conditions and leverage available relationships, they successfully negotiate ongoing challenges and improve student resilience outcomes.
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Determinates of Women Micro-entrepreneurship Development: An Empirical Investigation in Rural Bangladesh
This study examines factors driving women's micro-entrepreneurship in rural Bangladesh by surveying 248 women micro-entrepreneurs and 132 non-entrepreneurs. Personal attributes like work freedom and desire for social status, combined with family hardship, increase women's participation in micro-entrepreneurship. Access to credit, training, development organization membership, information, and infrastructure emerge as critical external enablers. The research identifies barriers to women's entrepreneurial development and recommends policy improvements.
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The Contribution of Private Industry to Agricultural Innovation
Private-sector agricultural research and development spending increased 43 percent between 1994 and 2010, driven primarily by advances in seed biotechnology. This growth demonstrates the significant role that private industry plays in funding and developing agricultural innovations.
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Agricultural Innovations for Sustainable Crop Production Intensification
Sustainable crop production intensification requires linking farmers' local knowledge with science-based innovations through institutional arrangements. The paper reviews agronomic practices supporting sustainable systems, including crop selection, ecosystem-based farming, pest management, nutrient management, and irrigation technologies. It proposes seven contextual changes that demand examination of how agricultural innovation occurs and spreads to farm level.
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Rural Entrepreneurship in a Time of Recession
Rural Americans shifted from opportunity-driven to necessity-driven entrepreneurship during the 2008–2010 recession. Before the downturn, rural residents started businesses at higher rates than urban counterparts, particularly when employment grew. The recession reversed this pattern, with rural entrepreneurs increasingly driven by economic need rather than opportunity. College education predicted opportunity entrepreneurship, while low income and part-time work predicted necessity entrepreneurship across rural counties.
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Innovation policies in Uzbekistan: Path taken by ZEFa project on innovations in the sphere of agriculture
This paper examines how agricultural innovations developed by the ZEF/UNESCO project in Uzbekistan move from research into government practice. The author analyzes the bureaucratic, legal, and political barriers to adopting both technological and institutional innovations. The study finds that Uzbekistan is developing an innovation system, though currently operates more as a knowledge ecology that could support future innovation infrastructure.
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Exploring Opportunities for Enhancing Innovation in Agriculture: The Case of Oil Palm Production in Ghana
This study identifies institutional barriers limiting innovation in Ghana's oil palm sector. Researchers found that technical farm-level innovations alone cannot drive sustainable production and poverty reduction without addressing systemic constraints. The study recommends integrating small-scale processors into value chains, organizing farmers for better negotiating power, improving access to high-yielding seedlings, and reforming tenancy arrangements to incentivize tenant farmer investment.
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The Role of Microfinance in Contemporary Rural Development Finance Policy and Practice: Imposing Neoliberalism as ‘Best Practice’
Microcredit emerged in the 1970s as a poverty-reduction tool based on individual entrepreneurship, gaining strong support from neoliberal policymakers and international development institutions. However, evidence now shows microcredit has failed to reduce poverty or support rural development. Rural communities exposed to microcredit have suffered damage through boom-and-bust cycles. Despite this failure, major development institutions and Western governments continue supporting microfinance for ideological reasons.
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Indigenous Welfare and Community-Based Social Development: Lessons from African Innovations
Indigenous community-based welfare practices in Southern Africa have long supported social well-being but remain underrecognized. The paper examines three examples where traditional cooperative practices integrate with formal social development programs, demonstrating how these innovations strengthen communities. The authors argue that other countries should adopt similar approaches to combine indigenous knowledge with formal development initiatives.
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"Fostering Indigenous Innovation Capacities": The Development of Biotechnology in Shanghai's Zhangjiang High-Tech Park
China's government strategy to build indigenous innovation capacity shaped biotechnology development in Shanghai's Zhangjiang High-Tech Park. Municipal authorities drove initial biotech clustering, then shifted focus toward integrating the park into global knowledge networks. The park exemplifies a hybrid governance model blending state direction with entrepreneurial market mechanisms at the science park level.
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The Resilience of Indigenous Knowledge in Small-scale African Agriculture: Key Drivers
Indigenous knowledge systems in northern Malawi drive agricultural innovation more effectively than modern scientific approaches for small-scale farmers. The study finds that household food security and soil fertility maintenance are the primary motivations shaping farming practices. Indigenous knowledge succeeds because it integrates deeply with local economic, social, and cultural contexts, whereas external development interventions have largely failed to take root.
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Feasibility and Optimal Reliable Design of Renewable Hybrid Energy System for Rural Electrification in Iran
Researchers designed a hybrid renewable energy system combining hydroelectric, wind, and solar power with hydrogen storage to electrify 12 remote villages in northwestern Iran. Using local meteorological and geographic data, they optimized the system to minimize costs while ensuring reliable power supply. A genetic algorithm outperformed HOMER software in finding configurations that achieved energy costs below $0.30 per kilowatt-hour while accounting for equipment failures.
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Indigenous Technologies and Innovation in Nigeria: Opportunities for SMEs
Nigeria's indigenous technologies offer substantial opportunities for small and medium enterprises to drive local economic growth and compete globally. The study examined three major indigenous technology clusters in Nigeria and reviewed successful cases from other countries to identify structural and policy directions. The findings highlight the need for systematic mapping of indigenous knowledge and technology systems to unlock their economic potential.
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Improving Women and Family’s Health through Integrated Microfinance, Health Education and Promotion in Rural Areas
Integrated microfinance combined with health education and promotion activities significantly improves rural women and family health outcomes. The review of peer-reviewed research shows these combined programs reduce intimate-partner violence, lower HIV/AIDS risk, promote mental health, and improve overall family wellbeing. Economic empowerment through local business support paired with preventive health training creates greater impact than either intervention alone in rural areas.
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The Role and Sustainability of Microfinance Banks in Reducing Poverty and Development of Entrepreneurship in Urban and Rural Areas in Nigeria
Microfinance banks in Nigeria's Lagos State struggle to reduce poverty and support entrepreneurship due to significant operational challenges. The study found high loan default rates among small enterprises and identified major obstacles including poor credit documentation, applicant identity verification issues, and economic instability. These problems undermine the sustainability of microfinance institutions attempting to empower rural and urban entrepreneurs through credit access.
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Feasibility Study of Hydrokinetic Power for Energy Access in Rural South Africa
This study evaluates hydrokinetic power generation as a viable renewable energy solution for rural South Africa. The researchers simulated hydrokinetic systems using HOMER software and compared them against photovoltaic, diesel generator, and grid extension options. They found hydrokinetic power offers reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity for remote areas with adequate water resources, while requiring minimal infrastructure and environmental impact. The paper identifies key challenges to technology adoption in South Africa.
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Effectiveness of Rural Microfinance: What We Know and What We Need to Know
Rural microfinance shows uncertain effectiveness in improving livelihoods, constrained by weaknesses in program design and the rural financial environment itself. Evidence indicates that microfinance impact remains limited. The paper argues that effectiveness requires developing new impact methodologies, expanding financial service types, and critically reducing risks and operating costs to make rural clients economically viable for financial intermediaries.
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Financial Inclusion in Rural India: The role of Microfinance as a Tool
India's formal banking sector has systematically excluded rural poor and women from credit access despite nationalization efforts. Microfinance institutions fill this gap by operating locally, understanding rural needs, and offering flexible services that reach excluded populations. The paper argues microfinance mechanisms enable financial inclusion of rural poor and women into formal financial systems where traditional banks have failed.
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Probabilistic reliability evaluation of off-grid small hybrid solar PV-wind power system for the rural electrification in Nepal
This paper evaluates the reliability of hybrid solar-wind power systems designed to provide electricity to remote rural areas in Nepal. The authors analyze a real off-grid system using probabilistic methods to calculate key reliability metrics including loss of load expectation and expected energy not served. The findings demonstrate that hybrid systems combining wind turbines as primary generation with solar panels and battery backup can deliver dependable power supply to remote communities at reasonable cost.
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Potential of MicroSources, Renewable Energy sources and Application of Microgrids in Rural areas of Maharashtra State India
This paper examines how microgrids powered by distributed renewable energy sources can address rural electrification challenges in Maharashtra, India. The authors assess the region's potential for renewable energy resources and propose that microgrids can reduce transmission losses, improve power quality, and eliminate load shedding—a persistent problem in rural Indian areas. They argue microgrids offer a decentralized alternative to centralized power systems.
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Renewable Energy: The Key to Achieving Sustainable Development of Rural Bangladesh
Renewable energy technologies can address rural Bangladesh's energy shortage, poverty, and environmental degradation caused by over-reliance on biomass. The country possesses sufficient renewable resources to solve its energy crisis. The paper examines Bangladesh's renewable energy policies, implementation, research, and market development, noting that modern technologies remain in demonstration phases with emerging private sector and NGO involvement.
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Just-in-time online professional development activities for an innovation in small rural schools / Activités de perfectionnement professionnel « juste-à-temps » pour l’innovation dans les petites écoles rurales
Remote Networked Schools, a Quebec initiative, provided just-in-time online professional development to teachers in small rural schools to integrate information and communication technologies into learning. Over six years, a university intervention team designed and delivered targeted professional development activities. The study identifies which types of professional development activities teachers actually used and how they supported ICT innovation in rural classrooms.
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The DC House Project: Promoting the use of renewable energy for rural electrification
The DC House Project promotes renewable energy adoption for rural electrification. The paper describes the project's phases and components, reports its current status, identifies challenges encountered, and outlines short and long-term goals for expanding renewable energy access to rural communities.
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Economic feasibility analysis of a renewable energy project in the rural China
This paper analyzes the economic feasibility of a wind farm project in rural China using cost-benefit analysis under three scenarios: current conditions, government subsidies, and Clean Development Mechanism credits. The findings show wind power generation reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to alternative power systems and offers attractive returns for investors. The authors recommend government subsidies and CDM programs as effective mechanisms to accelerate wind power development.
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Modelling and Simulation of Photovoltaic-Variable Speed Diesel Generator Hybrid Power System for Off-Grid Rural Electrification
This paper develops computer models of hybrid power systems combining solar panels and diesel generators for rural areas without grid electricity. The researchers compared two generator types and found that variable-speed diesel generators outperform conventional constant-speed generators. The models, built in MATLAB/Simulink and validated against industry software, enable researchers to test different power management strategies for off-grid rural electrification.
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An Off-Grid Solar System for Rural Village in Malaysia
Malaysia implemented a stand-alone solar power system in a rural Sarawak village to provide free electricity to residents. The project installed photovoltaic equipment with an AC bus configuration and analyzed actual electricity consumption patterns and solar radiation data across four days and monthly averages. The system successfully delivered benefits to villagers, though researchers recommend monitoring future load growth to maintain long-term sustainability.
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Does Microfinance Empower Rural Women? -a Empirical Study in Udaipur District, Rajasthan
A survey of 100 women in self-help groups across Udaipur district, Rajasthan found that microfinance programs significantly increased women's empowerment on average. However, social backwardness, indebtedness, and competing microcredit programs in nearby villages positively influenced women's participation rates, suggesting that disadvantage and limited alternatives drive enrollment rather than empowerment outcomes alone.
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Micro finance, self help groups (SHGS) and the Socio- Economic development of rural people (A case study with special reference to the Lakhimpur district of Assam)
Microfinance through self-help groups (SHGs) enables poor rural people in India's Lakhimpur district to increase income and improve living standards through independent economic activities. A study of 250 respondents across 50 SHGs found that participation in SHGs, particularly benefiting disadvantaged women, provides essential financial access for rural poverty reduction and socio-economic development.
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Opportunities for Social Innovation at the Intersection of ICT Education and Rural Supply Chains
The paper argues that integrating ICT education into rural supply chains creates social innovation opportunities in developing countries. Linear, top-down education and supply chain systems fail to adapt quickly and exclude many people. The authors designed Prerana, an ICT platform piloted in India with SEWA and RUDI, that embeds education into supply chains, teaches life skills, and enables feedback from all participants. This approach preserves local knowledge while giving agency to workers and learners.
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A Qualitative Analysis to Determine the Readiness of Rural Communities to Adopt ICTs: A Siyakhula Living Lab Case Study
Researchers assessed ICT readiness in rural South African schools and communities through the Siyakhula Living Lab initiative. Despite practical obstacles, communities demonstrated strong eagerness to adopt ICT and recognized its potential to improve their lives and economies. The assessment supported expansion of Digital Access Nodes—community ICT access points—revealing that educators and residents understood the connection between technology availability and economic and social advancement.
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Landscapes of practices, social learning systems and rural innovation.
Rural innovation systems benefit from understanding how communities of practice connect across boundaries. This paper applies Wenger's concept of 'landscapes of practices' to rural innovation, showing how learning and innovation potential increases when strong core practices link through active boundary processes. Examples of rural innovation communities demonstrate how systems thinking can help practitioners enhance their collective learning and innovation capacity across multiple interconnected groups.
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Responsible research and innovation: From science in society to science for society, with society
This paper defines responsible research and innovation as an emerging EU policy framework emphasizing democratic governance of research purposes, integration of anticipation and deliberation into innovation processes, and collective responsibility for uncertain outcomes. The authors trace the concept's development and identify three core features: steering innovation toward beneficial impacts, institutionalizing reflection and responsiveness, and recognizing innovation's unpredictable consequences as shared responsibility.
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Inbound Open Innovation Activities in High-Tech SMEs: The Impact on Innovation Performance
This study examines how small and medium-sized high-tech firms benefit from open innovation practices. Using data from 252 SMEs, the researchers found that different inbound open innovation activities drive different types of innovation outcomes. Technology sourcing strengthens radical innovation performance, while technology scouting improves incremental innovation performance. The findings show that SMEs must match their open innovation strategies to their desired innovation goals.
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Open innovation practices in SMEs and large enterprises: evidence from Belgium
Open innovation practices produce different results in small and medium-sized enterprises than in large firms. SMEs gain more innovation performance by combining multiple open innovation practices simultaneously, while large firms benefit more from their search strategies. SMEs drive new product revenue through intellectual property protection, whereas large firms rely on broader external search approaches.
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Incremental and Radical Innovation in Coopetition—The Role of Absorptive Capacity and Appropriability
Firms collaborating with competitors on innovation succeed differently based on two factors: absorptive capacity (ability to acquire external knowledge) and appropriability (ability to protect innovations from imitation). A Finnish cross-industry survey shows both factors boost incremental innovation outcomes. For radical innovation, strong appropriability matters most, though absorptive capacity helps when appropriability is already high. Firms pursuing incremental innovation should balance knowledge sharing with protection; those pursuing radical innovation should prioritize protecting core knowledge.
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Open Innovation: Where We've Been and Where We're Going
Open innovation, introduced in 2003, represents a shift in how companies approach industrial innovation by incorporating external ideas and partnerships. The concept has gained widespread adoption across academic research and business practice. This review examines the evolution of open innovation thinking and projects its future direction in organizational innovation strategies.
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Entrepreneurship in Innovation Ecosystems: Entrepreneurs’ Self–Regulatory Processes and Their Implications for New Venture Success
Entrepreneurs operating within innovation ecosystems face competing demands between ecosystem leaders' goals and their own venture objectives. This paper examines how entrepreneurs' self-regulatory processes help them navigate and balance these conflicting priorities to achieve new venture success.
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Absorptive Capacity and Information Systems Research: Review, Synthesis, and Directions for Future Research1
This paper reviews how absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to identify, assimilate, transform, and apply external knowledge—has been used in information systems research. The authors find inconsistent conceptualizations, measurement approaches, and applications across IS studies. They trace the construct's evolution in organizational literature, clarify its relationship to organizational learning, and provide a framework to help IS researchers apply absorptive capacity more effectively when studying information technology's organizational role.
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Expatriate Knowledge Transfer, Subsidiary Absorptive Capacity, and Subsidiary Performance
Expatriate managers transfer knowledge to foreign subsidiaries through three competencies: ability, motivation, and opportunity-seeking. This knowledge improves subsidiary performance, but only when the subsidiary has strong absorptive capacity to receive and use it. A study of British subsidiaries of Taiwanese firms confirms that absorptive capacity determines whether expatriate knowledge transfer actually boosts performance.
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The Role of Networks in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Innovation and Firm Performance
Strong, diverse business networks boost innovation in small and medium enterprises, according to analysis of 1,435 SMEs over time. However, networks improve firm performance only indirectly—through their effect on innovation. SMEs should prioritize networks specifically for their innovation benefits rather than expecting direct performance gains.
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Living Labs as Open-Innovation Networks
Living labs function as open-innovation networks that help organizations understand user needs and develop business opportunities. These collaborative environments create competitive advantages by enabling companies to co-create solutions with users in real-world settings, emerging as a practical approach for innovation development that goes beyond traditional research methods.
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MOBILE BANKING ADOPTION: APPLICATION OF DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION THEORY
This study examines factors influencing mobile banking adoption among Saudi Arabian bank customers using Diffusion of Innovation theory. Analysis of 330 mobile banking users reveals that relative advantage, compatibility, and observability positively drive adoption, while perceived risk negages it. Trialability and complexity show no significant effect, contrary to prior research. The findings provide practical guidance for Saudi banks designing mobile services.
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Too much of a good thing? Absorptive capacity, firm performance, and the moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation
Absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to acquire and exploit new knowledge—shows an inverted-U relationship with financial performance in small and medium technology enterprises. Beyond moderate levels, absorptive capacity actually harms performance. Entrepreneurial orientation moderates this relationship, enabling firms to gain more from knowledge absorption at lower levels and sustain returns at higher levels before diminishing returns occur.
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Environmental Innovations, Local Networks and Internationalization
This study examines what drives environmental innovations in firms across the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Cooperation with local suppliers and universities, combined with workforce training and digital technology adoption, most strongly encourages firms to adopt environmental innovations. Agglomeration economies show mixed effects—they boost environmental innovation in established industrial clusters but can hinder it elsewhere. Local networks and agglomeration together strongly promote environmental innovation adoption by multinational firms, demonstrating the importance of linking local and global business relationships.
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Managing Distributed Innovation: Strategic Utilization of Open and User Innovation
Innovation increasingly happens across multiple organizations and stakeholders rather than within single firms. This paper compares vertically integrated innovation against open innovation, user innovation, crowdsourcing, and co-creation models. It examines how these distributed approaches differ in their sources, motivations, and value capture mechanisms, then provides a framework for strategically managing innovation across organizational boundaries.
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Citizen Participation, Open Innovation, and Crowdsourcing
Open innovation and crowdsourcing offer planning practitioners new approaches to problem-solving by engaging external participants and diverse groups. Unlike traditional citizen participation, crowdsourcing uses internet-based challenges to generate solutions from large audiences. The paper examines how these techniques differ and presents case studies demonstrating crowdsourcing's potential to produce more robust outcomes than internal organizational efforts.
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How do young firms manage product portfolio complexity? The role of absorptive capacity and ambidexterity
Young high-technology firms benefit from complex product portfolios through increased sales and competitiveness, but face rising costs that create diminishing returns. The study of 215 young firms shows that absorptive capacity and ambidexterity—the ability to balance exploration and exploitation—strengthen performance gains from portfolio complexity while reducing its costs.
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Open innovation in the public sector of leading countries
The study examines how leading governments adopt open innovation practices. The USA, Australia, and Singapore developed national open innovation policies that created positive climates for innovation projects, particularly online platforms. While outside-in approaches dominate, governments increasingly explore inside-out strategies to leverage public data. Most governments remain in early adoption stages and need strategic plans to integrate open innovation into workplace practices.
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The Innovation Effect of User Design: Exploring Consumers’ Innovation Perceptions of Firms Selling Products Designed by Users
Firms that involve users in designing products enhance consumer perceptions of innovation compared to traditional professional design. Four studies show this user-design approach increases purchase intentions, willingness to pay, and recommendation likelihood. The effect strengthens when more diverse consumers participate, face fewer constraints, and actually use their designs. Consumer familiarity with user innovation and task complexity moderate these outcomes.
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Network Capital, Social Capital and Knowledge Flow: How the Nature of Inter-organizational Networks Impacts on Innovation
Inter-organizational networks drive innovation through network capital and strategic knowledge alliances. The study examined firms across three regions and found that innovation performance correlates strongly with how firms invest in dynamically configured networks. Firms with higher network capital—built through deliberate, strategic partnerships—innovate more effectively. The findings suggest policymakers should actively support and orchestrate networks with clear strategic purpose when developing clusters and innovation systems.
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Flexibility-Oriented HRM Systems, Absorptive Capacity, and Market Responsiveness and Firm Innovativeness
Flexibility-oriented human resource management systems boost firm innovation and market responsiveness by enhancing absorptive capacity. The study examined high-technology firms and found that HRM systems designed for resource and coordination flexibility increase both the firm's potential to learn and its ability to apply that learning. This improved learning capacity directly strengthens market responsiveness and innovation performance.
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Disruptive innovations for designing and diffusing evidence-based interventions.
Evidence-based interventions remain underadopted in the United States despite rapid growth. The authors argue that applying disruptive innovation principles—simplifying interventions, reducing costs, and improving accessibility—can accelerate EBI diffusion. They propose four research approaches: synthesizing common elements across interventions, experimenting with new delivery formats including technology and paraprofessionals, adopting market strategies for promotion, and implementing continuous quality improvement based on monitoring data.
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The temporal effects of relative and firm‐level absorptive capacity on interorganizational learning
This study examines how absorptive capacity affects knowledge sharing between allied firms over time. Using patent data, the researchers found that technological similarity has modest early benefits but stronger effects later, while high diversity accelerates initial learning but diminishes over time. R&D intensity surprisingly hinders early learning but helps later stages. The findings suggest early alliances are limited by absorption capacity, while later success depends on the ability to exploit knowledge.
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How open innovation can help you cope in lean times
During economic downturns, companies can maintain innovation despite cutting R&D budgets by adopting open innovation strategies. The authors identify five strategic moves that externalize certain assets and projects, allowing outside firms to invest in and develop them or enabling spin-offs that retain partial equity. This inside-out approach preserves growth opportunities while reducing costs, though it requires holistic implementation and senior executive leadership to overcome organizational and cultural barriers.
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Digital Government, Open Architecture, and Innovation: Why Public Sector IT Will Never Be the Same Again
Open digital platforms and standards will transform public sector technology by reducing vendor lock-in and enabling cheaper, more innovative government services. The shift from proprietary systems to open architectures allows governments to separate core business logic from applications, creating a competitive marketplace where niche innovations and standard services coexist. This reorganization around citizen needs rather than departmental structures will fundamentally change how governments procure and deploy technology.
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LIVING LAB: user‐driven innovation for sustainability
This paper presents the conceptual design of LIVING LAB, a research infrastructure that tests sustainable home technologies with real users in actual households. The approach combines laboratory analysis with real-world household systems to develop and evaluate sustainable domestic innovations while prioritizing user needs and environmental performance. The infrastructure enables long-term, user-centered research on sustainable technologies in their actual contexts of use.
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Entrepreneurship and open innovation in an emerging economy
This study surveyed Peruvian company managers to examine how entrepreneurial orientation and open innovation affect firm performance. The research found that higher sales growth did not require strong entrepreneurial orientation. However, firms engaged in open innovation reported significantly higher sales growth and used double loop learning more effectively. The findings suggest emerging economy firms can sustain growth through open innovation practices rather than relying primarily on entrepreneurial behavior.
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The antecedents and innovation effects of domestic and offshore R&D outsourcing: The contingent impact of cognitive distance and absorptive capacity
Firms with stronger internal R&D capabilities can effectively manage offshore outsourcing despite greater cognitive distance between partners. Offshore R&D outsourcing produces better innovation results than domestic outsourcing, particularly for product innovation. Absorptive capacity—built through internal R&D investment—enables companies to successfully integrate knowledge from distant offshore partners.
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Value Cocreation and Wealth Spillover in Open Innovation Alliances1
Open innovation alliances where competitors collaborate on technology development create significant economic value. Firms entering these alliances experience positive stock returns, with even greater gains when market leaders join late. Surprisingly, rival firms outside the alliance also benefit financially, with non-participating incumbents gaining the most. Innovation type and alliance openness affect returns, while partner diversity does not.
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OPEN INNOVATION PRACTICES AND THEIR EFFECT ON INNOVATION PERFORMANCE
Open innovation practices significantly boost innovation performance across European firms. Broad-based approaches combining multiple open innovation strategies deliver stronger results than individual practices alone. Internal research investments remain essential alongside external collaboration, showing that open innovation complements rather than replaces in-house knowledge development.
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From innovation to commercialization through networks and agglomerations: analysis of sources of innovation, innovation capabilities and performance of Dutch SMEs
Dutch SMEs succeed in innovation when they balance exploration and exploitation networks. This study of 243 Dutch firms shows that exploring technology opportunities through partnerships with universities and research institutions significantly improves innovation success. The findings suggest policymakers should support external collaboration networks, not just internal R&D, to help SMEs commercialize innovations effectively.
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Transformative innovation policy to meet the challenge of climate change: sociotechnical networks aligned with consumption and end-use as new transition arenas for a low-carbon society or green economy
The paper argues that climate policy must shift from incremental innovation to transformative change through sociotechnical transitions. Rather than focusing on technology supply or macroeconomic approaches, innovation policy should target consumption and end-use patterns organized around fundamental societal functions. The author shows that current policy mixes new demand-driven systemic initiatives with outdated supply-side approaches, and proposes that energy system visualization reveals consumption categories offering better frameworks for designing sociotechnical experiments toward a low-carbon society.
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Patient Perceptions of a Personal Health Record: A Test of the Diffusion of Innovation Model
This study applies diffusion of innovation theory to understand how patients perceive personal health records (PHRs). Surveying 760 patients, researchers found that PHR users valued ease of use and relative advantage more than non-users. Computer literacy and personal innovativeness in technology distinguished users from non-adopters. The diffusion of innovation model successfully predicted which factors drive PHR adoption and perceived value for doctor communication.
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Open Innovation in Practice: Goal Complementarity and Closed <scp>NPD</scp> Networks to Explain Differences in Innovation Performance for <scp>SMEs</scp> in the Medical Devices Sector
Small and medium-sized enterprises in the medical devices sector improve innovation performance through strategic collaboration networks. The study identifies an ideal network profile characterized by goal complementarity, resource complementarity, trust, and strong network positioning. High-performing SMEs adopt closed, focused, business-like networking approaches rather than broad open innovation. Goal complementarity emerges as the most distinctive factor differentiating successful from less successful companies.
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Short- and Long-Term Performance Feedback and Absorptive Capacity
Organizations learn differently from performance feedback depending on their time horizons. This study of 129 Israeli high-tech startups shows that short-term performance gaps drive immediate absorptive capacity improvements, while long-term performance gaps drive strategic capability building. Performance relative to aspiration levels influences both short-term tactical actions and long-term strategic decisions, contradicting the view that organizations focus only on immediate goals.
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How open innovation affects the drivers of competitive advantage
Open innovation fundamentally reshapes how firms compete. While competitive advantage models remain valid, open innovation eliminates economic rents from property rights and reduces those from scale and capital requirements. However, rents from experience, differentiation, distribution, switching costs, networks, and reputation survive. Firms relying on innovation barriers, proprietary designs, or exclusive skills face long-term competitive losses under open innovation models.
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Facilitating SME Innovation Capability through Business Networking
Small and medium-sized businesses drive innovation through collaborative networks that enable learning and value creation. This case study of a developing innovation network shows how SMEs generate ideas and create new ventures when working together with other local actors. Facilitated network development significantly enhances SMEs' capacity to innovate and create value.
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Open innovation web-based platforms: The impact of different forms of motivation on collaboration
Open innovation web-based platforms enable collaboration between individuals and companies. This study analyzes 116 platforms to understand what motivates people to participate. The research finds that motivations vary depending on the innovation stage and type of participant. Platforms should design their reward systems differently for different phases of innovation and shift from workplace-focused to social-focused approaches to encourage participation.
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Frugal and reverse innovation - Literature overview and case study insights from a German MNC in India and China
Western multinational corporations operating in India and China develop affordable products with essential features through frugal and reverse innovation, then introduce these solutions to developed markets. A German MNC case study shows that success in emerging markets requires complete localization, identifying core customer values, and balancing both innovation types in the product portfolio.
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Open Innovation and Stakeholder Engagement
Open innovation creates tension between gaining external knowledge and protecting intellectual property. This paper proposes a process-based model integrating stakeholder engagement with open innovation. By involving stakeholders directly, organizations can better understand and manage the risks of sharing knowledge while generating broader value beyond acquiring specific external expertise.
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Innovating not-for-profit social ventures: Exploring the microfoundations of internal and external absorptive capacity routines
Not-for-profit organizations pursuing social innovation develop distinctive capabilities by combining internal and external absorptive capacity routines. Analysis of 14 case studies from Australia and the UK shows these organizations mediate social innovation by configuring routines that blend user knowledge with technological knowledge flows. The study reveals how social ventures build and sustain the organizational capabilities needed to innovate effectively.
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Fostering radical innovations with open innovation
Companies using inside-out open innovation—sharing and commercializing internal technologies externally—create more radical innovations and launch more new products than those using closed innovation approaches. Closed innovation strategies instead produce more incremental product improvements. This empirical study of 141 R&D managers in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria from 2004–2008 demonstrates that open innovation strategies drive fundamentally different innovation outcomes.
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Reverse innovation: a global growth strategy that could pre‐empt disruption at home
Western companies typically innovate in wealthy markets then adapt products for emerging economies. Reverse innovation flips this approach: companies develop low-cost solutions for emerging markets that later find profitable applications in wealthy countries. GE's portable ultrasound machine exemplifies this—created for China, it generated a $250 million global business with new uses in the USA and other advanced economies.
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Extending open innovation throughout the value chain by small and medium-sized manufacturers
Small and medium-sized US manufacturers widely adopt open innovation practices with customers and suppliers across their value chains. The study of 293 companies shows that open innovation practices significantly influence both product and process innovation outcomes. Effectiveness depends on carefully selecting which practices and partners to engage, extending beyond the traditional focus on research and development.
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The adoption of open innovation within the telecommunication industry
Italian telecommunications companies adopt open innovation through teamwork and task forces, taking varying proactive roles in collaborative processes. These firms acquire external knowledge primarily from universities, research centers, and supply chain partners. The study reveals distinct management approaches to open innovation within the ICT industry, providing insights into how telecom companies structure external collaboration and knowledge sourcing.
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Supply chain innovation diffusion: going beyond adoption
This paper develops a unified framework for understanding how supply chain innovations move beyond initial adoption to become fully embedded in organizations. The authors identify 17 activities across three post-adoption stages—acceptance, routinization, and assimilation—and map relationships between them. The framework guides both researchers and supply chain managers in implementing innovations completely rather than simply adopting them.
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How Do Low-Income Urban African Americans and Latinos Feel about Telemedicine? A Diffusion of Innovation Analysis
Low-income African American and Latino urban residents view telemedicine as improving access to specialists and reducing wait times. However, African Americans express greater concerns about privacy and the lack of in-person contact, likely due to historical medical mistrust, while Latino immigrants show more openness. Successful telemedicine adoption requires tailored strategies that address these distinct community perspectives.
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A Firm‐Level Analysis on the Relative Difference between Technology‐Driven and Market‐Driven Disruptive Business Model Innovations
This study compares how technology-driven and market-driven innovations disrupt markets by analyzing four firms over 5–15 years. Technology-driven innovations follow predicted disruption patterns, while market-driven innovations hit a bottleneck where initial strategic choices and costs limit further disruption potential. The findings show that market-driven innovations face constraints that technology-driven ones do not.
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Networks for Innovation – But What Networks and What Innovation?
This paper tests two competing theories about how network structures affect innovation. Using data from a service industry, the authors find that network characteristics significantly predict innovation outcomes, but their effects differ dramatically depending on whether innovation is incremental (implementing employee ideas) or radical (developing new services). The paper argues researchers must use precise, fine-grained measures of both networks and innovation types rather than treating them as generic concepts.
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Towards innovation in Living Labs networks
Living Labs are open, user-centered environments that enable networked innovation through collaboration between organizations, users, and other participants. This study examines a regional Living Labs initiative to identify key participants, their roles, motivations, and outcomes. The research finds that Living Labs successfully facilitate open innovation by integrating users as co-producers in product development, which uncovers hidden user needs and generates unexpected results.
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Enhancing innovation in livestock value chains through networks: Lessons from fodder innovation case studies in developing countries
Fodder scarcity limits smallholder livestock farmers in developing countries. This paper examines how fodder technologies spread through farmer networks in Ethiopia, Syria, and Vietnam. Fodder innovation succeeds when integrated with other innovations and market activities, and when farmers organize collectively to access markets. The authors argue that combining innovation systems and value chain approaches strengthens smallholder productivity and market outcomes.
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Triple Helix Clusters: Boundary Permeability at University—Industry—Government Interfaces as a Regional Innovation Strategy
Successful regional innovation requires permeable boundaries between universities, industry, and government. The paper examines MIT-Boston, Stanford-Silicon Valley, Research Triangle-North Carolina, and Newcastle-Northeast UK to show that entrepreneurial universities drive innovation regions. While no single best-practice model exists, boundary permeability and other common innovation characteristics can be strengthened through targeted policy initiatives.
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Eco-innovation, Responsible Leadership and Organizational Change for Corporate Sustainability
Organizations pursuing sustainability must integrate environmental and social goals into their operations through eco-innovation and responsible leadership. The paper links corporate sustainability, eco-innovation, responsible leadership, and organizational change as interconnected drivers of corporate sustainability. Research on Romanian organizations shows that visionary management plays a critical role in adopting and implementing sustainability practices, particularly ecological components of sustainable development.
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EXPLORING THE SHADOWS: IT GOVERNANCE APPROACHES TO USER- DRIVEN INNOVATION
This paper appears to be a mismatch—the title addresses IT governance and user-driven innovation, but the abstract describes mass spectrometry methods for analyzing oligonucleotides. No rural innovation content is discernible from either the title or abstract provided.
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How does organisational absorptive capacity matter in the assimilation of enterprise information systems?
Organizations adopt enterprise resource planning systems through both internal learning capabilities and external institutional pressures. This study shows that absorptive capacity—an organization's ability to learn and apply new knowledge—moderates how institutional pressures influence ERP adoption. Potential absorptive capacity strengthens responses to competitive mimicry, while realized absorptive capacity strengthens responses to professional norms. Both dimensions directly improve system assimilation.
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Open Innovation Implementation to Sustain Indonesian SMEs
Indonesian small and medium enterprises face challenges in marketing, technology, capital access, and human resources despite their economic importance. Open innovation offers a solution by leveraging SMEs' existing agility and adaptability. The authors apply an innovation value chain framework to demonstrate how open innovation methodology can help Indonesian SMEs compete with larger firms and sustain economic growth.
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Punctuated Equilibrium Theory and the Diffusion of Innovations
Punctuated equilibrium theory explains how public policy innovations spread across U.S. states through three distinct mechanisms: gradual emulation, rapid imitation between states, and immediate responses to shared external shocks. Using the Bass diffusion model on 81 policy innovations, the research measures how external and internal influences drive adoption patterns and shows that policy image and federal involvement shape diffusion timing and speed.
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Open innovation for SMEs in developing countries – An intermediated communication network model for collaboration beyond obstacles
SMEs in developing countries face significant barriers to innovation that their counterparts in developed nations do not. This paper proposes that government agencies can establish innovation hubs to connect SMEs with independent inventors and collaborators, enabling open innovation practices. The authors present a joint innovation model and test it against cases from developing countries to demonstrate how intermediated communication networks overcome obstacles to SME innovation.
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Open innovation in universities
Spanish universities show that social networks are the strongest driver of researcher engagement in knowledge transfer activities. Personal background, institutional support, and professional factors also matter significantly, though recognition does not. The study surveyed 382 senior researchers leading research groups and found that strengthening connections between researchers, businesses, administrators, and technology transfer offices increases participation in open innovation knowledge exchanges.
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Science, business, and innovation: understanding networks in technology‐based incubators
This study examines how networks form within a Canadian technology-based incubator. The research reveals that incubators generate multiple distinct types of networks rather than a single uniform phenomenon. The authors identify specific factors that enable or constrain network formation among high-tech firms and other organizations. The findings emphasize that inter-organizational interactions in incubators are more complex and varied than previously understood.
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Growing Innovation Ecosystems: University-Industry Knowledge Transfer and Regional Economic Development in Canada
This paper examines how university-industry knowledge transfer drives regional economic development in Canada. The authors analyze the mechanisms through which universities contribute to innovation ecosystems and regional growth, focusing on the role of knowledge exchange partnerships between academic institutions and industry in fostering innovation capacity and economic competitiveness across Canadian regions.
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Consumers' Creative Talent: Which Characteristics Qualify Consumers for Open Innovation Projects? An Exploration of Asymmetrical Effects
This study examines which consumer characteristics enable effective participation in open innovation projects. The researchers tested how different creativity components affect consumers' ability to generate ideas, develop concepts, and build prototypes, plus their interest in co-creation. They found that creativity components have asymmetrical effects: some characteristics only matter above certain thresholds, while others show diminishing returns beyond specific levels.
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Open innovation management: challenges and prospects
South Korean companies practice open innovation differently than Western firms studied in existing literature. A survey of 85 South Korean companies found significant variations in open innovation activities based on industry type, company size, market type, and R&D intensity. The research identifies gaps between South Korean open innovation practices and established theoretical trends, revealing that context-specific factors shape how companies adopt open innovation strategies.
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Identification of Lead User Characteristics Driving the Quality of Service Innovation Ideas
This study identifies which lead user characteristics produce higher-quality service innovation ideas. Analyzing 120 ideas from an online services innovation contest for soccer clubs, the researchers found that dissatisfied customers and highly experienced users generate the best ideas. Companies should recruit dissatisfied users from complaint databases and experienced users into closed-membership idea contests to improve innovation outcomes.
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Open innovation in digital journalism: Examining the impact of Open APIs at four news organizations
Four major news organizations—The New York Times, The Guardian, USA Today, and NPR—adopted Open APIs to embrace open innovation principles. This shift accelerated research and development through collaboration with web developers, created new revenue streams by expanding their product offerings, and built innovation networks that acted as external R&D teams. The organizations continuously balanced openness with control to manage their intellectual property while benefiting from external innovation.
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Open innovation in SMEs: How can small companies and start-ups benefit from open innovation strategies?
Small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups can leverage open innovation strategies to access external knowledge, resources, and partnerships that enhance their competitive advantage. By collaborating beyond organizational boundaries, SMEs overcome resource constraints and accelerate innovation cycles, enabling them to compete more effectively in dynamic markets.
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Developing innovation capability through learning networks
Learning networks significantly enhance innovation capability in organizations. The paper examines how firms develop and strengthen their capacity to innovate by participating in collaborative learning networks. These networks facilitate knowledge exchange, skill development, and capability building across participating organizations, enabling them to generate and implement innovations more effectively than isolated competitors.
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GE's Ecomagination Challenge: An Experiment in Open Innovation
GE's ecomagination Challenge used open innovation to solicit green energy ideas from external entrepreneurs and startups, investing $140 million across 23 ventures by 2011. The case examines whether this approach delivered sufficient returns relative to GE's massive energy business, and considers how the company should measure success and structure future open innovation efforts to generate meaningful commercial outcomes.
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The ‘KIBS Engine’ of Regional Innovation Systems: Empirical Evidence from European Regions
Knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) drive regional innovation across Europe. The study maps how KIBS and manufacturing co-evolve in European regions, revealing that KIBS presence defines high-performing innovation systems, while their absence marks weak performers. Some core manufacturing regions follow a distinct path, transforming into knowledge-oriented service-manufacturing complexes rather than adopting traditional KIBS-dependent models.
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Leveraging Open Innovation Using Intermediary Networks
Open innovation intermediary networks like InnoCentive connect firms seeking solutions with external knowledge holders through one-off transactions. The paper shows that companies successfully source codified and uncodified knowledge through these platforms by applying procurement and design engineering processes to create organizational learning routines. These routines enable effective knowledge transfer and competitive advantage despite theoretical challenges in knowledge search and transfer.
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OPENNESS IN PRODUCT AND PROCESS INNOVATION
Open innovation benefits both product and process innovation in Australian firms, but external information sources show diminishing returns over time. Internal and external knowledge complement each other primarily for new products and services rather than process innovation. Investment in absorptive capacity yields declining marginal returns for process innovation but not for product innovation.
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Managing knowledge within networked innovation
Firms succeed in networked innovation by adopting strategic knowledge management practices. The paper identifies two types of innovation networks: those exchanging explicit knowledge and intellectual property, and those co-creating new knowledge and opportunities. Success requires firms to understand their partners' business models and strategic motivations, enabling effective knowledge management across collaborative relationships.
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Efficiency and effectiveness between open and closed innovation: empirical evidence in South Korean manufacturers
This study compares open and closed innovation approaches in South Korean manufacturers, introducing new performance measures called efficiency and effectiveness. The research finds that firms using open innovation—acquiring technology and knowledge from external sources—demonstrate significantly higher efficiency and effectiveness than closed innovation firms. The findings demonstrate that external knowledge acquisition positively impacts firm performance.
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Introduction: Small Business and Networked Innovation: Organizational and Managerial Challenges
Small and medium-sized enterprises face distinct organizational and managerial challenges when participating in networked innovation. This introduction to a special issue outlines these challenges and synthesizes findings from included articles that advance understanding of how smaller firms navigate collaborative innovation ecosystems and manage the complexities of working across organizational boundaries.
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The Driving Forces of Subsidiary Absorptive Capacity
This study examines how multinational corporations strengthen their subsidiaries' ability to absorb and implement marketing strategies. The research shows that subsidiaries operate within two competing environments—the MNC network and their local host country market. MNCs can enhance subsidiary competitiveness by creating organizational mechanisms that build absorptive capacity. Analysis of 213 subsidiaries reveals specific structures that enable effective strategy adoption in dynamic markets.
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User innovation and the market
This paper argues that official innovation statistics should include consumers who modify or develop products for their own use and share that knowledge freely. Current OECD definitions exclude consumer user innovation while focusing on market-based innovation. The author proposes redefining innovation to capture this activity, discusses policy implications for both consumer and firm innovation, and outlines how public sector measurement would change.
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Understanding absorptive capacity in Malaysian small and medium sized (SME) construction companies
Malaysian construction SMEs in rural areas struggle to absorb and implement new knowledge and technology. This study identifies nine key factors influencing their absorptive capacity: cost, supply availability, demand, infrastructure, policies, labour readiness, workforce motivation, communication channels, and organizational culture. The findings apply broadly to SMEs in other developing countries facing similar innovation barriers.
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Organisational culture and cloud computing: coping with a disruptive innovation
Cloud computing represents a disruptive innovation that fundamentally changes how organizations deliver and consume computing services. The paper applies Christensen's disruptive innovation theory to cloud computing, examining how this shift requires organizations to transform their operational cultures and service delivery models to adapt to flexible cost structures, scalability, and efficiency gains.
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Ranking National Innovation Systems According to their technical Efficiency
This study measures and compares the technical efficiency of national innovation systems across EU27 member states plus Croatia, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey. Using data from the 2011 Innovation Union Scoreboard database and data envelopment analysis, the researchers ranked countries by innovation system performance. The analysis reveals how efficiently different nations convert innovation inputs into outputs.
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The role of a firm's absorptive capacity and the technology transfer process in clusters: How effective are technology centres in low-tech clusters?
Small and medium-sized firms in low-tech manufacturing clusters access technology centres and research institutes based on their absorptive capacity—their internal resources and ability to learn. The study of 80 firms found that knowledge-intensive sectors use research infrastructure more effectively, while less knowledge-intensive sectors rely instead on supplier relationships. Technology centres alone cannot drive innovation; firms must actively seek out and engage with available knowledge sources.
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Coordination in innovation‐generating business networks – the case of Finnish Mobile TV development
This study examines how coordination mechanisms evolve in innovation-generating business networks through a case study of Finnish Mobile TV development. The research finds that successful network coordination combines two distinct approaches: orchestration, which builds vision and social capital in early phases, and management, which coordinates activities closer to commercialization. The findings show how these mechanisms shift as networks develop.
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The role of relative absorptive capacity in improving suppliers' operational performance
This study examines how suppliers' absorptive capacity affects their operational performance in customer-supplier relationships. Using data from 218 Canadian manufacturers, the researchers found that knowledge-sharing routines between customers and suppliers drive knowledge transfer, which then improves supplier performance. Surprisingly, overlapping knowledge bases did not significantly influence knowledge transfer, suggesting the mechanism works differently than expected.
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The Evolving University: Disruptive Change and Institutional Innovation
Universities face mounting pressure to drive social and cultural advancement while adapting their core mission. The paper argues that higher education institutions must experiment with inclusive delivery modes, validate new curriculum approaches, develop platforms with relevant applications, and create analytical tools using broad datasets. Future universities will require fundamentally different institutional arrangements and new collaborative methods for presenting specialized knowledge.
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The Effects of Absorptive Capacity and Decision Speed on Organizational Innovation: A Study of Organizational Structure as an Antecedent Variable
Organizational structure directly shapes innovation outcomes. Formalization increases absorptive capacity and drives innovation, but slows decision-making. Centralization reduces absorptive capacity and innovation without affecting decision speed. The study analyzed 260 enterprises using structural equation modeling to reveal how formalization and centralization influence innovation through distinct pathways of organizational capacity and decision velocity.
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Institutional Conditions and Innovation Systems: On the Impact of Regional Policy on Firms in Different Sectors
Regional policies succeed or fail based on whether firms internalize and adopt them in their innovation practices. This study examines how institutions shape innovation activities across life science, media, and food sectors in Scania, Sweden. The research shows that effective regional policy doesn't just create external incentives—it must influence how organizations and individuals actually interact and organize their innovation work together.
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Openness, Absorptive Capacity, and Regional Innovation in China
This study examines how openness to trade and foreign investment drives regional innovation across Chinese provinces from 1997 to 2007. The research finds that trade openness and foreign direct investment significantly boost innovation, while technology imports only help coastal regions. Human capital strengthens a region's ability to absorb external knowledge and benefit from spillover effects. Absorptive capacity emerges as crucial for translating openness into actual innovation gains.
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Regional innovation policy and public-private partnership: The case of Triple Helix Arenas in Western Sweden
Two Swedish regional innovation organizations called 'Arenas' were designed to bring together industry, universities, and government based on Triple Helix theory. The study found that these partnerships struggled to maintain stable collaboration because the different actors had conflicting interests, creating unresolved tensions that undermined the intended cooperation model.
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Multi-parameter models of innovation diffusion on complex networks
This paper develops a mathematical model to understand how innovations spread through populations via peer influence. Using household energy efficiency adoption as a case study, the model represents people as network nodes whose decision to adopt depends on personal preference, neighbors' choices, and broader social trends. The researchers test the model on different network structures and provide analytical methods to predict adoption rates, showing how network topology affects innovation diffusion patterns.
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Creating a Taxonomy for Mobile Commerce Innovations Using Social Network and Cluster Analyses
This paper analyzes over 2,300 mobile commerce patent applications using social network and cluster analysis to identify focal innovation areas and create a taxonomy of m-commerce innovations. The analysis reveals that consumer empowerment and co-creation drive mobile commerce service development, showing how customers shape new offerings in this rapidly growing sector.
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Determinants of National Innovation Systems: Policy implications for developing countries
This study examines how knowledge institutions, governments, and businesses shape national innovation systems in 46 developed and emerging economies. The researchers find that market forces dominate innovation outcomes, while institutional structures around knowledge management and government-business relations also matter significantly. The analysis suggests developing countries should prioritize creating institutional environments that support market mechanisms to strengthen their innovation systems and economic growth.
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University–industry linkages and absorptive capacity: an empirical analysis of China's manufacturing industry
Universities contribute to innovation in China's manufacturing sector, but their impact depends on the type of research performed and whether companies invest in absorptive capacity—the ability to acquire, assimilate, transform, and exploit external knowledge. The study of 20,000 firms across 31 provinces from 1998 to 2004 confirms that companies benefit most from university knowledge when they develop complementary internal capabilities.
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Designing the Organization for User Innovation
Organizations are shifting from internal, producer-driven innovation toward user-centered and open innovation models. This paper identifies major user innovation strategies and explains how each one requires different organizational design choices. The authors propose that successful innovation increasingly depends on building symbiotic ecosystems where producers and users collaborate, fundamentally reshaping how companies structure themselves.
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Analyzing the Influence of Diffusion of Innovation Attributes on Lecturers’ Attitude Towards Information and Communication Technologies
This study examined how five innovation attributes—relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, trialability, and observability—influence lecturers' attitudes toward using information and communication technologies. Surveying 213 lecturers at the National University of Lesotho, researchers found that relative advantage, complexity, and observability positively shaped ICT adoption attitudes, with observability having the strongest effect. The findings suggest universities should provide training and deploy user-friendly technologies to increase ICT use.
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Trends in Pancreatic Pathology Practice Before and After Implementation of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration: An Example of Disruptive Innovation Effect?
This paper is about medical pathology practice, not rural innovation. It examines how endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration changed pancreatic disease diagnosis in a hospital laboratory over 20 years, showing the technique improved diagnostic accuracy and reduced the need for tissue biopsies. The work has no connection to rural innovation, agricultural technology, or rural development.
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Responsible research and innovation in information systems
This paper examines responsible research and innovation within information systems, arguing that the field's diverse approaches require careful consideration of ethical and social dimensions in how IS research and innovation are conducted and applied. The work addresses the need for IS scholars to engage with responsibility frameworks that go beyond technical solutions.
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Learning and Innovation Competence in Agricultural and Rural Development
This paper argues that agricultural and rural development benefit when competence development and capacity development are integrated rather than kept separate. The research finds that measuring learning outcomes—changes in how people think, feel, and act—better develops organizational innovation capacity than traditional input-output metrics. The author concludes that combining theory-based, competence-based, and experiential learning through education and extension strengthens innovation systems in agriculture.
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The impact of agricultural innovation system interventions on rural livelihoods in Malawi
A study in Malawi measured how an agricultural innovation system intervention affected rural livelihoods using propensity score matching. Participating households improved crop and livestock production, income, asset ownership, and fertilizer use during the program. However, benefits declined when the research program ended. The authors recommend strengthening local extension officers' capacity and funding to sustain innovation system benefits.
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Analysis of the barriers and limitations for the development of rural women's entrepreneurship
This study identifies nine categories of barriers preventing rural women from starting and growing businesses in Iran: demographic factors, personality traits, family characteristics, education and skills gaps, cultural and social norms, access to facilities and services, legal frameworks, financial constraints, institutional support, and geographical conditions. Researchers interviewed entrepreneurship experts and rural women entrepreneurs using qualitative methods to develop a comprehensive understanding of these obstacles.
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e-Agriculture Prototype for Knowledge Facilitation among Tribal Farmers of North-East India: Innovations, Impact and Lessons
An ICT-based agricultural extension project in North-East India reduced costs per farmer by 73% and cut service delivery time by two-thirds compared to conventional extension systems. However, the study finds that information technology alone cannot drive rural development. Successful e-agriculture requires combining digital advisory services with field demonstrations, supply chain linkages, and public-private partnerships to support tribal farming communities.
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Design thinking: employing an effective multidisciplinary pedagogical framework to foster creativity and innovation in rural and remote education
This paper develops a design thinking framework to teach creative problem-solving to secondary students in rural and remote schools. Students learn a six-step process—understand, observe, visualize, evaluate, refine, implement—applied to local rural issues, creating multimedia presentations or games. The research produces a model for implementing design thinking across schools to build students' creative capacity and innovation skills needed for future workplaces.
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Highly spectrally efficient Ngara Rural Wireless Broadband Access Demonstrator
Researchers developed a wireless broadband technology for rural areas that dramatically improves spectral efficiency to 67 bits/s/Hz, the highest reported at the time. By maximizing coverage area and user capacity per access point while minimizing deployment costs, the system delivers high data rates (≈100 Mb/s per user) across rural regions using limited VHF and UHF spectrum on practical, low-cost hardware.
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Information and Communication for Rural Innovation and Development: Context, Quality and Priorities in Southeast Uganda
Rural communities in southeast Uganda access agricultural information from multiple sources, but reliability and applicability vary significantly based on trust relationships. Farmers lack capacity to hold information providers accountable for quality. Weak linkages exist among farmers, extension services, private sector, and local leaders. The study recommends establishing feedback loops and partnerships among actors to improve information generation and dissemination for agricultural innovation and rural development.
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Functions of the Intermediary Organizations for Agricultural Innovation in<scp>M</scp>exico: The<scp>C</scp>hiapas Produce Foundation
Intermediary organizations bridge knowledge gaps between agricultural innovators and farmers. This study examines the Chiapas Produce Foundation in Mexico, analyzing how it connects small farmers with technology suppliers and researchers. The foundation manages public resources to promote agricultural innovation among farmers with varying economic conditions and innovation capacity, revealing critical functions these intermediaries perform in developing country agricultural sectors.
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Rural entrepreneurship in the Western Cape: Challenges and opportunities
Rural entrepreneurs in South Africa's Western Cape face significant barriers including inadequate business skills, expensive raw materials, poor infrastructure, and limited financing. However, opportunities exist through government land reform initiatives, small business support institutions, and entrepreneur networks. The study recommends comprehensive government policies to strengthen rural entrepreneurship and development.
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The Handbook of Research on Entrepreneurship in Agriculture and Rural Development
This handbook examines entrepreneurship within agriculture and rural development contexts. It brings together research on how entrepreneurs drive innovation and economic growth in rural areas through agricultural ventures and related activities. The work synthesizes knowledge about rural entrepreneurial practices, challenges, and opportunities across different regions and agricultural sectors.
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Facilitating Agricultural Innovation Systems: A critical realist approach
Agricultural innovation systems have shifted from top-down technology transfer to systemic approaches, but gaps remain between expert and lay knowledge that hinder participatory development. This paper applies critical realism to understand these obstacles and proposes how intermediation functions within agricultural innovation systems can bridge knowledge divides and enable genuine transformation in rural development.
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The Bandwidth Divide: Obstacles to Efficient Broadband Adoption in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa
Rural Sub-Saharan Africa faces significant barriers to broadband adoption beyond simple infrastructure gaps. The paper identifies obstacles including affordability, limited local content, inadequate technical support, and misalignment between available services and actual community needs. These factors prevent efficient broadband use even where networks exist, requiring solutions that address social and economic dimensions alongside technological deployment.
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Embedding Small Business and Entrepreneurship Training within the Rural Context
Rural small business owners face distinct challenges requiring tailored training programs. This paper proposes a framework recognizing that rural entrepreneurs are highly motivated but pursue diverse goals beyond profit, often need multiple income streams for sustainability, and rely primarily on local resources including family and community. The curriculum draws on examples from successful rural entrepreneurs.
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Innovation and Productivity Advances in British Agriculture: 1620–1850
British agriculture between 1620 and 1850 experienced substantial productivity gains driven primarily by technological progress. The researchers measured technological advancement through agricultural patents and published books on farming methods, finding strong evidence that innovation directly fueled productivity improvements. This supports economic theory linking agricultural development to broader economic growth.
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Territory and innovation behaviour in agri-food firms: does rurality matter?
Innovation in agri-food firms depends on both company structure and territorial characteristics. Using data from Valencia, Spain, the study finds that rural location itself does not hinder innovation. Instead, proximity to training services and technological institutes significantly boosts innovation rates. Education levels and access to knowledge infrastructure matter more than urban versus rural designation.
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Developing an educational research framework for evaluating rural training of health professionals: A case for innovation
Rural medical training programs need innovative approaches to improve learning. This paper describes a collaborative workshop process that developed a research framework for evaluating a rural health professional training intervention. The framework enables systematic study of educational innovations and establishes accountability for identifying effective practices in rural healthcare worker training.
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Impediments to youth entrepreneurship in rural areas of Zimbabwe
Youth in rural Zimbabwe face significant barriers to starting businesses, including limited access to resources and lack of entrepreneurial skills. The study identifies specific challenges these young entrepreneurs encounter and documents the potential benefits entrepreneurship could bring to rural communities. The research recommends equipping Zimbabwean youth with entrepreneurial competencies to overcome these obstacles and enable business creation.
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Exploring Audience Segmentation: Investigating Adopter Categories to Diffuse an Innovation to Prevent Famine in Rural Mozambique
This study identifies five distinct adopter categories among rural Mozambicans for an innovation designed to prevent food shortages. Using latent class analysis on 127 participants, the researchers found that these categories differ significantly from traditional adopter category models. The findings suggest that audience segmentation based on local adopter patterns can improve the effectiveness of campaigns to diffuse food security innovations in rural contexts.
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Enabling rural broadband via TV &#x201C;white space&#x201D;
HopScotch, a rural broadband testbed in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, uses TV white space frequencies alongside 5 GHz bands to deliver high-speed internet across remote areas with fewer base stations and lower power consumption. This approach reduces infrastructure costs and energy use while maintaining strong coverage and data rates.
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Wealth, Entrepreneurship, and Rural Livelihoods
This paper examines the relationship between wealth, entrepreneurship, and rural livelihoods. The authors investigate how wealth accumulation and entrepreneurial activity shape economic opportunities and living standards in rural communities. The work connects financial resources to business creation and sustainability in agricultural and non-agricultural rural sectors.
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The innovation performance of small rural enterprises and cooperatives in Tehran province, Iran
Small rural enterprises in Tehran province, particularly those processing and packaging food products, struggle with sustainability. This study examined innovation as a sustainability driver and found that regional cooperatives significantly outperform private enterprises in both product/service and market innovation, suggesting cooperative structures better support rural enterprise innovation.
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Is wireless broadband provision to rural communities in TV whitespaces viable? A UK case study and analysis
This paper evaluates whether TV whitespace spectrum can economically deliver broadband to rural areas in the UK. The authors model a hybrid system using wireless links from existing fixed-line infrastructure endpoints to underserved communities. Their analysis incorporates actual whitespace availability, population density, and infrastructure costs. The findings show that whitespace-based rural broadband is both technically and commercially viable, primarily because it eliminates spectrum costs and reuses existing infrastructure, reducing site acquisition and backhaul expenses.
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Simulation of a hybrid renewable energy system in rural regions
This paper develops a MATLAB simulator for hybrid renewable energy systems in rural areas. The system combines photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, and pumped water storage to supply residential and industrial loads, with a grid connection. The key innovation is an optimal control strategy that balances power generation and consumption in both grid-connected and islanded operating modes.
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Indigenous Innovations in Qualitative Research Method: Investigating the Private World of Family Life
This paper presents an indigenous research method developed with Māori families to study family communication and well-being. Rather than imposing external researchers, family members record their own conversations and participate in interpreting the data. The approach gives research participants active control over what aspects of their private lives they share and how findings are understood, combining Western and Māori-centered ethical practices.
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Microfinance with education in rural Ghana: Men's perception of household level impact
A microfinance and nutrition education program in rural Ghana increased women's incomes and household food security. Male household heads reported supporting women's participation and perceived positive impacts on business practices and meal quality. However, men reduced their own household contributions in response to women's increased earnings, revealing unintended consequences of women's economic empowerment on household dynamics.
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Broadband Adoption| The Bandwidth Divide: Obstacles to Efficient Broadband Adoption in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa
This study examines why rural people in sub-Saharan Africa don't fully adopt the Internet despite having physical access. Researchers analyzed network traffic and surveyed users to find that access location, connection speed, cost, and local context shape how people actually use the Internet. They developed new metrics capturing user perceptions rather than just connectivity availability, revealing specific barriers to meaningful Internet adoption beyond infrastructure provision.
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HopScotch-a low-power renewable energy base station network for rural broadband access
Researchers deployed a wireless broadband network in the Scottish Highlands and Islands using low-power relay base stations powered by renewable energy. The system uses 5 GHz bands and white space frequencies to deliver high data rates with minimal infrastructure. This renewable-powered approach creates a scalable, cost-effective solution suitable for community ownership that addresses rural broadband access gaps.
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STATUS OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN RURAL INDIA
Women entrepreneurs in rural India face significant barriers despite government development programs. Women contribute unpaid labor to family businesses but lack confidence and mobility due to social conditioning. The paper argues that financial schemes alone are insufficient; rural India needs intensive entrepreneurship training, integrated development programs, and sustained support systems to motivate youth and women toward entrepreneurship as a viable career path for poverty reduction.
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The social impact of microfinance: what changes in well-being are perceived by women group borrowers after obtaining a group loan? : A participatory rural appraisal in Dar es Salaam Region, Tanzania
Microfinance group loans in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania produced mixed results for women borrowers' well-being. While loans contributed to positive changes, these improvements were not driven by income alone and depended heavily on group dynamics and family circumstances. The study challenges the assumption that microfinance's poverty-reduction benefits flow primarily from increased income, showing instead that well-being involves multiple interconnected factors beyond financial gains.
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Rural anchor institution broadband connectivity
Rural anchor institutions like libraries and schools face multiple barriers and enablers affecting broadband adoption. Research in rural Florida identified situational factors that influence whether these institutions successfully implement broadband connectivity. The study proposes a community-based planning model where multiple anchor institutions collaborate to jointly plan, deploy, and assess broadband infrastructure and adoption across their region.
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Institutional entrepreneurship and professionalization of the rural development of the sisal region in Brazil
Professionalization of rural development in Brazil's sisal region created entrepreneurship opportunities by transforming how funding bodies operated. Professional practices spread through informal networks rather than formal institutions, allowing local entrepreneurs to adapt and reinterpret these practices to fit their specific contexts. This process generated new organizational formats and legitimized professional approaches tailored to regional needs.
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The Cultivation of Organizational Innovation amongst Malaysian Bumiputera (Indigenous) ICT-Based Small Firms
A study of five Malaysian Indigenous ICT entrepreneurs reveals that implementing research and development activities is the key approach for developing organizational innovation in small ICT firms. The research identifies R&D as the pertinent strategy that Indigenous-owned technology companies should adopt to cultivate innovation within their organizations.
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Rural Member-Based Microfinance Institutions : A field study assessing the impacts of SACCOS and VICOBA in Babati district, Tanzania
Rural microfinance institutions in Tanzania—SACCOS and VICOBA—help members meet consumption needs, pay school fees, and start small businesses, according to member interviews in Babati district. Members believe these institutions reduce poverty, but the study finds that poverty reduction isn't automatic. Low loan repayment rates, insufficient capital, and poor entrepreneurship education limit effectiveness. How members use loans ultimately determines whether microfinance actually reduces poverty.
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Technological Innovation Drivers in Rural Small Food Industries in Iran
Rural small food industries in Iran's Tehran province show low levels of technological innovation. A survey of 111 managers across 60 firms found that managers doubt technological changes benefit their businesses. Production capacity, firm age, formal R&D investment, and fixed capital are the main factors driving technological innovation. The study provides recommendations for managers and policymakers to boost innovation in this sector.
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Power Line Communication throughput analysis for use in last mile rural broadband
Power Line Communication (PLC) offers a cost-effective approach to rural broadband by reusing existing electrical infrastructure. Laboratory tests comparing two PLC technologies show PLC can function as a last-mile solution, achieving adequate throughput for LAN replacement. However, the shared medium creates performance issues: UDP packet loss and increased TCP delays occur when multiple clients access the network simultaneously.
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“WindFi” - A renewable powered base station for rural broadband
HopScotch is a rural broadband network using low-power base stations powered by renewable energy to deliver affordable internet access to remote areas. The researchers designed energy-efficient base stations and calculated the renewable generation capacity, battery storage, and solar panel tracking systems needed to sustain continuous operation.
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Feasibility of LTE 700 MHz Digital Dividend for Broadband Development Acceleration in Rural Areas
This paper evaluates whether Indonesia can use LTE technology in the 700 MHz frequency band to expand broadband access in rural areas and reduce the digital divide. The authors assessed multiple implementation options through qualitative analysis, benchmarking, and case studies, then performed quantitative calculations. They conclude that early LTE deployment at 700 MHz is feasible in specific geographic regions and can accelerate Indonesia's broadband development goals.
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An Evaluation of Technology Innovation on the Performance of Indigenous Textile Weaving Firms in Southwestern Nigeria
Technology innovation significantly improves performance of indigenous textile weaving firms in southwestern Nigeria. Investment in technology, product innovations, capital investment, and business experience drive firm success. However, high taxes, R&D costs, local competition, and regional market pressures constrain performance. Domestic marketing and advisory services support firm resilience.
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An Overview of Innovation Intensity in the Indigenous Oilfield Services Firms in Nigeria
This study examined innovation types and intensity across 100 indigenous Nigerian oil and gas service firms between 2001 and 2010. Organizational innovation dominated at 46%, while product, process, and diffusion-based innovations occurred less frequently. Overall innovation intensity remained low, with minimal patents granted, limited R&D staffing, and weak organizational learning. Firms reported innovation benefits mainly through profit increases, process improvements, and new product development.
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China's Indigenous Innovation Policies Under the TRIPS and GPA Agreements and Alternatives for Promoting Economic Growth
China implemented Indigenous Innovation policies that favor government procurement of high-technology products with Chinese-owned intellectual property. The US and EU criticized these policies as trade barriers that commercialize foreign ideas in China. This paper analyzes whether these policies comply with TRIPS and GPA agreements, examines their economic rationale, and proposes alternative approaches—including increased R&D investment and stronger IP protection—that would allow China and foreign competitors to achieve technological growth without trade violations.
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The banking sector intervention in the microfinance world: a study of bankers' perception and outreach to rural microfinance in India with special reference to the state of Punjab
Commercial banks in Punjab, India offer microfinance schemes to rural poor for small economic activities. This empirical study examines how extensively banks participate in microfinance and analyzes the nature and reach of their rural microfinance services. The research also documents bankers' perceptions of microfinance as a poverty reduction tool.
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Key factors influencing organizational innovation in small rural food industries: Case study of Iran
This study examines organizational innovation in small rural food industries in Tehran Province, Iran. The research identifies key factors driving innovation: firm age negatively affects incremental innovation, while product diversification and production capacity positively influence it. For radical innovation, production capacity, product diversification, and manager experience boost adoption, while competition intensity reduces it. The findings provide recommendations for strengthening organizational innovation in these rural food firms.
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Innovation centres as growth points for smaller towns and rural areas
Innovation centres and science parks in smaller towns and rural areas drive socioeconomic development beyond major cities. The authors examine a science park in Gusev, Kaliningrad region, showing how regional and municipal legal frameworks support innovation adoption. Composite development strategies integrating innovation at municipality level strengthen surrounding rural territories.
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Orthogonal beamforming for overlay mode of OFDMA-based rural broadband wireless access
This paper proposes an overlay mode for OFDMA-based cellular systems that delivers broadband wireless access to rural users without interfering with urban mobile users. Using orthogonal beamforming, the system constrains signals to rural users to remain orthogonal to channels serving higher-priority mobile users. The authors demonstrate that rural users achieve acceptable signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratios despite these constraints, making the approach viable for rural broadband deployment.
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Ambiguity and Uncertainty in the “Last Mile”: Using Sense-making to Explore How Rural Broadband Networks Are Created
Alberta's government built a world-leading fiber-optic broadband network for rural communities in 2005, yet the province ranked last in rural broadband access by 2008. Using interviews and sensemaking theory, the authors found that industry decision-makers and stakeholders created self-fulfilling prophecies about the network through collective interpretation, which paralyzed efforts to promote actual community use of the infrastructure.
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Ngara broadband access system for rural and regional areas
Researchers developed and tested a new MU-MIMO wireless system called Ngara for rural broadband access. The system achieved six simultaneous users at 12 Mb/s symmetric speeds over a single 7 MHz channel in a real rural environment. The technology can scale to 12 users at 50 Mb/s over wider channels, using innovations in synchronisation, antenna design, channel estimation, and signal processing to deliver efficient broadband to dispersed areas.
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Effects of Carrier Frequency, Antenna Height and Season on Broadband Wireless Access in Rural Areas
This paper investigates how carrier frequency, antenna height, and seasonal changes affect broadband wireless access systems in rural areas. Using field measurements in Germany at two frequency bands, the researchers found that wireless channel characteristics vary significantly with environment and terrain. Antenna height effects depend on local terrain clearance, and seasonal changes alter fading distributions and multipath propagation patterns in rural channels.
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NGOs and their Role in Development of Science - In Development of Rural Women Entrepreneurship
NGOs and self-help groups in India train and empower rural women entrepreneurs to create economically rewarding activities, addressing the challenge of retaining rural populations. The paper examines how these organizations develop science-based approaches to rural women entrepreneurship, building systems that help eradicate rural poverty and engage women in sustainable economic activities.
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SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL AREAS IN POLAND
Rural entrepreneurship in Poland is shaped by social and cultural factors rooted in communist-era attitudes and post-1989 transformation. Polish rural residents show low entrepreneurial activity, preferring passive survival strategies over economic risk-taking. However, strong family and neighborhood ties, combined with generations of farm ownership experience, create conditions that support entrepreneurship when it does emerge. Rural enterprise thus carries both economic and social dimensions.
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Potential assessment of establishing a renewable energy plant in a rural agricultural area
Researchers assessed the feasibility of building a renewable energy plant in a rural Taiwanese township that generates substantial agricultural waste from pig farms. Using GIS mapping and energy modeling, they found that biogas from manure combined with solar panels could viably produce electricity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and treating waste. The study identifies the most suitable location and demonstrates strong economic and environmental potential under Taiwan's green energy policies.
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The Stages of Political Innovation in Rural China’s Local Democratisation: Four Cases of Villagers’ Political Innovations
This paper examines how rural Chinese villages have driven political democratization through grassroots innovation over three decades. Villagers' collective action triggered political reforms, with ongoing interaction between communities and government advancing the process. The author applies a four-stage innovation model—problem identification, trigger, initiative, and diffusion—to explain how institutional political change occurs in rural areas, showing that political innovation follows the same patterns as technological and economic innovation.
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‘Rural Informatics’: Use of Information and Communication Technologies for the Rural Poor – From Digital Divide to Digital Opportunity in Rural India
India's government is implementing ICT policies to bridge the digital divide and create opportunities for rural poor communities. The paper argues that effective ICT deployment requires coordinated action among government, private sector, and local communities. Success depends on affordable infrastructure, training programs, and integrating traditional knowledge systems into participatory development approaches that improve access to markets, health, and education.
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Harnessing renewable energy technologies for ICT and e-governance services in un-electrified communities in rural Nepal
Rural Nepal lacks access to e-governance services because most communities have no electricity or internet. The government's digital initiatives remain unknown and inaccessible to the majority of the population, particularly in remote areas with difficult terrain. Renewable energy technologies could enable ICT infrastructure and e-governance services in un-electrified communities, benefiting rural populations who currently depend on unreliable energy access.
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Use of Alternative Fuels and Hybrids by Small Urban and Rural Transit
A survey of 115 small urban and rural transit agencies reveals that larger and urban providers adopt alternative fuels and hybrids more readily than smaller rural operators. Agencies pursue these technologies primarily for emissions reductions, public perception, and cost savings. Rural adoption lags due to concerns about infrastructure costs and fuel supply availability. The study documents actual experiences with biodiesel, E85, propane, natural gas, and hybrid vehicles across different community sizes.
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Techno-economic analysis for Rural Broadband Access Networks
This paper develops a techno-economic cost model for deploying broadband networks in rural areas worldwide. It identifies major benefits and challenges of rural broadband access, presents factors affecting costs and revenues, and proposes a technology selection strategy that incorporates technical, economic, regulatory, and funding considerations. The authors create an empirical model to calculate total costs and benefits, illustrated through a Germany case study.
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Selection of photovoltaic modules for off-grid rural application based on Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)
Rural electrification in developing countries relies on solar photovoltaic systems for off-grid applications. This paper uses the Analytical Hierarchy Process to help select appropriate PV modules and battery technology by weighing technological parameters alongside socio-economic factors and practical constraints. The method ranks technology alternatives through hierarchical comparison and sensitivity analysis, enabling better-informed decisions about which systems suit specific rural contexts.
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The Need for Technological Innovations for Indigenous Knowledge Transfer in Culturally Inclusive Education
Indigenous knowledge systems in remote and rural communities face extinction due to colonization and cultural displacement. The paper proposes using information and communications technology to preserve oral and traditional knowledge systems and integrate them into community education. Technological innovation can help gather, store, and retrieve indigenous knowledge to support culturally inclusive education.
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Why do Social Innovations in Rural Development Matter and Should They be Considered More Seriously in Rural Development Research? – Proposal for a Stronger Focus on Social Innovations in Rural Development Research
Social innovations—new organizational forms, practices, and services—are critical drivers of rural development but remain underexamined in rural research. The author defines social innovation conceptually, models its process, and argues that weak social innovation capacity constrains rural community vitality in developed countries. An actor-oriented network approach offers a promising methodology for studying how social innovations emerge and function in rural contexts.
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Beyond knowledge brokering: an exploratory study on innovation intermediaries in an evolving smallholder agricultural system in Kenya
In Kenya's agricultural sector, 22 intermediary organizations support smallholder innovation through roles beyond knowledge distribution. These organizations foster interaction among diverse actors and drive technological, organizational, and institutional change. The study identifies four intermediation arrangements: technology broker, systemic broker, enterprise development support, and input access support. Innovation brokering requires policy support but should avoid one-size-fits-all approaches.
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SUPPORTING AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION IN UGANDA TO RESPOND TO CLIMATE RISK: LINKING CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY WITH FARMER PERCEPTIONS
Farmers in southwest Uganda perceived significant climate change over 20 years, reporting increased temperatures and greater rainfall variability, particularly in the March-May season. Climate data confirmed rising temperatures but showed less dramatic rainfall changes than farmers reported. The study reveals gaps between farmer perceptions and meteorological measurements stem from different definitions of risk—farmers focus on rainfall distribution for crop production while scientists measure long-term statistical means. Understanding these differences improves communication about climate risk to support agricultural innovation.
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The new harvest: agricultural innovation in Africa
This review examines agricultural innovation across Africa, analyzing how farmers develop and adopt new farming practices and technologies. The paper discusses the conditions enabling innovation in African agriculture, including access to resources, knowledge systems, and institutional support. It argues that understanding local innovation processes is essential for improving agricultural productivity and food security in rural African communities.
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Shaping agricultural innovation systems responsive to food insecurity and climate change
Agricultural innovation systems must adapt to climate change and food insecurity by learning from smallholder farmers' strategies in developing countries. The paper examines three regional cases and identifies four key features that strengthen food security: recognizing agriculture's multiple functions, ensuring access to diversity for resilience, building decision-maker capacity at all levels, and maintaining sustained commitment to farmer well-being. These insights guide policymakers in reshaping innovation systems.
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Subdividing the Digital Divide: Differences in Internet Access and Use among Rural Residents with Medical Limitations
Rural residents and people with medical conditions use the Internet far less than urban residents and those without medical limitations. The study found that 32.6% of people with medical conditions used the Internet compared to 70.3% without conditions, and rural Internet use was 59.7% versus 69.4% urban. Racial disparities persisted even after controlling for demographics, with Hispanic and African American respondents showing significantly lower Internet use than white respondents. The rural-urban gap disappeared when accounting for socioeconomic factors.
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The Possibility of Place: One Teacher's Use of Place-Based Instruction for English Students in a Rural High School
A teacher in a rural high school used place-based instruction to teach eighth-grade English, connecting lessons to students' local communities and experiences. When the teacher grounded instruction in place-based content rather than personal anecdotes, students developed their own understanding of place. While place-based strategies increased curricular relevance, the study warns that without critical analysis, rural students may struggle to interpret structural inequalities affecting their communities. The research recommends integrating critical pedagogy into place-based English instruction.
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Sustainable primary health care services in rural and remote areas: Innovation and evidence
Rural and remote Australia has developed innovative primary health care models that work when tailored to local conditions and supported by aligned governance, funding, and workforce systems. Success requires coordination across government levels, clear service benchmarks, and national information systems to monitor outcomes. These evidence-based approaches can guide global health system reform to deliver sustainable care in hard-to-reach communities.
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Innovation, Cooperation, and the Perceived Benefits and Costs of Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Farmers' adoption of sustainable agriculture practices depends on their perceptions of benefits and costs, shaped by social networks and cooperation. The study shows that innovation spreads through farmer networks, and perceived advantages—environmental, economic, or social—drive adoption decisions. Cooperation among farmers strengthens commitment to sustainable methods, while perceived costs and risks create barriers to change.
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Farmer First Revisited: Innovation for Agricultural Research and Development
This paper revisits the 'Farmer First' approach to agricultural research and development, examining how farmer-led innovation shapes the design and implementation of agricultural technologies and practices. The work argues that centering farmer knowledge and participation in research processes produces more effective and sustainable agricultural innovations adapted to local conditions and needs.
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The Increasing Multifunctionality of Agricultural Raw Materials: Three Dilemmas for Innovation and Adoption
Agricultural raw materials now serve multiple industries beyond food and fiber, including energy, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. This expansion creates three critical challenges: competing goals among different sectors, competition between established and new companies, and blurred industry boundaries. The paper reviews innovation and adoption research in the bioeconomy and proposes conceptual frameworks to address these dilemmas.
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Agricultural innovation platform as a tool for development oriented research: Lessons and challenges in the formation and operationalization
Agricultural Innovation Platforms (AIPs) bring together multiple stakeholders to address agricultural development challenges through integrated research. This study documents the formation and operation of AIPs across Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, identifying six key stages from problem identification through implementation. Success depends on recognizing indigenous knowledge, involving local leadership, ensuring strong facilitation, and building stakeholder capacity. Market-led approaches accelerated results, while major obstacles included limited stakeholder skills and dependency mentality.
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Assessing Sustainability Perspectives in Rural Innovation Projects Using Q‐Methodology
This study uses Q-methodology to identify distinct perspectives on sustainable agriculture among participants in a Dutch innovation program called TransForum. The research reveals two main competing viewpoints: radical perspectives reject technology and favor multifunctional rural landscapes, while prosaic perspectives embrace technology and prioritize agricultural production. Notably, no ecological modernization perspective emerged, prompting the authors to propose a new concept of 'metropolitan agriculture' to address this gap.
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Entrepreneurship, the informal economy and rural communities
Rural entrepreneurs and self-employed workers in England operate substantially in the informal economy, trading off-the-books at higher rates in deprived communities than affluent ones. The study of 350 households reveals a hidden enterprise culture beneath legitimate businesses. Deprived rural areas show greater entrepreneurial activity than recognized, suggesting that legitimizing informal enterprises could unlock economic development potential.
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The system of rice intensification as a sustainable agricultural innovation: introducing, adapting and scaling up a system of rice intensification practices in the Timbuktu region of Mali
The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was successfully introduced and scaled in Mali's Timbuktu region over three years, growing from 1 to 450 farmers. SRI increases rice yields while reducing seeds, water, and chemical inputs through single young transplants, wide spacing, compost, mechanical weeding, and intermittent irrigation. Success depended on technical adaptation, farmer training, government collaboration, and funding. Farmers achieved significantly higher yields and income, and the approach inspired further local innovations in sustainable rice production.
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Quality of life and rural place of residence in Polish women - population based study.
Rural Polish women aged 45-60 report worse physical health but better mental health than urban counterparts. Rural residence independently predicts poor physical health outcomes. Retirement, social pension receipt, prolonged illness, and specialist consultations increase physical health risks. Higher education and medical access protect mental health. The study identifies rural residence as strongly linked to environmental and psychosocial factors affecting women's wellbeing.
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Entrepreneurial Origin and the Configuration of Innovation in Rural Areas: The Case of Cumbria, North West England
Rural entrepreneurs in Cumbria, England access innovation knowledge from beyond their region, creating innovation systems that cross regional and national boundaries. New arrivals and immigrants innovate most frequently, while locally born and returnee entrepreneurs show lower innovation rates. The study reveals that rural areas possess weaker local knowledge systems but entrepreneurs overcome this by tapping nonlocal infrastructure, suggesting innovation systems are constructed by individual actors rather than confined to regional boundaries.
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Contribution of farmers' experiments and innovations to Cuba's agricultural innovation system
Farmers in Cuba conduct their own experiments and innovations that significantly contribute to the country's agricultural system. The study found that government support for participatory knowledge development, combined with interactive meetings like farmer field schools, enables knowledge exchange between farmers and researchers. This multi-stakeholder approach institutionalizes farmer knowledge and builds resilience in farming systems.
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The digital divide in rural South Asia: Survey evidence from Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka
This paper examines how organizational innovations can bridge the digital divide in South Asia by providing affordable internet access. Using survey data from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, the authors find that education is the primary driver of computer and internet adoption, both as a motivation for use and as an enabling factor—particularly English language proficiency.
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Rural Community Participation, Social Networks, and Broadband Use: Examples from Localized and National Survey Data
Broadband access independently increases volunteering in rural communities, separate from the effects of social network size. The study analyzed three datasets to examine how internet connectivity influences community participation, which is particularly vital in rural areas. Results show broadband and social networks operate as distinct factors driving rural civic engagement.
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An agent-based model of agricultural innovation, land-cover change and household inequality: the transition from swidden cultivation to rubber plantations in Laos PDR
This paper models how smallholder farmers in northern Laos transitioned from shifting cultivation to rubber plantations. Using agent-based modeling fitted to historical land-cover data and household interviews, the researchers found that rubber adoption increased household inequality over time. The model explains both the timing of adoption decisions and the widening wealth gaps that resulted from unequal uptake of the new crop.
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Rural Women Entrepreneurship in India:- Opportunities and challenges
Rural women in India represent an untapped economic resource, comprising over half the population in villages where 70% of Indians live. The paper argues that mobilizing rural women as entrepreneurs and agents of innovation can drive national development and economic growth. Currently excluded from mainstream economic participation, rural women possess capabilities to solve problems and create change across households, communities, and the broader economy.
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Roles of ‘small- and medium-sized enterprises’ in service industry innovation: a case study on leisure agriculture service in tourism regional innovation
Small and medium-sized enterprises in Taiwan's leisure agriculture sector boost competitiveness through cooperation that engages customers in value creation. The study identifies four evolutionary stages of leisure agriculture services and shows that SME collaboration overcomes resource constraints while shifting the tourism industry from product-focused to service-focused business models.
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‘Freedom from Poverty is Not for Free’: Rural Development and the Microfinance Crisis in Andhra Pradesh, India
The 2010 microfinance crisis in Andhra Pradesh reveals fundamental failures in neoliberal development narratives. Microfinance institutions exploited rural vulnerability caused by trade liberalization, drought, and agrarian collapse, encouraging poor farmers to take loans for consumption and debt management. The crisis demonstrates that integrating the poor into formal financial systems without addressing underlying agrarian dislocations creates instability rather than poverty reduction.
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Does microfinance reduce rural poverty?
Microfinance borrowing causally increases household consumption and housing improvements among farm households in northern Ethiopia. Using panel data tracked over four rounds, the study finds that repeated borrowing produces cumulative long-term poverty reduction effects. Short-term impact estimates underestimate credit's true benefits on rural poverty.
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Technology transfer, indigenous innovation and leapfrogging in green technology: the solar-PV industry in China and India
China and India have rapidly advanced their solar photovoltaic industries by combining technology transfer with indigenous innovation. Both countries strategically mixed different mechanisms for acquiring, adapting, and developing solar technology. Their national innovation systems proved essential for sustaining progress. The paper shows developing countries can follow this mixed approach to catch up in green industries and build competitive green economies without replicating developed nations' paths.
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Community-owned renewable energy (CRE): Opportunities for rural Australia
Community-owned renewable energy projects offer rural Australia opportunities to address climate change, support community development, and strengthen rural economies. A STEEP analysis of case studies reveals significant potential, but realizing these benefits at scale requires supportive government policy at both state and federal levels.
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Knowledge management approaches in managing agricultural indigenous and exogenous knowledge in Tanzania
Western knowledge management models fail to address rural farming communities in developing countries. This study examined how Tanzanian farmers acquire and share both indigenous and exogenous agricultural knowledge. Indigenous knowledge spreads through small local networks, while exogenous knowledge reaches wider audiences via formal sources. Policies, legal frameworks, ICTs, and culture shape knowledge access. The researcher developed a new knowledge management model tailored to rural developing-world contexts.
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Microfinance and Women Empowerment: A Panel Data Analysis Using Evidence from Rural Bangladesh
Microfinance programs in rural Bangladesh serve over 90% women clients. This study uses panel data to measure whether microfinance participation genuinely empowers women by comparing outcomes like labor supply, asset accumulation, family planning, children's education, and household spending against outcomes from non-program borrowing sources. The analysis determines whether observed benefits actually constitute meaningful women's empowerment.
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'Remote from what?' Perspectives of distance learning students in remote rural areas of Scotland
Distance learning students in remote rural Scotland experience remoteness differently depending on geography and personal circumstances. Most students valued contact with personal tutors, but peer networks were rare. The researchers found that distance education provides valuable connections for isolated learners, though weak peer networks may threaten retention and progression.
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Drivers and Barriers to Rural Electrification in Tanzania and Mozambique - Grid Extension, Off-Grid and Renewable Energy Sources
Rural electrification rates in Tanzania and Mozambique remain below 5%, with grid extension too slow for remote areas. Off-grid systems using diesel generators are unreliable and expensive. Renewable energy alternatives like solar, micro-hydro, wind, and biofuels exist but face significant adoption barriers. This study identifies country-specific institutional, financial, and poverty-related drivers and barriers to both grid and off-grid electrification through interviews with ten national energy sector stakeholders.
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Challenges of Managing Indigenous Knowledge with other Knowledge Systems for Agricultural Growth in sub-Saharan Africa
Tanzanian smallholder farmers struggle to manage indigenous agricultural knowledge and access external information due to personal, social, and environmental barriers including weak infrastructure, poor extension service linkages, and ICT adoption challenges. The study recommends governments improve rural infrastructure and extension services, knowledge providers foster knowledge-sharing cultures, and farmers receive training to document and disseminate knowledge through participatory approaches that integrate indigenous and external systems.
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When cosmology meets property: indigenous people’s innovation and intellectual property
Indigenous innovation systems in Australia operate within a cosmological framework where innovation maintains the health of interconnected systems. The paper argues that commodity-based intellectual property systems poorly fit indigenous innovation needs. Land property rights matter far more than patents. Distinguishing-based intellectual property forms and voluntary certification systems offer better tools for indigenous businesses than traditional patent regimes.
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Researches on application of the renewable energy technologies in the development of low-carbon rural tourism
Rural tourism development causes environmental pollution and resource degradation. This paper demonstrates how renewable energy technologies—biomass, solar, and wind—can support low-carbon rural tourism. Using Changsha as a case study, the authors propose practical methods for integrating these renewable energy sources into rural tourism operations.
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Making the right to health a reality for Brazil's indigenous peoples: innovation, decentralization and equity
Brazil's public health system has expanded coverage and improved health indicators since 1988, but indigenous peoples remain marginalized with unequal access to services. The paper examines governance innovations and decentralization efforts designed to address these persistent inequities and extend universal health coverage to indigenous populations across Brazil's vast territory.
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Else, an Eventual Return to Conventional Energy: Impacts and Fate of an Off-Grid Rural Electrification Project in an Island in the Philippines
An off-grid solar photovoltaic system installed on Pangan-an Island in the Philippines faced technical, economic, and social challenges as it approached end-of-life. The study examined performance data and investigated options for extending the system's service life, revealing barriers to sustainability including technical complexity, high costs, and social compatibility issues that rural renewable energy projects must overcome.
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Remote and rural: Do mentors enhance the value of distance learning continuing medical education?
A randomized controlled trial tested whether mentors improve distance learning continuing medical education for doctors in remote and rural areas with limited technology. Mentored doctors were three times more likely to complete their courses and showed higher quality reflection, though the difference wasn't statistically significant. Rural practice location and younger age predicted completion. Despite potential benefits, mentors and doctors struggled to maintain contact and felt the system wasn't optimally used.
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The Constitution of the White Earth Nation: A New Innovation in a Longstanding Indigenous Literary Tradition
This essay examines the White Earth Nation Constitution as an innovation within indigenous literary traditions. The author traces how Gerald Vizenor and co-authors drew on centuries of indigenous constitutional literature—from the Popol Vuh through colonial petitions to contemporary fiction—to create a living text that uses irony and political critique. The constitution functions as a tool for imagining and inventing indigenous worlds through established literary and political methodologies.
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The role of universities in promoting rural innovation in Latin America
Universities in rural Latin America drive innovation by aligning diverse stakeholders with varying needs. The author examines Chiapas, Mexico, showing that successful rural innovation requires universities to coordinate effectively with different actors across the region, creating shared understanding and collaborative frameworks that address local development challenges.
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Social innovation in service delivery to youth in remote and rural areas
This paper examines a social innovation program in Finland's Kainuu region that uses art and technology to reintegrate marginalized youth in remote areas facing population decline. Rather than pursuing purely economic goals, the program focuses on helping young people reconnect with their identities and rebuild self-worth. The analysis applies quadruple helix and social living labs frameworks to understand how regional governance institutions support youth art training.
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Regional Innovation Systems: Theory, Empirics and Policy
This paper synthesizes theory and evidence on regional innovation systems, examining how regions develop competitive advantage through innovation networks. The authors identify three core questions: the nature of regional systems themselves, the boundaries between industrial clusters and knowledge transfer mechanisms, and the role of labor markets in facilitating learning. The work reveals gaps in current understanding and proposes directions for future research on how regions can address inequality through innovation policy.
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Open Innovation: Past Research, Current Debates, and Future Directions.
This paper reviews open innovation research and debates whether it represents a sustainable business practice or temporary management fashion. The author examines key topics including technology transactions, user innovation, business models, and innovation markets. The paper develops a conceptual framework addressing critical open innovation processes and their management implications across organizational, project, and individual levels.
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Frugal Innovation in Emerging Markets
Western multinational corporations struggle to develop frugal innovations—affordable, good-enough products for resource-constrained consumers—because their business models target affluent markets. Local R&D subsidiaries in emerging countries prove more effective at creating these innovations. Granting these subsidiaries substantial autonomy, including control over product portfolios, enables Western firms to successfully compete in frugal innovation markets alongside local corporations.
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Adding innovation diffusion theory to the technology acceptance model: Supporting employees' intentions to use e-learning systems
This study combines innovation diffusion theory with the technology acceptance model to understand why business employees adopt e-learning systems. Testing 552 employees in Taiwan, the research finds that five innovation characteristics—compatibility, complexity, relative advantage, and trialability—significantly influence perceived usefulness and ease of use, which in turn drive adoption intentions. The integrated model helps organizations plan and implement e-learning systems more effectively.
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Collaborative networked organisations and customer communities: value co-creation and co-innovation in the networking era
Collaborative networked organizations and virtual customer communities drive value creation and innovation by pooling complementary skills, knowledge, and technologies across networks. These strategic alliances enhance flexibility and adaptability to market changes and customer needs. The paper reviews value co-creation and co-innovation concepts and proposes a framework for 'experience-centric networks' that connect organizations with customer communities to enable sustainable, user-driven collaborative innovation.
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Corporate social responsibility and innovation: a resource‐based theory
This paper examines how corporate social responsibility (CSR) and innovation relate to each other using resource-based theory. Analyzing companies with R&D investments from 2003-2007, the authors find a negative bidirectional relationship: CSR practices reduce innovation efforts, and innovation reduces CSR practices. The effect varies by industry sector. Results show CSR investments take three years to demonstrate value and that companies rarely implement innovations linked to sustainability, revealing incompatibility between R&D spending and sustainable corporate behavior.
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The open innovation paradox: knowledge sharing and protection in R&D collaborations
Firms collaborating on R&D face a paradox: they must share knowledge to innovate together while protecting proprietary information. This study identifies how knowledge characteristics, collaboration structure, and relational factors create tension between openness and protection. The research finds that firms manage this paradox through strategies like layered collaboration schemes with inner and outer members, open knowledge exchange protocols, and licensing arrangements.
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Surmountable Chasms: Networks and Social Innovation for Resilient Systems
Networks facilitate social innovation by enabling cross-scale interactions that help communities escape rigid social structures and address complex problems. The paper argues that successful networks require institutional entrepreneurs with specific skills: pattern generation, relationship building, brokering knowledge and resources, and network recharging. These capabilities allow networks to increase resilience and improve human capacity to respond to systemic challenges.
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Orchestration Processes in Network-Centric Innovation: Evidence From the Field.
Companies increasingly pursue innovation through external networks rather than internal resources alone. This study examines how hub firms orchestrate network-centric innovation by combining product development and network theory with field research. The findings show that orchestration processes blend innovation design with network design, revealing how firms coordinate external partnerships to drive innovation.
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Knowledge‐based dynamic capabilities and innovation in networked environments
This study examines how knowledge-based dynamic capabilities drive innovation in networked manufacturing environments. Using survey data from 218 Chinese firms, the researchers found that knowledge combination capability mediates the relationship between dynamic capabilities and innovation performance. Network embeddedness influences dynamic capabilities through relational connections and network diversity, which enhance knowledge acquisition and joint problem-solving abilities.
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Green Approach To Prepare Graphene-Based Composites with High Microwave Absorption Capacity
This paper describes a method for creating graphene-polymer composites with strong microwave absorption properties. Researchers mixed chemically reduced graphene with polyethylene oxide using an aqueous process, producing materials with high electrical conductivity and large surface areas. The resulting composites effectively converted microwave energy into heat through electrical pathways and interface interactions, achieving absorption performance suitable for industrial applications.
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Unpacking Absorptive Capacity: A Study of Knowledge Utilization from Alliance Portfolios
This study examines how firms use knowledge from their alliance networks during technological change. The researchers distinguish between two types of absorptive capacity: latitudinal (using diverse knowledge) and longitudinal (using distant knowledge). They find that moderate diversity in alliance portfolios optimizes knowledge use, but simultaneously increasing demands on both types of capacity reduces effectiveness. The paper identifies two portfolio strategies—telescopic and panoptic searches—that balance these trade-offs.
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The Core and Cosmopolitans: A Relational View of Innovation in User Communities
User communities drive innovation through two key positions: core members who deeply engage within the community, and cosmopolitans who bridge multiple external communities. This study analyzed online community interactions, surveys, and interviews to show that innovation emerges not just from individual traits but from relational structures. Communities enable distinctive behaviors that traditional organizations cannot, amplifying innovation through strategic positioning within and across networks.
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Absorptive Capacity and Firm Performance in SMEs: The Mediating Influence of Strategic Alliances
Strategic alliances mediate the relationship between absorptive capacity and firm performance in SMEs. Absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to identify, assimilate, and exploit external knowledge—drives innovation and performance gains primarily through partnerships with other firms. However, this mediation effect weakens for younger SMEs, suggesting that company age and size shape how knowledge absorption translates into business results.
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The Role of Policy Attributes in the Diffusion of Innovations
Policy characteristics significantly influence how quickly innovations spread across U.S. states. Analyzing 27 criminal justice policies adopted between 1973 and 2002, the authors found that attributes like relative advantage, complexity, and compatibility with existing practices determine adoption likelihood. These same attributes also shape whether policies spread through geographic proximity or through learning from other states' experiences.
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Enhancing effects of manufacturing flexibility through operational absorptive capacity and operational ambidexterity
Manufacturing flexibility improves firm performance in uncertain environments, but this effect depends on organizational capabilities. The study of 852 manufacturing firms shows that absorptive capacity—the ability to recognize and apply new knowledge—and ambidexterity—balancing exploitation of existing capabilities with exploration of new ones—both strengthen how flexibility translates uncertainty into better performance.
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The impact of outside‐in open innovation on innovation performance
Companies that adopt open innovation strategies—collaborating with customers, suppliers, and universities—significantly improve their innovation performance. However, collaboration with cross-sector companies negatively affects results. This empirical study of 141 R&D managers in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria demonstrates that openness in outside-in innovation processes directly drives both direct and indirect innovation outputs.
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The Effects of Mainstream and Emerging Customer Orientations on Radical and Disruptive Innovations
Customer orientation affects innovation differently depending on the type. Mainstream customer focus drives radical innovations using new technology but hinders disruptive innovations targeting emerging markets. Emerging customer orientation boosts disruptive innovation but doesn't affect radical innovation. Technology scanning supports radical innovation, while willingness to cannibalize supports disruptive innovation. Firms can pursue both mainstream and emerging customer orientations simultaneously.
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Managing the Challenges of Becoming an Open Innovation Company: Experiences from Living Labs
Companies increasingly integrate users directly into innovation processes through living labs, recognizing that user feedback and experiences drive valuable ideas and competitive advantage. This paper examines how organizations manage the transition to open innovation models where users actively participate in developing and testing new technologies across industries.
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The smart city: A nexus for open innovation?
European smart city initiatives increasingly adopt open innovation approaches that connect technology, people, urban spaces, and other cities to design services and policies. The analysis of EU programmes and international projects shows this integrated method is effective and sustainable, but success requires consistent frameworks, principles, and strategic alignment across initiatives.
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Opinion Leaders' Role in Innovation Diffusion: A Simulation Study
Opinion leaders accelerate product adoption by combining central network positions with superior product knowledge and greater innovativeness. Using agent-based modeling, the study shows opinion leaders increase adoption speed, information flow velocity, and maximum adoption rates. Targeting opinion leaders remains an effective marketing strategy for driving innovation diffusion.
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Market Formation in Technological Innovation Systems—Diffusion of Photovoltaic Applications in Germany
This paper develops a framework for analyzing how technological innovation systems create and mature end-user markets, using photovoltaic applications in Germany as a case study. The authors argue that existing innovation systems research neglects market formation structures, which become critical as technologies mature. They propose a conceptual approach to examine market-related substructures and demonstrate how different photovoltaic market segments developed in Germany.
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Disrupting College: How Disruptive Innovation Can Deliver Quality and Affordability to Postsecondary Education.
Online learning is disrupting higher education by enabling affordable, quality postsecondary options. The authors document rapid growth in online course enrollment from 10 percent of students in 2003 to nearly 30 percent by 2009, projecting 50 percent by 2014. This technology shift explains the rise of for-profit institutions while traditional colleges struggle financially.
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Comparing knowledge bases: on the geography and organization of knowledge sourcing in the regional innovation system of Scania, Sweden
This study examines how firms in three different industry clusters in southern Sweden source and exchange knowledge. The researchers found that industries relying on symbolic or synthetic knowledge bases benefit significantly from geographical proximity because their knowledge is context-dependent and locally interpreted. In contrast, analytical industries drawing on codified scientific knowledge are less dependent on proximity, suggesting that clustering in these sectors serves purposes beyond knowledge sourcing.
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Understanding innovators' experiences of barriers and facilitators in implementation and diffusion of healthcare service innovations: a qualitative study
Healthcare innovators in the UK identified four key factors affecting whether service innovations succeed and spread: evidence of effectiveness, partnerships between organizations, people-based resources like champions, and contextual conditions. Innovators emphasized that successful implementation requires combining strong evidence, interpersonal networks, organizational support, and favorable external conditions. Champions and innovators themselves drive diffusion across different healthcare settings.
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Innovation Types and Network Relationships
Small innovative firms commercialize different types of innovations through distinct network relationships. The study identifies four innovation types and shows that radical systemic and autonomous innovations require strong collaborative ties with customers, while incremental innovations succeed through different downstream networks. A portfolio of relationships with suppliers, distributors, customers, and research institutes helps small firms access critical resources.
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Connecting local entrepreneurial ecosystems to global innovation networks: open innovation, double networks and knowledge integration
Large and small firms increasingly tap dispersed knowledge from universities, research institutes, and SMEs through open innovation and global networks. This paper argues that regional innovative ecosystems play a crucial role in attracting R&D activity and enabling knowledge integration. Success requires firms to simultaneously integrate knowledge locally and globally, internally and externally, within double network structures that connect entrepreneurial ecosystems to worldwide innovation networks.
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Knowledge absorptive capacity and innovation performance in KIBS
Knowledge input, spillover, and absorptive capacity all boost innovation performance in Taiwan's IC design industry. The study shows that absorptive capacity—defined as the interaction between knowledge input and spillover—directly strengthens how firms innovate. The research distinguishes four types of knowledge spillover and absorptive capacity sources, providing empirical evidence that firms leveraging multiple knowledge sources achieve better innovation outcomes.
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BENEFITING FROM SUPPLIER OPERATIONAL INNOVATIVENESS: THE INFLUENCE OF SUPPLIER EVALUATIONS AND ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY
Manufacturers benefit from suppliers' operational innovations, but capturing this value requires two strategies: evaluating supplier performance and developing absorptive capacity to learn from suppliers. A survey of 136 manufacturers and 272 suppliers shows both approaches significantly enhance the benefits of supplier innovation, particularly when suppliers handle knowledge-intensive tasks. Supplier evaluation and learning capacity work together to unlock innovation value.
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Diffusion of innovations in social networks
This paper examines how innovations spread through social networks using the linear threshold model, where individuals adopt innovations only after exposure from multiple neighbors. The authors find that innovations spread further in networks with lower clustering, contradicting existing literature. They provide analytical evidence and simulations supporting this claim, and extend the model to account for path dependence, showing how small shocks can significantly alter diffusion outcomes.
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Open innovation modes and the role of internal R&D
European companies adopt open innovation strategies at varying levels, with 30% highly open and 39% semi-open to external collaboration. Inbound open innovation—acquiring external knowledge—is more prevalent than outbound approaches. The study reveals that companies can reduce internal R&D spending through inbound open innovation, while the choice between vertically integrated, inbound, outbound, or mixed innovation strategies directly correlates with R&D investment intensity.
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Exploring How Peer Communities Enable Lead User Innovations to Become Standard Equipment in the Industry: Community Pull Effects
Lead users in medical and sporting equipment industries develop innovations that become industry standards through active peer community engagement. Community members provide critical feedback, contribute to product development, test prototypes, and drive diffusion. Two key mechanisms emerge: communities demand and facilitate prototype development, and they bridge the gap between early adopters and mainstream markets. Peer communities function as essential social networks that actively shape entrepreneurial innovation processes.
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Responsible innovation: bringing together technology assessment, applied ethics, and STS research
Responsible innovation integrates technology assessment, applied ethics, and science-technology-society studies to embed ethical reflection into research and development processes. The framework brings together established practices in assessing technology impacts, involving stakeholders, and evaluating outcomes with explicit ethical responsibility. Research institutions and funding agencies increasingly adopt this integrative approach to shape how innovation develops, creating opportunities for broader actor participation and reflection in R&D governance.
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OPEN INNOVATION MATURITY FRAMEWORK
Researchers developed a maturity framework for open innovation by working with 15 companies. The framework measures and benchmarks how well organizations conduct open innovation across multiple dimensions. It identifies areas where companies excel and where they need improvement to advance their open innovation capabilities.
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Exploring the Relationships between Strategy, Innovation, and Management Control Systems: The Roles of Social Networking, Organic Innovative Culture, and Formal Controls
Product differentiation strategy drives innovation in enterprises through three management control mechanisms: social networking, organic innovative culture, and formal controls. A survey of Russian enterprises confirms that differentiation strategies increase innovation activity. Organic culture and formal controls directly boost innovation, while social networking indirectly supports innovation by strengthening innovative culture. These control systems act as the pathway linking strategic choices to innovation outcomes.
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Constructing Regional Advantage: Towards State-of-the-Art Regional Innovation System Policies in Europe?
This paper examines how regional innovation system policies work across Europe, analyzing the challenges of applying national-level cluster concepts to regional contexts. The authors use ideal types as a conceptual framework to understand how regional advantage develops, showing that while individual elements of these ideal types exist in reality, the complete configurations themselves do not naturally occur.
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Factors that influence the development and diffusion of technical innovations in the construction industry
The paper examines why some technical innovations spread quickly through construction while others languish. Researchers surveyed 233 innovations from construction industry sources and identified statistically significant factors that motivate initial investment, enable or block diffusion, and affect project outcomes. Successful innovations required an average of 38 months, 4,700 worker-hours, and $836,000 to develop, implement, and diffuse.
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Managing Open Innovation: Exploring Challenges at the Interfaces of an Open Innovation Arena
Open innovation arenas—organizations that facilitate collaboration while competing as key players themselves—face distinct management challenges. A Swedish traffic safety research unit with 22 partners experienced three types of challenges: managing relationships with partner organizations, coordinating collaboration between partners, and maintaining the arena's own operations. These challenges differ from those faced by firms simply collaborating with external actors.
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Linking properties of knowledge with innovation performance: the moderate role of absorptive capacity
This study examines how knowledge characteristics affect innovation performance in Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises, finding that most knowledge properties boost innovation. The research shows that absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge—strengthens the relationship between knowledge properties and innovation outcomes. Companies with higher absorptive capacity gain more innovation benefit from their knowledge assets.
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Inter‐firm market orientation as antecedent of knowledge transfer, innovation and value creation in networks
Inter-firm market orientation—how companies in partnerships focus on understanding each other's markets—drives knowledge transfer, innovation, and value creation in strategic networks. The research shows that when firms adopt this collaborative market perspective, they improve performance through better knowledge sharing, increased innovation, and expanded market access.
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Creating Employee Networks That Deliver Open Innovation
A small group of employees—designated as 'idea scouts' and 'idea connectors'—drive disproportionate success in open innovation initiatives. These individuals are critical to generating valuable outcomes, and companies that deliberately connect and leverage these key people achieve better innovation results.
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Enriching Absorptive Capacity through Social Interaction
Social interaction is essential for subsidiaries to absorb and apply new knowledge transferred from headquarters in multinational enterprises. The study shows that employees need to participate together in adapting knowledge to local contexts and developing practical applications. Organizational conditions at the subsidiary level either enable or restrict these interaction patterns, directly affecting the subsidiary's capacity to use new knowledge effectively.
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User–producer interaction as a driver of innovation: costs and advantages in an open innovation model
Customer knowledge drives innovation, but excessive reliance on it can limit firms to incremental improvements because customers tend toward conservative solutions. The paper demonstrates an inverse U-shaped relationship between customer knowledge intensity and innovation performance. Firms that balance customer input with broad external search across multiple innovation sources achieve better results, gaining customer insights while pursuing genuinely novel opportunities.
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The impact of regional absorptive capacity on spatial knowledge spillovers: the Cohen and Levinthal model revisited
Regional absorptive capacity—the cognitive skills and knowledge infrastructure available in a region—determines how effectively regions adopt and benefit from new knowledge. Using European regional data from 1999-2006, the authors find that regions with lower absorptive capacity experience greater knowledge spillovers to neighboring areas, losing the ability to decode and exploit both locally produced and external knowledge efficiently.
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Exploring The Diffusion Of Innovation Among High And Low Innovative Localities
This study tests Berry and Berry's framework for policy innovation diffusion across English local governments over four years. The researchers find that learning, competition, public pressure, and mandates do drive total innovation adoption. However, high-innovating and low-innovating localities operate differently, and the framework poorly explains management innovation specifically. The findings suggest existing diffusion theory works for overall innovation but needs refinement for specific innovation types.
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Near-Ultraviolet Absorption Cross Sections of Nitrophenols and Their Potential Influence on Tropospheric Oxidation Capacity
This paper is not about rural innovation. It reports laboratory measurements of how nitrophenol compounds absorb ultraviolet light and their effects on atmospheric chemistry. The authors measured absorption spectra using spectroscopy techniques and found that nitrophenols reduce photolysis rates of ozone and nitrogen dioxide in the troposphere. The work is fundamental atmospheric chemistry research with no rural innovation component.
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Reinventing R&D in an Open Innovation Ecosystem
The paper argues that modern innovation requires partnerships across universities, startups, and suppliers rather than isolated R&D efforts. It presents a 'Sharing-is-Winning' model for open innovation that aligns entire value chains around consumer needs. The authors provide ten recommendations for implementing this collaborative approach, including leadership changes, strategy shifts, and cultural transformation to accelerate sustainable co-development and improve innovation success rates.
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Absorptive capacity and localized spillovers: focal firms as technological gatekeepers in industrial districts
In Italy's automatic packaging machinery cluster, large focal firms act as technological gatekeepers, absorbing external knowledge and redistributing it locally. The study of 720 patents shows district firms prefer local knowledge, focal firms access external sources more than others, and non-focal firms disproportionately build on focal firms' innovations. Geography and firm size shape how knowledge flows through industrial districts.
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TURNING OPEN INNOVATION INTO PRACTICE: OPEN INNOVATION RESEARCH THROUGH THE LENS OF MANAGERS
This literature review identifies four key managerial challenges in implementing open innovation: organizing for openness, co-creating value, leading diverse teams, and managing intellectual property. The authors synthesize research from 2003 to 2009 to provide practical guidance for innovation managers navigating open innovation adoption, while highlighting gaps in existing research that need further investigation.
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Web 2.0 revisited: user-generated content as a social innovation
This paper argues that Web 2.0's core innovation is user-generated content functioning as a new social routine, not a technological breakthrough. Easy-to-use software and widespread internet access enable this social practice, with technology acting as a catalyst rather than the innovation itself. The authors reject narrow definitions of Web 2.0 and emphasize the social dimension of how people communicate and share content online.
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Diffusion of Safety Innovations in the Construction Industry
Construction firms have widely adopted traditional safety innovations like worksite inspections and safety training, but adoption rates plateau for newer strategies like substance abuse programs and site safety manager positions. Internal organizational factors drive adoption more than external influences. The industry has saturated with conventional injury prevention approaches and needs novel safety innovations to continue improving performance.
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Social Capital of Young Technology Firms and Their IPO Values: The Complementary Role of Relevant Absorptive Capacity
Young technology firms with strong business-to-business relationships achieve higher IPO valuations when they possess absorptive capacity—the ability to leverage external resources. The study of 177 IPOs shows that social capital from supplier, customer, and investor networks only translates to financial value if firms can actually use those connections. Marketing and R&D relationships without absorptive capacity actually harm firm value.
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<i>Jugaad</i>as systemic risk and disruptive innovation in India
Jugaad, the Indian practice of improvising solutions with limited resources, is celebrated as disruptive innovation and a development tool. This paper argues the opposite: jugaad reflects systemic poverty, poor infrastructure, and unsafe practices that perpetuate India's underlying risks. Rather than an exportable asset, jugaad masks deeper structural problems and should not be separated from the conditions that necessitate it.
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National innovation systems: the emergence of a new approach
This paper traces the emergence of national innovation systems as a research concept in the late 1980s. The authors identify the three most influential contributions to this literature and analyze citation patterns in scholarly journals to understand how the concept developed within innovation studies. They characterize national innovation systems research relative to other research areas.
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The power of social innovation: how civic entrepreneurs ignite community networks for good
Civic entrepreneurs drive social innovation by building community networks and catalyzing change through collaborative approaches. The book examines how market makers and service providers use open-source methods, citizen engagement, and risk-taking to create sustainable systems change. It demonstrates that measuring public value, mobilizing community assets, and leveraging social networks produce measurable results in education, family services, and local governance.
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Open innovation and new issues in R&D organization and personnel management
Open innovation practices reshape how companies organize R&D and manage researchers. Italian multinational firms in pharmaceuticals, food, chemicals, and aerospace increasingly collaborate with universities and external research centers, adopt matrix and network structures, and hire knowledge integrators rather than traditional scientists. Personnel management and training models shift away from Anglo-American approaches toward Japanese and German practices emphasizing collaborative expertise.
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Success factors for innovation management in networks of small and medium enterprises
Small and medium enterprises increasingly innovate through networks to manage expensive, risky product development. This study identifies success factors for managing distributed innovation across multiple partners. Using survey data from 271 networks, the research confirms that traditional factors like product advantage and marketing proficiency matter, but also finds that network-specific factors—particularly network cohesion and organization—are equally critical for new product success.
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User-driven Innovation in Tourism—A Review of Methodologies
This literature review identifies sixteen distinct methodologies for user-driven innovation in tourism, ranging from active user involvement to passive information collection. The authors examine how companies engage customers in innovation processes and the quality of dialogue between them. They find that tourism research lacks comprehensive follow-up on whether user-driven innovation actually improves quality outcomes, and they outline priority areas for future investigation.
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Exploring users motivation in innovation communities
Users participate in online innovation communities for different reasons depending on the community type and technology they adopt. The study finds that learning is a key motivational factor driving participation in innovation intermediary communities. Understanding user characteristics and motivations helps organizations effectively engage virtual communities in their innovation processes.
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Absorptive capacity: a proposed operationalization
This paper develops a practical framework for measuring absorptive capacity—a company's ability to acquire, assimilate, transform, and exploit new knowledge. The authors examine ten innovative companies to test their operationalization approach, connecting absorptive capacity to dynamic capabilities and business strategy. The research provides concrete methods for assessing how firms actually absorb and use external knowledge.
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Designing High-Capacity, Lithium-Ion Cathodes Using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy
This paper is not about rural innovation. It describes laboratory research on lithium-ion battery cathode materials using X-ray spectroscopy techniques. The authors demonstrate how surface treatments with lithium-nickel-phosphate solutions improve battery performance by modifying the chemical structure of composite cathode materials, offering a method for synthesizing improved electrodes for lithium-ion batteries.
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Fast and expensive: the diffusion of a disappointing innovation
Firms often imitate innovations adopted by competitors, but this study shows that when an innovation underperforms expectations, observing other firms actually use or abandon it deters further adoption. The research demonstrates that negative information from early adopters halts diffusion of disappointing innovations, even though firms initially imitate the adoption decision itself.
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New shapes and new stakes: a portrait of open innovation as a promising phenomenon
This paper examines open innovation as a concept in innovation management and economics. The authors clarify what makes open innovation distinct from related earlier concepts, identify different forms open innovation takes in practice, and analyze the benefits and costs of various open innovation approaches. The work synthesizes existing research and identifies future research directions for understanding this innovation model.
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Assessing the roles that absorptive capacity and economic distance play in the foreign direct investment-productivity growth nexus
Foreign direct investment boosts productivity in host countries through two main channels: technology transfer and education investment. The study finds that geographical distance between investing and host countries reduces the effectiveness of both trade and FDI in transferring technology and knowledge. Countries with stronger absorptive capacity—built through education—benefit more from FDI. Technology flows work in both directions between investing and host nations.
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How venture capital became a component of the US National System of Innovation
Venture capital emerged as a key institution within the US national innovation system through a combination of government policies, technological trajectories in information and biomedical industries, and regional concentration. The paper traces how VC became integrated into the broader innovation ecosystem, showing that neither government action alone nor market forces alone explain its rise, but rather their interaction shaped this institutional development.
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OPEN INNOVATION, GENERATIVITY AND THE SUPPLIER AS PEER: THE CASE OF IPHONE AND ANDROID
This paper examines how suppliers in open innovation networks shift from passive contractors to active creative peers. Using iPhone and Android as case studies, the authors argue that generative capacity—not mere openness—drives platform wealth creation. Both platforms achieve generativity through different balances of openness and control, demonstrating that suppliers contribute most effectively when platforms enable creative participation alongside strategic governance.
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Research Networks and Inventors' Mobility as Drivers of Innovation: Evidence from Europe
This paper examines how inventor mobility and research collaboration networks drive regional innovation across Europe. Using spatial econometric methods, the authors find that when inventors move within regions, innovation increases significantly. However, the relationship between research network characteristics and innovation is less straightforward. The study accounts for geographic spillovers and spatial dependencies in innovation patterns.
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Six sigma, absorptive capacity and organisational learning orientation
Six sigma quality management practices strengthen firms' absorptive capacity—their ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge. The study of 237 European firms, including 58 using six sigma, shows that six sigma teamwork and process management directly boost absorptive capacity, which in turn enhances organizational learning. These findings explain why six sigma implementation drives competitive advantage and organizational performance.
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The combined influence of top and middle management leadership styles on absorptive capacity
This study examines how leadership styles of top and middle managers together influence organizational absorptive capacity—the ability to learn and apply new knowledge. The research finds that different management style combinations work best for different learning types: exploratory learning requires both levels to use transformational leadership, transformative learning works when top management uses transformational and middle management uses transactional styles, and exploitative learning succeeds when both use transactional styles. Organizational context attributes also affect how well these leadership combinations perform.
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Networking Democracy? Social Media Innovations And Participatory Politics
Social media platforms offer new possibilities for democratic participation through open, collaborative networking, but evidence suggests a more cautious view is warranted. The paper examines claims about social media's capacity to strengthen participatory democracy, acknowledging both its potential to disrupt traditional power structures and its limitations in delivering genuine democratic renewal.
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DataONE: Data Observation Network for Earth Preserving Data and Enabling Innovation in the Biological and Environmental Sciences
DataONE is a federated data network that preserves environmental and biological data while enabling scientific innovation. The system improves data access through secure storage, user-friendly discovery and analysis tools, and community engagement across science, library, and policy sectors. The paper describes DataONE's architecture, data management procedures, and EZID service for managing long-term digital identifiers.
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R&D EFFICIENCY AND THE NATIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEM: AN INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON USING THE DISTANCE FUNCTION APPROACH
This study measures research and development efficiency across 24 countries from 1998 to 2005 using advanced statistical methods. The analysis shows that R&D spending and workforce generate patents, publications, and licensing revenues at different rates across nations. Countries with stronger intellectual property protections, better business-to-business cooperation, stronger university-industry links, concentrated R&D facilities, and active government R&D involvement achieve significantly higher R&D efficiency.
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Knowledge Sourcing and Innovation in “Thick” and “Thin” Regional Innovation Systems—Comparing ICT Firms in Two Austrian Regions
ICT firms in Vienna's dense metropolitan innovation system rely heavily on local knowledge sources from universities and research organizations, while firms in Salzburg's smaller regional system depend more on distant knowledge links with diverse partners. The study shows that regional innovation system characteristics—density and institutional setting—fundamentally shape how companies source knowledge for innovation.
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Dynamic structures of control and generativity in digital ecosystem service innovation: the cases of the Apple and Google mobile app stores
This paper analyzes how Apple and Google's mobile app stores manage service innovation through digital ecosystems. Using narrative analysis of web articles, the authors identify core generative and controlling actions that structure innovation within these platforms. They reveal how stakeholders interact to drive service innovation and show that successful ecosystem strategies balance control mechanisms with generative capacity to enable competitive advantage.
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An international comparison of R&D efficiency of multiple innovative outputs: The role of the national innovation system
This paper compares R&D efficiency across nations using data envelopment analysis, measuring outputs in patents, royalties, and journal publications. Countries show similar efficiency in patents and royalties but differ significantly in publications. The study finds that R&D intensity, intellectual property protection, knowledge stock, and human capital all boost efficiency. Private sector R&D drives patent and royalty performance, while higher education R&D strengthens publication outcomes.
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Paradoxical tensions in open innovation networks
Open innovation networks in Finland exhibit paradoxical tensions that managers must actively navigate. The study found that these networks—involving companies, universities, and government agencies—face internal and external complexities beyond those seen in single-organization innovation efforts. Managers who employ diverse behavioral approaches to handle these tensions achieve greater innovation outcomes. The research reveals that paradox management deserves explicit attention in open innovation strategy.
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Regional Innovation Systems and Knowledge-Sourcing Activities in Traditional Industries—Evidence from the Vienna Food Sector
This study examines how food companies in Vienna source knowledge for innovation, combining formal scientific learning with practical experience-based learning. The research finds that innovative food firms selectively integrate into the regional innovation system, drawing on both local scientific knowledge and knowledge networks outside the region. The spatial pattern of knowledge links reflects the relative importance of these two learning modes in traditional industries.
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Lead-User Research for Breakthrough Innovation
Lead-user research identifies customers whose needs and preferences lead the market, rather than typical users. These lead users modify products creatively to solve their problems. The paper reviews how this systematic method, developed in the late 1990s, has evolved and been adapted using online tools and communities. Lessons from over 20 projects show how companies can capture innovations from these advanced users to develop breakthrough products and services.
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Leveraging micro‐ and macro‐structures of embeddedness in alliance networks for exploratory innovation in biotechnology
This study examines how alliance network structures affect exploratory innovation in biotechnology firms. Using patent data from 455 biotech companies and 2,933 alliances between 1986–1999, the research finds that firms achieving high exploratory innovation have short indirect connections to many other firms within their own alliance portfolios, while operating in dense industry networks centered around key hub firms. These effects follow curvilinear patterns.
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Understanding the early stages of the innovation diffusion process: awareness, influence and communication networks
This paper examines how awareness and influence shape early-stage innovation adoption in the UK construction sector. Using social network analysis on data from chartered professionals and a case study organization, the research reveals that awareness and influence networks vary significantly across actors. The findings demonstrate that social network analysis effectively maps how innovations spread through professional networks and identifies key influencers, providing a framework for understanding adoption patterns in construction.
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Determinants of user adoption of web ''Automatic Teller Machines': an integrated model of 'Transaction Cost Theory' and 'Innovation Diffusion Theory'
Banks in Taiwan implemented Web automatic teller machines as an alternative to traditional Internet banking. This study identifies five key factors driving user adoption: perceived relative advantage, perceived complexity, perceived compatibility, perceived uncertainty, and perceived transaction frequency. The research combines innovation diffusion theory and transaction cost theory to explain why users of traditional Internet banking don't automatically adopt Web ATMs.
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Social capital, internationalization and absorptive capacity: The electronics and ICT cluster of the Basque Country
Social capital and internationalization strengthen how electronics and ICT clusters absorb and use external knowledge. The Basque Country's successful high-tech cluster demonstrates that social capital builds internal knowledge connections between firms, while internationalization creates external knowledge linkages. Together, these factors increase a cluster's absorptive capacity and sustain long-term growth in mature industrial regions.
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Public procurement of innovations, diffusion and endogenous institutions
Public procurement is an important innovation policy tool, but diffusion of procured innovations within organizations is often overlooked. This case study identifies internal institutional barriers that prevent innovations from spreading throughout public agencies after procurement. The authors show that redesigning these internal institutions is critical for successful diffusion, and argue that understanding public procurement requires attention to informal institutional coordination, not just formal procurement processes.
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Community Networks and Sustainable Livelihoods in Tourism: The Role of Entrepreneurial Innovation
Entrepreneurial innovation in small tourism businesses creates sustainable livelihoods and community networks in rural areas. A case study of an eco-heritage resort in Kerala, India demonstrates how innovative tourism enterprises generate local jobs, economic linkages, and livelihood diversification while involving local stakeholders more effectively. Community-based tourism networks offer a sustainable development strategy that benefits disadvantaged communities through private-community partnerships.
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Millennials and the adoption of new technologies in libraries through the diffusion of innovations process
Millennials drive technology adoption in libraries by acting as change agents and early adopters. While libraries suggest new technologies as solutions to problems, adoption lags behind other sectors. Millennials use specific communication channels to shift employee attitudes toward new tools. Understanding technology adoption through diffusion theory rather than focusing on individual tools helps explain the broader paradigm shift in how libraries embrace innovation.
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Organizing Inter- and Intra-Firm Networks: What is the Impact on Innovation Performance?
This paper examines how firms organize their internal and external networks to improve innovation performance. The authors analyze the structural arrangements of inter-firm collaborations and intra-firm knowledge flows, demonstrating that network organization significantly affects a firm's ability to innovate. The findings show that deliberate network structuring enhances innovation outcomes by facilitating knowledge exchange and reducing coordination costs.
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The Growth of Knowledge-Intensive Business Services: Innovation, Markets and Networks
Knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) are growing as firms increasingly outsource specialized expertise to maintain competitiveness. Interview data from London and Helsinki shows KIBS firms create new channels for global knowledge flow, yet regions remain central to innovation systems. Regional knowledge bases continue to anchor KIBS networks despite globalization trends.
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Understanding organisational development, sustainability, and diffusion of innovations within hospitals participating in a multilevel quality collaborative
Dutch hospitals participating in a multilevel quality collaborative developed systematic approaches to sustain and spread quality improvements. The program combined leadership training, quality-improvement teams, and internal coordination to build quality-management systems focused on patient safety and logistics. Hospitals used plan-do-study-act cycles, performance agreements, and monitoring to embed changes across organizational units and maintain improvements over time.
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Determination of Absorption Rate and Capacity of CO<sub>2</sub> in Ionic Liquids at Atmospheric Pressure by Thermogravimetric Analysis
This paper develops a thermogravimetric analysis method to measure CO2 absorption in ionic liquids and tests 11 different ionic liquids varying in chemical composition. The researchers find that ionic liquids with acetate anions absorb CO2 most effectively, showing both high absorption capacity and fast absorption rates. Initial absorption rate within 10 minutes can reliably predict total absorption capacity, offering a practical screening tool for identifying promising CO2 capture materials.
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Absorptive Capacity at the Individual Level: Linking Creativity to Innovation in Academia
This paper applies absorptive capacity theory to individual academics, showing how creativity and innovation connect at the personal level. The authors develop a framework predicting research scholarship among university faculty, extending absorptive capacity analysis from organizational and country levels down to individual performance in academic settings.
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Development of Singlet Oxygen Absorption Capacity (SOAC) Assay Method. 2. Measurements of the SOAC Values for Carotenoids and Food Extracts
This paper develops and applies a singlet oxygen absorption capacity (SOAC) assay to measure antioxidant properties of carotenoids and vegetable extracts. Researchers tested eight carotenoid types and extracts from red paprika, carrot, and tomato, determining reaction rate constants and SOAC values. They found that the total antioxidant activity of vegetable extracts directly correlates to the combined contributions of individual carotenoids present, validated through HPLC analysis.
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Giving up Linearity : Absorptive Capacity and Performance
This paper challenges the assumption that absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to identify, assimilate, and exploit external knowledge—has a linear relationship with performance. The authors argue that previous research has overlooked curvilinear relationships, where absorptive capacity may initially improve performance but then decline after reaching an optimal point. They contend that assuming linearity has led firms to misallocate resources and miss opportunities for better performance outcomes.
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The Role of Organizational Affiliations and Research Networks in the Diffusion of Breast Cancer Treatment Innovation
Patients treated at hospitals affiliated with cancer research networks received innovative breast cancer treatment (sentinel lymph node biopsy) at significantly higher rates than those at unaffiliated hospitals. Hospital teaching status and surgical volume did not affect adoption rates. The findings support using research networks to accelerate translation of medical innovations into community practice.
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Innovations in a relational context: Mechanisms to connect learning processes of absorptive capacity
Companies build competitive advantage through relationships with other firms. This study examines how learning mechanisms within customer-supplier relationships create absorptive capacity and drive innovation. The research identifies that structural mechanisms alone are insufficient; cultural, psychological, and policy mechanisms also shape how firms learn and absorb knowledge across relationships. The findings provide propositions for understanding absorptive capacity development in relational contexts.
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Absorptive and desorptive capacity‐related practices at the network level – the case of<scp>SEMATECH</scp>
This paper examines how interorganizational networks absorb and use external knowledge, moving beyond traditional firm-level analysis. Using SEMATECH, a global semiconductor manufacturing consortium, the author identifies three key practices—congregating, roadmapping, and offering access—that enable networks to collectively acquire, integrate, and leverage knowledge from outside sources while coordinating internal knowledge activities.
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ICTs for Agricultural Extension. Global Experiments, Innovations and Experiences
This book examines global experiments and innovations in using information and communication technologies (ICTs) for agricultural extension services. It compiles case studies and experiences from various countries showing how ICTs are being deployed to improve agricultural knowledge transfer, farmer education, and extension service delivery in rural areas worldwide.
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IT‐enabled innovation to prevent infant blindness in rural India: the KIDROP experience
KIDROP pioneered a tele-ophthalmology system in rural India that trains non-physicians to capture and analyze retinal images of infants for retinopathy of prematurity screening. Remote experts review images via a customized digital platform and provide real-time diagnoses. This IT-enabled innovation successfully delivers expert eye care to underserved rural areas where specialists are scarce, and has expanded through public-private partnerships across India and influenced similar programs in developing countries.
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Foliage Attenuation Over Mixed Terrains in Rural Areas for Broadband Wireless Access at 3.5 GHz
This paper develops a model to predict how tree foliage reduces wireless signal strength in rural broadband systems operating at 3.5 GHz. Researchers measured signal loss across seasons using WiMAX technology deployed in a mixed-terrain rural area, comparing winter baseline data against spring and summer conditions. The model treats leaves as lossy discs and leafstalks as cylinders, and the results validate predictions against empirical data.
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Broadband Access Technologies for Rural Connectivity in Developing Countries
Rural areas in developing countries face major barriers to broadband access due to high infrastructure costs and sparse, low-income populations. This paper surveys wireless technologies suitable for rural connectivity, comparing their data rates and coverage. The authors examine WiMAX and 3G deployments across Africa and identify the most promising wireless technologies for delivering affordable broadband to underserved rural communities.
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Gendered Entrepreneurship in Rural Latvia: Exploring Femininities, Work, and Livelihood Within Rural Tourism
Women entrepreneurs in rural Latvia's tourism sector pursue livelihoods driven by both economic necessity and lifestyle preferences. The study reveals how women navigate their livelihood strategies while balancing desires for independence against economic and social constraints. Women organize their work and personal lives across time and space, negotiating complex paradoxes inherent in rural entrepreneurship within the post-socialist context.
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Understanding broadband adoption in rural Australia
Rural Australian households adopt broadband based on three key factors: perceived relative advantage over existing technologies, expected utility outcomes, and availability of facilitating conditions like technical support. The study identifies specific challenges stakeholders face when promoting broadband adoption in rural areas and provides a household-level framework for understanding adoption behavior in rural settings.
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Introduction : Innovations et agricultures urbaines durables
Urban agriculture represents a new agricultural frontier addressing food security and health for growing urban populations. The paper examines how innovation in urban agriculture creates proximity between cities, nature, and farming systems. Urban farming practices challenge traditional agricultural concepts and offer sustainable solutions for reconnecting urban populations with food production.
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ICT in Education: Secondary Technical Vocational Education and Training Institute Centered Diffusion of Innovation in Rural Bangladesh
Bangladesh is implementing ICT projects in secondary technical vocational education institutes to build computer literacy and community access to learning resources. This qualitative action research examines how a rural TVET institute with 450 students integrates telecenters and ICT into education, studying the actual outcomes of government and private initiatives aimed at achieving 'Digital Bangladesh' by 2021.
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Advancement of Rural Poor Women through Small Entrepreneurship Development: The Case of Bangladesh
Small entrepreneurship in livestock, poultry, nursery, and handicraft production significantly improved rural poor women's livelihoods in Bangladesh. Participating households increased annual income by an average of 111 percent. The enterprises also drove improvements in health, sanitation, housing, and access to clean water. Women gained self-employment opportunities and greater participation in household decision-making, demonstrating that small-scale enterprises effectively reduce poverty and advance socioeconomic development.
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Patterns and Collaborators of Innovation in the Primary Sector: A Study of the Danish Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Industry
Danish agricultural, forestry, and fishery firms show substantial innovation despite being classified as low-tech. Nearly half of 640 surveyed firms reported some innovation activity, with product/process innovation at 23 percent. Firms selling directly to consumers innovated more than those in processing or wholesale. Most innovative firms worked independently, citing internal drivers. The industry's strong extended knowledge base—universities, research institutions, advisory services—provides critical innovation support that traditional surveys often miss.
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Human capital, migration and rural entrepreneurship in China
This paper models how human capital affects occupational choices and migration decisions in rural China. The analysis shows that improving human capital distribution has different effects depending on initial levels: low human capital increases permanent migration, while higher human capital encourages rural entrepreneurship. The study finds that rural non-farm businesses help raise wages but don't eliminate urban-rural income gaps, and that borrowing constraints and migration costs significantly limit rural business development and labor mobility.
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Financial Innovation in Indian Agricultural Credit Market: Progress and Performance of Kisan Credit Card
The Kisan Credit Card scheme in India expanded agricultural credit access to small and marginal farmers through a simplified, flexible borrowing mechanism. The program improved credit availability and reduced transaction costs for rural farmers, though performance varied by region and farmer type. The innovation demonstrated how targeted financial products can enhance agricultural productivity and rural economic development in developing economies.
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In Violence as in Peace: Violent Conflict and Rural Entrepreneurship in the Philippines
Rural entrepreneurs in conflict-affected areas of the Philippines use business activities as a primary risk-coping strategy, so conflict does not deter them from starting or maintaining enterprises. However, conflict significantly constrains investment and expansion decisions. The specific nature of the conflict shapes how entrepreneurs respond and adapt their behavior accordingly.
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RURAL WOMEN AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP: A CASE STUDY IN HERAKLION CRETE PREFECTURE, GREECE
Rural women in Crete who formed cooperative enterprises for traditional food production hold entrepreneurial ambitions but face significant barriers. Low education, lack of professional skills, and risk aversion push them toward cooperatives rather than individual ventures. These cooperatives lack modern business practices including quality control systems, certification processes, technology adoption, marketing, and administrative innovation.
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Australian agricultural R&amp;D and innovation systems
Australia's agricultural sector maintains global competitiveness through cutting-edge R&D and rapid innovation despite minimal public subsidies and high export volumes. The paper challenges urban-focused creativity theories by demonstrating that rural innovation systems can be equally powerful, driven by scale economies and quality control demands in the farming sector.
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Information and Communication Technologies for Regional Development in the Czech Republic – Broadband Connectivity in Rural Areas
A survey of Czech rural regions reveals significant digital inequality despite recent improvements. Urban areas achieve near-complete broadband coverage, suburban areas exceed 85%, but rural areas lag at only 75% availability. Many rural areas lack high-quality internet connections entirely. The research documents how agricultural enterprises in rural Czech regions face persistent connectivity challenges despite EU and national digital development initiatives.
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Challenges for Place-Based Mathematics Pedagogy in Rural Schools and Communities in the United States
Rural mathematics teachers in seven U.S. states attempted to connect math instruction to their communities. The study found that community-based math teaching primarily motivated lower-track students rather than advancing higher-level mathematics. Success depended on dedicated teacher champions and community belief in local futures. However, tensions between local relevance and universal academic standards reinforced social class divisions and encouraged youth to leave rural areas. The authors urge educators to clarify the actual purposes of place-based math education.
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Chapter 3: The Rural Public Library as Leader in Community Broadband Services
Rural public libraries can lead broadband adoption in their communities by serving as central anchor institutions. The paper proposes that libraries use education and training programs to maximize broadband's community impact and take active roles in planning local broadband infrastructure and services.
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Local development in the rural regions of Eastern Europe: Post-socialist paradoxes of economic and social entrepreneurship
Agricultural transformation in Hungary and Poland created paradoxes for rural development. The paper examines how de-collectivization reshaped cooperative management and the relationship between large cooperatives and rural households. It analyzes how Europeanization and globalization affected these dynamics, identifying what distinguishes successful cooperatives and households in this post-socialist context.
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Rural Regional Innovation: A Response to Metropolitan-framed Place-based Thinking in the United States
This paper examines place-based policy approaches to rural innovation in the United States, arguing that metropolitan-focused frameworks fail to capture rural realities. The author critiques how rurality is measured and how this shapes policy discourse, then proposes a rural regional innovation framework that accounts for distinct rural-metropolitan relationships and clusters. The work challenges regional science to better understand rural innovation dynamics.
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Rural Women Empowerment through Entrepreneurship Development
Rural women in agriculture and allied activities constitute a major workforce but remain underempowered. The paper argues that microenterprises offer an effective path for women's economic empowerment by leveraging their existing skills and available time. Technical training and enterprise development enable rural women to increase productivity and drive family and community development while contributing to national economic growth.
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E-Governance in Rural India: Need of Broadband Connectivity Using Wireless Technology
Rural India lacks broadband connectivity needed for e-governance systems that could drive agricultural and economic development. This paper examines wireless technology solutions for delivering digital governance services to rural Maharashtra, specifically studying Jalgaon district. The authors argue that expanding ICT access and adoption empowers rural communities, improves agricultural management, and enables greater participation in digital services essential for rural development.
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Outdoor-to-indoor propagation loss measurements for broadband wireless access in rural areas
This paper measures how radio signals from WiMAX broadband systems penetrate into rural homes in Germany. Researchers tested two frequencies (825 MHz and 3500 MHz) and found that walls without windows blocked 10-20 dB of signal strength, while windows reduced this loss by 5-6 dB. The authors developed a prediction model to estimate penetration loss for rural broadband deployment planning.
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Distance Learning in the Cloud: Using 3G Enabled Mobile Computing to Support Rural Medical Education
Rural medical students face isolation and expensive distance learning systems. This paper describes a pilot program using 3G-enabled mobile devices and cloud-based technology to deliver medical curriculum remotely. The system combines live video conferencing and recorded content, reducing costs and technical barriers while maintaining social interaction between students and instructors in a constructivist learning framework.
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Off-grid Power for Small Communities with Renewable Energy Sources in Rural Guatemalan Villages
Engineers Without Borders implemented an off-grid renewable energy system in a 50-home Guatemalan village, replacing candles with solar power. The system provides electricity for lighting, cooking, and education while eliminating indoor pollution and fire hazards. Community evaluation showed off-grid renewable energy more sustainable than extending the utility grid, with operating costs lower than previous candle expenses.
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Impact of Microfinance Innovation in Pushing Back Rural Poverty in Tamil Nadu
Microfinance innovations reduce rural poverty in Tamil Nadu by providing financial access to poor households. The study examines how microfinance programs enable rural residents to start businesses, increase income, and escape poverty. Results show microfinance effectively addresses poverty through credit availability and financial inclusion in rural communities.
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Techno-economic analyses of wireline and wireless broadband access networks deployment in Croatian rural areas
This paper analyzes the technical and economic feasibility of deploying broadband networks in Croatian rural areas. The authors model costs for wireline and wireless technologies currently used in Croatia, evaluate their cost-effectiveness using standard profitability methods, and conduct sensitivity analyses on key cost parameters. The results show how different rural scenarios affect broadband deployment costs and identify which technologies work best under different conditions.
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Ensuring safe access to medication for palliative care while preventing prescription drug abuse: innovations for American inner cities, rural areas, and communities overwhelmed by addiction
This paper proposes innovations for delivering safe palliative care medications in underserved American communities while preventing prescription drug abuse. The author recommends establishing guarded medication dispensing centers in pharmacies, creating medication purchasing cooperatives to reduce costs, and expanding methadone programs to provide pain management and patient monitoring. These programs would integrate pharmacists, police, medical providers, and social workers to improve access while strengthening oversight and reducing diversion.
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Vino, turismo e innovación: Las Rutas del Vino de España, una estrategia integrada de desarrollo rural/Wine, Tourism and Innovation: The Wine Routes of Spain, an Integrated Strategy of Rural Development
Spain's Wine Routes program integrates wine production, tourism, and rural development by positioning wine as a territory-intensive product. The strategy responds to global market competition by diversifying offerings beyond wine itself, creating wine tourism experiences that leverage regional identity and quality. This approach guarantees visitors high-quality tourism products while supporting rural economies through innovation in complementary services.
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Collective entrepreneurship in agriculture and its contribution to sustainable rural development in Greece
Greek agricultural cooperatives face financial crises that threaten their survival. The paper identifies how cooperatives are adopting new forms of collective entrepreneurship, transforming from traditional models into new generation cooperatives to remain competitive. The authors develop a typology showing how different collaborative structures balance economic development, environmental protection, and social equity to support sustainable rural development.
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Place‐Based Income Inequality Clusters in the Rural North Central Region, 1979–2009
This study maps income inequality clusters across 7,353 rural block-groups in the North Central United States from 1979 to 2009. The analysis reveals that persistently low-inequality rural areas actually experience worse demographic and economic outcomes than high-inequality areas, contradicting broader literature. Low-inequality places concentrate in traditional agriculture and manufacturing, while high-inequality places specialize in skilled service industries.
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Analysis on the environmental effect of renewable energy consumption by rural residents in daily life in China-from the perspectives of carbon emissions
This paper analyzes carbon emissions from rural residents' energy consumption in China between 1998 and 2007, focusing on renewable energy use in daily life. The research finds that traditional biomass energy sources—straw, firewood, and similar materials—generate the largest share of carbon emissions in rural energy consumption. The authors provide policy recommendations based on these environmental findings.
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LTE and HSPA for fixed wireless broadband: Datarates, coverage, and capacity in an Indian rural scenario
This paper evaluates LTE and HSPA fixed wireless technologies for rural broadband in India. Testing with 40km site spacing, HSPA delivered 200MB monthly data per user at 5Mbps cell-edge rates, while LTE achieved 430MB monthly with 5Mbps downlink and 2Mbps uplink speeds. Directional rooftop antennas proved essential for performance. Both technologies can connect rural populations lacking internet access.
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Achieving food security and climate change mitigation through entrepreneurship development in rural Nigeria: Gender perspective
Rural entrepreneurship development in Nigeria can address food security and climate change by supporting integrated food production, processing, and marketing. Women comprise a significant portion of rural agricultural entrepreneurs despite representing only 8% of formal agricultural workers. The paper analyzes Nigeria's agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and conducts cost-benefit analyses to recommend gender-inclusive entrepreneurship strategies that improve food security while reducing climate impacts from farming and livestock production.
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A measure of rural-urban digital divide in China
This paper measures China's rural-urban digital divide from 2004 to 2008 using a 12-indicator index system. The divide was severe overall, worst in western regions and smallest in eastern regions. Network awareness, access, and external environment gaps were largest in the east, while network utilization gaps were worst in the west. The divide gradually narrowed during this period, with eastern regions closing gaps faster than central and western regions. The authors recommend government policies to boost rural economic development.
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Development of Renewable Energy and Sustainability for Off-Grid Rural Communities of Developing Countries and Energy Efficiency
Off-grid rural communities in developing countries face severe energy shortages due to high fuel costs and lack of renewable energy infrastructure. This paper proposes an incentive-driven approach to deploy renewable energy technology while promoting energy efficiency. The strategy emphasizes community engagement, awareness-building, and government participation to overcome past project failures and ensure local ownership of renewable energy systems.
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Examining Rural Adoption Of Broadband – Critical Realist Perspectives
Australia's National Broadband Network requires rural communities to adopt broadband technology for the project's success. This paper argues that critical realism provides a useful theoretical framework for understanding the complex social, political, and technical factors influencing rural broadband adoption. The authors introduce three critical realist frameworks and Archer's morphogenetic model as tools to examine how these factors interact in rural regions.
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IncrEase: A tool for incremental planning of rural fixed Broadband Wireless Access networks
IncrEase is a planning tool that helps rural broadband operators deploy wireless networks incrementally rather than all at once. The tool analyzes operational metrics to identify which areas should be upgraded first and recommends specific transmission sites to deploy, balancing immediate returns with long-term strategy. Testing on a real network with thousands of towers shows the approach reduces computation time while improving deployment decisions in infrastructure-limited rural areas.
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La Innovación y la transferencia de tecnologías en la Estación Experimental "Indio Hatuey": 50 años propiciando el desarrollo del sector rural cubano (Parte I) Innovation and technology transference at the Experimental Station "Indio Hatuey": 50 years propitiating development in the Cuban rural sector (Part I)
Cuba's Indio Hatuey Experimental Station spent 50 years developing and transferring agricultural technologies to rural farmers. The station initially focused on forage conservation to address seasonal feed shortages, then shifted to silvopastoral systems in the 1990s during economic crisis. Despite technological innovation, adoption rates remained low. The station redesigned its approach, treating technology transfer as part of rural territorial development rather than isolated innovation, conducting research in six municipalities with locally relevant results.
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Telecom Policy Innovation: the Role of Free Spectrum and Telecommunication Development in Rural Ghana
Ghana's rural areas lack adequate telecommunications infrastructure despite the technology's economic importance. The paper argues that free spectrum policies can incentivize small telecom operators to expand services into underserved rural regions. Using Ghana as a case study, the author demonstrates how spectrum allocation policies can drive universal access to telecommunications across sub-Saharan Africa.
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Facilitating the Production of Place-Based Knowledge for Participatory Community Development in Rural Pennsylvania
This case study examines how three rural Pennsylvania communities—Selinsgrove, Sunbury, and Danville—generated local knowledge through participatory planning processes to guide community revitalization. The research shows how inclusive engagement of adults and children in identifying local assets and priorities produces place-sensitive development outcomes. The findings demonstrate that community-generated knowledge improves development practice by grounding decisions in local context and values.
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Renewable Energy Market for Rural Electrification in Developing Countries: Country Case Nepal
Nepal's renewable energy market for rural electrification relies on solar home systems and micro-hydro technology to overcome geographical barriers to grid extension. While awareness and willingness to pay for electricity have grown, a significant financial gap prevents poor households from accessing these technologies. Market expansion is uneven, with solar PV remaining unaffordable for the poorest. Stakeholders identify credit access and subsidy delivery mechanisms as critical barriers requiring innovation to reach more rural populations.
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The Jugaad Technology (Indigenous Innovations) (A Case Study of Indian Origin)
Jugaad represents an indigenous innovation mindset in India where individuals use their skills to solve problems economically and productively. The paper examines jugaad's potential to create self-employment opportunities for rural youth with new ideas, supporting inclusive growth across India. Through case studies from rural areas, the authors explore how jugaad innovations can address employment scarcity and resource constraints while establishing pathways for patent protection.
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Broadband internet access for rural Africa: finding a viable model
Rural Africa lacks broadband internet despite cellular growth. This paper models the relationships between market, technology, and financial factors to determine viable broadband delivery. Satellite communications emerge as the most suitable technology. The authors define a cost-effective satellite service offering and argue that innovative billing models—similar to those that enabled cellular success in Africa—are critical for financial viability and rural economic integration.
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Animal Health Management perspectives of rural livestock farmers in Southwest Nigeria: The place of community based Animal Health Workers
Rural livestock farmers in southwest Nigeria rely on community-based animal health workers, indigenous healers, and Fulani pastoralist healers because modern veterinarians are expensive, unreliable, and inaccessible. Farmers rate modern practitioners as more effective but prefer local healers for availability and affordability. The study confirms that community-based animal health workers can effectively address the major livestock health problems farmers face, including disease and production losses.
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Generator selection for rural electrification from renewable energy
This paper addresses generator selection for rural electrification systems powered by renewable energy. The authors develop detailed models of different generator types and examine how equipment faults affect system safety and performance. They provide practical guidance on selecting appropriate generators for decentralized power generation in rural areas, accounting for personnel safety on connected feeders.
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High-frequency soft-switching current-fed inverter for off-grid micro-generation: Fuel cell application for rural electrification/development
This paper presents a high-frequency soft-switching current-fed inverter designed for fuel cell-based micro-generation systems in off-grid rural areas. The technology enables efficient power conversion for rural electrification, offering a practical solution for decentralized energy generation in remote communities lacking grid access.
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Individuals’ Attitudes Toward Public Transit in a Rural Transit District
Rural commuters in the United States face higher transportation costs than urban residents, especially during periods of high gasoline prices. This study surveyed rural commuters to determine whether they would use public transit if available and what factors influence their decision. The research found that commuters do prefer public transit service, and sustaining it requires focusing on the service attributes that matter most to users.
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Innovations in the Indigenous Textile Weaving Firms in Southwestern Nigeria
This study surveyed 300 small-scale textile weaving firms in southwestern Nigeria to examine technology innovations and their drivers. Most firms reported product innovations, while few adopted process or organizational changes. Male weavers predominantly used horizontal looms and females used vertical looms, with 96% relying on manual production. The research identified critical barriers: 58% lacked technical skills, 87% had no technical education, and 59% faced funding shortages. These deficits constrain firms' ability to adopt modern techniques and innovate.
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Indigenous Knowledges Driving Technological Innovation
Indigenous peoples use geospatial technologies to protect tribal self-determination and preserve cultural knowledge. However, Western geospatial tools misrepresent Indigenous ontologies and epistemologies. The authors advocate developing new technologies aligned with Indigenous ways of knowing to better express and preserve cultural heritage while supporting cultural survival.
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Determining factors influencing the adoption of indigenous knowledge in agriculture water management in dry areas of Iran
Iranian agricultural experts identified four key factors influencing farmers' adoption of indigenous water management knowledge in dry regions: social factors, extension education, economic conditions, and managerial practices. Social factors had the strongest impact, followed by education, economics, and management. The findings come from surveying 150 experts across agriculture and interior ministries.
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Rural Microfinance and Agricultural Value Chains: Strategies and Perspectives of the Fondo de Desarrollo Local in Nicaragua
This paper examines how the Fondo de Desarrollo Local in Nicaragua uses microfinance to strengthen agricultural value chains, particularly in dairy and meat cattle production. The authors present a 'finance plus' approach that combines financial services with broader value chain development to create livelihood opportunities for rural actors. The study demonstrates how microfinance can drive inclusive economic development when integrated with value chain strategies.
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Agricultural innovation: invention and adoption or change and adaptation?
Agricultural innovations arise from farmers and craftspeople making practical modifications to existing tools and practices rather than from radical new inventions. Most improvements target crops, animals, growing conditions, implements, or management practices. Farmers adapt existing technologies to their needs rather than simply adopting new ones. When multiple improvements across different farming areas reach critical mass simultaneously, they can produce revolutionary societal impacts.
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Infrastructure Investment and Rural Economic Development: An Evaluation of USDA's Broadband Loan Program
The USDA's Broadband Loan Program, launched in 2002, significantly boosted employment, payroll, and business establishments in recipient communities during its pilot phase (2002–2003). However, benefits concentrated in rural areas near cities. The newer program phase showed no measurable economic impact yet, likely due to insufficient time for effects to materialize.
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Agricultural specialists intention toward precision agriculture technologies: integrating innovation characteristics to technology acceptance model
Agricultural specialists in Iran show stronger intention to adopt precision agriculture technologies when they can observe results, try the technology first, and find it easy to use. Attitude toward using the technology is the strongest predictor of adoption intention. Perceived usefulness and ease of use influence adoption indirectly through attitude, not directly.
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Sustainable Rural Telehealth Innovation: A Public Health Case Study
This case study of Georgia's largest public health district from 1988 to 2008 shows how telehealth became sustainable in rural areas. Strong collaboration within the district, with local communities, and external partners drove adoption. Local champions overcame barriers by seizing technological and financial opportunities. External funding supported initial implementation and expansion. The combination of internal collaboration, external partnerships, and opportunistic use of available resources enabled lasting telehealth innovation.
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Microcredit and Rural Women Entrepreneurship Development in Bangladesh: A Multivariate Model
Microcredit programs in Bangladesh develop rural women's entrepreneurship through multiple pathways. Financial management skills emerge as the strongest factor enabling entrepreneurial capability. Group identity among borrowers and prior family business experience also significantly support entrepreneurship development. The study challenges the view that microcredit merely enables survival, showing instead that it builds genuine entrepreneurial capacity when combined with skill development and social networks.
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Evaluating U.S. Rural Entrepreneurship Policy
This paper examines how entrepreneurship drives rural economic growth in the United States, distinguishing between necessity-driven and opportunity-driven entrepreneurship. The authors model knowledge accumulation through scientific investment and patents, review existing evaluations of U.S. entrepreneurship promotion programs, and identify significant data limitations that hinder rigorous assessment. They outline methodological standards for conducting ideal evaluations of rural entrepreneurship policies.
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The Diffusion of Internet Technologies to Rural Communities: A Portrait of Broadband Supply and Demand
Rural Oklahoma communities face persistent digital divides driven primarily by demand-side factors rather than infrastructure gaps. While telecommunications companies underinvest in rural areas due to low population density, the study finds that infrastructure availability contributes only minimally to broadband access disparities. However, infrastructure's importance grows as Internet knowledge spreads, suggesting that supply-side investments become more critical as rural demand increases.
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Determinants of Rural Industrial Entrepreneurship of Farmers in West Bengal: A Structural Equations Approach
Farmers in West Bengal's Bardhaman district are more likely to start rural industrial enterprises when they have higher education, financial family support, innovativeness, and wealth. Age, marital status, number of children, crops grown, and occupational status also influence entrepreneurship decisions. The study recommends targeted education and training programs, plus development of rural capital markets, to encourage farmers to diversify into industrial enterprises while preventing inefficient ventures.
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Crossing the Chasm - Understanding China's Rural Digital Divide
China's rural digital divide persists despite government investment in bridging it. This study surveyed 924 internet users to understand why rural residents lag behind urban counterparts in digital adoption. Using behavioral theory, the research identifies distinct patterns between rural and urban users, revealing the critical factors driving China's rural digital divide and offering insights for closing the gap.
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The role of agricultural innovation on Pacific Islands: a case study from Hawai'i Island
Between 1400 and 1650, Hawaiian farmers developed terraced fields, irrigation systems, and windbreaks that opened 60 percent of available farmland. These innovations enabled agriculture in marginal areas, increased food surplus, and supported population growth and elite competition. The expanded agricultural base allowed societies to support non-producers across larger territories, driving the transition to surplus-driven economies.
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Agricultural innovation and socio-economic change in early medieval Europe: evidence from Britain and France
During the Middle Saxon period (650–850 CE) in eastern England and early medieval France, animal husbandry shifted from subsistence-focused to specialized production targeting wool and pork surpluses. Zooarchaeological evidence shows this innovation coincided with state formation, urban development, and monasticism. Both monastic and secular estate centers drove these agricultural changes, suggesting innovation emerged from rural centers rather than top-down imposition.
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Developing capacity for agricultural market chain innovation: Experience with the ‘PMCA’ in Uganda
The Participatory Market Chain Approach (PMCA), originally developed in the Andes to drive pro-poor agricultural innovation, was successfully adapted and applied in Uganda to stimulate technological and institutional innovation in local commodity chains. The approach requires intensive capacity development that builds social networks, shifts attitudes, and develops both technical and social skills among researchers, farmers, market agents, and policymakers working together across the value chain.
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Social entrepreneurship and innovation: Self-organization in an indigenous context
This paper examines social entrepreneurship in Māori communities through complexity theory and self-organization. Innovation emerges from interaction between young opportunity-seeking entrepreneurs (potiki) and elder statespeople (rangatira) within tribal structures. The research shows that tradition and cultural heritage enable innovation pathways, while entrepreneurial risk-takers advance along those paths. Historical and cultural context fundamentally shapes how social and economic entrepreneurship develop.
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Managing indigenous knowledge for sustainable agricultural development in developing countries: Knowledge management approaches in the social context
Indigenous knowledge about agriculture in Tanzania is shared through weak, informal networks, causing significant knowledge loss. The study found that gender, location, culture, trust, and ICT access shape how farmers acquire and share agricultural knowledge. Knowledge management approaches can integrate indigenous knowledge with other systems while accounting for these differences, supporting sustainable agricultural development in developing countries.
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The “Moral Hazards” of Microfinance: Restructuring Rural Credit in India
Microfinance has spread globally as a development tool since the 1970s, but this paper examines how these practices and ideas operate differently in specific places. Using fieldwork in coastal Andhra Pradesh, India, the author traces microfinance expansion across the region and analyzes a recent protest against commercial microfinance institutions, showing how economic ideas are produced, travel, and face local contestation.
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Impact of microfinance of IBBL on the rural poor's livelihood in Bangladesh: an empirical study
Microfinance provided by IBBL to rural poor in Bangladesh significantly increased household income, crop and livestock productivity, employment, and expenditure. Clients' age, family farming members, land size, and ethical values positively influenced income gains. Beneficiaries reported improved economic organization, quality of life, and awareness of health and sanitation. The study recommends expanding the program with larger investments and demand-driven training.
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Economic evaluation of a combined microfinance and gender training intervention for the prevention of intimate partner violence in rural South Africa
A combined microfinance and gender training program in rural South Africa reduces intimate partner violence while generating economic benefits. The intervention cost $7,688 per disability-adjusted life year gained during trials and $2,307 during scale-up, making it cost-effective. The program delivers health and development gains beyond violence prevention alone.
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Organizational Learning, Internal Control Mechanisms, and Indigenous Innovation: The Evidence from China
This study examines how Chinese firms develop indigenous innovation through two types of organizational learning: acquisitive learning (acquiring external knowledge) and experimental learning (learning by doing). The research finds that experimental learning mediates the relationship between acquisitive learning and innovation. Internal control mechanisms—behavior control and output control—moderate these relationships differently, with behavior control hindering acquisitive learning but supporting experimental learning, while output control shows an inverted relationship with both learning types.
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Integrating meteorological and indigenous knowledge-based seasonal climate forecasts for the agricultural sector : lessons from participatory action research in sub-Saharan Africa
This paper examines how combining meteorological data with indigenous climate knowledge improves seasonal forecasts for agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa. Through participatory action research, the authors demonstrate that integrating local knowledge systems with scientific forecasting creates more effective and culturally relevant climate predictions that farmers can use to make better agricultural decisions.
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China's pursuits of indigenous innovations in information technology developments: hopes, follies and uncertainties
China pursues indigenous innovation in information technology to reduce dependence on American dominance, mobilizing national resources to develop core hardware and software capabilities and lead in next-generation networks. However, domestic political-economic constraints and China's deep integration into global capitalist markets complicate these efforts, creating tensions between the state's technological sovereignty goals and the transnational nature of modern IT development.
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Understanding indigenous knowledge: Bridging the knowledge gap through a knowledge creation model for agricultural development
Indigenous knowledge management in Tanzania's agricultural sector can be strengthened using Nonaka's knowledge creation theory. The study found that local communities need structured knowledge-creating environments to capture, preserve, and share traditional agricultural knowledge while integrating it with new technologies and innovations. Adequate resources for documentation are essential before this knowledge disappears.
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AGRICULTURAL FINANCING POLICIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
Nigeria's government has created agricultural financing policies, schemes, and institutions aimed at rural development, but inadequate budget allocation and corruption undermine their effectiveness. The study recommends that Nigeria increase strategic agricultural investment, upgrade rural infrastructure, boost farm productivity, enhance competitiveness, and combat corruption to achieve rural development goals.
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Renewable energy and energy storage systems in rural electrical power systems: Issues, challenges and application guidelines
Renewable energy integration into rural electrical grids faces significant challenges because non-dispatchable sources like wind and solar don't align with traditional grid design. Distributed electrical energy storage systems solve this problem by enabling reliable incorporation of renewable resources while improving overall power system performance and resilience.
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ROLE OF MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Microfinance institutions provide poor rural populations with access to credit when formal banking systems exclude them. The paper evaluates successful and failed microfinance models worldwide and proposes an institutional framework tailored for India. This approach addresses poverty by offering alternatives to exploitative moneylenders and enabling economic participation without requiring traditional collateral.
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Administrative challenges and rewards of online learning in a rural community college: Reflections of a distance learning administrator
A rural community college in central Michigan developed online learning programs that transformed teaching, learning, and institutional operations. The administrator describes the specific challenges and rewards encountered while building distance education capacity in a small rural institution, revealing how online learning reshaped the college's processes and systems.
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On the Rural-Urban Disparity in Access to Higher Education Opportunities in China
Rural students in China face persistent barriers to accessing top universities despite overall improvements in higher education access. Urbanization and expanded college admissions have reduced rural-urban disparities, but significant gaps remain, particularly for elite institutions. Closing this gap requires accelerating urbanization and improving rural elementary school conditions.
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Benefits, Barriers, and Intentions/Desires of Nurses Related to Distance Learning in Rural Island Communities
Nurses on Hawaii's Neighbor Islands identified distance learning as valuable for continuing education but faced significant barriers. Cost emerged as the dominant concern across benefits, barriers, and future intentions. The study reveals that hospitals need stronger organizational support and updated curriculum approaches to make distance learning effective for rural nursing staff.
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Seeing the social capital in agricultural innovation systems: using SNA to visualise bonding and bridging ties in rural communities
This paper uses social network analysis to map information flows in rural Bolivian communities, revealing how bonding ties within community organizations and bridging ties to local institutions shape access to agricultural information. The analysis shows that different ethnic groups have distinct organizational structures, which development agencies can leverage to design targeted strategies for reaching marginalized farmers and improving their awareness of new technologies and market information.
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The future of open innovation
Open innovation practices are gaining traction across organizations and research institutions. This overview synthesizes nine key perspectives needed to strengthen open innovation theory and examines recent evidence about how open innovation actually works in practice and organizational settings.
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PERSPECTIVE—Absorbing the Concept of Absorptive Capacity: How to Realize Its Potential in the Organization Field
This paper reviews twenty years of research on absorptive capacity—an organization's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge. The authors identify major gaps in existing literature: most studies focus on tangible outcomes while neglecting organizational design and individual-level factors. They propose an integrative model showing how individual, organizational, and inter-organizational factors work together across multiple levels to influence innovation and firm performance, and call for research bridging micro and macro antecedents.
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The open book of social innovation
This volume catalogs hundreds of methods and tools for social innovation being used globally, creating a knowledge base of diverse initiatives. It showcases entrepreneurs, campaigners, organizations, and movements worldwide addressing pressing social issues through innovative approaches, demonstrating the vitality and diversity of the emerging social innovation economy.
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Triple Helix, Quadruple Helix and Quintuple Helix and How Do Knowledge, Innovation and the Environment Relate To Each Other?
This paper introduces the Quintuple Helix framework, expanding on earlier Triple and Quadruple Helix models. It integrates universities, industry, government, media/culture, and the natural environment into a unified system for understanding knowledge and innovation. The framework positions eco-innovation and eco-entrepreneurship within sustainable development and social ecology, showing how environmental considerations must shape innovation policy and practice.
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Open Platform Strategies and Innovation: Granting Access vs. Devolving Control
This study examines how technology platform owners can foster innovation through two strategies: granting access to independent developers or relinquishing control entirely. Using data from 21 handheld computing systems between 1990 and 2004, the research finds that granting access to hardware developers accelerates new device development up to fivefold, while giving up control produces smaller incremental gains. The findings reveal that these two opening strategies activate different economic mechanisms.
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A Longitudinal Study of the Influence of Alliance Network Structure and Composition on Firm Exploratory Innovation
A longitudinal study of 77 telecommunications equipment manufacturers shows that firms with technologically diverse alliance partners generate more exploratory innovation. When a firm's partners are also connected to each other (network closure), this diversity effect strengthens. The research demonstrates that firms can simultaneously benefit from both access to diverse information and tightly connected networks to drive innovation.
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Microfoundations of Internal and External Absorptive Capacity Routines
Organizations develop absorptive capacity—the ability to learn from and apply new knowledge—through specific internal and external routines. This paper identifies how firms balance creating knowledge internally with acquiring and assimilating external knowledge. The authors argue that successful early adopters of innovations implement complementary configurations of these routines, while most firms remain imitators because they fail to develop the right combination of organizational practices.
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OPEN VERSUS CLOSED INNOVATION: A MODEL OF DISCOVERY AND DIVERGENCE.
Open innovation enables firms to discover product feature combinations that closed innovation misses. However, when partners have conflicting goals, open innovation limits the firm's control over technological direction. The optimal innovation approach depends on balancing discovery benefits against coordination costs from partner divergence.
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FDI spillovers in an emerging market: the role of foreign firms' country origin diversity and domestic firms' absorptive capacity
Foreign direct investment from diverse countries boosts productivity of domestic firms in emerging markets by exposing them to varied technologies and management practices. This spillover effect strengthens when domestic firms have greater absorptive capacity—particularly larger firms and those with intermediate technology gaps to foreign investors. Analysis of Chinese manufacturing firms from 1998–2003 confirms these relationships.
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Expanding Access to Hepatitis C Virus Treatment—Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Project: Disruptive Innovation in Specialty Care†
The ECHO Model uses telehealth technology and case-based learning to train primary care providers in rural and underserved areas to deliver specialty care for hepatitis C virus. Participating clinicians gained significant knowledge, self-efficacy, and professional satisfaction. The program successfully expanded access to complex medical care in communities lacking specialty services and built sustainable local capacity.
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Diffusion of Engineering Education Innovations: A Survey of Awareness and Adoption Rates in U.S. Engineering Departments
Engineering education innovations spread slowly despite decades of improvement efforts. A survey of U.S. engineering department chairs found 82 percent awareness but only 47 percent adoption of seven established innovations. Student-active pedagogies saw the highest adoption. Word-of-mouth and presentations proved more effective than publications for spreading awareness. Department chairs cited limited funding, faculty time constraints, and concerns about learning outcomes as key barriers to adoption.
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Exploring open search strategies and perceived innovation performance from the perspective of inter‐organizational knowledge flows
The paper examines how companies access external knowledge to drive innovation. Using survey data from 184 Taiwanese electronics manufacturers, the authors find that focusing knowledge search on a few external sources strengthens incremental innovation, while searching broadly across many sources strengthens radical innovation. These findings clarify how different knowledge-gathering strategies produce different innovation outcomes.
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Technology Alliance Portfolios and Financial Performance: Value‐Enhancing and Cost‐Increasing Effects of Open Innovation<sup>*</sup>
Belgian manufacturing firms using diverse technology alliances boost product innovation and financial performance indirectly, but face direct costs that initially outweigh gains. The study confirms that open innovation through external partnerships strengthens internal innovation efforts, yet managers must account for the substantial coordination and management expenses of maintaining multiple technology alliances alongside their long-term financial benefits.
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The spread of innovations in social networks
This paper examines how network structure affects the speed at which innovations spread when people make strategic choices between competing alternatives. Using coordination game models, the authors find that innovations spread much more slowly on highly connected networks with long-range links than on low-dimensional networks based on geographic proximity. Their results contradict predictions from epidemic models commonly used to study innovation diffusion.
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Navigating the Back Loop: Fostering Social Innovation and Transformation in Ecosystem Management
This paper examines how social innovation drives transformation in ecosystem management. The authors argue that fostering innovation during periods of ecosystem change—particularly in the 'back loop' of adaptive cycles—enables communities to develop new management approaches and adapt to shifting environmental conditions. The work emphasizes social innovation as essential for navigating complex ecosystem challenges.
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Unravelling the process from Closed to Open Innovation: evidence from mature, asset‐intensive industries
This paper examines how mature, asset-intensive firms transition from closed to open innovation models. Through longitudinal case studies of four Italian companies, the authors identify four organizational dimensions that change during this shift: inter-organizational networks, organizational structures, evaluation processes, and knowledge management systems. The findings provide a framework for understanding and managing the organizational transformation required to adopt open innovation practices.
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Motivating and supporting collaboration in open innovation
Open innovation communities succeed when contributors are motivated by intangible rewards like learning, community cooperation, and entertainment rather than money. The study of three innovation intermediaries across France, the Netherlands, and Finland found that users value easy-to-use collaboration tools and visible engagement from community maintainers. Companies should invest in accessible platforms and active leadership to support effective collaboration.
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Open mHealth Architecture: An Engine for Health Care Innovation
Standardized interfaces and shared components in mobile health technology are essential for advancing healthcare delivery and research. The paper argues that an open architecture approach enables innovation by allowing different systems and devices to work together effectively, unlocking the full potential of mobile-enabled healthcare.
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Social Networks: Effects of Social Capital on Firm Innovation
Social capital within industrial districts drives firm innovation. The study compared 220 manufacturing firms in Valencia, Spain, finding that firms embedded in districts with strong social interactions, trust, shared vision, and active local institutions innovate more in both processes and products than non-district firms. District membership and social capital directly correlate with innovation outcomes.
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The Effect of Absorptive Capacity on Innovativeness: Context and Information Systems Capability as Catalysts
Absorptive capacity—a company's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge—significantly drives innovativeness in firms. A study of 286 large Spanish companies found that a company's willingness to unlearn outdated practices strengthens both potential and realized absorptive capacity. Information systems capabilities provide a practical tool for managers to enhance absorptive capacity and boost innovation performance.
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Limits to the diffusion of innovation
Innovation diffusion depends on technological, social, and learning conditions operating within individual, community, or market contexts. The paper integrates theories from marketing, innovation, and sociology to explain why users resist or slowly adopt new technologies. Understanding these conditions helps companies reduce adoption risks and develop better strategies for radical innovations.
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Managerial challenges in open innovation: a study of innovation intermediation in the chemical industry
This study examines managerial challenges faced by chemical companies using innovation intermediaries to solve R&D problems. Researchers identified three recurring obstacles across seven companies: getting internal scientists to engage with intermediaries, choosing appropriate problems to outsource, and framing problems clearly enough to generate novel solutions. The authors explain these challenges stem from differences in how scientists work internally versus externally, and propose practical remedies.
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Open Innovation and the Stage-Gate Process: A Revised Model for New Product Development
This paper presents an open Stage-Gate model that integrates open innovation principles into new product development processes. The model enables firms to systematically import and export knowledge and technology while evaluating core capabilities at each development stage. Applied to an upstream oil and gas company, the approach helps organizations capture value from both internal innovation and external technology partnerships.
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Enabling open innovation in small- and medium-sized enterprises: how to find alternative applications for your technologies
Small and medium-sized enterprises struggle to identify opportunities to license their technologies outside their core business due to limited resources and specialized focus. This paper presents a practical methodology combining TRIZ tools with weighting and portfolio management techniques to help SMEs find alternative applications for their existing technologies. The authors developed and tested the approach with an Italian packaging company.
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Open and closed innovation &ndash; different innovation cultures for different strategies
This study examines how innovation culture differs between open and closed innovation approaches within a multinational specialty chemicals company. Surveying 109 employees across three business units, the researchers found measurable cultural differences in not-invented-here syndrome, risk-taking attitudes, and management support for innovation. The findings show that successful open innovation requires distinct cultural characteristics from closed innovation models.
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The Role of Organizational Absorptive Capacity in Strategic Use of Business Intelligence to Support Integrated Management Control Systems
This study examines how organizations absorb and use business intelligence systems within management control frameworks. The research finds that organizational absorptive capacity—the ability to gather, absorb, and leverage new information—is critical for successful BI implementation. While top management supports deployment, operational managers' absorptive capacity drives actual system use through bottom-up adoption rather than top-down mandates.
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A new perspective on Twitter hashtag use: Diffusion of innovation theory
Twitter hashtags function as user-created tagging conventions that organize information around events and contexts. This paper applies diffusion of innovation theory to explain how hashtags are adopted and spread across the platform. The theory reveals insights for designing interfaces that support hashtag use and helps evaluate hashtag lifecycles to inform management decisions.
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Orchestrating innovation networks: The case of innovation brokers in the agri-food sector
Innovation brokers play a critical role in connecting small and medium-sized enterprises with research institutes in agri-food innovation networks. This study of four cases across the Netherlands, Germany, and France identifies three key orchestration functions that successful brokers perform: initiating innovations, composing networks, and managing innovation processes. These brokers add particular value when working with diverse organizations.
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Will It Spread or Not? The Effects of Social Influences and Network Topology on Innovation Diffusion
This paper uses agent-based modeling to test how social influence and network structure affect whether new products succeed or fail. The research finds that markets with strong social influence create uncertainty and make it harder for innovations to reach critical mass. Highly connected people (VIPs) matter mainly for spreading information widely, not for persuasive power. Network constraints on hub connections significantly hamper diffusion.
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Identification of competencies for professionals in open innovation teams
This study identifies key competencies that professionals need to succeed in open innovation teams through interviews and focus groups. The research reveals that brokering solutions, social competence, knowledge generation, trust-building, and managing low reciprocal commitment are critical skills. Companies should actively develop these competencies in employees participating in collaborative innovation efforts.
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Open innovation in the automotive industry
Automotive manufacturers traditionally relied on internal R&D to drive innovation, but rising costs and competitive pressure force them to seek external sources. This study demonstrates that open innovation—collaborating with external partners—delivers better R&D productivity than closed, internally-focused approaches for automotive companies.
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Getting Customers' Ideas to Work for You: Learning from Dell how to Succeed with Online User Innovation Communities
Dell's IdeaStorm online community demonstrates how firms can harness user innovation through Web 2.0 platforms. The study identifies four critical challenges: understanding submitted ideas, selecting the best ones, balancing community transparency with competitive secrecy, and maintaining long-term engagement. Analysis of IdeaStorm's first 18 months yields seven practical recommendations for companies seeking to integrate user-generated innovation into their product development processes.
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Network-Independent Partner Selection and the Evolution of Innovation Networks
This paper argues that firms select innovation partners based on complementary knowledge stocks rather than social capital or network position. The authors build a model where companies form alliances to learn and innovate, requiring compatible knowledge bases. Despite ignoring social network effects entirely, the model reproduces the firm behavior, network structures, and performance patterns documented in empirical alliance research.
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Investigating the role of social capital in innovation: sparse versus dense network
Social capital facilitates knowledge search and sharing, driving innovation performance. The paper reviews how two network structures—sparse and dense—affect innovation differently. Sparse networks enable access to diverse external knowledge, while dense networks strengthen internal knowledge sharing. Both configurations offer benefits and drawbacks depending on whether firms pursue radical or incremental innovation. The authors recommend tailoring social capital strategies to match organizational innovation goals.
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Innovation as an interactive process: From user-producer interaction to national systems of innovation
Innovation emerges from interaction between producers and users responding to technological opportunities and market needs. The paper develops a framework of national innovation systems that emphasizes interactive learning processes across firms, institutions, and policies. This approach moves beyond neoclassical economics to explain how economic structure and institutional arrangements shape innovation outcomes.
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Eco-innovation: Definition, Measurement and Open Research Issues
This paper examines eco-innovation as a concept distinct from environmental technology, establishing a typology and measurement framework. It discusses push-pull mechanisms driving different eco-innovation types and analyzes patterns showing a shift toward cleaner products alongside continued end-of-pipe solutions. The work reveals national differences in eco-innovation adoption and emphasizes system-level innovation. The author concludes that statistical measurement remains inadequate and recommends improvements to data collection.
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Nonstate Actors and the Diffusion of Innovations: The Case of Suicide Terrorism
This paper examines how terrorist groups adopt suicide tactics as an innovation, showing that organizational capabilities and external linkages between groups significantly influence adoption patterns. The study finds that occupation, previously considered a key predictor, does not reliably explain which groups adopt suicide terrorism. By treating suicide tactics as a military innovation diffusion problem, the paper connects terrorism studies to broader innovation theory.
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Measuring the Efficiency of China's Regional Innovation Systems: Application of Network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)
This study evaluates the efficiency of China's regional innovation systems by analyzing technological development and commercialization as connected processes. Only one-fifth of China's regional innovation systems operate at best-practice efficiency across the full innovation cycle. Most regions show significant gaps between their technological development and commercialization capabilities, with commercialization capacity proving more critical to overall innovation performance.
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Investigating the structure of regional innovation system research through keyword co-occurrence and social network analysis
This paper analyzes 432 research papers on regional innovation systems from 36 countries using social network analysis and bibliometrics. The authors map keyword co-occurrence and author networks to visualize how RIS research has evolved and identify publication trends. The analysis reveals knowledge development patterns across countries, institutions, and researchers, providing insights into how the RIS framework has developed as a foundation for innovation policy.
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Citizensourcing : Applying the Concept of Open Innovation to the Public Sector
Open innovation principles from the private sector can transform public administration by engaging citizens as external collaborators. Using internet technology, governments can integrate citizen knowledge into service development and policy decisions, creating public value and strengthening democratic participation beyond traditional e-government approaches.
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The diffusion of environmental sustainability innovations in North American hotels and ski resorts
This study surveyed North American hotels and ski resorts to identify which environmental sustainability innovations they adopt and what drives adoption rates. Using diffusion of innovations theory, researchers found that perceived simplicity of innovations and strong opinion leadership among resort managers most strongly predicted adoption. Relative advantage and general innovativeness also mattered. The research recommends that sustainability advocates emphasize ease of implementation to accelerate adoption across the hospitality sector.
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Broadening the scope of open innovation: past research, current state and future directions
This paper reviews how open innovation research has evolved since 2003, showing that the field has expanded across multiple levels of analysis from individual organizations to national systems. The authors identify gaps in the literature and call for open innovation research to integrate with other management disciplines like marketing and human resources, and to connect with established management theories.
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Internationalization and innovation in a network relationship context
Network relationships shape how small software firms in New Zealand internationalize and innovate. Firms with limited networks pursue incremental changes, while those with diverse networks undertake radical internationalization and innovation. The study identifies four distinct firm groups based on network type and internationalization strategy, showing that network relationships both influence and sustain firm development.
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Blueprint for introducing innovation into wireless mobile networks
The paper examines how wireless mobile networks are shifting from closed, proprietary systems toward more open ecosystems. This transformation enables handsets to function as mobile computers running user-developed applications on open operating systems. The shift increases competition and innovation, ultimately benefiting users through greater choice and access to new ideas.
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Innovation processes in online newsrooms as actor-networks and communities of practice
This paper examines how innovation happens in online newsrooms using two theoretical frameworks: actor-network theory and community of practice. Through four newsroom case studies, the authors show how these theories explain which actors influence innovation decisions, how journalists negotiate and learn together, and what factors help or hinder the adoption of new practices in newsrooms.
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Technology Transfer across Organizational Boundaries: Absorptive Capacity and Desorptive Capacity
This paper introduces the concept of desorptive capacity—a firm's ability to identify and transfer technology outward to other organizations. While research typically focuses on absorptive capacity (the recipient's ability to receive technology), the authors argue that understanding the technology source's capabilities is equally critical for successful technology transfer through alliances and licensing. Market knowledge and desorptive capacity explain why firms struggle with outbound technology transfer strategies.
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The Effects of Market Network Heterogeneity on Innovation Diffusion: An Agent‐Based Modeling Approach
This paper uses agent-based modeling to examine how network structure affects innovation diffusion. The researchers find that how consumers connect to each other and communicate within market segments significantly influences how quickly innovations spread. Identifying key communicator nodes in networks allows organizations to better target their innovation strategies to different market segments and accelerate adoption.
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Atomic-Level Pd−Pt Alloying and Largely Enhanced Hydrogen-Storage Capacity in Bimetallic Nanoparticles Reconstructed from Core/Shell Structure by a Process of Hydrogen Absorption/Desorption
This paper is not about rural innovation. It describes a materials science study on creating palladium-platinum alloy nanoparticles with improved hydrogen storage capacity through hydrogen absorption and desorption cycles. The research uses X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy to confirm structural changes and demonstrates that hydrogen storage capacity can be tuned by adjusting the metal composition.
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Responsible Innovation: A Pilot Study with the U.K. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
The UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council piloted a risk register requirement for research funding applicants, asking them to identify potential impacts and risks of proposed innovations in nanoscience. Most applicants identified only immediate occupational health risks, while few anticipated broader environmental or societal impacts. Proposals that succeeded in addressing wider impacts included multidisciplinary teams, life cycle assessments, and public engagement, enabling continuous reflexivity and real-time adjustment of research direction.
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Regional Innovation Systems in Hungary: The Failing Synergy at the National Level
This paper measures synergies in Hungary's regional innovation systems using entropy statistics across firm categories, sub-regions, industrial sectors, and firm sizes. The analysis reveals three distinct regimes: Budapest functions as a knowledge-based innovation hub, northwestern regions show foreign company influence on knowledge organization, and southeastern regions depend on government spending patterns. The results demonstrate failing national-level synergy despite these regional dynamics.
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Learning and innovation in inter‐organizational network collaboration
This study examines how small and medium-sized firms' learning approaches affect their collaboration in business networks. The research finds that exploratory learning—seeking new knowledge—drives firms to collaborate with partners on product innovation. Exploitative learning—refining existing processes—encourages internal improvement but discourages external networking. The findings show that product innovation requires learning with network partners, while process improvements happen within individual firms.
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Who Are the Knowledge Brokers in Regional Systems of Innovation? A Multi-Actor Network Analysis
Universities and public research organizations serve as central knowledge brokers in German regional innovation networks, occupying more influential positions than private firms. This gatekeeper function proves especially critical in lagging regions lacking large companies. Private firms without inter-regional research partnerships absorb most of the transferred knowledge, demonstrating how public institutions bridge local and global innovation linkages.
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Open innovation and public administration: transformational typologies and business model impacts
Swedish municipalities collaborating through open innovation networks transform public service delivery and organizational structures by co-creating services with external partners and each other. The study identifies four typologies of governmental transformation enabled by open innovation, demonstrating how these practices fundamentally reshape how public authorities create and deliver value to citizens, moving beyond incremental e-Government improvements to radical organizational change.
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Rewarding in open innovation communities &ndash; how to motivate members
Online open innovation communities need both monetary and non-monetary rewards to attract and retain members. This study surveyed participants and interviewed maintainers of three open innovation intermediaries, finding that members value monetary rewards and recognition for idea quality. Analysis of twelve communities showed that successful intermediaries combine multiple reward types to motivate sustained participation.
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How Innovation Management Techniques Support An Open Innovation Strategy
This paper examines how innovation management techniques help small and medium-sized firms implement open innovation strategies. Using a Spanish elevator manufacturer as a case study, the authors show that structured innovation management tools enable collaborative networks and technology transfer. The findings help managers understand how to build sustained competitive advantage through organized approaches to collaborative innovation.
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Knowledge arbitrage in global pharma: a synthetic view of absorptive capacity and open innovation
This case study of a global pharmaceutical company reveals how open innovation operates in practice. The company focuses on building OI capabilities, sharing external information, and leveraging knowledge arbitrage across networks. Notably absent are value capture models and technology evaluation criteria common in OI literature. The researchers propose that absorptive capacity works bidirectionally with open innovation, enabling firms to both acquire and contribute knowledge effectively.
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From Regional Systems of Innovation to Regions as Innovation Policy Spaces
Regional innovation systems have become widely used in policy-making, but this approach overstates some regional roles while underemphasizing others. The authors argue that treating regions primarily as innovation systems obscures their actual function as spaces where innovation policy gets made and implemented. They illustrate these problems using England's North West region.
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With a Little Help from Our Colleagues: A Longitudinal Study of Social Networks for Innovation
This longitudinal study tracks social networks within new product development teams across two research laboratories. The research challenges the conventional wisdom that sparse networks with weak ties drive innovation. Instead, the authors find that strong ties, network density, and cross-unit relationships significantly improve idea adoption chances during early development phases. They recommend organizations actively promote communication between colleagues across different units to enhance innovation outcomes.
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Regional innovation systems: development opportunities from the ‘green turn’
Regional innovation systems effectively drive cross-industry knowledge flows and innovation by leveraging Triple Helix interactions. The paper demonstrates this through renewable energy adoption, showing that regions with innovative development agencies benefit from horizontal knowledge spillovers across clusters. These regions create low-cost opportunities for cross-fertilization that can become international knowledge hubs.
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A CONTINGENT PERSPECTIVE OF OPEN INNOVATION IN NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
This paper develops a framework for managing open innovation in new product development projects. Rather than treating openness as a single strategic choice, the authors identify three dimensions managers must calibrate: breadth (range of external partners), depth (relationship intensity), and ambidexterity (balance between new and established relationships). The appropriate calibration depends on whether the innovation is radical or incremental, the product's complexity, and the strength of intellectual property protection.
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Fiat: Open Innovation in a Downturn (1993–2003)
Fiat's research center adopted open innovation practices during the 1990s automotive industry downturn, enabling the company to maintain technological development despite severe budget constraints. By restructuring its organization, roles, planning systems, and culture to embrace external partnerships and knowledge sources, Fiat preserved innovation capability and positioned itself for recovery. Senior leadership commitment proved essential to implementing open innovation successfully during economic crisis.
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ANTECEDENTS OF ORGANIZATIONAL INNOVATION: THE DIFFUSION OF NEW PUBLIC MANAGEMENT INTO DANISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT
This study examines why Danish local governments adopted New Public Management innovations. Leadership attitudes toward change, management's rejection of traditional bureaucracy, and the electorate's ability to set clear goals all influenced adoption. Organizational size emerged as the strongest predictor. The research distinguishes between marketization-focused and generic managerial innovations, finding different factors drove adoption of each type.
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ADVANCING A TYPOLOGY OF OPEN INNOVATION
This paper develops a typology of open innovation strategies by reviewing existing research and identifying four distinct approaches: innovation seekers, innovation providers, intermediaries, and open innovators. Each strategy combines different sources of innovation, firm characteristics, and inter-organizational exchange mechanisms to produce different outcomes. The typology provides a conceptual framework for understanding how organizations pursue open innovation and suggests directions for future research.
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How do Latecomer Firms Capture Value From Disruptive Technologies? A Secondary Business-Model Innovation Perspective
Latecomer firms in emerging economies successfully adopt disruptive technologies from advanced countries through secondary business-model innovation. They create cheaper, simpler products suited to local customers' needs and budgets, leveraging partnerships and local knowledge to build unique value networks. This approach lets them compete against multinational incumbents by targeting mass markets and nonconsumers previously underserved.
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The Difficulties involved in Developing Business Models open to Innovation Communities: the Case of a Crowdsourcing Platform
Firms using crowdsourcing platforms to capture external innovation face significant strategic challenges. This study of CrowdSpirit, a collaborative product design platform, reveals that companies must develop multi-level incentive systems for diverse contributors, manage knowledge and intellectual property transfers across multiple stakeholders, and treat business model design as continuous learning rather than fixed strategy.
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Open Innovation in SMEs: From Closed Boundaries to Networked Paradigm
This paper examines how small and medium-sized enterprises transition from closed innovation models to open, networked approaches. The authors argue that SMEs benefit from breaking traditional boundaries and engaging in collaborative innovation networks. The shift enables smaller firms to access external knowledge, resources, and partnerships that enhance their competitive capacity and innovation outcomes.
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Crowdsourcing, open innovation and collective intelligence in the scientific method : a research agenda and operational framework
This paper develops a research framework for understanding how crowdsourcing, open innovation, and collective intelligence reshape scientific research methods. The authors propose an operational framework that integrates these approaches into scientific practice, establishing a research agenda for studying how distributed participation and collaborative knowledge-building improve scientific discovery and problem-solving.
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The role of cultural barriers in the relationship between open‐mindedness and organizational innovation
This study examines 133 small and medium-sized enterprises to understand how cultural barriers affect the relationship between open-mindedness and organizational innovation. The research finds that firms must overcome cultural barriers—particularly outdated knowledge—before open-mindedness can translate into actual innovation. Organizations that fail to address these barriers cannot effectively adopt new configurations or incorporate new knowledge into products and services.
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The effects of open innovation activity on performance of SMEs: the case of Korea
Open innovation strategies work differently for small and medium-sized enterprises than for large companies. This study analyzed Korean SMEs and found that external innovation activities do not uniformly boost innovation output. Some open innovation practices benefit SMEs, while others do not, suggesting that SMEs need selective approaches to external collaboration rather than adopting all open innovation tactics.
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Open innovation proclivity, entrepreneurial orientation, and perceived firm performance
Taiwanese electronics manufacturers that embrace open innovation—using external ideas and selling intellectual property to outsiders—report better firm performance. Companies with stronger entrepreneurial orientation show even stronger performance gains from open innovation practices. The study surveyed 122 manufacturers and found that openness to external innovation sources directly improves perceived business outcomes.
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The effects of network embeddedness on service innovation performance
Network embeddedness significantly drives service innovation performance. The study analyzed questionnaire data from service industry firms and found that connections to business partners, suppliers, and customers—but not research institutes—directly improve innovation outcomes. Enterprises achieve better service innovation by strengthening ties with their business networks.
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Kinetic Study of the Quenching Reaction of Singlet Oxygen by Carotenoids and Food Extracts in Solution. Development of a Singlet Oxygen Absorption Capacity (SOAC) Assay Method
This paper develops a laboratory method to measure how well carotenoids and other antioxidants neutralize singlet oxygen, a harmful reactive molecule. Researchers tested eight carotenoids and vitamin E, then applied the same technique to tomato and carrot extracts. They created a new assay called SOAC (Singlet Oxygen Absorption Capacity) that quantifies antioxidant strength in food compounds.
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What determines performance of cross‐border M&As by Chinese companies? An absorptive capacity perspective
Chinese companies increasingly use cross-border mergers and acquisitions to gain knowledge and strategic assets. This paper examines whether Chinese firms can effectively acquire and integrate these assets by analyzing their absorptive capacity—their ability to identify, assimilate, integrate, and apply external knowledge. Through case studies of Lenovo and TCL acquisitions, the authors show that acquisition performance depends heavily on the acquiring firm's absorptive capacity across multiple dimensions.
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DEA PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT OF THE NATIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEM IN ASIA AND EUROPE
This study measures the efficiency of national innovation systems across 33 Asian and European countries using data envelopment analysis. Korea and Taiwan rank highest in Asia, while Romania leads Europe. Asian countries generally outperform European countries in innovation production. Technical inefficiencies stem primarily from pure technical factors rather than scale issues. The analysis identifies key inputs and outputs driving each country's innovation system performance.
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Attributes required for profiting from open innovation in networks
Individual and organizational attributes determine success in open innovation networks. A study of EURADOS, a European research network on radiation dosimetry with 200 members across 31 countries, found that members profit unequally from participation. Openness and the ability to contribute are equally important attributes for gaining value from the network in terms of increased innovativeness, reduced costs, and improved task fulfillment.
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Barriers to Open Innovation: Case China
This paper examines why Chinese firms hesitate to adopt open innovation practices. The researchers identify three main barriers: internal company factors, institutional weaknesses (particularly intellectual property protection), and cultural differences. They find that economic systems and IPR protection significantly influence whether firms engage in open innovation, that knowledge-buying and knowledge-selling face different appropriability challenges, and that national cultural traits shape which open innovation elements companies actually adopt.
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Extending the Environment–Strategy–Performance Framework: The Roles of Multinational Corporation Network Strength, Market Responsiveness, and Product Innovation
This study examines how multinational corporations operating in China use their internal networks to manage market and technological turbulence while pursuing market responsiveness and product innovation strategies. Analysis of 140 foreign firms reveals that different environmental pressures affect these strategic approaches unequally, and that while network strength, market responsiveness, and product innovation each independently boost performance, their combined effects produce mixed results.
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ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS AND THE DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS: THE CASE OF CITIZEN SERVICE CENTRES
Administrative professionals significantly drive the adoption of citizen service centres—integrated one-stop shops—across Danish municipalities. The study finds that municipalities with higher concentrations of administrative professionals are more likely to adopt this organizational innovation. Adoption also increases with municipal wealth, regional availability of similar centres, and local service demands.
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Good Practices in Open Innovation
Open innovation has become standard practice in firms establishing dedicated groups and budgets. This paper identifies twelve good practices that drive high-quality open innovation efforts. The authors argue these practices are essential inputs to an effective organizational open innovation system and provide guidance for managers to implement and continuously improve their open innovation processes.
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Firms' open innovation policies, laboratories' external collaborations, and laboratories' R&D performance
This study analyzes 203 laboratories in Japanese firms to measure how open innovation policies at the firm and laboratory levels affect R&D performance. The research finds that firm-level open innovation policies significantly boost laboratory collaborations with universities and businesses, which in turn improves R&D performance. The impact varies depending on the type of R&D work being conducted, offering insights for managing research and development effectively.
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Enabling knowledge creation through outsiders: towards a push model of open innovation
This paper introduces a push model of open innovation where external individuals and organizations voluntarily create and contribute knowledge to firms' projects. Analyzing the Eclipse Development Platform, the authors find that outsiders invest as much effort as the founding firm. They identify four enabling conditions: preemptive generosity, continuous commitment, adaptive governance, and low entry barriers that facilitate this external knowledge creation and contribution.
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Open innovation models adopted in practice: an extensive study in Italy
Italian manufacturing companies adopt open innovation in four distinct models, varying by how many external partners they collaborate with and how many innovation process phases they open to outsiders. The study identifies 'open and closed innovators,' 'integrated collaborators,' and 'specialized collaborators,' showing that openness is not a binary choice but a spectrum companies calibrate to their specific contexts and performance goals.
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Communication channels, innovation tasks and NPD project outcomes in innovation‐driven horizontal networks
This study examines how communication channels affect new product development in inter-organizational networks. Analyzing 93 innovation-driven horizontal networks with 372 respondents, the researchers found that tasks requiring less analysis use richer communication channels, which in turn strengthen network ties and reduce development time. Communication channel richness partially mediates the relationship between task complexity and project outcomes.
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Overcoming barriers to innovation in SMEs in China: A perspective based cooperation network
Chinese manufacturing SMEs face significant innovation barriers, with lack of technical experts being the primary obstacle. Customer relationships emerge as the most valuable cooperation partners for innovation. Tax incentives are the most effective policy support. The research shows SMEs struggle with innovation success and require tailored policies addressing both internal constraints and firm characteristics like size and ownership structure.
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An Actor-Network Theory Analysis of Policy Innovation for Smoke-Free Places: Understanding Change in Complex Systems
This paper uses actor-network theory to analyze how jurisdictions successfully implement smoke-free indoor regulations as a tobacco control policy. The authors identify key attributes that distinguish jurisdictions that adopted this innovation from those that have not, and extract lessons about overcoming systemic barriers to solving complex transnational public health problems like tobacco control, food distribution, and climate change.
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Intermediaries in Regional Innovation Systems: High-Technology Enterprise Survey from Northern Finland
Intermediaries in Finland's northern innovation system provide critical support to high-technology firms, with funding services emerging as their most valuable function. A survey of 168 companies shows that TEKES, the national technology funding agency, ranks as the most important public organization for private sector product development. Growth-focused companies investing heavily in R&D and product innovation benefit most from intermediary support.
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Open science: policy implications for the evolving phenomenon of user-led scientific innovation
Non-scientists increasingly contribute to scientific research through citizen science projects, but legal barriers and access restrictions limit participation. The paper argues that open science policies—including the Reproducible Research Standard that makes publications, code, and data freely accessible—enable broader public engagement in research. Open dissemination models are reshaping how scientists share work and collaborate, blurring traditional distinctions between professional and lay contributors and requiring new approaches to peer review and recognition.
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Enhancing Innovation Capacity in SMEs through Early Network Relationships
Small firms develop innovation capacity through early network relationships that combine characteristics of both weak and strong ties. A longitudinal case study of a mobile-commerce startup shows that networks formed during the firm's earliest stages proved critical for sustained innovation. The research challenges traditional network theory's weak-strong tie distinction and recommends that entrepreneurs prioritize building strong relationships from the outset of network formation.
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From single firm to network-based business model innovation
This paper examines how companies develop network-based business models by studying three networks. The research reveals that network partners have different business models and success criteria, making it difficult to align their value equations during innovation. Partners also face varying demands to change their individual business models depending on how the network is constructed. Understanding these differences is critical for successfully moving network-based innovations from concept to market.
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Innovation in the Green Economy: An Extension of the Regional Innovation System Model?
Green innovation in California varies significantly by sector and doesn't automatically drive growth. Environmentally pressured firms innovate processes most, while new green companies target local markets. Traditional firms benefit from innovation, but emerging green firms need local network support and additional resources to commercialize new products and reach markets.
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Constructing innovative users and user-inclusive innovation communities
User involvement in innovation requires more than applying standard methods. The paper examines four case studies to show that effective user-inclusive innovation communities take varied forms. User contribution to innovation isn't an inherent user trait but results from how companies foster interaction and respond to user initiatives. Success depends on managing knowledge sharing, using mediating artifacts, and aligning divergent interests between users and producers.
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Orchestrating Smart Business Network dynamics for innovation
This paper introduces orchestrating smart business networks as a managerial function that drives innovation by shaping network structure and dynamics. Using commitment and dynamic capabilities, managers can guide networks toward innovation by controlling structural changes, network boundaries, and digital platforms. The author tests this framework through a case study examining centripetal and centrifugal forces within networks.
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Absorptive Capacity in R&D Project Teams: A Conceptualization and Empirical Test
This study develops and tests a multidimensional model of absorptive capacity in R&D project teams using data from 100 innovations. The research finds that teams' ability to evaluate external knowledge directly supports their capacity to assimilate it. Both individual and collective assimilation—particularly reaching shared understanding—matter for applying external knowledge. Prior knowledge reduces the benefit of individual assimilation, while team autonomy strengthens it. The findings clarify how different dimensions of absorptive capacity operate at individual and collective levels.
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User-driven innovation? Challenges of user involvement in future technology analysis
Companies increasingly adopt user-driven innovation strategies in information and communications technologies, placing users at the center of product development. This paper identifies two critical challenges: maintaining continuous user involvement and integrating user knowledge into interdisciplinary development processes. The authors demonstrate solutions through the ROMAS project, which tested future mobile applications in a living lab setting with systematic user participation.
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Regional Innovation Systems: The Case of Angling Tourism
The Sea Trout Funen initiative in Denmark demonstrates how regional innovation systems work in tourism. Starting in 1989, collaboration between government, anglers, businesses, and educational institutions produced innovations in tourist products, environmental protection, and workforce development. The case shows that innovation systems theory applies to tourism and that stable multi-sector partnerships generate tangible benefits and adapt successfully to external changes.
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Tribal mattering spaces: Social-networking sites, celebrity affiliations, and tribal innovations
This paper examines how social-networking sites create tribal communities around celebrity brands. The authors analyze online fan groups to understand how members develop shared identities, interact creatively, and critique marketing practices. They identify tribal innovations that emerge from the sense of belonging and togetherness within these emotional communities.
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The use of social network analysis in innovation studies: Mapping actors and technologies
Social network analysis remains underused in innovation policy and management. This paper identifies three research themes where SNA creates value: collaboration networks, communication networks, and technology networks. The authors examine how applying SNA to these themes generates insights for policy development and organizational management, and outline directions for future research.
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Competing pressures of risk and absorptive capacity potential on commitment and information sharing in global supply chains
Organizations participating in global supply chains face competing pressures when deciding whether to commit to and share information with partners. This study surveyed 207 organizations about their offshore outsourcing relationships and found that perceived business risk from supply chain partners strongly reduces commitment and information sharing, while partners' absorptive capacity strongly increases both. Commitment acts as a partial mediator between these factors and information sharing. Geographic and cultural location had no significant effect on these relationships.
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The Global Research-and-Development Network and Its Effect on Innovation
This study examines how pharmaceutical firms' position in global research-and-development networks affects innovation impact. The research finds that a firm's scientific knowledge intensity enhances innovation when combined with strong network resources. International gatekeepers bridging U.S., Japanese, and European firms strengthen this relationship. The study demonstrates that innovation succeeds when internal research capability and external network connections work together.
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No‐tillage farming: co‐creation of innovation through network building
No-tillage farming development in Switzerland involves complex networks of farmers, experts, scientists, and equipment working together to create innovation. Despite economic and environmental benefits, no-tillage spreads slowly because it requires radical transformations in farm equipment, work practices, institutional arrangements, and farmers' professional identities. Policy works best as a mediator facilitating these reciprocal translations rather than imposing top-down directives.
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Conditional Approval and Approval Under Exceptional Circumstances as Regulatory Instruments for Stimulating Responsible Drug Innovation in Europe
The European Union introduced conditional approvals and exceptional circumstances pathways to enable faster drug access while managing safety risks. This study found neither pathway accelerates overall approval timelines, though conditional approvals shorten clinical development. Exceptional circumstances approvals require less data but don't compromise drug safety. Both instruments successfully balance innovation speed with public safety demands.
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Internet computing as a disruptive information technology innovation: the role of strong order effects1
A survey of 121 software firms reveals how companies adopt internet computing innovations in a specific sequence: base innovations first, then service innovations, then process innovations. The study shows that the amount and radicalness of base innovations directly drive service innovations, which then influence process innovations. Software organizations should recognize that radical innovations are interconnected and adopt flexible strategies that account for these dependencies.
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TRANSFORMING ECOSYSTEM RELATIONSHIPS IN DIGITAL INNOVATION
This paper examines how firms transform their innovation ecosystem relationships to adopt open innovation models. Using Sony Ericsson's eight-year effort to increase external contributions in mobile device development, the authors identify five value competitions where the company's ambitions clashed with platform owners, operators, and competitors. The research shows that ecosystem transformation involves inherent tensions between competing values, and these tensions actually drive the formation of new ecosystem relationships.
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Horizontal and Vertical Networks for Innovation in the Traditional Food Sector
Innovation in traditional food sectors occurs through networks rather than individual firms. This study examined vertical networks (same supply chain) and horizontal networks (competing firms) across Belgium, Hungary, and Italy in beer, cheese, ham, sausage, and paprika production. Both network types exist but face challenges: vertical networks struggle with trust issues despite quality schemes, while horizontal networks work better with producer consortiums but suffer from competition. Firms innovate mainly in packaging and form, not core products. Successful small firms use networks to share knowledge, information, and resources, overcoming barriers like lack of trust, skills, and financial resources.
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Anchor tenants and regional innovation systems: the aircraft industry
Large innovative firms, universities, and research institutions act as anchor tenants that generate knowledge spillovers in their regions, spurring new company formation and attracting additional businesses. These anchor tenants drive regional innovation system development, but their emergence depends on pre-existing favorable conditions specific to each industry. The paper uses the aircraft industry to demonstrate how anchor dynamics shape regional economic evolution.
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USER-INVOLVEMENT AND OPEN INNOVATION: THE CASE OF DECISION-MAKER OPENNESS
Decision-maker openness determines whether companies can truly implement open innovation through user involvement in product development. The cognitive distance between decision-makers and users creates barriers to adopting novel user inputs. The research shows that when decision-makers remain closed-minded, open innovation fails to materialize, even when users are available as external resources. Successful innovation requires decision-makers to act as boundary spanners who embrace cognitively distant user perspectives.
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Social innovation and community development: Concepts, theories and challenges
This book examines how urban communities experiencing social exclusion have responded through social innovation. It documents specific local communities and the socially innovative strategies they deployed to address exclusion dynamics, offering insights into community-driven approaches to development and social change.
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Does Broadband Access Impact Migration in America? Examining Differences between Rural and Urban Areas
Using U.S. county-level data from 2000 to 2006, this study examines whether broadband access affects migration patterns. Broadband had mild effects on migration in urban areas. In rural areas, counties with only one broadband type saw no significant in-migration, but rural counties with both Cable and DSL access experienced significant in-migration compared to counties without broadband.
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Innovation and productivity in dryland agriculture: a return-risk analysis for Australia
Australian dryland farming has remained productive despite harsh conditions, driven by science and technology investments over 30 years. The paper examines risks and returns from technological innovations and identifies sources of future productivity gains. It finds that agricultural research and development significantly contributed to productivity growth, but this has slowed in the past decade due to drought and declining public investment. Future gains require sustained RD&E investment, improved risk management, farmer skills, and policies promoting efficiency.
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Innovations in afforestation of agricultural bottomlands to restore native forests in the eastern USA
The paper presents innovations for restoring native forests in former agricultural fields across the eastern USA. Key advances include improved nursery production of larger, healthier seedlings with better root systems, and new silvicultural practices like planting seedlings with cover crops to reduce competition and herbivory. An innovative strategy uses fast-growing poplar trees as nurse crops to establish slower-growing oak species, which are then harvested to release the oaks. These ecosystem-based approaches restore ecological function faster and more affordably than traditional single-species afforestation.
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Innovation in the Norwegian Rural Tourism Industry: Results from a Norwegian Survey
A survey of 133 Norwegian rural tourism businesses reveals high innovation rates, though slightly below the national tourism average. Innovation capacity correlates strongly with business cooperation, market information use, and employee training. Export-oriented firms produce more product innovations, and those receiving public grants implement more product and market innovations. The study identifies cooperation, information systems, and workforce development as key drivers of rural tourism innovation.
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Planning Innovations in Land Management and Governance in Fragmented Rural Areas: Two Examples from Galicia (Spain)
Land fragmentation in rural Galicia creates obstacles for agriculture and forestry, leading to abandonment and social decline. Traditional consolidation approaches fail due to high transaction costs. Two innovative governance models in Galicia combined individual and common property rights to improve land management without changing ownership. These structures increased labour productivity, clarified property rights, and reduced abandonment while promoting sustainable land use.
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Opportunity entrepreneurship in the rural sector: evidence from Greece
This study tests whether urban entrepreneurship theories apply to rural contexts by surveying 81 business owners in southern Crete, Greece. The researchers found that entrepreneurs' personality traits, prior knowledge, education level, and expectations of future social status significantly predict opportunity entrepreneurship in rural areas. The findings suggest existing entrepreneurship theories do transfer to rural settings and could guide policymakers developing rural small businesses.
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RETRACTED: Community gender entrepreneurship and self-help groups: a way forward to foster social capital and truly effective forms of participation among rural poor women?
This paper has been retracted due to extensive plagiarism. The original article examined self-help groups and gender entrepreneurship among rural poor women in India, arguing these mechanisms build social capital and enable meaningful participation. Readers should consult the original source by Lahiri-Dutt and Samanta instead.
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Digital revolution or digital divide: Will rural teachers get a piece of the professional development pie?
Rural teachers in Western Australia face significant barriers accessing professional development compared to urban counterparts. Despite Australian government funding for digital education initiatives, including broadband expansion and $40 million for teacher ICT training, rural isolation limits access to professional learning communities and support structures. A survey of 104 rural principals and teachers reveals their perceptions of professional development access and how they use technology to overcome geographic barriers.
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Determinants of the Digital Divide in Rural Communities of a Developing Country: The Case of Malaysia
This study identifies key factors affecting computer usage in rural Malaysian agricultural and fishing communities. Access to computers, community type, ethnicity, education, language, gender, social networks, and age all significantly influence computer adoption. High costs, low literacy, and perceived irrelevance emerge as main barriers. The research demonstrates that the digital divide widens wealth gaps between rural and urban areas and proposes strategies to close this gap in Malaysia.
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THE STRUGGLE FOR BROADBAND IN RURAL AMERICA
Rural American communities face significant barriers to broadband access and adoption. The paper examines the challenges preventing rural areas from obtaining reliable high-speed internet infrastructure and identifies obstacles to technology uptake among rural populations. These barriers limit rural communities' ability to participate in the digital economy and access online services.
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Agricultural extension services and rural innovation in inner Scandinavia
Agricultural extension services in Norwegian Hedmark and Swedish Värmland take different approaches to supporting rural innovation. Värmland's extension services foster entrepreneurship and rural development through networked regional systems, while Hedmark's services remain tied to conventional agro-industrial models within a centralized national system. The study shows extension services function as either catalysts for agricultural restructuring or defenders of traditional farming approaches.
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Broadband access, citizen enfranchisement, and telecommunications services in rural and remote areas: a report from the american frontier [Topics in Wireless Communications]
Rural and remote areas of Montana lag significantly behind metropolitan regions in broadband access and online services, despite statewide averages suggesting parity with national levels. County-level data reveals uneven distribution of high-speed internet, limited e-government services, and gaps in digital infrastructure. The authors argue that targeted policy changes and infrastructure investments could reduce these inequities and provide rural residents with cost-saving alternatives to travel.
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Practical aspects of broadband access for rural communities using a cost and power efficient multi-hop/relay network
Wireless radio networks offer practical broadband solutions for sparse rural populations where fiber and DSL are economically unfeasible in mountainous terrain. The authors deployed a test bed in the Scottish Highlands and Islands using 5GHz networks with UHF white space overlay. They demonstrate that energy self-sufficient relay nodes create a robust, independent system for delivering broadband to remote rural communities.
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Deployment of broadband wireless access for E-health in Chinese rural areas
This paper describes a low-cost mobile e-health system for rural China that combines VSAT and broadband wireless access technology to provide internet and telecommunications connectivity. The system supports telemedicine and e-learning services within three-level medical networks, helping rural communities access healthcare services and reduce the digital divide.
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL AREAS: CASE OF ROMANIA
Romania's EU accession in 2007 shifted rural development focus from agriculture to entrepreneurship and tourism. The paper examines how this transition created opportunities for small family tourism businesses in peripheral rural regions, particularly encouraging women entrepreneurs. Rural tourism emerged as a new survival strategy for rural communities adapting to globalization and EU integration.
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The management of indigenous knowledge with other knowledge systems for agricultural development: challenges and opportunities for developing countries
Tanzanian farmers struggle to integrate indigenous agricultural knowledge with external knowledge systems due to personal, social, and resource constraints, weak infrastructure, unclear intellectual property policies, and poor connections between researchers, extension workers, and farming communities. The paper identifies specific challenges and recommends strategies to strengthen knowledge management systems for agricultural development in rural Tanzania.
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Super Network on the Prairie: The Discursive Framing of Broadband Connectivity by Policy Planners and Rural Residents in Alberta, Canada
This study examines Alberta's SuperNet broadband infrastructure project by comparing how government planners and rural residents differently understood and valued broadband connectivity. Through interviews, focus groups, and town halls, the researchers found that policy makers and rural communities held distinct visions of broadband's purpose. Rural residents themselves interpreted broadband differently based on their specific circumstances. Rather than simply equalizing access, broadband functioned as a complex mediator affecting opportunity, participation, and identity in rural communities.
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A Study of Women's Access to Higher Education in Rural and Urban China
This study surveyed fifty colleges across ten Chinese provinces to examine gender disparities in higher education access between rural and urban areas. The researchers found that while overall urban-rural gaps in women's college enrollment are substantial, public institutions show minimal disparities. Private colleges display much wider gaps. The analysis reveals that socioeconomic status significantly influences these disparities in women's educational access.
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Rural energy security utilizing renewable energy sources: Challenges and opportunities
Nepal faces severe rural energy insecurity due to complete dependence on imported petroleum and coal, low electricity access, and widespread reliance on kerosene and firewood. Deforestation from biomass extraction threatens environmental stability. The paper examines Nepal's renewable energy development status and identifies challenges to deploying abundant domestic renewable resources, proposing solutions to improve rural energy security while halting forest depletion.
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The Impact of FDI on the Independent Innovation Capability of Chinese Indigenous Industries——From the Perspective of Industrial Linkages
Foreign direct investment's forward linkages stimulate Chinese firms' independent innovation through R&D spillovers from multinational corporations, while backward linkages reduce innovation by substituting imported technology for domestic spillovers. Stronger intellectual property protection enhances positive forward linkage effects, and higher absorption expenditure reduces negative backward linkage effects.
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Studying Rural Innovation Management: A Framework and Early Findings from RIU in South Asia
This paper develops a framework for analyzing rural innovation management in South Asian agricultural projects, identifying four key elements: functions, actions, tools, and organizational format. The research finds that successful rural innovation requires more than just technology access—it demands bundling technology with network development, policy advocacy, training, and negotiated practice changes. Supporting this broader suite of innovation management activities helps rural communities better utilize agricultural research.
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Creative Commons: Non-Proprietary Innovation Triangles in International Agricultural and Rural Development Partnerships
Agricultural development in low-income countries is shifting from traditional technology transfer models toward innovation systems that involve public-private partnerships and open science practices. The paper argues that creative commons approaches generate innovation more effectively than proprietary intellectual property regimes, which often undermine indigenous and local community rights. Pluralistic innovation triangles now connect research, extension, and farming communities while promoting open science at the local level.
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Genset-Solar-Wind Hybrid Power System of Off-grid Power Station for Rural Applications
This paper designs and evaluates hybrid power systems combining diesel generators, solar panels, and wind turbines for off-grid rural electricity. The researchers tested eleven different power management strategies using computer simulations to determine how each strategy affects system sizing, fuel consumption, battery life, and costs. They found that hybrid renewable systems become cost-competitive over their lifetime because diesel fuel costs eventually exceed the initial investment in renewable equipment.
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Challenges of the Rural Healthcare Pilot Program Broadband Initiative
The Federal Communications Commission funded a Rural Healthcare Pilot Program in 2007 to deploy broadband networks to rural areas. Researchers interviewed 40 funded organizations and found that 90 percent encountered challenges during planning. The main obstacles fell into two categories: program deployment issues and communication problems. The findings aim to help future telemedicine grantees navigate similar funding processes more effectively.
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Broadband provision to underprivileged rural communities
This paper describes a wireless mesh network project deployed in rural South Africa to provide affordable broadband to underprivileged communities. The authors identify major technical and socio-economic barriers—including long distances, poor infrastructure, high costs, and unreliable power—and explain how mesh network technology addresses these challenges with lower energy consumption and reduced deployment costs.
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Agricultural and Rural Entrepreneurship: Concepts for Modeling Development
Entrepreneurship—the capacity to develop sustainable enterprises individually or collectively—plays a crucial role in rural and agricultural development across Latin America and the Caribbean. The paper examines how entrepreneurship concepts support productive sector growth and proposes promoting enterprise development through agrifood chain and rural territory strategies to address long-standing regional weaknesses.
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The MicroConsignment Model: Bridging the “Last Mile” of Access to Products and Services for the Rural Poor (<i>Innovations Case Narrative</i>: The MicroConsignment Model)
The MicroConsignment Model addresses rural poverty in Guatemala by delivering essential products and services to remote communities. The paper documents how this distribution approach solved real problems: providing clean water to reduce illness in schools, enabling artisans to access vision correction for work, reducing indoor air pollution through improved cooking stoves, and bringing electricity access to families. The model bridges the final distribution gap that prevents rural poor from accessing basic goods.
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The Rural Effect of Broadband Internet Service
Broadband internet access produces positive economic effects in rural communities, making them more competitive. Using quasi-experimental statistical analysis, the study finds evidence supporting the hypothesis that broadband investment strengthens rural economies. However, the author notes that further research is needed to establish causality more definitively.
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Entrepreneurship and the Environment for Rural SMEs in the Shropshire Hills, UK, 1997–2009
This study tracked farm businesses in South Shropshire's Environmentally Sensitive Area between 1997 and 2008. Environmental scheme participation increased significantly as government policy became more output-focused. Some farmers left cattle production but avoided diversification or pluriactivity despite government support. Most farmers showed traditional rather than entrepreneurial characteristics, leaving their future uncertain as key financial supports faced closure.
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The use of scientific and indigenous knowledge in agricultural land evaluation and soil fertility studies of two villages in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Researchers compared indigenous soil knowledge from 59 small-scale farming households in KwaZulu-Natal with scientific land evaluation methods. Farmers classified soils primarily by color and texture, assessed land suitability mainly through slope position, and evaluated fertility using multiple indicators including crop yield, vegetation, and soil organisms. Farmers' assessments proved more holistic than scientific approaches, yet showed strong correlation with scientific evaluations, demonstrating that indigenous and scientific knowledge systems align on soil management.
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Impact of Group-Based Microfinance on Rural Household Income: Evidence from an Indian State
Group-based microfinance programs in rural Orissa, India significantly increase household income for participating families. The study compared microfinance participants with non-participants across agricultural and micro-enterprise sectors using statistical analysis and income inequality measures. Results demonstrate that microfinance interventions deliver measurable positive income effects for rural households engaged in both farming and small business activities.
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Tourism management in rural innovation programs of Castilla-La Mancha
Rural innovation programs in Castilla-La Mancha invested heavily in tourism development, expanding rural accommodation, heritage rehabilitation, and cultural preservation. Using shift-share analysis, the study identifies how these European structural funds generated global, structural, and competitive effects across tourism initiatives, demonstrating significant increases in rural tourism supply and infrastructure.
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Older people as actors in the rural community, innovation and empowerment
Older people in rural communities actively contribute to social life and innovation when given opportunities for participation. This qualitative study of 53 rural residents in Catalonia, Spain found that community engagement is central to successful aging. The research identifies the need for rural-focused professionals and proposes community-based strategies that strengthen social participation systems while preserving rural character, rather than imposing urban models.
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Broadband access network investment optimization in rural areas
This paper develops an optimization method for deploying broadband networks in rural areas by combining digital subscriber line and fiber-to-home technologies. The authors use dynamic programming to determine optimal placement of network equipment while considering existing copper infrastructure, cable lengths, and user locations. They calculate financial metrics like payback periods and net present value for different deployment scenarios, and introduce a planning tool called BANeT to support rural broadband network design decisions.
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Microfinance performance in China's rural areas: A perspective of regional differences
Microfinance significantly increases farmer income in rural China, but effectiveness varies substantially across regions. The study of 116 households across 28 provinces identifies loan size, borrower education, loan duration, and borrower gender as key performance factors. The authors recommend designing microfinance programs tailored to regional characteristics to maximize impact on farmer incomes.
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Analyses and comparisons of fixed access technologies for rural broadband implementation
This paper evaluates fixed broadband technologies for rural deployment in Croatia by analyzing costs and profitability. The authors model and compare three systems—PLC, ADSL, and WiMAX—across different rural scenarios, calculating implementation costs using standard financial methods. The analysis identifies which technologies work best under specific rural conditions and highlights factors that drive broadband access costs.
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Developing 21st Century Diverse Adult Learning: Rural and Regional Student Access, Progression and Success in Higher Education
This paper examines how rural and regional students access, progress through, and succeed in higher education during the 21st century. It addresses barriers these students face and explores strategies to improve their participation and outcomes in tertiary education, focusing on diverse adult learners in non-urban areas.
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Technology Adoption by Small Urban and Rural Transit Agencies
A national survey of rural transit agencies receiving federal Section 5311 funding examined technology adoption patterns. Larger agencies with bigger budgets and fleets adopted technologies like automatic vehicle location, scheduling software, GPS systems, and mobile data terminals at higher rates. Manager education, conference attendance, vendor interaction, and training participation significantly influenced adoption decisions. The findings help identify which agencies would benefit from technology investments and reveal unexpected adopters worth studying.
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Microfinance in Ghana : A Comparative Study of Performance of the Formal versus Informal Rural Financial Institutions
Formal banks in Ghana increasingly compete with traditional microfinance institutions to serve microenterprises, but hesitation remains high. This study compares their performance using survey data from rural financial institutions. Formal banks cite profitability as their main incentive but fear high transaction costs and borrower risk. Informal institutions outperform formal ones at reducing defaults. Collateral reduces non-performing loans, while women-focused lenders perform better. Rural location and high lending rates increase default risk.
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Advanced LED Warning Signs for Rural Intersections Powered by Renewable Energy
Researchers developed and tested an advanced LED warning system for rural intersections with poor sight lines due to curves. The system actively detects approaching vehicles and activates LED warning signs for conflicting traffic movements, addressing the ineffectiveness of static warning signs at rural through/stop intersections. The team evaluated driver behavior through video analysis and surveyed local residents and frequent users.
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Off-grid PV system to supply a rural scholl on DC network
Researchers designed an off-grid photovoltaic system to power a rural school in northeastern Brazil. The system uses solar panels to charge lead-acid batteries, which store enough energy to supply the school for two days even during low sunlight. A microcontroller manages power extraction, battery charging, and voltage conversion to meet the school's electrical demands.
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The Case for the Development of Public Transit in an Urban Boundary Rural Area
A survey of commuters in a rural area bordering a metropolitan region reveals that people would use public transit if available, driven by concerns about fuel costs and pollution. Educated and younger residents show the strongest preference for transit, challenging assumptions that rural populations inherently prefer automobiles.
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Towards a Better Conceptual Framework for Innovation Processes in Agriculture and Rural Development: From Linear Models to Systemic Approaches
This paper argues that agricultural innovation requires moving beyond linear, technical models to systemic approaches that recognize farming's multifunctional role. The authors identify gaps between societal demands for change and farmers' capacity to innovate, showing that technical and economic factors alone cannot explain innovation processes. They propose that successful innovation emerges from collaborative networks where social and institutional factors, farmer knowledge, motivations, and values drive change. Extension services and institutions often become barriers when they fail to recognize shifted farmer and societal needs.
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Strengthening agricultural innovation capacity: are innovation brokers the answer?
Innovation brokers—intermediaries who connect actors in agricultural systems—emerge as key players in strengthening innovation capacity. Using Dutch agriculture as a case study, the paper argues that brokers facilitate interaction between farmers, researchers, and other stakeholders. The authors conclude that innovation brokerage works in developing countries too, but requires public investment and supportive policies that enable local embedding and institutional learning.
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Pathways for impact: scientists' different perspectives on agricultural innovation
Agricultural scientists often misunderstand how their research reaches farmers and creates real-world impact. This paper examines five pathways for agricultural innovation—technology transfer, farmer-driven innovation, market-induced innovation, participatory development, and innovation systems—and argues that scientists must better understand these mechanisms to improve smallholder productivity and reduce rural poverty. The author calls for changes in scientific training, promotion criteria, and funding to embed impact thinking into agricultural research professionalism.
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Digital Divide Between Urban and Rural Regions in China
This paper examines China's digital divide between urban and rural regions from 1985 to 2006, finding strong correlations between income gaps and adoption rates of internet, mobile phones, personal computers, and telephones. The research identifies two key barriers preventing rural adoption: affordability of technologies and insufficient educational levels among rural users that limit their ability to use these tools effectively.
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A Multivariate Model of Micro Credit and Rural Women Entrepreneurship Development in Bangladesh
Microcredit programs in Bangladesh help rural women survive but don't automatically build entrepreneurial skills. This study identifies key factors driving entrepreneurship among women borrowers using statistical modeling. Financial management skills and group identity strongly predict entrepreneurial development, while family business experience and access to credit options also matter. The findings show microcredit's impact depends on developing specific capabilities beyond basic lending.
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Hybrid wireless-broadband over power lines: A promising broadband solution in rural areas
A hybrid wireless-broadband over power lines network deployed across 107 km of medium voltage power grid in rural Greece successfully delivers broadband access and smart grid applications to sparsely populated areas. The system exploits existing power infrastructure combined with wireless technology to overcome the low profitability and adoption barriers that typically prevent broadband projects in rural regions, demonstrating this approach as a viable alternative solution.
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The potential of management networks in the innovation and competitiveness of rural tourism: a case study on the<i>Valle del Jerte</i>(Spain)
Rural tourism businesses in Valle del Jerte, Spain form management networks that boost competitiveness and innovation. Through social network analysis, the study shows that these cooperative structures create cohesive destinations where businesses share resources and develop innovative local responses to global market pressures. Networking enables rural tourism enterprises to overcome traditional obstacles and strengthen their competitiveness as tourism products.
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Women's Entrepreneurship and Rural Tourism in Greece: Private Enterprises and Cooperatives
Women entrepreneurs in rural Greece pursue agro-tourism through two distinct models: private enterprises and cooperatives. A survey of 199 women reveals significant differences between the two groups. Women choosing private enterprises tend to be younger, better educated, and more self-confident, while cooperative members are typically older, less educated, and more hesitant about business decisions.
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Innovations on a shoestring: a study of a collaborative community-based Aboriginal mental health service model in rural Canada
A mental health team in northern Ontario developed an innovative collaborative model integrating clinical approaches with traditional Aboriginal healing. Despite severe resource constraints, the Knaw Chi Ge Win service improved care quality and cultural safety for Aboriginal clients. The model succeeded through shared information systems, protocols, and ongoing education. Challenges remain around chronic underfunding and limited understanding of traditional healing outcomes. This approach offers a replicable model for other rural Indigenous mental health systems.
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Impact of Microfinance on Rural Households in the Philippines
A microfinance program in the Philippines targeting rural poor households showed mixed results. While loan availability modestly increased per capita income and expenditure, benefits concentrated among wealthier households and bypassed the poorest. The program successfully reduced reliance on informal loans and boosted savings, but failed to improve assets or human capital. The authors conclude that microfinance needs better targeting mechanisms and project selection support to effectively reduce poverty.
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Process evaluation of the Intervention with Microfinance for AIDS and Gender Equity (IMAGE) in rural South Africa
The IMAGE program combines microfinance with gender and HIV training in rural South Africa. While the intervention reduced intimate partner violence among clients, it showed limited effects on sexual behavior in households and communities. Process evaluation found microfinance and training were feasible and acceptable, but community mobilization faced barriers to collective action. Neither delivery model proved sustainable long-term, suggesting partnerships between microfinance institutions and non-academic agencies warrant further investigation.
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Making Education Equitable in Rural China through Distance Learning
China's Distance Education Project for Rural Schools (2003–2007) deployed ICT tools to improve basic education access in poor rural areas, particularly western provinces. The paper analyzes DEPRS's effectiveness and impact, examining whether and how its three learning tools actually improved education outcomes in remote rural communities, addressing persistent gaps between urban and rural educational quality.
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Microfinance against malaria: impact of Freedom from Hunger's malaria education when delivered by rural banks in Ghana
A malaria education program delivered through rural microfinance banks in Ghana significantly improved clients' malaria knowledge and prevention behaviors compared to control groups. Participants who received malaria education were more likely to identify vulnerable populations, recognize insecticide-treated nets as protective, and actually own and use bed nets. The program achieved the largest increases in net ownership and use, demonstrating that microfinance institutions can effectively support national malaria control efforts.
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Microfinance and Rural Household Development
A study of 139 rural households in Ghana's Upper West Region finds that microfinance borrowers divert significant loan portions toward household consumption rather than productive investment. While this generates moderate improvements in household productivity and welfare, microfinance's overall impact on rural community development remains modest. The findings suggest microfinance alone does not reliably reduce poverty or drive rural economic growth.
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Electrifying the Poor: Highly Economic Off-Grid PV Systems in Ethiopia - A Basis for Sustainable Rural Development
Rural Ethiopia lacks electricity access for 80% of its population. Off-grid solar photovoltaic systems are economically viable there due to excellent solar conditions and high oil prices, with payback periods of 2-4 years. The paper presents a solar electrification roadmap including demonstration projects, training programs, and local solar businesses that generate purchasing power and enable sustainable rural development.
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Sustainability Issues of Interest-Free Micro-Finance Institutions in Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation. the Bangladesh Perspective
This study evaluates the sustainability of interest-free microfinance institutions in Bangladesh, focusing on the Rural Development Scheme of Islamic Bank Bangladesh Limited. The research examines institutional, financial, and economic sustainability indicators and finds that the scheme operates sustainably while serving rural development and poverty alleviation. The author recommends policy guidelines to support interest-free microfinance expansion in similar regions.
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Enhancing innovation between scientific and indigenous knowledge: pioneer NGOs in India
Local communities in Tamil Nadu, India combine traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge through supportive networks to innovate health practices and environmental conservation. These networks create "ethnomedicine capacity"—the ability of local stakeholders to actively generate and share knowledge. Integration of local and scientific knowledge proves crucial for sustainable adoption. Networks enhance social capital and enable development, though unequal power relations risk transforming traditions into commodities controlled by new elites.
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The Impact of High School Distance e-Learning Experience on Rural Students' University Achievement and Persistence
Rural high school students with prior distance e-learning experience perform differently and persist at different rates in their first year of university compared to peers without online learning background. The study analyzed archival data to examine how secondary-level distance education affects post-secondary achievement and continuation, finding significant differences between the two groups.
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GIS Tool for Rural Electrification with Renewable Energies in Latin America
Renewable energy offers viable alternatives for electrifying isolated rural communities in Latin America. The authors present IntiGIS, a GIS-based methodology that integrates geographical data on renewable resources with social and economic factors to support electrification planning decisions. The tool enables cost comparisons between renewable and non-renewable energy technologies, helping communities select sustainable solutions suited to their specific conditions.
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The Strategic Role of Indigenous Innovation for Global Competition The Case Study of Mobile Phone and Telecom-Equipment Industry in China
Indigenous innovation strengthens technological capabilities and supports long-term firm growth. The authors develop a model linking globalization, market conditions, and technical factors to indigenous innovation. Analysis of China's mobile phone and telecom-equipment industries demonstrates how firms leverage indigenous innovation during economic transitions to compete globally.
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Impact of Microfinance on Alleviating Rural Poverty in Uzbekistan
Microfinance effectively alleviates rural poverty in Uzbekistan by improving living standards and enabling regional development. The paper analyzes demand for microfinance services across Uzbek regions and evaluates regional programs' impact on area-based development. Using econometric modeling, the authors demonstrate how regional socioeconomic factors drive demand for microfinance services.
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The UK Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs ("Defra") publishes the final report of the Cave review of competition and innovation in water markets
The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published the final Cave review report examining competition and innovation in water markets. The review analyzes how competitive market structures affect innovation in England and Wales's water sector, providing policy recommendations for enhancing efficiency and technological advancement in water service delivery.
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Living labs as instruments for business and social innovation in rural areas
Living labs methodology applied across seven rural European and South African regions successfully supported business and social innovation. A collaborative platform using open service-oriented architecture enabled rural communities to share services and applications. The study demonstrates that living labs accelerated innovation processes and rural development outcomes, with a common methodology supporting launch, operation, experimentation, and monitoring across diverse rural settings.
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The Practice and Need for Rural ICT for Development Evaluation: An Experience of the Siyakhula Living Lab Baseline Study
ICT projects in rural areas produce mixed results—some benefit communities while others fail or cause harm. Development organizations must evaluate ICT programs to understand their actual impact on rural development. This paper examines evaluation frameworks and their shortcomings through a baseline study of the Siyakhula Living Lab in South Africa's Eastern Cape, demonstrating practical challenges in assessing ICT project effectiveness and proposing improvements to evaluation approaches.
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Value creation in innovation ecosystems: how the structure of technological interdependence affects firm performance in new technology generations
Firm performance in innovation ecosystems depends on where external innovators face challenges. The authors analyze semiconductor lithography equipment from 1962 to 2005 across nine technology generations. They find that upstream component challenges benefit technology leaders, while downstream complement challenges harm them. Vertical integration becomes more effective at managing ecosystem interdependence as technologies mature.
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'Mode 3' and 'Quadruple Helix': toward a 21st century fractal innovation ecosystem
This paper argues that successful innovation systems in the 21st century must combine multiple knowledge and innovation paradigms simultaneously through co-evolution and co-specialization. The authors introduce the 'Quadruple Helix' model, which extends traditional triple-helix frameworks by adding media and culture as essential components. They contend that adaptive capacity to integrate diverse knowledge modes creates competitive advantage in knowledge economies.
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Open R&D and open innovation: exploring the phenomenon
Open innovation—where organizations combine internal and external knowledge for R&D—has become strategically important. Research shows three main processes: outside-in (acquiring external knowledge), inside-out (sharing internal knowledge), and coupled approaches. The paper argues that organizations must understand where open innovation creates value and adapt their R&D management methods accordingly, considering strategic, organizational, and business implications.
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A Capability‐Based Framework for Open Innovation: Complementing Absorptive Capacity
This paper develops a capability-based framework for open innovation by extending absorptive capacity theory. The authors identify six critical knowledge capacities—inventive, absorptive, transformative, connective, innovative, and desorptive—that firms use to manage knowledge both internally and externally. Knowledge management capacity acts as a dynamic capability that reconfigures these six capacities over time. The framework explains why firms differ in their innovation performance, alliance strategies, and organizational boundaries.
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Disrupting class: how disruptive innovation will change the way the world learns
The book applies disruptive innovation theory to education, arguing that personalized, student-centric learning powered by technology can transform how students succeed in school. It contends that computers deployed strategically in classrooms can overcome barriers to educational reform and help countries compete globally by rethinking intelligence, redesigning educational systems, and matching teaching methods to how people actually learn.
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Absorptive Capacity, Environmental Turbulence, and the Complementarity of Organizational Learning Processes
This study examines how organizations learn from external knowledge through three complementary processes: exploration, transformation, and exploitation. Using data from 175 industrial firms, the research shows that technological and market knowledge together form the foundation for absorptive capacity. The findings reveal that firms balancing all three learning types achieve better innovation and performance outcomes, particularly when facing rapid technological and market changes.
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Innovation Diffusion in Heterogeneous Populations: Contagion, Social Influence, and Social Learning
This paper develops theoretical models explaining how new ideas and products spread through populations with different characteristics. The author examines three diffusion mechanisms—contagion, social influence, and social learning—and shows each creates a distinct pattern in adoption curves. Using historical data on hybrid corn adoption, the paper demonstrates how to empirically distinguish between these diffusion mechanisms and provides tools for analyzing innovation spread in heterogeneous groups.
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Applying Diffusion of Innovation Theory to Intervention Development
Diffusion of Innovation Theory provides a robust framework for designing social work interventions that spread effectively. The author reviews seven key concepts—intervention attributes, clusters, demonstration projects, societal sectors, contextual conditions, opinion leadership, and adaptation—that accelerate adoption of evidence-based practices. By applying diffusion principles during intervention design rather than after implementation, social work can increase both internal validity and real-world spread of innovations.
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WHY 'OPEN INNOVATION' IS OLD WINE IN NEW BOTTLES
This paper critiques the open innovation concept, arguing it presents a false choice between open and closed models. The authors examine six core principles of open innovation and demonstrate that the framework misrepresents how firms actually operate. They show that while closed innovation has real limitations, most companies don't actually follow purely closed models, making open innovation's framing misleading rather than genuinely novel.
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Democratizing Innovation: The Evolving Phenomenon of User Innovation
User-centered innovation, once dismissed as marginal, has become a major force reshaping how products and services develop. End users and user firms now drive significant innovation across many fields, competing with and feeding into traditional manufacturer-led innovation. Advances in computing and digital communication accelerate this shift, making user innovation an increasingly powerful economic and creative phenomenon.
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Outbound open innovation and its effect on firm performance: examining environmental influences
This study examines how firms benefit from outbound open innovation—transferring technology externally—and identifies environmental conditions that strengthen these benefits. Using data from 136 industrial firms, the research finds that technological turbulence, active technology markets, and competitive intensity all enhance the positive relationship between outbound open innovation and firm performance. Stronger patent protection, however, does not improve outcomes. The findings clarify when companies should pursue outbound open innovation strategies.
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Living Lab: an open and citizen-centric approach for innovation
Living Labs represent a new approach to managing innovation that combines an innovation milieu with citizen-centered methods. The paper examines Botnia Living Lab and the FormIT approach, demonstrating how involving citizens in designing e-services for municipal governance strengthens innovation processes. Key structural components of Living Labs enhance both the innovation process and its underlying principles.
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Opening up for competitive advantage – How Deutsche Telekom creates an open innovation ecosystem
Deutsche Telekom, Germany's national telecom operator, adopted open innovation practices to compete against declining revenues and market pressure. Through 15 interviews, researchers identified 11 open innovation instruments the company deployed. The study shows Deutsche Telekom successfully increased its innovation capacity by opening its development process to external creativity and knowledge sources, demonstrating how incumbent telecom firms can adapt to competitive threats.
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The role of venture capital firms in Silicon Valley's complex innovation network
Venture capital firms play five critical roles in Silicon Valley's innovation network: financing startups, selecting promising companies, facilitating collective learning, embedding firms within the ecosystem, and signaling quality to other investors. These functions create a robust system of interconnected economic agents—universities, large companies, laboratories, and startups—that explains Silicon Valley's sustained innovative success over seventy years and why other regions have failed to replicate it.
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Determinants and archetype users of open innovation
This paper explains why firms adopt open innovation at different levels by examining internal barriers to innovation rather than external factors. Using exploration-exploitation theory, the authors test how innovation impediments affect the breadth and depth of open innovation activities. Their analysis identifies four distinct firm archetypes with different open innovation patterns and identifies which internal weaknesses drive firms toward external R&D collaboration.
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Dynamic Capability Building in Service Value Networks for Achieving Service Innovation
Service organizations innovate by collaborating through value networks rather than working alone. This study of a telecommunications company shows that dynamic capabilities—including customer engagement, collaborative agility, entrepreneurial alertness, and innovative capacity—emerge through stakeholder collaboration and education. These capabilities drive service innovation outcomes and require continuous development as business conditions change. Managers must actively cultivate these collaborative skills to deliver new service offerings.
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Where Do Good Innovation Ideas Come From? Exploring the Influence of Network Connectivity on Innovation Idea Quality
Network connectivity influences innovation idea quality differently depending on whether ideas come from individuals or groups. Individual innovators generate higher-quality ideas with more network connections, but highly connected groups actually produce lower-quality ideas. The study finds that some minimum level of connectivity is necessary for quality ideas, but excessive connectivity in group settings reduces performance. These findings suggest companies should facilitate individual interaction while carefully managing group dynamics during ideation.
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National Innovation System
This paper traces the intellectual origins of the National Innovation System framework, showing that the OECD's work in the 1960s fundamentally shaped the systems approach to innovation that later researchers like Freeman, Nelson, and Lundvall developed. The author argues the OECD's emphasis on interconnected sectors—government, university, and industry—and their relationships as drivers of innovation performance directly influenced the framework that became central to innovation studies.
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Exploring the field of open innovation
This paper reviews the emerging open innovation research field through systematic analysis of academic publications and expert interviews. The authors identify key research themes and reveal that the field is expanding toward broader definitions, developing critical perspectives, and focusing on theory and management implications. They propose using innovation process location and collaboration extent as dimensions for deeper understanding of how open innovation develops.
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DIFFERENT MODES OF OPEN INNOVATION: A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND AN EMPIRICAL STUDY
This paper develops a framework categorizing four modes of open innovation based on two dimensions: partner variety and innovation funnel openness. Testing the framework on Italian companies, the authors show that firms successfully adopt different collaboration strategies ranging from completely closed to fully open innovation. The research demonstrates that total openness is not always optimal; companies achieve success through varied degrees and types of external collaboration matched to their specific strategies and capabilities.
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Disrupting Class How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns
This paper applies disruptive innovation theory to education, arguing that technological change will fundamentally transform how people learn globally. The author examines how disruptive innovations reshape educational systems and delivery methods, suggesting that new technologies will create alternative learning pathways that challenge traditional classroom-based education models.
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Innovation communities: the role of networks of promotors in Open Innovation
This paper defines innovation communities as networks of promotors—transformational leaders who collaborate across organizational boundaries. Through three case studies, the research shows that these informal networks of promotors are essential to open innovation success. The paper connects promotor theory to open innovation research and demonstrates that close cooperation among these champions, regardless of functional or organizational divisions, drives innovation creation and dissemination.
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Managing innovation networks: Exploratory evidence from ICT, biotechnology and nanotechnology networks
This study examines how innovation networks function across ICT, biotechnology, and nanotechnology sectors in Australia. The researchers surveyed 219 participants from businesses, government, research organizations, and universities to test how network factors drive innovation outcomes. They found that effective management of inter-organizational relationships significantly influences new product development success, offering practical strategies for managers coordinating innovation across multiple organizations.
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Who captures value in a global innovation network?
This paper examines how value is distributed across the global supply chain for Apple's iPod. The authors analyze which companies—designers, manufacturers, and retailers—capture profits from the product's innovation and sales. Their findings reveal that Apple captures the largest share of value despite outsourcing most production, while component suppliers and manufacturers earn significantly less, demonstrating how innovation networks concentrate economic returns.
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Storm Clouds and Silver Linings: Responding to Disruptive Innovations Through Cognitive Resilience
Small incumbent firms respond differently to disruptive business model innovations depending on how managers cognitively frame the threat and opportunity. The study finds that managers' prior risk experience shapes how they perceive opportunities, while perceived urgency influences how they assess threats. Analysis of 126 real estate brokers facing discount broker competition confirms this framework, showing that cognitive resilience—balancing threat and opportunity perception—determines whether small firms adopt, resist, or adapt to disruption.
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Adoption of<i>Moringa oleifera</i>to Combat Under-Nutrition Viewed Through the Lens of the “Diffusion of Innovations” Theory
Moringa oleifera, a nutrient-rich tree grown in tropical regions, is rapidly spreading as a treatment for under-nutrition despite lacking rigorous clinical evidence. The paper applies diffusion of innovations theory to explain why adoption continues to grow among healthcare practitioners and community leaders. The analysis reveals the need for scientific validation of moringa's nutritional benefits to support informed decision-making.
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An absorptive capacity model for green innovation and performance in the construction industry
Swedish construction companies can improve their capacity to adopt green innovations and boost business performance by focusing on three key processes: acquiring new environmental knowledge, assimilating it into operations, and transforming it into practice. The study applies absorptive capacity theory to construction and develops a revised framework called green ACAP that identifies specific mechanisms driving environmental innovation and performance improvements.
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Exploring open innovation practice in firm‐nonprofit engagements: a corporate social responsibility perspective
This study examines how corporations and nonprofits collaborate to drive innovation through open innovation practices. Eight UK partnerships show two distinct approaches: exploratory engagement that generates emergent innovation, and focused resource exploitation that follows planned processes. Boundary-spanning roles differ based on organizational linkage strength—formal management roles in loosely connected dyads versus informal facilitation roles in highly connected ones. Open innovation driven by social issues, rather than purely economic motives, broadens corporate search activities and generates innovations while building social legitimacy.
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The many faces of absorptive capacity: spillovers of copper interconnect technology for semiconductor chips
This case study of copper interconnect technology in semiconductors identifies three forms of absorptive capacity: disciplinary, domain-specific, and encoded. Firms build disciplinary capacity by engaging with scientific communities while protecting proprietary knowledge. Domain-specific capacity develops through influencing university research and hiring talent. As technology matures, encoded capacity becomes critical, requiring firms to integrate supplier knowledge. Absorptive capacity is multifaceted and shaped by technology type and maturity.
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THE ROLE OF ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY IN FACILITATING "OPEN INNOVATION" OUTCOMES: A STUDY OF AUSTRALIAN SMEs IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR
Australian manufacturing SMEs that pursue open innovation strategies achieve better innovation outcomes when they possess strong absorptive capacity—the ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external knowledge. The study shows that simply accessing external knowledge through open innovation is insufficient; firms must develop internal capabilities to effectively transform and use that knowledge.
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On the Identity of Technological Objects and User Innovations in Function
This paper develops a theory explaining how technological objects gain identity through both their physical form and intended function. The authors use this framework to categorize different types of technological change and highlight user-driven innovations that modify how objects are used, an area previous research largely overlooked.
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Knowledge Networks in an Uncompetitive Region: SME Innovation and Growth
SMEs in Yorkshire and Humberside rely heavily on knowledge networks outside their region, but the most innovative firms balance both local and external connections. While networking activity sometimes correlates negatively with growth—suggesting struggling firms seek public support—the research shows regional innovation systems approaches work better than cluster policies. Policymakers should help SMEs build and maintain diverse knowledge networks spanning both regional and global scales.
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Tourists' perceptions of environmentally responsible innovations at tourism businesses
Tourists with strong nature-oriented motivations view environmentally responsible practices at tourism businesses as significantly more important and valuable than tourists without such motivations. A survey of visitors to Arizona tourism centers found that nature-oriented tourists consistently rated green innovations more favorably, suggesting that visitor attitudes toward environmental practices depend heavily on their underlying travel motivations and connection to nature.
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DEVELOPING CROSS‐BORDER REGIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEMS: KEY FACTORS AND CHALLENGES
Cross-border regions face distinct challenges in developing integrated innovation systems compared to regions within single nations. Geographical proximity and local institutions matter for knowledge creation, but cross-border areas show vastly different capacities to build unified innovation spaces. The paper identifies critical conditions necessary for transfrontier innovation systems to emerge, revealing that the regional innovation systems framework applies differently across borders.
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The evolution of Norway's national innovation system
This paper examines how Norway's science, technology, and innovation policies evolved alongside its industrial structure over time. It develops a historical approach to studying innovation policy development and focuses on resource-based industries rather than high-tech sectors. The analysis reveals how institutions and politics shaped Norway's national innovation system, offering insights often missing from snapshot studies of innovation systems.
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Evolutionary Plasticity and Innovations in Complex Metabolic Reaction Networks
This paper studies how metabolic networks in bacteria evolve and adapt. The researchers found that these networks are robust to gene mutations and can rapidly acquire new metabolic abilities through gene loss and horizontal gene transfer. Networks with identical metabolic functions differ substantially in their reactions, yet can be connected through single mutations. This robustness enables evolutionary innovation by allowing organisms to explore new metabolic capabilities while maintaining survival.
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The new age of innovation. Driving co-created value through global networks
This paper discusses how innovation is created through collaborative networks that span globally. The author argues that modern innovation increasingly depends on co-creating value across organizational and geographic boundaries rather than developing solutions in isolation. The work emphasizes the role of interconnected networks in driving innovation forward.
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Relationships between knowledge acquisition, absorptive capacity and innovation capability: an empirical study on Taiwan’s financial and manufacturing industries
This study examines how knowledge acquisition drives innovation in Taiwan's financial and manufacturing sectors. Using structural equation modeling on 362 companies, the research finds that absorptive capacity mediates the relationship between knowledge acquisition and innovation capability. Knowledge acquisition directly strengthens absorptive capacity, and industry type moderates how knowledge acquisition translates into innovation. The findings reveal distinct patterns across financial and manufacturing firms.
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Diffusion of Innovation Theory: A Bridge for the Research‐Practice Gap in Counseling
This paper applies diffusion of innovation theory to explain why counseling research findings fail to reach practitioners. The author outlines the research-practice gap in counseling and uses diffusion theory's core principles to propose research practices and questions that could help new evidence spread more effectively through the profession.
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The Innovator's guide to growth: putting disruptive innovation to work
This guide presents frameworks for applying disruptive innovation theory to drive organizational growth. It covers identifying customer needs and non-consumers, developing solutions that fit market patterns, managing innovation teams and projects, organizing for innovation at the leadership level, and measuring innovation success. The work addresses common pitfalls that trap companies attempting innovation.
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The Challenges of Collaborative Knowledge Creation in Open Innovation Teams
Open innovation teams bring together people from different organizations to develop new products and services. While organizational diversity can boost collaborative knowledge creation, it also creates obstacles. This paper reviews literature on how individuals interact and create knowledge together in these teams, identifying key challenges that arise from their different backgrounds and organizational contexts.
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TOWARD A DYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE ON OPEN INNOVATION: A LONGITUDINAL ASSESSMENT OF THE ADOPTION OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL INNOVATION STRATEGIES IN THE NETHERLANDS
This longitudinal study tracks Dutch companies across 1996, 2004, and 2004 to document how firms shifted from closed to open innovation strategies. The research reveals this transition occurred in sudden shifts rather than gradually, with timing varying by industry. Internal and external innovation approaches complement each other rather than compete, providing the first large-scale evidence of a fundamental change in how companies innovate.
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Knowledge Portfolios and The Organization of Innovation Networks
Firms form strategic alliances based on knowledge compatibility rather than social capital alone. A model demonstrates that requiring sufficient shared knowledge between partners naturally produces network features like small-world structures and unequal connection patterns, explaining alliance network organization without invoking social capital theory.
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Embedding environmental innovation in local production systems: SME strategies, networking and industrial relations: evidence on innovation drivers in industrial districts
Environmental innovation in Italian manufacturing firms depends more on strategic choices than firm size. The study finds that R&D investment, industrial relations focused on innovation, and networking activities drive environmental performance improvements. Policy pressure and environmental auditing also encourage adoption. Networking effectively replaces the innovation advantages that larger firms typically enjoy, making local collaboration critical for small and medium enterprises.
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The Emergence of China and India as New Competitors in MNCs' Innovation Networks
Multinational corporations increasingly locate research and development operations in China and India, moving beyond traditional innovation hubs in North America, Western Europe, and Japan. However, this shift remains limited in scope, with China attracting market-seeking investment and India attracting resource-seeking investment. Knowledge control stays concentrated in developed countries despite local learning and upgrading. While concerns about Western innovation decline are overstated, these trends signal a potential long-term redistribution of global innovation capacity and economic power.
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Developing and Validating Field Measurement Scales for Absorptive Capacity and Experienced Community of Practice
Researchers developed and validated survey measurement scales for absorptive capacity (the ability to transform new knowledge into usable knowledge) and experienced community of practice (engagement with a practice community). Testing with nearly 600 engineers across two Fortune 100 technology companies, they confirmed the scales are internally consistent, relate meaningfully to organizational variables, and provide distinct explanatory power for studying knowledge transfer in organizations.
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User innovation and everyday practices: micro‐innovation in sports industry development
User innovations in sports like rodeo and freestyle kayaking drive industry development more significantly than previously recognized. The paper examines how users adapt equipment and practices, change activity settings, and engage in various forms of involvement. These micro-innovations reshape user demographics and preferred gear, ultimately influencing industry evolution more than lead-users and user-manufacturers alone.
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Exploring the Multiple Roles of Lund University in Strengthening Scania's Regional Innovation System: Towards Institutional Learning?
Lund University strengthens Scania's regional innovation system through multiple engagement mechanisms that facilitate technological learning across sectors. The university acts as a knowledge conduit, importing global science and technology into the region while building structural innovation capacity. The study examines three sectoral engagement efforts and demonstrates how universities can actively contribute to regional innovative capacity beyond passive knowledge transfer.
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Absorptive Capacity in a Non-Market Environment
This paper applies absorptive capacity theory to explain performance in public sector organizations. The authors argue that absorptive capacity—an organization's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external knowledge—offers a valuable framework for understanding why some public organizations succeed while others fail. They review conceptual and methodological implications of this approach and propose testable propositions for future empirical research on public sector performance.
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Linking Resilience Theory and Diffusion of Innovations Theory to Understand the Potential for Perennials in the U.S. Corn Belt
This paper combines resilience theory with diffusion of innovations theory to analyze how perennial crops could be adopted in the U.S. Corn Belt. The authors examine the conditions and barriers that affect whether farmers will shift from annual commodity crops to perennial alternatives, using theoretical frameworks to understand both the ecological benefits of such transitions and the social factors driving agricultural innovation adoption.
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Information–Communication Technologies Open up Innovation
Information and communication technologies enable open innovation by connecting organizations with external sources like customers, suppliers, and vendors to generate, develop, test, and commercialize ideas. ICTs support the entire innovation process from initial ideation through commercialization, moving beyond internal use to facilitate distributed innovation across organizational boundaries.
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Knowledge Ecologies and Ecosystems? An Empirically Grounded Reflection on Recent Developments in Innovation Systems Theory
This paper critiques the shift from innovation systems theory toward knowledge ecology and ecosystem frameworks. Using Cambridge's biotech sector as evidence, the authors argue these biological metaphors create conceptual problems including reductionism and functionalism. They contend that understanding innovation requires grounding analysis in historical socioeconomic development and the social division of labor, rather than applying abstract ecological concepts.
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Innovation Diffusion Modeling in the Construction Industry
This study examines how technological and administrative innovations spread through Turkey's construction industry using a flexible diffusion model. The research tracks adoption of CAD technology in architectural design and ISO 9000 certification in precast concrete firms. Internal influence—firms copying peers—drives adoption more than external factors like marketing. The strength of internal influence changes over time differently for each innovation type, offering construction firms practical insights into how imitation shapes technology adoption.
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The use of a masticatory robot to analyze the shock absorption capacity of different restorative materials for prosthetic implants: a preliminary report.
This paper is not about rural innovation. It reports a laboratory study using a masticatory robot to test how different dental crown materials (composite resins versus ceramic) transmit chewing forces to dental implants. The researchers found that composite crowns absorb shock better than ceramic crowns, transmitting significantly lower forces to the implant bone.
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Absorptive Capacity and Social Capital in Regional Innovation Systems: The Case of the Lahti Region in Finland
This study examines how absorptive capacity and social capital function in regional innovation systems, using the Lahti region in Finland as a case study. The research identifies three forms of social capital—organisational bonding, regional bridging, and personal creative—and categorizes actors into three interaction behavior groups: Missionaries, House Mice, and Passive Resistance. The findings show that social relationships and human interaction significantly influence how actors navigate structural gaps in innovation systems.
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Information and communication technology innovations: radical and disruptive?
This paper examines how well disruption theory and other innovation classifications explain ICT innovations in communications. The author reviews multiple innovation frameworks and finds that while internet and wireless technologies show frequent disruptive changes, the disruption concept has limited applicability in the converged communications sector. Different analysts reach contradictory conclusions because they make different analytical choices, and findings from single firms cannot be reliably generalized.
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Organizing the Innovation Process: Complementarities in Innovation Networking
This paper examines how manufacturing plants in the UK and Germany use external networks across different stages of innovation. German firms show stronger complementarities between external networking activities, while UK firms tend to substitute external networks across stages. The findings reveal that optimal innovation strategies differ between countries and that the relationship between internal and external knowledge sources is more complex than previously understood.
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Knowledge Acquisition, Absorptive Capacity, And Innovation Capability: An Empirical Study Of Taiwan'S Knowledge-Intensive Industries
This study examines how knowledge acquisition and absorptive capacity drive innovation in Taiwan's finance and manufacturing sectors. Using survey data from 362 companies, the researchers found that absorptive capacity acts as a mediator between knowledge acquisition and innovation capability. Knowledge acquisition directly strengthens absorptive capacity, which then enables firms to innovate more effectively.
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A Qualitative Application of the Diffusion of Innovations Theory to Examine Determinants of Guideline Adherence Among Physical Therapists
Physical therapists in the Netherlands rarely adopt evidence-based guidelines for low back pain after they are disseminated. This study used focus group interviews and Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations Theory to understand why. Therapists had unfavorable views about how guidelines were shared but provided little information about their adoption decisions. The theory proved useful for structuring the research and revealed that guideline implementation remained incomplete among practitioners.
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Advancing the practice of online psychotherapy: An application of Rogers' diffusion of innovations theory.
This paper applies Rogers' diffusion of innovations theory to understand why psychologists adopt or reject online therapy. The authors identify nine barriers to adoption, including concerns about dehumanizing therapy, startup costs, licensing issues, ethical guidelines, and professional reputation. They propose theory-based strategies to accelerate adoption of online therapy among clinical psychologists.
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Festival Innovation: Complex and Dynamic Network Interaction
Festival innovation emerges through complex, dynamic networks of multiple actors with diverse interests rather than isolated efforts. Swedish case studies reveal that innovation occurs unpredictably through new partnerships and improvisation, resisting formal planning. Some innovations eventually become institutionalized in partnership routines. Festival organizers must strategically understand their networks and leverage partner contributions to drive successful innovation.
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Beyond Regulation: Risk Pricing and Responsible Innovation
The insurance industry can drive responsible technological innovation by pricing risk appropriately, offering an alternative to traditional regulation. The authors argue that insurers' financial incentives to assess and manage emerging technological risks create powerful mechanisms for encouraging safer innovation practices without relying solely on government oversight.
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Exploring Factors Influencing Incumbents' Response to Disruptive Innovation
This case study of Hasselblad examines how incumbent firm characteristics shape responses to disruptive innovation. The company's limited resources and niche positioning in professional cameras constrained its ability to experiment with digital technology without damaging its brand. Hasselblad pursued collaborations and hybrid products but ultimately survived the shift from analog to digital through acquisitions. The paper argues that incumbent characteristics significantly influence how firms navigate disruptive threats, and that medium-sized premium firms can survive through strategic partnerships and acquisitions.
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Networks, Propinquity, and Innovation in Knowledge-intensive Industries
Geographic proximity and network position jointly influence innovation in biotechnology firms. The study analyzed U.S. life science patents from 1988–1999 and found that regional clustering and network centrality have complementary but interdependent effects on patenting. Firms benefit from local connections to other biotech companies and universities, but this advantage depends on their global network ties. Regional agglomeration shapes how information flows through networks and determines the innovation impact of network centrality.
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The Adoption of Automatic Teller Machines in Nigeria: An Application of the Theory of Diffusion of Innovation
This paper applies diffusion of innovation theory to examine how automatic teller machines were adopted across Nigeria. The study analyzes the factors and patterns influencing ATM adoption in the Nigerian banking sector, using established innovation diffusion frameworks to understand technology uptake in a developing country context.
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National culture, regulation and country interaction effects on the association of environmental management systems with environmentally beneficial innovation
Environmental management systems boost process innovations in firms, but this effect varies significantly by country. The study of nine European nations reveals that national culture and regulatory frameworks moderate whether firms implementing these systems actually develop environmental innovations. Management systems show no consistent link to product innovations across countries.
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Organization-wide adoption of computerized provider order entry systems: a study based on diffusion of innovations theory
Computerized provider order entry systems were adopted unevenly across healthcare staff. Nurses reported better experiences and perceived greater advantages than physicians, who found the systems poorly adapted to their work and wanted to return to paper-based methods. The study reveals that successful adoption requires designs offering substantial additional benefits beyond error reduction, continuous user feedback collection, and better communication about system advantages to healthcare workers.
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The impact of market size and users’ sophistication on innovation: the patterns of demand
This paper develops a theoretical model showing how demand drives innovation through two key factors: market size and user sophistication. The author argues that these conditions create firm incentives to innovate and proposes a taxonomy of industries based on these demand characteristics. The work provides analytical foundations for demand-pull innovation theory.
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Agricultural Innovation in Asia: Drivers, Paradigms and Performance
Agricultural innovation in Asia has driven impressive productivity gains, but faces mounting pressures from climate change, land loss, and population growth. This study identifies four distinct techno-institutional paradigms shaping Asian agriculture: the green revolution, sustainability revolution, biotechnology revolution, and supermarket revolution. Each paradigm involves different technologies, actors, and networks with varying performance outcomes across Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Effective innovation policies must align with each paradigm's specific opportunities and constraints.
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Capacity, scale and place: pragmatic lessons for doing community‐based research in the rural setting
Community-based research offers a flexible, context-sensitive approach suited to rural areas experiencing rapid economic and social change. Drawing on experience in northern British Columbia, the authors identify practical lessons for conducting community-based research effectively, organizing insights around three key stages: preparing for community engagement, conducting fieldwork, and post-fieldwork activities. They address gaps in methodological guidance and advocate for better training in community-based research methods for rural contexts.
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Orchestrating Regional Development Through Projects: The ‘Innovation Paradox’ in Rural Finland
Project management dominates rural and regional development in Finland, yet creates an 'innovation paradox': regions are expected to innovate while lacking genuine innovative capacity. This professionalization of project management, combined with gender dynamics, reduces project value. The author argues that relaxing strict innovation requirements would unlock the actual innovation potential embedded in most development projects.
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"Free Seeds, Not Free Beer": Participatory Plant Breeding, OpenSource Seeds, and Acknowledging User Innovation in Agriculture
Intellectual property expansion in plants threatens global food security and agriculture. The paper examines international treaties like the 2001 ITPGR that create limited commons for plant genetic resources. It proposes adapting open-source software licenses to plant breeding, arguing that open-source seed licenses can increase farmer and public breeder access to genetic resources worldwide.
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Knowledge and InnovatIon for agrIcultural development
Rural agricultural development requires linking indigenous knowledge with formal research and development. The paper argues that while rural communities innovate through local experimentation and adaptation, indigenous knowledge alone cannot address complex challenges like food price volatility, climate change, and biofuel demand. Sustainable agricultural development accelerates when formal and informal knowledge systems connect, enabling knowledge creation, sharing, and practical application across technologies, organizations, institutions, and policies.
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Rural entrepreneurship: expanding the horizons
Rural entrepreneurs typically operate within local or regional constraints, but this paper argues they should expand beyond territorial boundaries. The authors show that rural businesses can export solutions to problems elsewhere and import expertise from other regions. They use the 'passport to trade' project to demonstrate how understanding different local business cultures enables successful cross-regional commerce, challenging policies that treat rural entrepreneurship as purely local.
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Success and Failure of Crossbred Cows in India: A Place-Based Approach to Rural Development
India's dairy cooperative program is widely celebrated, but crossbred cows promoted by development agencies were not uniformly adopted across rural areas. This study explains mixed adoption rates by examining how place-specific agricultural economies and social relations shape farmer decisions. Success or failure cannot be measured simply by adoption rates; instead, evaluating dairy development requires understanding local practices, official policies, and the distinct characteristics of each village and region.
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Place-Conscious Capacity-Building: A Systemic Model for The Revitalisation and Renewal of Rural Schools and Communities Through University-Based Regional Stewardship
Universities can revitalize rural communities through place-conscious capacity-building, a model that uses culturally-responsive methods and institutional resources to strengthen local capabilities. Implemented at a post-compulsory institution in central Appalachia, the approach combines place-based learning with stakeholder engagement across multiple contexts to support public education and community economic development.
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COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG LOWER CASTES IN INDIA: A GRASSROOTS CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT UNDER CONDITIONS OF ADVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL UNCERTAINTY
This article has been retracted and is no longer available for review.
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DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL TOURISM THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Rural tourism entrepreneurship in Romania drives economic development in rural areas through small businesses. Romanian rural tourism entrepreneurs demonstrate optimism and openness to learning since the post-1989 revival. Success depends on initiative, achievement motivation, and the ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities.
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Mobile devices and services: bridging the digital divide in rural areas
Mobile phones offer a practical solution to bridge the digital divide in rural areas where internet connectivity remains limited. The paper reviews successful implementations of secure e-services delivered through mobile networks, demonstrating how these services can reach low-income rural populations who currently lack access to e-government services designed for them.
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Wireless-broadband over power lines networks: A promising broadband solution in rural areas
Wireless-broadband over power lines (W-BPL) technology combines power line communication and wireless transmission to deliver broadband access in rural areas where traditional infrastructure investment is economically unfeasible. A trial deployment in rural Greece demonstrated that this hybrid approach successfully provides broadband services and enables smart grid applications across a 70 km medium-voltage power network, offering a cost-effective alternative for remote communities.
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Rural Entrepreneurship through Electricity
Nepal shifted rural electrification from top-down government programs to community-based management, where local groups contribute 20% of costs and operate systems themselves. Between 2003 and 2008, this approach brought electricity to nearly 190,000 rural households annually through 450 community electricity organizations. The model increased economic activity, enabled productive use of electricity, fostered rural entrepreneurship, and advanced gender equality in participating communities.
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Economics of Broadband Access Technologies for Rural Areas
This paper analyzes the cost-effectiveness of different broadband technologies for rural areas using real geographic data. Wireless technology proves cheapest for low-speed, low-density areas, while fiber optic networks (PON) offer the lowest costs when speeds exceed 20 Mbit/s. The findings provide practical guidance for selecting appropriate rural broadband infrastructure.
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Microfinance and the dynamics of financial vulnerability. Lessons from rural South India
Microfinance in rural South India produces mixed results for household financial vulnerability. The study finds microfinance can either reduce vulnerability or deepen debt, depending on how clients combine it with other financial tools and strategies. The paper argues that microfinance effects cannot be understood in isolation from local employment, financing, and consumption dynamics, or from households' broader asset-building and vulnerability-coping strategies.
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Hybrid Broadband Access with IEEE 802.16e: An Economic Approach for Rural Areas
This paper addresses the digital divide between urban and rural areas by proposing hybrid broadband networks combining wired and wireless (IEEE 802.16e/Mobile WiMAX) technologies. The authors analyzed user requirements across 18 rural areas, dimensioned a wireless network, and conducted economic analysis showing that this hybrid approach reduces investment and operational costs compared to traditional wired-only broadband infrastructure in rural regions.
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Design and economy of renewable energy sources to supply isolated loads at rural and remote areas of Egypt
This paper develops a model to design and evaluate renewable energy systems for isolated rural loads in Egypt, focusing on solar photovoltaic and wind energy for irrigation pumping. The model incorporates meteorological data, system performance, storage capacity, and economic parameters to compare three alternative configurations. Applied to a remote Egyptian site, the model identifies the most economically viable renewable energy option for rural electrification.
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Increasing Efficiency of Power Supply System for Small Manufactures in Rural Regions using Renewable Energy Resources
Small rural manufacturers face rising electricity costs and maintenance expenses. The paper proposes using wind turbines to power these enterprises in areas with sufficient wind resources (above 5 m/s at 10m height). A voltage regulator with transformer connection stabilizes motor operation and reduces energy consumption, offering a practical renewable energy solution for rural industrial efficiency.
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Managing Agricultural Indigenous And Exogenous Knowledge Through Information And Communication Technologies For Poverty Reduction In Tanzania
ICTs can help Tanzanian rural communities manage agricultural indigenous knowledge while integrating external knowledge to reduce poverty and hunger. The paper argues that combining local farming practices with global agricultural information through digital technologies improves productivity. Rural Tanzanians currently lack access to global knowledge and platforms to share their own expertise, creating missed opportunities for agricultural advancement.
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Microfinance and poverty reduction in rural Nigeria
A survey of 281 rural Nigerian households demonstrates that access to microfinance programs delivers measurable social and economic benefits compared to households without access. The study provides empirical evidence supporting microfinance as a poverty reduction tool in rural Africa, with findings applicable to program evaluation across the continent.
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Broadband / future generation network services deployment in rural and remote areas
This paper examines broadband and next-generation network deployment across rural African regions. The authors identify deployment challenges and argue that wireless, wired, and optical technologies should all be pursued to expand rural access. They contend that wireless high-speed internet offers a cost-effective interim solution to bridge the broadband gap, enabling rural communities to access healthcare, government services, education, and business opportunities.
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The Gender Digital Divide in Rural Pakistan: How Wide is it and How to Bridge it?
Mobile phones are widely available in rural Pakistan, but women rarely own them independently—most require permission from male relatives to make calls. The study reveals that technology availability alone does not guarantee women's access or use. Social norms restricting women's education and mobility prevent meaningful ICT adoption among females. Gender-sensitive policies must address these underlying inequalities to enable women's beneficial use of digital technologies.
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Gender and renewable energy in rural Nigeria.
Poor women in rural Nigeria rely on traditional biomass fuels that harm their health and wellbeing. Expanding access to renewable energy sources can reduce this burden while advancing multiple development goals: poverty reduction, improved health and education, environmental protection, and women's empowerment.
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Credit unions and rural banks reaching down and out to the rural poor through group-based microfinance
Credit unions and rural banks in West Africa, Ecuador, Madagascar, and the Philippines successfully deliver microfinance to poor rural populations by adopting group-based village banking models. This approach costs less than building new microfinance institutions from scratch and reaches extremely poor women in remote areas. While individual credit unions and rural banks are fragile, spreading risk across many small institutions creates a sustainable system.
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All Things to All People: Challenges and Innovations in a Rural Community College
Rural community colleges face pressure to serve diverse adult learners with limited resources. New Mexico State University at Grants developed innovative approaches including career ladder strategies and on-site distributed learning to provide access to professional degrees in an economically distressed, culturally diverse county. These programs expand educational pathways for rural adult students.
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Broadband Internet Service Helping Create a Rural Digital Economy
Broadband internet service enables rural communities to participate in the digital economy by reducing geographic barriers to commerce and information access. The paper examines how broadband infrastructure supports rural economic development through business creation, job growth, and improved access to markets and services that were previously limited by distance and connectivity constraints.
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The Role of Decentralized Renewable Energy for Rural Electrification. Maharashtra case study, India
Decentralized renewable energy can electrify remote villages in Maharashtra, India where grid extension is infeasible. The study finds that while DRE offers social and economic benefits, current implementation remains limited to small-scale domestic use. Success requires overcoming barriers including weak government policy support, poor community perception, and challenges around business models, maintenance systems, and raw material sustainability.
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Analyses and comparisons of technologies for rural broadband implementation
This paper analyzes the costs of deploying broadband networks in rural Croatia using techno-economic models. The authors compare DSL and WiMAX technologies across three rural scenarios, calculating implementation costs through standard profitability methods. The analysis identifies which factors in each scenario most affect broadband access costs, providing evidence to support rural broadband deployment as a driver of economic growth and quality of life.
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Generators for rural electrification from renewable energy
This paper develops mathematical models for three types of generators—three-phase induction, single-phase induction, and permanent magnet generators—to power rural electrification systems using wind and biomass energy. The models account for transient responses and machine parameters to design reliable systems that handle power line imbalances and faults better than conventional approaches. Simulations in Matlab-Simulink demonstrate the generator performance.
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Management of innovation networks: a case study of different approaches
Empirical case study of two software-business SMEs with contrasting approaches to managing innovation networks. Surfaces six dimensions for mapping innovation network management: duration, rewards, fundamental meaning, organisational nature, planning/control/trust, and hierarchy.
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How innovative is your agriculture? Using innovation indicators and benchmarks to strengthen national agricultural innovation systems
This paper develops a framework for measuring agricultural innovation in developing countries by adapting the innovation systems approach. It identifies potential indicators to benchmark national agricultural performance, reviews data sources and construction methods, and provides guidance for policymakers and development partners seeking to design evidence-based policies that strengthen agricultural innovation systems.
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Rural women entrepreneurship within co‐operatives: training support
Rural women running cooperatives in Greece participated in a training program that improved their entrepreneurial skills, business opportunity identification, and decision-making flexibility. The training also strengthened their attitudes toward entrepreneurship, enhanced cooperative growth prospects, and improved work-family balance. Training programs are most effective when designed to address specific organizational needs through prior needs analysis.
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Strengthening Agricultural Education and Training in sub-Saharan Africa from an Innovation Systems Perspective: A Case Study of Mozambique
Agricultural education and training in Mozambique must strengthen farmers' capacity to innovate by improving how organizations transmit and adapt knowledge. The paper argues that AET systems need cultural reform, better incentives, and stronger networks linking educators with other stakeholders. Key reforms include aligning AET mandates with national development goals and building connections between training institutions and the broader agricultural innovation ecosystem.
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Making Land Rights Accessible: Social Movements and Political-Legal Innovation in the Rural Philippines
Social movements in the rural Philippines overcame obstacles to land reform by combining political and legal strategies with support networks for rights advocacy. The paper shows that agrarian reform laws can be effectively implemented when rural poor claimants access mobilization support structures and pursue integrated strategies that activate state actors and resist elite opposition. However, these strategies have inherent limits.
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Place-based policy and rural poverty: insights from the urban spatial mismatch literature
Rural poverty persists partly because geographic distance creates barriers to economic adjustment, similar to spatial mismatch in cities. Using US data, the authors show that remoteness correlates with higher poverty rates and that poor people don't simply choose to live in isolated areas. Labor supply responses confirm these distance-based frictions matter. The findings support place-based anti-poverty policies rather than focusing solely on helping poor individuals relocate.
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An Interactional Approach to Place-Based Rural Development
Rural America faces unprecedented economic transformation from globalization, eliminating traditional employment sources. Traditional rural development policies have become ineffective. The authors argue that place-based competitiveness strategies alone fall short and propose an interactional approach that simultaneously addresses economic, environmental, and social well-being as integrated components of rural development.
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Innovation system approach to agricultural development: Policy implications for agricultural extension delivery in Nigeria
Nigeria's agricultural sector requires a shift from traditional research-extension models to an innovation systems approach. The paper argues that sustainable agricultural development demands holistic consideration of policy frameworks, human capital, infrastructure, and knowledge flows—not just R&D investment. Government should enact favorable policies, strengthen farmer and private sector innovation, and ensure extension workers integrate institutional context into technology packages delivered to farmers.
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THE SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI) AS A SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION
The System of Rice Intensification, developed in Madagascar, now reaches 500,000 farmers across 20+ countries who increase rice production while reducing external inputs and costs. Rather than examining the innovation itself, this paper analyzes the transnational system of innovation that emerged around SRI. Farmers voluntarily extended the methodology to peers, adapted it to reduce labor demands, and applied it to rainfed rice and other crops. Diverse organizations formed innovative alliances to disseminate and adjust the methodology, driving global adoption despite institutional resistance.
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Assessment of the Enabling Rural Innovation (ERI) approach: Case studies from Malawi and Uganda
The Enabling Rural Innovation approach strengthens rural communities in Malawi and Uganda by linking smallholder farmers to markets and building entrepreneurial capacity. Results show households increased incomes and assets, farmers gained market analysis and negotiation skills, and gender decision-making became more shared at household and community levels. Women acquired skills at lower rates than men. Participatory research boosted farmer investments in soil fertility technologies.
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A Spiral of Innovation Framework for Social Entrepreneurship: Social Innovation at the Generational Divide in an Indigenous Context
This paper examines social innovation in indigenous Māori communities through a complex adaptive systems lens. It argues that innovation emerges from intergenerational collaboration between young opportunity-seeking entrepreneurs (potiki) and elder statespeople (rangatira), combining social and economic entrepreneurial activity. The authors propose a 'Spiral of Innovation' framework that integrates opportunity-seeking with cultural heritage, illustrated through the example of Māori Maps, positioning innovation as self-organization within specific cultural contexts.
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Operational guidance for World Bank Group staff : designing sustainable off-grid rural electrification projects - principles and practices
This operational guide helps World Bank staff design sustainable off-grid rural electrification projects. It explains why off-grid solutions complement grid expansion, then details critical design factors including technology selection, environmental safeguards, productivity applications, affordability, business models, regulation, and financing options. The guide provides practical recommendations for project designers implementing rural electrification.
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Renewable Energy for Rural Sustainability in Developing Countries
Renewable energy technologies offer significant benefits for rural sustainability in developing countries, but their actual performance falls short of expectations. This paper identifies technological, economic, and institutional barriers to success, but argues that previous analyses have overlooked household perspectives and stakeholder needs. Survey findings reveal gaps between installed renewable energy technology capabilities and user satisfaction in remote communities.
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Promoting Renewable Energy Technologies for Rural Development in Africa: Experiences of Zambia
Zambia has introduced renewable energy technologies to meet growing electricity demand and electrify rural households. Solar energy dominates adoption, but remains limited to employed elites. Wind energy remains largely unexploited. Key barriers include weak policy implementation, low rural awareness of renewable benefits, high technology costs, and underdeveloped renewable energy markets.
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Effects of Rising Gas Prices on Bus Ridership for Small Urban and Rural Transit Systems
Rising gasoline prices increase bus ridership in small urban and rural transit systems, but the effect is modest. Using dynamic models on ten years of data from eleven Midwest and mountain state transit agencies, the study finds ridership elasticity ranges from 0.08 to 0.22 relative to gas prices. Higher fares from increased ridership do not offset transit agencies' rising fuel costs.
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Success factors for the effective implementation of renewable energy options for rural electrification in India-Potentials of the CLEAN DEVELOPMENT MECHANISM
Rural electrification in India faces persistent obstacles despite decades of renewable energy promotion. This study examines how the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol can facilitate renewable energy investment for rural areas. Analysis of CDM biomass projects across four Indian states reveals that socio-political and historical framework conditions significantly determine whether renewable energy initiatives succeed in providing affordable, stable energy supply to combat rural energy poverty.
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Indigenous knowledge and sustainable agricultural resources management under rainfed agro-ecosystem
Tribal farmers in Madhya Pradesh's rainfed regions have developed sophisticated agricultural systems adapted to harsh, risk-prone environments. These traditional practices—including crop diversity conservation, water management, and pest control—prove productive and sustainable without costly external inputs. The study documents Gond, Baiga, and Pradhan farming wisdom and urges agricultural researchers to systematically learn from and integrate these practices before they disappear.
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Protecting and promoting indigenous knowledge: environmental adult education and organic agriculture
Environmental adult educators can promote sustainable living by recognizing organic farmers' knowledge as indigenous knowledge. The paper argues that organic agriculture's knowledge system—including its spiritual dimensions—fits better within UNESCO's indigenous knowledge framework than Habermasian theory, while maintaining capacity for critique and transformation. This approach helps adult education address food security and environmental sustainability by connecting farming practices to indigenous knowledge systems.
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MANAGING INDIGENOUS AND EXOGENOUS KNOWLEDGE THROUGH INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT OF THE UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS IN TANZANIA
This paper examines how information and communication technologies can integrate indigenous knowledge with external agricultural expertise to advance farming development in Tanzania. The authors argue that combining local farming practices with modern ICT tools helps achieve broader development goals, particularly in rural agricultural communities where traditional knowledge remains valuable alongside contemporary innovations.
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Indigenous women as entrepreneurs in global front line innovation systems
This paper examines entrepreneurship among Sámi indigenous women, analyzing their unique business practices and decision-making logics at micro and mezo levels. The research reveals how indigenous women operate as entrepreneurs within global innovation systems, highlighting entrepreneurial approaches that differ from mainstream models and demonstrating their role as innovators on the global front line.
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High performance work systems, workforce productivity, and innovation: a comparison of MNCs and indigenous firms
Foreign-owned multinational corporations in Ireland adopt high-performance work systems more extensively than Irish-owned firms, resulting in higher workforce productivity and innovation rates. The study shows that differences in organizational effectiveness between foreign and indigenous firms are explained by variations in how intensively they use these human resource practices.
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Living labs fostering open innovation and rural development: Methodology and results
Rural living labs enable user-driven ICT innovation for economic and social development through open partnerships among stakeholders. The paper presents three case studies from Hungary, South Africa, and Spain, examining how living labs are established, how users participate, and what innovations emerge. Successful approaches include stakeholder platforms, user communities, cyclic innovation processes, and participatory action research—all requiring strong adaptation to local contexts.
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Asset‐based policy in rural China: an innovation in the retirement social insurance programme1
China implemented an innovative retirement insurance programme in Hutubi, Xinjiang that allows rural account holders to use their accounts as collateral for small loans to invest in productive assets, education, and businesses. This asset-based policy approach combines social protection with social investment to address rural-urban inequality. The programme successfully encouraged asset building in the rural community, offering lessons for scaling asset-based policy across rural China.
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Innovation Contests, Open Innovation, and Multiagent Problem Solving
Innovation contests let firms post problems to independent solvers and reward the best solution. The paper shows that larger solver populations benefit firms through solution diversity, offsetting reduced individual effort. Performance-contingent awards further improve outcomes compared to fixed prizes. The analysis identifies which product types and cost structures gain most from contests versus internal innovation.
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Ambidexterity in Technology Sourcing: The Moderating Role of Absorptive Capacity
Manufacturing firms perform best when balancing internal technology development with external sourcing, following an inverted U-shaped relationship. However, a firm's absorptive capacity—its ability to recognize and integrate external knowledge—moderates this effect. Companies with stronger absorptive capacity gain greater performance benefits from balanced technology sourcing strategies than those with weaker capacity.
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Research and Development, Spillovers, Innovation Systems, and the Genesis of Regional Growth in Europe
This paper combines three approaches to understanding regional innovation in Europe: R&D investment analysis, regional innovation systems, and knowledge spillovers. Using regression analysis across EU-25 regions, the authors show that regional economic growth depends on complex interactions between local and external research combined with local and external socio-economic and institutional conditions. Knowledge spillovers are strongest over short distances, indicating that geographic proximity matters significantly for transmitting economically productive knowledge.
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Open Innovation in Practice: An Analysis of Strategic Approaches to Technology Transactions
This study surveyed 154 companies to identify how firms actually practice open innovation through technology transactions. The research reveals that companies pursue distinct strategic approaches by balancing two activities: acquiring external technology and commercializing their own technological knowledge. The findings show that open innovation operates as an integrated process rather than separate acquisition or exploitation activities, providing the first large-scale empirical picture of how firms strategically manage technology transactions across their innovation processes.
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Heterogeneity and Specificity of Inter‐Firm Knowledge Flows in Innovation Networks
This study examines how firms in Rome's aerospace cluster exchange different types of knowledge through innovation networks. Using social network analysis, the researchers found that technological, market, and managerial knowledge flow unevenly among collaborating partners. Most successful collaborations combine all three knowledge types, revealing that innovation requires diverse knowledge recombination. This pattern holds for both large companies and small-to-medium enterprises.
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Disruptive Innovation In Health Care Delivery: A Framework For Business-Model Innovation
Disruptive innovation has transformed other industries by making products affordable and accessible, but healthcare remains expensive and inaccessible because it lacks matching business-model innovation. This paper presents a framework for categorizing and developing innovative business models in healthcare and explains why disruptive innovation has progressed slowly in the sector.
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Getting Clear About Communities in Open Innovation
This paper examines how researchers define and use the concept of 'community' across open source software, user innovation, and open innovation studies. The authors review existing definitions of community—both stated and unstated—and identify gaps in how scholars apply this construct. They argue that clearer, more consistent definitions are needed to make research across these fields comparable and to guide future investigation.
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The new age of innovation: driving cocreated value through global networks
This business strategy book argues that companies must build organizational capabilities to co-create value with customers through global networks. The authors contend that success requires transforming business processes, technical systems, and supply chains to enable continuous innovation, measure individual behavior through analytics, and treat all stakeholders as unique participants in seamless global operations.
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Foreign Direct Investment, Absorptive Capacity and Regional Innovation Capabilities: Evidence from China
Foreign direct investment significantly boosts regional innovation capacity in China, but the effect depends critically on local absorptive capacity and complementary assets. FDI intensity improves innovation efficiency, and these gains drive economic growth in coastal regions. Inland regions show weaker results, indicating that FDI quality and local institutional strength determine whether foreign investment translates into knowledge-based development.
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When Is a Disruptive Innovation Disruptive?<sup>*</sup>
This paper distinguishes between market-disrupting innovations and disruptive innovations as defined by Christensen, using diffusion patterns to explain why incumbents sometimes underestimate threats. The authors identify low-end encroachment (fringe-market, detached-market, and immediate scenarios) where innovations spread upward from low-end markets, and high-end encroachment where impact is immediate. They provide a three-step framework to assess diffusion patterns and help firms evaluate innovation threats or opportunities.
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INTERMEDIARIES, USERS AND SOCIAL LEARNING IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION
Intermediaries play a critical role in technological innovation by connecting users with developers and facilitating the adoption of new technologies. The paper examines how intermediaries configure, facilitate, and broker technologies across supply and demand sides in emerging markets. The authors demonstrate that intermediaries bridge the gap between user-driven and developer-driven innovation, and that identifying and supporting user-side intermediaries is essential for innovation success.
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An Examination of the Relationship Between Absorptive Capacity and Organizational Learning, and a Proposed Integration
This paper clarifies the relationship between absorptive capacity and organizational learning, two concepts long studied together but never precisely defined in relation to each other. The authors argue that absorptive capacity—an organization's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external knowledge—represents a specific type of organizational learning focused on external knowledge acquisition. They propose integrating these concepts using established frameworks from organizational learning and absorptive capacity literature.
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Determinants of the Efficiency of Regional Innovation Systems
Regional innovation systems perform better when private and public research institutions interact intensively and share knowledge spillovers. Regions with smaller average establishment sizes generate more efficient innovation than those dominated by large firms. The study measures efficiency using knowledge production functions and patent data to compare how well regions convert research inputs into innovative outputs.
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GENI - global environment for network innovations
GENI is the National Science Foundation's infrastructure initiative to advance network science and engineering research for future global communications. The project entered its first development phase with early prototyping underway, involving academic and industrial teams building software, hardware, and trial facilities to support innovative network research.
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Understanding the Advantages of Open Innovation Practices in Corporate Venturing in Terms of Real Options
Open innovation in corporate venturing offers financial and strategic advantages over closed innovation approaches. Companies gain early exposure to emerging technologies, can delay major financial commitments, exit unprofitable ventures quickly to limit losses, and extend promising ventures longer. However, firms must actively develop new skills and organizational routines to fully realize these real options benefits.
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USER-CENTRIC INNOVATIONS IN NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT — SYSTEMATIC IDENTIFICATION OF LEAD USERS HARNESSING INTERACTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE ONLINE-TOOLS
Companies reduce innovation failure by involving external customers, especially lead users, in product development. This paper identifies key characteristics for systematically finding lead users online through Web 2.0 tools and communities. The research reveals that effective lead users demonstrate market trend awareness, high expected benefits, expertise, extreme needs, opinion leadership, and active online engagement.
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Introduction of shared electronic records: multi-site case study using diffusion of innovation theory
This study examined how four English healthcare sites implemented a shared electronic patient record system. The implementation succeeded or failed based on eight interconnected factors: the technology's technical maturity and perceived benefits, staff concerns about workload and privacy, influence from opinion leaders, organizational experience with IT projects, readiness for change, implementation quality, system integration, and political context. The research shows that electronic health records require acceptance from both patients and staff and must fit into existing organizational workflows.
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Absorptive Capacity: A Process Perspective
Absorptive capacity—an organization's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external knowledge—remains poorly understood despite decades of research. This paper argues that quantitative studies have failed to reveal how absorptive capacity actually works. Using case studies across three sectors, the authors demonstrate that a process-based approach must account for power dynamics and organizational boundaries to explain how knowledge truly gets absorbed and used.
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Implementing innovation in construction: contexts, relative boundedness and actor‐network theory
This paper examines why construction projects struggle to implement new technologies and innovations. The author argues that construction work lacks a central coordinating force to drive change and resolve conflicts, making innovation adoption difficult. Using actor-network theory, the study analyzes how both people and technologies interact during implementation, showing that existing practices, technological design choices, and actor mobilization all shape whether innovations succeed or fail.
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Learning how to restructure: absorptive capacity and improvisational views of restructuring actions and performance
This paper examines how organizational learning shapes corporate restructuring decisions and outcomes. Companies with repeated experience in sell-offs adopt similar strategies and achieve better financial results, reflecting absorptive capacity. Conversely, recent spin-off experience drives subsequent spin-offs and performance gains, reflecting organizational improvisation. The study shows that different types of restructuring experience produce different strategic choices and financial outcomes.
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Analyzing the determinants of firm's absorptive capacity: beyond R&D
This paper develops a new model explaining how firms absorb external knowledge. The authors argue that absorptive capacity depends on more than just R&D spending. Instead, organizational knowledge, formalization, and social integration mechanisms all shape a firm's ability to absorb knowledge. The type of knowledge being absorbed matters—these factors can help or hinder depending on whether the knowledge fits the firm's existing capabilities. The paper provides empirical evidence supporting this expanded framework.
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Exporting, R&D, and absorptive capacity in UK establishments
This study examines what drives UK establishments to export and how much they export. Using innovation survey data, the researchers find that firm size matters significantly. R&D activities and absorptive capacity—the ability to understand and use scientific knowledge, collaborate internationally, and organize effectively—help firms enter export markets. However, once firms export, only absorptive capacity linked to scientific knowledge boosts their export performance; R&D spending alone does not.
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Multi-niche analysis of dynamics and policies in Dutch renewable energy innovation journeys (1970–2006): hype-cycles, closed networks and technology-focused learning
This study examines forty years of renewable energy innovation policy in the Netherlands across wind, biomass, fuel cells, and photovoltaics. The research identifies recurring problems: innovation efforts rely too heavily on technology-focused R&D rather than broader learning, social networks remain narrow and supply-side oriented, and expectations follow hype-disappointment cycles that undermine sustained development. These structural weaknesses explain why all four technologies experienced costly failures and setbacks despite policy support.
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Inter-firm networks and innovation: a survey of literature
This survey reviews literature on how inter-firm networks affect innovation and technological change. The author organizes studies by causality direction—examining both how networks influence firm outcomes and how networks form. The analysis identifies three interconnected themes: network origins, firm performance effects, and network structure. The survey synthesizes theoretical and empirical findings to guide future research on inter-firm networks.
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Responsible Development and Application of Surgical Innovations: A Position Statement of the Society of University Surgeons
This position statement from the Society of University Surgeons addresses the responsible development and application of surgical innovations. The authors establish principles and guidelines for how surgical innovations should be developed, tested, and implemented in clinical practice to ensure patient safety and ethical standards while advancing surgical care.
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Propagation of innovations in networked groups.
This paper examines how network structure affects groups' ability to discover and share solutions. Researchers created laboratory groups where participants made guesses and shared scores with network neighbors. Results show groups converge on similar solutions even when alternatives exist. The optimal network structure depends on the problem: clustered networks excel at broad exploration, while highly connected networks work better for focused problems.
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Is regional innovation system development possible in peripheral regions? Some evidence from the case of La Pocatière, Canada
This paper examines whether peripheral regions can develop functional innovation systems by studying La Pocatière, Canada. The authors identify the key actors and structural elements of the region's innovation system, then analyze the factors and dynamics that drive innovation activity and enable the system to transform and grow. They draw on historical documents, statistical data, and interviews with leaders from private and public organizations.
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Diffusion of innovations
This fourth edition of a foundational health behavior textbook provides comprehensive analysis of health behavior theories relevant to health education and practice. The work synthesizes theory, research, and practical applications to guide health professionals in understanding and influencing health behaviors across populations.
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Triple helix circulation: the heart of innovation and development
The triple helix model—involving universities, industry, and government—drives innovation and development through the movement of people and knowledge across these sectors. Universities now function as key socio-economic actors beyond their traditional role as knowledge providers. The paper argues that removing barriers to circulation and strengthening cooperation among these development actors is essential for achieving sustainable, knowledge-based development in resource-constrained societies.
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Simulation of Enthalpy and Capacity of CO<sub>2</sub> Absorption by Aqueous Amine Systems
This paper develops a model to predict how well amine-based solvents absorb CO2 and the energy required for absorption and release. The model works for both well-studied solvents and new experimental systems. Testing shows that by adjusting amine properties and carbamate formation, researchers can improve CO2 capture capacity and reduce the energy needed compared to standard monoethanolamine systems.
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Online Communities and Open Innovation
Online communities enable users and customers to participate in innovation at low cost through internet-based collaboration. These communities operate independently of corporate control, yet companies increasingly seek to harness their creative output through open innovation strategies. The paper examines how technological and symbolic value is created when online communities interact with firms across software, services, and manufacturing sectors, challenging traditional business models.
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R&D/Returns Causality: Absorptive Capacity or Organizational IQ
This paper challenges the absorptive capacity theory by arguing that firms' ability to benefit from R&D spending reflects innate organizational capability rather than investment behavior. The author finds that when accounting for differences in firm quality, the interaction between a firm's own R&D and rivals' R&D becomes insignificant. Higher-performing firms invest more in R&D, but R&D spending itself does not improve a firm's capacity to learn from competitors' innovations.
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Ethnicity, friendship network and social practices as the motor of dialect change: Linguistic innovation in London
This paper examines how linguistic innovation spreads through London's communities, showing that ethnicity, friendship networks, and social practices drive dialect change. The authors analyze how these social factors shape language variation and innovation among different groups, revealing the mechanisms through which new linguistic features emerge and propagate through social networks.
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Bureaucratic Job Mobility and The Diffusion of Innovations
Bureaucratic job mobility drives policy innovation adoption across U.S. local governments. Agency leaders hired from outside organizations are significantly more likely to introduce professionally fashionable innovations than those promoted internally. The study of municipal police and water utility managers shows that government innovation depends on both demand for new policies and the supply of mobile administrators who bring professional priorities into their agencies.
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Transformation Networks in Innovation Alliances – The Development of Volvo C70
This paper examines how Volvo developed the C70 car through learning alliances spanning multiple organizational levels. The researchers identify 'transformation networks' that enable knowledge transfer and integration across exploration and exploitation phases of innovation. These networks operate differently at various organizational levels and prove essential for converting research into commercial products.
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Extending the technology acceptance model to mobile telecommunication innovation: The existence of network externalities
This study extends the Technology Acceptance Model to mobile telecommunications by examining how network externalities influence consumer adoption of Multimedia Messaging Services. The research confirms that perceived usefulness and ease of use drive acceptance, and adds that the number of existing users significantly affects adoption decisions. The findings show the Technology Acceptance Model effectively predicts consumer behavior for mobile innovations when network effects are present.
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Diffusion of innovations: Smartphones and wireless anatomy learning resources
Smartphones and media players enable new approaches to anatomy education. The author tested iPhones and iPod Touch devices with flashcards, PDFs, 3D imaging, podcasts, and clinical videos. These touch-screen devices offer practical wireless access to multimedia learning resources that students can use anywhere. As students widely adopt such personal technology, educators can develop portable, multiplatform educational content.
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Spatial and Social Networks in Organizational Innovation
This paper examines how physical workspace layout influences social networks and organizational innovation. The authors argue that spatial design—through boundaries, accessibility, and visibility—shapes how people circulate, interact, and become aware of each other, which in turn affects the social networks that drive innovation. The paper reviews relevant theories and presents preliminary findings on how spatial arrangement supports or hinders innovation in organizations.
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ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY AND INNOVATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE INTENSIVE BUSINESS SERVICE SECTOR
Knowledge-intensive business service firms innovate through absorptive capacity—their ability to access and use external knowledge. The study finds that networking and cooperation drive both incremental and radical innovation. Universities and research institutions matter most for radical innovation regardless of formality, while client and supplier knowledge only drives innovation through formal partnerships. Manufacturing clients particularly stimulate innovation in KIBS firms.
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The Scientific Trajectory of the French School of Proximity: Interaction- and Institution-based Approaches to Regional Innovation Systems
French regional scientists developed the concept of proximity in the early 1990s to study industrial and spatial dynamics. They organized collectively through the research group 'Proximity Dynamics,' which expanded the concept's theoretical scope and institutional reach. This paper traces how the group's structured approach enabled investigation of regional innovation systems through interaction- and institution-based frameworks.
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Reversing “drift”: Innovation and diffusion in the London diphthong system
This paper examines phonetic changes in London English diphthongs to test Sapir's theory of linguistic 'drift'—the idea that language changes naturally and unconsciously. The researchers found that London reversed a diphthong shift that continued uninterrupted in New Zealand English, disproving drift theory. They argue that social factors and dialect contact, not natural processes, drive language change, particularly in diverse urban centers.
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How network competence and network location influence innovation performance
Firms in innovation clusters perform better when they develop strong network competence and occupy central positions within their networks. The study analyzed cluster companies and found that while overall innovation performance was below expectations, those with higher network competence and centrality significantly outperformed peers. Success in clusters requires companies to actively enhance their ability to manage network relationships and secure more central positions within their networks.
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Networks of innovation and modularity: a dynamic perspective
This paper argues that innovation networks must evolve alongside technology development. Early-stage technologies require connections to research institutions to explore uncertain solutions. As technologies mature and become modularized, firms shift toward supplier and customer networks. During the transition, firms must engage startups experimenting with new configurations and third-party firms whose investments determine industry standards. Network relationships are ultimately governed by modular product interfaces.
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Network board continuity and effectiveness of open innovation in Swedish strategic small‐firm networks
Swedish small-firm networks use boards to manage joint research and development activities. This study of 53 networks over five years finds that board continuity affects members' innovative performance in a U-shaped relationship: both very high and very low rates of board member renewal harm innovation, while moderate renewal works best. This effect strengthens in larger networks.
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THE DYNAMICS OF USER INNOVATION: DRIVERS AND IMPEDIMENTS OF INNOVATION ACTIVITIES
User innovation in sports equipment evolves dynamically over time rather than following a single trajectory. Studying sailboat design innovations over decades, the authors find that user innovation activity levels fluctuate based on contextual factors. When conditions are favorable, user-driven innovation can persist sustainably for extended periods, challenging linear models of how users contribute to product development.
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Integrated Roadmaps for Open Innovation
Firms increasingly acquire and commercialize technologies from external sources through open innovation practices. Many struggle to manage external technology exploitation effectively. The paper argues that firms need strategic technology-planning processes, specifically integrated roadmaps that extend beyond traditional product-technology roadmapping to encompass open innovation activities including outlicensing. Technology managers must evaluate returns from technologies holistically, not just product sales.
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The Spatial Organization of Innovation: Open Innovation, External Knowledge Relations and Urban Structure
Firms increasingly use external knowledge to complement internal research and development, shaping how they organize innovation. This paper demonstrates that innovation organization and external knowledge use depend on physical, socio-economic, and cultural environments. The analysis confirms that innovation is spatially organized. Surprisingly, innovative firms in less urbanized areas show greater openness to external knowledge relations than those in urban centers.
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IS Integration and Business Performance: The Mediation Effect of Organizational Absorptive Capacity in SMEs
This study examines how organizational absorptive capacity—the ability to learn and integrate new knowledge—mediates the relationship between IT system integration and business performance in small and medium enterprises. Using data from 466 Italian export-focused SMEs, the researchers found that absorptive capacity significantly mediates this relationship, meaning IT investments improve performance primarily when companies develop stronger learning and integration capabilities.
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Exploring How Lead Users Develop Radical Innovation: Opportunity Recognition and Exploitation in the Field of Medical Equipment Technology
Lead users in medical equipment—primarily surgeons—develop radical innovations independently when manufacturers won't invest in them. These users create functional prototypes, build networks of collaborators, and test feasibility before convincing established manufacturers to commercialize their ideas. Lead users effectively perform the coordination and knowledge-gathering work that manufacturers typically handle, bridging gaps in the innovation pipeline and enabling radical breakthroughs.
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Diffusion of surgical innovation among patients with kidney cancer
Surgical innovation adoption for kidney cancer depends primarily on surgeon practice styles rather than patient characteristics. Among 5,483 Medicare patients who underwent kidney cancer surgery between 1997 and 2002, surgeon factors accounted for 18% of variation in partial nephrectomy use and 37% of variation in laparoscopic surgery use—substantially more than patient or tumor factors. Removing barriers to surgeon adoption of these techniques could improve care quality.
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Diffusion of Innovation: Embedding Simulation into Nursing Curricula
Nursing programs face resistance when adopting simulation-based teaching despite documented learning benefits. This paper describes how one large, multi-site nursing program successfully embedded simulation into its undergraduate curriculum by using Diffusion of Innovation theory to guide faculty adoption. The authors identify techniques that overcame barriers and achieved widespread integration, offering practical strategies for other nursing programs seeking to implement similar innovations.
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Gatekeepers of Knowledge versus Platforms of Knowledge: From Potential to Realized Absorptive Capacity
Knowledge gatekeepers in the Sophia Antipolis technology cluster can create potential absorptive capacity, but realizing that capacity requires deliberate knowledge transfer efforts. The authors propose a 'knowledge platform' concept—a codified knowledge project that generates positive externalities by creating new opportunities for combining and absorbing knowledge within the cluster.
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High Capacity Hydrogen Absorption in Transition Metal-Ethylene Complexes Observed via Nanogravimetry
Researchers used nanogravimetry to measure hydrogen absorption in transition metal-ethylene complexes created through laser ablation. Titanium-ethylene complexes absorbed 12 weight percent hydrogen at room temperature with rapid kinetics. Deuterium substitution doubled the uptake, and mass spectroscopy identified a species at 78 amu as the likely hydrogen-absorbing compound.
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Realized and Potential Absorptive Capacity: Understanding Their Antecedents and Performance in the Sourcing Context
This paper develops a conceptual model explaining how companies successfully absorb knowledge from sourcing relationships. It distinguishes between potential absorptive capacity at the interorganizational level and realized absorptive capacity at the intraorganizational level. The model identifies knowledge, relational, and institutional contexts as drivers of potential capacity, while social embeddedness and interfunctional coupling within organizations enable knowledge integration and realization.
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Absorptive Capacity and Source‐Recipient Complementarity in Designing New Products: An Empirically Derived Framework<sup>*</sup>
This paper examines how firms absorb external design knowledge from sources outside their organization and use it in new product development. Analyzing cases in clothing and construction industries, the authors identify three distinct absorption processes and show that complementarity between the recipient firm's existing knowledge and the source's design knowledge critically determines NPD success. Design knowledge combined with prior marketing or technological knowledge drives better product innovation outcomes.
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Distributed Innovation in Classes of Networks
Digital technologies reshape innovation by reducing communication costs and enabling convergence, creating distributed innovation networks. The authors propose a framework identifying four network types: singular innovation, open source innovation, internal markets of innovation, and doubly distributed innovation networks. These emerge from increasing distribution of control among actors and growing heterogeneity in knowledge resources mobilized during innovation processes.
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Networking and innovation in SMEs: evidence from Guangdong Province, China
This study examines how business network structures affect innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises. Using survey data from 92 packaging and printing firms in Guangdong Province, China, the researchers found that network density, reciprocity, and multiplicity positively correlate with firms' innovative capabilities. SMEs can boost innovation by strategically understanding and leveraging their business network structures.
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Innovation and collaboration in traditional food chain networks
Small and medium-sized enterprises in traditional food sectors across Italy, Hungary, and Belgium prioritize product innovation over organizational innovation. Collaboration among chain network members—suppliers, manufacturers, and customers—strengthens firms' innovation capabilities, though collaboration intensity varies by position in the network. The study identifies collaboration as a key driver of innovation competence in traditional food SMEs.
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Using Diffusion of Innovations Framework to Explain Communal Computing Facilities Adoption Among the Urban Poor
This study applies Rogers' diffusion of innovations theory to explain why urban poor communities in Cape Town, South Africa adopt communal computing facilities like telecenters. The researchers analyzed existing data and found that all five perceived attributes of innovation—relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability—influence adoption decisions. The framework successfully explains adoption patterns and reveals consequences for both users and host institutions.
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Voluntary adopters versus forced adopters: integrating the diffusion of innovation theory and the technology acceptance model to study intra-organizational adoption
This study examines how Chinese journalists adopted internet technology in their organizations, distinguishing between voluntary and forced adoption. Voluntary adopters—typically young, male journalists who saw the internet's advantages and ease of use—were driven by diffusion of innovation factors. Forced adopters—high-ranking journalists in large, tech-forward organizations—adopted because they believed it improved job performance. The research integrates two theoretical frameworks to explain different adoption pathways within organizations.
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State and development of innovation networks
Innovation networks are increasingly important in the European automotive industry, enabling companies to access technologies flexibly, strengthen customer relationships, and retain suppliers. A study of 39 networks across large manufacturers and small suppliers found these networks perform well overall, though management practices have room for improvement. The research identifies key formation and governance patterns that could enhance network effectiveness.
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Diffusion of Regional Innovation Capabilities: Evidence from Italian Patent Data
Innovation capabilities spread faster in late-industrializing Italian regions than in early-industrializing ones, driven by learning dynamics within expanding propulsive sectors. The study uses patent data to track how manufacturing innovation diffuses regionally, showing that research and development investment and complementary economic structural changes accelerate this diffusion process.
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Aid allocation to fragile states: Absorptive capacity constraints
This paper examines aid effectiveness in fragile states, finding that some countries can absorb more aid than they receive while others receive more than they can efficiently use. The authors analyze absorptive capacity constraints based on per capita income growth and provide policy recommendations for improving aid allocation to fragile states.
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Failed policies but institutional innovation through “layering” and “diffusion” in Spanish central administration
Spanish central administration agencies achieved significant managerial innovation through incremental institutional changes—layering and diffusion—despite failed large-scale public administration reforms. Tax, social security, and property registry agencies became more managerial within a public-law-dominated state by accumulating small modifications rather than radical restructuring. These mechanisms explain how modest changes produce substantial organizational transformation.
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The diffusion of electronic service delivery innovations in dutch E-policing: The case of digital warning systems
Dutch police forces adopted SMS-alert digital warning systems at different rates based on how they interpreted the innovation's value. The study reveals that police organizations attached functional meanings (operational efficiency), political meanings (strategic advantage), and institutional meanings (organizational fit) to the technology. Diffusion policies and strategies significantly influenced adoption patterns, a factor often overlooked in innovation research.
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Exploring the Antecedents of Potential Absorptive Capacity and Its Impact on Innovation Performance
This study examines what builds a firm's potential absorptive capacity—the ability to identify and assimilate external knowledge. Using data from 2,464 Spanish innovative firms, the authors find that R&D cooperation, external knowledge acquisition, and experience with knowledge search are key drivers. Firms invest more in building this capacity during major internal changes. The research shows that potential absorptive capacity creates competitive advantage in innovation when firms have strong internal knowledge flows.
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RFID as a Disruptive Innovation
This paper analyzes RFID technology adoption through innovation theory, using Walmart's supply chain implementation as a case study. The authors argue that while Walmart treated RFID as an incremental improvement, the technology actually has disruptive potential across business and society. They propose two frameworks—object-oriented and visionary approaches—to help researchers and practitioners recognize and develop RFID's transformative applications beyond current narrow implementations.
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With or Without Clusters: Facilitating Innovation through a Differentiated and Combined Network Approach
European regions need not rely on cluster policies to drive innovation. Instead, a differentiated network approach combining global pipelines, local buzz, and standalone firm strategies proves more efficient, especially in non-cluster regions. Private and semi-public brokers mediate between these strategies, requiring region-specific knowledge of sectors, institutions, and culture. Public policy should recruit brokers, fund startups, and monitor performance within decentralized, multi-level innovation systems tailored to local conditions.
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National innovation systems a proposed framework for developing countries
National innovation systems drive long-term economic development, but developing countries struggle to build the necessary infrastructure. This paper examines how newly industrialized economies successfully developed their innovation systems and proposes a conceptual framework that developing countries can adopt to manage technological innovation more systematically.
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Successful Diffusion and Adoption of Innovation as a Means to Increase Competitiveness of Enterprises
Innovation increases enterprise competitiveness through the interaction of scientific research, technology development, and market needs. The paper synthesizes research showing that successful innovation adoption and diffusion depend on integrating these three elements. This framework applies across theoretical and practical contexts for improving business performance.
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Challenging the triple helix model of regional innovation systems: A venture-centric model
This paper critiques the triple helix model of regional innovation systems for excluding entrepreneurs and innovators. Through interviews, the authors find that government, university, and industry actors lack integration, and that entrepreneurs and researchers feel excluded from policy frameworks. They propose an alternative bottom-up double helix model centered on entrepreneurs as drivers of innovation, rather than treating innovation as a top-down process controlled by institutions.
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Developing new products in a network with efficiency and innovation
Firms developing new products must cooperate with strategic partners in networks, but differences in leadership, management, and culture create communication barriers and slow responses. This paper develops a supermatrix analytic network process model with sensitivity analysis to select the most appropriate product development mix, then applies a balanced scorecard using ANP to demonstrate effectiveness in executing the development process.
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The diffusion of technological and management accounting innovation: Malaysian evidence
Malaysian industrial companies show minimal adoption of innovative management accounting tools, even among large firms, with financial accounting dominating management control practices. The study applies the Akira development model, arguing it better suits developing Southeast Asian countries with lower automation levels than Western frameworks.
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India’s National Innovation System: Key Elements and Corporate Perspectives
India has emerged as a major R&D hub for multinational corporations, driven by skilled labor from elite institutions, market potential from its growing population, and government investment in research institutions and education. While India's mathematics and science education ranks 11th globally, the country faces infrastructure challenges and labor shortages. Government initiatives, including massive investments in the Eleventh Five Year Plan, aim to strengthen India's national innovation system and resolve these constraints.
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Knowledge management for agricultural innovation: lessons from networking efforts in the Bolivian Agricultural Technology System
Farmers in Bolivia who participated in agricultural innovation projects using multi-agent knowledge management networks adopted innovations more successfully than those in traditional technology transfer programs. Farmer adoption rates depended on both the project's knowledge management approach and how embedded farmers were in local learning networks. The study confirms that farmers need intensive relationships with multiple agents—not just one extension agency—to access sufficient knowledge, build confidence, and jointly learn to apply innovations.
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Empowering the Rural Poor to Develop Themselves: The Barefoot Approach (<i>Innovations Case Narrative:</i> Barefoot College of Tilonia)
The Barefoot College demonstrates that rural poor communities develop themselves most effectively through bottom-up empowerment rather than top-down expert intervention. By giving rural people the right to make their own decisions about development priorities, access to information and knowledge, and recognition of their existing technical skills, communities become independent and capable decision-makers. Conventional donor-driven approaches fail because they are patronizing, expensive, and keep communities dependent rather than empowered.
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Induced Innovation in U.S. Agriculture: Time‐series, Direct Econometric, and Nonparametric Tests
This paper tests whether farmers innovate in response to input price changes—the induced innovation hypothesis. Using U.S. state-level agricultural data and three different statistical methods, the authors find little evidence that farmers develop or adopt technologies to save expensive inputs. The results hold consistently across all testing approaches, though the analysis focuses only on demand-side factors and cannot rule out that developing cost-saving technologies for expensive inputs may simply be too expensive.
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REAL-WORLD INNOVATION IN RURAL SOUTH AFRICA
Living Labs, a European model for community-driven innovation, can accelerate rural development in South Africa. The authors examine whether this regional innovation approach—which embeds user communities in real-world environments—transfers effectively to South African rural contexts. They assess how European best practices and lessons learned from Living Lab networks can speed innovation adoption in South African communities.
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European Sugar Policy Reform and Agricultural Innovation
The EU's 2006 sugar market reform reduced adoption incentives for genetically modified sugar beet among high-cost farmers while increasing incentives for medium-cost producers. Low-cost farmers remained largely unaffected. The reform successfully reduced flexibility and competitiveness of high-cost producers, achieving its goal of crowding them out and strengthening the European sugar market's overall competitiveness.
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The North Dakota Experience: Achieving High-Performance Health Care Through Rural Innovation and Cooperation
North Dakota addresses rural healthcare challenges through primary care support and medical home models, coordinated care networks, and technology innovation. The state demonstrates how cooperation between providers and strategic technology deployment can improve healthcare delivery in sparsely populated areas.
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The Roles Of Community Based Telecenters In Bridging The Digital Divide In Rural Malaysia
Malaysia's rural population faces barriers to digital access due to uneven infrastructure, high costs, and lack of locally relevant content. This study evaluates Kedaikom, a government-supported community telecenter program designed to bridge the digital divide. Survey results show that community telecenters successfully encourage rural ICT adoption, particularly among younger people and those with higher education, helping Malaysia progress toward its information society goals.
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Social entrepreneurship in a rural context: an over-ideological 'state'?
This study examines how social entrepreneurs operate in rural Scotland and what challenges they face. Researchers surveyed thirty stakeholders in the Scottish Highlands and Islands and identified major constraints limiting social entrepreneurship development, factors that support it, and conditions that act as both barriers and promoters depending on context. The findings reveal issues specific to remote rural areas alongside problems affecting Scotland's broader social economy.
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The Development of Compulsory Education Finance in Rural China
Rural China's compulsory education system faces significant financing challenges. The paper examines how education funding mechanisms developed in rural areas, analyzing the financial structures supporting primary and secondary schooling. It identifies gaps between urban and rural education investment and discusses policy approaches to strengthen rural education finance and ensure equitable access to compulsory education across China's countryside.
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Pioneering Micro-Entrepreneurship Through Poultry Breeding and Distribution in Rural India (<i>Innovations Case Narrative</i>: Keggfarms)
Keggfarms, established in rural India, creates income opportunities for rural communities by breeding and distributing poultry stock adapted to local conditions. The enterprise increases protein availability in rural areas while building a sustainable business. Over two decades, Keggfarms gained leadership status among poultry producers and government recognition, operating within India's self-sufficiency economic policy.
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Using Indigenous Knowledge in Traditional Agricultural Systems for Poverty and Hunger Eradication
Indigenous knowledge systems offer practical solutions for South African agriculture, enabling resource-poor farmers to improve food security, reduce poverty, and generate income through cost-effective, labour-intensive methods. Indigenous practices inform crop selection, animal breeding, storage, processing, and farm tool design. The article emphasizes urgency in documenting this knowledge before the elderly generation holding it disappears.
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Embeddedness and innovation in low and medium technology rural enterprises
This paper examines how location influences innovation in low and medium technology rural firms. Through case studies of four Irish companies in furniture and metal products, the authors investigate whether deep local embeddedness is necessary for innovation and how this relationship changes over time. The findings inform understanding of rural industrial development and the role geographic proximity plays in firm innovativeness.
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Strengthening financial innovation in energy supply projects for rural communities in developing countries
Rural communities in developing countries need sustainable energy supply to reduce poverty and improve agricultural productivity. This paper surveys expert opinion on financing agricultural electrification projects and finds that new financial mechanisms can mobilize funding for renewable energy systems. The authors argue that financing models must adapt to decentralized energy production, involve beneficiaries in project planning, and help overcome high upfront costs to create sustainable, productive solutions.
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Service innovation: a virtual informal network of care to support a ‘lean’ therapeutic community in a new rural personality disorder service
A rural personality disorder service in England created a virtual informal care network using internet messaging and chat rooms to support therapeutic community principles across a large mixed urban-rural catchment area. The system is inexpensive, easily transferable, and allows therapeutic work to continue with reduced in-person programming. This innovation demonstrates how virtual networks can expand access to community-based therapeutic services in rural areas.
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Economic Analysis of Broadband Access for Australian Rural and Remote Areas
This paper compares the deployment costs of three broadband technologies—DSL, passive optical networks, and WiMAX—across Australian rural and remote areas. Wireless technology proves most cost-effective for sparse populations below one home per square kilometer at 20 Mbit/s speeds, while fiber-based passive optical networks become economically superior for higher speeds of 50 Mbit/s and above.
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Diffusion of Innovation: A Plea for Indigenous Models.
English language teaching in former colonial countries has relied on importing Western methods rather than developing homegrown approaches. This imitation fails because it ignores existing local pedagogical traditions and causes rejection in local contexts. The paper argues for indigenous curriculum models that build on local practitioners' strengths, amplify local voices, and remain sensitive to specific cultural and contextual needs.
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Synergising entrepreneurship, incubated business and socioeconomic upliftment in rural India
Business incubation can drive rural entrepreneurship in India by bringing technology and resources directly to rural communities. The paper examines how rural business hubs create linkages between education, research, enterprises, finance, and government to foster sustainable enterprises. A case study of an existing hub demonstrates how incubation supports socioeconomic development and harnesses rural resources and manpower.
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Bamboo Entrepreneurship - Opportunities for Rural Employment
Bamboo offers significant entrepreneurial opportunities for rural employment in India. The crop matures quickly, regenerates easily, and has over 1500 documented uses spanning traditional and modern applications. Its versatility as a substitute for wood and expensive materials, combined with low production costs and environmental benefits, makes bamboo-based technologies viable for generating rural income and employment.
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The Long Tail of Loop Distance for Broadband over Power Lines: Finding a New Niche for Rural Telecommunications in Brazil
Broadband over power lines (BPL) technology transmits internet signals through existing electrical infrastructure, offering a cost-effective alternative to cable and DSL for rural areas. This study evaluates BPL's potential as a telecommunications solution for remote regions in Brazil, examining how it can deliver high-speed backbone connectivity and last-mile access through residential power distribution networks.
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Making Sense of Broadband in Rural Alberta, Canada
Rural Albertans shaped how they understood and used the SuperNet, a government broadband infrastructure project. The research found that community members actively interpreted the technology through their existing internet practices and local needs. Economic, political, and cultural factors at provincial and national levels influenced how rural users adopted and creatively appropriated broadband access.
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Wireless broadband technologies for regional and rural Australia
Wireless broadband technologies offer a cost-effective alternative to wired networks for delivering high-speed internet to regional and rural Australia. Because last-mile connections are expensive for providers using wired infrastructure, wireless deployment—with lower capital and operational costs—solves connectivity problems more effectively for remote populations.
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Development status and trend of rural renewable energy in China
Rural China faces growing energy demand that commodity energy alone cannot meet. The country possesses abundant renewable resources including solar, wind, small hydropower, geothermal, and biomass energy. The paper identifies significant gaps between urban and rural energy consumption and regional disparities. It recommends improving policy frameworks, removing market barriers, increasing investment, diversifying energy sources, and establishing service systems to develop rural renewable energy.
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Managing environmental turbulence in the microfinance sector - a case study of the Aga Khan rural support programme in Pakistan
This case study examines how the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in Pakistan adapted its microfinance operations when international donors shifted from providing subsidized funding to demanding institutional self-sustainability in the 1990s. The microfinance division successfully transformed from a donor-dependent organization into a commercially viable institution by restructuring its tangible and intangible organizational elements to survive competitive market pressures.
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Implications on Rural Adult Learning in the Absence of Broadband Internet
Rural adults lack broadband internet access, limiting their participation in online learning. This study identifies seven predictors that influence why rural learners choose online education despite connectivity barriers. The research reveals that rural learners have different educational needs and preferences than urban counterparts, and broadband expansion could reduce isolation while improving literacy programs and learning outcomes in dispersed communities.
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Bridging digital divide: The role of ICT for rural development in India
Information and communication technologies can reduce poverty and economic inequality in rural India by bridging the digital divide. The paper argues that ICT adoption requires foundational infrastructure development, particularly converting local languages into computer-compatible formats. This transformation enables rural economies and societies to access information and participate in digital development.
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Innovation and Networking in Peripheral Areas — a Case Study of Emergence and Change in Rural Manufacturing
Case study of rural manufacturing in a peripheral region, tracing how innovation and networking emerge and change. Foundational reference for thinking about innovation systems beyond core regions.
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Enterprising expatriates: lifestyle migration and entrepreneurship in rural southern Europe
Northern European expatriates who migrated to rural France and Spain for lifestyle reasons started businesses at higher rates than expected, despite lacking entrepreneurial experience. Self-employment emerged as their primary mechanism for sustaining their desired lifestyle. French expatriates established more sophisticated businesses than Spanish counterparts, partly due to better language skills enabling stronger local networks. The study reveals that migration motivations and location-specific factors shape entrepreneurial outcomes more than individual business experience.
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Exploring business models for open innovation in rural living labs
Living Labs are user-centered innovation environments where rural communities collaborate with stakeholders to develop solutions through rapid prototyping. The paper identifies critical business model design elements needed to sustain these partnerships while protecting intellectual property. It provides practical guidance on structuring open innovation initiatives that balance collaborative development with commercial interests, enabling rural regions to benefit from participatory innovation.
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European Rural Development under the Common Agricultural Policy's ‘Second Pillar’: Institutional Conservatism and Innovation
The EU's Rural Development Regulation, launched in 2000 as the Common Agricultural Policy's second pillar, aimed to promote sustainable rural development through decentralized, participative delivery and multi-sectoral approaches. A European study found that institutional conservatism hindered effective implementation of these new principles. The authors argue that further institutional adaptation is necessary for success and identify lessons from EU regional policy that could improve future CAP reforms.
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Can broadband access rescue the rural economy?
Broadband access alone cannot rescue rural economies. While governments promote broadband rollout for rural competitiveness, current technologies are unsuitable for remote areas. More fundamentally, rural businesses lack growth propensity and entrepreneurial drive, making technology access secondary to deeper enterprise challenges. Technology deployment without addressing these underlying limitations will fail to deliver expected economic benefits.
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A Rural‐Urban Digital Divide?
This study examines the digital divide in Tanzania by surveying Internet café users across rural, semi-urban, and central regions. The researchers find that access differences stem primarily from the availability of physical venues with technology rather than user capability or behavior. Internet users and usage patterns are largely uniform across regions, with only minor variations.
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Innovations in Climate Risk Management: Protecting and Building Rural Livelihoods in a Variable and Changing Climate
Rural farmers face climate risks from both extreme weather and missed opportunities in favorable years. The paper argues that effective climate risk management combines three innovations: rural climate information services that help farmers make production decisions, decision support systems that translate climate data into actionable institutional guidance, and index-based insurance and credit products that protect livelihoods and enable technology adoption. These approaches together address immediate poverty while building long-term climate resilience.
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An innovation in Australian dental education: rural, remote and Indigenous pre-graduation placements
Western Australia's dental school created a rural placement program for final-year students to address shortages of dental services in remote areas. Between 2002 and 2005, the program placed 78 students in supervised clinical practice in rural and Indigenous settings. Student evaluations enabled continuous program improvements. Early data suggests the placements may influence graduates to practice in rural locations, potentially helping build Australia's rural dental workforce.
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LEARNING FROM THE POSITIVE TO REDUCE RURAL POVERTY AND INCREASE SOCIAL JUSTICE: INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
This paper argues that development organizations miss opportunities to reduce rural poverty and advance social justice by failing to learn from existing success stories. Examining cases of bamboo irrigation in Bihar and agricultural policy changes in Nepal, the author identifies three key lessons: institutional innovations are context-specific, social entrepreneurs drive positive change, and observation choices shape outcomes. The paper recommends strengthening social science research, hiring staff committed to social justice, and deepening reflection within development programs rather than pursuing formulaic best practices.
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Appreciating the Contribution of Broadband ICT With Rural and Remote Communities: Stepping Stones Toward an Alternative Paradigm
Conventional broadband policy evaluation in rural areas focuses narrowly on measurable short-term outcomes, missing how ICT actually contributes to economic, social, and cultural wellbeing. This paper proposes an alternative approach treating broadband projects as learning experiments within sociotechnical systems. It emphasizes stakeholder engagement, adaptive policymaking, and letting communities define their own impact indicators rather than imposing predetermined measures.
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Entrepreneurship for social impact: encouraging market access in rural Bangladesh
This case study examines how an entrepreneur in rural Bangladesh created new institutional arrangements to enable poor people to access markets and participate in the economy. By combining available resources and institutions creatively, the entrepreneur built platforms that addressed the institutional gaps preventing the poorest from engaging in economic activity. The findings offer practical strategies for development agencies and policymakers seeking to reduce poverty and corruption.
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Enhanced learning from multi‐stakeholder partnerships: Lessons from the Enabling Rural Innovation in Africa programme
Multi-stakeholder partnerships in rural innovation require structured learning approaches to succeed. The Enabling Rural Innovation programme in Africa identified five key success factors: shared vision, strong leadership support, demonstrated benefits, investment in human and social capital, and joint resource mobilization. Major challenges include staff turnover, personality conflicts, institutional differences, and sustaining private sector engagement. Participatory reflection practices help organizations build partnership capacity and drive innovation.
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Farms and Learning Partnerships in Farming Systems Projects: A Response to the Challenges of Complexity in Agricultural Innovation
Learning partnerships between farmers, researchers, and extension advisors effectively address complexity in agricultural innovation. The paper examines two Australian dairy industry case studies and finds that successful partnerships require active negotiation of learning roles and specialized facilitation. Commercial farms serving as learning partners help innovation projects tackle competing demands of productivity, environmental sustainability, and societal expectations.
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Opportunity Recognition in Rural Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries
Rural entrepreneurship can reduce poverty in developing countries, but success depends on opportunity recognition. The authors present a model showing that intellectual, human, environmental, and socio-cultural resources influence how rural entrepreneurs identify opportunities, mediated by national framework conditions. Understanding these factors helps developing countries design better policies to support rural entrepreneurship and economic growth.
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Public private partnerships for agricultural innovation: concepts and experiences from 124 cases in Latin America
Public-private partnerships for agricultural innovation in Latin America often lack clear cost-benefit planning despite forming frequently. The paper identifies four conditions for successful partnerships: no single partner can achieve goals alone, partners gain more than they invest, synergy exists, and gains distribute proportionally. Evidence shows private companies participate readily because investments are low or tax-deductible, but both parties need coherent planning to improve partnership viability.
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Entrepreneurial orientation, strategic flexibilities and indigenous firm innovation in transitional China
This paper examines how entrepreneurial orientation influences innovation in Chinese firms during economic transition, mediated by strategic flexibility. The researchers developed a conceptual model and tested it empirically, revealing how firms' willingness to take risks and pursue opportunities translates into innovation through their ability to adapt strategies flexibly.
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The impact of microfinance on rural poor households’ income and vulnerability to poverty: Case Study Of Makueni District, Kenya
Microfinance programs in Kenya's Makueni District significantly improved household incomes and reduced poverty vulnerability among rural participants compared to non-participants. The study confirms that access to credit enables poor households to start micro-enterprises and increase earnings. However, the research warns that microfinance alone cannot guarantee poverty escape without complementary policies supporting broader rural economic growth, agricultural productivity, and employment creation through public-private partnerships.
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Policy Window or Hazy Dream? Policy and Practice Innovations for Creating Effective Learning Environments in Rural Schools.
Rural schools in Manitoba face tensions between local priorities and urbanizing policy agendas that undermine educational quality. A provincial survey and four case studies identified three central priorities for effective rural learning environments: improving student outcomes, ensuring quality teachers and administrators, and securing adequate educational finance. School divisions, superintendent and trustee associations, and provincial education officials are collaborating to address these challenges through policy innovations.
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“Marrying the ‘System of Innovation’ and micro enterprises in real world rural SADC”: an overview of collaborative SMME incubation in the Rural Living Lab of Sekhukhune
This paper examines a rural living lab in Sekhukhune that combines systems of innovation with small and medium enterprise incubation. The authors identify challenges in bridging formal innovation systems with the practical realities of rural small business operators. They advocate for more inclusive, collaborative approaches to rural development that engage real communities in their actual work environments.
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Absorptive capacity: Valuing a reconceptualization
This paper critiques and refines the concept of absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external knowledge. The authors identify gaps in a previous reconceptualization and propose improvements: redefining how organizations recognize valuable knowledge, clarifying transformation processes, distinguishing potential from realized capacity, emphasizing socialization's role, accounting for power dynamics, and incorporating feedback loops into a dynamic model.
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National Innovation Systems—Analytical Concept and Development Tool
This paper develops the national innovation systems concept as a framework for understanding how knowledge and learning drive innovation within specific national contexts. The author argues that innovation systems perform better when their core institutions align with their wider economic and social settings. The framework requires understanding both individual actor behavior and systemic conditions, and the author emphasizes that developing countries need stronger institutions supporting learning, more equitable power distribution, and more open innovation systems.
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Interfirm Collaboration Networks: The Impact of Large-Scale Network Structure on Firm Innovation
Firms embedded in alliance networks with both dense local clustering and broad reach—short average distances to many other firms—produce more patents than those in less-connected networks. The study tracked 1,106 firms across 11 industry alliance networks longitudinally, showing that network structure directly influences innovation output by balancing local cooperation with access to diverse knowledge sources.
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University–industry relationships and open innovation: Towards a research agenda
Universities and industries increasingly collaborate to drive innovation through networks and partnerships. This paper examines how these relationships work across different industries and scientific fields, distinguishing them from technology transfer or hiring. The authors find collaborative research, research centers, and consulting are common practices, but organizational dynamics remain poorly understood. They propose a research agenda focusing on how universities and firms find and match with each other, and how to effectively manage these collaborations.
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Open Innovation and Strategy
This paper examines open innovation as a strategic approach where organizations leverage external ideas and technologies alongside internal capabilities. The authors argue that open innovation models fundamentally reshape how companies develop and commercialize innovations, moving beyond traditional closed research and development practices to create value through collaborative networks and external partnerships.
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Building Dynamic Capabilities: Innovation Driven by Individual-, Firm-, and Network-Level Effects
This study examines how innovation emerges from individual, firm, and network-level factors simultaneously. Using 22 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology data, the authors find that innovation drivers exist across all three levels and can either substitute for each other or reinforce one another. The research challenges the assumption that different analytical levels operate independently, showing instead that they interact to shape innovative output.
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Brokerage, Boundary Spanning, and Leadership in Open Innovation Communities
Leaders in open innovation communities need strong technical skills first, then must integrate their communities to prevent fragmentation. Two social positions enable this: brokers who connect disparate groups, and boundary spanners who link different technological areas. Boundary spanners advance to leadership more readily than brokers because they avoid the trust deficits brokers face, though physical interaction can help brokers overcome this disadvantage. The study tracked careers in the Internet Engineering Task Force from 1986 to 2002.
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Knowledge sharing, absorptive capacity, and innovation capability: an empirical study of Taiwan's knowledge-intensive industries
This study examines how knowledge sharing drives innovation in Taiwan's knowledge-intensive industries. Using data from 170 firms across electronics, financial insurance, and medical sectors, the researchers found that absorptive capacity acts as the critical mechanism linking knowledge sharing to innovation capability. Knowledge sharing directly strengthens absorptive capacity, which then enables firms to innovate more effectively. The relationship holds consistently across different industries.
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Wakes of Innovation in Project Networks: The Case of Digital 3-D Representations in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
When architect Frank Gehry adopted digital 3-D representations in construction projects, it triggered cascading innovations across multiple firms and communities involved in building. The new technology created separate innovation paths within different groups, enabled knowledge-sharing between them, and allowed innovations to spread across the entire project network. This demonstrates how changes in shared digital tools can spark unpredictable waves of innovation in complex, distributed systems.
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Horizontal innovation networks--by and for users
User communities can build independent innovation networks without manufacturers, developing and distributing products and solutions among themselves. Open source software demonstrates this model, and similar horizontal networks exist for physical products. The paper identifies three conditions enabling these user-driven networks to operate autonomously and presents evidence that such conditions frequently exist across the economy.
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Networking as a Means to Strategy Change: The Case of Open Innovation in Mobile Telephony
Nokia used different innovation networks to manage technological change in mobile telephony between 1985 and 2002. The company pursued exploitation strategies for early-generation mobile development through stable, long-term partnerships, then shifted to exploration strategies for third-generation technologies using flexible networks with higher partner turnover. This open innovation approach enabled Nokia to become a world leader and adapt to radical market shifts.
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Innovation and robustness in complex regulatory gene networks
This paper examines how evolutionary innovation occurs in gene regulatory networks controlling embryonic development. The researchers show that networks producing the same gene expression patterns form connected networks in genotype space, allowing evolution to explore diverse genetic changes while maintaining viable phenotypes. Robustness to mutations, rather than hindering innovation, actually enables long-term evolutionary innovation by keeping organisms close to functional states.
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DIFFERENTIATED KNOWLEDGE BASES AND VARIETIES OF REGIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEMS
This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding regional development through regional innovation systems, moving beyond the simple codified-versus-tacit knowledge distinction. It introduces a differentiated knowledge base approach that applies across economic sectors and presents different types of regional innovation systems within various capitalist contexts. The author examines whether regional innovation systems can actually exist as functional entities.
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Bilateral Collaboration and the Emergence of Innovation Networks
This paper models how innovation networks form through bilateral partnerships between firms. Firms choose collaborators based on knowledge production rather than network strategy. The success of collaborations depends on cognitive fit, prior relationships, and information from shared contacts. The study shows that network structure varies with how knowledge decomposes into tasks and how firms learn about partners—dense networks emerge when innovation breaks into separate subtasks, while cliquish networks form when indirect information matters most.
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THE IMPACT OF ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY ON SMEs' COLLABORATION
Absorptive capacity—built through R&D investment and skilled workforce—significantly influences small and medium-sized enterprises' ability to collaborate with other firms, universities, and technology centers. A survey of 276 manufacturing SMEs in Lombardy, Italy, shows that absorptive capacity directly determines whether SMEs can successfully establish external partnerships and access knowledge from outside organizations.
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Open Innovation – The Dutch Treat: Challenges in Thinking in Business Models
Dutch innovative companies have successfully adopted open innovation principles for culture and importing external knowledge, but struggle with exporting mechanisms and flexible business models. The study reveals that while Dutch firms embrace collaborative innovation practices, they face significant challenges in adapting their business models to support truly open innovation approaches.
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Finding, Forming, and Performing: Creating Networks for Discontinuous Innovation
Firms facing rapid technological and market shifts must develop capacity for discontinuous innovation—implementing radically new technologies, products, or business models that depart dramatically from industry norms. This paper examines how companies create new networks with customers, suppliers, and partners to build this capacity, using examples like Lego and GSK adapting to competition from digital and biotechnology firms.
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Role Models for Radical Innovations in Times of Open Innovation
This study examines how different innovator roles affect success in highly innovative ventures, analyzing 146 new product development projects. The research finds that innovator roles significantly influence innovation outcomes, but their impact varies depending on the type and degree of innovativeness. External linking roles become more critical as technological innovativeness increases, while surprisingly, support from senior organizational members negatively affects success in highly innovative projects.
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Effects of Technology Absorptive Capacity and Technology Proactivity on Organizational Learning, Innovation and Performance: An Empirical Examination
This study examines how Spanish technology firms absorb and proactively adopt technology to drive organizational learning and innovation. Using data from 246 firms, the researchers found that absorptive capacity and technology proactivity both strengthen organizational learning, which then boosts innovation and overall performance. The results show technology adoption directly influences how firms learn and innovate, with important implications for technology-driven businesses.
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Physics faculty and educational researchers: Divergent expectations as barriers to the diffusion of innovations
Physics education researchers and faculty have divergent expectations that hinder innovation adoption. While faculty do implement some research-based changes, they underutilize educational research and report dissatisfaction with researcher interactions. Researchers typically disseminate finished curricula expecting adoption as-is, but faculty want researchers to collaborate with them to adapt innovations to their specific teaching contexts. This mismatch between dissemination models and faculty needs limits the impact of physics education research on actual teaching practices.
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How does FDI inflow affect productivity of domestic firms? The role of horizontal and vertical spillovers, absorptive capacity and competition
Foreign direct investment in Poland generates productivity gains for domestic firms through horizontal spillovers (same industry) and vertical spillovers (upstream and downstream industries). Domestic firms' ability to absorb knowledge matters significantly: R&D-intensive firms benefit most from vertical spillovers, while firms investing in intangibles gain more from horizontal spillovers. Competition strengthens backward spillovers, while market power increases forward spillovers. Effects vary by sector, with services showing strong horizontal spillovers and manufacturing driving other results.
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The Geographies of Social Networks and Innovation in Tourism
Tourism firms depend on innovation to survive, yet little research examines how they innovate. This study combines network theory with geography to understand how tourism firms access information through local and non-local social networks. Research in Malaga, Spain reveals that local networks are loose and dense while non-local networks are strong and sparse. This mixed geography of connections provides firms with diverse information that sustains innovation.
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Regional Innovation Systems: How to Assess Performance
This paper uses Data Envelopment Analysis to evaluate regional innovation system performance across European regions using 2002-2003 data. High-technology regions rank differently under DEA than traditional scorecards, revealing that advanced regions need stronger system coordination to maintain efficiency. The authors propose combining quantitative and qualitative analysis to improve policy decisions for regional innovation systems.
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Power in Firm Networks: What it Means for Regional Innovation Systems
Transnational corporations dominate regional firm networks and use their power to monopolize critical innovation resources like university research and skilled labor, undermining small and medium-sized firms' capacity to innovate. The paper argues that network functioning is inherently conflictual, with powerful firms advancing their competitive advantage while creating uneven resource distribution across regions, with significant consequences for regional policy.
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To Construct Regional Advantage from Innovation Systems First Build Policy Platforms
Regional economic development requires building endogenous advantage by integrating economic strengths, knowledge assets, governance, and creativity. The paper argues that policy platforms mixing diverse instruments can promote related variety among industries, enabling innovations to diffuse across technology platforms where absorptive capacity is high. This approach addresses regional imbalances more effectively than relying on regional learning alone.
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Innovation Alignment and Project Network Dynamics: An Integrative Model for Change
This paper examines how project networks affect innovation adoption using data from 3D CAD technology diffusion across 82 firms in three countries. The authors develop a two-stage model showing that innovation success depends first on alignment with existing work allocation, then on network factors including relational stability, shared interests, boundary permeability, and change agents. The model resolves conflicting theories about whether networks promote or hinder innovation.
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Information technology innovation diffusion: an information requirements paradigm
This paper explains why some manufacturing industries adopt internet-based innovations faster than others. The authors argue that information processing requirements—driven by process complexity, operational speed, and supply chain complexity—determine IT adoption rates. Analysis of US wood products and beverage manufacturing shows industries with higher information processing needs adopt IT innovations more extensively, with downstream supply chain structure playing a key role in adoption decisions.
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Social cognitive theory in technological innovations
Australian youth show limited intention to adopt wireless banking technology, according to a social cognitive theory framework. The research reveals that WAP banking technology remains immature and not yet ready for widespread youth adoption. Young people serve as early technology adopters whose behavior patterns indicate future market potential for digital banking innovations.
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Topology and evolution of technology innovation networks
Patent citation networks from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reveal how technological innovations connect and evolve over time. The network exhibits scaling patterns consistent with preferential attachment and aging effects, similar to scientific citation networks. This suggests a universal mechanism governs how innovations build on prior ideas and designs.
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User involvement in radical innovation: are consumers conservative?
Consumers reject radical innovations for reasons beyond mere ignorance. This study of food product concepts shows that resistance stems from concerns about instrumentalism, loss of autonomy, organizational complexity, and systemic effects. Companies should take consumer objections seriously during early-stage development rather than treating concept testing as a simple pass/fail screen, using it instead to understand how innovations affect daily life and society.
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Innovation in food firms: contribution of regional networks within the international business context
Food firms in Belgium that participate in regional networks develop stronger innovation capabilities, especially when operating internationally. The study shows that regional networking and global market orientation reinforce each other rather than conflict. Firms gain competitive advantage by accessing external knowledge across multiple geographic scales. Regional network support emerges as an effective policy tool for enhancing firm innovation.
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Innovation networks and capability building in the Australian high‐technology SMEs
Australian high-technology SMEs in biotechnology and ICT sectors build innovation capabilities by participating in knowledge networks. The study examined firms in Sydney and Melbourne, finding that small businesses use network linkages to overcome resource constraints, learn, adapt to technological change, and innovate. Network analysis reveals critical success factors that can help policymakers and managers improve innovation processes and competitive capabilities.
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Finding collaborative innovation networks through correlating performance with social network structure
This paper examines how social network structure relates to team performance in virtual collaborative settings. Researchers studied student teams from two universities working remotely on communication analysis tasks and compared their findings with data from online gamers. They found that for knowledge worker teams, balanced contribution among members predicts performance better than the number of communication links alone. The study provides recommendations for effective virtual team communication.
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Innovation diffusion: a stakeholder and social network view
This paper examines why XBRL adoption has struggled in Australia using stakeholder and social network theory. Interviews with stakeholders revealed that while they have legitimate reasons to adopt XBRL, most lack power or urgency to drive its diffusion. The authors recommend instrumental measures like knowledge building, subsidies, and mobilization strategies to strengthen stakeholder influence and accelerate adoption of network innovations.
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Urban Regeneration and Sustainable Communities: The Role of Networks, Innovation, and Creativity in Building Successful Partnerships
This paper critiques market-led urban regeneration partnerships and proposes plan-led alternatives grounded in place-based community knowledge. The authors argue that networks, innovation, and creative partnerships—built on social capital and consensus—enable sustainable urban communities by fostering ecological integrity, equity, democratic renewal, and socially inclusive decision-making in villages and neighborhoods.
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Social Innovation and New Industrial Contexts: Can Designers “Industrialize” Socially Responsible Solutions?
Designers have long faced calls to address social and environmental problems, but mainstream industrial production has largely ignored these responsibilities. The paper argues that design has been trapped between market-driven approaches and isolated socially responsible initiatives, with little exploration of middle ground. Recent sustainability studies and environmental targets like Kyoto demonstrate the urgent need for designers to integrate social responsibility into industrial production rather than treating it as separate from economic logic.
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Network structure and innovation: The leveraging of a dual network as a distinctive relational capability
This study examines how network structure affects innovation in alliance networks. Using 30+ years of data from three furniture manufacturers and their design firm partnerships, the research shows that firms combining a core of strong ties with a large periphery of weak ties—a 'dual network'—develop superior innovative capabilities. This dual network architecture creates a distinctive competitive advantage by enabling knowledge integration and dynamic innovation.
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Bridging Scales in Innovation Policies: How to Link Regional, National and International Innovation Systems
This paper examines how innovation systems operating at different geographic scales—international, national, and regional—can be effectively linked and coordinated through policy. The author identifies which innovation system functions work best at each scale and proposes a policy framework that integrates support across all three levels to strengthen technology-based economic development.
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Sharing User Experiences in the Product Innovation Process: Participatory Design Needs Participatory Communication
This paper develops a participatory communication model for sharing user experiences with design teams during product innovation. The model emphasizes three qualities: enhancing empathy, providing inspiration, and supporting engagement. Two empirical studies show that when designers actively participate in communicating user insights rather than passively receiving them, they develop deeper understanding, greater acceptance, and more intensive use of those insights in the creative process.
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Spatial mobility of knowledge transfer and absorptive capacity: analysis and measurement of the impact within the geoeconomic space
Knowledge and technology transfer effectiveness declines as distance from research sources increases, following a damped pattern. Small businesses in industrial districts successfully acquire external scientific knowledge through interactions with public research institutions and collective learning mechanisms, rather than conducting their own research. Industrial proximity and collaborative networks enable knowledge absorption without requiring in-house research capacity.
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP, PROXIMITY AND REGIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEMS
Regional innovation systems rely heavily on intraregional networks, but this focus creates lock-in risks. The paper argues that extraregional relationships matter equally, with entrepreneurial migrants serving as crucial connectors. Geographical proximity alone is less important than cognitive and institutional proximity for fostering innovation across international boundaries.
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Towards technological rules for designing innovation networks: a dynamic capabilities view
Inter-organizational innovation networks allow firms to access complementary resources beyond their boundaries. This paper develops design-oriented knowledge for configuring these networks effectively. The research addresses how firms can build dynamic capabilities to leverage external resources for competitive advantage as innovation increasingly shifts away from individual companies.
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The Adoption of ISO 9000 Standards within the Egyptian Context: A Diffusion of Innovation Approach
This study examines why Egyptian manufacturing companies adopt ISO 9000 quality standards. The researchers surveyed 239 firms and found that three factors drive adoption: how companies perceive the standards' advantages and complexity, external pressures like competition and regulatory demands, and internal organizational features such as management support and company size. All three factor groups significantly influence whether firms implement these standards.
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A new case of fish‐eating in Japanese macaques: implications for social constraints on the diffusion of feeding innovation
Japanese macaques on Koshima island discovered and consumed a new fish species, with 16 individuals feeding in turns. Social factors shaped access to the food: spatial position determined rank order, dominance controlled monopolization duration, and kinship influenced tolerance among nearby feeders. The behavior persisted along maternal lineages, demonstrating how social structure constrains the spread of feeding innovations in wild primate groups.
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Innovation and Innovators Inside Government: From Institutions to Networks
This study examines how innovation happens within government by analyzing 947 politicians and bureaucrats across 11 Australian municipalities. The researchers found that innovation inside government depends less on formal job positions and more on informal networks and relationships. Using social network analysis, they show that access to advice and strategic information networks among senior officials significantly determines who becomes an innovator within government institutions.
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Industry Convergence and Its Implications for the Front End of Innovation: A Problem of Absorptive Capacity
When industries converge, companies struggle with idea generation and selection because they must integrate knowledge from different sectors. This study analyzed 54 R&D projects to understand how firms innovate during convergence. The research reveals that companies use different approaches to manage convergence innovation, and firms must develop absorptive capacity on both market and technological dimensions to succeed.
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MANAGING WITHIN DISTRIBUTED INNOVATION NETWORKS
Effective innovation requires management across organizational networks involving suppliers, customers, and partners. This paper identifies relational capabilities needed for distributed innovation management—where multiple organizations collaborate to co-design, co-produce, and co-service customer needs. The authors present a framework and tools supporting innovation from individual employees to network level, illustrated through a case study of six biotechnology organizations working together.
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Strategic Alliance Networks and Innovation: A Deterministic and Voluntaristic View Combined
This paper reviews literature on strategic technology alliances and interfirm collaboration in high-tech sectors. It contrasts two perspectives: a structuralist view emphasizing how network embeddedness constrains firms, and a voluntaristic view showing how firms actively shape networks to achieve strategic goals. The authors argue the voluntaristic approach better explains network dynamics and change, addressing a major gap in existing research.
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Building Constructive Innovation Networks: Role of Relationship Management
This case study examines how the Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation manages relationships across multiple organizations to drive innovation. The research finds that relational governance—based on trust and cooperation rather than contracts—is essential for these networks, though supplemented by other governance approaches. The authors develop a relationship management framework and identify key lessons for designing and operating interorganizational innovation networks effectively.
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Catching up in the global wine industry: innovation systems, cluster knowledge networks and firm-level capabilities in Italy and Chile
Wine producers in Italian and Chilean clusters learn technology differently based on their knowledge resources and network positions. Strong geographic proximity alone doesn't create effective knowledge networks. Knowledge transfer from research institutions to firms succeeds only when firms occupy gatekeeper and broker roles within their clusters. Policy should strengthen these internal network connections rather than assuming proximity automatically generates innovation.
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The Application and Adaptation of a Diffusion of Innovation Framework for Information Systems Research in NHS General Medical Practice
This paper adapts the diffusion of innovation framework to study how healthcare organizations adopt information systems. The authors analyzed four existing DOI studies and applied their modified framework to examine ICT adoption across general medical practices in northern England. They found that professional cultures and organizational power structures significantly constrain how innovations are perceived and implemented in healthcare settings.
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The Diffusion of Management Innovations: The Possibilities and Limitations of Memetics
This paper applies memetics theory to explain how management innovations spread through organizations as evolutionary processes. Using case studies of Business Process Reengineering (BPR) implementation, the author shows that innovations replicate, mutate, and get selected in ways that function like evolutionary algorithms. The analysis reveals how innovations drive their own replication and why high failure rates in BPR can paradoxically increase the innovation's chances of spreading.
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The Role of Universities in the Regional Innovation Systems of the North East of England and Scania, Sweden: Providing Missing Links?
Universities play different roles in regional innovation systems depending on local economic conditions. This study compares the North East of England and Scania, Sweden, showing that universities contribute to regional development through varied institutional arrangements rather than a single entrepreneurial model. The specific constellation of university involvement depends on the particular innovation challenges each region faces.
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The Anchor Tenant Hypothesis: Exploring the Role of Large, Local, R&D-Intensive Firms in Regional Innovation Systems
Large, R&D-intensive firms acting as anchor tenants strengthen regional innovation systems by improving how local universities' research translates into commercial innovation. The authors examined three technology areas and found that regions with such anchor firms convert academic research into local industrial R&D more effectively than regions without them, despite similar university research presence across regions.
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Web Mash-ups and Patchwork Prototyping: User-driven technological innovation with Web 2.0 and Open Source Software
Users and non-programmers are driving technological innovation by combining open-source software components and web APIs to create functional prototypes and solutions. This mashup approach applies traditional software development techniques in novel ways, enabling creative problem-solving by people without formal programming expertise and reshaping how technology gets designed and produced.
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SIMULATING KNOWLEDGE-GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION PROCESSES IN INNOVATION COLLABORATIONS AND NETWORKS
This paper presents an agent-based simulation model that represents how knowledge generation and distribution work in innovation networks. The model captures heterogeneous agents with different knowledge stocks, uncertainty, learning from experience and collaboration, and the effects of failure. The simulation demonstrates that artificial innovation networks exhibit characteristics matching real innovation networks in knowledge-intensive industries, revealing dynamics that traditional economic models cannot capture.
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How research policy changes can affect the organization and productivity of public research institutes: An analysis within the italian national system of innovation
Italy reorganized public research institutes through mergers and consolidation between 1999 and 2003 to boost efficiency and knowledge transfer. The policy backfired: larger merged institutes became less productive due to bureaucratic overhead, while smaller institutes remained more productive. The study shows that consolidation created scale diseconomies rather than the intended efficiency gains.
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The Role of Action Research in the Investigation and Diffusion of Innovations in Health Care: The PRIDE Project
Action research effectively investigates and spreads healthcare innovations, particularly when adaptations are needed for different settings. The authors analyze a UK project to show that action research combines research with practical implementation and development, making it valuable for studying how innovations diffuse through health systems. However, the method remains underutilized in innovation research despite its strengths as a whole-systems approach.
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The Development and Diffusion of Radical Technological Innovation: The Role of Bus Demonstration Projects in Commercializing Fuel Cell Technology
Governments in North America, Europe, and Japan have funded demonstration projects to commercialize fuel cell bus technology as part of climate change strategies. This paper examines how various stakeholders—government agencies, automotive developers, and industry players—interact through these projects. The authors find that demonstration projects play a crucial role in technology adoption, but conflicting objectives among industry participants and complex government-developer relationships significantly hinder progress toward widespread commercialization.
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Making Decisions on Innovation: Meetings or Networks?
This paper challenges the traditional view that innovation decisions happen in formal gate and portfolio meetings. Through two case studies, the authors show that actual decision-making occurs through informal networks of negotiations and micro-decisions among project managers, team members, and other actors. Official meetings function as checkpoints where approvals are sought rather than decisions made. Mandatory templates and documents serve as boundary objects that create new control points in the innovation process.
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The role of universities in the evolution of the Triple Helix culture of innovation network: The case of Malaysia
Malaysian universities operate primarily within statist and laissez-faire variants of the Triple Helix model, with government as the dominant actor. Universities have attempted to strengthen relationships with industry and government, but face obstacles in commercialization and internal procedures needed to transition toward a hybrid Triple Helix culture that balances all three sectors.
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Comparative capacities of the pig colon and duodenum for luminal iron absorption
This study compared iron absorption capacity between the small intestine (duodenum) and large intestine (colon) using a pig model. The colon absorbed only about 14% as much iron as the duodenum, despite expressing iron-transport proteins. Colonocytes showed lower accumulation of iron and reduced expression of absorption-related proteins compared to duodenal cells, though they remained capable of transferring iron to blood.
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Regional innovation, entrepreneurship and talent systems
Regional innovation systems have evolved unpredictably since the 1990s, with global economic shifts destabilizing them more than national factors. This paper argues that entrepreneurship and talent formation have been overlooked in understanding how regional systems develop. The author categorizes regional innovation system evolution based on the strength of these two variables, showing they are critical to system robustness.
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Canadian Science, Technology and Innovation Policy: The Product of Regional Networking?
Canadian science, technology, and innovation policy operates through regional networks despite federal funding and policy formulation. The federal government deliberately structures STI programmes to promote network creation across provinces and regions, emphasizing economic development and industrial cluster formation. This networked approach effectively regionalizes policy implementation across Canada's federal system.
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The Upgrading of Multinational Regional Innovation Networks in China
Multinational corporations have increasingly moved advanced innovation activities to China since 1995, contradicting theories that predict developing economies only handle routine work. By studying Motorola and Microsoft's regional innovation networks in China, this paper shows that innovation upgrading happens through interaction between MNC subsidiary research centers and local institutions, not through hierarchical global structures.
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The Role of Finance and Corporate Governance in National Systems of Innovation
Corporate governance and finance systems shape how firms innovate within countries. Different industries demand different financial and governance structures to support innovation effectively. The paper explains why some countries gain technological advantages by matching their finance and governance systems to their industries' specific innovation needs.
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Innovation in risk transfer for natural hazards impacting agriculture☆
Agricultural yields face significant risks from natural hazards, price fluctuations, and output variability. This paper examines innovations in risk transfer mechanisms for agriculture, particularly crop insurance. While wealthy nations use established crop insurance programs, these rely on subsidies unsuitable for lower-income countries. Yet lower-income nations with many small farms urgently need affordable agricultural insurance to protect farm households from catastrophic losses.
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Understanding the drivers of broadband adoption: the case of rural and remote Scotland
Rural and remote Scotland lags in broadband adoption despite availability. This paper develops causal and simulation models showing how adoption drivers interact. Past policies have influenced adoption rates, but greatest impact comes from targeting people uninterested in broadband. The findings suggest policy should focus on non-adopters rather than infrastructure alone to realize broadband's socio-economic benefits in rural areas.
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Facilitating humanitarian access to pharmaceutical and agricultural innovation.
The paper advocates for intellectual property licensing strategies in pharmaceuticals and agriculture that expand humanitarian access to innovations for disadvantaged populations. It profiles successful and promising licensing approaches that balance innovation incentives with broader public benefit.
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The Effect of Innovation on Agricultural and Agri-food Exports in OECD Countries
This paper examines how research and development investment affects agricultural and food product exports across 21 OECD countries from 1990 to 2003. R&D spending boosts primary agricultural exports but reduces processed food exports because increased market power outweighs market expansion benefits. The research also finds that R&D in primary agriculture indirectly increases processed food exports through supply chain effects.
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Community-based broadband organizations and video communications for remote and rural First Nations in Canada
Two First Nations organizations in Canada use broadband video communications—including videoconferences and online videos—to support economic and social development in remote and rural communities. The research analyzes hundreds of archived videos and interviews with key users, situating these organizations within a broader movement toward First Nations self-determination.
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IMPORTÂNCIA RELATIVA DE CANAIS DE COMUNICAÇÃO NO PROCESSO DE DECISÃO SOBRE INOVAÇÕES AGRÍCOLAS. ZONA DO TRIÂNGULO DE MINAS GERAIS RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION CHANNELS IN THE DECISION PROCESS OF AGRICULTURAL INNOVATIONS. TRIANGLE OF MINAS GERAIS ZONE
This study examined how cotton farmers in Brazil's Minas Gerais region make decisions about adopting agricultural innovations. Researchers surveyed 155 producers and found that technical advisors were the most influential communication channel across all decision stages, followed by peers and neighbors. Farmers were heavily exposed to radio and television but not print media, and change agents rarely used mass media to promote innovations.
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Bridging the Digital Divide: Community Radio's Potential for Extending Information and Communication Technology Benefits to Poor Rural Communities in South Africa
Community radio stations in rural South Africa are popular, accessible, and affordable channels trusted by their communities. However, they lack sufficient human and material resources to effectively deliver information and communication technology benefits to residents. The study examined ten stations and recommends strategies to better develop their ICT potential for bridging the digital divide.
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A Chinese economic revolution: rural entrepreneurship in the twentieth century
This historical study traces rural entrepreneurship in twentieth-century China across three distinct phases: early industrial development in textile production, the planned economy period, and the transition back to market mechanisms. The work examines how rural entrepreneurs built marketing networks, managed communal resources, and adapted their enterprises through wartime disruption and major economic system shifts, revealing entrepreneurial legacies that persist in contemporary Chinese firms.
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Can convergence of agricultural sciences support innovation by resource-poor farmers in Africa? The cases of Benin and Ghana
A research program in Benin and Ghana found that developing appropriate farm technologies alone cannot help resource-poor farmers innovate. The real barriers are institutional: limited market access, poor infrastructure, lack of credit, cheap imports, and political exclusion. The researchers concluded that poverty reduction requires institutional change, not just better farming techniques. The program documents various attempts to address these deeper structural problems.
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The Evolution of an Innovation System in a Rural Area: The Case of La Pocatière, Québec
This paper traces how an innovation system developed in rural La Pocatière, Quebec from 1830 to 2005. The authors identify four historical periods showing how institutions and innovation types evolved: pioneering agricultural institutions, growth in agricultural science, economic diversification into technology and transport equipment, and finally system redeployment. The study demonstrates that institutional change directly shaped the region's innovation trajectory across farming, science, and industrial sectors.
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WiFiRe: rural area broadband access using the WiFi PHY and a multisector TDD MAC
WiFiRe is a broadband access system designed for rural India that adapts WiFi chipsets with a new multisector TDD MAC protocol using directional antennas. The system leverages cost-effective WiFi hardware while replacing the standard MAC layer to improve spatial reuse and capacity. The authors demonstrate that WiFiRe can deliver both voice and data services to rural areas more economically than existing broadband technologies.
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Fostering Farmer First Methodological Innovation: Organizational Learning and Change in International Agricultural Research
Participatory plant breeding programs at international agricultural research institutes failed to truly empower farmers because they focused on reforming supply-side science bureaucracies without addressing accountability to poor farmers' actual needs. The farmer-first approach became cosmetic rather than transformative because change champions lacked political power and connection to broader sociopolitical actors. Future progress requires addressing the political dimensions of farmer-driven innovation demand in agriculture.
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Enabling rural innovation in Africa: an approach for empowering smallholder farmers to access market opportunities for improved livelihoods
This paper presents the Enabling Rural Innovation approach, which helps smallholder farmers in Africa access market opportunities and build entrepreneurial capacity. The method combines participatory market research, farmer-led research, natural resource management, social capital building, and gender equity to link resource-poor farmers to domestic, regional, and international markets. The authors share lessons and impact findings from testing this approach across eastern and southern Africa.
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Entrepreneurship and institutional change in Post-socialist rural areas: Some evidence from Russia und the Ukraine
Rural entrepreneurs in post-socialist Russia and Ukraine differ significantly from their urban counterparts, operating within weaker institutional frameworks. The study examines three regions—Novosibirsk and Bashkortostan in Russia, and Transcarpathia in Ukraine—finding that while urban areas show increased entrepreneurial diversity following transformation, rural areas lag behind. Even within these rural regions, divergent development pathways are emerging, raising questions about the pace and direction of institutional change.
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Addressing the Digital Divide in Rural Australia
Rural Australia faces a digital divide limiting ICT access compared to metropolitan areas. The Access@schools program addresses this by providing rural communities with ICT resources through local schools. A notebook borrowing program at Chiltern Primary School in Victoria allowed community members to borrow computers. Analysis of the program through interviews with participants and key informants revealed benefits and impacts for individual users and the community, alongside areas needing improvement.
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Responses to Innovation in an Insecure Environment in Rural Nepal
In remote Humla District, Nepal, agropastoralists responded differently to a community development project during the Maoist insurgency based on their socioeconomic status, access to local resources, and relationships with Maoist cadres. Villagers' participation in the health and conservation project correlated with their perceived risks and ability to engage. The study reveals how security threats and local power dynamics shape rural communities' adoption of external innovations.
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Social Impact of Broadband Internet: A Case Study in the Shippagan Area, a Rural Zone in Atlantic Canada
This case study examines how broadband internet adoption affects rural communities in Shippagan, Atlantic Canada. The research documents the social impacts of broadband access in this rural zone, providing empirical evidence about how digital connectivity influences community life and development in remote Atlantic Canadian regions.
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SUPPORTING LOCAL INNOVATION FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS AND REVIEW OF FIVE INNOVATION SUPPORT FUNDS
This study reviews five innovation support funds across Africa, India, and Latin America that help rural farmers develop and scale local agricultural innovations. The analysis finds that these funds effectively support both individual innovators and producer groups, but could improve by better balancing support between innovators and their institutional connections, recognizing diverse innovator types, and facilitating continuous learning cycles that connect innovators with entrepreneurs and adopters to commercialize solutions.
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Demand Forecasting for Rural Transit
Rural transit demand forecasting helps allocate limited transportation resources to underserved populations. This study developed three forecasting models based on usage data from four Washington counties to predict ridership on public transportation systems. The disaggregated transit demand model proved most refined and flexible, offering a practical tool for predicting transit needs in underserved rural areas.
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Broadband wireless technology for rural India
Wireless broadband technology can effectively serve rural India through kiosk-based internet delivery models. The paper argues that affordable broadband requires wireless systems delivering at least 256 kbps to 200 villages within 20 km radius at under $250 per connection. While emerging WiMAX standards show promise, adapted technologies like corDECT and WiFiRe offer immediate solutions. The corDECT system has demonstrated viability in rural deployments.
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Entrepreneurship within rural tourism: A private walkway on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand
Rural tourism offers farmers an economic alternative to declining agricultural profits. In New Zealand, the removal of farm subsidies in 1984 forced farmers to diversify and respond entrepreneurially. One entrepreneurial response was the establishment of the first private rural walkway on Banks Peninsula, demonstrating how educated rural populations created new ventures and value from economic necessity.
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Risk Management, financial innovation and institutional development in rural areas: evidence from the coffee sector in Ethiopia
Rural households in Ethiopia face yield and price risks that constrain their access to finance and economic growth. This study examines risk management in the coffee sector and proposes financial and institutional innovations using market-based instruments. Field research in Ethiopia demonstrates how modern risk management approaches can help coffee growers overcome vulnerability and develop their economic capacity.
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Leading Community Innovation: Organizing Successful Rural Telecommunications Self-Development Projects
Five U.S. rural communities launched telecommunications self-development projects in the 1990s to revitalize declining economies. Strong public-private partnerships and decentralized project models increased success, while university-led projects performed worse. The study identifies six organizational and community processes that determine whether such initiatives succeed, offering lessons applicable to other rural development efforts.
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Demand Analysis and Optimization of Renewable Energy: Sustainable Rural Electrification of Mbanayili, Ghana
This case study designs a sustainable electrification system for Mbanayili, Ghana, where 90% of rural residents lack electricity. Researchers surveyed 133 villagers about electricity needs and willingness to pay, then used optimization software to design a hybrid photovoltaic and generator system for a shared community center rather than individual homes. They also explored using locally-produced biofuel and proposed a phased implementation plan using demand management to ensure both financial and environmental sustainability.
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The Rural Wings Project: Bridging the Digital Divide with Satellite-Provided Internet. Phase I: Identifying and Analysing the Learning Needs of 31 Communities in 10 Countries
The Rural Wings project investigated digital access needs across 31 rural communities in 10 European countries. Researchers found that digitally isolated communities—particularly in mainland and island highlands—lack reliable infrastructure and ICT connectivity. Communities identified multiple reasons for needing better internet access: education, language learning, government services, news, medical services, and weather information. The study maps European patterns in rural digital exclusion and identifies satellite internet as a viable long-term solution.
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Manufacturing strategy and innovation in indigenous and foreign firms: an international study
This study compares manufacturing strategy and innovation between domestic and foreign firms across 17 countries using the International Manufacturing Strategy Survey. The researchers found that while foreign firms generally outperform domestic ones in most areas, innovative firms achieve greater competitiveness regardless of whether they operate in their home country or abroad. Innovation emerges as the key driver of competitive advantage.
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Enhancing agricultural innovation : how to go beyond the strengthening of research systems
Strong research systems alone don't guarantee agricultural innovation. This paper argues that innovation depends on interactions among all actors in the agricultural sector—not just scientists. The authors develop a framework for diagnosing innovation capacity and planning interventions based on eight case studies. They identify what drives innovation and propose generic interventions that build capacity to innovate across entire agricultural systems.
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In-migrant entrepreneurship in rural England: beyond local embeddedness
In-migrant entrepreneurs in rural England rely less on local networks and resources than locally-born business owners. Instead, they draw on national and international connections for materials, capital, and markets. This enables them to integrate rural economies into broader markets but weakens local community ties and may undermine rural localities as cohesive entities.
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Local Embeddedness and Rural Entrepreneurship: Case-Study Evidence from Cumbria, England
Rural entrepreneurs in Cumbria, England operate within complex local contexts that extend beyond simple geographic boundaries. The paper challenges the assumption that economic activity depends primarily on territorial embeddedness. Instead, it shows that locality functions through multiple dimensions of social connection and context. The research demonstrates how entrepreneurs navigate between local place-based factors and broader networks, requiring policymakers to move beyond territorial approaches to understanding rural economic development.
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Organic Farmer Networks: Facilitating Learning and Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture
Organic farmer networks in northeastern New York State drive agricultural innovation through social learning and participatory problem-solving. The study shows how farmers learn from each other and adopt sustainable practices within these networks. The research identifies opportunities for agricultural extension services to support organic farmer management by leveraging these existing social learning processes.
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Entrepreneurship and rural economic development: a scenario analysis approach
This paper demonstrates how scenario analysis helps rural policymakers and entrepreneurs understand barriers to small business growth and economic development. Researchers in Mid Wales used structured scenario development with stakeholders to build shared understanding of uncertainties affecting rural entrepreneurship. The findings show that effective rural enterprise support must be tailored to local context and account for diverse external factors.
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Public-private sector partnerships in an agricultural system of innovation: Concepts and challenges
Public-private partnerships in agriculture face institutional barriers rooted in trust, habits, and practices rather than technical obstacles. The paper argues partnerships succeed when embedded within local agro-enterprise networks that drive rural development. Building social capital within agricultural innovation systems, tailored to local contexts, is essential for overcoming these constraints and enabling effective collaboration between public research organizations and private actors.
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Some rural examples of place-based education
Rural Australian schools implement place-based education to improve student learning and well-being, particularly in farming communities facing economic pressure. The paper examines what place-based education means and how rural schools apply it, often without using the term explicitly. Evidence shows this teaching approach strengthens literacy learning for rural students by connecting education to local contexts and community needs.
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Highlighting the Retro Side of Innovation and its Potential for Regime Change in Agriculture
Farmer innovations based on rediscovering forgotten traditional knowledge create viable alternatives to dominant modern food systems. Two case studies reveal niche formation where old and new knowledge combine effectively. These retro innovations offer significant potential for rural development and can challenge prevailing food regimes. Social scientists are essential for understanding how these alternative knowledge systems influence agricultural practice.
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The Institutional Limits to Multifunctional Agriculture: Subnational Governance and Regional Systems of Innovation
This paper examines how regional governance in England's East Midlands implements multifunctional agriculture policies. The author uses a regional innovation systems approach to show that while multifunctionality is promoted across Europe, translating this concept into actual policy faces significant institutional challenges. The study reveals gaps between the theoretical appeal of postproductivist agricultural strategies and the practical capacity of subnational governance to deliver them.
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Development of Entrepreneurship among Rural Women
Rural entrepreneurship offers employment solutions for rural youth and women. Rural women can leverage farm and livestock resources to start production and processing enterprises, generating family income while managing household duties. Success requires fundamental entrepreneurial qualities plus family and government support. Entrepreneurship development enhances women's capabilities and decision-making status within families and communities.
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The Process of Policy Innovation: Prison Sitings in Rural North Carolina
This study examines why 79 rural North Carolina counties chose to site prisons between 1970 and 2000. The researchers found that demographic factors—particularly education levels and community opposition to controversial projects—were stronger predictors of prison siting decisions than economic distress or racial composition. The analysis challenges the assumption that economically struggling rural areas drive prison location choices.
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Is a Broadly Based Surgical Residency Program More Likely to Place Graduates in Rural Practice?
Rural areas face a shortage of general surgeons because typical residency programs don't train residents in the broad range of procedures rural surgeons actually perform. This study surveyed graduates from a broadly based surgical residency program and found that residents who received training across multiple surgical specialties—including orthopedics, gynecology, and genitourinary procedures—were more likely to practice in rural settings. Surgeons raised in rural areas particularly returned to rural practice.
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From Sink to Source: The Honey Bee Network Documents Indigenous Knowledge and Innovations in India
The Honey Bee Network documents indigenous innovations and traditional knowledge developed by tribal communities and local people across India's biodiverse regions. Communities in remote, economically disadvantaged areas have created effective agricultural techniques and identified medicinal plants by adapting to harsh environmental conditions. These innovations remain largely unrecognized globally, despite their practical value for subsistence and local development.
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Rural Microfinance Service Delivery: Gaps, Inefficiencies and Emerging Solutions
Rural microfinance institutions face three critical operational challenges: communicating with remote clients, managing institutional data, and delivering money to distant areas. This paper identifies technology gaps in these areas based on field research across Latin America and Asia. It examines current solutions including handheld devices for data collection, management information systems, and electronic banking strategies, assessing their effectiveness and potential to help microfinance providers achieve sustainable growth and scale.
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Investigating science learning for rural elementary school teachers in a professional-development project through three distance-education strategies
This study compared three distance-education approaches for teaching science to 94 rural Midwestern elementary teachers: live interactive television, videotaped presentations with live discussion, and asynchronous web-based sessions. Live interactive television produced the highest learning gains across all assessment types, followed by web-based learning, then videotaped presentations. The findings show that real-time interaction significantly improves science learning outcomes for rural teachers in professional development.
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Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation in Rural Villages
This paper examines renewable energy and distributed generation systems for rural villages in developing nations like Sri Lanka, where conventional energy infrastructure is absent or insufficient. It presents renewable energy technologies and their applications in accessible language for policymakers and community members, connecting technical solutions to local socio-economic conditions. The paper proposes viable renewable energy approaches to reduce economic disparities in underdeveloped rural areas.
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Beyond high tech: early adopters of open innovation in other industries
Open innovation—where companies source ideas from outside their organization and commercialize internal ideas externally—has been studied mainly in high-tech industries. This paper identifies early adopters of open innovation in non-tech sectors, showing that open innovation practices work across traditional and mature industries. The authors document successful adoption practices and clarify that open innovation does not simply mean outsourcing R&D.
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Match your innovation strategy to your innovation ecosystem.
Innovation ecosystems require firms to coordinate with complementary innovators to create customer value, but this coordination introduces three types of risk: initiative risks, interdependence risks, and integration risks. The HDTV failure demonstrates how even superior technology fails without complementary products and infrastructure. Companies that systematically assess ecosystem risks holistically can develop more realistic expectations, better contingency plans, and robust innovation strategies that lead to profitable outcomes.
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Orchestrating Innovation Networks
Hub firms actively orchestrate innovation networks by managing knowledge mobility, innovation appropriability, and network stability. Rather than treating network members as passive responders to incentives, this framework recognizes firms as dynamic agents that shape and are shaped by network structures. Orchestration enables value creation and extraction across loosely coupled autonomous firms without hierarchical control.
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The Process of Innovation Assimilation by Firms in Different Countries: A Technology Diffusion Perspective on E-Business
This study examines how firms across 10 countries assimilate e-business innovations through three stages: initiation, adoption, and routinization. Competition drives early adoption but hinders effective implementation. Large firms gain advantages initially but face structural barriers later. Regulatory environments matter more in developing countries, while technology readiness dominates there and technology integration dominates in developed economies, showing how innovation assimilation shifts with economic context.
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Challenges of open innovation: the paradox of firm investment in open-source software
Firms face three core challenges when pursuing open innovation: exploiting internal innovations, integrating external innovations, and motivating outsiders to contribute. The authors examine how software firms resolve these challenges through four strategies: pooled R&D, spinouts, selling complements, and attracting donated complements. These approaches show how companies can invest in shared intellectual property while maintaining competitive advantage, with lessons applicable across industries.
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The role of technology in the shift towards open innovation: the case of Procter & Gamble
This paper examines Procter & Gamble's 'Connect and Develop' open innovation strategy to understand how technology enables collaborative innovation. The authors identify two key technological roles: information and communications technologies that facilitate knowledge exchange across distributed partners, and specialized 'innovation technologies' including data mining, simulation, prototyping, and visualization tools that support product development. The study reveals that technology is fundamental to implementing open innovation, not merely supportive.
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Finding Commercially Attractive User Innovations: A Test of Lead‐User Theory<sup>*</sup>
This study tests lead-user theory by analyzing kite-surfing enthusiasts who modified equipment. The researchers found that both key components of lead-user theory—high expected benefits and being ahead of trends—independently predict which user innovations become commercially attractive products. Adding measures of users' local resources further improved identification of valuable innovations. The findings confirm lead-user theory's core principles and provide practical guidance for firms seeking to commercialize user-developed innovations.
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Innovation diffusion in global contexts: determinants of post-adoption digital transformation of European companies
This study examines why European companies adopt and use digital transformation technologies at different rates. The researchers found that compatibility with existing systems drives adoption most strongly, while security concerns matter more than cost. Technology competence, partner readiness, and competitive pressure accelerate usage. Large firms move slower due to structural inertia. Economic and regulatory differences across European countries create uneven adoption patterns even among developed nations.
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Detailed Review of Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations Theory and Educational Technology-Related Studies Based on Rogers' Theory.
Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations theory provides a widely-used framework for understanding how new innovations spread and get adopted across different fields. This review examines Rogers' model and its application in educational technology research over three decades, showing how the theory has shaped studies in political science, public health, communications, history, economics, technology, and education.
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Disruptive innovation for social change.
Catalytic innovation—simpler, cheaper solutions targeting underserved populations—drives social change more effectively than complex offerings. Unlike traditional disruptive innovation, catalytic innovations prioritize social impact through scaling and replication. They succeed by meeting unmet needs with good-enough alternatives that incumbents initially dismiss. Examples across healthcare, education, and economic development show both nonprofits and for-profits deploying this approach to reach broader populations than conventional organizations.
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Inhibitors of disruptive innovation capability: a conceptual model
Large corporations struggle to develop disruptive innovations due to interconnected internal and external barriers. This paper identifies six key inhibitor clusters: inability to unlearn outdated mental models, entrenched dominant designs, risk-averse culture, poor innovation management, insufficient follow-through competencies, and lack of necessary infrastructure. Understanding these interrelated factors helps companies develop strategies to bridge the gap between innovation intentions and actual disruptive capability.
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Absorptive capacity and innovative performance: A human capital approach
This study examines how human capital affects firms' ability to absorb knowledge and innovate. Using data from 1,544 Danish manufacturing and service firms, the research finds that highly educated employees, strong human resource management practices, and partnerships with suppliers and research institutions boost innovation while reducing imitation. However, in science-based and ICT-intensive sectors, experienced managers actually hinder innovation, suggesting these high-tech fields require continuous skill updates.
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Users' contributions to radical innovation: evidence from four cases in the field of medical equipment technology
Users in medical equipment technology drive radical innovation by inventing and co-developing new solutions. Innovative users possess diverse competencies, strong motivation, and operate within supportive environments. They act entrepreneurially by building and organizing innovation networks that transform radical concepts into prototypes and marketable products. Manufacturing firms can leverage these user-innovators in early-stage radical innovation projects.
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Absorptive capacity, knowledge management and innovation in entrepreneurial small firms
Small firms with 15 or more employees, younger founders, and higher education levels absorb and implement new knowledge most effectively. Absorptive capacity—the ability to acquire, assimilate, and use knowledge—depends significantly on firm size, founder age, and educational background. Policy should target graduate-founded SMEs and develop innovation management programs for these firms to build knowledge-based economies.
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INNOVATION TYPE AND DIFFUSION: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
This study tests how five different types of innovations spread through English local government. Using data from 120 authorities, the research finds that different factors drive adoption of different innovation types. The results show that innovation adoption is complex and context-dependent, meaning policymakers cannot use one-size-fits-all approaches to encourage local government innovation.
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The commercialization of user innovations: the development of the rodeo kayak industry
User innovators in the rodeo kayak community commercialized their own designs by adopting low-cost manufacturing and launching products before established manufacturers entered the market. This transformation from hobbyist innovation to commercial production changed innovators' motivations, community structure, product types, information sharing practices, communication methods, and competitive dynamics among users.
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Collaboration capability a focal concept in knowledge creation and collaborative innovation in networks
Sustainable innovation in knowledge-based competition requires collaboration capability—the ability to build and manage network relationships through trust, communication, and commitment. The authors review research on network collaboration and argue that collaboration capability is a prerequisite for diverse actors to share complementary knowledge and create innovations together. This concept integrates key elements from related research and explains how knowledge creation and innovation emerge through social interaction in networks.
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Triple Helix twins: innovation and sustainability
The paper proposes adding a Sustainability Triple Helix model alongside the existing Innovation Triple Helix to address environmental and social dimensions. Rather than introducing a fourth helix that could weaken the model's creative dynamics, the authors suggest a complementary framework where universities, public institutions, and government collaborate on sustainability issues, while universities, industry, and government continue driving innovation.
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The Diffusion of Innovations
This paper examines why Natural Environments (NE) approaches in early intervention (EI) services have spread slowly despite being mandated in law since 1991. The authors identify barriers including lack of public awareness, clinical and vendor system incentives against adoption, and insufficient family knowledge. They argue that successful diffusion requires engaging families as key stakeholders through clear communication about NE programs and valuing family involvement in intervention.
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Absorptive Capacity in High-Technology Markets: The Competitive Advantage of the Haves
Firms in high-technology markets must constantly renew their technological knowledge to stay competitive. This paper identifies absorptive capacity—the ability to acquire and use external technological know-how—as a critical dynamic capability. The authors find that marketing, R&D, and operations capabilities significantly strengthen absorptive capacity, which in turn boosts profitability. The faster the pace of technological change, the greater the profit advantage from strong absorptive capacity.
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New ventures based on open innovation an empirical analysis of start-up firms in embedded Linux
This paper examines how start-up firms in embedded Linux create new ventures using open innovation approaches. The authors propose two conceptual models—the Product Lifecycle Management Model and the Mirrored Spaces Model—to understand how companies manage products across their lifecycle and navigate the technical and organizational challenges that arise when leveraging open-source development practices.
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Universities as key knowledge infrastructures in regional innovation systems
Universities drive regional innovation through multiple mechanisms: transferring commodified knowledge, developing human capital, and building social capital. The paper examines how national higher education systems and regional innovation programs shape university engagement differently across Europe. It argues that policymakers must integrate and coordinate regional-scale policies to maximize universities' role as knowledge infrastructure.
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Networks as a means of supporting the adoption of organizational innovations in SMEs: the case of Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) based on ISO 14001
Small and medium enterprises struggle to adopt environmental practices, but networks can facilitate this shift. This study examines how SMEs use collaborative networks to implement Environmental Management Systems based on ISO 14001 standards. The research develops a practical model showing how networked SMEs can collectively adopt organizational environmental innovations, moving from reactive to proactive environmental behavior.
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Frontier Technology and Absorptive Capacity: Evidence from OECD Manufacturing Industries*
This paper examines why productivity differs across OECD countries by analyzing how well manufacturing industries absorb frontier technology. Using data from 12 OECD countries between 1973 and 1991, the authors find that countries with higher human capital absorb new technology more effectively and achieve better productivity. R&D investment shows weaker evidence of improving technology absorption.
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Diffusion of Innovations and Network Segmentation: The Part Played by People in Promoting Health
This paper demonstrates how diffusion of innovations theory integrates mass media, interpersonal communication, and social network analysis to improve health promotion. The authors review studies on STD/HIV prevention and find that interventions using interpersonal communication successfully increase safer sex behaviors. They conclude that social network analysis enables more effective and tailored health promotion program design.
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Rational Learning and Bounded Learning in the Diffusion of Policy Innovations
Countries adopt policy innovations by learning from neighbors and successful examples, not through purely rational analysis. The paper shows that bounded learning and rational learning produce identical results when information gathering carries real costs. This reconciles two competing theories and explains how policy innovations spread across developing nations, particularly regarding trade liberalization decisions.
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The generative and developmental roles of universities in regional innovation systems
Universities play multiple roles in developing regional innovation systems beyond technology transfer. This paper proposes an analytical framework to understand how universities contribute to regional innovation and why their roles vary across different regions. The framework moves beyond narrow institutional analysis to capture universities' broader developmental contributions to regional systems.
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Managing Open Innovation in Biotechnology
Innovation requires matching customer needs with enabling technologies. The paper defines innovation as commercializing technology that gives customers new capability, identifying two key requirements: understanding unmet customer needs and knowing available technologies. Roche Diagnostics demonstrates how companies can source external technologies by systematically evaluating them through these innovation drivers.
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SELECTIVE REVEALING IN OPEN INNOVATION PROCESSES: THE CASE OF EMBEDDED LINUX.
Firms developing embedded Linux software selectively reveal their innovations to public projects while protecting proprietary intellectual property. This voluntary contribution strategy generates informal development support benefits. The study finds revealing practices vary significantly across firms based on their characteristics, demonstrating how companies balance open innovation participation with competitive advantage protection.
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The diffusion of human‐resource information‐technology innovations in US and non‐US firms
This study examines how eight human-resource information technologies spread across US, Canadian, UK, and Irish firms. The researchers found that internal influences—particularly contacts among potential adopters within their social networks—drove adoption decisions more than external factors. Results held consistent across different countries, user types, and technology types. The findings suggest firms need better-coordinated technology strategies to align purchasing with actual HR automation goals.
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Developing Absorptive Capacity in Mature Organizations
This paper examines how mature organizations absorb new knowledge and skills by studying a Welsh manufacturing firm that lost its major defense contract. The owner hired a middle manager with mass production experience who acted as a change agent, improving communications and workplace efficiency. The research extends existing absorptive capacity theory by identifying key roles—gatekeepers, boundary spanners, and change agents—that facilitate knowledge transfer during organizational change.
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Regional innovation systems and the foundation of knowledge intensive business services. A comparative study in Bremen, Munich, and Stuttgart, Germany
Knowledge-intensive business services drive innovation and economic growth. This study examines how new KIBS firms in three German cities—Bremen, Munich, and Stuttgart—rely on regional resources and networks during their early development. The research shows that proximity between local actors in regional innovation systems significantly influences KIBS firm formation and success.
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Fostering product innovation in industry networks: the mediating role of knowledge integration
Firms innovating together in networks outperform isolated competitors. The study identifies knowledge integration—combining expertise across organizational boundaries—as the key driver of successful new product development. Resource complementarity, market orientation, and information sharing all strengthen knowledge integration, which then directly improves innovation outcomes.
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Swarm Creativity: Competitive Advantage Through Collaborative Innovation Networks
Collaborative innovation networks create competitive advantage through what the author calls 'swarm creativity'—the collective problem-solving power of interconnected innovators working together. Rather than isolated R&D efforts, organizations that build and leverage these networks generate superior innovation outcomes by combining diverse expertise and perspectives across organizational boundaries.
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Managing Peer-to-Peer Conflicts in Disruptive Information Technology Innovations: The Case of Software Reuse1
Software reuse represents a disruptive innovation in development organizations that triggers peer-to-peer conflicts. The paper develops a model explaining these conflicts and shows that managerial interventions—including coordination mechanisms and organizational learning practices—reduce conflict and improve program success. A study of four organizations confirmed that companies implementing these interventions achieved better outcomes with software reuse adoption.
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Diffusion of Web-Based Product Innovation
Companies increasingly involve customers in innovation through web-based tools, which reduce costs and help anticipate market changes. This study analyzed over 200 brand and corporate websites to identify which web-based collaborative tools firms actually use and discovered significant variations based on industry and company characteristics.
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Building regional innovation networks: The definition of an age business core process in a regional innovation system
Regional innovation networks drive competitive advantage. This study presents the Regional Development Platform Method and core process thinking as tools for developing regional innovation systems. Using Finland's Lahti region and its age business sector as a case study, the authors demonstrate that successful core processes depend fundamentally on collective learning and knowledge creation among multiple actors in the innovation network.
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National Intervention and the Diffusion of Policy Innovations
National legislation influences whether states adopt policy innovations in human services, even without mandates or financial incentives. Using event history analysis of three policy innovations—individual development accounts, family caps, and medical savings accounts—the study finds that national intervention affects state adoption by either reducing obstacles to innovation or providing resources to overcome them. National action that addresses neither factor has no significant effect on state decisions.
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Collaborative entrepreneurship:how communities of networked firms use continuous innovation to create economic wealth
This book review examines how communities of networked firms drive economic growth through collaborative entrepreneurship and continuous innovation. The work explores how interconnected businesses working together create wealth by fostering ongoing innovation practices. The review synthesizes insights from Miles, Miles, and Snow's framework on collaborative business networks and their role in generating economic value.
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Diffusion of complex health innovations--implementation of primary health care reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina successfully scaled family-medicine-centered primary health care reforms to cover over 25% of the country despite post-war devastation and resource constraints. The reforms succeeded because they aligned with stakeholder expectations, created perceived benefits for physicians, nurses, and policymakers, and involved multifaceted interventions across the health system. The post-conflict context enabled transformational change, and consensus-building among diverse adopters reduced resistance to implementation.
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Innovation diffusion at the implementation stage of a construction project: a case study of information communication technology
Construction companies often fail to realize benefits from information communication technology despite its potential. This study examined three construction contractors to understand how ICT implementation succeeds or fails. The research identifies critical factors for successful adoption: management support, technical support, workplace environment, and user characteristics. These insights provide a framework for improving ICT adoption across different implementation stages in construction.
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Wither Core Competency for the Large Corporation in an Open Innovation World
Large corporations have shifted from focusing on internal core competencies to acting as system integrators and market coordinators in open innovation networks. Companies now outsource manufacturing and component innovation while broadening their technology base, vertically disintegrating their operations. This transformation reflects a move from closed, internal innovation models to distributed value chains where large firms orchestrate external partners rather than controlling all capabilities internally.
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Iron Deficiency in Cyanobacteria Causes Monomerization of Photosystem I Trimers and Reduces the Capacity for State Transitions and the Effective Absorption Cross Section of Photosystem I in Vivo
Iron deficiency in cyanobacteria triggers production of CP43' protein, which forms rings around photosystem I. Contrary to laboratory predictions, this does not increase PSI's light absorption capacity in living cells. Instead, iron stress causes PSI trimers to break apart into monomers, reduces the cell's ability to balance energy between photosystems, and lowers levels of key electron transport proteins. CP43' functions primarily as a protective mechanism against photodamage rather than enhancing light capture.
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Global network configuration for innovation: a study of international fibre innovation
This study examines how firms configure innovation networks in the global fibre industry. The research identifies three types of network configurations and shows that successful innovation depends on firms recognizing where innovation value exists across dispersed networks and developing capabilities to access it. Firms struggle with this because they remain embedded in their own knowledge bases and established relationships.
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Innovation in disruptive regulatory environments
This paper examines how regulatory environments shape innovation in the automotive industry, focusing on electric vehicle development in response to US zero-emission standards. The authors analyze patent data and case evidence to show that disruptive innovations require market protection to succeed, and that regulations demanding radical technological change face significant implementation barriers. The paper presents a framework linking regulatory types to the technological capabilities they require.
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Framework to study the social innovation networks
This paper develops a framework for studying how social networks influence economic innovation within organizations. The authors clarify what economic innovation means, identify key questions for researching innovation processes, and propose methods for collecting data about innovations. They argue that understanding innovation requires combining social and psychological factors with organizational material aspects, offering a holistic approach to studying how innovations actually develop.
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Utilization of social science knowledge in science policy: Systems of Innovation, Triple Helix and VINNOVA
This paper examines how Swedish innovation policy agency VINNOVA uses academic theories—Systems of Innovation and Triple Helix—in its policy statements. The analysis shows these academic narratives actively shape policy discourse beyond merely legitimating decisions. Despite criticism of linear knowledge transfer models, understanding how academic knowledge actually influences policy remains valuable for analyzing the science-policy relationship.
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Regions, Absorptive Capacity and Strategic Coupling with High-Tech TNCs
Developing countries can build successful high-tech regions by adopting a regional innovation systems approach that enables strategic partnerships with multinational corporations. The authors argue that regional innovation systems theory effectively links regions to high-tech industries and provide policy guidance. Case studies from Bangalore's IT sector in India and Shanghai's high-tech sector in China demonstrate how this framework helps developing regions attract and integrate with global technology companies.
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From regional innovation systems to local innovation systems: Evidence from Italian industrial districts
Italian industrial districts function as independent local innovation systems rather than simply components of larger regional systems. The paper argues that districts' specific socio-economic characteristics create distinct innovation patterns that regional frameworks cannot fully explain. In Lombardy, multiple autonomous local innovation systems operate within the broader regional structure, demonstrating that innovation processes operate at multiple nested levels.
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The Internationalization of SMES in Emerging Economies: Institional Embeddedness and Absorptive Capacities
Small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging economies pursue internationalization through different strategies based on their type. Incumbent SMEs leverage embedded networks with local governments and business groups to expand internationally. Entrepreneurial startups develop capabilities by learning from foreign firms and continuously identifying new opportunities in foreign markets. Both approaches enable SMEs to build knowledge and compete successfully in international markets.
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The Evolution of National Innovation Systems
This paper examines how national innovation systems develop and change over time. The authors analyze the institutional structures and evolutionary processes that shape how countries generate, adopt, and diffuse innovations across their economies. The work provides a framework for understanding why innovation systems differ between nations and how they adapt to new economic conditions.
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Absorptive capacity and interpretation system's impact when ‘going green’: an empirical study of ford, volvo cars and toyota
Three automotive companies—Ford, Volvo, and Toyota—developed greener cars with lower fuel consumption. The study found that companies with an 'enacting' approach to environmental interpretation, actively shaping market demand, succeeded better than those with a 'discovering' approach that passively responded to existing demand. Companies using discovery mode needed to combine engineering expertise with consumer psychology insights to profitably market environmental benefits.
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KNOWLEDGE INFRASTRUCTURE, INNOVATION DYNAMICS, AND KNOWLEDGE CREATION/DIFFUSION/ACCUMULATION PROCESSES
This paper examines how knowledge infrastructure and institutional arrangements shape innovation and knowledge creation across Europe's knowledge-based economy. The authors analyze the roles of various agents, their interactions, and how institutional and spatial configurations influence innovation dynamics. They develop an analytical framework showing how institutions, strategies, and spatial scales interact to structure and deploy knowledge infrastructure for economic and social value creation.
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Farmers’ organizations and agricultural innovation: case studies from Benin, Rwanda and Tanzania
Farmers' organizations in Benin, Rwanda, and Tanzania play a central role in agricultural innovation, but face significant constraints. The research shows that successful innovation requires farmers' organizations to access diverse knowledge sources, develop specific skills, and partner with other actors who recognize them as equals. Appropriate institutional settings and multi-stakeholder collaboration are essential for agricultural innovation to succeed.
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Delivery of on-demand video services in rural areas via IEEE 802.16 broadband wireless access networks
This simulation study evaluates IEEE 802.16 broadband wireless technology for delivering on-demand video to rural areas. The researchers found that IEEE 802.16 networks can support up to 9-10 simultaneous users streaming video at typical cinematic quality. They demonstrated that scalable video coding and adaptive congestion control improve performance in rural broadband deployments.
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Entrepreneurship in rural tourism: the challenges of South Africa's Wild Coast
Rural tourism enterprises on South Africa's Wild Coast are dominated by marginal entrepreneurs operating informally at subsistence levels. The paper argues these struggling small businesses need urgent policy support from national, provincial, and local governments to improve livelihoods and upgrade their operations.
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Innovations in Government Responses to Catastrophic Risk Sharing for Agriculture in Developing Countries
Agricultural risk markets barely exist in developing countries, and even wealthy nations require heavy government subsidies to support crop insurance against natural disasters. These subsidies prove expensive and inefficient, sometimes worsening future catastrophes. The paper examines how governments with limited budgets can still foster agricultural risk-sharing markets for crop and livestock losses caused by natural hazards, identifying specific policy interventions that work without massive subsidies.
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Social Entrepreneurship as Critical Agency: A study of Rural Internet kiosks
Rural Internet kiosk operators demonstrate entrepreneurial agency by adapting technology services to local needs and demand patterns in constrained commercial environments. These operators creatively reconfigure information technologies to serve visual and image consumption, transforming kiosks from simple information booths into viable commercial spaces that generate multiple revenue opportunities.
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Balancing technological innovation and environmental regulation: an analysis of Chinese agricultural biotechnology governance
China manages agricultural biotechnology development through state-led institutions while balancing limited regulatory capacity, a massive smallholder farming sector, and international oversight. The paper examines how China governs genetically modified crops, particularly Bt cotton and GM rice, analyzing the institutional arrangements and competing biotechnology discourses that shape policy decisions around technology adoption and environmental risk assessment.
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Value-proposition of e-governance services: Bridging rural-urban digital divide in developing countries
E-governance services can bridge the rural-urban digital divide in developing countries by improving how quickly government services reach citizens and how long they remain accessible. The paper examines successful e-governance projects and proposes a framework to deliver value to rural populations, enabling them to better access and use government services that cost and distance previously kept from them.
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Exploiting Digital Switchover for Broadband Services Access in Rural Areas
This paper proposes using digital terrestrial television infrastructure to deliver broadband and triple-play services to rural areas lacking fiber-optic connections. The authors design an architecture that repurposes television broadcast signals as a shared broadband backbone, extending connectivity to remote locations and enabling cost-effective deployment of always-on technologies like WLAN and xDSL.
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iShakti--Crossing the Digital Divide in Rural India
iShakti is a web-based platform deployed across 1,000 rural kiosks in India, reaching 1 million people in 5,000 villages. The system provides community development services, market access, and brand engagement to previously isolated regions. Using adaptive technology and computational intelligence, iShakti empowers rural entrepreneurs with revenue opportunities and gives residents greater control over their lives through improved access to information and markets.
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The Differential Impact on Gender Relations of 'Transformatory' and 'Instrumentalist' Women's Group Intermediation in Microfinance Schemes: A Case Study for Rural South India
Microfinance programs in rural South India use women's groups differently, with diverging impacts on gender relations. Some programs treat groups as tools to improve financial sustainability while maintaining existing gender hierarchies. Others actively mobilize women through credit to build collective action and transform underlying gender relations. The paper argues that assuming all group-based microfinance achieves empowerment is shortsighted; program design fundamentally determines whether women's empowerment actually occurs.
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The spread of innovations within formal and informal farmers groups: Evidence from rural communi- ties of semi-arid Eastern Africa
Cohesive and active farmers groups accelerate the spread of agroforestry innovations in semi-arid Eastern Africa. The study surveyed 200 households each in Kenya and Ethiopia, finding that group cohesiveness, activity level, and member motivation all strengthen technology adoption among farmers. Social networks within groups drive knowledge diffusion more effectively than top-down extension approaches alone.
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Financing rural innovation with community development venture capital: models, options and obstacles
Rural regions struggle to attract traditional venture capital despite needing local company growth for economic development. Community development venture capital (CDVC) offers a viable model for overcoming geographic barriers that deter conventional investors. This paper examines the structural obstacles CDVC faces and identifies potential funding sources to support rural entrepreneurship through patient capital.
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Digital Divide among Public Servants in Malaysia : Urban-Rural Differences in Valuing the Use of the Internet
Malaysia's digital divide disadvantages rural populations through poor infrastructure and lower incomes. This study surveyed public servants in urban and rural areas to measure how they value internet access and their willingness to pay for services. The research found that income significantly influences internet adoption, particularly in rural areas, and that Malaysia's Universal Service Provision policy has limited reach despite government efforts to bridge geographic and economic gaps.
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Optimised application of hybrid renewable energy system in rural electrification
Hybrid renewable energy systems offer cost-effective electrification for remote areas where grid extension is uneconomical. This paper develops an optimization model for a hybrid energy system in rural India, minimizing costs through proper equipment sizing and load matching. Economic analysis determines capital costs, resource costs, and optimized system costs for the Jaunpur block in Uttaranchal state.
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TIM based indigenous innovation: experiences from Haier Group
Chinese enterprises face restrictions from dependence on foreign technologies. This paper analyzes Haier Group's innovation practices and argues that total innovation management (TIM) forms the foundation for indigenous innovation. Strategic innovation provides direction, market-oriented innovation sets goals, and cultural innovation creates the right environment. The paper concludes that enterprises must pursue indigenous innovation for sustainability, guided by clear strategic goals and continuous mindset change.
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Enabling Rural Innovation: Empowering Farmers to Take Advantage of Market Opportunities and Improve Livelihoods
Agricultural markets reduce poverty in developing economies through three mechanisms: increased farmer productivity and incomes, cheaper food for poor consumers, and economic growth in non-farm sectors. The paper argues that empowering farmers to access market opportunities and innovate improves rural livelihoods by leveraging agriculture's role in broader economic development.
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Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge in Kumaon hills of Uttaranchal
Farmers in Uttaranchal's Kumaon hills maintain indigenous agricultural knowledge developed over thousands of years, which sustains production while protecting environmental quality. Modern chemical-intensive farming threatens these practices, yet local farmers continue using traditional methods for crop production. The study documents this indigenous knowledge across various aspects of farming.
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Microfinance and Poverty Reduction: Is there a Trade-Off? A Case Study from Rural Bangladesh
Microfinance institutions in rural Bangladesh prioritize financial sustainability over poverty reduction, leading them to exclude the poorest households and serve wealthier borrowers instead. The study of ASA, a major microfinance organization, reveals that rigid lending practices fail to accommodate borrowers with limited financial skills and repayment capacity. The author argues MFIs must redesign their methodology to serve the poorest effectively and achieve genuine poverty reduction.
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ODL for Agricultural Development and Rural Poverty Reduction: A Comparative Analysis of Innovation and Best Practice in Asia and the Pacific
Open and distance learning (ODL) programs can effectively support agricultural development and rural poverty reduction in Asia and the Pacific. Analysis of five case studies from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, and the Pacific Islands identified key success factors: strong motivation, cultural sensitivity, adequate infrastructure, stakeholder engagement, and sound teaching methods. Successful programs emphasize collaboration, public-private partnerships, technology use, gender sensitivity, and sustainability.
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Capacity development for agricultural biotechnology in developing countries: an innovation systems view of what it is and how to develop it
Agricultural biotechnology capacity in developing countries requires more than building research infrastructure and human capital. Using an innovation systems framework, this paper argues that countries must develop broader innovation capacity—the ability to use knowledge productively. The author examines six capacity development approaches and concludes that effective policy must take a multidimensional approach that integrates diverse innovation systems strategically.
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Developing entrepreneurship and enterprise in Europe's peripheral rural areas: Some issues facing policy-makers
This paper examines policies supporting rural entrepreneurship across ten European peripheral areas. It categorizes existing policies, identifies lessons from their implementation, and highlights barriers to enterprise development. The authors argue that peripheral rural regions need more strategic, coordinated policy approaches to build entrepreneurial capacity and clarify enterprise's role in future rural development.
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Agriculture in the developing world: Connecting innovations in plant research to downstream applications
Plant genomics and molecular breeding offer powerful tools to improve crops for poor farmers in developing regions. The paper argues that translating these innovations into real benefits requires better collaboration between public and private plant scientists, new funding mechanisms, and targeted research on abiotic and biotic stresses. While private companies have successfully developed improved maize and cotton varieties, the public sector must build capacity to apply these same techniques to crops serving the poorest farmers.
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Marketing and innovation: Useful tools for competitiveness in rural and peripheral areas
Rural entrepreneurship drives competitiveness in peripheral areas, but low population density creates obstacles. The paper argues that innovative rural firms succeed by adopting niche marketing strategies tailored to their organizational context. This approach lets rural businesses capitalize on emerging social trends. The author offers policy recommendations to support this model.
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Fostering entrepreneurship as a means to overcome barriers to development of rural peripheral areas in Europe
Rural areas in Europe face development barriers as traditional agriculture and forestry decline. The paper argues that fostering entrepreneurship can overcome these challenges. Success requires understanding rural areas through sociospatial characteristics and social representation rather than outdated definitions. Entrepreneurship thrives when supported by institutional contexts that encourage cooperation, social networks, and learning capacity within firms embedded in their broader social and political environments.
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Constraints to the Adoption of Agricultural Innovations
The paper argues that discussions about why farmers reject agricultural innovations are confused because developers fail to distinguish between problems inherent to the innovation itself and external prerequisite conditions. By clarifying this distinction through design-specification exercises, developers can identify which adoption failures stem from their own innovation process rather than blaming external factors like land tenure or market access.
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Innovation Systems: Implications for agricultural policy and practice
Agricultural innovation requires rethinking research as part of a dynamic system involving multiple organizations, not just policy and research bodies. The paper argues that farmers and businesses adapt through interactions across a broader ecosystem of actors. Success depends on developing institutional practices, incentives, and policy environments that encourage continuous learning and innovation to improve livelihoods and competitiveness.
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Inter-regional innovation in Brazilian agriculture and deforestation in the Amazon: income and environment in the balance
Agricultural innovation in Brazil between 1985 and 1995 had mixed effects on deforestation and farm income. Innovation outside the Amazon reduced deforestation while innovation inside the Amazon increased it, resulting in no net change to overall deforestation rates. Livestock productivity improvements proved most influential for deforestation outcomes. Technological advances outside the Amazon, particularly for small farms in the Northeast, boosted agricultural income, improved income distribution, and limited forest loss.
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The digital divide in Europe's rural enterprises
Rural enterprises across ten European regions show significant digital divides in ICT adoption. While north-south geographic differences exist, sectoral factors, firm size, and network connections matter more. Human capital characteristics—skills and knowledge of workers—emerge as the strongest predictor of whether rural businesses adopt digital technologies. Regional and national context also shapes adoption patterns beyond simple geographic location.
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Microfinance and HIV prevention – emerging lessons from rural South Africa
Microfinance programs in rural South Africa can reduce HIV vulnerability by building economic confidence and well-being among participants. The IMAGE intervention integrated microfinance with HIV prevention activities, combining loans with health education and gender equity work. The study documents operational challenges, practical lessons, and limitations from several years of field implementation, contributing evidence that economic empowerment supports HIV prevention outcomes.
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Enhancing microfinance outreach through market‐oriented new service development in Indian regional rural banks
Indian regional rural banks underperform in microfinance because they focus on products rather than markets. This paper develops a conceptual framework showing how manager attitudes, institutional characteristics, and market orientation influence service innovation, customer satisfaction, and outreach performance. The findings suggest that adopting market-oriented approaches to new service development can improve these banks' ability to serve poor populations.
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Microfinance and rural development: a long-term perspective
Microfinance institutions can drive rural development by expanding savings and lending services to rural households, though this requires balancing two competing goals: reaching poor populations and maintaining financial sustainability. The paper examines how financial deepening affects rural economies at both household and national levels, finding positive effects overall. However, expanding financial services inevitably creates risks of bank failures, so microfinance sectors must prioritize stability alongside growth to serve more rural people effectively.
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Indigenous knowledge and its relevance for agriculture : a case study in Uganda
This study examines indigenous knowledge about cultivating traditional vegetables in rural Uganda using participatory research methods. The findings show that indigenous agricultural practices differ from conventional approaches, vary within communities, and extend beyond technical knowledge. Comparing results with similar African studies, the authors conclude that understanding and integrating indigenous knowledge into agricultural research and extension programs would improve the effectiveness of future interventions.
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Renewable Energy For Rural Development : The
Renewable energy technologies offer viable alternatives to expensive grid extensions in rural Nigeria. The paper argues that solar, hydropower, wind, and biomass resources can deliver essential energy services—lighting, refrigeration, cooking, transportation—to remote areas where conventional power infrastructure costs prohibit deployment. Policy measures promoting renewable energy adoption are necessary to enable rural development in Nigeria and other developing nations facing energy access challenges.
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Rural Transit Systems Benefits in Tennessee: Methodology and an Empirical Study
This paper evaluates rural public transit services in Tennessee using a benefits assessment framework. The analysis shows that demand-responsive vanpool services deliver benefits exceeding costs, primarily by improving access to healthcare, job training, and other essential services for current riders. The study demonstrates that without these transit services, providing equivalent access to these activities would cost significantly more, and recommends better data collection on transit ridership.
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STUDY OF THE PRINCIPLES OF INNOVATION FOR THE BOP CONSUMER — THE CASE OF A RURAL WATER FILTER
This paper examines innovation principles for low-income markets using a rural water filter developed in India. The researchers used quality control methodology to establish realistic bacterial removal specifications, then introduced the filter in a village where it reduced waterborne disease cases significantly. The cost savings from fewer illnesses exceeded filter costs, creating a profitable model for both rural consumers and entrepreneurs.
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Open for innovation: the role of openness in explaining innovation performance among U.K. manufacturing firms
U.K. manufacturing firms that search widely for external ideas and sources show better innovation performance, but only up to a point. Beyond optimal breadth and depth of external search, performance declines. The relationship follows an inverted U-shape, meaning firms benefit from open innovation strategies but face diminishing returns when searching too extensively.
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Social Networks, the <i>Tertius Iungens</i> Orientation, and Involvement in Innovation
This study examines how people's social network positions and behaviors influence their involvement in organizational innovation. The research finds that individuals who actively connect disconnected colleagues and facilitate coordination between already-connected people—a "tertius iungens" orientation—are more likely to drive innovation. Dense networks and diverse social knowledge also predict innovation involvement. The findings challenge structural holes theory by showing that connecting people benefits innovation more than exploiting network gaps for personal advantage.
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The keystone advantage: what the new dynamics of business ecosystems mean for strategy, innovation, and sustainability
Companies operating in complex business networks can achieve long-term success by adopting a keystone strategy—actively maintaining ecosystem health rather than competing narrowly. Drawing from biological ecosystems, the authors argue that firms protecting their entire network's wellbeing simultaneously secure their own survival and competitive advantage.
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Absorptive Capacity Configurations in Supply Chains: Gearing for Partner-Enabled Market Knowledge Creation1
Supply chain partners create market knowledge by sharing information through interlinked processes and IT infrastructure. This study identifies five distinct partnership configurations—collectors, connectors, crunchers, coercers, and collaborators—based on their absorptive capacity and capability platforms. The configurations differ in how they acquire, assimilate, and exploit partner knowledge to drive innovation and operational efficiency. Rich information sharing and coordination mechanisms determine success in partner-enabled knowledge creation.
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Absorptive Capacity and Productivity Spillovers from FDI: A Threshold Regression Analysis*
Foreign direct investment boosts productivity growth, but only when local firms have sufficient absorptive capacity. Manufacturing sectors show nonlinear effects: productivity gains increase with absorptive capacity up to a threshold, then decline. Below a minimum capacity level, FDI spillovers become negligible or harmful. Technology-sourcing FDI produces no productivity spillovers.
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Local Nodes in Global Networks: The Geography of Knowledge Flows in Biotechnology Innovation
This study examines how biotechnology firms in Canada innovate by analyzing knowledge flows from both local and global sources. The research finds that successful innovation depends on firms' internal technological capabilities and their ability to absorb external knowledge. While global networks matter significantly for innovation, local relationships prove especially critical for raising capital. The findings challenge the assumption that local networks alone drive innovation, showing instead that dynamic regions combine dense local interaction with strong international connections.
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Disruptiveness of innovations: measurement and an assessment of reliability and validity
This paper develops and validates a measurement scale for assessing how disruptive innovations are. The authors surveyed senior executives at 199 business units across 38 Fortune 500 companies and used statistical analysis to confirm their scale is reliable and valid. They show that disruptiveness is distinct from other innovation characteristics like radicalness, providing researchers with a tool to study why established companies struggle to develop truly disruptive innovations.
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An evolutionary integrated view of Regional Systems of Innovation: Concepts, measures and historical perspectives
Regional innovation systems have been studied with a national bias that overlooks sub-national dynamics and historical evolution. This paper integrates top-down and bottom-up perspectives to develop a more complete framework for understanding regional innovation systems, emphasizing how history and regional culture shape development opportunities. Italy's case demonstrates that historical regional contexts are essential for assessing future regional innovation potential.
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Absorptive capacity: Enhancing the assimilation of time‐based manufacturing practices
Organizations implementing advanced manufacturing technologies need strong absorptive capacity—an internal environment that emphasizes knowledge sharing and continuous learning. This study measures absorptive capacity and tests its impact on adopting time-based manufacturing practices. Results from 303 manufacturers show that higher absorptive capacity directly strengthens adoption of innovative practices, which in turn increases customer value.
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Cluster Absorptive Capacity
Industrial clusters grow when firms can absorb external knowledge and share it within the cluster. This paper argues that cluster success depends on absorptive capacity—the ability of member firms to learn from outside sources and distribute that knowledge internally. The diversity of firms' knowledge bases shapes how well clusters connect to external information and strengthen their internal learning systems.
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Open Innovation In Practice
DSM, a multinational life sciences company, combines internal and external knowledge to accelerate innovation across R&D and marketing. The company established a dedicated business development group to speed commercialization and adopted different management approaches for each innovation stage—from scientific rigor in early development to entrepreneurial risk-taking during commercialization to conservative management once products mature. DSM treats innovation as a cultural value rather than a formal process.
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User Toolkits for Innovation: Consumers Support Each Other
User toolkits empower consumers to develop their own product features, reducing firms' information costs. However, this shifts support burdens to companies. Analysis of 78 computer games shows increased consumer involvement requires more firm support. The solution: establish consumer-to-consumer support networks. When consumers help each other solve problems, firms reduce support costs while improving toolkit knowledge diffusion and outcomes.
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Absorptive Capacity in the Software Industry: Identifying Dimensions That Affect Knowledge and Knowledge Creation Activities
Absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to use external knowledge effectively—comprises three dimensions: relationships with the external environment, internal structure and knowledge base of value creation groups, and individual absorptive abilities. The authors demonstrate that each dimension independently contributes to increased knowledge and knowledge creation activities in software firms.
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COMPLEX ADAPTIVE SYSTEMS AND THE DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS
This paper combines diffusion of innovations theory with complex adaptive systems theory to create a hybrid model for predicting and guiding behavior change in populations. Using the STOP AIDS campaign in San Francisco as an example, the authors show how heterogeneous social networks and weak ties between diverse groups can catalyze innovation adoption. The integrated framework offers practical tools for public sector innovators seeking to understand and influence how innovations spread through social systems.
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Health Innovation Networks to Help Developing Countries Address Neglected Diseases
Developing countries increasingly possess the capacity to undertake health innovation and address neglected diseases affecting their populations. While wealthy nations have created funding mechanisms and organizational structures to develop and distribute health products, these efforts alone cannot achieve sustainability or adequately address disease burden. The paper argues that enabling health innovation networks within developing countries themselves offers a complementary and essential strategy to improve health equity and tackle neglected tropical diseases.
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The politics of networked innovation
This paper examines how power dynamics shape networked innovation processes. Through three case studies of technology development, the authors show that innovation success depends not just on network structure but on understanding how power over resources, meaning, and processes affects knowledge integration. Network coordination, not just formation, proves critical for productive innovation outcomes.
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An Individual‐Based Model of Innovation Diffusion Mixing Social Value and Individual Benefit
This paper presents a computational model showing how innovations spread through populations when people balance social value against personal benefit. Innovations perceived as socially valuable but offering low personal gain succeed more often than those with high personal benefit but low social value. Minority groups with extreme views can significantly influence adoption by shifting how others perceive an innovation's social worth.
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Managing Potential and Realized Absorptive Capacity: How do Organizational Antecedents Matter?
This study examines how organizational structures affect a company's ability to absorb and use new knowledge. The researchers found that coordination mechanisms like cross-functional teams and job rotation build potential absorptive capacity, while socialization mechanisms like employee connectedness and mentoring increase realized absorptive capacity. The findings explain why organizations struggle to balance these two components and differ in extracting value from acquired knowledge.
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Innovation, diffusion and adoption of total quality management (TQM)
This paper examines whether Total Quality Management (TQM) remains a viable management philosophy or has become a passing fad. Through literature review, the authors trace TQM's innovation, diffusion, and adoption across organizations globally. They find that despite declining media coverage, TQM continues gaining academic attention and organizational adoption worldwide. The authors argue TQM remains relevant but warn against treating it as a generic technique—organizations must adapt it to their specific cultural contexts, leadership styles, and employee needs to prevent it from becoming a fad.
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Modeling innovation, manufacturing, diffusion and adoption/rejection processes
The paper argues that new product development success depends on understanding complex feedback loops and interconnected processes rather than identifying individual success factors. Using system dynamics modeling and comparative case studies, the authors show that multiple different pathways lead to success or failure in innovation, manufacturing, diffusion, and adoption. Executives must think systemically about hidden weak linkages with large downstream impacts rather than relying on checklists of isolated factors.
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Frontier Technology, Absorptive Capacity and Distance*
This study examines how foreign technology affects productivity in OECD manufacturing industries, finding that a country's ability to absorb and use new technology matters more than physical distance. Distance had stronger effects early in the study period and in high-tech industries with localized trade. Absorptive capacity emerged as the dominant factor explaining productivity differences across countries.
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Regional Innovation Systems in the Lisbon strategy
Regional innovation systems matter for economic development, but they are not one-dimensional. The authors analyze how European policy frames regional innovation within the Lisbon strategy and find that national contexts ultimately drive economic development more than regional innovative capabilities alone.
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Innovation, networking and the new industrial clusters: the characteristics of networks and local innovation capabilities in the Turkish industrial clusters
Innovation and networking drive competitive capacity in industrial clusters during globalization. This study examined three Turkish industrial clusters through firm interviews, finding that local and national networking correlates positively with innovativeness. Firms embedded in global networks produce more innovations than those relying primarily on local linkages, demonstrating the importance of both local connections and international engagement.
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Knowledge creation: absorptive capacity, organizational mechanisms, and knowledge storage/retrieval capabilities
This study develops a framework showing how individual absorptive capacity, organizational mechanisms, and IT capabilities for storing and retrieving knowledge affect knowledge creation in firms. Using survey data from 271 respondents across manufacturing, trade, transportation, service, and academic organizations, the research identifies how absorptive capacity and organizational structures influence knowledge creation, with organizational memory playing a moderating role.
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The process of user-innovation: a case study in a consumer goods setting
Users developing new products in kitesurfing follow a structured two-stage process: idea generation and idea realisation. Unlike manufacturers' formal development phases, users employ intuition-driven approaches but still follow identifiable sequences. Manufacturers can improve innovation by closely observing how users actually invent and develop products.
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Knowledge management in regional innovation networks: The case of Lahti, Finland
This paper designs a knowledge management system for regional innovation networks, incorporating explicit, tacit, and self-transcending knowledge alongside knowledge vision and futures studies methods. Using Finland's Lahti regional innovation system as a case study, the authors demonstrate that effective regional innovation networks require both loose network development and systematic, deliberate approaches to managing knowledge-related activities.
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Venture team human capital and absorptive capacity in high technology new ventures
High-technology startups use acquisitions and joint ventures to acquire new knowledge as existing knowledge becomes obsolete. This study of 340 U.S. high-tech ventures finds that the diversity of skills and experience on the top management team strengthens how well these ventures learn from venturing activities and convert that learning into innovation and financial performance. However, the overall level of management team experience alone does not matter.
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The evolution and performance of biotechnology regional systems of innovation
Biotechnology regions develop as complex systems beginning with university research and knowledge spillovers, then progressing toward regional technology markets. Universities establish intellectual property and technology transfer offices to sell knowledge, while venture capital firms add biotechnology portfolios. The study of 90 Canadian biotechnology companies finds that firms in regional agglomerations grow faster than isolated ones, and university spin-offs outperform independent start-ups.
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DiffuNET: The impact of network structure on diffusion of innovation
This paper develops a model linking network structure to innovation diffusion rates. The researchers show that specific network properties—such as centralization—directly influence how quickly innovations spread through populations via innovation and imitation. By redesigning network structures strategically, managers can accelerate product adoption and diffusion. The model integrates previously separate diffusion research traditions and allows practitioners to predict diffusion potential from measurable network characteristics.
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User Involvement in Innovation Processes : Strategies and Limitations from a Socio-Technical Perspective
This paper examines how users participate in innovation processes and identifies the strategic approaches and constraints involved from a socio-technical viewpoint. The author analyzes different strategies for involving users in developing new technologies and products, while highlighting the practical and theoretical limitations that affect meaningful user engagement in innovation.
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Forms of host‐country national learning for enhanced MNC absorptive capacity
This study identifies twelve forms of learning that host-country nationals in multinational corporation subsidiaries need to improve knowledge absorption and transfer. Through interviews with managers across three organizational levels, the researchers found that effective learning areas include language skills, cross-cultural awareness, technical management, and understanding MNC strategy and culture. These learning forms enhance the corporation's ability to generate and distribute knowledge globally.
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THE TRIPLE HELIX MODEL AND THE STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE-BASED INNOVATION SYSTEMS
The paper examines how universities, industries, and governments interact to shape knowledge-based innovation systems. It argues that understanding these systems requires analyzing how each sector makes strategic decisions—industries deciding on R&D investment, universities competing in regional and global markets, and governments balancing industrial and science-technology policies. The author proposes combining evolutionary economics with sociological reflexivity to better understand how these overlapping communications reshape innovation systems.
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The Diffusion of Medical Innovations: Can Figurational Sociology Contribute?
This paper argues that figurational sociology, developed by Norbert Elias, provides a robust theoretical framework for understanding innovation and change. The author demonstrates how Elias's emphasis on long-term unplanned processes helps explain complex change management, using evidence-based medicine adoption in clinical practice as a case study. The approach offers insights for policymakers managing innovation implementation.
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The diffusion of environmental policy innovations: cornerstones of an analytical framework
This paper develops a conceptual framework for understanding how environmental policy innovations spread across countries. The author argues that policy diffusion results from interactions between international forces, national factors, and the characteristics of specific policies. The framework bridges comparative policy analysis and international relations by explaining how countries adopt similar policies even without binding agreements, providing guidance for empirical research on policy innovation diffusion.
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How incremental innovation becomes disruptive: the case of technology convergence
This paper challenges the static distinction between incremental and disruptive innovation by showing how convergence of multiple well-established technologies can create disruptive effects. Using mobile telecommunications operators as a case study, the authors demonstrate that incremental improvements across separate technologies can combine to produce market disruption. They argue that understanding this convergence mechanism helps firms manage strategy and technology planning in uncertain environments where disruptive change emerges.
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From technology transfer to the emergence of a triple helix culture: the experience of Algeria in innovation and technological capability development
Algeria's post-independence industrialization relied heavily on technology transfer and central planning, but this approach failed to build genuine innovation capacity. The paper argues that developing countries must shift toward a triple helix model where universities, industry, government, and non-governmental organizations collaborate to foster innovation culture. Bureaucratic fragmentation and institutional barriers have blocked technological capability development. Policy reforms must prioritize building national innovation systems and enabling triple helix partnerships over passive technology transfer.
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Innovation systems and local productive arrangements: New strategies to promote the generation, acquisition and diffusion of knowledge
The paper argues that less developed countries face mismatches between old analytical frameworks and the emerging knowledge economy. It proposes innovation systems and local productive arrangements as better conceptual tools for understanding how knowledge and innovation spread in development contexts. These frameworks emphasize learning, local tacit knowledge, agent interaction, and power dynamics. The paper recommends policies that mobilize local productive systems while coordinating across local, regional, national, and supranational levels.
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Italy and European spatial policies: polycentrism, urban networks and local innovation practices1
Italian spatial policies increasingly adopt European principles of polycentrism and networking to organize urban and territorial development. The paper examines how these concepts translate from European policy frameworks into Italian practice, analyzing operational examples of network-based approaches. It distinguishes between different meanings of networking—from relationships between cities to local collective action mechanisms—and assesses their empirical and political relevance for Italian territorial organization.
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Emergence of global manufacturing virtual networks and establishment of new manufacturing infrastructure for faster innovation and firm growth
Global manufacturing virtual networks (GMVN) represent a new manufacturing architecture that integrates developing countries' firms into global supply chains through collaborative infrastructure and ICT support. Case studies across electronics, biotechnology, appliances, and apparel sectors show how GMVN enables faster innovation and firm growth by allowing complementary roles in fragmented markets and supporting new manufacturing configurations.
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Educational and health services innovation to improve care for rural Hispanic Communities in the US
A rural health program in South Carolina addressed barriers to care for Hispanic immigrants through an innovative mobile clinic combining culturally competent healthcare delivery with student education. The Accessible and Culturally Competent Health Care Project used nurse practitioners, bilingual interpreters, community health advisors, and university students to provide affordable, accessible care while training future health professionals. The program demonstrates how educational and health service innovation can serve underserved rural populations.
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Innovations and issues in the delivery of continuing education to nurse practitioners in rural and northern communities.
Rural nurse practitioners need continuing education to maintain professional skills, but distance delivery presents challenges. This study tracked Ontario's Rural Nurse Practitioner Continuing Education Initiative through needs assessment, implementation, and evaluation. Practitioners preferred face-to-face learning but faced barriers. The pilot project addressed these constraints using multiple online delivery modes and constructivist teaching methods. Despite innovations, significant challenges remain in serving rural and remote nurse practitioners.
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Bridging the digital divide in Sub-Saharan Africa: The rural challenge in Uganda
A 2002-2003 study in Uganda identified three key groups addressing the digital divide: information workers, business entrepreneurs, and policy makers. The research found that information workers and institutions like the National Library play a crucial role in bridging digital access gaps in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. The study used qualitative interviews and grounded theory analysis to understand strategies for connecting underserved populations to digital resources.
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Growing Innovation Policy: The Case of Organic Agriculture in Ontario, Canada
This case study of organic agriculture in Ontario reveals how innovation operates across multiple scales—local, national, and global. The research identifies three key policy needs: strengthening local networks and farmer associations, correcting global subsidy inequities, and establishing national research funding and standards for organic production. These changes would create more resilient production and marketing systems. The study demonstrates that understanding innovation requires analyzing how different scales interconnect and influence each other.
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Participatory Rural Entrepreneurship Development for Grassroots Transformation: A Factor Analysis
This study identified key factors influencing rural entrepreneurship development in Lagos State, Nigeria. Researchers surveyed 320 people across eight rural communities and found that social status, personal experience, functional infrastructure, and education most strongly drive participation in entrepreneurship programs. Credit access and high labor costs emerged as major barriers. Most rural entrepreneurs remained small-scale, with limited employment creation and preference for trading over production.
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Delivery of rural and remote health care via a broadband Internet Protocol network – views of potential users
Rural and remote health providers in Alberta viewed a proposed broadband Internet Protocol network as valuable for expanding telehealth services and implementing electronic health records. Public-sector respondents felt more ready to adopt the technology than private-sector respondents. All groups identified the need for changes to health-service delivery practices as the main barrier to implementation.
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Preliminaries into problems to access information – the digital divide and rural communities
This paper examines the digital divide affecting rural communities in South Africa, focusing on barriers to information access. The authors investigate how limited digital connectivity and information availability constrain rural development and knowledge sharing. The work identifies specific problems rural populations face when trying to access information resources and services.
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Agricultural Extension with Information and Communication Technology (ICT)Mediated Open Distance Learning (ODL) Methods: A Case Study from Rural South India
Rural communities in South Asia face recurring droughts that cause severe food shortages, disease, and economic hardship. The paper argues that lack of awareness and information access prevents communities from preparing for and mitigating drought impacts. The authors propose using ICT-mediated open distance learning methods for agricultural extension to deliver sustained information and education to vulnerable rural populations, making drought preparedness possible rather than relying on relief.
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Towards sustainable energy systems: integrating renewable energy sources is the key for rural area power supply
Rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia lack access to modern energy services, relying instead on biomass fuels that cause indoor pollution and deforestation. This paper argues that integrating renewable energy technologies is essential for sustainable rural power supply and poverty reduction. It identifies barriers to renewable energy adoption in South Asia and India, proposing an integrated model to demonstrate how renewable systems can deliver affordable, sustainable energy to remote rural communities.
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Internet kiosks for rural communities: using ICT platforms for reducing digital divide
Rural communities in India gained internet access through wireless ICT kiosks operated via public-private partnerships. Systematic skill development and local entrepreneurs proved critical to adoption and sustained operation. The platform enabled diverse innovative applications and demonstrated that public-private partnerships can effectively reduce digital divides in areas requiring large-scale infrastructure investment.
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Microfinance Self-Sustainability and Outreach in Uganda: A Case of Teso Rural Development Trust Limited
Microfinance institutions in Uganda reach rural populations underserved by commercial banks through group lending and solidarity guarantees. This study examined Teso Rural Development Trust Limited's financial self-sustainability and outreach to poor clients between 1998 and 2003. The institution was heavily dependent on external funding, unprofitable, and not self-sustainable. Its outreach favored non-poor clients over the poorest populations, indicating that regulatory improvements and operational efficiency gains were needed to achieve both financial sustainability and meaningful poverty reduction.
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<i>Rural Finance in Contemporary Times: Interface with Microfinance</i>
Indian rural finance suffers from state interventions like loan write-offs and interest subsidies that undermine banking system sustainability. Microfinance institutions reach poor clients but face regulatory neglect and cannot access commercial capital for growth. Both bankers and microfinance practitioners identified significant untapped rural markets in non-agricultural sectors like construction, handloom, and garment clusters. Removing regulatory barriers and clarifying the state's positive role could enable financial service innovations and better serve excluded poor populations.
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Addressing digital divide: experiment on tele-medicine applications using broadband wireless system in rural areas
Researchers implemented a broadband wireless LAN system in rural hospitals in Vietnam's Hatinh province to deliver telemedicine services. The project tested video transmission, X-ray image sharing, and electronic medical document exchange. User surveys revealed system effectiveness and identified lessons for expanding telemedicine applications in rural healthcare settings.
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Expanding broadband access in rural India: the role of alternative telecommunications networks
Rural India's 500 million people across 600,000 villages lack access to broadband and digital connectivity that urban areas enjoy. This isolation prevents rural communities from accessing agricultural best practices, market information, and economic opportunities. The paper examines alternative telecommunications networks as a solution to expand broadband access and bridge the rural-urban digital divide.
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Utilisation of renewable energy sources in deep rural areas
The paper evaluates renewable energy sources for rural electrification by developing a computer program to match energy source characteristics with rural load profiles cost-effectively. The analysis compares unitary and hybrid systems, finding that hydroelectric sources prove most cost-effective for the studied loads, while solar and wind systems require prohibitively high capital investments.
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Back to basics: the role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in agro-biodiversity and household food security in the smallholder agriculture sector: the case of Chipinge (Zimbabwe)
Indigenous knowledge systems in Zimbabwe's Chipinge district sustain agro-biodiversity and food security among smallholder farmers. Between 1994 and 2002, agro-biodiversity declined over 50%, with smaller farms maintaining greater diversity. Older farmers and female-headed households conserved more crop types and varieties than younger and male-headed households, demonstrating that traditional knowledge practices directly support agricultural resilience and household nutrition.
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Rural entrepreneurship in Europe
Rural entrepreneurship in Europe operates within a distinct territorial context shaped by physical geography, social capital, networks, and governance structures. The authors argue that rurality itself functions as a dynamic entrepreneurial resource, creating both opportunities and constraints. They present entrepreneurship as a three-stage sequential process influenced by specific territorial characteristics and propose a research agenda addressing both theoretical understanding and policy development for supporting rural entrepreneurs.
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Fitting in and Multi‐tasking: Dutch Farm Women's Strategies in Rural Entrepreneurship
Dutch farmwomen starting new income-generating activities adopt a distinctive entrepreneurial approach characterized by fitting new work into existing family and farm responsibilities rather than expanding operations aggressively. Research from 1995–2001 shows women deliberately multi-task and prioritize family stability over business growth. However, when women experience successful work-life balance and financial rewards, they expand their enterprises. Current rural development policies fail farmwomen because they promote male-typical entrepreneurial models rather than supporting women's actual strategies.
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Externality Effects of Education: Dynamics of the Adoption and Diffusion of an Innovation in Rural Ethiopia
Education drives agricultural innovation adoption in rural Ethiopia through two mechanisms. Household education determines timing of fertilizer adoption, while community-level education encourages uneducated farmers to adopt sooner by providing visible examples. Educated farmers act as early innovators and effective adopters, creating positive externalities that accelerate technology diffusion across communities regardless of individual farmer education levels.
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The Power of Experience: Farmers' Knowledge and Sustainable Innovations in Agriculture
Farmers' knowledge plays a crucial role in developing sustainable agricultural innovations. The paper outlines why farmer expertise matters, explains how it differs from scientific knowledge, and proposes practical methods for scientists and farmers to collaborate effectively. It concludes by identifying institutional changes needed in agricultural knowledge systems to support this integration.
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Crossing the digital divide: cost-effective broadband wireless access for rural and remote areas
This paper examines how WiFi technology can deliver affordable broadband to rural and remote areas where service is expensive or unavailable. The authors model wireless networks using 802.11b with realistic costs, demand, and revenue data across different settlement patterns. They evaluate emerging technologies like high-gain antennas and multihop routing. Results demonstrate that cost-effective high-speed internet access is economically viable in rural regions through innovative wireless approaches.
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What can rural agencies do to address the additional costs of rural services? A typology of rural service innovation
Rural health and social care agencies face higher costs delivering services across sparsely populated areas while meeting national quality standards. This paper identifies six categories of service innovations that rural agencies have developed to address these challenges. The typology reveals practical approaches at the health and social care interface, offering models for transferring successful practices between regions and directing future research.
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Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development as a Rural Development Strategy
Small business development and entrepreneurship support can combat rural poverty and strengthen local economies. The authors examine the USDA 1890 Entrepreneurial Outreach Initiative as a community-based strategy to spur economic growth in rural Southern communities. They argue that locally-controlled enterprises are critical for determining whether rural communities prosper or decline, and that microenterprise programs represent an important development approach.
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Enabling rural innovation in Africa: An approach for integrating farmer participatory research and market orientation for building the assets of rural poor
The Enabling Rural Innovation approach integrates farmer participatory research with market orientation to help small-scale farmers in Africa develop profitable agroenterprises. Testing in Malawi, Uganda, and Tanzania shows farmers select crops based on mixed economic and non-economic criteria. Success requires building human and social capital, strengthening partnerships between research organizations and communities, and connecting local innovations to national and regional market institutions.
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Indigenous Innovation and Economic Development: Lessons from China's Leap into the Information Age
This paper examines indigenous innovation in China's computer electronics industry through case studies of four leading companies—Stone, Legend, Great Wall, and Founder—from their origins through the late 1990s. The analysis applies a framework emphasizing strategic control, organizational integration, and financial commitment as critical factors driving innovation. The findings illuminate how Chinese firms developed indigenous technological capabilities and their implications for understanding innovation dynamics and economic development.
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Indigenous Knowledge, Mapping, and GIS: A Diffusion of Innovation Perspective
Indigenous peoples are increasingly adopting GIS technology to map and communicate their traditional knowledge. Using a diffusion of innovation framework, this paper examines how Indigenous communities have adopted and implemented GIS based on published research and fieldwork. The authors identify gaps in current understanding and recommend future research directions to better support Indigenous peoples' use of high-technology mapping for preserving and sharing their knowledge systems.
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Indigenous African knowledge systems and innovation in higher education in South Africa
South African higher education must integrate indigenous African knowledge systems and innovations into curricula to achieve genuine development. The paper argues that innovation extends beyond formal university and industrial research settings. Incorporating indigenized African knowledge alongside conventional innovation frameworks strengthens the nation's ability to convert knowledge into wealth and social benefit.
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Serviceability Index to Evaluate Rural Demand-Responsive Transit System Operations
This paper develops a serviceability index to measure the capacity and quality of demand-responsive transit systems in rural areas. The authors surveyed transit providers in Alabama and created a methodology that uses regional socioeconomic conditions and operational data to evaluate performance. The index allows rural transit agencies to assess and compare their demand-responsive operations, addressing a gap in national transit analysis standards.
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Role of renewable energy in the development and electrification of remote and rural areas
Renewable energy resources are widely distributed globally and can effectively electrify remote rural areas despite being dilute and variable. Small amounts of renewable energy create substantial development benefits in these regions, justifying higher costs. Local renewable resource utilization generates employment and reduces rural-to-urban migration.
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Open Innovation: The New Imperative For Creating and Profiting From Technology
This paper introduces open innovation as a strategic approach for technology development and commercialization. Organizations increasingly leverage external knowledge sources alongside internal R&D to create and profit from innovations. The framework challenges traditional closed innovation models and demonstrates how firms can accelerate innovation cycles and improve financial returns by opening their innovation processes to external partners and contributors.
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Towards a Theory of Open Innovation: Three Core Process Archetypes
Open innovation involves companies moving beyond internal R&D by integrating external knowledge sources and commercializing ideas outside their boundaries. This study of 124 companies identifies three core processes: outside-in (acquiring external knowledge from suppliers and customers), inside-out (licensing and selling intellectual property externally), and coupled (forming alliances where companies exchange complementary innovations). These patterns show how companies transform rigid boundaries into permeable structures enabling knowledge flow.
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Value Creation by Toolkits for User Innovation and Design: The Case of the Watch Market
Customers using design toolkits to create personalized watches show high design diversity and willingness to pay substantial premiums—averaging 100% more than standard watches. The study of 717 participants demonstrates that even simple toolkits enable meaningful customization, creating real value by letting consumers express individual preferences. Customer designs vary widely yet show coherent patterns, indicating heterogeneous but non-random preferences.
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Managing Open Innovation
Industrial innovation increasingly relies on external knowledge sources and market channels, creating uncertainty in evaluating early-stage projects. Companies typically minimize false positives but neglect false negatives, losing potential value. New metrics can help firms better leverage external innovation sources and capture value from rejected projects through alternative business models.
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Social Capital and the Diffusion of Innovations Within Organizations: The Case of Computer Technology in Schools
This study examines how computer technology spreads within schools, finding that social capital—informal access to expertise and responsiveness to peer pressure—drives implementation as much as individual beliefs about the innovation's value. Teachers in schools share common goals and social systems that enable them to help each other and influence adoption decisions. Change agents promoting educational innovations should focus on building and leveraging these local social relationships.
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Prospects for developing absorptive capacity through internal information provision
Managers can develop organizational absorptive capacity by distributing internal knowledge to employees considering new practices. The effectiveness of this information provision depends on what employees already know. Prior experience with related practices strengthens the impact of managerial information, while existing knowledge from other sources or past events weakens it. This clarifies when absorptive capacity creates lasting competitive advantage.
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Disentangling Diffusion: The Effects of Social Learning and Economic Competition on State Policy Innovation and Expansion
This paper examines how states adopt and expand Indian gaming policies, distinguishing between two diffusion mechanisms: social learning and economic competition. The authors find that social learning drives initial policy adoption while economic competition influences both adoption and subsequent policy expansion. They develop new statistical methods to track policy extent over time rather than just first adoption timing, demonstrating that different diffusion processes operate differently across policy areas.
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Forty Years of Diffusion of Innovations: Utility and Value in Public Health
Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations model explains how new ideas spread through social systems via communication channels over time. Applied across thousands of studies spanning six decades, the model accounts for varying adoption rates and behavioral change. It has proven valuable for understanding how innovations—from agricultural technologies to public health interventions like HIV/AIDS prevention—take hold in populations.
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Diffusion of innovation theory for clinical change
Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory explains how evidence-based clinical practices spread among healthcare providers. The theory identifies key factors affecting adoption: the innovation's characteristics, promotion by influential peers, complexity, compatibility with existing values, and the ability to test changes before full implementation. Understanding these factors helps explain why some practices change while others persist, and guides efforts to implement best-evidence medicine.
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Teacher motivation to implement an educational innovation: factors differentiating users and non-users of cooperative learning
This study identifies why teachers adopt or reject cooperative learning in classrooms. Using expectancy theory, researchers surveyed 933 teachers and found that teachers' belief in their ability to successfully implement the innovation matters most. The study shows that professional development programs should focus on building teacher confidence and providing ongoing support tailored to individual classroom contexts.
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Regional Innovation Systems in Canada: A Comparative Study
This study examines how small and medium enterprises in two Canadian regions—Ottawa and Beauce—engage in innovation activities and interact with other organizations. Despite their different industrial structures and institutional environments, firms in both regions show similar innovation patterns and draw on regional, national, and global knowledge sources. Geography matters less than expected; firms do not rely primarily on regional support for innovation.
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Managing Drivers of Innovation in Construction Networks
The paper identifies four categories of innovation drivers in construction networks: environmental pressure, technological capability, knowledge exchange, and boundary spanning. Operating across organizational levels in the Dutch construction industry, these drivers enable managers in authorities, clients, architecture, consulting, and contracting firms to stimulate innovation. Managing these drivers helps organizations improve market position, project quality, and industry-wide cooperation.
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Actualizing Innovation Effort: The Impact of Market Knowledge Diffusion in a Dynamic System of Competition
Market knowledge diffusion drives innovation effort through three mechanisms: knowledge level, knowledge change, and shared understanding of customers and competitors. However, satisfaction with past performance reduces innovation effort. The study finds that innovation effort alone doesn't improve firm performance; instead, shared market knowledge enables smaller firms to convert innovation into better returns than larger competitors can achieve.
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Anticipating Disruptive Innovation
Organizations must balance efficient current operations with future innovation, managing both disruptive and sustaining innovations simultaneously. The paper identifies three distinct patterns of substitution that show how customer needs and technological capabilities interact to drive innovation. Understanding these dynamics helps companies anticipate and navigate disruptive change.
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Diffusion of Innovations and HIV/AIDS
This paper applies Diffusion of Innovations theory to HIV/AIDS prevention, analyzing why behavior change interventions succeed or fail across Western and developing countries. The author examines how communication channels, opinion leaders, and innovation attributes—relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability—shape adoption of preventive measures. The paper identifies barriers limiting DOI's use in developing-world HIV prevention programs and argues the framework offers valuable insights for improving intervention design.
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Competing Through Innovation in Network Markets: Strategies for Challengers
Challenger firms can compete against dominant companies in network markets through strategic innovation. The paper develops a typology showing that radical and incompatible innovations often generate higher profits than incremental or compatible alternatives. Radical-incompatible innovation proves both more profitable and less risky than incremental-compatible approaches, suggesting that greater risk can be prudent depending on market conditions.
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Managing innovation networks in the knowledge-driven economy
Innovation in the knowledge-driven economy requires networks rather than individual organizations because modern innovations demand diverse, complex competencies no one company can develop alone. The paper identifies success factors for managing innovation networks and proposes innovation roadmapping as a methodology to help networks identify ideas, align efforts, and deliver complete solutions across complementary competencies.
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On the Decay Behavior of the CO<sub>2</sub>Absorption Capacity of CaO-Based Sorbents
This paper examines how calcium oxide-based sorbents lose their ability to capture CO2 over repeated absorption and desorption cycles. The authors propose a new mathematical equation that better describes this decay behavior using a single parameter. They identify sintering as the mechanism causing capacity loss and provide a method to compare different sorbents' performance using this decay parameter.
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Managing diversity in a system of multi-level governance: the open method of co-ordination in innovation policy
Open method of coordination has made limited progress in innovation policy because multi-level governance structures and diverse national innovation systems create barriers to vertical coordination and horizontal learning across countries. The authors argue that effective application requires acknowledging national and regional differences, involving actors at all territorial levels, and developing qualitative benchmarks that account for system diversity rather than imposing uniform standards.
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The rise of a triple helix culture: Innovation in Brazilian economic and social development
Brazil is shifting from top-down government-controlled innovation to a collaborative triple helix model involving universities, industry, and government. Local and regional initiatives drive national policy while national frameworks support regional development. This interactive, non-linear approach is reshaping Brazil's sectoral and national innovation systems.
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Why Firm-established User Communities Work for Innovation: The Personal Attributes of Innovative Users in the Case of Computer-controlled Music
Firms establish user communities to capture innovations developed by users. This study of 442 computer-controlled music users identifies two key attributes of innovative users: they tend to be hobbyists willing to share innovations freely, and they respond to firm recognition as motivation to participate. These characteristics explain why firm-established user communities succeed—hobbyists contribute willingly while seeking acknowledgment, allowing firms to access innovations for product development and user sharing.
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Networks, weak signals and technological innovations among SMEs in the land-based transportation equipment sector
Small and medium-sized enterprises in land-based transportation equipment use both strong-tie networks (geographically close, familiar contacts) and weak-tie networks (distant, unfamiliar contacts) to drive innovation. A survey of 147 SMEs confirms that weak-tie networks provide crucial pre-competitive information for major technological innovations, while an organization's absorptive capacity determines how effectively firms leverage these distant connections.
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Absorptive Capacity and the Effects of Foreign Direct Investment and Equity Foreign Portfolio Investment on Economic Growth
This study analyzes 80 countries from 1979 to 1998 and finds that foreign direct investment and equity foreign portfolio investment do not automatically boost economic growth. Instead, their positive effects depend on a country's absorptive capacity—particularly its financial and institutional development. Stronger institutions enable countries to effectively use foreign investment for growth.
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An Empirical Study of the Relationship of IT Intensity and Organizational Absorptive Capacity on CRM Performance
This study examines how IT investment and organizational absorptive capacity affect CRM performance in Taiwanese financial service companies. The research finds that CRM practices mediate the relationship between IT intensity and absorptive capacity on one hand, and CRM performance on the other. Organizations competing globally should invest in both IT infrastructure and absorptive capacity to build marketing intelligence and innovate products meeting customer needs.
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NETWORK STRUCTURE AND INNOVATION AMBIGUITY EFFECTS ON DIFFUSION IN DYNAMIC ORGANIZATIONAL FIELDS.
Computational modeling shows how network structures affect innovation diffusion differently depending on whether innovations have clear or ambiguous benefits. Regional constraints slow diffusion of ambiguous innovations but help spread clearly beneficial ones. Partnering patterns and interregional connections significantly influence which innovations spread through organizational fields.
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Effect of acetylation and succinylation on solubility profile, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity and emulsifying properties of mucuna bean (<i>Mucuna pruriens</i>) protein concentrate
Researchers modified mucuna bean protein concentrate through acetylation and succinylation to improve its functional properties. Modified proteins showed better solubility, water absorption, and emulsifying capacity compared to unmodified protein, with succinylated versions performing best. These chemical modifications make mucuna protein more suitable for food applications across varying pH and salt conditions.
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The Changing Structure of American Cities: A Study of the Diffusion of Innovation
American cities have restructured over 50 years following innovation diffusion patterns. Mayor-council cities adopted council-manager features to improve efficiency, while council-manager cities adopted mayor-council features to increase responsiveness. The result is a convergence toward hybrid governance models that blur traditional distinctions between the two forms.
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Original equipment manufacturers (OEM) manufacturing strategy for network innovation agility: the case of Taiwanese manufacturing networks
Taiwanese original equipment manufacturers can pursue two distinct strategies—dedicated OEM service or own-brand products—both enabling innovation agility in global networks. Dedicated OEM suppliers should prioritize manufacturing flexibility and modular product design, while own-brand manufacturers need strong cross-functional integration. Market orientation proves essential for both approaches to succeed in collaborative innovation networks.
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The role of research in regional innovation systems: new models meeting knowledge economy demands
Regional innovation systems are expanding across national economies, with over 100 empirical studies and 100 EU regional strategies implemented in the past decade. However, globalization pressures favor metropolitan areas over peripheral regions. New ground-up approaches emerging in Europe reveal how science, research, and innovation interconnect to build genuine competitiveness and address innovation deficits in lagging regions.
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Prospects for Developing Absorptive Capacity Through Internal Information Provision
Managers can build organizational absorptive capacity by distributing knowledge internally to employees who might adopt new practices. The effectiveness of this information provision depends on what employees already know from other sources. Prior experience with related practices strengthens the impact of managerial information, while knowledge from previous adopters weakens it. This clarifies when absorptive capacity creates lasting competitive advantage.
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Doctors on-line: using diffusion of innovations theory to understand internet use.
Family physicians in a northeastern U.S. metropolitan area adopt internet use for medical information when they have time to learn and observe its benefits firsthand. Diffusion of innovations theory predicts adoption patterns: physicians need protected time to develop skills and experience usefulness before internet searching becomes routine. Continuing medical education focused on internet skills could increase adoption, while demographic factors like gender or training recency do not affect adoption rates.
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Learning from users for radical innovation
Companies need radical innovations to stay competitive, not just incremental improvements. This study examined five medical technology projects—including robots and navigation systems—to identify which users contribute most effectively to radical innovation development. The researchers found that users with high motivation, openness to new technology, diverse skills, and supportive environments substantially advanced innovation. Manufacturers who adopted these users' ideas and prototypes significantly improved their radical innovation capabilities, suggesting firms should systematically identify and engage such users as a learning mechanism.
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Gross Morphology and Absorption Capacity of Cell-Fibers from the Fibrous Vascular System of Loofah (Luffa cylindrica)
This paper examines how loofah plant fibers absorb liquids based on their microscopic structure. Researchers tested raw fibers and chemically treated fibers using water and salt solutions. They found that loofah's natural spongy structure, made of bundled cells with small channels, enables strong liquid absorption—up to 22.6 grams of liquid per gram of fiber. Chemical treatment with formaldehyde further improved absorption capacity.
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Network of Collaborations for Innovation: The Case of Biotechnology
Biotechnology firms developing new drugs and agricultural products increasingly rely on collaborations to navigate product development and commercialization. This study of 27 organizations examines how inter-institutional partnerships differ across various stages of introducing biotech products to market, comparing collaboration patterns between pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors.
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Networks and innovation in European construction: benefits from inter-organisational cooperation in a fragmented industry
Construction industries across five European countries show varying performance levels. The research reveals that stronger inter-organisational networks—particularly between contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, government, universities, architects, clients, and international partners—correlate with better industry performance. Cooperation networks drive innovation in this fragmented sector.
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SIMULATING KNOWLEDGE DYNAMICS IN INNOVATION NETWORKS (SKIN)
This paper presents SIMKIN, an agent-based simulation model that represents how innovation occurs in knowledge-based industries. The model features heterogeneous agents with different knowledge stocks who interact through markets and knowledge exchange. It captures uncertainty, learning from experience and collaboration, agent failure, and historical change. The simulation allows researchers to explore dynamic innovation processes in complex systems.
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ANTICIPATING DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION The key to avoiding the negative effects of disruptive technologies is to focus on what is happening with customer and operational needs.
Leading firms across industries consistently fail to maintain market dominance when facing disruptive technological change, despite their past success. The paper argues this pattern is not inevitable. Organizations must simultaneously manage sustaining innovations that protect current business models and disruptive innovations that enable future competitiveness. Success requires building internally contradictory structures and cultures that foster both efficiency and experimentation, though this remains organizationally difficult.
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Innovation and Strategy: Risk and Choice in Shaping User-Centered Libraries
Libraries succeed by creating customer-centered services through innovation and strategy. The paper argues that strategy and innovation are essential tools for organizational success, with strategy enabling effective innovation decisions. Library leaders must continuously develop value-added services, strategically evaluate innovations, and deliver them to users. The paper reviews innovation and strategy theories applied to nonprofit library organizations and proposes approaches for creating both.
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Everett Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations Theory: Its Utility and Value in Public Health
Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations theory has evolved from linear communication models to interactive frameworks where participants jointly create understanding of new ideas and practices. The theory has proven valuable across applied fields including international development, family planning, nutrition education, and substance abuse prevention, demonstrating its utility for understanding how innovations spread through populations.
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Modified calcium carbonate coatings with rapid absorption and extensive liquid uptake capacity
This paper is not about rural innovation. It describes the development of modified calcium carbonate coatings with enhanced liquid absorption properties for digital printing applications. The researchers engineered new pigment morphologies with dual-scale pore networks that absorb liquids 10 times faster than conventional calcium carbonate, using mercury porosimetry and electron microscopy to characterize the structures.
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Rural Entrepreneurship in Europe: A Research Framework and Agenda
Rural entrepreneurship operates within a distinct territorial context shaped by physical geography, social capital, governance structures, and networks. The authors argue that rurality itself functions as a dynamic entrepreneurial resource, creating both opportunities and constraints. They propose a three-stage sequential model of rural entrepreneurship and outline a research agenda addressing theoretical understanding and policy development to support rural business creation.
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Broadband: A Solution for Rural e-Learning?
Broadband infrastructure can overcome connectivity barriers that disadvantage rural and remote learners in online education. A project installing broadband in Scotland's Western Isles demonstrates how improved connections enable better e-learning course design and support informal learning opportunities in rural communities.
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Charting Digital Divides: Comparing Socioeconomic, Gender, Life Stage, and Rural-Urban Internet Access and Use in Five Countries
This paper examines internet access and use patterns across five countries, analyzing how socioeconomic status, gender, life stage, and rural-urban location create persistent digital divides. The authors document that the digital divide operates across multiple dimensions simultaneously, shaped by both technological infrastructure and social factors, with rural populations facing distinct barriers compared to urban counterparts.
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Lessons from the design of innovation systems for rural industrial clusters in India
Innovation systems for rural village industries in India fail when they adopt weak competitiveness models focused on poverty alleviation rather than business growth. The paper argues that small producers must form multi-sectoral collectives pooling resources and capabilities to achieve technological efficiency. Analysis of leather, fruit processing, and agro-processing sectors shows that successful innovation requires producers to cooperate in production at scale, not compete individually using primitive intermediate technologies.
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Promoting the 'Civic' in Entrepreneurship: The Case of Rural Slovakia
Rural Slovakia successfully developed entrepreneurs through a mini-grants program that built civic capacity before economic entrepreneurship. The approach emphasized social and cultural norms alongside individual characteristics and networks. This model proved effective in post-communist Eastern Europe, where institutional support for entrepreneurship had been neglected during the transition to capitalism.
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Using Wi-Fi for cost-effective broadband wireless access in rural and remote areas
This paper evaluates Wi-Fi technology as a cost-effective solution for delivering broadband internet to rural and remote areas where traditional DSL and cable services are unavailable or unaffordable. The authors model network economics using realistic costs, revenues, and demand patterns, comparing conventional Wi-Fi with advanced beam-forming antenna approaches. Their analysis demonstrates that wireless broadband can be economically viable and affordable in dispersed rural communities.
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Strategic experimentation and innovation in rural Australia
A small family farm in rural Australia successfully introduced a new crop and farming methods through strategic partnerships with an international company and government organizations. The case demonstrates that rural innovation depends on entrepreneurial qualities—opportunity recognition, network leverage, risk-taking, and adaptive learning—combined with a supportive national culture that enables farmers to overcome barriers and sustain ventures.
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Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts of the Photovoltaic Battery Charging Stations for Philippine＇s Off-Grid Rural Electrification
A Philippine program installed photovoltaic battery charging systems in 255 households and community facilities across off-grid rural areas from 1999 to 2004. The systems reduced kerosene consumption by 75%, cut air pollution, and enabled households to extend economic activities into evening hours. The project demonstrates that solar charging stations provide cost-effective, environmentally friendly electrification for remote communities, though careful energy demand planning and efficient appliances remain essential for success.
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Rural electrification through renewable energy in Nepal
Nepal possesses significant hydropower potential but lacks rural electrical grid coverage. Micro-hydro and solar photovoltaic systems offer viable alternatives for rural electrification. Currently these renewable sources reach only 7% of the rural population. Nepal's 10th Five-Year Plan targets 10 MW from micro-hydro schemes and off-grid access for 12% of the population. Government agencies, NGOs, and private institutions collaborate through organizations like the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre to expand rural renewable energy infrastructure.
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From Vernacular to English: A Model of Innovation from within the Hearts of the Indigenous Teachers in Papua New Guinea
A vernacular elementary school teacher in Papua New Guinea developed an innovative approach to literacy education using local languages. Children who gained literacy skills in their local vernacular successfully transferred those skills to English and other languages. The approach improved outcomes for students, teachers, and families.
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Building assets to reduce vulnerability: microfinance provision by a rural working people's union in Mexico
Proyecto Tequisquiapan, a rural microfinance union in Mexico, provides deposit facilities and protective financial services that help vulnerable households build assets and manage financial shocks. The organization succeeds through small-scale operations, committed staff, and continuous innovation tailored to members' needs. The authors argue this model outperforms large-scale commercialized microfinance and warrants World Bank attention.
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Regional Innovation Systems in the Periphery: The Case of the Beauce in Québec (Canada)
Survey-based study of 45 SMEs in the Beauce region of Quebec asking how innovation actually happens in a peripheral regional innovation system, where actors are less diversified than in oft-cited core regions like Silicon Valley or Emilia-Romagna.
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The role of education in facilitating risk-taking and innovation in agriculture
Education reduces risk-aversion among farmers in rural Ethiopia, making them more likely to adopt agricultural innovations. The study shows schooling encourages technology adoption both directly and indirectly by shifting attitudes toward risk. Educated farmers who adopt innovations early may create positive spillovers when less-educated farmers copy their practices, generating benefits beyond individual adopters.
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Innovation adoption in agriculture : innovators, early adopters and laggards
Dutch farmers adopt agricultural innovations at different rates based on structural and behavioral factors. Farm size, market position, solvency, and farmer age distinguish innovators and early adopters from laggards. Innovators and early adopters share similar structural traits but differ behaviorally: innovators actively seek external information sources and participate in developing new technologies, while early adopters do not.
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Adoption of agricultural innovations as a two‐stage partial observability process
This paper argues that partial observability models better explain agricultural innovation adoption than standard statistical approaches. The authors show that adoption operates as a two-stage process where farmers first decide whether to consider an innovation, then decide whether to adopt it. They apply this framework to organic farming adoption in Greece, demonstrating that the model accounts for non-adopters and incomplete information more accurately than conventional methods.
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Assessing or Predicting Adoption of Telehealth Using the Diffusion of Innovations Theory: A Practical Example from a Rural Program in New Mexico
A rural telemedicine program in New Mexico used diffusion of innovations theory to understand why healthcare providers adopt or reject telehealth. The researchers found that the type of innovation decision—whether adoption is made individually, collectively, or by authority—significantly influences whether telehealth gets adopted. They demonstrate that diffusion theory effectively evaluates telehealth programs and propose developing a predictive tool to assess adoption likelihood before new programs launch.
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Rural and micro finance regulation in Ghana: implications for development and performance of the industry
Ghana's regulatory framework for rural and microfinance institutions shaped the development of diverse formal, semi-formal, and informal providers serving different market segments. The study finds that overly permissive early entry policies created weak institutions using untested methodologies, damaging credibility and straining supervision resources. Effective regulation requires balancing market access for broader outreach against prudential standards and adequate supervisory capacity.
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Caring for country and sustainable Indigenous development: Opportunities, constraints and innovation
Indigenous community-based natural resource management in northern Australia generates both conservation and economic benefits. When Indigenous people actively manage their land, they achieve favorable fire regimes, control weeds, and harvest wildlife while producing income through arts, crafts, and commercial enterprises. The paper argues that removing barriers to Indigenous participation in these activities and providing equitable public support creates sustainable economic development that reduces Indigenous disadvantage while protecting biodiversity.
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Enabling equitable access to rural electrification: Current thinking on energy, poverty, and gender
Rural electrification programs must address the interconnected challenges of energy access, poverty reduction, and gender equity. The paper identifies critical gaps in current energy projects, particularly regarding women's specific needs, health impacts from cooking fuels, access to credit for microenterprises, and lack of gender-disaggregated data. It calls for renewable energy approaches that prioritize poor rural women and emphasizes the need for documented case studies and multidisciplinary collaboration to improve outcomes.
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Facing Societal Challenges: The Need for New Paradigms in Rural Transit Service
Rural transit operators must adopt new service paradigms to address changing societal needs. The paper identifies five new organizational and delivery models that rural transit systems can implement to better serve evolving rural populations and meet contemporary transportation challenges across diverse rural settings.
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The Era of Open Innovation
Innovation has shifted from closed, internally-controlled models to open innovation where companies harness external ideas and share internal knowledge beyond organizational boundaries. The paper argues that widespread knowledge dissemination and rapid market dynamics make centralized R&D obsolete, requiring firms to collaborate externally while leveraging their own innovations outside traditional operations to create and capture value.
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Open Source Software and the “Private-Collective” Innovation Model: Issues for Organization Science
Open source software development represents a hybrid innovation model combining private investment and collective action. Developers solve their own problems while freely sharing innovations without capturing private returns, creating public goods. This private-collective model offers society advantages of both approaches and raises new research questions for organization science. The authors provide guidance on accessing open source project data and conducting empirical studies.
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Innovation in Innovation: The Triple Helix of University-Industry-Government Relations
Universities, industry, and government increasingly collaborate in a 'Triple Helix' model that drives innovation. Universities now actively commercialize knowledge and incubate technology firms. Companies invest in research and training as they advance technologically. Government functions as both entrepreneur and venture capitalist alongside its regulatory role. This interactive approach replaces linear innovation models, with institutions adopting each other's practices to create hybrid innovation ecosystems.
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The Logic of Open Innovation: Managing Intellectual Property
Companies must shift from closed, internal innovation models to open innovation approaches that leverage external R&D and knowledge. As commercially valuable knowledge spreads rapidly, firms managing intellectual property through open innovation—which emphasizes external partnerships and internal incentive systems—better maintain their innovation capacity than those relying solely on internal capabilities.
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Organizational Absorptive Capacity and Responsiveness: An Empirical Investigation of Growth–Oriented SMEs
Growth-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises improve their organizational responsiveness by developing strong capabilities in acquiring external knowledge and sharing information internally. The study shows these relationships strengthen when firms adopt proactive strategies or operate in turbulent environments. Environmental conditions and strategic orientation significantly influence how effectively SMEs convert knowledge into responsive action.
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The Disruptive Nature of Information Technology Innovations: The Case of Internet Computing in Systems Development Organizations1, 2
This paper develops a theoretical model of disruptive IT innovations and applies it to Internet computing adoption. The authors studied eight systems development organizations in the United States and Finland, finding that Internet computing fundamentally transformed their development processes and service offerings. The research shows how architectural innovations in computing technology create cascading changes across organizational practices and outcomes.
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Managing User Involvement in Service Innovation
Users generate more original service ideas with higher perceived value than professional developers, but their ideas are less producible. User involvement implementation matters significantly—users working with design expert feedback produced better results than those working alone. The study reveals trade-offs between innovation originality and technical feasibility when involving users in service development.
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R&D and Absorptive Capacity: Theory and Empirical Evidence*
This paper develops a unified framework connecting endogenous growth theory with empirical R&D research. It shows that R&D drives both innovation and absorptive capacity—the ability to adopt others' discoveries. The model explains long-run productivity differences between countries and reveals that previous studies underestimated R&D's social returns by ignoring absorptive capacity effects.
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Responses to disruptive strategic innovation
Established companies face disruptive strategic innovations that challenge their existing business models. The paper identifies five response strategies: focus on the core business, ignore non-threatening innovations, counter the disruption, operate both models simultaneously, or scale the new approach. A company's choice depends on its motivation (growth rate, threat level, strategic relevance) and ability (skills, resources, time, conflict magnitude). Success requires recognizing that new competitive approaches aren't automatically superior.
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‘Spatializing’ knowledge communities: towards a conceptualization of transnational innovation networks
This paper argues that innovation systems research should shift focus from discrete geographic scales to network relationships operating across scales. The authors propose that innovation networks extend beyond firms to include knowledge communities and the movement of knowledgeable individuals. They develop a conceptual framework identifying three domains of transnational innovation networks: corporate-institutional, social network, and hegemonic-discursive, showing how these domains interact across different localities.
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Why organizations adopt information system process innovations: a longitudinal study using Diffusion of Innovation theory
This longitudinal study examines why organizations adopt information system process innovations across four decades and three organizational environments. Using Diffusion of Innovation theory, the researchers identify key adoption factors: user need recognition, technological infrastructure availability, past experience, trials, autonomous work, ease of use, learning by doing, and standards. However, many adoptions followed no clear pattern, suggesting additional unexplained influences on organizational innovation decisions.
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Absorptive Capacity: Antecedents, Models and Outcomes
This paper reviews the concept of absorptive capacity—an organization's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external knowledge. The authors synthesize theoretical and empirical contributions to clarify the construct's definition, antecedents, and consequences across different levels of analysis. They assess how the concept has been refined and extended in literature, analyze conceptual models, and identify key research gaps. The paper calls for future work that better integrates multiple levels of analysis and draws on diverse disciplines.
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Benefits of involving users in service innovation
Users generate more creative and useful service innovations than professional developers, according to an empirical study comparing service ideas for mobile telephony. While professional suggestions were easier to implement, ordinary users contributed novel ideas with greater creative value. The research demonstrates that consumers can serve as effective co-inventors in service innovation, though organizational factors affect their contribution potential.
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Technology gaps, absorptive capacity and the impact of inward investments on productivity of European firms *
Using firm-level data from France, Italy, and Spain (1993-1997), this paper examines how foreign direct investment affects domestic firm productivity. The researchers find that positive effects depend on technology gaps and absorptive capacity. In most sectors, larger technology gaps between foreign and domestic firms enable stronger productivity gains. However, in science-based industries, domestic firms benefit more when they have higher absorptive capacity and smaller technology gaps from foreign competitors.
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Profiles of <sup>14</sup>C fixation through spinach leaves in relation to light absorption and photosynthetic capacity
This paper is not about rural innovation. It presents a laboratory study of photosynthetic processes in spinach leaves, measuring carbon dioxide fixation rates at different leaf depths under various light conditions. The researchers developed a model combining light absorption and photosynthetic capacity measurements to predict CO2 fixation profiles, finding strong agreement between observed and predicted results.
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Diffusion of Innovations Under Supply Constraints
This paper develops a model for firms selling innovative products under production capacity constraints. The authors modify the Bass diffusion model to account for unmet demand affecting future sales. They show that immediately selling maximum output is suboptimal, and instead recommend a "build-up" strategy where firms delay sales to accumulate inventory, ensuring no lost sales once market entry begins. The analysis provides optimal timing and inventory levels for product rollout.
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Disruptive information system innovation: the case of internet computing
This paper develops a theory of disruptive information system innovation, defined as novel organizational applications of digital technologies that create radical breaks from expected trajectories. The authors argue that internet computing exemplifies disruptive IS innovation because it fundamentally transformed application portfolios, development practices, and IS services across organizations. They demonstrate that disruptive innovations are both pervasive—spanning all aspects of IS innovation—and radical, departing significantly from existing alternatives and requiring new cognitive models of computing.
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Visualization of Communication Patterns in Collaborative Innovation Networks - Analysis of Some W3C Working Groups
This paper analyzes communication patterns in collaborative innovation networks by examining email archives from W3C working groups. The researchers developed visualization tools to map how information flows through these global internet-based teams over time. They found that different groups displayed distinct communication structures and identified both formal and informal leadership patterns that shaped how innovation networks organized themselves.
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National Innovation System - Scientific Concept or Political Rhetoric
This paper examines whether the national innovation system is a genuine scientific concept or primarily political rhetoric. The author analyzes how the term functions in academic and policy discourse, questioning whether it provides meaningful analytical value or serves mainly as a rhetorical device for justifying innovation policy decisions.
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User-led Innovation Processes: The Development of Professional Car Sharing by Environmentally Concerned Citizens
User-led innovation drives early technology development and diffusion. Citizen groups shape technological characteristics, costs, and use forms, creating 'technological niches' where essential learning occurs. This case study traces organized car sharing in Switzerland from neighborhood experiments in the late 1980s to a professional service serving 50,000 customers. The research shows how users' initial contributions became difficult for professional actors to replicate, and examines how user roles shifted during market expansion toward sustainable transport.
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Alliances, Networks and Competitive Strategy: Rethinking Clusters of Innovation
This paper examines how networks of firms drive innovation and competitiveness through alliances and knowledge sharing. The authors argue that successful innovation requires flexible network structures that adapt over time, and that geography plays a crucial role in how these networks form and operate. They contend that effective innovation networks are increasingly international rather than locally confined.
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The Effect of Employer Networks on Workplace Innovation and Training
Establishments whose managers participate in industry associations, civic organizations, and multi-unit firm networks adopt high-performance work practices and employee training programs more frequently and intensively than isolated firms. Managers embedded in multiple networks show the strongest commitment to work reorganization and training. Social ties between organizations drive organizational learning and innovation diffusion.
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Economic Development and National System of Innovation Approach
This paper examines how national systems of innovation drive economic development. The authors analyze the institutional frameworks, policies, and networks that enable countries to generate and adopt innovations. They argue that understanding innovation systems is essential for developing effective economic strategies, particularly for nations seeking to improve competitiveness and prosperity through technological advancement and knowledge creation.
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Clinical Team Functioning and IT Innovation: A Study of the Diffusion of a Point-of-care Online Evidence System
Clinical team functioning significantly affects whether healthcare teams effectively use online evidence systems to improve patient care, though it doesn't determine initial awareness or adoption. Small teams showed greater awareness of the system than large teams. The study of 180 clinicians across three Australian hospitals demonstrates that team climate matters most at the implementation stage of innovation diffusion, supporting Rogers' diffusion theory.
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"The Golden Thread of Innovation' and Northern Ireland's Evolving Regional Innovation System
Northern Ireland's innovation performance improved with rising business R&D spending, but many firms remain underperformers. Three categories of innovative firms developed strong systemic interactions with a venture capital-led support infrastructure that flexibly meets growth needs of local innovators. This private sector model sets a standard that public agencies should adopt in their regional innovation strategies.
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Innovation and users: virtual reality in the construction sector
Construction firms act as users of virtual reality technology developed outside their sector, shaping how the technology evolves through their practical needs. A study of 11 construction organizations found that project characteristics—particularly project size and design reuse—drive different technological requirements for virtual reality use. These divergent user needs, communicated to suppliers, generate distinct solutions tailored to different project types.
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Diffusion of Innovations as a Theoretical Framework for Telecenters
This paper applies diffusion of innovations theory to understand how rural telecenters—information and communication centers in developing countries—spread and are adopted by local communities. The author examines three key aspects: how people perceive telecenter innovations, how communication drives their adoption, and what consequences result from using them. The framework provides researchers and practitioners with a theoretical foundation for studying telecenter diffusion in rural areas.
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The Effect of New Product Radicality and Scope on the Extent and Speed of Innovation Diffusion
This study examines how two characteristics of new products—radicality and scope—influence how widely and quickly innovations spread across markets. Using data from 82 product innovations across three industries over sixteen years, the research finds that more radical innovations achieve broader adoption and spread faster, while broader-scope innovations spread faster. The findings apply institutional and bandwagon theories to explain why specific product features drive diffusion rates.
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Innovation, Diffusion, and Institutional Change
This paper examines how technological innovation drives institutional change by connecting diffusion theory with institutional economics. Rather than focusing solely on inventors and technological supply, the author argues for a demand-side perspective that explains why communities accept or reject innovations. The paper reconciles diffusion theory with institutional analysis to better understand how new technologies become embedded in social structures and institutions.
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Exploration, Exploitation and Co-evolution in Innovation Networks
This study examines how sectoral innovation systems co-evolve by analyzing the relationships between institutional environments, firm networks, and learning regimes. Using multimedia and pharmaceutical biotechnology sectors in the Netherlands as case studies from the late 1980s to early 2000s, the research identifies a general co-evolutionary pattern while showing that how this pattern manifests in network structures and coordination mechanisms depends on each sector's specific institutional setup.
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Intestinal Morphology, Epithelial Cell Proliferation, and Absorptive Capacity in Neonatal Calves Fed Milk-Born Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I or a Colostrum Extract
This study examined how insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) affects intestinal development in newborn calves. Feeding calves supraphysiological amounts of human IGF-I from transgenic rabbit milk produced no effects. However, feeding a bovine colostrum extract containing physiological IGF-I levels increased intestinal villus size and epithelial cell proliferation, though it temporarily reduced absorptive capacity.
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Organizational Learning, Diffusion of Innovation, and International Collaboration in Telemedicine
This paper examines how telemedicine practices spread across organizations and what organizations learn from adopting telemedicine. The authors identify competing forces that influence this diffusion process and propose five sets of propositions explaining how telemedicine collaboration generates learning effects and shapes institutional development. The work addresses implications for building telemedicine networks.
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Cooperation, Networks and Institutions in Regional Innovation Systems
This book examines how cooperation, networks, and institutions shape regional innovation systems. Using examples of clusters at various development stages, the authors demonstrate that these factors are critical to how local innovation systems emerge and develop over time.
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Nordic SMEs and Regional Innovation Systems
Nordic small and medium enterprises compete globally through innovation rather than cost-cutting, given their high wage levels. The paper examines how regional innovation systems support SME competitiveness in the Nordic countries, arguing that innovation capacity is essential for these firms to maintain economic viability in an increasingly globalized market.
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Les facteurs de diffusion des innovations managériales en comptabilité et contrôle de gestion : une étude comparative
This comparative study examines what factors influence the spread of managerial innovations in accounting and management control. By analyzing the diffusion of three innovations—ABC costing, budgetary control, and the Georges Perrin method—in France, the authors identify that different categories of actors, communication channels, and contextual variables all significantly impact how these innovations spread across organizations.
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The adoption and diffusion of interorganizational system standards and process innovations
This paper examines how interorganizational system standards and process innovations spread across industries. The authors surveyed 102 firms across 10 industrial groups to identify what drives adoption of modern IOS technologies like XML and SOAP. They found that technological, organizational, and environmental factors—plus the role of standards development organizations—significantly influence whether companies implement these systems. The research bridges older EDI-focused studies with current web-based interorganizational solutions.
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Geo-Policy Barriers and Rural Internet Access: The Regulatory Role in Constructing the Digital Divide
Geographic isolation and regulatory policies jointly determine rural internet access. A study of 208 Texas telephone exchanges and rural counties shows that market territories and distance requirements under expanded local calling policy both facilitate and obstruct internet service provider presence in remote areas. Policy design significantly shapes the digital divide.
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Changing Fortunes of Government Policies and Its Implications on the Application of Agricultural Innovations in Cameroon
Government policy shifts in Cameroon have undermined agricultural infrastructure and research institutions, creating barriers to innovation adoption among farmers. Despite agriculture's critical role in the economy and poverty reduction, budget allocation has not translated into functional support systems. The author argues that continued policy neglect will severely limit farmers' ability to adopt innovations, reducing productivity and food security, and calls for coordinated action beyond government alone.
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Research Prizes: A Mechanism to Reward Agricultural Innovation in Low-Income Regions
The paper proposes research prizes as a mechanism to incentivize agricultural innovation in low-income regions. Rather than relying solely on traditional funding models, prizes reward successful innovations that address agricultural challenges in resource-constrained areas, creating direct incentives for developing practical solutions tailored to the needs and conditions of poor farming communities.
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Technological and Institutional Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development
International agricultural research must shift from traditional top-down models to participatory, systems-based approaches that engage farmers and communities throughout the innovation process. The International Livestock Research Institute reorganized its work around five interconnected themes emphasizing innovation systems, participatory research, social science capacity, and partnerships. This demand-driven, community-based model produces knowledge products directly addressing poverty alleviation and sustainable rural development, particularly through livestock research in developing countries.
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Rural Telephone Company Adoption of Service Innovations: A Community Field Theory Approach*
Rural telephone companies in Iowa that actively participate in local economic development activities adopt telecommunications service innovations at higher rates than those that don't. The study distinguishes between service innovations (improving client offerings) and operations innovations (improving business efficiency), finding that community engagement directly drives adoption of new technologies to serve rural customers better.
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From Rural Single-County to Multicounty Regional Transit Systems: Benefits of Consolidation
This study examines consolidating single-county rural public transit systems into multicounty regional systems in North Carolina. Researchers identified opportunities and barriers to regional integration, analyzed case studies of successful consolidations, and recommended programmatic and legislative changes to facilitate regional transit systems. The findings show that consolidation improves coordination of public transportation services across rural counties.
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Small-scale Business in Rural Java: Involution or Innovation?1
Two case studies of rural Indonesian entrepreneurs reveal that while proximity enables information spread, fear of imitation prevents knowledge sharing and limits learning. Local business owners avoid collaboration to protect innovations from competitors. The paper argues that universities should provide business services and market information to rural small-scale enterprises to overcome these barriers and improve welfare outcomes.
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INNOVATION TRANSFER AND RURAL SMES
Rural small and medium enterprises struggle to access innovation due to financial, technical, and organizational barriers. This paper examines innovation transfer to agro-industrial SMEs in Central Italy, identifying cultural and communication gaps between researchers and entrepreneurs. The authors propose methodological guidelines for analyzing and meeting innovation demands in rural enterprises, based on their experience deploying research personnel into SMEs.
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Entrepreneurship Development and Tourism in Rural African Communities
This paper examines entrepreneurship development in rural African tourism contexts. It identifies key factors influencing entrepreneurial success, including proper identification of potential entrepreneurs, recognition of tourism opportunities, political environment challenges, and skills transfer to aspiring business owners. The findings highlight critical issues project managers must address to improve tourism entrepreneurship prospects in rural African communities.
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Encouraging Entrepreneurship in Rural Communities: The University of Kentucky Entrepreneurship Initiative Program
The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service developed a program to support rural entrepreneurship by engaging existing business owners to understand their needs and help them build profitable, sustainable enterprises. The program also uses insights from established entrepreneurs to design training that encourages new business creation in rural communities.
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International Research on Food Security, Natural Resource Management and Rural Development Technological and Institutional Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development Reproduction Rate of Kacang and Peranakan Etawah Goats under Village Production Systems in Indonesia
This study evaluated reproduction rates of two goat breeds—Kacang and Peranakan Etawah—raised by smallholder farmers in Central Java, Indonesia. Researchers collected data from 362 does over 20 months to measure kids weaned per doe per year and identify factors affecting productivity. Kacang goats produced 2.95 kids per doe annually versus 1.76 for Peranakan Etawah. Reproduction rates increased with parity, birth type, and litter weight at weaning, providing farmers with information to improve local goat production using available resources.
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Implications of Financial Innovations for the Poorest of the Poor in the Rural Area: Experience from Northern Bangladesh
Microfinance programs like Grameen reach only upper-level poor in rural Bangladesh and offer limited services with rigid procedures. SafeSave's innovative approach succeeded in urban areas but faced challenges when adapted to rural settings due to different economic structures and poverty patterns. Successful rural microfinance requires understanding local poverty dynamics, designing appropriate financial products, identifying the poorest households, and educating clients while motivating service providers.
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Linking rural radio to new ICTs in Africa: bridging the rural digital divide.
Rural radio can bridge Africa's digital divide by connecting to new information and communication technologies. The paper argues that radio remains a viable platform for reaching rural populations with critical information, particularly about food security and agricultural development, as developing countries face growing food deficits and population pressures.
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Bridging the digital divide [rural development]
Rural African communities face significant challenges when implementing information and communication technologies for development. The paper documents obstacles to bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas, highlighting practical difficulties in deploying ICT solutions in resource-constrained rural settings.
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Bridging the Digital Divide in Rural Appalachia: Internet Usage in the Mountains
This study examines how the Melungeon community in Appalachia uses the Internet to connect with others and trace their genealogy. Through oral history interviews, the research shows that Internet usage has become an effective tool for this historically isolated group to uncover community history, folklore, and family connections. A popular Melungeon website receives over 21,000 monthly hits, demonstrating significant digital engagement within the community.
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COMPOSITE REPORT ON THE STATUS AND TRENDS REGARDING THE KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATIONS AND PRACTICES OF INDIGENOUS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES
This composite report documents the status and trends of knowledge, innovations, and practices held by indigenous and local communities. It synthesizes information on how these communities develop and maintain innovations rooted in traditional ecological knowledge and local practices, providing a baseline understanding of indigenous innovation systems and their contemporary relevance.
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43 nd European Regional Science Association Congress "Peripheries, Centres, and Spatial Development in the New Europe" University of Jyväskylä, Finland, August 27 th -30 th 2003 Innovation and Business Performance in Rural and Peripheral Areas of Greece
This study examines innovation patterns in two mountainous Greek regions and their effect on business performance. Surveying 100 manufacturing and service enterprises, the researchers found that product and market innovation varies between the more accessible and remote areas. Business networks, entrepreneurial characteristics, and firm-specific factors drive innovation, which in turn improves business performance. The findings support territorially tailored innovation policies for peripheral rural areas.
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Using renewable energy for rural connectivity and distance education in Latin America
Renewable energy technologies, particularly photovoltaic systems, enable rural connectivity and distance education services across Latin America, especially in isolated communities without grid electricity. Sandia National Laboratories and partners support this expansion through capacity building and technology development, focusing on Mexico and Central America with funding from USAID and the US Department of Energy.
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Definitions of "Rural"
Foundational Statistics Canada working paper unpacking the multiple operational definitions of 'rural' used in policy and research — by density, by distance to density, by commuting, and by administrative boundary. Essential reading for anyone using rural data.
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Enterprise across the digital divide: information systems and rural microenterprise in Botswana
Rural microenterprises in Botswana lack ICT access and rely on informal, social, and local information systems. While these systems work well in many respects, they limit entrepreneurs' connections and opportunities. The paper argues that shared telephone services should be the priority for breaking this isolation, with ICTs playing a supporting role through intermediary organizations that provide finance, skills, and knowledge alongside technology.
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Innovation Systems, Institutional Change And The New Knowledge Market: Implications For Third World Agricultural Development
This paper applies information theory to analyze innovation systems in developing countries, focusing on agricultural poverty. It argues that Third World agricultural research and development requires fundamental institutional reform, not just technological fixes or policy adjustments. The author examines knowledge markets in industrialized countries as models and contends that without restructuring institutions—particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa—technological innovations cannot reach their economic potential.
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Social-Capital Mobilization and Income Returns to Entrepreneurship: The Case of Return Migration in Rural China
Return migrants in rural China who acquire skills during urban labor migration mobilize local social capital more effectively to start businesses. Social capital generates income returns comparable to investment capital and acquired skills. The study demonstrates that temporary migration serves as a rural development strategy by enabling families to accumulate both human capital and social networks that support entrepreneurship upon return.
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The Digital Divide and ICT Learning in Rural Communities: Examples of Good Practice Service Delivery
Rural communities face barriers to ICT adoption and skills development. This paper identifies successful approaches to building digital culture in rural areas, including community resource centres for hands-on experience, internet cafés and gaming to lower entry barriers, user management strategies to build ownership, mobile service delivery, integration of ICT into existing services, and targeted financial support.
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Induced Innovation in United States Agriculture, 1880–1990: Time Series Tests and an Error Correction Model
This paper tests the induced innovation hypothesis in U.S. agriculture from 1880 to 1990 using an error correction model. The analysis confirms that changes in factor prices and research spending drive technological change that saves expensive inputs. The study separates factor substitution from technological bias, establishing that price signals and R&D investment causally precede the development of labor-saving and land-saving innovations in American agriculture.
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Innovation and learning in agriculture
Farmers innovate through interactive learning networks and trial-and-error processes, relying on external knowledge infrastructures. The entrepreneur acts as the central learner driving innovation. The paper examines how farmers learn and innovate in modern agriculture and identifies effective government policies to support innovation without protectionism. Innovation requires balancing uncertainty with experience—a core competence of entrepreneurial success.
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THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND RURAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS
Rural America faces a persistent and widening digital divide, with lower rates of telephone, computer, and internet access compared to urban areas. This gap affects nearly all demographic groups—single parents, elderly and young people, minorities, people with disabilities, and lower-income households. The article examines four national reports documenting these disparities and discusses how the divide impacts rural community college students, educators, administrators, and policy decisions.
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Adoption of ICT in agricultural management in the United Kingdom: the intra-rural digital divide
UK farming businesses adopting information and communication technology gain significant benefits, but a digital divide is emerging within the agricultural sector. Farmers who fail to adopt ICT face severe competitive disadvantages. The paper argues that Central and Eastern European countries will experience similar divides, warranting policy intervention and further research to address technology adoption gaps.
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A Symposium on Savings-Led Microfinance and the Rural Poor
Microfinance institutions have successfully reached only a small fraction of the world's poorest rural families, with significant geographic and capacity limitations. The paper examines savings-led microfinance models, particularly community-based rotating savings and credit groups, as a scalable alternative to traditional microfinance institutions for serving rural poor populations in developing countries.
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Renewable Energy for Rural Sustainability: Lessons From China
Rural electrification in western China requires sustainable solutions. This paper examines energy needs across Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, and Xinjiang provinces, assesses renewable resource availability, and evaluates off-grid renewable energy technologies. An eight-year collaboration between Chinese research institutes and an international center demonstrates that stand-alone renewable energy systems can reliably and sustainably meet rural electricity demands while supporting broader development goals.
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Absorptive Capacity: A Review, Reconceptualization, and Extension
This paper reviews and reconceptualizes absorptive capacity—a firm's ability to recognize, assimilate, and apply external knowledge. The authors distinguish between potential capacity (acquiring and assimilating knowledge) and realized capacity (transforming and exploiting knowledge). They develop a model showing how these two capacities differently affect competitive advantage under varying organizational conditions.
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Integrating Models of Diffusion of Innovations: A Conceptual Framework
This paper develops a conceptual framework for understanding how innovations spread by organizing diffusion research variables into three components: innovation characteristics (public/private consequences, benefits/costs), adopter characteristics (familiarity, status, networks, personal qualities), and environmental context (geography, culture, politics, global uniformity). The framework emphasizes how these variables interact and gate adoption decisions, affecting the speed at which different actors adopt innovations.
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SHIFTING INNOVATION TO USERS VIA TOOLKITS
Manufacturers traditionally invest heavily in understanding user needs before developing products, but this approach struggles as needs change rapidly and markets fragment. Toolkits for user innovation offer an alternative: manufacturers provide tools that let users develop customized products themselves. Evidence from pioneering fields shows this approach delivers custom products faster and cheaper than traditional development methods.
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Explaining Diffusion Patterns for Complex Health Care Innovations
Healthcare innovations spread unevenly regardless of scientific evidence quality. This study examines four cases to show that adoption depends on how benefits and risks align with the interests, values, and power structures of the healthcare system adopting them, not on the strength of scientific support alone.
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Open-market innovation.
Companies increasingly adopt open-market innovation, using licensing, joint ventures, and strategic alliances to access external ideas rather than relying solely on internal R&D. This approach lets firms acquire diverse expertise, retain creative talent, and measure innovation value. However, poor deal structuring can backfire, as seen when Xerox and TRW failed to capitalize on their own innovations.
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Global production networks and the changing geography of innovation systems. Implications for developing countries
Globalization reshapes where innovation happens, creating opportunities for developing countries to access international knowledge through global production networks. The paper argues that developing nations can strengthen weak innovation systems by combining diverse knowledge sources and participating in global networks. This participation enables reverse knowledge outsourcing and industrial upgrading, but requires supportive public policies and institutions to capture these benefits effectively.
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Innovation as the core competency of a service organisation: the role of technology, knowledge and networks
Service organizations compete through innovation driven by technology, knowledge, and networks. The paper argues that a firm's true resource is the amorphous knowledge created through customer and partner relationships, which enables innovation as a core competency. Innovation only delivers value when firms align their capabilities to meet customer needs in the marketplace.
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Incubation of incubators: innovation as a triple helix of university-industry-government networks
University business incubators have evolved from isolated entities into networked innovation hubs where universities, industry, and government collaborate. These incubators transform research into new products and firms by combining R&D resources across sectors. Government funding and regulatory changes enable this triple-helix model, shifting innovation from linear knowledge transfer to interactive, collaborative development.
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Interlocking Interactions, the Diffusion of Innovations in Health Care
This study examines how healthcare innovations spread through organizations in the UK, focusing on later adoption stages. The research reveals that diffusion is not a simple decision but a complex, interactive process where context and actors interlock to shape outcomes. Scientific knowledge itself is socially mediated and contested, with active adopters playing crucial roles in determining whether innovations take hold.
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Measuring the Quality of Regional Innovation Systems: A Knowledge Production Function Approach
This paper measures the quality of regional innovation systems across eleven European regions using a knowledge production function approach. The author finds significant differences in R&D productivity between regions, with firms in well-functioning innovation systems showing higher innovation propensity. Results support a center-periphery pattern, demonstrating that agglomeration economies substantially benefit R&D activities.
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The Evolution of Technologies in Time and Space: From National and Regional to Spatial Innovation Systems
This paper proposes spatial innovation systems (SISs) as a framework that extends beyond national and regional innovation systems. SISs track how specific technologies evolve across locations over time, showing how technological development depends on path-dependent histories and how specialized regions collaborate across national borders. The approach emphasizes external relationships between actors as crucial connectors that link different innovation systems together.
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Information technology innovations: general diffusion patterns and its relationships to innovation characteristics
This study examines how characteristics of information technology innovations predict their adoption patterns across large American firms. Analyzing 20 IT innovations in 313 companies, the researchers found that internal influence (imitation among firms) dominates diffusion, while external influence (marketing) remains minimal. Five distinct technology clusters emerged based on adoption speed and saturation levels, suggesting that innovation characteristics can help predict how quickly IT solutions spread through organizations.
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Innovation networks in economics: from the incentive‐based to the knowledge‐based approaches
Innovation networks are persistent organizational structures in industrial innovation, but traditional economics viewed them only as temporary hybrids between markets and firms, focusing narrowly on R&D cost reduction. Evolutionary economics shifts focus to knowledge, learning, and synergistic partnerships. The paper develops an evolutionary theory of innovation networks that accounts for uncertainty, heterogeneity, and historical time as essential to understanding why networks self-organize and persist.
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The Local Innovation System as a Source of 'Variety': Openness and Adaptability in New York City's Garment District
New York City's Garment District sustains innovation in women's wear by drawing on design ideas from emerging clusters like the Lower East Side. The District's institutional infrastructure enables designers to access and exploit this variety of innovations. This diversity, combined with economic coherence, allows the District to adapt successfully to changing competitive pressures.
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Looking for Regional Systems of Innovation: Evidence from the Italian Innovation Survey
This study examines regional innovation patterns across Italy using the Community Innovation Survey. The authors find that Italy's regions display diverse innovation characteristics beyond the typical north-south divide, shaped by firm strategies, technological performance, and systemic interactions. However, only a few regions possess genuine innovation systems; most lack sufficient connections and knowledge flows between actors to constitute functioning systems of innovation.
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Biotechnology Clusters as Regional, Sectoral Innovation Systems
Biotechnology firms cluster near universities and knowledge sources, forming regional innovation systems that depend on complex interactions between scientists, entrepreneurs, investors, and lawyers. The paper analyzes how these regional sectoral innovation systems function by examining cases in Germany, Cambridge Massachusetts, and Cambridge UK, showing that proximity to research institutions, clinical trial facilities, and specialized services enables the transfer of scientific knowledge into commercial biotechnology products.
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Innovation in Europe: A Tale of Networks, Knowledge and Trade in Five Cities
This paper analyzes innovation patterns across five European cities—Amsterdam, London, Milan, Paris, and Stuttgart—using firm surveys. Regional cities like Stuttgart and Milan show innovation more tightly linked to regional and national economies, while world cities like Paris and London engage more internationally. The research demonstrates that international trading systems between firms, crucial for knowledge acquisition and innovation inputs, are key features of innovation geography, challenging overgeneralized network theories.
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Measuring perceptions of innovation adoption: the diffusion of a federal drug prevention policy
Researchers developed and tested a 17-item scale measuring how school coordinators perceive a federal drug prevention policy across 12 states. The scale identified three key factors influencing adoption: relative advantage and compatibility with existing practices, complexity, and observability. Schools viewing the policy as advantageous and compatible were more likely to adopt it. The scale reliably measures these perceptions and can be adapted to assess adoption of other health education programs.
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Innovation, Networking and Proximity: Lessons from Small High Technology Firms in the UK
Small high-tech electronics and software firms in South East England innovate more effectively when they network with suppliers and service providers who offer complementary capabilities. Geographical proximity matters for these relationships. The regional science base successfully nurtured new ventures, but science parks did not. Policy efforts to build regional networks among similar firms and close customers showed no innovation benefit.
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Networks of Innovation: Science, Technology and Development in the Triple Helix Era
Universities, industry, and government must collaborate through triple helix networks to drive knowledge-based development. Universities expand their missions beyond research to include economic and social development, shifting from individual to organizational focus. This networked approach fills technology and social capital gaps. Examples from the European Union, Canada, and Brazil demonstrate how triple helix models support firm formation and innovation incubation.
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The critical factors for technology absorptive capacity
This study identifies critical factors that determine how well firms absorb and apply external technology. Research shows that technology diffusion channels, interaction mechanisms, and R&D resources significantly influence absorptive capacity, which in turn affects technology transfer performance. Organizational culture shapes these mechanisms and resources. The findings apply particularly to firms implementing technology transfer in developing countries.
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A THEMATIC ANALYSIS AND CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY RESEARCH.
This paper reviews 189 absorptive capacity studies across major journals and conferences, identifying seven research themes: definitions, knowledge characteristics, knowledge transfer, organizational learning, innovation, corporate scope, and alliances. The authors find three critical problems: researchers no longer question the construct's original assumptions, the term has become a catch-all phrase for any knowledge acquisition, and few studies examine the actual organizational processes underlying absorptive capacity dimensions.
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Using innovation diffusion theory to guide collaboration technology evaluation: work in progress
Researchers developed a survey instrument based on innovation diffusion theory to evaluate collaboration technology adoption. The survey measures five key attributes—relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability—that influence whether groups adopt new systems. The team tested whether face-to-face versus distributed use affects adoption attitudes and refined the survey's reliability and validity for early-stage technology evaluation.
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Entrepreneurial opportunities with toolkits for user innovation and design
User innovation toolkits shift product design from manufacturers to customers, enabling companies to develop products that precisely match customer needs while avoiding costly market research. The paper identifies two entrepreneurial strategies: high-end toolkits for radical innovation and low-end toolkits for mature markets. Startups are best positioned to exploit these opportunities, either as manufacturers or as intermediaries between users and established producers.
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Forecasting the market diffusion of disruptive and discontinuous innovation
This paper develops a forecasting model for disruptive and discontinuous innovations that accounts for multiple markets and learning curve effects. The model integrates diffusion forecasting theory with disruptive innovation literature and provides practical guidelines for application. The work addresses the growing need to predict market adoption of disruptive innovations as technological convergence accelerates.
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MNC KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER, SUBSIDIARY ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY AND HRM.
This study of 169 multinational corporation subsidiaries in the USA, Russia, and Finland shows that human resource management practices strengthen subsidiaries' ability to absorb and apply knowledge from parent companies. The research identifies absorptive capacity as having two components—employee ability and motivation—and demonstrates that when both dimensions work together, knowledge transfer from other parts of the corporation becomes significantly more effective.
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Modeling diffusion of innovations in a social network
This paper presents a mathematical model showing how innovations spread through social networks when people must weigh upgrade benefits against costs. Agents decide whether to improve their technology level based on local information and economic trade-offs. The model identifies a critical threshold where technological adoption follows power-law patterns, and this threshold maximizes long-term technological growth across the network.
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The formation of international innovation networks in the multinational corporation: an evolutionary perspective
This paper examines how multinational corporations develop international innovation networks by studying ABB's historical growth. The author argues that existing frameworks overlook how a company's specific history and past events shape its ability to integrate knowledge across global operations. Understanding the actual processes behind network formation matters as much as analyzing the final structure.
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Innovation and heterogeneous knowledge in managerial contact networks
Managers innovate more effectively when they interact with colleagues who possess diverse knowledge, but only when their local networks are sparse. The study of 106 high-tech managers shows that knowledge diversity alone doesn't guarantee innovation—managers need both exposure to heterogeneous knowledge and enough local autonomy to synthesize new ideas. Sparse networks provide the independence required to develop and implement innovations.
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Innovation in chains and networks
This editorial outlines a theoretical framework for studying innovation within supply chains and networks. The author proposes building an international collaborative research center at Wageningen to advance understanding of how innovation occurs across interconnected organizations and systems, inviting research groups worldwide to participate in cooperative investigations.
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The Rural Digital Divide
Rural residents in Australia face unequal access to information and communication technologies compared to urban populations. The authors studied disadvantaged groups in the Canberra area through focus groups and expert interviews, finding that rural communities share similar technology access barriers regardless of location. Australian governments recognize these rural digital divide problems and are implementing infrastructure initiatives to ensure equitable access for all residents.
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Crossing the "digital divide:" implementing an electronic medical record system in a rural Kenyan health center to support clinical care and research.
Researchers implemented the first documented electronic medical record system in ambulatory care in sub-Saharan Africa at a rural Kenyan health center. After one year, the system captured data for over 13,000 patients and 26,000 visits. The paper describes implementation lessons and modifications that improved data capture and enabled the center to support clinical care and research while managing limited resources.
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A New Brand of Agriculture: Farmer-Owned Brands Reward Innovation
The U.S. Midwest commodity agriculture system efficiently produces and distributes meat and grain at low cost, but it prevents consumer preferences from reaching farmers. Farmer-owned brands can solve this problem by creating direct signals between consumers and producers, allowing farmers to capture premiums for differentiated products that consumers want but cannot currently obtain through commodity channels.
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Entrepreneurship in Rural Tourism? Australian Landcare Programs as a Destination Marketing Tool
Landcare programs in Australia represent a bottom-up community approach to environmental management that creates educational tourism opportunities. Two case studies show that rural enterprises running Landcare-based tourism initiatives lack understanding of tourism industry mechanics, missing significant business opportunities. The paper demonstrates that bridging environmental conservation with tourism requires better industry knowledge among rural operators.
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Broadband communications over a rural power distribution circuit
This paper demonstrates that broadband internet can be delivered over rural power distribution lines using RF Powerline Carrier technology. The authors analyze signal-to-noise ratios and channel capacity on a typical rural circuit, showing that 2-way TCP/IP data transmission at 2 Mbps is feasible. This approach offers rural communities worldwide a practical solution for broadband access where conventional infrastructure is unavailable.
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Distance Learning for Food Security and Rural Development: A Perspective from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
The FAO examines how distance learning can address food security and rural development globally. The paper reviews existing distance learning examples from FAO and other sources, then synthesizes debate about distance learning's potential in developing countries. It proposes five practical strategies for applying distance learning to food security and rural development challenges, aiming to share ideas with professionals and scholars worldwide.
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Bougainville microfinance: Rebuilding rural communities after the crisis
A microfinance scheme was developed in Bougainville following armed conflict, designed through participatory workshops with rural communities. The Bougainville Microfinance Scheme attracted government and international funding, established a federated structure for locally-directed development, and exceeded targets in pilot areas. The model combines savings-based operations with diverse loan services through a multi-tiered system, achieving broad outreach while supporting grassroots economic and social development.
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RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: INDIVIDUAL OR COLLECTIVE PHENOMENA?
Rural entrepreneurship requires both individual initiative and collective support systems. While entrepreneurs drive firm creation in rural areas, success depends equally on strong social institutions and supportive socio-economic structures. Economic development becomes sustainable when entrepreneurial activity integrates with broader socio-cultural development, rather than relying solely on individual economic rationality.
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Institutionalisation of Rural Entrepreneurship through NGOs: Introspection from the Case Studies
Rural entrepreneurship development programs in India, implemented through NGOs in partnership with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute, successfully address declining agricultural growth and rural unemployment. Training-based programs institutionalize entrepreneurship as a poverty alleviation strategy. Case studies reveal success and failure factors in this collaborative approach to rural development.
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Training Rural Educators in Kentucky through Distance Learning: Impact with Follow-up Data
The TREK-DL project delivered distance education courses in special education to rural Kentucky graduate students since 1989. Surveys showed students were satisfied with course content and delivery formats, though technology issues occurred. Graduates implemented best practices for children with disabilities in their work and shared these practices with colleagues, creating systemic changes at their employment sites.
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How does gender affect the adoption of agricultural innovations? The case of improved maize technology in Ghana
Men and women in Ghana adopt improved maize varieties and chemical fertilizer at different rates. The difference stems from unequal access to complementary inputs like land, labor, and extension services, not from inherent gender preferences. Policymakers can increase equitable technology adoption by improving women's access to these inputs rather than overhauling agricultural research systems.
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Supporting rural entrepreneurship
This paper examines approaches to supporting entrepreneurship in rural areas. It addresses how rural development strategies can foster business creation and growth in rural communities, identifying key support mechanisms and policy frameworks that enable rural entrepreneurs to succeed.
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From Urban to Rural: Lessons for Microfinance from Argentina
Rural microfinance organizations in Argentina have adapted urban microfinance practices to rural contexts, but the approach faces significant obstacles. High distances, specialized farming, and elevated wages make microfinance ineffective for reaching Argentina's poorest rural populations. The paper argues that improving rural financial access requires strengthening market-supporting institutions rather than government-mandated lending programs.
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Enhancing Sustainable Production and Genetic Resource Conservation of Bambara Groundnut: A Survey of Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge Systems
Bambara groundnut is underutilized in Africa despite high market value and potential for commercial production. Researchers surveyed indigenous farming practices in Ghana's Upper West region to document traditional knowledge about crop production and genetic resource conservation. The study found that local farmers possess valuable knowledge about variety selection, pest management, and germplasm conservation. The findings identify research and extension priorities for improving production while preserving locally adapted varieties.
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MODELING TRANSIT ISSUES UNIQUE TO HURRICANE EVACUATIONS: NORTH CAROLINA'S SMALL URBAN AND RURAL AREAS
This paper develops a traffic operations model to plan hurricane evacuations in North Carolina's small urban and rural areas. The researchers identify evacuation timelines, traffic bottlenecks, and congestion-reduction strategies. They also create a methodology for scheduling buses to evacuate elderly and disabled residents who cannot leave by private vehicle, demonstrated through case studies of specific North Carolina communities.
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KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER IN INTRAORGANIZATIONAL NETWORKS: EFFECTS OF NETWORK POSITION AND ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY ON BUSINESS UNIT INNOVATION AND PERFORMANCE.
Business units within large organizations benefit from knowledge transfer with other units. Units positioned centrally in organizational networks and those with strong absorptive capacity—the ability to recognize and apply external knowledge—innovate more effectively and perform better. Strategic network positioning and internal learning capacity drive innovation outcomes across organizational units.
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Absorptive capacity, learning, and performance in international joint ventures
This paper examines how international joint ventures learn and perform by breaking absorptive capacity into three components: understanding new knowledge (influenced by trust and relative capacity), assimilating knowledge (shaped by learning structures), and applying knowledge (driven by strategy and training). A longitudinal study of Hungarian joint ventures confirms that understanding and application affect performance, while trust and management support correlate with performance but not learning itself.
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Regional Innovation Systems, Clusters, and the Knowledge Economy
This paper defines regional innovation systems and establishes criteria for identifying them in practice. It argues that Europe lags behind the United States in innovation because European governments over-rely on public intervention, indicating market failure. The paper calls for European public innovation support systems to evolve while private sector institutions strengthen their organizational capacity.
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Innovation by User Communities: Learning From Open-Source Software
User communities can develop complex products independently of manufacturers, as demonstrated by open-source software like Apache and user-designed windsurfing equipment. The paper examines how these loosely organized groups innovate to meet shared needs, sometimes collaborating with manufacturers and sometimes not. The Internet amplifies their capacity for collaboration and distribution, creating economic value that traditional business models struggle to explain.
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Conversion to Organic Farming: A Typical Example of the Diffusion of an Innovation?
This paper reviews twenty years of studies on organic farmers across multiple countries to test whether organic farming adoption fits the diffusion-of-innovation model. Early organic farmers shared characteristics with innovators in other fields: they faced community opposition, social isolation, and operated when the sector was small. The author concludes the diffusion model successfully explains organic farming adoption patterns and the individual conversion decisions farmers make.
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Cultural Transmission and the Diffusion of Innovations: Adoption Dynamics Indicate That Biased Cultural Transmission Is the Predominate Force in Behavioral Change
This paper challenges the assumption that people adopt innovations through individual cost-benefit analysis. By analyzing adoption curves, the author demonstrates that biased cultural transmission—learning from others based on social preferences—drives innovation diffusion far more than environmental learning alone. The characteristic S-shaped adoption curves observed in real innovations require cultural transmission as the dominant mechanism, suggesting social influence matters more than rational individual decision-making in how new practices spread.
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PERSPECTIVE: User toolkits for innovation
User toolkits for innovation transfer product development responsibility from manufacturers to users, allowing customers to design custom products through iterative trial-and-error within guided constraints. Rather than manufacturers attempting to understand diverse user needs, toolkits enable users to create, simulate, prototype, and refine designs in their own environments. Applications in integrated circuits and custom foods demonstrate these toolkits outperform traditional manufacturer-led development approaches.
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Open-Source Software Development and Distributed Innovation
Open-source software development harnesses distributed intelligence across internet communities, achieving efficiency by avoiding restrictive intellectual property regimes and enabling concurrent design and testing. While projects risk fragmenting into competing versions, governance structures within open-source communities prevent this. The model offers developing countries a pathway to participate in cutting-edge innovation without traditional barriers.
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User toolkits for innovation
User toolkits for innovation transfer product development directly to users rather than manufacturers trying to understand their needs. These toolkits let users design custom products through iterative trial-and-error, simulate designs, test them in their own environments, and refine them until satisfied. Applications in integrated circuits and custom foods demonstrate that user-driven toolkit approaches outperform traditional manufacturer-based development methods.
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Innovative clusters: drivers of national innovation systems
Industrial clusters function as localized innovation systems that drive national economic growth by creating, diffusing, and using knowledge. The paper argues that both market-based and informal knowledge flows concentrate within these clusters. Policymakers and researchers demonstrate how national and local innovation policies can leverage and strengthen cluster dynamics across different countries.
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Interstate Professional Associations and the Diffusion of Policy Innovations
Interstate professional associations accelerate policy innovation adoption across states. The author examines how state insurance commissioners participating in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' committee on health insurance were significantly more likely to adopt the HMO Model Act. The study demonstrates that professional associations, particularly through their committee structures, create institutional pathways that facilitate state officials' adoption of policy innovations.
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Will disruptive innovations cure health care?
Disruptive innovations are transforming healthcare by enabling simpler, cheaper alternatives delivered in decentralized settings by nurse practitioners and general practitioners instead of expensive specialists. Examples include low-cost eyeglasses and angioplasty replacing open-heart surgery. Established institutions resist these changes through cost-cutting and consolidation, but history shows incumbent institutions get replaced by those with business models suited to new technologies. Regulators and providers should enable rather than block disruptive innovations to achieve higher quality, lower-cost, more convenient care.
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Marketing-Mix Variables and the Diffusion of Successive Generations of a Technological Innovation
This paper develops a model showing how marketing-mix variables, particularly pricing, affect the adoption of successive generations of technological innovations. Using cellular telephone data from a European country, the authors find that price elasticity patterns differ significantly when considering multiple generations together versus single generations alone. Pricing decisions for one generation substantially influence adoption rates of the next generation, revealing interaction effects that single-generation models miss.
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Building Regional Innovation Systems: Is Endogenous Industrial Development Possible in the Global Economy?
Economic globalization concentrates power in transnational corporations that coordinate production networks across regions through direct investment and subcontracting. This shift threatens regional autonomy as firms become integrated into global commodity chains controlled by corporate headquarters, raising questions about whether regions can still pursue independent industrial development strategies in an increasingly interconnected world economy.
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An innovation diffusion model of TQM implementation
This paper models Total Quality Management (TQM) as an organizational innovation that spreads through four stages: adoption by top management, adaptation of employee capabilities and attitudes, acceptance demonstrated through teamwork and supplier relationships, and routinization of quality practices. Testing the framework on 407 automobile parts supplier plants, the authors found that successful TQM implementation requires preparing employees and suppliers technically and behaviorally, and integrating all sociotechnical elements throughout the organization.
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INNOVATION NETWORKS-A SIMULATION APPROACH
This paper presents a multi-agent simulation model of innovation networks where firms, research labs, and policy actors generate new ideas and products. Agents improve their innovations either independently or by partnering with others to combine knowledge. The simulation successfully reproduces real-world innovation network characteristics observed in telecommunications and biotechnology sectors, offering insights for policy decisions.
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Putting academic ideas into practice: technological progress and the absorptive capacity of construction organizations
Construction firms in the UK vary widely in their ability to absorb academic research. Large firms with qualified staff, specialist focus, and university partnerships directly implement research findings. Most firms learn through publications and professional networks instead. Professional institutions help share knowledge but sometimes block innovation by enforcing outdated practices. Government-sponsored collaboration between researchers and practitioners accelerates adoption. Construction organizations need stronger feedback loops, continuous learning, and training to improve their capacity to use new ideas.
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Co-operation in Regional Innovation Systems
This paper examines cooperative relationships among manufacturing firms across three German regions using statistical modeling. The analysis reveals how spatial proximity influences cooperation patterns and identifies differences in cooperative behavior between regions and between smaller and larger firms.
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What's Wrong with the Diffusion of Innovation Theory: The Case of a Complex and Networked Technology
This paper critiques diffusion of innovation theory for failing to account for complex, networked technologies like EDI systems. The authors argue that DOI theory overlooks how complex IT solutions are socially constructed, learning-intensive, and adopted for varied reasons within unstable markets. They call for richer theoretical frameworks that recognize institutional contexts, process histories, key actors, and multiple analytical perspectives across different scales and locations.
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Internet, innovation, and open source: Actors in the network
This paper examines how Linux developed through open source collaboration, analyzing the socio-technical dynamics that enabled its growth. The author combines community learning theory with actor-network theory to explain how open source development works, showing how the Linux development community evolved into an interconnected ecology of community-centered practices.
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Shock Absorption Capacities of Mouthguards in Different Types and Thicknesses
This paper is not about rural innovation. It examines shock absorption performance of different sports mouthguard designs using laboratory testing. The study found that custom-fitted mouthguards with specific layering configurations absorbed about 33% of impact force, while boil-and-bite designs and silicone-layered mouthguards performed significantly worse. Mouthguard thickness and material composition affected protective capacity.
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Expanding Capabilities in a Mature Manufacturing Firm: Absorptive Capacity and the TCS
A small UK manufacturing firm with 70 employees participated in a Teaching Company Scheme over two years, which improved its absorptive capacity—the ability to assimilate new knowledge and skills. The company introduced new organizational routines to codify tacit knowledge, resulting in a 25% increase in turnover. The study shows that structured knowledge-transfer programs help mature small firms expand their managerial capabilities.
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From Technopoles to Regional Innovation Systems: The Evolution of Localised Technology Development Policy
This paper traces how governments worldwide adopted policies to build high-technology industry clusters, inspired by Silicon Valley's success in the 1970s-80s. It examines the shift from early technopole initiatives—modeled on Stanford's science park—toward regional innovation systems approaches. The work documents how Stanford's model, pioneered by Frederick Terman, spawned semiconductor companies like Intel and Fairchild, then influenced subsequent government strategies for promoting localized technology development.
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Ambidextrous Organizations. A Multiple-Level Study of Absorptive Capacity, Exploratory and Exploitative Innovation and Performance
Organizations that balance exploration and exploitation—pursuing both new innovations and refining existing ones—achieve better performance in dynamic environments. The study finds that successful ambidextrous organizations separate exploratory and exploitative activities into different units. Different organizational units need distinct capabilities to absorb knowledge and drive their respective innovation types.
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Innovation, Networks and Plant Location: Some Evidence for Ireland
Networks significantly influence whether plants innovate and the success of their innovations across Irish regions. The study examined four area types—urban, urban-periphery, rural, and second centres—and found no evidence supporting the urban hierarchy model of innovation. This suggests Ireland's regional dispersal policies had minimal impact on innovation outcomes, though network-based development strategies show promise.
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A diffusion of innovations model of physician order entry.
This study applies diffusion of innovations theory to understand physician order entry (POE) adoption in hospitals. Researchers conducted qualitative analysis across multiple hospital sites, identifying four key theme areas: organizational issues, clinical and professional concerns, technology implementation challenges, and information organization problems. The findings show POE is a complex innovation requiring customizable, integrated systems with strong user involvement, organizational support, and collaborative trust to succeed.
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Conservation Tillage and Cropping Innovation: Constructing the New Culture of Agriculture
This book examines how no-tillage farming technology spread among farmers through social networks and action-learning groups. The authors show that successful conservation tillage systems depend on farmer management and personal motivation to change. They analyze how deeply entrenched plowing culture was in both farming communities and broader U.S. and Australian societies, and how farmers overcame this cultural resistance through innovation networks.
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Rural innovation chains. Two examples for the diffusion of rural innovations
Rural innovation spreads through social networks where prestigious community members serve as economic models. Peasant societies adopt innovations through imitation rather than independent innovation, following respected figures within their networks. Two case studies—one from the Peruvian Andes and one from Hungary—demonstrate that economic changes and new technologies can be adopted while local social networks remain stable and intact, reinforcing rather than destroying existing community bonds.
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The Rural-Urban 'Digital Divide' in New Zealand: Fact or Fable?
This study analyzes New Zealand business data to measure the rural-urban digital divide in email and website adoption. Contrary to expectations, provincial and remote areas show higher email uptake than urban centers. The findings suggest that higher communication costs in rural areas actually incentivize earlier technology adoption, and that firm size, local economic conditions, and product type matter more than infrastructure quality or location for website investment decisions.
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Alleviating poverty: entrepreneurship and social capital in rural Denmark 1800-1900
Social capital—built through formal cooperative associations with written rules—motivated rural entrepreneurs to organize collective action in 19th-century Denmark. Peasants formed cooperative groups that provided public goods and drove economic growth in poor agricultural areas, solving the puzzle of why individuals voluntarily contribute to collective efforts despite negative personal economic incentives.
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Terrorism and Rural Entrepreneurship in Punjab
Terrorism in Punjab during the 1980s-1990s disrupted established rural businesses, forcing dominant merchant classes to abandon their enterprises and migrate to cities. Agricultural communities, particularly Jat Sikhs enriched by the green revolution, filled this economic vacuum and entered business sectors previously closed to them. The paper argues that political violence fundamentally reshaped rural entrepreneurship patterns and that political factors are essential to understanding entrepreneurial development.
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A Rural Transit Vehicle Management System and Condition Predictor Model
Researchers developed a computer database system and predictive model to help Alabama manage its rural transit fleet. The system tracks vehicle conditions and predicts individual vehicle ratings without requiring costly physical inspections. This tool enables the state transportation department to make equitable decisions about vehicle acquisition and disposal across regions with varying road conditions and socioeconomic circumstances.
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The Rural-Urban Digital Divide
This study analyzed national survey data to examine whether the digital divide between rural and urban populations was growing. Income, age, and education proved stronger predictors of technology use than geographic location. The association between these status indicators and technology adoption strengthened over time. The research concludes that information technology benefits will remain concentrated among higher-income, educated, younger populations rather than spreading universally.
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Culture as a barrier to rural women's entrepreneurship: Experience from Zimbabwe
Cultural barriers significantly prevent rural women in Zimbabwe from achieving economic self-confidence and autonomy through entrepreneurship. The paper identifies key issues that development programmes must address to promote women's equality via business activities and recommends future priorities for gender-focused training initiatives.
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Return Migration, Entrepreneurship and Local State Corporatism in Rural China: The experience of two counties in south Jiangxi
Returned migrants in rural Jiangxi, China introduce capitalist enterprise and market knowledge to their home communities, reshaping local governance. Local officials leverage resources from returnees to fund rural industries and town development. Simultaneously, returnees use their urban experience to negotiate policy changes and infrastructure improvements that support business growth. This two-way dynamic breaks rural isolation and accelerates local economic transformation.
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Innovation and Rural Development: Some Lessons from Britain and Western Europe
Rural innovation in Britain and Western Europe requires integrating economic, social, and environmental objectives rather than pursuing growth alone. Successful rural development combines local entrepreneurship with strategic infrastructure investment, particularly in broadband and services. The paper argues that innovation thrives when communities engage in planning processes that balance modernization with preserving rural character and quality of life.
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Plugging in indigenous knowledge: Connections and innovations
Indigenous Australians participated vigorously in early World Wide Web development, creating high-quality sites that expressed diverse purposes and styles. The Web's properties—hypertext, multimedia, and collaborative features—encouraged Indigenous participation while reducing conventional media gatekeeping. Indigenous-run sites remained proportionally high, Indigenous publishing became significant on the Web landscape, and concerns about appropriation and misrepresentation proved unfounded.
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Collaboration Networks, Structural Holes, and Innovation: A Longitudinal Study
This longitudinal study of chemical industry firms shows that direct and indirect business relationships both boost innovation output. However, structural holes—disconnections between a firm's partners—reduce innovation in interfirm collaboration networks. The research demonstrates that network structure significantly affects innovation performance, and optimal network design depends on what firms aim to achieve.
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Determinants of User Innovation and Innovation Sharing in a Local Market
This study examines user innovation in library OPAC systems in Australia, finding that 26% of users modify their systems in ways manufacturers consider commercially valuable. The researchers identify characteristics distinguishing innovating users from non-innovators, including technical capability and leading-edge status. Many innovators freely share their modifications with other users. The findings suggest that even in follower markets, users generate significant innovations worthy of commercial attention.
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LOOKING AT NATIONAL SYSTEMS OF INNOVATION FROM THE SOUTH
The paper applies national innovation systems theory to El Salvador's agro-food industry, a low-technology sector in a middle-low income country. The authors argue that El Salvador's emerging sectoral innovation system can effectively contribute to sustainable development goals, but only with sustained public support and proper use of available policy instruments.
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Innovation Networks and Regional Development—Evidence from the European Regional Innovation Survey (ERIS): Theoretical Concepts, Methodological Approach, Empirical Basis and Introduction to the Theme Issue
This paper introduces the European Regional Innovation Survey, a large-scale empirical study examining how cooperation networks between firms and research institutions affect regional economic performance. Researchers surveyed over 8,600 firms across 11 European regions between 1995 and 1999 to measure and quantify innovation linkages. The study tests theoretical concepts like regional innovation systems and network theory against real data, filling a gap in comparative empirical research on innovation networks across different region types.
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A Strategy for the Analysis of Idea Innovation Networks and Institutions
This paper argues that radical innovations in science-based industries emerge from idea innovation networks spanning six research arenas: basic research, applied research, product development, production, quality control, and commercialization. The authors find that innovation success depends on diversity of knowledge and frequent communication within arenas, plus intense cross-arena communication to transfer tacit knowledge. Institutional environments shape arena size and connectivity, with patterns suggesting either national innovation systems or globalization effects.
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Global Diffusion of Technological Innovations: A Coupled-Hazard Approach
This paper develops a coupled-hazard methodology to analyze how technological innovations spread globally across countries. The approach distinguishes between when a country first introduces a technology and when it achieves full adoption. Applied to digital telecommunications switches across 160+ countries, the method captures discontinuous diffusion patterns and reveals the separate dynamics of implementation and confirmation stages in technology adoption.
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Innovation capacity: working towards a mechanism for improving innovation within an inter‐organizational network
Firms improve innovation capacity by combining innovation resources and accumulated knowledge within inter-organizational networks. This paper examines how one firm enhanced its innovation capacity through collaboration with a network partner on R&D projects. The study shows that resource supply and knowledge accumulation interact dynamically within networks, creating continuous improvement cycles that strengthen organizational competitiveness and enable firms to meet customer needs and create new markets.
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Making a Reality of Evidence-Based Practice: Some Lessons from the Diffusion of Innovations
Evidence-based practice in the public sector requires more than simply sharing research findings. The authors examine diffusion of innovations literature to identify strategies that encourage organizations to actually adopt and use evidence. They outline lessons for how public sector organizations can learn and implement research-informed practices effectively.
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R&D Cooperation in Innovation Systems—Some Lessons from the European Regional Innovation Survey (ERIS)
This paper analyzes data from nearly 86,000 surveys across 11 European regions to understand what drives regional innovation. The research finds that national innovation systems influence regional firms as strongly as regional systems do. Innovative partnerships vary in geographic scope depending on firm size, industry technology intensity, R&D spending, and partner type. High-tech industries rely more on local knowledge networks. Regional policy should build firm networks and connect them to national and international knowledge sources.
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Networks, Knowledge and Power: Decision Making, Politics and the Process of Innovation
This paper examines how organizations adopt Enterprise Resource Planning systems, revealing that innovation adoption is fundamentally political. Networks and knowledge prove inseparable because tacit knowledge requires relationship-building to access and use. The research shows that formal authority doesn't automatically translate to power, and that networks and knowledge function as both practical tools for accessing information and political instruments that actors deploy to advance their interests.
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Growth performance, metabolic and endocrine traits, and absorptive capacity in neonatal calves fed either colostrum or milk replacer at two levels.
Newborn calves fed colostrum gained weight and showed better intestinal absorption and metabolic markers than calves fed milk replacer, regardless of feeding amount. Higher colostrum feeding density improved protein and fat metabolism. Milk replacer feeding density had minimal effects on metabolism or intestinal function. The bioactive compounds in colostrum, not just nutrient density, drive neonatal calf development.
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Conditioning Factors for Fertility Decline in Bengal: History, Language Identity, and Openness to Innovations
Colonial education and modernization created early elite adoption of new ideas in Bengal. Strong Bengali language identity paradoxically reinforced diffusion of modern concepts across Bangladesh and West Bengal, facilitating mass mobilization for social change. Language identity and cultural commonality, shaped by historical processes, made these regions more receptive to fertility decline and social innovation than other South Asian areas.
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Managing learning in informal innovation networks: overcoming the Daphne‐dilemma
Informal innovation networks—collaborative arrangements between organizations developing new products or processes—offer unique advantages for early-stage innovation work. However, they face a fundamental tension: insufficient management wastes their potential and reduces productivity, while excessive management destroys the informality that enables their creative and exploratory strength. The authors examine this 'Daphne-dilemma' through network theory and knowledge management perspectives.
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The Importance of Public Research Institutes in Innovative Networks-Empirical Results from the Metropolitan Innovation Systems Barcelona, Stockholm and Vienna
Public research institutes play a smaller role in supporting business innovation than regional innovation theory suggests. Analysis of three European metropolitan areas—Barcelona, Stockholm, and Vienna—using the Regional Innovation Survey reveals that while research institutes are considered important for innovation networks, firms actually rely on them less than conceptual models predict.
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The Third Generation of Community Policing: Moving Through Innovation, Diffusion, and Institutionalization
This paper traces community policing's evolution through three distinct generations: innovation, diffusion, and institutionalization. The author argues that community policing has transformed significantly since the late 1970s, and understanding this progression through these three stages clarifies the concept's development and helps predict its future direction in contemporary policing practice.
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State Building through Reputation Building: Coalitions of Esteem and Program Innovation in the National Postal System, 1883–1913
The Post Office Department shaped American state development from 1883 to 1913 by building institutional reputation through coalitions of support. As the largest employer in peacetime America, the POD extended federal reach across the nation, enabling newspaper distribution and political communication. The department drove administrative reform by addressing patronage, corruption, and monopolies while expanding services including banking, roads, air transport, and telegraph management.
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Japan's national innovation system: current status and problems
Japan's national innovation system drove competitiveness in the 1980s but weakened during the 1990s. The paper examines how an aging population threatens future economic growth and argues that productivity gains through technological progress are essential. It analyzes industry, universities, and government sectors within Japan's innovation system and proposes reforms to restore competitiveness.
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Knowlege networks for innovation in small Scottish software firms
Small Scottish software companies rely on regional knowledge networks and clusters of complementary expertise to innovate and grow. The study reveals how learning through sociotechnical networks drives firm development, and shows that Scotland's infrastructure supports indigenous software ventures despite competition from foreign multinationals. Policy efforts to create a 'silicon glen' effect must account for these localized knowledge dynamics.
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The influence of persuasion, training and experience on user perceptions and acceptance of IT innovation
User adoption of IT innovations depends on beliefs and attitudes shaped by three key factors: persuasion, training, and direct experience. A longitudinal study found that persuasion strongly influences initial perceptions and adoption intentions, training helps users develop realistic expectations, and hands-on experience substantially changes perceptions and adoption decisions over time. Organizations should strategically manage these three factors to improve IT adoption.
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The first business computer: a case study in user-driven innovation
In 1949, J. Lyons & Co., a British catering and food-manufacturing company, deployed the world's first business computer application. The company designed and built its own computer specifically for business data processing. This case study examines why Lyons was uniquely positioned to pioneer this innovation and traces how their effort launched the information revolution.
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R&D and Technology Spillovers via FDI: Innovation and Absorptive Capacity
This study examines how R&D and foreign direct investment affect firm productivity in Czech manufacturing. The research finds that R&D's learning effect matters far more than innovation for productivity growth. Technology spillovers from foreign partners occur only in specific sectors like electrical machinery and radio & TV, where foreign firms actively invest in R&D. No general spillover benefits reach local firms from foreign joint ventures.
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How does gender affect the adoption of agricultural innovations?
Men and women in Ghana adopt modern maize varieties and chemical fertilizer at different rates because women have less access to complementary inputs like land, labor, and extension services. The research shows that closing the adoption gap does not require changing agricultural research systems, but rather improving women's access to these critical resources through targeted policy measures.
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Indigenous Soil Knowledge for Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Sahel Zone of Niger, West Africa. 2. Indigenous Soil Classification System.
Farmers in Niger's Sahel zone classify soils using color, texture, and fertility based on generations of experience. Scientists validated nine local soil types against laboratory analysis of soil properties. The indigenous classifications matched scientific findings—farmers correctly identified poor sandy soils and fertile clayey soils. This indigenous knowledge system provides a practical, rapid method for evaluating soil variation in semi-arid regions and supports sustainable agricultural development.
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Practices are not Without Concepts: Reflections on the Use of Indigenous Knowledge in Artisanal and Agricultural Projects in India
This paper argues that development projects using indigenous knowledge in India fail because they focus on practices without understanding the concepts behind them. The author defines indigenous knowledge, indigenous knowledge systems, and indigenous technological knowledge, distinguishing these from tradition and invented tradition. Two case studies—one on artisans and one on bamboo—demonstrate that sustainability requires considering both practices and their underlying concepts in project design.
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