Unveiling the Resources of Digital Pioneers: an Agency Perspective on Digital Social Innovation in Rural Germany

Tobias Mettenberger, Julia Binder, Julia Zscherneck · 2024 · European Countryside

Summary. 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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@article{mettenberger-2024-unveiling-resources-digital-pioneers-agency,
  title   = {Unveiling the Resources of Digital Pioneers: an Agency Perspective on Digital Social Innovation in Rural Germany},
  author  = {Tobias Mettenberger and Julia Binder and Julia Zscherneck},
  journal = {European Countryside},
  year    = {2024},
  doi     = {10.2478/euco-2024-0022},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2024-0022}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Unveiling the Resources of Digital Pioneers: an Agency Perspective on Digital Social Innovation in Rural Germany
AU  - Tobias Mettenberger
AU  - Julia Binder
AU  - Julia Zscherneck
JO  - European Countryside
PY  - 2024
DO  - 10.2478/euco-2024-0022
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2024-0022
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.2478/euco-2024-0022

Countries

Germany

Regions

Europe

Categories

broadband-and-digital, regional-innovation-systems, policy

Added

2026-04-28