Key factors driving the co-creation of collaborative improvement and innovation in rural development ecosystems

Louise Östberg, Kristen Snyder, Johan Lilja · 2025 · Journal of Service Theory and Practice

Summary. This study examines how co-creation enables collaborative improvement and innovation in rural development ecosystems. Analyzing two Swedish villages participating in EU-funded LEADER programs, the researchers identified two critical factors: formal structures (facilitation, resources, frameworks) and engagement drivers (trust, leadership, intrinsic motivation). The findings show that sustained collaboration requires moving beyond temporary projects to embed co-creation as ongoing practice within rural ecosystems.

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@article{stberg-2025-key-factors-driving-co-creation,
  title   = {Key factors driving the co-creation of collaborative improvement and innovation in rural development ecosystems},
  author  = {Louise Östberg and Kristen Snyder and Johan Lilja},
  journal = {Journal of Service Theory and Practice},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.1108/jstp-05-2025-0177},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1108/jstp-05-2025-0177}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Key factors driving the co-creation of collaborative improvement and innovation in rural development ecosystems
AU  - Louise Östberg
AU  - Kristen Snyder
AU  - Johan Lilja
JO  - Journal of Service Theory and Practice
PY  - 2025
DO  - 10.1108/jstp-05-2025-0177
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/jstp-05-2025-0177
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.1108/jstp-05-2025-0177

Countries

Sweden

Regions

Europe

Categories

regional-innovation-systems, policy, innovation-networks, general-innovation

Added

2026-08-01