Region
Asia
1453 entries tagged Asia.
Articles — 1446
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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‘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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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‘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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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"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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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: 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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-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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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>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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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<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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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'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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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‘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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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-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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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<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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 : 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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‘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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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: 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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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 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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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 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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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.
Media stories — 7
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Rural India's AI workforce: From farms to data labeling
Rural Indian workers, particularly women from tribal and conservative backgrounds, are combining farming with night shifts labeling data for artificial intelligence systems. An estimated 200,000 annotators in villages and small towns now perform essential machine-learning work remotely, earning $275–$550 monthly while gaining financial independence and challenging social attitudes toward female employment.
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MSU-IIT Research Team Presents Smart Village Readiness Study at International Conference in Tokyo
Researchers from MSU-IIT presented findings on smart village readiness in Iligan City barangays at an international sustainability conference in Tokyo. The study examined how digital innovations can improve local government operations and public service delivery. Researchers identified gaps in digital infrastructure, governance mechanisms, and community participation that must be addressed to advance smart village initiatives.
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Asia's fintech boom widens gap in financial inclusion
Asia's rapid fintech expansion—driven by AI super-apps, tokenised deposits, and advanced payment systems—is leaving rural communities and older populations behind. While China and Japan lead in innovation and Thailand's PromptPay reaches 92 million users, many remain unbanked and distrustful of digital systems. Experts argue that simpler solutions, education, and localisation are essential to achieve genuine financial inclusion.
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Drones and AI transform agriculture in rural China
China deploys drones and artificial intelligence across rural regions to modernize agriculture. In Hubei's mountainous citrus orchards, over 700 drones improve logistics and farm management. In Xinjiang's cotton fields, AI systems enable 75% unmanned operations and boost yields to 7,800 kilograms per hectare. These technologies reduce costs, improve efficiency, create rural jobs, and help farmers access distant markets.
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Scaling Rural Transformation in the Philippines: Connecting Farmers to Markets, Jobs and Opportunity
The Philippines Rural Development Project transformed agricultural value chains by shifting from input subsidies to market-driven approaches. Over a decade, the program built climate-resilient rural roads, strengthened farmer cooperatives for higher-value production, and used data-driven investment planning. Results included 67% income growth for 1.33 million beneficiaries, 2,436 km of farm-to-market roads reducing travel time by 41%, and enterprise support reaching 150,000 individuals with 122% output increases.
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How China boosts rural specialty industries for rural revitalization
China is modernizing rural agriculture through specialized regional industries tailored to local conditions. Sensor-controlled greenhouses, medicinal herb cultivation, tea plantations, and AI-enabled strawberry factories exemplify technology-driven approaches. The 15th Five-Year Plan prioritizes technology integration, eco-friendly practices, and brand development to transform agriculture into a modern pillar sector while raising farmer incomes.
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Fossil-fuel subsidies and high costs stall energy transition across rural Indonesia
A new report reveals that household solar energy adoption across Indonesia's 84,000 villages declined 26% between 2021 and 2024, despite cheaper technology. High installation costs, fossil fuel subsidies, and maintenance challenges in remote areas—particularly eastern Indonesia—are blocking the energy transition. Street lighting adoption increased, but household renewable energy use fell significantly.