The Dynamics behind the Likelihood of Adopting Inclusive Agrarian Innovations in Disadvantaged Central American Communities

Although innovation studies form a consolidated field in developed countries, the same is not true in disadvantaged countries especially in agriculture, despite the importance of innovation in generating wealth and inclusiveness. With this study, we aim to contribute to the knowledge of the processes of adopting innovation in agrarian contexts of poverty. Thus, we examined the main factors that influence the probability of accepting a new product, and their interrelationships in a Central American community. Based on a qualitative methodology, we held 42 in-depth interviews with small-scale producers. All the information collected was the subject of a discursive and content analysis, with support from the NVivo 12 software programme. The results show how key factors such as culture, the market, networks, attitudes, expectations, and social references are interrelated and enhanced or hindered by other social dynamics. These findings underline the idea that the entrepreneur’s relationship with innovation is a dynamic reality where the probability of acceptance is the outcome of combining cultural, individual, institutional, and organisational factors. Any innovation support policy that arises in these contexts should be based on more systemic approaches if the acceptance of inclusive innovation is to be improved.

Innovating for the Poor

This chapter introduces the inclusive innovation system in China by showing the roles of bottom-of-the-pyramid (BOP) entrepreneurs, institutions for inclusive innovation, infrastructures supporting inclusive innovation, and emerging governance of inclusive innovation. Based on an integrative review of the literature about the innovation that led to inclusive growth in developing economies, this chapter proposes the conceptual framework of the process toward inclusive innovation by integrating the dynamic inclusive growth with the current static view. Then, considering the Chinese context, especially the turning from formal institutions to the interpenetration of both formal and informal institutions, this chapter finally summarizes some challenges for inclusive innovation and its implications on economic and social growth.

Inclusive innovation editorial: The promise of inclusive innovation

Innovation is an elusive concept that is widely viewed as a panacea for economic renewal. Public-sector institutions invest heavily in innovation even as private-sector actors and interests dominate innovation policy and its rewards, especially at the local scale. But in a moment when planners and policy makers are under pressure to promote economic inclusion, we must also ponder the prospects for innovation to be inclusive and equitable. In this opening editorial to this special issue on “Inclusive Innovation,” we sketch out a tentative vision for “inclusive innovation” beginning with the problems that can lead innovation to instead be exclusive and unequal. We conclude by summarizing the contributions of the authors to this special issue, which underscore not only the diverse dimensions of inclusive innovation but also the critical importance of policy-led institutions to facilitate this goal.

Spiritual Inspiration of Village Cadres and Inclusive Innovation of Bricolage in Rural Autonomy in China

In the rural autonomous context of China, inclusive innovation of bricolage is a widespread phenomenon. However, the existing research rarely considers villagers as the main actors of innovation. In a research survey of 23 provinces in China, we studied the internal mechanism of inclusive innovation of bricolage. We found that the spiritual inspiration of the village cadres is positively related to inclusive innovation of bricolage behavior of villagers. Moreover, the results revealed that affective commitment to the village of the villagers plays a mediating role in the relationship between the spiritual inspiration of the village cadres and inclusive innovation of bricolage behavior of villagers. In addition, our findings reveal that resilience of villagers plays a moderating role in the relationship between the spiritual inspiration of the village cadres and inclusive innovation of bricolage behavior of villagers.

Exploring digital sustainability of/through Estonia’s e-residency: Africa’s case and the importance of culture for sustainability

Purpose This paper aims to take the lead from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9 and 10 – foster “resilient infrastructures and inclusive innovation” and “reduce disparities of opportunities, income and power” – as key for digital sustainability. Moving beyond existing research, here this paper conceptualise “digital sustainability” as a framework for analysing the sustainability of digital services. Design/methodology/approach Combining different works, this paper identifies five dimensions: social, economic, institutional, environmental and technical. The framework is then tested on Estonia’s e-residency program, of which, in this way, this paper explores the potential digital sustainability. By allowing anyone to run location-independent businesses as if virtually in Estonia, the e-residency program aligns to what SDGs 9 and 10 prescribe in terms of socio-economic inclusiveness and inclusive innovation. As such, the program is particularly valuable for citizens from developing countries in that it gives them access to European markets. Hence, to explore e-residency’s digital sustainability, this paper focuses on the experiences of African e-residents. Findings In-depth interviews highlight a series of criticalities involving one or more dimensions of the framework. This is because of the program having a global outreach by default but not accommodating contextual diversity by design. Originality/value Suggestions for improving the program are provided, alongside the recommendation to also include the cultural dimension into the conceptualisation of digital sustainability.

Genesis at work: Advancing inclusive innovation through manufacturing extension

US manufacturing is struggling with both a productivity and job quality challenge. These challenges are interconnected, reinforcing the need for increased coordination of economic and workforce development efforts. This article outlines the evaluation findings of a novel business-facing initiative called the Genesis Movement, to understand its role in reshaping the workforce experience within small- and medium-sized manufacturing businesses in Chicago, Illinois. Spearheaded in 2014 by the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), Genesis starts with the premise that workforce practices are central to business operations, productivity, and competitiveness—and therefore, manufacturing extension services need to promote improvements to job quality in support of long-term business success. This integrated approach represents a form of “inclusive innovation,” expanding the capacities of firms and workers to adapt in a competitive environment where pressures to maintain high quality while reducing costs are ever-present. Firms that participate in Genesis learn to adopt an inclusive organizational culture, using front-line worker engagement, skills training, and job quality improvements to drive performance and process innovation. As such, Genesis offers transferable lessons that could be leveraged by other manufacturing-supporting organizations to benefit their industry clients and the workers they employ.

Inclusive innovation and the “ordinary” city: Incidental or integral?

Economic opportunity in the 21st century privileges people and places with the “right mix” of human capital to develop and apply digital technologies, and disadvantages those without. Increasing socio-technical, socio-economic, and socio-spatial polarization underscores inclusion as a critically important dimension of innovation. Workforce development and entrepreneurial ecosystems each have implications for “inclusive innovation” in restructuring cities, but understanding their realistic prospects requires attention to local institutional capacity as well as the broader multilevel policy contexts in which they operate. This study compares inclusive innovation programs in Saint-Etienne, France and Greensboro North Carolina, two mid-sized restructuring cities operating in two different macro-institutional settings. Highly variable but not entirely idiosyncratic dynamics emerge in each case; inclusive innovation is integral in Saint Etienne and incidental in Greensboro but not a resounding success in either city. “Top-down” and “bottom-up” dynamics interact in different ways to shape outcomes, but power matters most for local policy choice. The decisive factor is explicit linkage to a commonly accepted urban development agenda that is supported politically by local government. Intermediary organizations lack influence, and the private sector is disengaged. These findings suggest the need to rethink assumptions about the actor configurations that determine urban development priorities.