Inclusive Innovation Research Articles

ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS IN THE AGE OF 4IR: SPOTLIGHT ON SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH

The study presents an overview of ecological Economics in the Age of 4IR with spotlight on Sustainability Initiatives in the Global South. This study delves into the intersection of ecological economics, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and sustainable development initiatives in the Global South. It explores the environmental implications of key 4IR technologies, analyzes economic shifts associated with the digital age, and investigates sustainability initiatives in the Global South. The study highlights successful projects in renewable energy, circular economy practices, and biodiversity conservation, showcasing the region's commitment to ecological and economic sustainability. Challenges and opportunities are discussed, emphasizing the role of inclusive innovation and global cooperation in shaping a future that harmonizes technological advancements with environmental well-being. The study concludes by underscoring the importance of the Global South in influencing a sustainable trajectory in the age of the 4IR.
 Keywords: Ecological; Economics; 4IR; Sustainability; Global South.

Inclusive Innovations in Forensic Epistemology and Pedagogy: A Proposed Framework

Scientific temper in evidence processing using forensic knowledge reposes public faith in justice system. Forensic science is a blend of various disciplines, including art, pure sciences, and humanities, with experiment-oriented scientific validation. Forensics and law are intertwined precepts enabling translational impact on the legal system in pursuit of truth to ensure flawless justice. Worldwide, forensics intensely involves both doctrinal and clinical perspectives, largely converging on scientific theories and laboratory experiments to construe expert opinion, and similar pedagogy must be adopted in India as envisaged under the New Education Policy-2020. 3 In legal parlance, forensic inputs are secondary evidence, but primarily used for corroboration for exploring missing links in the chain of events. Due to multi-disciplinary content knowledge sharing during forensic studies, though fascinating, poses pedagogical challenges. Globally, imparting significance of procedural law, the backbone of forensic evidence, is largely missing from forensic education. Expert opinion is contested in courtrooms on ground of admissibility in terms of reliability and validity including protection of chain of custody necessary to avoid manipulation or tampering of samples which is prime root cause for miscarriage of justice. This article deliberates upon an entwined framework of epistemology and pedagogy for imparting holistic understanding of law and science in forensic education. We propose three verticals for forensic pedagogy: (i) crime scene management for scientific handling of articles and traces; (ii) laboratory experimentation and forensic report writing and (ii) translating expert opinion into legal evidence and its presentation during the court proceedings.

ENABLING INNOVATION IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

To ensure sustainable development, there is a limit to the extent of urbanization. Thus, rural development is an essential strategy that many nations must work on to ensure optimal economic, environmental, and social outcomes at a country level. However, rural development in itself is challenging because rural communities typically have limited resources and capabilities to address common livelihood challenges, let alone take on new economic roles. Hence, as part of rural revitalization strategies, innovation plays a critical role. A wide range of technologies can facilitate innovation in rural development, including the internet and new agricultural technologies. In addition, new mindsets and shifts in values, such as the changing trends of work and consumerism, can create opportunities for rural areas to adopt innovation and develop new growth engines. However, it should be noted that the nature of innovation in rural and urban settings are different. In rural regions, growth could be enabled through more specific types of innovations, including frugal innovation, inclusive innovation, and social innovation. To enable these forms of innovations in rural areas, this paper proposes a three-dimensional process model that includes pro-social technological innovation policy, rural innovation governance, and dynamic networks that close the gap between rural and urban innovation systems. Examples from China, such as the development of Tengtou Village and Taobao Villages serve to demonstrate these concepts. Overall, the discussions in the paper suggest that to enable innovation in rural development, it is necessary to foster closer interactions between rural and urban innovation ecosystems for the former to leverage the latter’s technologies, networks, and resources.

The Change Agent's Innovation in Financial Literacy Inclusion in Jakarta

OJK surveys (2019 and 2022) show that the financial literacy index is lower than the financial inclusion index. The fact that the Financial Education Working Group has not carried out communication activities (diffusion) effectively. This study tries to see the innovation of communication activities from the Financial Education Working Group, as an agent of change in communication activities related to financial literacy to the community, so far. The Diffusion Theory of Innovation from Everett M. Rogers (1995) is used to explain the problem. The method using multiple case studies from Yin (2022) is qualitative descriptive. Interviews were conducted in ”snowball” manner to members of the Financial Education Working Group and the data were analyzed through the interactive model Miles & Huberman (2007). The results show that the relative advantage of diffusion innovation exists, but it is not too significant because of the lack of participation. Compatibility diffusion approaches differ from method to method and are only effective when tailored to the target or recipient of the information. In terms of complexity, the diffusion approaches used are relatively easy because they are often used in, such as, seminars, workshops, counseling, or in the use of digital media. These diffusion approaches meet the element of trialability.observability; the diffusion approach used can be observed and results include, the number of participants, the enthusiasm of participants, the number of activities, and others.

Dóri Pap and Susan Davis - Ideas to Serve: the Evolution of Social Innovation Education at GeorgiaTech

This letter delves into the transformation of social innovation education at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) by exploring the evolution of its Ideas to Serve competition. Against the backdrop of Georgia Tech's vision for the next decade as an inclusive innovation hub, this narrative captures a conversation between Dori Pap, Managing Director, and Susan Davis, Practitioner in Residence at the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact. They discuss how the competition has evolved from fostering "heropreneurs" to empowering students to critically engage with systemic social issues. They present a compelling recap of how Georgia Tech has reimagined social innovation education by elevating community-based organizations as co-educators, inspiring students to become effective and empathetic social entrepreneurs.

Inclusive Innovation through Arduino Embedded Systems and ChatGPT

This article aims to highlight the possibilities of inclusive innovation provided by the ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence Model through the development of projects that apply the Internet of Things (IoT) together with Arduino Embedded Systems. Inclusive innovation, considered as a path towards sustainable development, refers to the creation of new goods and services conceived for, by and with those who have been marginalized from the mainstream of development, particularly those people living in poverty who coexist with the higher income strata in society. Today, innovation drives the generation of new technological projects in need and demand. Through the Internet of Things (IoT) and Arduino Embedded Systems, which are designed to fulfill one or more functions through microcontrollers in real time, significant popularity has been achieved in the field of education and applied research. It is in these fields where the ChatGPT Model plays a crucial role in the progress of these areas. The methodology implemented consists of a Participatory Action Research with a qualitative approach, which was developed in the following cycles: 1. Planning of the intervention, 2. The intervention instrument selected was the Field Diaries on Digital Boards. As a result of this research, the development of Digital Educational Resources that contribute to the educational processes in the development of Free Software and Hardware was achieved. With this, the development of Digital Educational Resources for the Computer Engineering program was achieved.

Perceived usefulness and ease of using virtual reality during physiotherapy–A cross-sectional survey from physiotherapists perspective

<b>Background:</b> Virtual reality (VR) is a cutting-edge technology that consists of a sophisticated user-computer interface that allows for real-time visualization and interaction by using both visual and auditory sensorial channel. The implementation of inclusive innovation using VR in health services should be considered and hence, this study is conducted to investigate the perceived usefulness and ease of using VR during physiotherapy among Malaysian physiotherapists.<br /> <b>Materials and methods:</b> A cross-sectional a survey through social media, with an adapted questionnaire about the perceived usefulness and simplicity of adopting VR during physiotherapy is distributed to physiotherapists in Malaysia. In total, 102 physiotherapists participated in this study. Frequency and percentage are used to analyze the data of questionnaire items.                   <br /> <b>Results:</b> Overall 62% agree that using VR would enable to accomplish tasks more quickly, 63% finds it improve job performance, 57% believes that VR would increase my productivity. 59% enhance the effectiveness on the job. 64% easier to do my job, 61% VR useful in job. Regarding perceived ease of use 57% accepts learning to operate VR would be easy for me, 55% find it easy to get VR to do what physiotherapist want it to do, 53% agrees that interaction with VR would be clear and understandable, 54% agree that it is flexible to interact with, 54% agree to be become skillful using VR and lastly 55% agree it is easy to use.<br /> <b>Conclusions:</b> The majority of Malaysian physiotherapists find VR slightly useful for inclusive innovation in physiotherapy, improving work efficiency and performance. However, some remain neutral regarding its overall usefulness. They also find VR neither easy nor difficult to use in terms of inclusivity.

Innovation for disability inclusion in dentistry: A case study.

Innovation for disability inclusion in dentistry: A case study.

Inclusive metaverse in media arts education: New innovative-methodological proposal for inclusive school

<p>The paper briefly describes the inclusive school places the greatest emphasis on inclusive innovation, which revolves around fostering knowledge of media arts. The main goal is to investigate and analyze the incorporation of the metaverse through the complementary subject of media arts for inclusive educational purposes. This proposal was allowed to incorporate the virtual and three-dimensional environment used for students and teachers, exploring and interacting with various digital worlds. The analysis of the results was carried out through the contents of the Venn diagram and additional creation, attending to criteria of investigative interest of inclusive metaverse to demonstrate and represent the new preliminary ideas through the educational development of media arts and virtual environments. There are debates about the analysis of inclusive metaverse as the most advanced engineering and artistic technology project, which allows you to incorporate the methodological proposal associated with the complementary subject of media arts together with the interactive tools, making visible in materiality more complex didactics of students of different levels of school education in general. In conclusion, the methodological proposal of media arts for the inclusive metaverse, each student, each teacher, or each educational system could transform the next generation of participation and motivation towards school, depending on the artistic and technological expression that students had learned by using educational gamification, that is, they are better prepared to face the art technology and challenges of the future, bringing with them a spirit of innovation and collaboration, marking a path in the world of digital art.</p>

Actualising social sustainability through adaptive reuse innovations within the context of sustainable development

Sustainable Development (SD) is characterised of social, economic, and environmental components; however, the social component of SD has received little attention from academics, but recently, this has changed as the notion that growth is incomplete without equity gained more traction. One way to achieve the UN Goal 16 of ‘Promoting peaceful, just, and inclusive societies’ is through the concept of adaptive reuse innovation. Therefore, this paper aims to identify how the adaptive reuse concept has promoted the social sustainability concept through a systematic literature review (SLR). The SLR is necessary to summarise available evidence on the social sustainability potential of the adaptive reuse (AR). It further serves to create awareness of the reuse of building as an inclusive innovation critical for sustainable development. Using SLR, 56 relevant studies were extracted from the web of science and Scopus databases. A content analysis of five identified themes from the studies showed that adaptive reuse contributed to social sustainability through provision of social infrastructure, social cohesion, enhancing social health/well-being. There is need to advance research in areas of human adaptability, social awareness, and education on adaptive reuse.

The men who feed the world? Putting masculinities on the agenda for crop breeding research for development

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields that are dominated by men and masculine have historically been shown to lead to poor representation and discrimination of women and gender diverse scientists, managers, and leaders. This in turn negatively impacts inclusive innovation processes and outcomes. We claim that crop breeding is one such field that is undeniably dominated by men, and even masculine, and could therefore harbor the very same dynamics of exclusion. Yet there is a dearth of research systematically investigating how masculinities are performed in the institutions, organizations, cultures, discourses, and practices of crop breeding. In this Perspective piece, we present a theoretically informed hypothesis of crop breeding organizations as representing spaces where masculinities associated with rurality, management, and science and technology come together in ways that may marginalize women and gender diverse individuals, including in intersection with sexuality, race, ethnicity, and disability. In developing this hypothesis, we draw upon theoretical and empirical insights from masculinity studies in rural sociology, management and organization studies, and feminist technoscience studies. We demonstrate how critical men and masculinities studies can help expose masculinities in crop breeding to investigation, discussion, criticism, and change. As we seek to advance equality in and through crop breeding organizations, this framing helps to guide future research with potential to positively impact the culture of crop breeding research.

Science, Technology and Innovation Equity and Inclusion in Electric Vehicle Sector

The rapid growth of the electric vehicle (EV) industry offers a unique chance to ensure that technological progress benefits all of society. This research paper centers on developing indicators to assess and encourage equity and inclusion in EV science, technology, and innovation. By establishing a comprehensive framework, this study aims to track progress, pinpoint areas for enhancement, and contribute to a more just and innovative future. The paper emphasizes clear goals, including increased workforce diversity, equitable EV technology access for marginalized communities, and fostering an inclusive innovation ecosystem. Collaboration with diverse stakeholders researchers, policymakers, industry experts, community representatives, and advocacy groups is crucial for an unbiased perspective. Key areas within the EV sector are focal points for equity and inclusion efforts, such as workforce diversity, research funding distribution, technology accessibility, and community engagement. To measure progress, indicators are developed, incorporating qualitative aspects. Targets and benchmarks are set for each indicator to promote a challenging yet achievable path toward equity. Regular monitoring and reporting provide insights into intervention effectiveness, guided by stakeholder feedback and iteration. Acknowledging and celebrating equity and inclusion achievements motivate sustained progress. Knowledge sharing and community collaboration promote collective growth and better understanding of best practices. This research paper offers a comprehensive guide to developing indicators that assess and promote equity and inclusion in the EV science, technology, and innovation sectors. Applying these indicators and strategies enables stakeholders to contribute to a more just and innovative future, ensuring that technological benefits are accessible to all members of society.

Reframing search and recommendation as opportunities for communication for people with intellectual disability

ABSTRACT AI-driven commercial innovations and the digital disruptions they create, tend to accelerate faster than assistive technologies, and are rarely designed with inclusion and diversity in mind. We explore the joint value of research through design and co-design to give a voice to users with intellectual disability to set new directions for inclusive innovation. To do this, we present an account of, and a reflection on, the reframing that took place throughout a research program that has evolved over the last 8 years, presented through the lens of 3 case studies. These illustrate turning points in the frames of the research and its journey through the disciplinary traditions of Information Retrieval and Human Computer Interaction (HCI). The contributions of this paper are threefold. First, we contribute knowledge on the value of research through design to identify new frames for inclusive intelligent systems. Second, we extend inclusive co-design approaches to employing working prototypes that can support participant’s voice about the design of the algorithms that underpin intelligent systems. We highlight how these working prototypes nurture the importance of participation and observation. Third, we contribute new frames for inclusive information retrieval, with new perspectives on intent, particularly in the context of image search.

Agent-Based Model to Analyze the Role of the University in Reducing Social Exclusion

While conventional innovation has boosted economic growth in certain regions, it has not contributed to closing the social and economic gap in most developing countries. Humanity is going through a historic moment of great challenges. One of them is social exclusion, a matrix of factors that prevent human beings from achieving well-being: poverty, hunger, inequality, lack of access to basic resources and services, and lack of social ties that help improve these circumstances, among others. This study holds two hypotheses: (1) in this context, inclusive innovation emerges as a response to the inability of conventional innovation to contribute to solve the persistent challenge of social exclusion and (2) universities—key actors in innovation dynamics—should play a fundamental role in the generation of inclusive innovation, especially considering their natural commitment to society. Although the role of the university in innovation has been widely acknowledged and studied, no formal theoretical model has represented inclusive innovation in developing countries adopting a systemic, complex, adaptive, and functional approach and incorporating a diversity of agents, interactions, capabilities, learning processes, knowledge, and directionalities—this would enable us to understand the role of the university in inclusive innovation. This paper argues that innovation dynamics should be understood from a systemic perspective and using computational modeling and simulation methods, so that the inherent complexity of these systems can be taken into account. The analysis of innovation scenarios based on a formal theoretical model and its operationalization through computer simulation should contribute to the understanding of the role of the university in these system dynamics, which can be used to propose effective strategies to strengthen its participation. Therefore, this paper proposes a formal systemic agent-based conceptual model that can be used to study the role of the university in inclusive innovation and establish guidelines to improve its performance. This study implemented standard computer modeling and simulation, specifically adapted for agent-based modeling. The results obtained from the simulation scenarios were comparatively analyzed using statistical tests (ANOVA and Tukey) to determine the presence of statistically significant differences. As the main finding of the research, the proposed conceptual model was validated and proved to be useful for studying the role of the university in reducing social exclusion in the Global South, through the design and execution of computer simulation scenarios.

Developing Inclusive Innovations for the Base of the Pyramid: The Role of Cultural Brokers

Developing Inclusive Innovations for the Base of the Pyramid: The Role of Cultural Brokers

Training students to inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship: what device and what implementation?

L’innovation peut améliorer la qualité de vie des personnes en situation de handicap. Nous avons expérimenté un enseignement de l’innovation inclusive dans une école de commerce. Notre article fournit des informations sur trois objectifs : sensibiliser aux handicaps, transmettre des approches de design universel et permettre la participation des personnes en situation de handicap. Il encourage les enseignants à déconstruire les préjugés de leurs étudiants sur les handicaps, en insistant sur le rôle de l’environnement, et à organiser la participation des personnes en situation de handicap dans le cours.

Inclusive innovation for the BoP: It's a matter of survival!

The private sector provision of inclusive product/service innovations to “base of the pyramid” (BoP) communities poses varied challenges to different private sector actors such as multinationals, domestic firms, and non-corporates. There is uncertainty regarding the viability of the BoP approach, that inclusive product innovation creation and diffusion can create “mutual value” by improving the lives of BoP communities, while also generating profit for innovators. Our paper contributes to this ongoing debate by highlighting the conditions under which introduction of inclusive innovations can create mutual value in BoP contexts. A framework mapping out the challenges (or chasms) encountered during the design, production, marketing, adoption, and diffusion phases of the inclusive innovation (DePMAD framework) is developed. It is then validated using 57 published case studies of inclusive product innovations, of which only 44 % of the innovations were still catering to the BoP after six years. QCA and univariate analysis show alternative paths and highlight the key role of partnerships for survival of inclusive innovations in the market. Not all chasms are equally important in explaining survival patterns, with the design and adoption chasms being most critical. Innovations introduced by non-corporate entities survive more often than those by corporate entities.

Inclusive innovation: World health organization (WHO) task-shifting principles in community health workers living with disabilities through women’s cancer screening in the EMPOWER Program.

e22512 Background: The W.H.O estimates that people with disabilities make up 15% of the world’s population. In the Horn of Africa (Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia & Uganda) there have been several disability inclusion programs in Education, livelihoods and empowerment through the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP). In Kenya, the Government has continued to leverage on the private sector to accelerate progress towards inclusion. A strategic partnership with Safaricom enabled provision of Assistive devices and medical cover exceptional approval to a tune of USD 223,000 to Persons with Disabilities in the formal and informal economy in Kenya. Women CHVs were selected to reduce cultural barriers because many women in the communities are more comfortable being screened by a fellow woman. Objectives: To identify and deploy women living with disabilities as community health volunteers in the county EMPOWER Clinics; To build capacity of women living with disabilities and enable them to accurately screen for breast and cervical cancer. Methods: A total of 25 women living with disabilities and 7 able-bodied women from Meru and Kisumu counties were selected for the training program through county disability coordinators. The training program consisted of a basic community health volunteer (CHV) module and focused on Breast and cervical cancer awareness topics. The CHVs were equipped with mobile phones with assistive technology (AT) features such as braille keyboards, magnifiers, and text-to-speech technology. The training was delivered through Amref Health Innovations' (AHI) LEAP platform in collaboration with 5 county community health assistants. The CHVs' understanding of the material was evaluated through performance tracking on the LEAP platform. The CHVs were also given regular feedback on their progress, and any areas of difficulty were addressed through additional support and guidance. Results: The trained CHVs demonstrated an increased understanding of breast and cervical cancer screening, as well as the skills necessary to perform medical tactile breast exams. The trained CHVs were then commissioned to be integrated into the community health workforce, with a focus on breast and cervical cancer screening and awareness. Conclusions: The deployment of inclusion-centered learning for women Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) living with disabilities is a promising approach for improving access to health services for this marginalized group. This program provides a model for promoting disability inclusion in health services and underscores the need for continued investment in disability-inclusive programs. The findings of this program can inform the development of similar programs in other regions and contribute to the achievement of universal health coverage and health for all.

Balancing Innovation and Regulation for Financial Inclusion: The Future of P2P Lending in Indonesia

This comprehensive analysis delves into Indonesia’s burgeoning Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending sector, focusing on its transformative potential for financial inclusion and the inherent challenges of customer protection. The article scrutinizes the exponential growth trajectory of P2P lending platforms, a phenomenon propelled by escalating internet penetration, widespread smartphone usage, and a substantial unbanked population in the country. It also sheds light on the risks associated with the proliferation of illegal platforms outside the regulatory framework. The article underscores the need for robust regulatory compliance and effective risk management strategies to ensure customer protection and maintain market stability in this rapidly evolving sector. It delves into the regulatory measures established by Indonesia’s Financial Services Authority (OJK). It discusses the necessity for these regulations to be continuously reviewed and enhanced to keep pace with market developments. The article further explores the potential of P2P lending platforms in promoting financial inclusion by providing an accessible and convenient avenue for individuals and small businesses to access credit. It discusses how these platforms leverage alternative data for credit scoring, thereby enabling those without a traditional credit history to gain access to loans. In conclusion, the article emphasizes that striking a delicate balance between fostering innovation and ensuring stringent regulatory compliance is crucial for Indonesia’s sustainable growth of the P2P lending sector. It advocates for a regulatory environment that nurtures innovation while safeguarding customer interests and maintaining overall market stability. The article posits that achieving this balance will enable Indonesia to fully harness the potential of P2P lending, thereby driving financial inclusion while simultaneously ensuring customer protection and market stability.

Gender diversity, inclusive innovation and firm performance

AbstractThis study delves into intra‐organizational dimensions that might impact inclusive innovation. Based on the expectation states theory, we explore how gender diversity in management positions and on the board of directors affects inclusive innovation. Furthermore, drawing on the signaling theory, we examine the relationship between inclusive innovation and a firm's performance. Using a comprehensive panel data of European manufacturing companies for a period of 10 years, we provide evidence that gender diversity in management positions and the presence of at least one woman on the board of directors have a positive effect on inclusive innovation. Our results also reveal the economic value of such strategy, showing that inclusive innovation positively influences performance. Implications for theory and managerial practice are discussed.