Inclusive Innovation Research Articles

Participatory Evaluation of ‘<i>Irorunde</i>’, A Prototype Drum Oven for Traditional Fish Smoking in Nigeria: A Case Study of Knowledge Co-Production and Inclusive Innovation

In Nigeria, traditional fish smoking methods predominantly utilize firewood as an energy source, which presents sustainability challenges. Improved fish smoking techniques face low popularity owing to considerable obstacles hindering adoption by fishers involved in fish smoking and development by inventors. This study explored the benefits, challenges and social acceptance of a modern drum oven prototype by fisheres engaged in fish smoking. Against this backdrop, Participatory Action Research (PAR) was conducted using a prototype kiln using carbonized biomass briquettes (CBB) in traditional fish smoking drum ovens. Fishers involved in fish smoking performed evaluations of the prototype, and their perceptions regarding the characteristics of innovation were utilized to assess their willingness to adopt the prototype. The WhatsApp platform was used to share information and promote peer-to-peer learning. The PAR and evaluations by the fishers led to improvements in the design, construction and performance outputs of the prototype. The fishers agreed that CBB was economical and was a cleaner energy source, facilitating social acceptance and the adoption of the prototype as a substitute for the local drum. The portable size, quality and aesthetic structure also contributed to the adoption of the prototype. In conclusion, the prototype became a socio-economic tool that has encouraged the use of CBB in fish smoking with improved financial and health benefits of the fishers engaged in fish smoking. Local technologies must incorporate inclusive innovation and gender-responsive approaches to facilitate implementation and adoption, thereby improving benefits and well-being of the fishers.

Industrial policy for innovation: why does it matter?

This paper explores the relationship between industrial policy, innovation, and productivity in the Philippines. It argues that strategic industrial policies can promote innovation by incentivizing market-oriented research and development and commercialization, developing necessary innovation infrastructure, and fostering a skilled workforce equipped to work with new technologies and adapt to changing market demands. The paper also focuses on the importance of connecting innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, highlighting the challenges facing the Philippines in this area. It specifically analyzes the country’s startup ecosystem and recommends the establishment of Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers (RIICs) to facilitate collaboration among various stakeholders. Finally, the paper discusses the adoption and adaptation of artificial intelligence and Industry 4.0 technologies and their potential to drive productivity gains and transform the Philippine economy.

Engineering Inclusivity by Design: Co-Designing an Inclusive Innovation Workshop

In North American universities, engineering faculties often exhibit unequal representation, with inclusivity in the curriculum hindered by aspects like elitism and technical social dualism. This project aimed to foster a more inclusive engineering culture by co-designing a workshop with students at McMaster University to appreciate diverse identities and incorporate equity principles into their work. The "Inclusive Innovation Design Challenge" workshop, attended by 55 students, introduced concepts of self-identity and positionality, followed by a human-centred design sprint based on equity-based co-design principles. Participants developed personas and brainstormed solutions to design challenges, enhancing awareness of the value of diverse perspectives. The outcome was overwhelmingly positive; feedback from a post-workshop survey indicated a shift in participants' perceptions towards their identities and the inclusion of diverse perspectives in design. Ongoing research will evaluate the workshop's impact on integrating these insights into coursework and enhancing the sense of belonging in engineering programs.

Collaborative automated machine learning (AutoML) process framework

In the face of rapid technological advancements and digital disruption, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) grapple with integrating data-driven practices essential for competitiveness and growth. Unlike large corporations, SMEs often lack the resources and technical expertise to implement sophisticated data analytics and machine learning solutions. This study addresses the identified gap by developing a Collaborative Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) Process Framework tailored to the unique needs of SMEs. Leveraging Design Science Research methodology, the research conceptualizes, designs, and validates an accessible AutoML tool that automates complex machine learning processes while fostering collaboration among stakeholders. The framework aims to democratize advanced analytics, enabling SMEs to harness domain knowledge and drive data-driven decision-making without extensive data science expertise. The findings demonstrate that the proposed collaborative AutoML framework significantly enhances SMEs' operational efficiency, decision-making capabilities, and competitive edge, thereby contributing to their digital transformation and broader economic growth. This research not only bridges the existing gap in AutoML applications for SMEs but also aligns with sustainable development goals by promoting inclusive innovation and economic resilience.

An Analytical Study on Indian Union Budget 2024-2025: A Special Reference to Innovation, Research & Development

The Indian Union Budget 2024-2025 presents a comprehensive strategy aimed at fostering innovation, research, and development (R&D) across various sectors. This analytical study delves into the budget's allocation trends, focusing on the significant emphasis placed on R&D as a catalyst for economic growth. With India striving to achieve self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) and enhance its position in global technological and scientific arenas, the budget allocates substantial resources to key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, health research, and higher education. The paper examines the implications of these investments for sectors critical to the country’s innovation ecosystem, including renewable energy, digital transformation, and healthcare innovation. Additionally, the study evaluates the impact of tax incentives and public-private partnerships (PPPs) introduced in the budget, which are designed to accelerate private sector involvement in R&D and foster a more inclusive innovation landscape. Despite the positive steps, the paper highlights the persistent underinvestment in comparison to global leaders in R&D, underscoring the need for structural reforms and increased funding in underfunded areas such as climate science and trade. This study concludes by offering policy recommendations to optimize R&D investments for achieving sustainable economic growth and technological leadership.

Inclusive innovation processes in Tanzania: From national policies to local practices in innovation hubs

Inclusive innovations have the potential to foster socio-economic development and actively involve local communities in innovation processes in sub-Saharan Africa. The importance of inclusive innovations is emphasized in the public strategies and development programmes in the region. Nevertheless, despite some donor-funded initiatives, there remains a lack of systematic knowledge on how to effectively implement inclusive innovation in communities. This research aims to scrutinize the role of inclusive innovation in Tanzania. We conduct policy analyses of the country's official innovation strategies and investigate the inclusive innovation activities undertaken by 12 innovation hubs. These hubs facilitate interactions among diverse actors, provide necessary facilities and technologies, and offer mentorship and peer support. Our results reveal that the definition and significance of inclusive innovation are presented within the national policies. However, implementation programmes are currently modest and scattered. With a few exceptions, innovation hubs have inadequate understanding and limited resources for implementing inclusive innovations in practice. This research contributes by underscoring the need for comprehensive strategies, capacity-building initiatives, and collaborative efforts to fully leverage inclusive innovation for sustainable development in the region.

Innovation capability as a mediator of the relation between talent management and entrepreneurial firm performance

PurposeThe study aims to investigate innovation capability as a mediator in the relationship between talent management (TM) and entrepreneurial firm performance in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Thailand based on employer perceptions.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey was completed by 674 MSMEs in Thailand, both directly and online. Four hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling (SEM).FindingsThe results demonstrated that TM has a significant and positive influence on innovation capability, but no evidence was found for a positive relationship between TM and entrepreneurial firm performance. However, innovation capability positively influences entrepreneurial firm performance, and it fully mediates the positive relationship between TM and entrepreneurial firm performance. These results suggest that TM can enhance entrepreneurial firm performance if it is implemented with effective innovation capability.Research limitations/implicationsThe SEM model was employed with a limited number of enterprises, so the sample cannot represent the full population, as there are more than three million MSMEs in Thailand. More countries and factors should be incorporated into the model.Practical implicationsThe owner-managers and HR practitioners of MSMEs can utilise the study results to develop talent strategies and innovative interventions that will enhance their firm’s performance.Social implicationsThis study thus aims to strengthen the capacities of MSME entrepreneurs and policymakers to elevate inclusive innovation capability in MSMEs and to also accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG); innovation is one of the three important aspects of SDG9.Originality/valueThe study contributes by filling the research gap related to TM in the MSME business and enterprise development literature, and it aids in creating innovation capability to increase effective investments in TM.

The Impact and Acceptance of Large Language Models in Healthcare: A Perspective from China

This research explores the impact of Large Language Models like GPT on the healthcare industry, focusing on operational efficiency, patient experience, and cost structures to promote greater inclusive innovation. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study integrates quantitative data from structured surveys with qualitative insights from interviews. Grounded in empirical evidence from 66 valid surveys conducted among healthcare professionals and patients in China, this study employs SmartPLS for robust statistical analysis. The findings suggest a significant potential of LLMs in enhancing healthcare delivery, marked by improvements in operational efficiency and patient experience. While LLMs are perceived to potentially lower costs, the study reveals that cost reduction alone does not significantly influence the acceptance of LLM-integrated healthcare solutions in the Chinese context. The high level of trust and acceptance in using LLMs for diagnosis and treatment planning among respondents underscores a shift towards prioritizing quality and effectiveness in healthcare over mere cost savings. This study contributes to the discourse on AI adoption in healthcare, challenging existing assumptions and indicating a future where quality and outcome improvements may be more significant factors for technology acceptance. The research advocates for a balanced approach to LLM integration, emphasizing the importance of both economic and qualitative benefits in enhancing healthcare practices.

Consumption targeted innovation for women: From principle to practice?

This study explores the gendered dimension of innovation policy, taking the perspective of women as users and consumers of innovation, rather than as participants in the innovative workforce; a perspective which has not yet been fully analysed. Based on an analysis of policy documents by supra-national, national, and sub-national agencies and elite interviews, the research examines the beginnings of a new policy we term “Consumption Targeted Innovation for Women” (CTIW) in a limited number of advanced economies: The EU, and the specific cases of Austria and Israel. Elaborating on the necessity of this policy, the dynamics of its spread and its challenges moving forward, the research contributes conceptually to the budding literature on inclusive innovation policy, and practically to the analysis of emerging policies that are likely to further gender equality in innovation. We argue that CTIW is a response to market failure in the form of innovation designs that systematically cater to male needs and preferences while mostly ignoring those of women. The spread of CTIW policies is driven by policy entrepreneurs from the academic world. Policy adoption depends on the degree to which government in general is committed to gender equality and more specifically gender mainstreaming policy. However, even where the environment is ideologically favorable, CTIW must contend with the fact that most policy attention is focused on measures dedicated to furthering gender-equality on the production side.

A qualitative reflexive thematic analysis of innovation and regulation in hearing health care

BackgroundThe hearing health sector is an example of a health sector that is experiencing a period of rapid innovation driven by digital technologies. These innovations will impact the types of interventions and services available to support the communication of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. This study explored the perceptions of informed participants on the topic of innovation and regulation within hearing healthcare in Australia and the United Kingdom (UK).MethodsParticipants (N = 29, Australia [n = 16], UK [n = 13]) were purposively sampled and joined one of two online workshops. Participants included adults with hearing loss and family members, hearing health professionals, academics/researchers, representatives of hearing device manufacturers, regulators and policymakers. Workshop data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsParticipants conceptualised the hearing health sector as a network of organisations and individuals with different roles, knowledge and interests, in a state of flux driven by innovation and regulation. Innovation and regulation were perceived as mechanisms to ensure quality and mitigate risk within a holistic approach to care. Innovations encompassed technological as well as non-technological innovations of potential benefit to consumers. Participants agreed it was essential for innovation and regulation to be congruent with societal values. Critical to ethical congruence was the involvement of consumers throughout both innovation and regulation stages, and the use of innovation and regulation to tackle stigma and reduce health disparities. Participants expressed the desire for accessible and inclusive innovation in the context of fair, transparent and trustworthy commercial practices.ConclusionsThis study explored how stakeholders within the hearing health sector understand and make sense of innovation and the role of regulation. Overall, and despite reservations relating to health care professionals’ changing roles and responsibilities, innovation and regulation were conceptualised as beneficial when situated in the context of holistic, whole-person, models of care. The results of this study will inform considerations to support the development and implementation of innovations and regulation within the hearing sector and across other health sectors influenced by technological advances.

Inclusive Innovation Governance for Just Transitions: Insights from the Bean Agri-Food System in the Brunca Region of Costa Rica

This study explores how an inclusive governance of “niche” innovations with family farmers enables or limits the realization of just transitions in family farming at different scales, from the local to the national levels. The research focuses on a case study in the Brunca region of Costa Rica, which has pioneered innovations for bean research with family farmers. The primary source of information for the study was in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders. Secondary information comes from a desk review of the relevant policies and strategic documents from the relevant authorities. Lastly, a semi-scoping review was conducted to explore gender and intergenerational gaps in plant breeding, as well as potential conflicts between plant breeding and on-farm agro-diversity. The inclusive governance of bean research contributes to the realization of just-transition dimensions of justice, such as recognitional, procedural, and distributional justice, as a result of farmers’ engagement in participatory plant-breeding processes, and due to the coordination between different institutions at the local and national levels. Progress has been made in terms of the recognition and participation of farmers in research and in decision-making locally. The findings show interactions between the local and national scales, in terms of the commercialization of farmers’ seeds. However, the Costa Rican program for bean research struggles to engage family farmers in national decision-making processes and falls short of addressing equality and intergenerational issues. It also faces challenges in reaching a balance between short-term income generation and long-term conservation of agro-biodiversity on the farm. Fostering just transitions in family farming would require a greater inclusion of women and youth by the Costa Rican bean system. This implies allocating resources to increase their capacities and participation in bean research, as well as in decision-making at all levels. This is imperative and could be achieved if the government and relevant stakeholders align their strategic objectives and priorities to shorten gender and intergenerational gaps within the bean production system.

Organisational innovation and gender diversity: Insights from the civil engineering industry

Orientation: The civil engineering industry is vital in ensuring that infrastructure development has a beneficial social, economic, and environmental impact.Research purpose: This study explored the role of gender diversity and organisational innovation with a view to address social ills in the civil engineering industry in South Africa.Motivation for the study: The study is premised on the paucity in extant research and responds to calls for more research on the role of gender diversity and organisational innovation with a view to address social ills in the civil engineering industry.Research design, approach and method: Employing the interpretivist paradigm, 15 civil engineering professionals were purposively selected based on their extensive experience and comprehensive deep knowledge of the industry and interviewed using the semi-structured approach of interviews using the Microsoft Teams (MS Teams) platform. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts.Main findings: From thematic analysis, the following themes emerged from the primary data: skewed gender representation, females’ retention challenges, creation of an inclusive environment, building a strategic female structure, inclusive innovation, and role models and mentors’ deficit.Practical and/or managerial implications: The civil engineering industry needs to empower women occupying positions of power and not just fill the numbers through the removal of the male gatekeeping effect as the current status shows male dominance. It is also critical to create an inclusive environment, grow the pool of females to build the numbers critical for gender diversity, particularly at the top, and promote mentorship opportunities.Contributions and/or value add: This article advances knowledge on the role of gender diversity and organisational innovation with a view to address social ills in the civil engineering industry and exposes the shared patriarchal values that many organisations appear to promote. It further highlights that society still struggles with infrastructure that does not address its needs and points the civil engineering industry towards the current skill sets and experiences of its female workforce, and how to leverage those capabilities to benefit the industry and the entire society.

Exploring innovation and collaboration in the leather processing industry through the case study of the KIWANGO Leather Cluster

In the era of Industry 4.0, fostering innovation through strong collaboration among universities, industry, and government is crucial. However, the Tanzanian economy has faced challenges due to, among others, weak links between these entities. To address this, Sida initiated the Innovation Systems and Cluster Development Program (ISCP-Tz) in partnership with the University of Dar es Salaam. This was followed by a program at COSTECH focused on fostering innovation for socio-economic development. As part of these programs, 15 clusters, including KIWANGO Leather, were selected for documentation of their experiences. KIWANGO Leather exemplifies successful collaboration between cluster firms, the university, local government, and research institutions. Operationalizing guidelines for collaboration led to cooperative innovations, knowledge exchange, internships, and long-term partnerships established through Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The cluster's experiences highlight a less-linear, inclusive innovation process with positive outcomes. Thus, this paper not only illustrates a less linear, inclusive innovation process, but also its results can motivate actors in emerging innovation ecosystems in the Global South to adopt and scale up suggested approaches for knowledge co-creation benefitting sustainable development. By adopting these approaches and fostering collaborative networks, countries can leverage their resources and expertise to drive innovation, create economic growth, and address societal challenges.

Leveraging TSR and social innovation for social inclusion via platforms

ABSTRACT This study examines the potential of digital platforms to drive transformative social innovation and create new services that promote social inclusion. By integrating transformative service research (TSR) with social innovation literature, this study presents an interdisciplinary framework that highlights the role of digital platforms in alleviating the suffering of vulnerable populations and fostering happiness, thereby enhancing social conditions and community well-being. Empirical examples, such as Kiva, Duolingo, and Change.org, demonstrate the practical application of this framework in finance, education, and civic engagement. This research advances the conceptual foundation of TSR, offering valuable insights for academics, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to leverage digital platforms for social inclusion and societal improvement.

How can rural China achieve sustainable development through inclusive innovation? A tripartite evolutionary game analysis

Promoting inclusive innovation is crucial for achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development. This study investigated the decision-making behaviors and interaction mechanisms among the government, enterprises, and base of the pyramid (BoP) customers in the context of inclusive innovation in rural China by applying evolutionary game theory. A tripartite evolutionary game model was developed, and evolutionarily stable strategies along with their corresponding conditions were derived. Numerical simulations were employed to analyze the dynamic evolution process of stakeholders’ strategy choices under various scenarios and their sensitivity to key parameters. The findings suggest that the government plays different roles throughout the lifecycle of inclusive innovation in rural China, acting as an advocate in the initial stage, a promoter in the growth stage, and gradually diminishing its involvement as the market matures. Furthermore, the study reveals that low subsidies are not conducive to the evolution of optimal solutions for the three stakeholders, while high supervision costs reduce the government’s regulatory willingness, thereby hindering enterprises and the BoP customers from implementing and engaging in inclusive innovation in rural areas. Based on these insights, this research proposed some promotional mechanisms tailored to the different developmental stages of inclusive innovation, drawing from the industry life cycle theory. The insights and model developed in this study extend beyond rural China and offer a valuable framework for enhancing sustainable development in rural areas across other developing countries and regions.

How Does Digital Finance Affect Sports Enterprise Innovation? Evidence from Chinese Sports Listed Enterprises

In the context of the digital economy, digital finance has emerged as a new driving force for the sustainable and high-quality development of the sports industry. The sports industry promotes economic growth, social well-being, and environmental sustainability. However, the sustainable development of the sports industry faces challenges such as insufficient innovation and a lack of diverse financing channels. This study has investigated the impact of digital finance on sports enterprise innovation in China, focusing on the mediating role of financing constraints. Employing a panel dataset of 95 listed Chinese sports enterprises from 2011 to 2020, we conducted random-effects GLS regression and mediation analyses to examine the interrelationships among digital finance, financing constraints, and sports enterprise innovation. The empirical results have confirmed the positive role of digital finance in promoting sports enterprise innovation and alleviating financing constraints. Financing constraints negatively influence sports enterprise innovation and partially mediate the relationship between digital finance and innovation. The heterogeneity analyses have revealed that the impact of digital finance on innovation was more pronounced in the eastern region of China, and among both the major and small and mid-sized sports enterprises, with the latter potentially benefiting more. Our findings have highlighted the transformative potential of digital finance in driving inclusive innovation within the sports industry by providing accessible financing solutions and reducing information asymmetries. This study has contributed to the literature on digital finance, financing constraints, and enterprise innovation in the sports industry context, offering valuable insights for sports enterprises, policymakers, and financial institutions in leveraging digital finance to foster innovation-driven growth.

Social innovation for inclusion and sustainable development: a case study on BRAC institute of skills development (BISD)

PurposeThe paper aims to understand the stages of the social innovation process and how it can be used for sustainable development.Design/methodology/approachThis single case study used multiple sources, especially data from extensive field visits and selective in-depth interviews. Direct observation, web content analysis, journals, annual reports and news articles were also used.FindingsThe findings show that BRAC institute of skills development (BISD) adopted a unique formula for the social innovation process: problem identification, new idea, design prototype, pilot, perfect and scale up. This study also finds that BISD has a significant socio-economic impact in Bangladesh. The impacts of BISD are associated with several United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1 on poverty, SDG 4 on inclusive learning, SDG 5 on gender equality and women empowerment, SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth and SDG 16 on social inclusion.Practical implicationsThe discussions of this study ultimately pave a clear roadmap for policymakers, practitioners and academics to improve mechanisms for sustainable development through social innovations in emerging countries.Originality/valueThis paper provides a practical application of the social inclusive innovation process theory by which vocational training institutes can scale their sustainable impact. More knowledge is needed on how organisations can implement social innovation projects in emerging countries. This paper provides exploratory evidence to fill this gap. It demands a promising area of interest to investigate further research on the compatibility of social innovation in skills development programmes to gear up the status of an underprivileged community.

Inclusive innovations in services: leveraging digital technologies for inclusive innovations in healthcare services

PurposeThis paper aims to provide insights into the potential of digital technologies-based innovations for more inclusive healthcare by alleviating the affordability, accessibility and availability barriers to utilization of healthcare services. Also, it aims to provide insights into the potential of digital technologies-based innovations for more inclusive services, broadly.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual framework is inductively developed by analyzing real-world examples of digital technologies-based innovations for more inclusive healthcare through the lenses of economics of information in digital form and certain characteristics of services.FindingsConcurrent implementation of digital technologies-based healthcare innovations with innovations and/or modifications in service processes can enable greater inclusivity by alleviating the affordability, accessibility and availability barriers to utilization of healthcare services.Research limitations/implicationsIssues relating to inequities in healthcare, as a social problem, are the focus of research at multiple levels (e.g. global, national, regional and local) in several academic disciplines. In relation to the scope of the problems and challenges pertaining to providing quality healthcare to the unserved and underserved segments of society, worldwide, the contribution of the proposed framework to practice is modest. However, by highlighting the promise and potential of digital technologies-based innovations as solutions for alleviating barriers to affordability, accessibility and availability of healthcare services during various stages (prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment follow-up) with illustrative vignettes and developing a framework, the article offers insights for future research. For instance, in reference to mission-driven social enterprises that operate in the product-market space for inclusive innovations under resource constraints, a resourcefulness-based view of the social enterprise constitutes a potential avenue for theory development and research.Practical implicationsGiven the conceptual nature of the article, the implications for practice are limited to cognitive implications. Action implications (instrumental implications or implications for practice) are outside of the scope of the article.Social implicationsInnovations that are economically viable, environmentally sustainable and socially impactful is one of the important issues of our times.Originality/valueThe proposed framework provides insights into the potential of digital technologies-based innovations for more inclusive healthcare by alleviating the affordability, accessibility and availability barriers in the context of emerging and less developed country markets and base of the pyramid segments of society in these markets.

Inclusive Innovation to Examining the Impact of Women's Entrepreneurship on Indian Society

Inclusive Innovation to Examining the Impact of Women's Entrepreneurship on Indian Society

Do multilevel agricultural innovation platforms support inclusive innovation? Lessons learned from a case study in the Ethiopian highlands

ABSTRACT To facilitate smallholder farmers' inclusion within agricultural change processes, agricultural innovation platforms are increasingly being used. Such platforms, which seek to facilitate farmer interactions with diverse actors, are associated with the concept of inclusive innovation. Despite the rhetoric of IPs as inclusive structures, questions persist regarding farmers’ inclusion in decision-making within IPs. This research, based on a livestock innovation case study in the Ethiopian Highlands, examines the role of multilevel IPs in supporting inclusive innovation. Qualitative data collection, timeline analysis of the innovation process and thematic analysis were employed. Results reveal varying levels of farmer inclusion across different phases of the innovation process and IP operational levels. While successful farmer inclusion was apparent in the diagnosis and decentralized learning innovation processes, maintaining inclusivity during the latter phases of the innovation process was difficult, and negatively impacted on farmer-centric outcomes. Decentralized resources, decision-making and reflexive monitoring emerge as crucial in improving smallholder farmers’ inclusion and addressing institutional biases inherent in the technology-push approaches to innovation, especially during farmers’ selection processes that continued to favour better-off or well-connected ‘model’ farmers.