Innovation In India Research Articles

Military technological innovation in India: A tale of three projects

ABSTRACTThis paper examines Indian strategy through the lens of military innovation. Comparing three major indigenous defense projects undertaken within a decade of each other, it asks why the Indian defense establishment managed to deliver on the Naval project while those of the Army and the Air Force were delayed by decades. To explain these differing outcomes, the paper argues, we need to analyze three inter-related issues: institutional capacity within the services; innovation strategy; and project management structures and accountability.

Policy innovations in India: an exploration of their successful diffusion

Innovation in policy-making is seldom observed and requires robust exploration of the process of innovation. Innovation is carried out by policy entrepreneurs, both within and outside of the government, while implementation occurs through the executive branch of the government. Diffusion of innovation happens over a period of time involving myriad actors. The process of innovation in policies is to be understood with the precursors, enablers and disablers of the innovation leading to its diffusion. The objective of this paper is to determine the conditions for successful diffusion of innovation. The authors have followed a grounded theory approach to develop a theoretical model which would help policymakers to innovate in social policies. They took in-depth interviews of policy-makers who have been involved in an innovative policy and analysed government documents as well peer reviewed research papers. The interviews and document analysis were used to figure out the precursors, enabling and disabling factors for policy innovations. This allowed the authors to come up with the conditions of successful diffusion of an innovative policy. The paper concludes with recommendations for diffusing a policy innovation in a better way.

Impact of patent policy changes on R&D expenditure by industries in India

Emerging economies realizing the importance of innovation are taking steps to enhance their innovative capabilities. Among the tools used, institutional factor such as patent protection policy is being increasingly used by such economies, despite mixed research evidence linking patent protection policies and innovation. This study investigates the effects of patent policy changes on stimulating innovation in India. Panel data regression technique is used on data for 1989–1990 to 2009–2010. The results indicate that patent policy changes, specifically, increase in the protection duration, enforcement mechanism, and membership into international convention dimensions of patent policy have positive influence on the R&D intensity.

The wonder years: A profile of Madhav Chavan

An idea took shape in the slums of Mumbai in the early nineties and went on to become a peoples’ movement to address the problem of providing quality education for all of India’s children. This piece profiles Dr. Madhav Chavan, the man who provided the dynamic vision for and creative leadership of that mission/movement. Dr. Chavan combined the wisdom of an ancient Chinese philosopher and lessons from the fast-food restaurant model to develop innovations in education that are enabling children and youth to learn. His unwavering focus on the human values behind the big numbers, as well as his celebration of the joy and wonder at the heart of all learning, are a large part of the educational story that is unfolding in faraway villages in India and providing a trigger for social change. This article is an attempt to present his contributions to education innovation in India.

Big Data and Climate Smart Agriculture - Review of Current Status and Implications for Agricultural Research and Innovation in India

Climate change will increase the vulnerability of agricultural production systems, unless scientists and farmers reorient their present approaches towards making them climate smart or climate resilient. The integration of recent developments in big data analytics and climate change science with agriculture can greatly accelerate agricultural research and innovation for climate smart agriculture (CSA). CSA refers to an integrated set of technologies and practices that simultaneously improve farm productivity and incomes, increase adaptive capacity to climate change effects, and reduce green house gas emissions from farming. It is a multistage, multiobjective, data-driven, and knowledge based approach to agriculture, with the farm as the most fundamental unit for both strategic and tactical decisions. This paper explores how big data analytics can accelerate research and innovation for CSA. Three levels at which big data can enhance farmer field level insights and actionable knowledge for the practice of CSA are identified: (i) developing a predictive capability to factor climate change effects to scales relevant to farming practice, (ii) speeding up plant breeding for higher productivity and climate resilience, and (iii) delivery of customized and prescriptive real-time farm knowledge for higher productivity, climate change adaptation and mitigation. The state-of-art on big data based approaches at each of the three levels is assessed. The paper also identifies the research and institutional challenges, and the way forward for leveraging big data in research and innovation aimed at climate smart agriculture in India.

Social Innovation in India : Collaborative relations among MNEs, NGOs, and social enterprises

Social Innovation in India : Collaborative relations among MNEs, NGOs, and social enterprises

Research Potential on Innovation in India and China

Recently, we attended the Second MOR Research Frontiers Conference hosted by Indian Institute of Management Bangalore in India. The theme of the conference was ‘The SME Ecology of Transforming Economies: Knowledge Creation, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Economic Growth’. As Professor Peter Murmann stressed, the purpose of this frontier conference was about collectively exploring and extending the frontier of research, and therefore, a number of emerging topics were discussed. The conference highlighted for us the great potential of research about India or comparative studies across transitional economies, especially between India and China. Below we highlight a few thoughts or reflections.

Currency demand stability in the presence of seasonality and endogenous financial innovation

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the stability of the currency demand function for India with private consumption expenditure, tax–gross domestic product ratio and deposit rate as explanatory variables for the period 1996:1 to 2014:4. Additionally, this paper also tries to detect the presence of endogenous financial innovation in the currency demand function.Design/methodology/approachFor the theoretical foundation of the study, this paper has used a modified version of money-in-the-utility function. To examine the stability of currency demand function empirically, seasonal cointegration technique developed by HEGY (1990) and EGHL (1993) was applied. Finally, to detect the presence of endogenous financial innovation in the currency demand equation, the Gurley and Shaw (1960) hypothesis was tested by presenting the currency demand equation in a state–space form.FindingsThe empirical findings show that there is the absence of long-run cointegrationg relationship among the variables at the zero and annual frequency; however, there is evidence of a relationship among the variables at the biannual frequency. Moreover, the time-varying coefficient of deposit rate elasticity, used to test the Gurley–Shaw hypothesis, suggests that innovations in financial markets, especially improvements in the payment technology, raise the deposit-rate elasticity, beginning from 2010 onward.Practical implicationsThe empirical results of the paper suggest that there would be shrinkage of currency demand in future. From the monetary policy angle, the Reserve Bank of India needs to adapt adequately to a situation of shrinking demand for currency.Originality/valueApart from using seasonally unadjusted data to examine currency demand function for India, this study, for the first time, and to the best of the authors’ knowledge, tries to test the evidence of financial innovation in India by testing the Gurley–Shaw hypothesis. The findings of the study will have significant implication in the planning of the issue and distribution of currency in the fast-changing economic environment.

Inclusive Innovation in India: Contemporary Landscape

Inclusive Innovation in India: Contemporary Landscape

Social Innovation, Gender, and Technology: Bridging the Resource Gap

:Some of the most important resources are intangible, such as knowledge and access to networks. In the developing world, technology can facilitate these resources and address basic human needs in a variety of ways: from provision of farmer training and cloud-controlled clean water systems to health information and mobile money services. Some of these services expand access to resources in ways that particularly benefit women. In environments where women are disadvantaged socially and economically, information and communications technologies (ICT) can enable women to access valuable information, consider a broader range of business opportunities, access wider markets, partake in educational programs, and share experiences with and gain mentorship from other women. However, there are large gender gaps in the access to technology, particularly in rural areas. To begin, I briefly discuss the role of technology in development, and consider the extent and significance of technology gender gaps. Next, I review key barriers to reducing these gaps, and discuss the concept of social innovation as it applies to technology interventions. Examples from five social innovations in India — a country with large technology gender gaps — illustrate the range of possibilities for innovative access to and use of ICT for diverse target groups. I conclude with some suggestions for further improvement in this area.

Creative enterprise from the medieval to the modern period: Alternative perspectives

Entrepreneurs have generated creative ideas for many centuries, and across a range of industries. Two books have recently appeared addressing the issue of entrepreneurial creativity from different perspectives. They are compared and contrasted in this article. Historical precedents for innovation are examined in one, while contemporary examples are the focus of Tsang’s volume. Strategies used to encourage innovation in medieval and early modern towns inform on contemporary debates on the role of traditional industries in India. Experiments in new forms of production were encouraged, rather than deterred, and investment in training helped traditional crafts to retain a reputation for quality and develop regional specialisms. Both books highlight that necessity can encourage innovation, a situation which has parallels to current debates on frugal innovation in India.

Biomedical research and development in India: An overview

Abstract Biomedical research is one of the areas where the rate of progress of science and technology (S&T) is most important. Biomedical related S&T can be used to improve the health care system, reduce the disease burden, and improve the economic status of the poor in the developing world. Biomedical S&T has a strong growth trajectory in the last decades in India. It has achieved several milestones and is well positioned to leverage emerging opportunities. Several players from both the public and private sectors have the ability to influence national investments in biomedical research in India. This article attempts to capture the biomedical research, development and innovation in India by highlighting the various initiatives undertaken by the government to promote basic research and development (R&D) in the area, the major actors involved and the state of regulatory framework existing in the country and worldwide.

Stanford-India Biodesign: Outcomes from an eight year collaboration with the government of India to promote medical technology innovation in India

Stanford-India Biodesign: Outcomes from an eight year collaboration with the government of India to promote medical technology innovation in India

Proactive market orientation and innovation in India: The moderating role of intrafirm causal ambiguity

AbstractDespite the implication of organizational resources and the resource-based view of the firm, the market orientation literature has not examined associated constructs. Additionally, while it is recognized that emerging economies (e.g., India) are key drivers of economic growth, this literature has not paid sufficient attention to such markets, with few exceptions. We examine the impact of proactive market orientation on innovation capability, and performance in a sample of predominantly service firms, in a culture characterized by high power distance and low uncertainty avoidance. We contribute by conceptualizing and demonstrating the moderating impact of intrafirm causal ambiguity, drawn from resource-based theories of the firm. Based on Structural Equation Modelling analysis of responses to a survey of marketing managers, we find that intra-firm causal ambiguity moderates the proactive market orientation-innovation capability relationship, while this strategic orientation is linked to business performance through innovation. We discuss these findings, limitations, implications, and directions for future research.

Moving towards “Slow Food”, the new frontier of culinary innovation in India

Purpose The paper aims to research the current understanding of Slow Food in the Indian hospitality sector and to identify how the industry can embrace the concept and its sustainability. To begin, underpinnings are considered in relation to traditional, locally produced food for patrons that is actually “farm to fork” in terms of its delivery model as evidenced by backward integration in the supply of key ingredients. The economics of the backward integration is analysed to measure its impact on businesses’ bottom-line in the context of an inflationary economy. Design/methodology/approach Existing published literature is reviewed with reference to the “Slow Food movement” from both an international and Indian perspective. Vedatya’s approach to sustainable culinary value chain creation and its applicability for industry adoption with an intent to offer Slow Food on commercial menus is documented and discussed. A round table discussion with key food and beverage leaders is also documented and analysed to establish the current state of awareness and readiness of the sector to offer “Slow Food” through an integrated supply chain in India. Findings Slow Food as a concept is new to India; there is a huge shift in many parts of the world towards food that is fresh, traditional and drawn from locally available ingredients. This research shares Vedatya’s experience in developing an integrated value chain that can provide a sustainable Slow Food model for the Indian hospitality and restaurant sector to deploy with a positive impact on profitability too. Research limitations/implications There is need for more research to better understand the feasibility of hospitality businesses working on supply chain with backward integration, to offer “Slow Food” to consumers. While there seems to be a demand for traditional food, this paper does not research that aspect; further research is required to ascertain the potential demand for Slow Food in India. Practical implications The popularity of Slow Food is global; however, the Indian hospitality sector is yet to warm up to this potential. The customer focus on healthy, traditional, fresh food opens an opportunity to innovate, and businesses that build capacity to offer real farm-to-fork menus can become market leaders and will reap bottom-line benefits through lower input costs because of supply chain integration. Originality/value This paper is unique in terms of offering a discussion on the potential of Slow Food as the next realm of culinary innovation in India. It also adds value by sharing the Vedatya experience in terms of developing an integrated supply chain that facilitates the Slow Food offering in a farm-to-fork format. The model can be emulated by commercial hospitality businesses resulting in cost advantages and higher satisfaction levels of customers.

Banking Technology Innovations in India: Enhancing Customer Value and Satisfaction

Background/Objectives: This paper studies the development in information and technology enable banks in value added services to be effective in satisfying customer needs by adopting new innovative solutions in banking services to meet perceived value and expectations. Methods/Statistical Analysis: To study the perceptions of bank customers, bank employees regarding the use of various products/services delivery channels and their acceptability in Andhra Pradesh. 200 sample respondents had interviewed in order to assess the number of existing bank customers availing e-banking services. Correlation analysis also applied in this study. Findings: Regardless of their size, profitability and growth demand that banks focus on serving customers at the right time, with the right level of service and at the right cost. Several factors are driving this customer focus. Number one, today’s customers expect personalized pricing and portfolio mixes. Banks that can’t deliver will suffer reduced profitability. While banks, by default, sell every product to every customer, digital banking allows customization, providing the data and analytics capabilities needed to examine each customer’s profitability and offer individual¬ized or segmented products and pricing. Application/Improvements: To stay profitable and grow in the new digital economy, banks need to adopt a customer-centric business model, diversify online delivery of products and services channels, and begin making meaning from valuable trails of digital information.

Innovation in India: A review of past research and future directions

The rapid economic growth that India enjoyed following the start of its economic reforms in 1991 has led to a growing scholarly interest in Indian organizations and management practices. In this paper, we bring together extant yet dispersed research on one important and salient element of Indian economic growth: innovation. We organize and review the substantive innovation research in India based on its scope and focus, and find that it has yielded unique insights about India’s innovation systems and processes at both the institutional and firm levels. Three interesting trends emerge from this review of the literature. First, a growing body of research has started identifying innovation phenomena unique to India, such as “frugal innovation” and the related notion of “jugaad.” Second, a discernible arc in Indian innovation research can be observed, that is, a shift from a focus on the role of the state to the role of MNEs and Indian businesses in innovation. Finally, unlike much innovation research elsewhere, there appears to be significant interest in innovation that serves the need of the poor. We conclude with directions for future research on innovation within the Indian context.

Editorial: Innovation in India: Micro Dimensions

Editorial: Innovation in India: Micro Dimensions

A structured process for unmet clinical need analysis for medical device innovation in India: early experiences

It is estimated that approximately 75% of medical devices and diagnostics come to India from imports. A WHO report on medical devices highlighted that most devices present in developing countries...

Institutionalization of Grassroots Innovation in India

India's economy has a large informal sector, which is generally associated with low labour productivity and poverty in the country. India became the first country to recognize the innovative ability of the informal sector and support it. Grassroots innovations scouted in various parts of India are now provided a complete cycle of support and integrated into the formal sector through networking cooperation with research institutions, businesses and governmental organizations at various levels. This article traces the genesis of the system of support for grassroots innovation in India through the institutionalization of the innovative activity of the informal sector. The specifics of this process can be taken into consideration by countries wishing to unleash the innovative potential of the informal sector.