Rural Innovation Research Articles

Better Telecommunications Services for all Australians

The Universal Service Obligation (USO) scheme we have in place in Australia in 2015 was put in place over 25 years ago when the world was very different than what it is today. The paper documents how the current USO entrenches an annual subsidy of some $300 to Telstra to provide a standard telephone service over an aging copper infrastructure to regional and remote premises across Australia. The current expensive USO scheme is inadequate for people in remote and regional Australia and in the light of the NBN roll out and the demand for mobile services is in urgent need of review. The paper reviews the approach taken to providing high cost telecommunications services in rural areas both developed and developing economies across the world and draws lessons for devising a basis for a way forward. Given the now bipartisan acceptance of the rural and remote component of the NBN roll out and drawing on these lessons, now is the opportunity to scrap the current USO scheme and establish a Universal Service Fund (USF) where the NBN is the Universal Infrastructure wholesale provider with alternative retailers. The paper supports five practical interrelated recommendations that diverts current USO funding to ensure broadband and mobile services extension in rural and remote Australia as well as reimagining future payphones around public WiFi and rural community innovation.

Better Telecommunications Services for all Australians

The Universal Service Obligation (USO) scheme we have in place in Australia in 2015 was put in place over 25 years ago when the world was very different than what it is today. The paper documents how the current USO entrenches an annual subsidy of some $300 to Telstra to provide a standard telephone service over an aging copper infrastructure to regional and remote premises across Australia. The current expensive USO scheme is inadequate for people in remote and regional Australia and in the light of the NBN roll out and the demand for mobile services is in urgent need of review. The paper reviews the approach taken to providing high cost telecommunications services in rural areas both developed and developing economies across the world and draws lessons for devising a basis for a way forward. Given the now bipartisan acceptance of the rural and remote component of the NBN roll out and drawing on these lessons, now is the opportunity to scrap the current USO scheme and establish a Universal Service Fund (USF) where the NBN is the Universal Infrastructure wholesale provider with alternative retailers. The paper supports five practical interrelated recommendations that diverts current USO funding to ensure broadband and mobile services extension in rural and remote Australia as well as reimagining future payphones around public WiFi and rural community innovation.

An Exploratory Study for Conceptualization of Rural Innovation in Indian Context

Innovation is central to the economic growth and development of any nation. In rural context, innovation approach provides new ways to solve the problems of rural people and to create new opportunities for entrepreneurship development. Yet the empirical studies on rural innovation is still young in literature. Thus, this paper describes the conceptualization of rural innovation in rural Indian context based on filed survey. The paper's main objective is to find out the variables of rural innovation from literature review and to identify the factors of rural innovation by analyzing empirical data. The filed survey is performed through close ended questionnaire and face-to-face interview of 140 rural people who involved in entrepreneurial activities. The finding of the paper revealed that there are three factors of rural innovation include knowledge sharing for enhancing economic efficiency, new learning for economic scale up and new skill development for economic scope. Thus, this research gives unique contribution to literature by describing the measurable conceptualization of rural innovation in Indian context. The study highlights that knowledge, learning and skills development, as elements of human capital having contribution in configuration of rural innovation. Moreover, the study allows for the implication to be made for rural entrepreneurship development. However, the future scope of this research could corporate large sample data, greater number of variables of rural innovation and conduct in other countries.

Investigación participativa y redes de innovación en agroecosistemas con papayo en Cotaxtla, Veracruz, México.

El análisis de redes sociales puede ser aplicado a procesos de innovación rural en la transferencia de tecnología. Sirve para entender la complejidad de las relaciones sociales que forman las personas o instituciones en su entorno y definen las redes de innovación que se dan entre grupos de trabajo o regiones. De abril a mayo de 2011 se determinaron las redes y actores centrales presentes en la asociación “Productora y Comercia-lizadora de Papaya de Cotaxtla S.P.R. de R.L.”, que influyen en la transferencia de tecnología en Cotaxtla, Veracruz, Méxi-co. Mediante el programa UCINET v. 6.289 se determinaron tres medidas de centralidad: rango, grado de intermediación y cercanía. De 32 participantes en la red, 27 difunden acti-vamente las innovaciones de acuerdo con su interés, con los que se deben hacer alianzas para transferir tecnología. Cuatro productores resaltan como actores centrales, que junto con el INIFAP, el Colegio de Postgraduados y la propia organi-zación de productores, serían los apropiados para establecer un programa de transferencia de tecnología para acelerar la difusión y adopción de las innovaciones. Los comercializa-dores mayoristas, intermediarios e instituciones de crédito no participan en este proceso, pero podrían proveer fondos para financiar la difusión de innovaciones.

User innovation and entrepreneurship: case studies from rural India

Innovation research has abundant literature on technologically advanced innovations and entrepreneurship. However, literature from a rural innovator and entrepreneur perspective is sparse. Therefore, we explore rural user innovation and entrepreneurship in a developing country, India. Using multiple case study research method, we study cases of five rural user innovations in detail. These rural innovators innovated to alleviate the drudgery of their lives and to fulfill their need for a low-cost local solution to a widespread rural problem. They often face a resource void for commercializing their innovations and we find that external actors can play an enabling role in filling this void. The findings of our study help propose a framework for enabling rural innovation and entrepreneurship in developing countries like India. Further, in addition to poverty alleviation, we found that there was a positive social impact on the lives of rural entrepreneurs and their community.

Vidéki térségeink innovációt befogadó képessége – Egy kutatás tapasztalatai

Az MTA és a Magyar Nemzeti Vidéki Kutatóhálózat (MNVH) közötti kutatási megállapodás keretében az egyik részkutatás témája a Társadalmi és gazdasági innováció, valamint a vidéki térségeink innovációt befogadó képessége címet viselte. A kutatás célja kettős volt, egyrészt a vidéki innováció fogalmának és összetevőinek elemzése, másrészt a társadalmi és gazdasági innovációt befogadó tér és társadalom jellemzőinek feltárása egy helyzetkép bemutatásán keresztül. A tanulmányban a fogalmak tisztázását követően az innovációs esetek empirikus vizsgálatának eredményeit mutatom be, majd meghatározom a rurális innováció földrajzi, társadalmi és gazdasági térre vonatkozó tulajdonságait az interjúk tapasztalatain keresztül. A vizsgálat rámutatott arra, hogy a befogadó közeg nagymértékben függ a társadalom, a gazdaság nyitottságától és a humán tőkétől. A tanulmány a társadalmi és gazdasági innováció egymásra hatását is vizsgálja, és eseteken keresztül mutatja be, hogyan képesek erősíteni egymást és magát az innovációra való hajlamot is. Végül elemzem a rurális innováció területi specifikumait és az innovátorok tulajdonságait.

Multiple Peer Effects in the Diffusion of Innovations on Social Networks: A Simulation Study

The influence of peer effects on the diffusion of innovations has been extensively studied. However, the underlying mechanisms of peer effects are generally understudied. Gaps in this knowledge could lead to misestimation of peer effects and inefficient interventions. This study examined the role of three types of specific peer effects -- information effect, experience effect, and externality effect -- in the adoption of innovation in rural China. By referring to the diffusion process of a rural innovation, we developed a simulation model that incorporated multiple peer effects on a multiplex network. The model allowed us to estimate the influence of each specific effect and to investigate the interplay of the positive and negative directions of the effects. The main results of simulated experiments were the following: (1) a negative information effect in the system caused the diffusion of innovation to vary around a middle-level rate, which resulted in a fluctuating diffusion curve rather than a commonly found S-shaped one; (2) in the case of full diffusion, experience effect significantly shaped the diffusion process at an earlier stage, while externality effect mattered more at a later stage; and (3) network properties (i.e., connectivity, transitivity, and network distance) provided indirect influence on diffusion through specific peer effects. Overall, our study illustrated the need to understand specific underlying causal mechanisms when studying peer effects. Simulation studies provide an effective approach to generate such understanding.

Where Imperialism Could Not Reach: Chinese Industrial Policy and Japan, 1900–1940

Where Imperialism Could Not Reachexamines the impact of the Japanese model of industrialization on China through a history of policy recommendations and economic ideas in practice. In the aftermath of the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895), Chinese regional policymakers learned a Japanese-style industrial policy that focused on the use of exhibitions and schools to disseminate information and stimulate rural innovation. In focusing on the treaty ports and the impact of European and American capitalism that has a larger and more quantifiable source base, many scholars have ignored the vital intra-Asian dimensions of China’s economic development, underpinned by shared position of China and Japan on the global semiperiphery and the pursuit of labor-intensive industrialization focusing on improvements to labor quality. The dissertation also aims to demonstrate the primary importance of information and incentives for innovation—rather than overcoming capital constraints—in Chinese strategies for economic growth.

Where Imperialism Could Not Reach: Chinese Industrial Policy and Japan, 1900–1940

Where Imperialism Could Not Reachexamines the impact of the Japanese model of industrialization on China through a history of policy recommendations and economic ideas in practice. In the aftermath of the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895), Chinese regional policymakers learned a Japanese-style industrial policy that focused on the use of exhibitions and schools to disseminate information and stimulate rural innovation. In focusing on the treaty ports and the impact of European and American capitalism that has a larger and more quantifiable source base, many scholars have ignored the vital intra-Asian dimensions of China’s economic development, underpinned by shared position of China and Japan on the global semiperiphery and the pursuit of labor-intensive industrialization focusing on improvements to labor quality. The dissertation also aims to demonstrate the primary importance of information and incentives for innovation—rather than overcoming capital constraints—in Chinese strategies for economic growth.

The Role of Social Networks in Agricultural Innovation: The Sutherland Reclamations and the Fowler Steam Plough, c.1855-c.1885

Abstract:The nineteenth century saw an explosion in creativity and innovation, often applied to and motivated by an urge to improve, refine and make more efficient industrial and agricultural processes. There were many innovations in the field of agriculture, supported by the sponsorship of societies and associations and, in the 1850s and 1860s, by strong investment under High Farming. This article examines one of these innovations, the steam plough, with reference to its application in the Scottish Highlands in the 1870s and 1880s. In particular, it illuminates the social networks which lay behind the development and utilisation of the steam plough in the rural Highland context, delineating how aristocratic, religious and local networks combined to have a major impact on rural society in Scotland and beyond. It will examine how these networks interacted to promote the contemporary culture for agricultural and rural innovation through the development of the Fowler's steam plough. What makes this example of particular interest is the fact that agriculturally and financially, the Sutherland land reclamations were an unconditional failure. The environment was too challenging for the technology and despite vast financial resources, the landowner, the third Duke of Sutherland, was, after fifteen years, finally convinced by his advisors that further efforts were futile and irresponsible. This article will interrogate why, despite its essential unfeasibility, the project was pursued, and will argue that the momentum created by the dynamic between the three networks involved propelled it forward despite growing evidence of failure. This article therefore uses an inductive approach by examining a particular example of agricultural design innovation and analysing the pertinent social issues in what would have been termed by contemporaries ‘entrepreneurial spirit’.

Rural Innovations in Agricultural Information Service Delivery in Bangladesh

Rural Innovations in Agricultural Information Service Delivery in Bangladesh

Theme: Agri-Food and Rural Innovations for Healthier Societies

Theme: Agri-Food and Rural Innovations for Healthier Societies

Adventures in rural and remote health services innovation: the role of researcher as collaborator

Recent pockets of rural innovation illustrate the mutual benefits that result when rural and remote (rural/remote) health researchers enter into active collaborations with decision-makers and other community-based stakeholders (eg advocacy groups) to address the health needs of rural/remote communities. Ideally, collaborations bring together ‘different perspectives and competencies to produce new knowledge about a complex process’. Collaborations enable community-based partners to:

Rural Innovations in India: Cause and Benefits

Innovation has been regarded as the important factor behind growth of country’s economy. It is not the question whether we should innovate or not but now it is the question of what we should innovate and how we should innovate. Innovation often requires out of the box thinking approach where innovator tries to solve his day-today problem. People in the rural region often have limited access to resources like drinking water, education, food, sanitation facilities etc. This research paper highlights innovations made by people in rural region. These innovations have originated from either a problem or due to shortage of resources in their life. People in rural region have made their life better economically and financially through these innovations. The rural region is often characterized by few resources. It is interesting to find and analyze diverse innovations happening within limited resources. This paper explores importance of rural innovation and factors influencing rural innovations. It also tries to understand how these innovations benefit rural citizens.

Innovation in Rural Region in India

Innovation is the key to growth in country’s economy. But it is dependent on resources like money, technology and skilled labour. These resources are easily available in the urban area. But a rural region has many shortcomings like unskilled labour, shortage of money and technology and less awareness about new technology. But in spite of all these shortcomings, there are many people as well as small enterprises in the rural regions which have come out with innovations. These innovations have transformed their lives and improved their standard of living. Most of the rural innovations remain unnoticed because they do not get support of promotion or their use is confined to limited rural regions. The paper explores innovations in the rural region in India. It further tries to analyze the cause or origin of the situations or environment that were instrumental in on-set of these innovations. Different innovations at rural region have been explored to understand the reasons underlying innovation. Secondary data was used to analyze and interpret rural innovations. The result of the research study explains the innovations, reasons and benefits of these innovations. India's rural innovators have indeed made a point that even common people can make extraordinary inventions despite many constraints -- lack of education and severe cash crunch or even technology. Most of these innovators have succeeded in developing cost effective products or process with better quality.

Recognize people's science for value addition in post-harvest management of horticultural crops

The traditional models of cooking craft have been an outcome of endless trial and error experimentation which they in totality adopted by virtual of their faith in their developmental attempts and this phenomenon may be termed as “People's Science”. After all, there is a reason behind a madness, if faith be termed as though, yet the art of performance, art of practical demonstration, art of learning by doing an expression, art of exercising by experience etc. are all innovative models of exhibiting truth; and therefore, innovations may be institutionalized, commercialized and conceptualized in the context of creativity and economic environment. Thus, the grassroot innovations, social innovations, community based innovations and bottom up innovations are the product of systematic planning and development. Moreover we need to create a new model of integrating traditional wisdom and farmers innovations, most probably the rural farm women's innovations, with R&D in agriculture, so that we could provide solution to the problems faced by large majority of small, marginal and women farmers who are operating as the bottom of the pyramid. Women farmers, in particular, has the natural instinct to socialize themselves, work in common harmony for a common cause relating to the development and strengthening of an individual, group, sect, segment or entity. However, the past experiences of national extension agencies working with women have also shown that rural farm women can also work together, create informal community based organizations like women interest-groups or self-help groups and pool resources or mobilize resources to address the issues that address them or that affect them. While we are witnessing innovative sparks among them, they need an enabling eco system for creating innovations.

Technical Innovation of Rural Tourism in Zhejiang: A Case Study of Baisha Village, Hangzhou City

The provincial rural tourism in Zhejiang is still on a developing and lifting stage. There are also many problems which need to carry on technological innovation. The article mainly studies technical innovation on rural tourism, taking Baisha village as a typical case and conducts a in-depth investigation on the three aspects of rural tourism technical innovation, namely, products innovation, management and service innovation, and marketing innovation. After that, the author proposes some counter measures to provide references to develop rural tourism in other similar areas.

Empirical Analysis on Farmers' Mortgage Willingness to the Land Management Right and its Influencing Factors

Rural land mortgage loan is an important part of rural financial products and service modes innovation. As the main demand party of rural finance, farmers mortgage willingness is significant to the development and spread of rural land mortgage loan business. This paper, based on the survey data of 140 farmers in Liaoning Province in China, analyzes the mortgage willingness to the land management right and its influencing factors by using the Logit mode. The research results show that farmers mortgage willingness to the land management right is influenced by their age, working experience, the total area of their land, land transferring willingness, income source and supportive policy of the government. Based on the research, this paper also puts forward suggestions on quicken the development of land management right mortgage loan business.

Conclusions: contemporary responsible rural tourism innovations

PurposeThe main aim of this paper is to critically review the contribution made by this theme issue to the literature by examining contemporary innovations that are emerging and enhancing responsible rural tourism practices in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachBased on the theme issue, a critical content analysis of the papers selected for the issue was undertaken.FindingsThe summary paper generally highlights all emerging and innovative approaches from various case studies in rural tourism destinations in Malaysia.Research limitations/implicationsThe complex and dynamic realities of rural tourism are both a challenge and an opportunity for responsible governance of rural tourism destinations.Originality/valueThe current theme issue explores emerging models from stakeholders' perspectives to enhance the concept of rural tourism sustainability in the context of the economy, social and environment.

Beyond the Transfer of Capital? Second-Home Owners as Competence Brokers for Rural Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The current paper addresses the possible role of second-home owners as competence brokers in terms of rural entrepreneurship and innovation. Empirically, the paper draws on a case study of second-home owners from two municipalities in Telemark, one of the regions with the highest densities of second homes in Norway. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire on 2200 second-home owners and with a response rate of 43% and 47%, respectively. The study results show that the second-home owners demonstrate in different ways a genuine interest in their second-home community, and also a willingness to use their knowledge and competence to contribute to the development of the local economy. Furthermore, we have also seen that an impressive number of second-home owners are educated to a higher level, within a variety of industrial fields and sectors, and have extensive managerial and hands-on experience from establishing and developing companies: in other words, they have both the interest and willingness and the required skills and experiences to become important competence brokers for local entrepreneurship and innovation.