New Models of Inclusive Innovation for Development

Inequality and innovation are both rising issues on the international development agenda. Their intersection is inclusive innovation; defined as the inclusion within some aspect of innovation of groups who are currently marginalised. This is a topic of increasing interest and activity. Large firms have been working to deliver innovative goods and services for base-of-the-pyramid consumers: the c.3 billion who live on less than US$2 per day. Within poor communities, an influx of new technology, finance and capabilities has spurred more localised innovation.

A variety of different models have been identified by which this activity is organised and implemented, such as inclusive innovation clusters, grassroots innovation, frugal innovation, innovation platforms, and inclusive user-producer interactions. This book explores the operation, conceptualisation and impact of these models, and analyses the nature of inclusive innovation practice and research. It will be of interest to researchers, policy-makers, strategists and other practitioners associated with these new forms of innovation.

This book was originally published as a special issue of Innovation and Development.

Richard Heeks is Chair in Development Informatics at the University of Manchester, UK. He has been principal investigator for international development research projects funded by DFID, IDRC, UNCTAD, GIZ and other international agencies. He has authored four books and 40 refereed journal articles on various issues of technology and socio-economic development.

Christopher Foster is a researcher at the Oxford Internet Institute at the University of Oxford, UK. His research focuses on new technologies and innovation in developing and emerging markets. His recent work has explored the impacts of ICTs on low-income groups in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Yanuar Nugroho is a Research Fellow with the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, University of Manchester, UK and Deputy Chief of Staff for Management and Oversight of Priority Development Programmes at the Executive Office of the President, Government of Indonesia. He has worked and published on a variety of innovation and development issues.