A Research Agenda for Innovation and Development

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in each area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary.

This Research Agenda assesses why outcomes of innovation often disproportionately damage human wellbeing in periphery countries compared to highly industrialized ones. It questions why this pattern is so persistent, and why innovation and development appear to remain mutually exclusive.

International experts treat innovation as a multidimensional process, whereby actors’ agency, dignity and imagination heavily influence developmental outcomes. Chapters question predominant Western approaches to development, examining both its characterization and means. Contributors provide a contextualized geographical analysis to emphasize the interconnected nature of innovation policy and evaluate the role of institutions, including states, universities, organized citizenry and sectoral policies. The book addresses how rising inequality and authoritarianism impact global innovation, advocating for transformative change amid an increasingly turbulent environment of unsustainable practices.

This timely Research Agenda is a key resource for scholars and students of economics, development studies and innovation and technology. Sectoral policy advisors and sustainable development professionals will similarly benefit from its comprehensive approach and actionable recommendations.