Inclusive Innovation: Definition, Conceptualisation and Future Research Priorities

Abstract

There is increasing policy, practice and academic interest in “inclusive innovation”. In simple terms, this is the means by which new goods and services are developed for and/or by those who have been excluded from the development mainstream; particularly the billions living on lowest incomes. However, there are many competing perspectives on inclusive innovation, which this paper resolves into an integrated ‘ladder’ model of different levels of inclusive innovation.

Research has so far lagged practice and there is need for a more concerted effort at knowledge-building for inclusive innovation. Based on a three-country interview study with 37 policy-makers, strategists, private sector and NGO sector representatives – and founded on a review of existing literature on inclusive innovation – this paper reports findings about research priorities in inclusive innovation. Respondents identified a set of eleven priority research topics, which are categorised as stakeholder-, systemic- or process-oriented.

These priorities provide evidence-based guidance for future research on inclusive innovation.