The Hybridity of Inclusive Innovation Narratives Between Theory and Practice: A Framing Analysis

Abstract

Inclusive innovation remains an under-conceptualised and ambiguous concept despite garnering political and academic interest in recent decades. This paper explores the narratives of inclusive innovation that exist in literature and how these are framed in practice, using a case study of the Kenyan agricultural sector. Findings indicate that while there is significant similarity between the theoretical and empirical framing of the concept, there are also stark differences. In addition, different actors such as the state, development agencies, the private sector or universities do not fully ascribe to any of the existing theoretical narratives on inclusive innovation. Instead, they frame it based on their own contexts, mandate and interests using concepts borrowed from existing theoretical narratives. This indicates that instead of a grand theory of inclusive innovation that applies universally, there are several ways of enacting inclusive innovation. This also limits the transferability of a onesize-fits-all model of inclusive innovation.

The Politics of Knowledge in Inclusive Development and Innovation

“…While such critical interventions have contributed significantly to academic and policy debates on inclusive development and innovation as responses to these shortcomings (see also , Opola et al, 2020, this book focuses more explicitly on the applied and political epistemology that inclusivity demands and that is needed to make knowledge work differently. In developing such an approach towards the politics of knowledge, the chapters of this volume articulate an integrated research vision of 'doing and studying' that is equally ref lexive about epistemological challenges and action-oriented in focusing on practices of making knowledge work.…”

“…Inclusiveness has long been promoted as a strategy to alleviate poverty, increase economic growth, generate employment, progress horizontal and vertical (gender) equality, and improve well-being (McKinley, 2010). In the African context, there is significant attention for inclusive development, innovation, and business (Opola et al, 2020;Pouw et al, 2019). Inclusion and exclusion are often used as binary distinctions that are defined by people either falling inside or outside specific social categories, and above or below specified limits (Mascareño and Carvajal, 2015).…”

Understanding flood forecast information provision for agriculture in Bangladesh

“…(4) In connection with the issue of diversity and social differentiation, it would also be of interest to further study how information services are, or can be, tailored to the needs of different contexts and groups in society. This may also involve studying how processes of developing such services can become more inclusive and how barriers to this may be removed (example studies are McCampbell, 2021;Opola, 2020;Heeks et al, 2013Heeks et al, , 2014; Heeks 2021) (5) In view of the recommendation to work towards new public-private funding models for effective forecast information provision, it will be necessary to study in more detail how funding streams are currently organised in Bangladesh, and how this compares to situations elsewhere where more sustainable funding systems have been achieved.…”

Navigating inclusive innovation : the role of institutional entrepreneurs in inclusive innovation initiatives

“…The role of innovation described in this paragraph to attend social challenges has been classified under an indirect approach to development (Arocena & Sutz, 2017). This role has raised several concerns because of the possibility of producing adverse effects on society instead of contributing to solving disparities (Chataway, Hanlin, & Kaplinsky, 2014;Schillo & Robinson, 2017;Opola, Klerkx, Leeuwis, & Kilelu, 2020;Westley, et al, 2011).…”

“…One of these x-novation alternatives is Inclusive Innovation. Conceptually, this alternative has a fuzzy definition for some scholars (Opola, Klerkx, Leeuwis, & Kilelu, 2020). However, it could be defined preliminarily as a multidimensional process (Schillo & Robinson, 2017) with the purpose of bringing conditions and tools that allow people to overcome situations of social exclusion.…”