Unveiling and typifying rural resources underpinned by innovation dynamics in rural areas

Abstract

Rural areas tend to not be perceived as particularly innovative areas, in spite of a growing diversity of rural economies related to new activities and new types of innovation which rely largely on a (re)discovery and reconfiguration of rural resources. The aims of this paper are two fold. First it introduces a comprehensive typology of traditional and “new” rural resources, showing relevance for the development of innovation in rural areas, built on a systematic literature review; then it uses this typology to underpin an analysis of empirical data on innovations introduced by organizations located in the Portuguese rural areas. This analysis allows identification of the categories of resources that do contribute the most to rural innovations and to group rural innovative organizations according to the patterns of rural (and non‐rural) resources they use to innovate. The identified innovation clusters highlight the importance of the “new” rural resources, such as “natural and cultural amenities” and “traditions,” as well as the “rural populations” themselves and their “territories and settlements,” both at organizational and territorial levels. The paper contributes for a better understanding of what are the key rural resources to shape the rural areas innovation dynamics and to identify the innovation patterns built on different rural resources. Its findings show very helpful to the design of innovation policies and the territorial smart specialization agendas meant to address the rural areas, that have been so far neglected in this matter.

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