Rural innovation
Authors:
Sami Mahroum, Jane Atterton, Neil Ward, Allan M. Williams, Richard Naylor, Rob Hindle, Frances Rowe
Year published:
December 2007
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Rural Innovation Report 1.42MB
Description
Around 86 per cent of the UK’s land is rural and 19 per cent of the population – 9.5 million people – live in rural areas.
With rural economies moving away from traditional industries such as farming, mining and seaside tourism, rural areas are gradually becoming less distinct from their urban counterparts. Improved communication and transport systems are also blurring the distinction between urban and rural areas.
The Rural Innovation collection of essays examines the social, economic and technological changes that are affecting rural areas and what these changes mean for innovation. It defines rural innovation as the introduction of something new which adds economic or social value to rural life.
Recommendations
Rural Innovation identifies three factors which drive innovation in rural areas:
- urban demand - which has, for example, led to farming of non-food crops for biofuels
- rural demand - for example, new harvesting machinery or navigational systems
- basic universal needs - such as access to education and other public services.
Rural areas face a number of challenges when it comes to innovation. Low business density, a lack of competition and the absence of higher education institutions and research centres can hold innovation back.
Impact / Benefit
Innovation strategies developed by central government, the devolved administrations, regional agencies and local authorities need to include specific plans for stimulating innovation in rural areas.
To be well-prepared for the economic and social challenges facing the UK now and in the future, we need to approaching innovation as a UK-wide activity rather than just the domain of urban areas.