Prof. Sara Grobbelaar, Innovation for Inclusive Development, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
Programm und Ablauf des Seminars
22. - 26.06.2026 jeweils von 16:00-19:00 Uhr
Designing and Strengthening Innovation Systems for Inclusive Development
Course Overview
This course examines how innovation systems can be designed and strengthened to support inclusive development, ensuring that innovation contributes to equitable participation, capability building, and improved societal outcomes. It positions innovation as a systemic process shaped by institutions, actors, and capabilities, particularly in contexts characterised by inequality and resource constraints.
Participants will learn to analyse innovation systems using systems thinking and diagnostic tools, identify structural barriers and capability gaps, and understand policy and strategic interventions that enable more inclusive innovation. Through conceptual frameworks, case studies, and practical exercises, the course equips participants to design and evaluate interventions that strengthen innovation systems and support inclusive and sustainable development.
- Session (22. Juni 2026):
Foundations of Inclusive Innovation and Systems Thinking
This day introduces the core concepts and theoretical foundations for understanding innovation for inclusive development (I4ID). Participants will explore how I4ID differs from traditional innovation, especially in developing and unequal contexts, where structural barriers, institutional weaknesses, and unequal distribution of capabilities shape who can participate in and benefit from innovation. The session introduces innovation as a systemic process involving actors, institutions, and relationships rather than isolated technological breakthroughs.
Participants will also be introduced to systems thinking as a framework for understanding innovation. Innovation systems are complex, adaptive systems shaped by feedback loops, path dependence, and interactions between actors. Participants will examine the key actors involved in innovation systems, including firms, government institutions, universities, civil society organizations, and users, and how their interactions shape innovation outcomes.
The session explores how inequality and structural constraints influence innovation processes and outcomes. A key focus is on understanding innovation as a capability-building process, where individuals, organizations, and institutions develop the skills, knowledge, and capacities needed to participate in and contribute to innovation systems. These foundations provide the conceptual basis for analysing and strengthening inclusive innovation systems throughout the course.
- Altenburg, T. (2008): ‘Building inclusive innovation systems in developing countries—why it is necessary to rethink the policy agenda’, in IV Globelics Conference. Available at: http://smartech.gatech.edu/handle/1853/35162
- Soares, M.C.C. and Cassiolato, J.E. (2013): Innovation systems and inclusive development: Some evidence based on empirical work. In dsa Information, Technology and Development Study Group Meeting: “New Models of Innovation for Development (pp. 4–5).
- Papaioannou, T., (2014): How inclusive can innovation and development be in the twenty-first century?. Innovation and Development, 4(2), pp.187–202.
- Heeks, R., Foster, C. and Nugroho, Y. (2014): New models of inclusive innovation for development. Innovation and Development, 4(2), pp.175–185.
- Chataway, J., Hanlin, R. and Kaplinsky, R. (2014): ‘Inclusive Innovation: An Architecture for Policy Development’, Innovation and Development, 4.1(March), pp. 33–54.
- Foster, C. (2014): ‘Does quality matter for innovations in low income markets? The case of the Kenyan mobile phone sector’, Technology in Society. Elsevier Ltd, 38, pp. 119–129. DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2014.03.003.
- Mortazavi, S., Eslami, M.H., Hajikhani, A. and Väätänen, J. (2021): Mapping inclusive innovation: A bibliometric study and literature review. Journal of Business Research, 122, pp.736–750.
- Grobbelaar, S. (2023): Learning from each other: lessons from innovation for inclusive development literature. IEEE Engineering Management Review (Editorial). https://doi:10.1109/EMR.2022.3222933
- Casadella, V. and Tahi, S. (2025): Inclusive national innovation systems: rethinking institutions in the light of inclusion imperatives. Journal of Institutional Economics, 21, p.e2.
- Session (23. Juni 2026):
Innovation Systems, Actors, and Structural Dynamics
This day focuses on understanding how innovation systems are structured and how they function. The session explores how innovation systems differ from related concepts such as ecosystems and value chains, and how knowledge flows, institutional arrangements, and actor capabilities influence system performance.
The day also introduces the components and functional perspectives of innovation systems, which focus on key processes such as knowledge development, resource mobilization, market formation, and coordination. Participants will explore how these functions enable or constrain innovation and how weaknesses in system functions can limit inclusive outcomes. Attention is given to understanding how institutions, policies, and structural inequalities shape innovation dynamics and influence which actors can participate. The session also explores actor roles, institutional incentives, and the distribution of capabilities, providing participants with a deeper understanding of the structural and institutional foundations of inclusive innovation systems.
- Altenburg, T. (2009): Building inclusive innovation systems in developing countries: challenges for IS research. In the Handbook of Innovation Systems and Developing Countries. Edward Elgar Publishing.
- van der Hilst, B.J.G. (2012): Inclusive innovation systems: how innovation intermediaries can strengthen the innovation system (Master's thesis).
- Van der Merwe, E. (2018): Exploring innovation for inclusive development dynamics from an innovation systems perspective (Master's dissertation, Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University).
- Morales, M.L.V., Castañeda, W.R. and Velásquez, J.R. (2023): Configuration of inclusive innovation systems: Function, agents and capabilities. Research Policy, 52(7), p.104796.
- Adeyeye, D., Grobbelaar, S. (2024): Analysis of the functional performance of an innovation for inclusive development system: the case of the Nigerian Growth Enhancement Support Scheme. Technology in Society. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X24002641?via%3Dihub
- Session (24. Juni 2026):
Diagnosing Innovation Systems – Measurement and Analytical Tools
This day introduces analytical tools and frameworks for diagnosing innovation systems and evaluating their performance. Participants will learn how to identify system failures, structural weaknesses, and capability gaps that limit innovation and inclusion. The session emphasizes the importance of understanding both structural components and functional dynamics, and how these evolve over time.
Participants will be introduced to practical tools, such as functional analysis, innovation system mapping, and value chain analysis, to identify bottlenecks and opportunities for strengthening innovation systems. The session also explores approaches to measuring innovation system performance, including indicators, monitoring frameworks, and methods for tracking system evolution. A case study on additive manufacturing in a developing country context will allow participants to apply these tools and understand how innovation systems emerge, evolve, and respond to interventions.
- Botha, L., Bam, W., Grobbelaar, S. (2016): Towards a Framework to guide the evaluation of inclusive innovation systems. Submitted to be published in the proceedings of SAIIE conference 2016, Glenburn Lodge, Muldersdrift, 27–29 October 2016. Was subsequently accepted to be published in special edition of South African Journal of Industrial Engineering in September 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.7166/27-3-1632
- Botha, L., Grobbelaar, S. and Bam, W. (2016): ‘Towards a Framework to Guide the Evaluation of Inclusive Innovation Systems.’, The South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 27(November), pp. 64–78. DOI: 10.7166/27-3-1632
- Schillo, R.S. and Robinson, R.M. (2017): Inclusive innovation in developed countries: The who, what, why, and how. Technology Innovation Management Review, 7(7).
- Van der Merwe, E., Grobbelaar, S. (2018): Systemic policy instruments for inclusive innovation systems: Case study of a maternal mHealth project in South Africa. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 10(6), pp.665–682. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2018.1491678
- Van der Merwe, E., Grobbelaar, S., Bam, W. (2019): Exploring the functional dynamics of innovation for inclusive development innovation systems: a case study of a large-scale maternal mHealth project in South Africa. Innovation and Development, 10(1), pp.117–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/2157930X.2019.1567884
- Ngongoni, C., Grobbelaar, S., Schutte, C. (2022): Making Sense of the Unknown: Using Change Attractors to Explain Innovation Ecosystem Emergence. Systemic Practice and Action Research. DOI: 10.1007/s11213-021-09564-x
- Maarsingh, B. (2022): Exploring the dynamics of inclusive innovation systems through event history analysis (Master's dissertation, Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University).
- Venter, M.B. (2023): Innovation for inclusive development: an agent-based and system dynamics modelling approach to technology adoption in marginalised communities (Master's dissertation, Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University).
- Adeyeye, D., Grobbelaar, S. (2024): Analysis of the functional performance of an innovation for inclusive development system: the case of the Nigerian Growth Enhancement Support Scheme. Technology in Society. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X24002641?via%3Dihub
- Villalba, M.L., Spinola, D. and Ruiz, W. (2025): Unlocking coevolution and inclusive innovations: dynamics of marginalised agents in immature innovation systems. Review of Evolutionary Political Economy, 6(3), pp.425–458.
- Session (25. Juni 2026):
Policy, Implementation, and Scaling of Inclusive Innovation Systems
This day focuses on how inclusive innovation systems can be strengthened through deliberate policy, institutional action, and ecosystem coordination. Participants will again examine the role of governments, public institutions, and intermediaries in shaping innovation systems, addressing structural and functional failures, and supporting capability development. Emphasis is placed on understanding archetypes of innovation system failure, moving beyond earlier models such as the “valley of death” to recognize systemic coordination failures, capability gaps, institutional misalignment, weak demand articulation, and barriers to participation that constrain inclusive innovation.
The session explores how policy instruments and institutional interventions can address these systemic constraints and strengthen key functions of the innovation system. Participants will also examine how innovation systems operate in practice, including the role of innovation platforms, partnerships, and intermediaries in enabling coordination and learning. Mechanisms for scaling inclusive innovation are explored from a systems perspective, emphasizing capability building, institutional alignment, and ecosystem strengthening rather than focusing solely on firm-level growth. The session also introduces monitoring and evaluation approaches to assess system performance and guide adaptive policy and strategy.
- Guth, M. (2005): Innovation, social inclusion and coherent regional development: A new diamond for a socially inclusive innovation policy in regions. European Planning Studies, 13(2), pp.333–349.
- Foster, C. and Heeks, R. (2013): Analyzing policy for inclusive innovation: the mobile sector and base-of-the-pyramid markets in Kenya. Innovation and Development, 3(1), pp.103–119.
- Chataway, J., Hanlin, R. and Kaplinsky, R. (2014): Inclusive innovation: an architecture for policy development. Innovation and Development, 4(1), pp.33–54.
- Andersen, A.D. and Johnson, B. (2015): Low-carbon development and inclusive innovation systems. Innovation and Development, 5(2), pp.279–296.
- Foster, C. and Heeks, R. (2015): Policies to support inclusive innovation. Development Informatics Working Paper, (61).
- Planes-Satorra, S. and Paunov, C. (2017): Inclusive innovation policies: Lessons from international case studies. OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working Papers, 2017(2), p.1.
- Ciarli, T., Savona, M. and Thorpe, J. (2021): Innovation for inclusive structural change. In The challenges of technology and economic catch-up in emerging economies, pp.349–376.
- Session (26. Juni 2026):
Social Entrepreneurship, Hybrid Organisations, and Inclusive Business Models
This day focuses on the role of social entrepreneurship and hybrid organizational models in enabling inclusive innovation, particularly in contexts where traditional market actors or public institutions are unable to fully address social and developmental challenges. Social enterprises play a critical role as intermediaries and implementers within innovation systems, translating technological and institutional opportunities into accessible and sustainable solutions for underserved populations.
Participants will explore how social enterprises operate within innovation systems and entrepreneurial ecosystems, including how value is co-created between firms, communities, public institutions, and civil society. Attention is given to the dual nature of social enterprises, which must simultaneously pursue social impact and financial sustainability. This duality creates tensions that require careful organizational design, governance mechanisms, and the development of capabilities.
The session introduces hybrid organizational forms, including social franchises and micro-franchises, as mechanisms for scaling inclusive innovation. These models combine the efficiency, standardization, and scalability of commercial franchising with explicit social missions. Participants will examine how hybrid systems balance competing institutional logics, align social and economic objectives, and achieve long-term sustainability.
Participants will be introduced to conceptual frameworks that explain how hybrid enterprises manage governance, stakeholder relationships, replication processes, and sustainability. These frameworks provide practical tools for designing, evaluating, and strengthening social enterprises and hybrid innovation models.
The day concludes by positioning social entrepreneurship within the broader innovation system, highlighting how social enterprises contribute to scaling, capability development, and systemic transformation. Participants will reflect on how hybrid organizational models can be supported through policy, ecosystem interventions, and institutional design.
- Sonne, L. (2012): Innovative initiatives supporting inclusive innovation in India: Social business incubation and micro venture capital. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 79(4), pp.638–647.
- Phillips, W., Lee, H., Ghobadian, A., O’Regan, N. and James, P. (2015): Social innovation and social entrepreneurship: A systematic review. Group & Organization Management, 40(3), pp.428–461.
- Baskaran, A., Chandran, V.G.R. and Ng, B.K. (2019): Inclusive entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainable growth: Role of business incubators, academia and social enterprises in Asia. Science, Technology and Society, 24(3), pp.385–400.
- Krüger, D. and David, A. (2020): Entrepreneurial education for persons with disabilities—A social innovation approach for inclusive ecosystems. In Frontiers in Education (Vol. 5, p. 3). Frontiers Media SA.
- Kostetska, K.O., Gordiichuk, Y.G., Movchaniuk, A.V., Vdovenko, N.M., Nahornyi, V.V. and Koval, V.V. (2021): Inclusive development of social entrepreneurship in nature management. Journal of Geology, Geography and Geoecology, 30(3), pp.500–511.
