Overview
Rural businesses account for 23% of businesses in England (Defra, 2024) but are often neglected in the innovation research and policy agenda, with rural areas often considered inferior to cities in bringing about innovation. However, the effect of rurality on firm-level innovation - which includes “improved or new types of production and processes, business models or innovations that are not uniquely profit-driven” (OECD, 2023, p.14) - remains a matter for debate, with the evidence base mixed and incomplete.
This project therefore is seeking to fill an evidence gap regarding innovation in UK rural economies. First, we are examining profiles of rural innovators and how they move from being non-innovators to being innovators. Second, we are seeking to understand the effect of rurality on innovation adoption and invention by exploring the enabling and inhibiting factors from firms’ internal and external environment. Third, we are investigating the outcomes of innovation on firms’ performance. Throughout the process, we will also draw a comparison with urban firms and identify the implications for innovation support strategies and actions.
The project is funded by the Innovation & Research Caucus.
