Innovation is a key enabler for climate change mitigation and adaptation, while also supporting broader economic and societal development goals.

This research theme investigates the complex social, institutional, and political dynamics that shape and impact innovation processes in Global South contexts. These diverse settings – for instance large informal sector, resource constraints and complex institutional dynamics – offer alternative and often unexpected perspectives to the study of innovation.

Experiences in the Global South make it clear that innovation goes beyond technical solutions alone as they are insufficient; organisational, cultural, and social factors play a significant role in innovation adoption and diffusion.

The theme works on generating new empirical and conceptual knowledge and adopting new methodological approaches for the study of the consequences and functions of innovation in Global South Economies. Importantly, the notion of the Global South is not confined to geographic boundaries. It also speaks to places that are socially and economically marginalised within industrialised or so-called Global North contexts.

The theme offers alternative approaches to innovation and in doing so, it enriches the broader discourse on innovation and sustainable development. It also brings in insights that re-position the Global South perspectives as central to more inclusive, contextually grounded, and socially responsive innovation pathways globally.

2025

Innovation in the Global South Kick-off Meeting – 30 May

Theme for the day: 'Reimagining Innovation in the Global South'
This workshop brought together researchers working on innovation in and for the Global South, with the aim of identifying shared interests, overlooked themes, and potential future collaborations.

Read the Kick-off meeting report (460Kb).

2024

Workshop on Rethinking Innovation for System Transformation in the Global South – 3 December

Key themes of discussion included system transformations, policy adaptation, and rethinking innovation through the lens of the place-based approaches-offering fresh insights into diverse pathways for just and sustainable development.

Monthly Book Clubs

The group meets to discuss selected readings on specific themes that are of interest to researchers for their conceptual and theoretical propositions. Some key themes discussed in the book clubs include energy justice, sociotechnical imaginaries, role of universities, and grassroots innovations.