KIT Information Portal
Rural Innovation Systems
Free access to selected e-resources
Introduction
Content
This information portal provides access to free, full-text electronic documents on Rural Innovation Systems (RIS), both as an analytical concept and a development tool. It is also a unique entry point for all other Internet sources on RIS, including newsletters, discussion groups, websites, bibliographic databases, and directories of organizations and projects.
Rural Innovation Systems
Rural innovation systems is a new, broad approach aimed at the systemic understanding and facilitation of the interaction among all factors and actors for generating, diffusing, and utilizing new knowledge for rural development. Innovation differs from research and its output in that innovation is the ability to manage knowledge creatively in response to market-articulated demands and other social needs social process (OECD, 1999). Actors, agents, or stakeholders comprise individuals and firms as well as public institutions and non-state actors. In the innovation systems concept, these are understood to operate in an institutional context of laws, regulations, and traditions.
Background
The portal on Rural Innovation Systems is an interdepartmental initiative. The portal is managed and developed by KIT Information and Library Services with support from KIT Development, Policy & Practice, which is active in the area of Knowledge for Rural Innovation. The target audience is formed by the global community of professionals involved in research on RIS and its application to rural development.
Updating frequency
The portal will be updated with news, events and other content on a regular basis aiming to provide access to key topical information. However, we can not take responsibility for the content or correctness of external resources.
Ongoing development
Over the next few years, we will further expand and develop this and other portals. Your comments, questions and suggestions are welcome. You may post these to the editor of this portal.
Our Partner
The Royal Tropical Institute works in collaboration with LINK (Learning INnovation Knowledge) to promote the innovation systems approach in agricultural and rural development.