Societal Transformation
How do we ensure innovative activity creates more sustainable and inclusive societies that reimagine livelihoods beyond balancing the economy, society and environment?
This is the overarching question that this challenge area focuses on. It looks at issues of wellbeing and quality of life and moves beyond traditional innovation indicators on the one side. On the other, it considers alternative innovation practices and innovation practices that are outside of the mainstream.
Current Projects
Past Projects
Household Innovations and Informal Entrepreneurship In South Africa
Project Information:
Duration: 2022-2023
Funder: UNDP
Status: Completed
Description:
The Trilateral Chair completed its work in the collaborative project, ‘Making the Invisible Visible: Informal Innovation in South Africa’ in 2022. This project hinged on UNDP Africa’s Strategic Offer (2022-2025) with its vision to build on the power and ingenuity of Africa’s communities to innovate toward their futures.
The research team comprised Utrecht University, the University of Johannesburg, and the MIT Sloan School of Management, which led a survey on informal innovation and entrepreneurship in South Africa. The study showed 2.5% of South Africa’s population engages in household innovation, and this innovation capacity is underutilised. The team produced a report to help UNDP Africa advise African governments on untapped innovation opportunities. It will also help policymakers at the African Union and other supporters of innovation to understand what makes informal innovation ecosystems distinct and use this informal innovation to uplift and transform communities.
Research Team:
Principal Investigator: Prof. Erika Kraemer-Mbula
Researcher: Dr. Calory Onyango
Research Outputs:
Research Report: Making the Invisible Visible: Informal Innovation in South Africa
SSRN Paper: Informal Innovation in South Africa (2023)