OECD publish report about innovation in rural Scotland

Today sees the publication of two OECD reports focusing on Rural Innovation -  the 'Enhancing Innovation in Rural Regions: Scotland (UK)' and the thematic publication 'Networks and Rural-Urban Linkages for Rural Innovation'.

As Scotland starts to implement a new innovation strategy for the next ten years (2023-2033), the report 'Enhancing Rural Innovation in Scotland' encourages the Scottish Government to consider framing an innovation strategy that understands the various forms of innovation that go beyond science and technology, while also focusing on implementation through their regional development partners across the different geographies of Scotland.

In Scotland, Universities, National Innovation Centres, and government programmes for entrepreneurs, provide a robust support system for innovators that can help implement this strategy. In addition to traditional innovation support channels, there is also a strong commitment from three regional economic development agencies in Scotland – Highlands and Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, and Scottish Enterprise – to provide support to entrepreneurs and companies looking to innovate across Scotland’s rural regions.

Furthermore, a long history of support for social entrepreneurs and innovators has played a critical role in building opportunities for rural areas. The thematic publication Networks and Rural-Urban Linkages for Rural Innovation, focuses on building the scale needed for innovation. The report shows that although innovation occurs in rural regions despite lower density and further distances to markets, scaling up and creating more density through connected networks can bring advantages when it comes to overcoming challenges of access to skills and technological assets.

This report also explores several approaches to tackling these challenges, such as through ensuring access to quality digital infrastructure in rural areas, encouraging interregional mobility, and building links between businesses and innovation partners that can develop through university-firm linkages, trade and global value chain facilitation and cluster development or smart specialisation policies.

The reports are available to read free online and you can find links to both reports below:

Enhancing Rural Innovation in Scotland

Networks and rural-urban linkages for rural innovation