Innovation Hubs in Rural Areas in Germany: A Qualitative Analysis of Roles, Types, and Impacts

Innovation hubs are a promising new way to foster innovations in rural areas. However, research in this field is still at a preliminary stage. The literature neither provides a clear definition, nor a systematic overview of roles and types of these hubs. To help close this research gap, we first conducted expert interviews with 10 different innovation hubs in rural areas in Germany. Based on our qualitative content analysis, we were able to identify four central roles of such hubs (supporters, knowledge brokers, networkers, and physical experiment spaces) and develop an analysis scheme for evaluating hubs regarding these roles. Second, we applied these findings to a total sample of 45 innovation hubs in rural areas in Germany which enabled us to provide a detailed characterisation and comparison of different types of innovation hubs. Further, we offer first insights into the specific role of these types in regional development as well as requirements for their long-term survival. With these insights, our study provides a useful basis for future research on the concept and impact of innovation hubs as well as the successful management of innovation hubs in practice.