The Future of Innovation Studies in Less Economically Developed Countries

In this paper, we argue that there are patterns of innovation occurring in lesseconomically developed countries (LEDCs) that have been historically overlooked by theinnovation studies literature, including the literature on innovation systems and the triplehelix. This paper briefly surveys cases in agriculture, banking, biomedicine andinformation and communications technologies that demonstrate organizational, scientificand technological innovation in Africa, South Asia, and Brazil. In particular, we tracknew developments in two distinctive patterns within LEDCs: (1) civil society as a site ofinnovation and; (2) innovation through appropriation. By systematically uncoveringpatterns of innovation in LEDCs, science and technology policy scholars may make newtheoretical gains in innovation studies that can potentially contribute to innovationpolicies in the global South.