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Grassroots innovation: The state of the art and future perspectives

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  • Hossain, Mokter

Abstract

Drawing on 87 articles retrieved through a systematic literature review approach, this study aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of grassroots innovations (GIs). It synthesizes the state-of-the-art research on GIs and considers various sectors, the tensions between three different facets of grassroots movements (GMs), and the main forces that drive or hinder GMs. The study finds that community energy, community currency, cohousing, agriculture, and organic food are dominant sectors for grassroots innovations, while GMs work under the tension of three facets: scaling up, sustainability, and success. This study also identifies the main driving forces and hindrances for GMs.

Suggested Citation

  • Hossain, Mokter, 2018. "Grassroots innovation: The state of the art and future perspectives," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 63-69.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:55:y:2018:i:c:p:63-69
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2018.06.008
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    2. Sazzad Parwez, 2022. "Institutionalisation and Processes of Grassroots Innovations: Evidence from the Literature," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 8(2), pages 258-269, July.
    3. Rossetto, Dennys Eduardo & Borini, Felipe Mendes & Bernardes, Roberto Carlos & Frankwick, Gary L., 2023. "Measuring frugal innovation capabilities: An initial scale proposition," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    4. Sergio Belda-Miquel & Victoria Pellicer-Sifres & Alejandra Boni, 2020. "Exploring the Contribution of Grassroots Innovations to Justice: Using the Capability Approach to Normatively Address Bottom-Up Sustainable Transitions Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, April.
    5. Octaviano Rojas Luiz & Enzo Barberio Mariano & Hermes Moretti Ribeiro da Silva, 2021. "Pro-Poor Innovations to Promote Instrumental Freedoms: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-22, December.
    6. Sillig, Cécile, 2022. "The role of ideology in grassroots innovation: An application of the arenas of development framework to organic in Europe," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    7. Bruno Nogueira Silva & Wesley Vieira Silva & Alvaro Fabiano Pereira Macêdo & Natallya Almeida Levino & Luciano Luiz Dalazen & Fabíola Kaczam & Claudimar Pereira Veiga, 2024. "A systematic review on social currency: a one-decade perspective," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 29(2), pages 636-652, June.
    8. Sunio, Varsolo & Laperal, Miguel & Mateo-Babiano, Iderlina, 2020. "Social enterprise as catalyst of transformation in the micro-mobility sector," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 145-157.
    9. Jones, Janice & Seet, Pi-Shen & Acker, Tim & Whittle, Michelle, 2021. "Barriers to grassroots innovation: The phenomenon of social-commercial-cultural trilemmas in remote indigenous art centres," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    10. Lode, M.L. & te Boveldt, G. & Coosemans, T. & Ramirez Camargo, L., 2022. "A transition perspective on Energy Communities: A systematic literature review and research agenda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    11. Roysen, Rebeca & Bruehwiler, Nadine & Kos, Lasse & Boyer, Robert & Koehrsen, Jens, 2024. "Rethinking the diffusion of grassroots innovations: An embedding framework," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    12. Sharma, Gautam & Dahlstrand, Åsa Lindholm, 2023. "Innovations, informality, and the global south: A thematic analysis of past research and future directions," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    13. Qingfeng Zeng & Wei Zhuang & Qian Guo & Weiguo Fan, 2022. "What factors influence grassroots knowledge supplier performance in online knowledge platforms? Evidence from a paid Q&A service," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(4), pages 2507-2523, December.

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