Innovation Driving Development Impact

This course focuses on innovation in low and middle-income countries and how international development organisations and governments can drive better development processes and outcomes. Sessions will cover the role of innovation in fostering inclusive digital transformation, economic growth as well as practical applications of innovation in development policies and programmes. The course will feature a number of case studies from diverse low and middle-income countries as well as frameworks to help students gain a practical and conceptual understanding of innovation at various levels: macro, meso and micro. 
 
The course is designed to help students sharpen their critical thinking skills related to development cooperation policies and programming writ-large, and specifically as they pertain to innovation and digital transformation efforts. Students will gain an understanding of the history of investments in science, technology and innovation (STI) systems in low and middle-income countries and in fields of digital transformation and mission-oriented innovation. Students will work individually and in groups on practical exercises related to innovation policies, local innovation ecosystems, grassroots and frugal innovation, and more. The practical exercises will be anchored in conceptual frameworks and case studies from across low and middle-income countries. Case studies include innovation efforts led by international development organisations as well as by Global South government entities and by local grassroots innovators. 
 
Students will gain practical insights on how to advance inclusive innovation in the context of international development cooperation policies and programmes.