In the midst of a global slowdown in productivity, unlocking the innovative potential
of rural places is more important than ever. As part of a series on supporting to
help rural areas thrive, this thematic report provides the latest analysis and research
on rural innovation, and proposes ways to overcome the growing gaps between rural
and urban places that are contributing to the geographies of discontent. It first
explores the multi-facetted innovative practices that are already occurring in rural
places, and proposes alternative indicators beyond the traditional science and technology
measures to capture them. Then, it identifies policy drivers and bottlenecks to help
rural entrepreneurs, firms and people fully mobilise their growth potential. Results
and recommendations are drawn from research and fact-finding missions from select
OECD member countries.