GIW 2017

In a complex and ever-changing world, the conditions that reinforce poverty and inequality are never linked to a single challenge, but rather a web of interconnected challenges. Traditional development approaches do not suffciently enable communities to tackle challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, and lack of economic opportunity at a local level. Tapping into local ingenuity and building a supportive culture of problem-solving is critical to building vibrant, inclusive, and resilient innovation ecosystems that can address these challenges. Good ideas live everywhere — from favelas in Brazil to farming communities across rural Uganda to the bustling streets of Delhi, India. Local innovation ecosystems can be powerful movements to harness local resources; build a shared ethos of collaboration, experimentation, and learning; and create an enabling environment to generate solutions that improve the lives of people living in poverty. But building an inclusive local innovation ecosystem isn’t easy. What the critical ingredients that all innovation ecosystems need? How do we help local innovation ecosystems grow and thrive in developing economies? Slides available upon request: Please contact vmulas@worldbank.org or xqian2@worldbank.org.

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