The Innovation Potential of Living-Labs to Strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises In Regional Australia

The small and medium enterprise (SME) sector has been the major source of well-being and employment opportunities in regional Australia. Consequently, fostering the innovative capacity of SMEs in regions that are struggling to grow their economies and distribute the growth fairly while not degrading...

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Main Authors: Dhakal, S., Mahmood, M., Wiewora, A., Brown, Kerry, Keast, R.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Australia and New Zealand Regional Science Association International Inc. 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=763618983652767;res=IELHSS
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9990
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author Dhakal, S.
Mahmood, M.
Wiewora, A.
Brown, Kerry
Keast, R.
author_facet Dhakal, S.
Mahmood, M.
Wiewora, A.
Brown, Kerry
Keast, R.
author_sort Dhakal, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The small and medium enterprise (SME) sector has been the major source of well-being and employment opportunities in regional Australia. Consequently, fostering the innovative capacity of SMEs in regions that are struggling to grow their economies and distribute the growth fairly while not degrading the environment has never been more important. While SMEs generally face more uncertainties in relation to resources (e.g. financial, human and social capital) when compared to larger businesses, collaborative, cutting-edge mechanisms to enhance innovation capabilities of regional SMEs are lacking. This paper responds to this gap and proposes a Living Laboratory – an open, multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder action research platform where innovations can be co-created, tested and evaluated in the every-day environment of SMEs – as a way to strengthen the SME sector in regional Australia.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2013
publisher Australia and New Zealand Regional Science Association International Inc.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-99902017-01-30T11:16:13Z The Innovation Potential of Living-Labs to Strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises In Regional Australia Dhakal, S. Mahmood, M. Wiewora, A. Brown, Kerry Keast, R. social capital innovation policy regional sustainable development living-lab small and medium enterprises Information and communication technologies The small and medium enterprise (SME) sector has been the major source of well-being and employment opportunities in regional Australia. Consequently, fostering the innovative capacity of SMEs in regions that are struggling to grow their economies and distribute the growth fairly while not degrading the environment has never been more important. While SMEs generally face more uncertainties in relation to resources (e.g. financial, human and social capital) when compared to larger businesses, collaborative, cutting-edge mechanisms to enhance innovation capabilities of regional SMEs are lacking. This paper responds to this gap and proposes a Living Laboratory – an open, multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder action research platform where innovations can be co-created, tested and evaluated in the every-day environment of SMEs – as a way to strengthen the SME sector in regional Australia. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9990 http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=763618983652767;res=IELHSS Australia and New Zealand Regional Science Association International Inc. restricted
spellingShingle social capital
innovation policy
regional sustainable development
living-lab
small and medium enterprises
Information and communication technologies
Dhakal, S.
Mahmood, M.
Wiewora, A.
Brown, Kerry
Keast, R.
The Innovation Potential of Living-Labs to Strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises In Regional Australia
title The Innovation Potential of Living-Labs to Strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises In Regional Australia
title_full The Innovation Potential of Living-Labs to Strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises In Regional Australia
title_fullStr The Innovation Potential of Living-Labs to Strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises In Regional Australia
title_full_unstemmed The Innovation Potential of Living-Labs to Strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises In Regional Australia
title_short The Innovation Potential of Living-Labs to Strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises In Regional Australia
title_sort innovation potential of living-labs to strengthen small and medium enterprises in regional australia
topic social capital
innovation policy
regional sustainable development
living-lab
small and medium enterprises
Information and communication technologies
url http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=763618983652767;res=IELHSS
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9990