Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Green Innovation and Future Technologies (GIFT) Concept

  • Chapter
Green Innovation and Future Technology: Engaging Regional SMEs in the Green Economy

  • 177 Accesses

Abstract

The GIFT concept hinges on integrated stakeholder engagement between government agencies, HEIs, SMEs, economic support groups and rural development groups, underpinned by a learning community philosophy. Once conceived, GIFT gathered cross-country/regional HEI colleagues from the natural, social and physical sciences to pursue the design, development and delivery of a collaborative green innovativeness education programme in interaction with the wider regional community. The chapter documents findings around how to leverage innovation in pursuit of green capability development within regions, and concludes with insights into how cross-border innovation and knowledge exchange happen in a green learning community. Finally, the authors propose a framework of regional SME engagement for sustainable development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aylward, E. 2012. Collaborative Rural Networks (CRNs): An Examination of the Roles and Relationships between Regional Stakeholders, PhD thesis, Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barney, J.B. 1991. Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage, Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bessant, J. and Tsekouras, G. 2001. Developing learning networks, AI and Society, 15, 82–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breschi, S. and Lissoni, F. 2001. Knowledge spillovers and local innovation systems: a critical survey, Industrial and Corporate Change, 10(4), 975–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breschi, S. and Lissoni, F. 2009. Mobility of skilled workers and co-invention networks: an anatomy of localized knowledge flows, Journal of Economic Geography, 9(4), 439–468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brouder, P. and Eriksson, R.H. 2013. Staying power: what influences micro-firm survival in tourism? Tourism Geographies: An International Journal of Tourism Space, Place and Environment, 15(1), 125–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burt, R.S. 2005. Brokerage and Closer: An Introduction to Social Capital, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawe, G., Jucker, R. and Martin, S., 2005. Sustainable Development in Higher Education: Current Practice and Future Developments Higher Education Academy. Available at: www.heacademy.ac.uk/assets/York/documents/ourwork/tla/sustainability/sustdevinHEfinalreport.pdf [Accessed 22 June 2013].

    Google Scholar 

  • Döring, T. and Schnellenbach, J. 2006. What do we know about geographical knowledge spillovers and regional growth? a survey of the literature, Regional Studies, 40(3), 375–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drda-KÈ•hn, K. and Wiegand, D. 2010. From culture to cultural economic power: rural regional development in small German communities, Creative Industries Journal, 3(1), 89–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dutta S., Narasimhan O. and Rajiv S. 2005. Conceptualizing and measuring capabilities: methodology and empirical application, Strategic Management Journal, 26(3), 27–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenhardt, K. and Martin, J.A. 2000. Dynamic capabilities: what are they? Strategic Management Journal, 21(10/11), 1105–1121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fell, D.R., Hansen, E.N. and Becker, B.W. 2003. Measuring innovativeness for the adoption of industrial products. Industrial Marketing Management, 32(4), 347–353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freel, M.S. 1999. Where are the skills gaps in innovative small firms? International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, 5(3), 144–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graci, S. 2013. Collaboration and partnership development for sustainable tourism, Tourism Geographies: An International Journal of Tourism Space, Place and Environment, 15(1), 25–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gulati, R., and Garguilo, M. 1999. Where do inter-organisational networks come from? American Journal of Sociology, 104(5), 1439–1493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halme, M. 2001. Learning for sustainable development in tourism networks, Business Strategy and the Environment, 10(2), 100–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Handley, K., Sturdy, A., Fincham, R. and Clark, T. 2006. Within and beyond communities of practice: making sense of learning through participation, identity and practice, Journal of Management Studies, 43(3), 641–653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haugen Gausdal, A. 2008. Developing regional communities of practice by network reflection: the case of the electronics industry, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 20(3), 209–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jack, S., Dodd, S. and Anderson, A. 2004. Social structures and entrepreneurial networks: the strength of strong ties, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 5(2), 107–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johannisson, B. 1995. Paradigms and entrepreneurial networks: some methodological challenges, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 7(3), 215–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johannisson, B. 2007. Enacting local economic development — theoretical and methodological challenges, Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, 1(1), 7–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jørgensen, K.M., and Keller, H.D. 2008. The contribution of communities of practice to human resource development: learning as negotiating identity, Advances in Developing Human Resources, 10(4), 525–540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufmann, A. and Tödtling, F. 2002. How effective is innovation support for SMEs? An analysis of the region of upper Austria, Technovation, 22(3), 147–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelliher, F. and Reinl, L. 2009. A resource-based view of micro-firm management practice, Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 16(3), 521–532.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelliher, F. and Reinl, L. 2011. From facilitated to independent tourism learning networks: connecting the dots. Journal of Tourism Planning and Development, 8(2), 185–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelliher, F., Aylward, E. and Lynch, P. 2014, Exploring rural enterprise: the impact of regional stakeholder engagement on collaborative rural networks. C. Henry & G. McElwee (eds) Exploring Rural Enterprise: New Perspectives on Research, Policy and Practice, London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelliher, F., Harrington, D. and Galavan, R., 2010, Spreading leader knowledge: investigating a participatory mode of knowledge dissemination among management undergraduates, Irish Journal of Management, 29(2), 107–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelliher, F., Joyner, D., Harrington, D., McDonald, M., Griffiths, G., Owens, E., Walmsley, J. and Walsh, M. 2013, Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference, 12–13 November, Cardiff.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koch, L., Kautonen, T. and Grünhagen, M. 2006. Development of cooperation in new venture support networks: the role of key actors, Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 13(1), 62–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kucera, D. 2009. Green economy and green jobs: myth or reality? Sustainable Development: A Challenge for European Research Conference Proceedings, 26–28 May, Brussels.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lado, A.A. and Wilson, M.C. 1994. Human resource systems and sustained competitive advantage: a competency-based perspective, Academy of Management Review, 19(4), 699–727.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lave, J. and Wenger, E. 1991. Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation. Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lesser, E. and Everest, K. 2001. Using communities of practice to manage intellectual capital, Ivey Business Journal, 65(4), 37–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Y., Tseng, M.L., Chen C.C. and Chui, A. 2010. Positioning strategic competitiveness of green business innovation capabilities using hybrid method, Expert Systems with Applications, 38, 1839–1849.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg, M. and Tell, J. 1998. Networks as a Way of Improving Small and Medium Sized Manufacturing Enterprises, Thesis, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg and Department of Work Organisation, Sweden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mariadoss, B.J., Tansuhaj, P.S. and Mouri, N. (2011) Marketing capabilities and innovation-based strategies for environmental sustainability: an exploratory investigation of B2B firms, Industrial Marketing Management, 40(8), 1305–1318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miles, N. and Tully, J. 2007. Regional development agency policy to tackle economic exclusion? the role of social capital in distressed communities. Regional Studies, 41(6), 855–866.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitra, J., 2000, Making connections: innovation and collective learning in small business, Education and Training, 42(4/5), 228–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, J. 1993. A degree of waste: the economic benefits of educational expansion. Oxford Review of Education, 19(1), 9–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novelli, M., Schmitz, B. and Spencer, T., 2006, Networks, clusters and innovation in tourism: a UK experience, Tourism Management, 27(6), 1141–1152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillipson, J., Gorton, M. and Laschewski, L. 2006. Local business co-operation and the dilemmas of collective action: rural micro-business networks in the north of England, Sociologia Ruralis, 46(1), 40–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinl, L. and Kelliher, F. 2010. Cooperative micro-firm strategies: leveraging resources through learning networks, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 11(2), 141–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinl, L. and Kelliher, F. 2014. The social dynamics of micro-firm learning in an evolving learning community, Tourism Management, 40, 117–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santoro, M.D. and Chakrabarti, A.K. 2002. Firm size and technology centrality in industry-university interactions, Research Policy, 31(7), 1163–1180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saxena, G. and Ilberry, B. 2008. Integrated rural tourism: a border case study, Annals of Tourism Research, 35(1), 233–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simango, C. 2000. Corporate strategy R&D and technology transfer in European pharmaceutical industry: research findings. European Business Review, 12(1), 28–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swan, J, Scarbrough, H. and Robertson, M. 2002. The construction of communities of practice in the management of innovation, Management Learning, 33(4), 477–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, M., Kelliher, E, Harrington, D. and Lynch, P. 2012. Moving towards a Green Economy: Capitalising on Organisational Innovation Capability to Leverage the Reservoir of Knowledge in Learning Organisations — an Irish perspective, IFASM Conference Proceedings, University of Limerick, 25–27 June.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C.L. and Ahmed, P.K. 2007. Dynamic capabilities: a review and research agenda, International Journal of Management Reviews, 9(1), 31–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wenger, E. 1998. Communities of Practice: Learning, Meaning and Identity. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wenger. E.C., McDermott, R. and Snyder, W.M., 2002, Cultivating Communities of Practice: A Guide to Managing Knowledge, Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickham, P. 2001. Strategic Entrepreneurship, London: Pitman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, C. 2012. Student satisfaction, performance, and knowledge construction in online collaborative learning, Educational Technology and Society, 15(1), 127–136.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. L. Reinl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Kelliher
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland

    Felicity Kelliher  & Leana Reinl  & 

Copyright information

© 2015 L. Reinl and F. Kelliher

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Reinl, L., Kelliher, F. (2015). The Green Innovation and Future Technologies (GIFT) Concept. In: Kelliher, F., Reinl, L. (eds) Green Innovation and Future Technology: Engaging Regional SMEs in the Green Economy. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137479822_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation