The role of local communities in the co-creation of innovations for inclusive and sustainable territorial development: the Madonie case

Abstract

Rapid social, political, geographic and economic changes in the world, linked to technological revolution of the last century are followed by wide positive and negative changes in people lives and R&I processes (open markets, digitalisation, resource scarcity, poverty, etc.). Looking for solutions for a better future, the EU policy agenda for 2030 promotes actions which foster cocreation of innovations, targets sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals. As such, EU regions are motivated to enhance and capitalise local competences and resources to achieve a social impact and tackle glocal challenges more effectively. Such reinforcement of local development is possible applying interdisciplinarity in R&I processes, through the co-design of innovation by different stakeholders and the empowerment of informal innovation actors.

This article presents a methodological framework applied to the co-creation of innovation involving local stakeholders in the Madonie region in Sicily, the results gained and the role of the intermediate body – a Competence Cell responsible for facilitation of such collaboration. This process has been implemented in the frame of the Horizon 2020 FoTRRIS project