Innovation support often overlooks the realities of rural business, yet local adaptations are helping to bridge the gap.
This resource explores how rural businesses—despite being highly innovative—face structural disadvantages compared to their urban counterparts, including weaker infrastructure, digital connectivity challenges, and limited access to skills. Standard support systems often fail to account for these differences.
In response, locally tailored programmes, platforms, and collaborative initiatives have emerged to meet rural needs more effectively. The resource also includes advice and guidance tools designed to strengthen local business support ecosystems. Financial mechanisms are covered separately in the module on investing in rural innovation.
Case studies and supporting materials are available through the NICRE portal.
Authors: Inge Hill, Royal Agricultural University, and Kevin Mole, Enterprise
Research Centre, Warwick Business School.
Year: 2022.
