ABSTRACT. Decent work creation should result in inclusive and sustainable economic growth, however this remains a central development challenge, particularly in small and vulnerable economies, like ours in the Caribbean. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth emphasize not just employment, but quality, productivity, and inclusivity of work. ILO sees decent work as summing up the aspirations of people in their working lives. It involves opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organize and participate in decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men.” — ILO, 1999

(this is a proposed special session)

ABSTRACT. Abstract This paper examines whether small-scale rural agroindustry (SRA) in El Salvador exhibits an emerging sectoral–territorial innovation system oriented toward innovation for inclusive development. It integrates Inclusive Innovation Systems and Innovation for Inclusive Development with a territorial emergence perspective to propose a proto-system (partial systemness) lens that avoids equating multi-actor projects with system consolidation. The study applies a qualitative, mechanism-oriented design combining an STI/CTI and productive-development instrument map with longitudinal reconstruction of two emblematic “system-building niches”: ACOPANELA (panela) and APRAINORES (organic cashew/Ruta del Marañón). The evidence indicates partial systemness: relevant actors and innovation functions are identifiable, but function provision remains uneven, weakly territorialized, and often project-bounded. Upgrading is frequently sustained through a convergent mechanism bundle—producer-organization intermediation, interaction quality/endurance, and bridging alliances to extra-territorial knowledge infrastructures—rather than through stable, territorially distributed STI services. Both cases demonstrate credible upgrading trajectories, while inclusion is most strongly evidenced through collective governance and rule-based market institutions (e.g., certification), and distributional outcomes across differentiated groups are less systematically documented. The paper contributes a mechanism-explicit framework and policy-operational lens for assessing inclusive system-building in rural agroindustrial transformation.

ABSTRACT. 1) Problem Statement: Jamaica faces compounding climate hazards (hurricanes, drought, flooding and coastal erosion) that threaten critical services and growth, while fiscal constraints, PPP contingent liabilities, and delivery bottlenecks limit the ability to scale resilience investments. The core challenge is to finance and sequence a high-impact portfolio that can adapt to shocks and tightening market conditions without undermining debt sustainability. 2) Objective: To propose a 2026–2040 Climate Investment Strategy (CIS) that translates national climate and development goals into a phased, monitorable and financeable investment programme, supported by governance reforms and decision triggers that enable timely re-sequencing under stress. 3) Methodology: The CIS applies a portfolio-planning approach: investment lines are defined, grouped by priority “uses,” and costed using a hybrid method combining pipeline costs, unit-cost benchmarks and delivery enablers. Benefits are estimated via an avoided-loss framework using Low/Central/High effectiveness multipliers. Operational robustness is provided by an External Financing and Delivery Conditions Trigger Tool (EFDT) and quarterly dashboard that convert observable indicators into composite triggers linked to predefined re-sequencing playbooks. 4) Findings: A full-ambition envelope of US$6.5 billion (2026–2040; illustrative 2% of 2024 GDP per year) is articulated, with grid modernization and storage, utility-scale renewables, and transport electrification accounting for 54% as system enablers. A minimum viable Phase I pipeline is packaged as five financeable project types (grid hardening/storage; renewables procurement/interconnection readiness; public transport electrification; non-revenue water (NRW) reduction and drought resilience; early warning/disaster risk management (DRM) modernization with risk financing). In the upper-bound scenario, the portfolio implies up to US$15.7 billion in domestic avoided losses relative to the investment envelope (excluding global mitigation). EFDT scenario testing shows how baseline conditions can shift from Amber (41.8) to Red (52.0), triggering accelerated resilience-critical actions and a shift toward grants and contingent instruments, underpinned by strengthened climate finance and transparency arrangements. 5) Conclusion: The CIS offers a pragmatic template for SIDS climate programming by coupling a sequenced pipeline with diversified financing, institutional mandates, and trigger-based course correction—supporting near-term service continuity and long-term transition outcomes to 2040.

ABSTRACT. Pineapple production in Costa Rica has experienced rapid expansion, becoming one of the country's four most important agricultural exports. However, this growth has concurrently generated a significant national problem, amplifying the activity's impact on the environment, other productive industries, and human populations. Certain effects derive from the use of agrochemicals, while others result from the improper management of waste generated by the production process. A series of national laws—pertaining to water, biodiversity, agrochemical use, among other areas—have directly or indirectly compelled producers within the sector to turn to Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) for solutions. Furthermore, guidelines established in various National Development Plans have incentivized collaboration among different actors within the system to address problems and enhance the overall performance of the sector. This is complemented by a number of projects driven by private actors in collaboration with diverse partners, which have directly employed STI, yielding highly positive impacts on the performance of the pineapple sector and mitigating the national problems caused by this productive activity. The objective of this study is to identify key lessons regarding the contributions of both STI policies and STI activities themselves in addressing the national problems generated by the pineapple sector.

ABSTRACT. This paper systematically reflects on the myriad ways in which Africans, understood as a global people who include their Diaspora, can more effectively draw on their own technological capabilities in order to achieve more inclusive and equitable digital outcomes. We begin with the observation that while ongoing scholarly and policy discourses on the global digital revolution optimistically highlight its opportunities for African societies, the imperative of the domestic contribution to these – endogenous innovation – is often buried among numerous other considerations. As such, our study delineates the diverse, though mutually reinforcing, ways in which endogenous technological innovation, ranging from research and development (R&D) to the novel deployment of existing technologies, is effectively employed by intentional actors in state, private sector and grassroots organisations. Digital governance in this perspective is then informed by constant attention to the interplay between these two dimensions (governance and technological innovation) with the ultimate aim of achieving universal and equitable digital access, particularly in less privileged Global African societies, and within a relatively short time horizon. Lastly, informed by historical path dependence, that is, philosophical, technical and experiential examples from the past, we develop a conceptual framework which we call endogenous digital innovation. This framework more explicitly highlights some of the critical pathways that could lead to desirable socio-technical futures in the African world.

ABSTRACT. The impact of innovation efforts has been recognized as an important economic and social process due to the outcomes that it generates, both in terms of the production and accumulation of knowledge throughout the innovation process and the innovative products that are generated to address specific problems. Governments throughout the world implement policies to support firms innovation decisions to innovate and to spur their innovation intensity, with the main objective to contribute to knowledge creation and innovation. Some of these forms of government support have a federal reach, while others have a regional focus and recognize the context specificities in the design of support programs. This paper aims to contribute to the analysis of the impact of a government support program that has a regional focus in Canada. We implement a staggered Difference-in-Differences identification strategy, and contribute to the understanding of three main elements: i) input additionality specific for the Atlantic Provinces in Canada; ii) output additionality, considering the main outcomes expected in the design of the program; and iii) the long-term effects of government support.

ABSTRACT. This study explores the scientific specialization patterns of CARICOM countries between 1996 and 2020, with focus on Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago, which represent the largest economies in the region. Using the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index and bibliometric data from the SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJCR) database, we identified comparative advantages in Health Sciences, particularly in Medicine and Nursing. While Trinidad and Tobago exhibited a balanced specialization in Veterinary Science and Agricultural Sciences, Jamaica and Barbados demonstrated strengths mainly in Health Sciences. Our findings highlight the influence of country size on specialization, offering insights for science and technology policies. We recommend further research to better understand the drivers of these specialization profiles and potential collaborative opportunities among CARICOM nations.

ABSTRACT. Ten years after the launch of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, their slow and uneven progress suggests that stronger national policy responses could emerge from renewed attention to National Systems of Innovation (NSI). While innovation systems research has expanded toward regional, sectoral, and entrepreneurial ecosystem perspectives, recent geopolitical tensions have returned national governments to the forefront of analysis. A national-level perspective remains essential for aligning innovation actors, setting policy direction, and mobilizing innovation capacity toward national and SDGs. Re-engaging with core NSI principles, such as state coordination, institutional coherence, and mission-oriented directionality, is therefore critical for accelerating SDGs progress. The Canadian case illustrates how a high-income economy can experience persistent coordination failures despite strong innovation inputs, a phenomenon known as the Canadian innovation paradox. Fragmented governance, weak inter-institutional linkages, and pronounced dependence on the United States have limited Canada’s ability to translate innovation capacity into sustainable development outcomes, underscoring the importance of systemic orchestration for SDG achievement.

ABSTRACT. Introduction Innovation capacity is widely recognised as a key driver of economic transformation, productivity growth and long-term competitiveness. The concept of National Innovation Systems (NIS) explains how interactions among firms, universities, research institutions and governments shape the creation, diffusion and commercialisation of knowledge (Freeman, 1987; Lundvall, 2007; Nelson & Winter, 1982). Within this framework, innovation outcomes depend not only on the strength of individual institutions but also on the quality of relationships among them. While the NIS framework has been widely applied in advanced economies, its implementation in small developing states and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) has been uneven. Structural constraints—including limited research capacity, narrow domestic markets, fragmented institutional coordination and restricted access to finance—often inhibit the emergence of robust innovation systems. These constraints are particularly evident in the Caribbean region, where governments increasingly emphasise innovation-led development but continue to face ecosystem gaps that constrain research commercialisation and technology-based entrepreneurship. Despite the presence of universities and research institutions across the region, innovation activity frequently occurs in isolated pockets rather than within coordinated national systems. This paper therefore examines how innovation hubs can function as transitional institutional mechanisms that strengthen ecosystem linkages and support the gradual emergence of National Innovation Systems in small economies. Literature Review The literature on National Innovation Systems highlights the systemic nature of innovation. Freeman (1987) and Lundvall (2007) argue that innovation arises from interactions among firms, research institutions, government agencies and financial actors that collectively shape technological change and economic development. Universities increasingly play a central role in this process. Beyond teaching and research, many institutions now pursue a “third mission” involving technology transfer, entrepreneurship and collaboration with industry (Gibb & Hannon, 2006; Vefago et al., 2020). Mechanisms such as Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), incubators and collaborative research programmes facilitate the commercialisation of knowledge generated within universities (Siegel, Veugelers & Wright, 2007; Beltrán-Morales et al., 2020). However, innovation systems in developing economies often face structural constraints. These include low levels of research and development investment, weak university–industry collaboration, fragmented policy coordination and limited venture capital (Soete, Verspagen & Ter Weel, 2010). In the Caribbean context specifically, research highlights persistent challenges such as limited research commercialisation, weak entrepreneurial culture and low levels of private investment in innovation (Allahar & Sookram, 2019; King et al., 2012). These constraints suggest that innovation ecosystems in small economies may require institutional arrangements that are more networked and adaptive than those found in larger economies. National Innovation Systems in Small Economies Small economies face structural limitations that complicate the development of coherent National Innovation Systems. These limitations include small research communities, constrained fiscal resources and limited access to venture capital or angel investment. As a result, innovation activities frequently occur through isolated initiatives rather than coordinated systems of institutions. These challenges are particularly relevant for SIDS, where economic vulnerability, geographic fragmentation and limited economies of scale constrain the development of extensive innovation infrastructures. Universities may possess research capabilities but lack mechanisms to connect effectively with industry and investors, while firms may perceive academic research as disconnected from commercial needs. In the Caribbean, this disconnect between knowledge production and market application has contributed to relatively low levels of patenting, technology licensing and university spin-offs. At the same time, expenditure on research and development remains modest across many Caribbean economies, limiting the development of innovation-driven industries. These ecosystem gaps highlight the need for intermediary institutional structures capable of strengthening linkages between knowledge producers, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers. Caribbean Innovation Hubs: A Conceptual Model This paper advances the concept of Caribbean Innovation Hubs (CIH) as intermediary institutional platforms designed to address the coordination gaps that characterize innovation ecosystems in contexts where formal National Innovation Systems remain underdeveloped. In fragmented and institutionally thin environments, CIHs can be understood as mechanisms that build linkages, support knowledge diffusion, and strengthen institutional capacity, particularly in developing-country settings (Watkins et al., 2015). The model envisions a distributed innovation architecture anchored in universities but extending across firms, government agencies, investors, and research institutions. Within this architecture, CIHs may serve as evolving university-industry coordination mechanisms that facilitate knowledge transfer and collaboration across multiple actors in the innovation ecosystem (Albats et al., 2022). By connecting these actors within a more coherent collaborative framework, CIHs are intended to improve the conditions for innovation to move beyond research settings into productive and market-oriented application. The model operates through three interconnected mechanisms. First, network formation. Innovation hubs create collaborative environments where entrepreneurs, firms, researchers, policymakers and investors interact regularly. These interactions facilitate knowledge exchange, trust building and the development of innovation networks. Second, institutional bridging. In fragmented innovation environments, hubs act as connectors linking universities, start-ups, government agencies and private sector actors that might otherwise operate in relative isolation. This bridging function reduces coordination failures and improves knowledge diffusion across the ecosystem. Third, capability development. Innovation hubs support entrepreneurial capabilities by encouraging venture creation, mentoring innovators and facilitating the commercialisation of research through partnerships with firms and investors. A central proposition of this model is that private sector engagement represents a critical success factor. Firms and investors provide not only financial capital but also market knowledge, commercialisation pathways and demand signals that allow innovation to move beyond research environments into productive economic activity. In this sense, Caribbean Innovation Hubs function as ecosystem-building platforms that integrate universities, industry and investors within a collaborative regional innovation network. This paper proposes the Caribbean Innovation Hub Ecosystem Catalyst Framework, which identifies four reinforcing pillars—knowledge anchoring, ecosystem connectivity, market integration and institutional coordination—that enable innovation hubs to function as catalysts for emerging innovation systems in small economies (see Appendix A). Policy Implications The CIH model has several implications for policymakers, universities and development partners. Governments should prioritise strengthening innovation infrastructure within universities, particularly Technology Transfer Offices and intellectual property frameworks that facilitate collaboration with firms and investors. Universities should also integrate entrepreneurship and innovation education across disciplines rather than limiting these subjects to traditional STEM programmes. Regional collaboration among Caribbean universities and innovation institutions could help avoid duplication of resources while strengthening shared capabilities. Innovation policy should also encourage private sector participation as a co-creator of innovation ecosystems, including through partnerships, venture financing mechanisms and collaborative research initiatives. Development partners and multilateral institutions may support ecosystem development by financing early-stage innovation infrastructure, facilitating stakeholder coordination and supporting pilot models that demonstrate the viability of innovation hubs in SIDS contexts. Conclusion The National Innovation System framework remains a valuable lens for understanding the institutional foundations of innovation. However, its application in small economies is often constrained by structural limitations that weaken ecosystem formation and coordination. This paper argues that Caribbean Innovation Hubs can serve as practical transitional mechanisms for strengthening innovation ecosystems in such environments. By facilitating network formation, institutional bridging and capability development—and by explicitly leveraging private sector participation and investment—innovation hubs can cultivate the institutional relationships required for more robust innovation systems to emerge over time. For Caribbean economies and other SIDS seeking to deepen innovation capacity, the CIH model offers a pragmatic pathway toward ecosystem development and the gradual consolidation of stronger National Innovation Systems.

ABSTRACT. Innovation systems generate growth, but they also generate losers. Which ventures survive within these systems—and which are filtered out—has direct consequences for inclusive development, yet this question remains underexplored. This study examines how institutional logics embedded in founding teams, specifically commercial and family logics, influence firm survival and what this means for the distribution of innovation's benefits. Drawing on longitudinal data tracking new ventures since 2016 and employing survival analysis techniques, we show that commercially oriented firms tend to pursue aggressive growth strategies but face higher exit risk under competitive pressure, while family-oriented firms exhibit greater resilience but slower growth. These differences are mediated by strategic orientation, particularly the balance between exploration and exploitation. We argue that innovation systems function as selection environments that systematically favor scalable but fragile ventures over more resilient, locally embedded firms. By reframing inclusive development as a problem of selection rather than simply production, the study offers a new perspective on how innovation policy can better support broad-based and sustainable economic participation.

ABSTRACT. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent over 90% of firms globally and are central to national economic performance. Although employee mental health is recognised as a driver of productivity and sustainability, uptake of workplace mental health initiatives remains lower in SMEs. This scoping review aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators to implementing mental health initiatives in SMEs. By mapping the existing evidence, this review provides key insights to inform more feasible, context-sensitive implementation and adaptation strategies. Guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and reported in line with PRISMAScR, searches of academic and grey literature identified 17 eligible studies. Thematic analysis revealed key facilitators, including leadership commitment, supportive organisational cultures, resource availability, employee engagement, and intervention adaptability, alongside barriers such as stigma, limited managerial training, resource constraints, low employee buy-in, and implementation challenges. These findings highlight critical considerations for designing, implementing and adapting effective mental health initiatives in SMEs.

ABSTRACT. In the context of accelerating digital transitions and growing sustainability pressures, firm´s ability to simultaneously advance Digital Transformation (DT) and Sustainable Transformation (ST)-hereafter referred to as dual transformation- has become a critical determinant of inclusive and resilient development. Yet, empirical evidence on how these processes unfold jointly within emerging and border-region economies remains limited. This study contributes to innovation-for-development research by modeling firm-level dual transformation readiness within the business ecosystem of Tijuana, Mexico. Using a validated self-diagnosis instrument, data were collected in 2023 from 148 firms operating in Tijuana, encompassing diverse firm sizes, export orientations, certification status, and organizational responsibility structures. A descriptive analysis approach reveals that, on average, sustainability transformation maturity exceeds Digital Transformation (DT) maturity, indicating uneven capability development across two dimensions. Considerable heterogeneity is observed across firms with midsize and non-exporting firms exhibiting higher overall dual transformation maturity, while export-oriented, large and formally certified firms tend to cluster at lower maturity levels. The findings suggest that dual transformation is shaped less by formal compliance mechanisms and international market exposure and more by organizational capabilities, governance arrangements, and strategic autonomy. By providing an empirically grounded maturity model, this research contributes to innovation systems scholarship and offers policy-relevant insights for supporting inclusive upgrading and sustainable development in regions operating at the margins of global value chains. Future research may extend this framework through inferential, longitudinal, and predictive approaches to capture dynamic transformation trajectories over time.

ABSTRACT. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) confront economic vulnerability, climate risk and low productivity growth while pursuing sustainability transitions and innovation-led development. While design is linked to innovation in global research, the role of design, particularly professional design practice, design strategy and design research, in shaping national innovation systems remains under-explored. Recognising the valuable link between design, national systems of innovation and innovation development, this paper asks: How does culturally grounded design practice, applied design research and strategic design function as a mechanism for inclusive innovation development and transformative change in Caribbean small island developing states? Drawing on four cases from the author’s professional practice and lived experience in Barbados and the wider Caribbean, this interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary paper analyses design research and economics of innovation research, alongside documented design processes, methods and artefacts. Rather than positioning design as a standardised or simplified thinking process, downstream function, or decoration, this study recognises the relevance of transdisciplinary, interdisciplinary, graphic, and strategic design practices in the Caribbean and suggests that culturally grounded professional designing contributes to innovation development by including diverse people and perspectives, mediating between economic complexity, institutional priorities, and plural stakeholder visions. In doing so, it expands how innovation systems mechanisms might engage people, honour cultural context and acknowledge socio-technical systems, champion transformative change, and support blue-green transitions in SIDS contexts. This paper argues that design, through applied design methods, designerly ways of thinking, and design artefacts, can act as a form of supportive institutional mediation in sustainability-orientated national innovation systems. It suggests that culturally grounded transdisciplinary designing can operate at the meso-economic level of innovation systems, mediating between institutional structures, economic complexity, and plural stakeholder participation to support transformative sustainability, organisational design and flourishing transitions.

ABSTRACT. Problem Statement: Since the adoption of the National Energy-from-Waste Policy 2010–2030, Jamaica has aspired to transform its waste management practices and diversify its energy mix through waste-to-energy (WtE) solutions. However, despite generating over 1 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, the country continues to rely on outdated and environmentally hazardous dumpsites such as Riverton City and Retirement. The absence of engineered landfills, modern WtE infrastructure, and comprehensive legal frameworks has impeded progress toward achieving national renewable energy targets and the broader Vision 2030 goals. Objective: This study evaluates the progress of Jamaica’s WtE initiatives since 2010, assesses the technical, financial, and policy challenges impeding implementation, and proposes actionable strategies to enhance the contribution of WtE to national waste management and sustainable development priorities—particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Methodology: The research employs a mixed-methods approach, including: (i) analysis of national waste and energy data; (ii) stakeholder consultations and market soundings conducted by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ); (iii) benchmarking of global best practices in WtE technologies (e.g., Sweden, Denmark, South Korea); (iv) review of legal and regulatory frameworks; and (v) financial modeling of a model WtE scenario over a five-year horizon. The study aligns findings with the targets of the 2010–2030 Policy and international energy and environmental standards. Findings: Jamaica has the capacity to convert over 850,000 tonnes of waste annually into 484 GWh of electricity, potentially meeting 10% of national electricity demand. A proposed 65 MW WtE plant, integrated with new sanitary landfill infrastructure and regional transfer stations, demonstrates economic viability—with net positive cash flow projected by Year 4 and cumulative revenues surpassing USD $60 million by Year 5. Multiple revenue streams—including electricity sales, tipping fees, and carbon credits—strengthen financial sustainability. Key challenges include regulatory delays (e.g., incomplete waste management regulations), lack of environmental permitting aligned with EU/US standards, institutional gaps at the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), and the absence of long-term waste supply and power purchase agreements. Conclusion: The findings indicate that WtE is not merely a disposal option but a strategic infrastructure solution critical to Jamaica’s green economy transition. Success depends on coordinated reforms: finalizing and enforcing the draft waste management regulations, securing Public Private Partnerships and multilateral financing, decommissioning legacy dumpsites, and building institutional capacity. If strategically implemented, Jamaica’s WtE initiatives can position the country as a regional leader in clean energy innovation, aligning fully with the Energy-from-Waste Policy 2010–2030 and the country’s SDG commitments.