To foster sustainable regional development, many regions rely on innovations.
To safeguard the generation of innovations and their market introduction,
companies have increasingly used technology roadmapping and open innovation.
The project INNOrural (Innovations for sustainable rural development) expanded
these concepts by applying them to regions. This led to the rise of the
“Regional Open Innovation Roadmapping” framework for innovation-based regional
development (ROIR). This framework was tested by conducting two innovation
roadmapping processes in the model region of Märkisch-Oderland (MOL), Germany:
the certification of regional wood fuel and the establishment of a competence
center for precision farming technology. Both innovation ideas were selected
during the roadmapping process by applying a sustainability assessment. After
12 months, two complete roadmaps were ready for implementation. Key principles
of ROIR were identified, including the use of a clear and replicable
sustainability assessment method, the involvement of all relevant stakeholder
groups in the early process and the cooperation between regional and subject
experts. Generally, the broader adaptation of ROIR for additional regions will
be useful. Nevertheless, the ROIR processes need to be evaluated in depth to
develop a better understanding and to provide evidence of the benefits and
limitations of this approach
