Reimagining innovation pathways: exnovation and Buen Vivir as Global North–South dialogues

Abstract

With growing awareness of limits to growth, debates around sufficiency and new directions of innovation rise to prominence. At the same time, we witness a great divide between the Global North and South, and innovation is often seen as a decisive factor. We juxtapose two alternative approaches to innovation that place equality and sustainability centre stage. From a Global North perspective, exnovation has gained prominence. From a Global South perspective, particularly in South America, Buen Vivir calls for responsibility and nature-inclusiveness. To what extent are these perspectives changing the direction of innovation? This study is based on a systematic literature review of recent discourses on these concepts. We identified their main characteristics in four dimensions within each concept (a) technological, (b) environmental, (c) economic, and (d) social. We contextualise this analysis within theoretical debates with the aim of contributing to a better understanding of alternative concepts of innovation.

Keywords

• exnovation
• Buen Vivir
• review paper
• innovation
• development
• directionality