Rural Innovation Pathways: Connecting People, Places and Ideas

Rural regions are at the heart of the transition to more resilient, inclusive and sustainable economies. This OECD report shows how rural innovation, beyond science and technology, is redefining how societies adapt to global change. Drawing on a survey of 23 OECD countries and a series of national case studies, the report provides new evidence on how innovation unfolds outside metropolitan areas and offers concrete policy recommendations to strengthen rural innovation systems. It reveals that innovation in rural regions is not simply a smaller version of urban innovation. It is distinct, driven by people, networks, technology and place-based creativity rather than formal R&D alone. Digitalisation, automation and AI are enabling new business models and service solutions that help overcome distance and resource constraints, while rural communities are turning local challenges into opportunities, through new models for service delivery, entrepreneurship and social enterprise. Intended for policymakers and practitioners, the report highlights rural regions as strategic assets for national resilience and inclusive growth. It invites governments to view rural areas not as places in decline, but as living laboratories where the seeds of transformation are already taking root.