Inclusive innovation within developmental university approaches: Insights towards (post) IPR settings in Bolivia

Abstract

Interactive learning is essential for fostering effective innovation processes that contribute to inclusive and sustainable development. The institution at the core of this study is Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS) in Cochabamba, with its Technology Transfer Unit (UTT) serving as the primary promoter and facilitator of SME clusters, which function as interactive learning spaces. These initiatives are inspired by the concept of Developmental University, aimed at producing alternatives for knowledge democratization in the Global South. Scholars argue in low-income countries the intellectual property rights (IPR) system promoted by the Global North hinders their innovation capacities, not only by restricting access to knowledge, but also by failing to adequately protect their own intellectual assets, including traditional knowledge and biodiversity-related innovations. One significant challenge in the multi-actor processes of innovation for inclusive and sustainable development is the issue of ownership, which may not initially appear to be the most pressing concern when establishing effective conditions for co-development. What forms of more open and effective intellectual property sharing can support knowledge democratization and inclusive innovation? In this paper, we present a specific case that allows us to recognize questions and draw insights to explore new IPR alternatives pertinent to environments characterised by developmental university ideals, distributed agency and inclusive innovation approaches in the Global South.