ICERTS Research Forum, NUIG, February 18th 2009

Research Activities & Themes

Kevin HeanueInnovation & Rural Development Unit

RERC Athenry

ICERTS Research Forum, NUIG, February 18th 2009

RERC Structure

Rural Economy Research Centre

Corporate Affairs UnitSurveys Department

Spatial Analysis Unit

Innovation and Rural Development Unit

Environment Unit

Agricultural Economics Department

Rural Viability Department

Farm Level Modelling Unit

FAPRI-Ireland Unit

ICERTS Research Forum, NUIG, February 18th 2009

Innovation & Rural Development Unit - RERC 3 permanent Research Officers

Geographer, Sociologist, Economist

4 PhD students

Geographer – David Meredith Farm diversification Rural labour markets Rural population studies

Sociologist – Aine Macken Walsh Qualitative analysis of farmer behaviour Barriers to change Farm partnerships Rural men and suicide

ICERTS Research Forum, NUIG, February 18th 2009

Background

Industrial economics - innovation

Rural development Chairman Connemara West Plc Teagasc Nominee – FORUM Connemara

(LEADER) Evaluation Committee

ICERTS Research Forum, NUIG, February 18th 2009

Approaches & methods

Heterodox - eclectic use of theoretical and conceptual perspectives and also variety of methodologies

Neo-Schumpeterian economics; capabilities perspective; economic sociology; regional science

Case studies; statistical and econometric analysis

ICERTS Research Forum, NUIG, February 18th 2009

Past research

Innovation & technological change LMT sectors Processes, networks, policy

Rural development Housing Affordability, second homes, settlement strategies

Industrial economics Trust; institutional learning; organisational

proximity; networking; industrial agglomeration; embeddedness; industrial policy.

ICERTS Research Forum, NUIG, February 18th 2009

Current Projects in Teagasc

Economics of Innovation Evaluation of Teagasc’s Business & Technology

Programme Technology transfer (CISC Walsh Fellow) LMT Innovation

Audit of Policy in Rural Areas Housing in Rural Ireland Rural Innovation

Technology Adoption & Transfer 3 year project; mix of quantitative and qualitative

methods

ICERTS Research Forum, NUIG, February 18th 2009

Future Research Themes

Innovation systems Identifying and understanding the actors, institutions

organisations and networks at sector level and regional level.

Technology adoption, diffusion & transfer Motivations, attitudes in addition to attributes.

Benchmarking adoption. Technology transfer mechanisms.

Local development strategies Role of rural/community development organisations Identification of development paths

ICERTS Research Forum, NUIG, February 18th 2009

Thanks