Mid Sweden University

Purpose The purpose of this study is shed light on the underlying forces behind entrepreneurship within a regional innovation system (RIS) in a remote rural region. The authors examine the following questions: Which are the main underlying forces behind the entrepreneurial process in a rural RIS characterized by traditionally low-tech, small-scale businesses? How can the development of a low-tech regional innovation system be conceptualized?

Design/methodology/approach The design of the study is based on entrepreneurship theory. Data analysis followed practices used in phenomenography, a research approach used to analyse and identify commonalities and variations in populations' perceptions of a certain phenomenon. Data are composed using semi-structured interviews and a database composed of company information of all firms in the population.

Findings A proactive mobilization of regional stakeholders and resources can be an important driving force behind the entrepreneurial process and generation of a rural RIS. Innovation can be generated within low-tech industries turning the rural context into an asset. An RIS in a remote rural context can be initiated and orchestrated by regional authorities, but knowledge brokering and orchestration can also be managed by networks of small-scale businesses brought together by mutual benefit and common interests.

Research limitations/implications Regional innovation systems theory is most often used to study high-tech industries. But by combining regional innovation systems with rural entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship context theory is a fruitful avenue to understand the role of rural entrepreneurship in regional development, even in remote and peripheral regions. Innovation does not need to entail high-tech international environments; it can appear as the result of efforts in low-tech industries in rural and remote environments. The authors’ findings need to be scrutinized; therefore, the authors call for more research on regional innovation systems in rural environments.

Practical implications It is possible for regional authorities to orchestrate a development process through the actions of a strong regional agent but also by supporting the creation of networks of small businesses that are built on trust and common interests.

Originality/value This study contributes to the literature with a new perspective to the study of entrepreneurship and of regional innovation systems. Entrepreneurship research with focus on rural contexts most often highlight limits to entrepreneurship and see entrepreneurship as “just running a business”. A perspective that starts from innovation and innovative behaviour, despite the rural context and embedded resources, helps to generate new knowledge that can enrich the understanding of entrepreneurship and also be the foundation for more precise business development policies in rural settings.

In this study, we explore the role of women’s entrepreneurship in revitalizing the historic market district of Nazareth (Israel). This is a special context to examine the intersection of women’s entrepreneurship, tourism, and historic revitalization because of the complex geo-political, cross cultural, and community development setting. We examine the role of women through their practice of cultural tourism-oriented entrepreneurship and seek to understand factors motivating women to engage in such entrepreneurship, along with their unique contributions. We utilize a qualitative research approach and conducted semi-structured interviews, augmented by numerous site visits and participant observation. Findings reveal that respondents, along with their individual-level motivations, have a strong desire to act on behalf of all women as well as to contribute to the community at large. This study sheds light on the role that women play as bearers of specific craft traditions as well as their ability to provide a unique calming and stabilizing effect on the socio-economic environment through their venturing. Beyond Nazareth, this study offers insight into the relationship between tourism and the SDGs on gender equality (5), decent work and economic growth (8) and on building peace, justice and strong institutions (16).

Originating from the Ancient Greek Mouseion early examples, such as the Institute for Philosophy in Alexandria (founded c. 280 BC), museums (1) were temple-like buildings set apart for study, and often associated with libraries. Scholars arrived from all parts of the (mainly Mediterranean) world not simply to consult the material but to meet like-minded people. Museums were places of intellectual and social commerce in an age when the concept of a university was in its infancy. As such they were found in the commercial heart of their locations; their buildings were surrounded by taverns, cafes, public spaces, temples, and shops where the scholar could be refreshed after a day's study. Two thousand years later, town planners would define such places as being “cultural quarters.” There are an estimated 105,000 museums in over 200 countries which, collectively, cover every field of artistic, scientific, cultural, and historical endeavor (Statista 2022a). Museums of all types (national, not-for-profit, local authority, university) collectively make a significant contribution to the tourism, leisure, and educational infrastructures of their countries. As distinct from public libraries (themselves of great antiquity), most modern museums would align their statement of purpose with the definition recently approved by the International Council of Museums (ICOM 2022): “collecting, conserving, documenting, interpreting and displaying objects of artistic, cultural, or scientific significance for study and public education and enjoyment.”

This handbook presents cutting-edge and global insights on sustainable heritage, engaging with ideas such as data science in heritage, climate change and environmental challenges, indigenous heritage, contested heritage and resilience. It does so across a diverse range of global heritage sites.

Organized into six themed parts, the handbook offers cross-disciplinary perspectives on the latest theory, research and practice. Thirty-five chapters offer insights from leading scholars and practitioners in the field as well as early career researchers. This book fills a lacuna in the literature by offering scientific approaches to sustainable heritage, as well as multicultural perspectives by exploring sustainable heritage in a range of different geographical contexts and scales. The themes covered revolve around heritage values and heritage risk; participatory approaches to heritage; dissonant heritage; socio-environmental challenges to heritage; sustainable heritage-led transformation and new cross-disciplinary methods for heritage research.

This book will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars in heritage studies, archaeology, museum studies, cultural studies, architecture, landscape, urban design, planning, geography and tourism.

This paper reports on an innovative, bottom-up effort (Projekt Kaxås) to attract lifestyle migrants to the rural Swedish village of Kaxås. This study is situated against the broader backdrop of population and out-migration from many of Sweden’s rural communities. The experience of Kaxås is unique in that, at the time of this writing, the population of the village is growing. Study findings suggest that social dimensions such as solidarity and hospitality were critical factors in shaping the decision for families to relocate to Kaxås. Findings from this study can inform similar efforts that are currently underway in rural communities in Sweden and throughout Europe.