Biography

Adrian Smith is Professor of Technology & Society at the Science Policy Research Unit, where he collaborates in research projects studying the politics and governance of innovation for sustainability. He has been involved in a variety of research projects related to grassroots innovation in both the global North and global South, studying a variety of sectors (e.g. energy, housing, food, manufacturing, and digital), and in rural and urban settings. In 2017, he co-authored the book, Grassroots Innovation Movements (Routledge), which looked more broadly at six social movements promoting grassroots innovation in different times and places, and whose recurring dilemmas offer valuable lessons for sustainable development.

Also by this author

Blog - February 25, 2021

Grassroots Innovations for Sustainable Development – A DT Dialogue with Johan Schot and Adrian Smith

According to Smith and Seyfang (2007), the term ‘grassroots innovations’ describes networks of activists and organisations that generate novel bottom–up solutions for sustainable development –solutions that respond to the local situation and the interests and values of the communities involved. This differs from more mainstream greening practices in the sense that grassroots initiatives operate in…