Analysis of the most important variables which determine innovation among rural entrepreneurs

TL;DR

This study identifies key factors influencing innovation among rural entrepreneurs, highlighting low technology investment and the importance of involvement in Innovation Systems Networks, with findings based on quantitative surveys in Mures county.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of variables affecting rural entrepreneurial innovation, offering insights for developing future innovation models in rural areas.

Findings

Most rural entrepreneurs are non-innovators

Innovation depends on entrepreneur involvement in networks

Minimal investment in new technologies

Abstract

The present research aims to highlight the main factors influencing the development of entrepreneurial innovation in a rural environment and to perform an empirical study with the purpose of assessing the main problems in rural development. The research performed is mostly of a quantitative nature, being based on the use of the questionnaire as research tool, although some of the questions were raised in order to collect respondents impressions and opinions which would form the object fo qualitative research. The research outlines the fact that in the rural entrepreneurship innovation is performed with minimal investment in new technologies and depends on the entrepreneur's involvement in Innovation Systems Network. It was also noted that most of the entrepreneurs in rural environment are non-innovators. The research question started to assess the key elements which identify the role of innovation among entrepreneurs in rural areas. Based on these facts, we determined the variables that make entrepreneurial innovation in rural areas, followed by the analysis of the most significant variable rural entrepreneurs in the Mures county. This result can support the creation of the future model of innovation in rural entrepreneurship. There are relatively few studies addressing the problem of research regarding innovation in rural areas. The emphasis is on national and regional studies, without differentiating between the rural and urban areas. Thus, the purpose of the analysis is to add a descriptive background related to the innovation at a micro-economic level in the rural areas