Innovation through collaboration: scaling up solutions for sustainable development

Authors

I. Zelenika, Queen’s University
J. M. Pearce, Michigan Technological University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-18-2014

Volume

16

Issue

6

Journal

Environment, Development and Sustainability

First Page

1299

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1007/s10668-014-9528-7

Last Page

1316

Abstract

The open collaborative philosophy employed in the success of open source (OS) software can be applied to hardware design. Specifically, the development of OS appropriate technologies (OSAT) can improve sustainable development efforts worldwide. Yet, widespread OSAT use is far from ubiquitous. Given that lack of communication, access to information and poor collaboration are among the largest barriers to a more effective OSAT dissemination, this paper explores opportunities to overcome such obstacles using four techniques: (1) collaborative online platforms, (2) crowd-sourcing, (3) the concept of knowledge commons, and (4) enabled educational institutions through service learning and applied research. The results are analyzed, and conclusions are drawn that outline paths to higher multiuser collaboration for OSAT deployment.