Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung
Center for Development Research
Universität Bonn
Following the Innovation:
ZEF’s Khorezm project team prepares for participatory
approaches to innovation diffusion
Bonn, February 2008
In a four-day workshop on Concepts of Agricultural Innovation and Interdisciplinary
Research, the interdisciplinary team of ZEF’s Uzbekistan project addressed key issues of
participatory learning approaches, inter- and trans-disciplinary research set up as well as
concepts of innovation.
Facilitated by Wolfgang Bayer and Chesha Wettasinha from ETC Ecoculture, three issues
playing a key role in the third project phase were discussed:
1) Inter and trans-disciplinary research set up,
2) definitions of and approaches to innovation diffusion, and
3) stakeholder involvement.
The workshop offered its around 25 participants a mixture of conceptual input sessions,
working groups, plenary discussions and innovative games encouraging self-reflection, as
well as concepts of multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary research. These
formed the basis for formulating project-specific concepts. Interesting was the discussion
on potential problems and difficulties arising in interdisciplinary research teams as well as
on how to overcome them. Besides, different conceptions of agricultural innovation were
presented and discussed.
Technology transfer approaches were contrasted with process approaches. Specific
attention was given to the ‘Follow the Technology’ approach developed by Douthwaite as
adopted and adapted for the project, as well as the social dimensions of technology.
Through workings groups and plenary discussions the participants defined their main
stakeholder groups, existing contacts and those to be extended.
As the first workshop in a series of five on ‘Implementing, improving and adapting with
target groups: Follow the Innovation’, the workshop put a strong emphasis on developing a
team spirit and team building activities. Beside from achieving the general objectives of the
workshop, this goal was successfully achieved and a positive basis for interaction was built
for the current third project phase.
Contact: Anna Hornidge, ZEF, e-mail: hornidge@uni-bonn.de