We have organised this guide according to 5 themes for inclusive innovation.

But there are other ways to think about the topic, for example according to these 3 principles:

1. Equitable, accessible and empowering 
2. Participative and collaborative 
3. Regenerative and adaptive

Equitable, accessible and empowering

Make sure: 

• products and services meet everyone’s need by testing with people from different socio-economic backgrounds, areas and demographics, and with different abilities and accessibility needs  
• adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 (WCAG) AA as well as the Equality Act of 2010.
• actively promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in all your processes, including hiring practices, workplace culture, and leadership development
• empower communities by educating and training people in the technical skills they need to take part in the digital economy

Participative and collaborative

• adopt a participative and collaborative approach by involving a wide range of stakeholders from different backgrounds, to create effective, equitable and inclusive innovations
• work with organisations around the world to share best practices and resources, so your innovations benefit people worldwide

Regenerative and adaptive 

Integrate regenerative and adaptive principles, so you create innovative, sustainable solutions that can be shared equitably across society.

When inclusive innovation leads to inclusive growth, it makes sure that creative and useful ideas and inventions benefit everyone and everything, including people, communities, buildings, infrastructure, animals, plants, ecosystems – the whole planet.

This involves 2 key steps:

1. Building the foundation (inclusive innovation)
   This means involving local communities in innovation, listening to nature, and providing resources like time, money, methods and skills to inventors who create solutions like clean energy, tools for sustainable farming, or ways to protect ecosystems

2. Sharing the benefits (inclusive growth)
   This means making sure that new products and services reach everyone, are affordable and sustainable, and that the value created is used to regenerate the planet and support local communities. By doing this, we can create a world where everyone and everything grows inclusively, stays healthy, and lives peacefully together.

Inclusive innovation is essential for fair, sustainable, and regenerative growth that benefits both people and the planet.

This illustration shows an interconnected ecosystem where inclusive innovation and inclusive growth are linked and overlap and feed into each other in a continuous feedback loop. The text with the loop starts on the left ‘Inclusive innovation – as input, process and impact’ looping to the right ‘Inclusive growth – as output, outcome and impact’. It conveys equity, collaboration and balance between human health and progress and planetary health.

One example for an inclusive growth framework has been developed by WMCA.
West Midlands Combined Authority inclusive growth framework

We took an evolving approach to inclusive innovation drawing on:

• research
• strategy
• practical application

Research

Early on we:

• mapped the existing innovation ecosystem
• engaged key stakeholders to define priorities and address systemic barriers
• Reviewed a wide range of sources of information

Engagement

We ran workshops that:

• introduced inclusive innovation principles
• fostered collaboration
• tailored approaches to regional needs

Collaborating with people in the West Midlands made sure we were responsive to real challenges and opportunities.

Launching the guide

Our latest sessions:

• highlighted key learnings
• refined plans and tools – like this Inclusive Innovation Guide that you are reading now!

We tested the content with 10 potential users, then made improvements based on what they told us. 

This website was then launched on 31^st March 2025.

What next for the Guide

This website is the initial launch of a work in progress.

We hope to develop it further, to become more visually engaging, and include a wider range of relevant content and locally sourced case studies.

Writing the guide

This guide was written by subject-matter experts at Connected Places Catapult, with help from a content designer and an accessibility specialist. And our progress and results are reviewed by an impact assessment specialist. 

By embedding inclusive practices and monitoring impact, the programme is laying the foundation for sustainable, inclusive, place-based innovation.

Artificial intelligence

Our subject matter experts used generative artificial intelligence like ChatGPT and DeepSeek to help draft a small amount of technical content in plain English. This was always edited by our team afterwards. Nothing in this guide is the raw output of an AI.

Innovation

Innovation isn’t just about big tech breakthroughs.

It’s about finding new or better ways to do things, whether that’s solving problems for your customers with better services or streamlining your processes to improve efficiency.

Every organisation or project, no matter the size or sector, can innovate by making small, impactful changes.

Inclusive innovation

Developing new ideas, services, products and processes in a way that benefits all of society and the rest of the planet, including people and places that are often ignored and left behind.

Inclusive growth

Sharing the benefits of innovation with everyone, and making sure they benefit animals, plants, and the planet as well people and communities.

This includes things like:

• affordable and safe places to live
• education and learning
• strongly connected communities
• sharing power and taking part in decision-making
• energy use, waste, emissions and biodiversity

Marginalised communities

Marginalised communities are groups of people who are often treated unfairly or left out because of things like:

• where they live
• how much money they have
• the colour of their skin

Inclusive innovation tries to help these groups by creating things that meet their needs and make life better for them.

Equity

Equity means making sure everyone gets what they need to be successful, even if it’s not the same for everyone.

It is not the same as equality, which means giving everyone the same thing no matter what their needs.

Equity means giving shorter kids a bigger step stool so everyone can reach the same height. Fair doesn’t always mean equal!

Systemic inclusion

Systemic inclusion is when rules, habits, or systems (like learning places, work places, governments, and companies) provide all people and places the same chances as everyone else.

It’s not one person being kind – it needs the whole system set up in a way that includes all people. Fixing when some people are excluded means changing the system so everyone has a fair shot.

Co-creation

Co-creation is when people work together to come up with new ideas or solutions.

It’s like a team project where everyone, including the people who will use the solution, helps decide what will work best.

This way, the final product is something that really helps the people it’s meant for.

Planetary

Planetary is about how everything in the world is connected. It’s not just about countries working together, but also about how people, nature, and technology all interact. It’s about how we, as humans, choose to treat each other, the Earth, and the things we create.

For example, it’s about asking questions like:

• How can we take care of the planet and all living things?
• How can we make sure everyone is included and treated fairly?
• How can we use technology in a way that helps, not harms, the Earth?

Planetary thinking is important because it helps us figure out how to live together in a way that makes life better for everyone and everything on Earth.

Regenerative

Regenerative ideas, policies and systems do more than just fix problems – they help things grow back stronger, healthier, and better than before.

It’s like planting a tree after cutting one down, but also making sure the soil, air, and animals around it are healthier too.

Regenerative ideas and policies focus on healing and improving the world, not just maintaining it. 

Human connected

Being human connected means taking an approach that connects people, technology and the planet. 

Human-centred design puts people and their needs at the centre of the design process. Human-connected design moves people away from the centre and places us in networks that acknowledge our interdependence with each other and the planet.

This changes how we see and act and understand ourselves, in relationship with each other and the urban and natural environment.

Innovation tends to be exclusive. Too many people are left out of the process, and don’t feel the benefits.

They face barriers to:

• starting an innovative business
• working in innovation
• contributing to innovation that affects their communities
• benefiting from the use and spread of new technologies or services

We can’t always be inclusive to everyone in everything we do. But this guide works towards a system that is inclusive as a whole.

Who and what this guide is for

Connected Places Catapult has developed this Inclusive Innovation Guide (IIG) as part of the DIATOMIC program we are delivering in the West Midlands.

Throughout 2024 to 2025 we have involved a number of people who work in the local councils and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

This guide will support the West Midlands on its journey towards becoming a centre of excellence in inclusive innovation.

It can support your projects and day to day work if you shape or influence innovation as part of a:

• combined authority
• local authority
• local city or place team

Why inclusive innovation matters

Inclusive innovation:

• reduces inequality and inequity – by addressing the needs of the under-served, it helps bridge the gap between different groups in society
• drives economic growth – leading to new markets and economic opportunities, and improving the health of people and planet
• enhances social cohesion – by promoting a sense of belonging and participation among members of the local community

Our standards and commitments

This guide:

• follows the Government Digital Service’s (GDS) standards for online accessibility
• helps you understand why and how to do something – it is not just a ‘tick-box-exercise’

Talk to us

This guide is a work in progress.

We invite you to try out some of its methods and tools, then contact us using this form to:

• give us your feedback
• express your interest in getting involved in future testing

Innovation

Innovation isn’t just about big tech breakthroughs.

It’s about finding new and better ways to do things.  

Every organisation or project, no matter the size or sector, can innovate by making impactful changes.

Inclusive innovation

Developing new ideas, services, products and processes in a way that benefits all of society and the rest of the planet, including people and places that are often ignored and left behind.

Our definition of inclusive innovation includes the whole innovation process. From funding and investment, to research and design activities, the policies and governance in place, as well as the benefits and financial outcomes or recognition.

For more definitions of key words, see our Glossary

5 Themes of Inclusive Innovation

From researching the inclusive innovation sources available, and considering what content would be most useful to the initial users of this guide – we have grouped a collection of methods and case studies under 5 Themes:

Awareness and Learning

Policy and Strategy

Community Engagement

Gathering Evidence

Funding and Resources

3 Principles of Inclusive Innovation

After reviewing sources, and discussing then refining a set of principles, we believe there are three key things to keep in mind at all times: 

1. Equitable, accessible and empowering 
2. Participative and collaborative 
3. Regenerative and adaptive