This document provides information about a session at the 12th OECD Rural Development Conference on innovation, technological change, and well-being. The session will discuss how to foster innovation in rural areas through policies and programs that support rural innovation ecosystems and participation in global value chains. Speakers will explore how innovation can be measured, provide examples of innovative rural initiatives, and discuss how new technologies offer opportunities for rural businesses. The session will be moderated and include 5 speakers presenting from armchairs on stage in a TED talk style for a total of 50 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of questions from the audience submitted through a participatory software application.

1. Pillar 1.b. Innovation technological change and well-being:
Rural innovation eco-systems and restructuring global value chains
24th Septembre . 15:00- 16:30, The Plaza, Seoul
The 12th OECD Rural Development Conference, Delivering Rural Well-being is part of the OECD Rural
Conference Series since 2002. These events provide an international forum to share lessons on rural
development policies among national, regional and local policy officials, international experts, civil society and
private sector representatives whilst strengthening existing networks and fostering knowledge-sharing. The
conference Delivering Well-being will discuss the importance of enhancing innovative practices, undertaking
demographic trends and fomenting a transition to a low carbon economy to delivery wellbeing in rural areas.
Aim of the session:
The OECD defines innovation as “the implementation of a new or significantly improved product (good or
service) or process, a new marketing method, or a new organisational method in business practices, workplace
organisation or external relations”. Because many rural regions are exposed to domestic and international
markets outside their regions, they need to focus on increasing productivity to remain competitive. Innovation
is a fundamental force for economic growth and boost productivity. Furthermore, new technologies (3D
printers, drones) and processes (e.g. data driven production) could change the traditional production of
products and services towards a much more distributed and mobile production fueled by further reduction in
transportation costs.
This session aims to take stock of policies, initiatives and programmes that can foster innovation in rural areas
and upscale their participation in the GVC, particularly by sharing experiences in establishing innovation
ecosystems in rural areas.
Guiding questions:
 How to foster innovation in rural areas?
 How can innovation be measured- are patents a good measurement?
 What examples of innovations in rural areas you have? How scalable are?
 Can new technologies offer different opportunities for innovative business in rural areas?
Type of Session:
 Plenary Session
 Speakers will be sitting in armchairs at the stage.
 Presentations will be given in ted talk style , encouraging speaker to walk around the stage
Session Structure:
[Moderator and 5 speakers sit in armchairs at the stage]
[Moderator will have a tablet on his hands to see the questions from the public, which will use a
participatory software- Glisser- to address questions]
 Moderator introduce the topic, state the main question to be addressed and present speakers (7
minutes).
 Each speaker will present during 10 minutes. PPT should be maximum 7 slides (total 50 minutes).
 Moderator opens Q&A from public. Audience can make questions by microphone or through their cell
phones using Glisser software.(15 minutes)
 Closing remarks from moderator and speakers (if time allows), 2 minutes per speaker (10 minutes).