Technopolitics of tinkering and the ‘new’ innovation economy

Insights from India

Bibliographic Data

ID13040735
AuthorsRamesh K Mishra (0000-0003-3803-4508, Northwestern University in Qatar), Rajiv K Mishra (Northwestern University in Qatar), Saradindu Bhaduri (0000-0003-0709-6773, Jawaharlal Nehru University, corresponding author)
Year2026
Pages1-15
Publication date2026-03-12
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueInnovation and Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2157-9318 • E-ISSN: 2157-930X
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/2157930x.2026.2640738
OpenAlexW7135077320
LanguageEN
References cited28

Tinkering and its role in innovation economy have captured the imagination of policymakers across the globe. In India, a variety of tinkering spaces have emerged in recent years. In this paper, we make an attempt to analyse the mandates, motivations, actors and networks of these evolving spaces of tinkering. Tinkering has the potential to make innovation ecosystems more inclusive, offer solutions that are affordable, need-based and pro-social. Tinkering can delay technological obsolescence by promoting, re-use, and re-combination of technology. Our analysis, however, brings out that the policies on tinkering seem restricted to promoting technological temper, and entrepreneurship. A robust focus on local development and ecosystem building around tinkering remains wanted. The paper emphasizes the need for better embedding of tinkering into the policies on innovation, education, skill development and the local economy.

Agency (philosophy · Government (linguistics · Work (physics · Indian Economic and Social Development · Innovation and Socioeconomic Development · Social and Economic Development in India

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