Title: Contours of Contemporary Research: Perspectives Across Disciplines
Chief Editors: Dr. S. Durga, Dr. S. Sathyapriya, and Dr. V. A. Jane
ISBN: 978-81-17787-25-0
Chapter: 14
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59646/880/14
Authors: Dr. Shruthi K, Dr. A. Barkathunisa
Abstract
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) are collections of knowledge, practices, values and ecological knowledge that have been accumulated over many years by the interaction of people with their social, cultural and natural environments. While there has been a longstanding interest in cultural knowledge with regard to cultural preservation, biodiversity conservation and traditional livelihoods, there is a growing recognition of the importance of cultural knowledge for entrepreneurship and sustainable innovation. Knowledge on agriculture, biodiversity, natural resource management, medicine, food systems, crafts, ecological adaptation and collective governance is found among the indigenous communities and can serve as bases for enterprise development in the local context and ecologically responsible manner. However, the commercialization of Indigenous knowledge has complex issues of cultural integrity, ownership, intellectual property, participation and potential commercial appropriation. The conceptual chapter builds on the Indigenous Knowledge–Innovation Nexus (IKIN) as a strategic framework that illustrates the linkages between Indigenous Knowledge Systems and entrepreneurial innovation for the development of sustainable enterprises that enhance community resilience. The framework recognizes Indigenous knowledge as more than an economic asset: it is intellectual capital, cultural, ecological, and relational capital that is grounded in the community. It suggests that when joined with Entrepreneurial Innovation Capabilities, Indigenous Knowledge Capital can produce Sustainable Indigenous Enterprise, which can create multidimensional outcomes such as economic viability, cultural continuity, ecological stewardship and social inclusion and community resilience. Community governance and ethical knowledge protection, digital inclusion, institutional support and equitable benefit sharing set the conditions of the relationship. The chapter also explores new opportunities generated by the use of digital technologies, geographical indications, traceability, e-commerce, community branding and community knowledge documentation, while highlighting the need to ensure that technological modernisation does not replace Indigenous agency. It outlines the need for a paradigm shift from the commercialization of traditional knowledge to CnK (community driven knowledge-based innovation) in which the economic, cultural and ecological dimensions of innovation are considered as interdependent goals for sustainable Indigenous entrepreneurship.
Keywords: Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Indigenous Entrepreneurship and Community Governance.