New publication: ‘Inclusive innovation: Enhancing global participation in and benefit sharing linked to the utilization of marine genetic resources from areas beyond national jurisdiction’. Collins JE, Harden-Davies H, Jaspars M, Thiele T, Vanagt T and Huys I (2019). Mar. Pol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2019.103696
This article highlights the potential positive role that an ‘inclusive innovation’ approach may play in facilitating participation in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. A number of existing genetic resource initiatives provide examples of efforts to foster inclusivity in the innovation process, including BioBricks, Open Source Drug Discovery, GenBank and the Global Genome Biodiversity Network. An analysis of these examples enables clear identification of common elements that are adopted by such initiatives, whereby inclusive innovation either develops naturally or is promoted actively through measures for open access, capacity building, and collaboration. By empowering more States and stakeholders to participate in research and innovation processes, global potential in terms of enhanced scientific knowledge and opportunities associated with biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction can be promoted.