Abstract
Innovation intermediaries play a key role in supporting innovation, particularly in rural-peripheral regions where firms are often resource-constrained and face structural disadvantages in accessing specialised knowledge and networks. Despite their growing importance, existing research has predominantly examined innovation intermediaries in terms of their client facing roles and functions. Limited empirical attention has been given to how these organisations internally develop the capabilities required to perform their intermediation roles.This research addresses this gap by exploring how innovation intermediaries develop, apply, and adapt internal knowledge-based and relational capabilities within a rural-peripheral context. Integrating the knowledge-based view of the organisation, absorptive capacity, and dynamic capabilities perspectives, the study examines how capability formation happens within innovation intermediaries.
An interpretive, abductive qualitative research design was employed. Data were collected through 28 semi-structured interviews with organisational actors across innovation intermediary organisations and key stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
The analysis identifies three interrelated dimensions of capability development. First, Intermediaries’ knowledge capabilities are built through experiential learning, advisor skillsets, senior management competencies, and organisational learning mechanisms, including evaluation processes, formal knowledge management and networking practices. Second, advisor-client relationships are shaped by client diversity, expectation management, trust-building practices, and adaptive engagement while negotiating internal and external constraints. Third, intermediary-client fit emerges through diagnostic assessment, programme design and delivery adaptations, signposting judgements, and alignment across advisor, organisational, and system levels. Together, these explain how knowledge and relational capabilities translate into intermediary-level outcomes, including specialisation development, credibility formation, and service alignment.
The study advances an organisation-centred conceptual framework explaining how capabilities are developed, applied and reconfigured within rural-peripheral innovation intermediaries. It extends innovation intermediary, organisational capability, and regional innovation literatures, while offering implications for intermediary management and rural innovation policy making along with the limitations of the study and avenues for future research directions.
Thesis is embargoed until 30th June 2028
| Date of Award | Jun 2026 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Barry Quinn (Supervisor) & Kristel Miller (Supervisor) |
Keywords
- innovation intermediaries
- rural-peripheral regions
- dynamic capabilities
- absorptive capacity
- Northern Ireland
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