This publication was produced by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE), led by Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, Director, as part of the programme of work of the Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC). The OECD would like to thank the United States Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) for their generous financial contribution and in‑kind support.
This publication was co-ordinated by Michelle Marshalian, Economist, under the supervision of Jose Enrique Garcilazo, Deputy Head, and Dorothee Allain-Dupré, Head of the Regional Development and Multi-level Governance Division of CFE (OECD). The report also greatly benefitted from valuable guidance from Nadim Ahmad, Deputy Director of CFE. Chapter 1 was drafted by Michelle Marshalian. Chapter 2 was drafted by Michelle Marshalian, Philip Chan and Maximilian Günnewig-Mönert. Chapter 3 was drafted by Betty-Ann Bryce and David Freshwater (external expert) with support from Michelle Marshalian and Tamara Krawchenko (University of Victoria, Canada). Chapter 4 was drafted by Alexia González Fanfalone (Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, OECD), and Betty-Ann Bryce, with statistical support from Maximilian Günnewig-Mönert. The report also received valuable insights from Lorena Figueiredo (external expert) and Bridget Donovan.
We would also like to thank the contribution of members from the academic and business expert groups that are supporting the OECD Enhancing Rural Innovation project and from members of the local team, that include Laura Landes, Eric LaRose, Nicole Manapol and Ashley Zuelke from RCAP and Dennis Alvord, Bryan Borlik, Bernadette Grafton, and Aminata Karama from EDA. We would also like to also thank Bret Allphin from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), Olugbenga Ajilore, Basil Gooden and Karama Neal from the United States Department of Agriculture as well as the peer reviewer Peter Wostner (The Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development, Slovenia).
Jeanette Duboys and Roxana Glavanov prepared the manuscript for publication and Pilar Philip coordinated the production process. Professional editing was conducted by Andrew Brenner. Eleonore Morena provided formatting services.
The OECD Secretariat thanks the delegates to the RDPC and its Working Party for Rural Policy for their valuable input.