Building Innovation Ecosystems in Low-Trust Environments with Dysfunctional Governance

In low-trust, poorly governed regions, innovation ecosystems thrive through small wins, decentralized networks, and shared narratives. Trust is built incrementally through reliable actions, while networks and platforms enable collaboration without depending on rigid institutions. Opportunity narratives align stakeholders around shared goals, and leadership becomes distributed, empowering participants to act. Progress is achieved gradually through adaptive collaboration and consistent engagement, demonstrating that even fragmented regions can foster sustainable innovation over time.