ABSTRACT
What do existing theories of justice have to offer (if anything) to the current debate about inclusive innovation? This chapter addresses the question in an attempt to identify a plausible approach towards generating legitimate principles of just innovation. It demonstrates the poverty of philosophical constructivism and ideal principles’ lack of socio-political foundations. As a result, it proposes moving away from liberal egalitarianism, libertarianism, utilitarianism and even parts of capability theory towards a ‘smarter’ needs-based approach to inclusive innovation and development. This approach is, by definition, political and understands innovation as a process that is embedded in certain socio-economic and political structures.
