ABSTRACT
Historically, after the Enlightenment in Europe, science and technology were perceived as a panacea for resolving all human suffering from poverty to health and livelihood. A transition to green technology and a lower carbon economy was articulated as a global response to climate change risks and environmental pollution and waste. The linear model of technological innovation which is based on the concept that "science invents, technology applies and market selects", was replaced by theories like that of the social construction of technology, where technological innovation is shaped by the meaning that a society develops based on context and problem definition. The key challenges is to define the necessary conditions for enhancing the sustainability of the regional innovation hubs (RIHs) in the MENA and GCC regions to support green technology for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through open and user innovation.
