Shailly Nigam

This post marks the beginning of a deeply personal and professionally meaningful journey. Today I resume my path of exploration which I intend to carry forward through multiple research projects. This is Day 1 of my 31 day research blogging of the first series where I plan to delve into The emerging impact of reverse innovation among Canadian SMEs in driving economic and sustainable growth.

This is not just a research initiative. It is a way for me to reconnect with a part of myself that had taken a necessary pause and to bring my academic roots into harmony with my lived experience in a new country.

From India to Canada and Back to Research

When I migrated to Canada in 2018, I, like many newcomers, focused first on rebuilding my life and finding stability in a new environment. As I settled in, I began teaching and was simultaneously teaching at three colleges in Canada. The experience was rewarding but it also meant putting my research agenda on hold. While I was adapting to new systems, syllabi, and institutions, the passion I have always had for economic development, policy, innovation, and global interconnectedness continued to quietly shape my teaching and thinking.

Now in 2025, I am ready to fully return to research but this time it is grounded not only in theory but in lived Canadian experience. And that makes this project especially close to my heart.

Where I Left Off and Where I Am Going

Before coming to Canada my research (which you can explore here) focused on areas like regional trade integration, macroeconomic performance, and the implications of development policy. My research interests still reflect these themes particularly the links between policy, growth, and the everyday decisions made by individuals and businesses. This new project is a natural extension to bring these threads together but with a sharper Canada-specific lens.

Why Reverse Innovation?

We are used to thinking of innovation as a one-way flow from the Global North to the Global South. But as the world evolved, some of the most efficient, frugal, and sustainable solutions originated and are emerging from resource-constrained contexts and increasingly being adopted by developed economies. This is what we call reverse innovation.

Why Canadian SMEs?

SMEs represent more than 98 percent of all businesses in Canada and play a vital role in economic recovery, regional development, and job creation. Despite their importance, they face significant challenges, including tight profit margins, limited access to research and development resources, and increasing pressure to innovate sustainably.

Reverse innovation offers a promising path forward by introducing affordable technologies, frugal business models, and globally inspired solutions tailored to local needs. Innovations that were once seen as suitable only for low-income settings are now demonstrating their value in high-income countries, particularly among Canadian SMEs striving to do more with less.

What This Research Will Explore

Over the next month I plan to explore

• What reverse innovation means in the Canadian context
• Which SMEs are adopting such ideas and why
• How these choices affect microeconomic performance such as efficiency, costs, competitiveness
• How they contribute to macroeconomic goals such as GDP growth, job creation, and sustainability

I also plan to share

Case studies of Canadian SMEs leveraging global innovation

• Interviews with entrepreneurs
• Policy insights and reflections from the field

Why Now?

This project is about re-engaging with my academic self but in a way that speaks to my journey as a migrant, a professor, a researcher, and a citizen.

By blending theory, data, storytelling, and reflection, I hope to offer something that is not just relevant to scholars or policymakers but also to a small business owner in rural Canada, a student in Ontario, or a policymaker in Ottawa who is looking for new ways to drive inclusive growth.

The Next 30 Days

Starting tomorrow I will dive deeper into what reverse innovation really is, where it comes from, and why it matters for a country like Canada in 2025.

Each post will be concise, focused, and part of a larger arc. By the end of this 31-day journey, I hope I can advance this research and shed light on how innovation and development can shape new directions for Canadian SMEs.

References

• CBC/Radio Canada. (2015, May 12). Build for the poor, sell to the rich: Third world tech boomerangs home | CBC news. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/reverse-innovation-brings-technology-from-developing-nations-to-canada-1.3065052
  
• Government of Canada, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Office of the Deputy Minister, Small Business, Tourism and Marketplace Services & Small Business Tourism and Marketplace Services. (2025, March 21). SME Research and Statistics. https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/sme-research-statistics/en