Outside In: Unconventional Pathways to Innovation
Submission deadline: 15 July 2026
Guest editors:
Gino Cattani
Stern School, New York University, New York, United States
gc59@stern.nyu.edu
Simone Ferriani
Bologna University, Bologna, Italy
City St George’s, University of London, London, United Kingdom
simone.ferriani@unibo.it or simone.ferriani.2@city.ac.uk
Monika Kackovic
University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
m.kackovic@uva.nl
Kirstin Martinus
University of Western Australia, Australia
kirsten.martinus@uwa.edu.au
Special issue information:
BACKGROUND
Innovation often emerges from the most unexpected places—at the edges of established systems, where unconventional thinkers challenge the norm and introduce fresh perspectives. These “outsider innovators”—whether individuals or organizations—have a remarkable ability to break free from traditional constraints, sparking breakthrough ideas and disruptive technologies that reshape industries and society. Yet, their path is rarely smooth, as they navigate environments resistant to radical change.
In theory, open markets should provide space for newcomers to challenge dominant players and breathe new life into stagnant fields. Yet, in practice, social, technological, and economic systems tend to reinforce the status quo, making it difficult for outsiders to break into established networks or gain recognition for their innovations. James March aptly captured this paradox, noting that a genius often appears as a “poorly socialized outsider”—someone whose unconventional thinking disrupts norms and seems deviant at first, but ultimately proves to be correct (March & Weil, 2005, p. 35). This tension lies at the heart of outsider-driven innovation: the very detachment that allows outsiders to generate groundbreaking ideas also makes it harder for them to secure the support and legitimacy needed to bring those ideas to life and share them with the world (Cattani, Ferriani, & Lanza, 2017).
Free from the constraints of dominant norms, outsiders possess what Robert Merton termed “focused naïveté”—a strategic ignorance of prevailing assumptions that allows them to tackle problems dismissed by experts as trivial or unsolvable (Gieryn & Hirsh, 1983, p. 91). Sociologist Lewis Coser similarly noted that those excluded from mainstream opportunities often pioneer the most transformative responses (Coser, 1962, p. 179). Even as far back as 1667, Thomas Sprat of The Royal Society recognized the power of the outsider’s gaze, arguing that seeing the world from a different angle can uncover new dimensions of nature (Harman & Dietrich, 2013). In short, the very traits that disadvantage outsiders within standard occupational structures and categorical systems are often precisely what is required for the pursuit of exceptional entrepreneurial achievements in science, business, and art. These traits, in other words, may help transform outsiders (individuals, groups, or organizations) into outliers, namely actors that may change our expectations about what is possible, exerting a disproportionate impact on innovation and productivity.
This Special Issue (SI) of Research Policy invites scholars to delve into the rich and complex world of outside innovators and innovations. We seek to explore unconventional trajectories of innovation, investigating when, how, and why novelty emerges and propagates from the periphery and understanding what this means for organizations, industries, and policymakers. By shedding light on the dynamics of outsider-driven innovation, we aim to uncover new pathways for fostering creativity and driving progress in a rapidly changing world.
INDICATIVE TOPICS AND THEMES
To guide this exploration, we propose a series of themes that scholars interested in this SI may wish to contribute to. The list is non-exhaustive and is intended to highlight outsider innovation’s multifaceted nature.
1. The Geography of Outsiderness: Innovation at the Periphery
Innovation is often deemed to thrive in well-established hubs—Silicon Valley for tech, Hollywood for entertainment, or Wall Street for finance. However, some of the most ground-breaking innovations have emerged from the geographic and social peripheries, where distance from the mainstream can become a powerful driver of creativity and unconventional thinking (Cattani & Ferriani, 2008). The role of location in shaping outsider innovation is a fascinating and complex phenomenon, revealing how being on the margins can offer unique advantages that are less accessible to those at the center (e.g., Grabher, 2018; Glückler et al., 2023). Take Nokia, for instance. Originating from the relatively remote town of Espoo, Finland, Nokia’s journey to becoming a global leader in mobile communications defies the typical narrative that innovation must come from major urban centers. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Nokia leveraged its outsider status—geographically distant from the tech hubs of the United States and Japan—to pioneer mobile phone technology that set the global standard. This success was not just a product of technological prowess; it was also rooted in Nokia’s ability to view the market differently, unencumbered by the entrenched expectations and conventions of more established competitors.
This example underscores a broader theme: geographic and social peripheries can foster environments where unconventional ideas are more likely to flourish (Martins et al., 2020). In these settings, innovators are less constrained by the status quo and can take bolder risks that would instead be stifled in more established centers (e.g., Ferriani, Lazerson, & Lorenzoni, 2020). However, the advantages of geographic outsiderness come with their own set of challenges. Innovators in peripheral locations may struggle with limited access to resources, such as venture capital, skilled labor, and advanced infrastructure, which are more readily available in established hubs. They may also face difficulties in gaining visibility and legitimacy on the global stage, where proximity to power centers often correlates with influence and recognition (Berman, Marino, & Mudambi, 2020; Boulongne, Durand, & Flammer, 2023). This theme invites a deeper exploration of the spatial dynamics that influence outsider innovation. How does being geographically or socially distant from the mainstream impact an outsider’s ability to innovate and compete on a global scale? What role does location play in shaping the networks and ecosystems that support or hinder innovation? How can innovators in peripheral regions overcome the barriers associated with their geographic position, and what can policymakers, regulators or other power centers learn from the success of these outsiders? By examining these questions, we can gain a richer understanding of how geography shapes the paths of outsider innovators, offering insights that are valuable not only for scholars but also for policymakers and business leaders seeking to foster innovation in diverse contexts.
2. The Recognition of Outsiders
For outsiders, the journey to legitimacy and recognition is often an uphill battle. Operating outside of established networks and lacking conventional markers of credibility, these innovators face significant challenges in gaining access to the resources, support, and attention necessary to bring their ideas to fruition (Chai & Menon, 2019). Thus, finding the right audience—be it investors, customers, or peers—can make the difference between obscurity and success (Falchetti, Cattani, & Ferriani, 2022).
Consider the remarkable case of John Harrison, a self-taught clockmaker from a tiny village in Lincolnshire (Cattani et al., 2017). Harrison took on the academic establishment with his ground-breaking approach to solving the ancient problem of determining longitude. After years of tireless struggle, his fortunes dramatically shifted when he caught the attention of King George III, who shared Harrison’s passion for horology. This unexpected audience proved pivotal, blending a powerful insider’s influence with Harrison’s unwavering commitment to accuracy. What specific barriers do outsiders face in gaining legitimacy and recognition in established industries or academic fields? How do these barriers affect their ability to access critical resources such as funding, partnerships, and market opportunities? What strategies can outsiders use to identify and engage with the right audience that can then help them overcome these barriers? How does the process of gaining legitimacy differ across different sectors, such as technology, art, and science?
3. Outsider Dynamics and Policymaking: Understanding the Drivers of Innovation and Change
Understanding the dynamics of outsider innovators is essential for crafting policies that foster inclusive and sustainable innovation. Outsiders often drive radical change as they advance fresh perspectives and solutions to societal challenges. However, their potential is frequently underutilized or misunderstood by traditional policy frameworks. The example of Greta Thunberg, the young environmental activist who galvanized global attention on climate change, highlights the power of outsiders in shaping public policy. Despite her outsider status, Thunberg’s influence on international climate awareness has been profound, forcing leaders to confront uncomfortable truths and consider bold actions.
This theme explores how outsider dynamics influence policy development and how policymakers can better support and harness the innovative potential of these actors. How can policies be designed to recognize and support the contributions of outsiders to innovation ecosystems, particularly in sectors resistant to change? What are the implications of outsider-driven innovations for existing regulatory frameworks, and how can policymakers adapt these frameworks to be more inclusive of non-traditional innovators? What strategies can policymakers adopt to balance the need for regulation with the flexibility required to accommodate the unconventional approaches of outsider innovators?
4. The Dark Side of Outsiderness: Risks and Cautionary Tales
While outsider innovators are often celebrated for their ability to disrupt industries and drive positive change, there is a lesser-discussed, darker side to their impact. Recent scholarly attention has turned to the potential dangers associated with innovation, particularly when driven by individuals or organizations that operate outside established norms. This shift in focus acknowledges that the same qualities that make outsiders capable of ground-breaking achievements can also lead to deviant behaviors with unproductive or even destructive consequences (Coad, Nightingale Stilgoe, & Vezzani, 2022). Historically, much of the academic discourse on entrepreneurship has emphasized its positive aspects—the heroic narratives of visionary leaders who transform industries. However, there is growing recognition that these narratives can sometimes be misleading. As outsiders strive to gain legitimacy and push their visions forward, the excitement surrounding their potential can lead to exaggerated claims and misinterpretations (e.g., Garud et al., 2023).
Alarmingly, these inflated narratives are often reinforced by the very audiences (e.g., professional investors and media) that are supposed to critically evaluate the feasibility and ethical aspects of those innovations. An example is the case of Greg Mortenson, the author of Three Cups of Tea and founder of the Central Asia Institute, an organization aimed at building schools in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson, with no formal background in international development or education policy, positioned himself as an outsider dedicated to grassroots innovation. His efforts were initially lauded globally as a model for humanitarian impact. However, later investigations revealed major financial mismanagement, unfulfilled promises, and fabricated details in his bestselling memoir. In short, the very outsider qualities that drew public and donor attention—his narrative of personal transformation and his grassroots approach—also led to a lack of accountability and systemic oversight. The fallout not only damaged his organization’s credibility but also raised critical questions about the sustainability and ethics of outsider-led interventions in complex, high-stakes environments. This theme encourages scholars to critically analyze the risks and challenges inherent in outsider innovation. It challenges the assumption that novelty is inherently beneficial and asks difficult questions about the conditions under which promising outsiders can become cautionary tales. What can we learn from these failures? How can organizations, investors, and other stakeholders better assess the viability and ethical implications of outsider-driven innovations to avoid repeating such mistakes?
5. Outsiders and Crises
In the ever-changing landscape of innovation, disruptive events—whether they originate from within an industry, such as regulatory changes or breakthrough inventions, or from external forces like natural disasters, pandemics, or wars—can dramatically alter the status quo (Fligstein & McAdam 2012). These shocks, often seen as crises, create a turbulent environment where established norms and practices are upended, forcing all players to adapt or risk obsolescence. For outsiders, these moments of upheaval can be particularly potent, offering unique opportunities to challenge incumbents and introduce novel ideas that might otherwise be overlooked (Sine & David, 2003; Ansari & Krop, 2012; Cattani et al., 2023). For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic not only disrupted global economies but also accelerated the adoption of digital technologies across industries as working from home became socially acceptable. Companies like Zoom, initially considered niche players, suddenly found themselves at the forefront of a fundamental shift in how and where business was conducted and profoundly changing office space demands.
This example illustrates how external shocks can shape the permeability of a field, making it more receptive to alternative pathways and solutions (Corbo, Corrado, & Ferriani, 2024). However, the impact of such shocks on outsiders is complex and multifaceted. These events can either serve as springboards for the new to gain legitimacy and traction, or they can amplify the challenges these innovators face as they navigate the crisis alongside more established players. How do external shocks influence the journey of outsiders toward acceptance? What role do these disruptions play in altering the perceptions and evaluations of audiences? Which specific strategies or tactics have proven effective for outsiders in leveraging crises to their advantage? By addressing these questions, this theme offers a richer understanding of how outsiders can turn moments of crisis into opportunities for radical innovation and lasting impact.
6. Beyond Outsiders: The Power of Networks and Ecosystems
Innovation does not happen in isolation. Whether insiders or outsiders, actors within any industry are deeply embedded in a complex web of relationships and networks that significantly shape their ability to innovate, gain recognition, and succeed (Andriani et al., 2024; Greenstein, 2024). These networks influence the flow of ideas, resources, and opportunities, acting as both gateways and gatekeepers in the world of innovation (Powell & Owen-Smith, 2012). The relationships that innovators cultivate—whether with peers, mentors, or industry leaders—can profoundly impact their creative output and their ability to turn novel ideas into market realities (Dahalander & Frederiksen, 2012; Safadi et al., 2021; Wang & Shibayama, 2022; Lampraki et al., 2024; Schreiter & Lorenzoni, 2024). Consider the rise of Slack, a workplace communication tool that began as an internal project within a small gaming company. Initially an outsider in the crowded field of communication software, Slack’s success was not just a product of its innovative design but also the strategic networks it tapped into. By engaging early with tech-savvy companies and leveraging the influence of key industry leaders who advocated for the tool, Slack quickly embedded itself within a network of users and influencers who propelled its growth. This network-driven approach allowed Slack to challenge established players like Microsoft and Google, gaining a significant foothold in the market. Similarly, scholars have examined how migrant knowledge workers, such as scientists from under-resourced countries who become ‘insiders’ in more developed nations, act as core-periphery connectors. These individuals transfer knowledge and resources across borders, potentially accelerating innovation among those who remain in their home countries (Fry, 2023).
This theme delves into the networks and ecosystems that outsiders engage with to amplify their impact. What characteristics of networks are most conducive to promoting outsider innovations? How can outsiders effectively engage with and influence established networks to gain a stronger foothold? What role do organizational gatekeepers and policymakers play in facilitating collaborations between outsiders and established industry players, fostering a more integrated and dynamic innovation ecosystem? This theme explores these critical questions, delving into the mechanisms by which networks and ecosystems either support or stifle the rise of outsider innovators.
7. Harnessing Outsider Talent: Organizational Practices and HR Strategies
Organizations need to be strategic in how they identify and leverage outsider talent. A compelling example can be found in the revitalization of LEGO, the world-renowned Danish toy company. In the early 2000s, LEGO faced near bankruptcy due to a lack of direction and innovation. This changed dramatically with the appointment of Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, an outsider with a background in business consulting rather than toy design. Under Knudstorp’s leadership, LEGO embraced a bold new approach that involved diversifying its product lines and engaging in strategic partnerships, such as with popular franchises like Star Wars and Harry Potter. This strategic shift involved not only introducing new product ideas but also transforming the company's corporate culture to embrace change and innovation.
Knudstorp’s outsider perspective was crucial in identifying unexploited opportunities and redefining LEGO’s market strategy, leading to a remarkable turnaround in the company’s fortunes. Yet welcoming outside talent is no simple task. It requires organizations to address two intertwined organizational challenges. First, there is the crucial task of bringing outsiders’ ideas into the spotlight. This demands a culture shift, as organizations need to break away from rigidly centralized decision-making to empower talents from all corners to freely choose their projects and contribute solutions regardless of rank, expertise, or file (Jeppersen & Lakhani, 2010). The second challenge is nurturing a culture where these outside ideas can take root, particularly in organizations steeped in a strong group identity (Choi et al., 2023). This requires deliberate efforts to foster openness, inclusivity, and a willingness to make space for the creative energy and innovative potential that outsiders can bring (Ferriani & Cattani, 2025).
This theme invites a deep dive into the organizational practices and human resource strategies that are most effective in identifying, nurturing, and integrating outsider talent. How can companies create a culture that not only supports but actively encourages the contributions of outsiders? How can organizations effectively scout and recruit outsider talent that aligns with strategic needs while bringing a fresh perspective? What are effective HR strategies for ensuring that such talents are smoothly integrated and can thrive within the existing corporate culture?
8. The Language of Outsiders
The extent to which the innovator is a field insider or outsider can significantly affect the likelihood of attracting and winning the attention and support of relevant audiences as outsiders, by definition, are foreign to the linguistic norms of the field they target for entry. Indeed, one of the challenges facing outsider innovators is the language in which they couch their innovations. Again, the case of John Harrison is instructive. While his unique understanding of horology allowed him to make a fundamental contribution to the longitude controversy, Harrison was unable to properly speak the ‘language’ of the astronomy community of his time, which contributed to delaying the recognition that his idea actually solved the measurement of longitude. In fact, “so alien was Harrison to the rhetoric of scientific communication that he had to rely on James Short’s support to make his arguments accessible” (Cattani et al., 2017, p. 983). Unlike previous accounts of innovators and entrepreneurs as skilled theorizers (e.g., David et al., 2013), Harrison struggled to manipulate the existing cultural structures – which further deferred the recognition of his breakthrough solution. While field insiders speak the language of the domain and, therefore, can spin stories and concepts that naturally align with the institutional vernacular, outsiders face the daunting task of learning this language. Indeed, they must engage in a process of translation (Harman & Dietrich, 2013) to articulate their ideas in the language of the target field.
This theme aims to stimulate a more systematic exploration of the micro-mechanisms that underpin the propensity of audience members to endorse outsiders’ ideas and the degree to which effective translation and theorization can mitigate the structural challenges facing outsiders or facilitate the diffusion of peripheral practices from a field’s margins to its center (Ierfino-Blachford & David, 2024). To what extent are the message and the messenger truly distinct, and how does the effectiveness of the same narrative vary with an innovator’s level of embeddedness (insider vs. outsider)? Can peripheral actors be effective theorizers of change in mature fields? Can they influence audience members’ evaluative orientation, and if they can, how?
9. Outsiders and Inequality: Unlocking Potential from Underrepresented Innovators
Outsider innovators often arise from communities marginalized by systemic barriers such as age, gender, norms, education, and socioeconomic status. Josephine Cochrane, who invented the dishwasher, serves as a prominent example. Despite the social norms of the late 19th century, which typically marginalized women's technological contributions, Cochrane innovated out of necessity and frustration with existing dishwashing solutions. Her invention not only improved kitchen technology but also challenged the structural inequalities that often hinder such innovations.
Cochrane's experience highlights the broader theme of how structural inequalities in professional and social settings can create an uneven playing field for outsider innovators. This theme calls for research into the origins and impacts of these systemic challenges, focusing on how institutions, global networks, and policy frameworks either perpetuate or help dismantle these barriers. Key research questions include: What mechanisms sustain structural barriers, and how do they arise? In what ways do these barriers affect the journeys of outsider innovators? How can organizations and policymakers create supportive environments where innovators from underrepresented groups can thrive? What are the tangible impacts of inclusive practices on innovation’s scope and its local and global effects?
Understanding these dynamics is essential to unlocking the creative potential within every community and empowering society to address complex challenges with the broadest possible range of solutions and perspectives.
AIMS AND SCOPE
1. Expanding the Boundaries of Innovation Studies
Research Policy has long been at the forefront of publishing cutting-edge research exploring innovation mechanisms and dynamics. This SI delves into a relatively underexplored but increasingly important aspect of innovation—outsider innovators. By focusing on those who operate at the peripheries of established systems, this SI promises to expand the intellectual horizons of the journal, offering fresh perspectives that challenge traditional models of innovation. The proposal’s emphasis on understanding how and why innovation emerges from the margins speaks directly to the journal’s commitment to fostering a deeper and more nuanced understanding of innovation processes.
2. Relevance to Contemporary Challenges
In today’s rapidly changing global landscape, the ability to innovate from outside the traditional centers of power is more crucial than ever. This SI addresses pressing contemporary challenges by examining how outsider innovators navigate and often overcome significant barriers to bring forth disruptive technologies and ground-breaking ideas. The themes explored in this SI—ranging from the impact of crises on innovation to the geographic and social dynamics that shape outsider success—are not only relevant but also critically important in understanding the future of innovation. These discussions will resonate with Research Policy’s readership, who are keenly interested in how innovation can be leveraged to address global challenges and drive sustainable development.
3. Contribution to Policymaking and Organizational Strategy
One of the unique strengths of this proposal is its focus on the implications of outsider innovation for policymakers and organizational leaders. By exploring how outsider dynamics influence policy development and how organizations can strategically harness outsider talent, this SI will offer practical insights that extend beyond academic theory. These contributions are in line with Research Policy’s objective of providing research that informs policy and strategy. The discussions on how to create inclusive policies that recognize and support outsider contributions, as well as how organizations can adapt to integrate outsider talent, are particularly valuable in a world where innovation ecosystems are becoming increasingly complex and diverse.
4. Engaging with Ethical and Societal Considerations
Research Policy is known for its thoughtful engagement with the broader ethical and societal implications of innovation. This SI does not shy away from addressing the darker sides of outsider innovation, such as the potential for deviant behaviors that result in misconduct and the risks associated with unchecked ambition. By critically examining contentious cases, the SI will contribute to a more balanced and comprehensive understanding of innovation, one that acknowledges both its potential and its pitfalls. This ethical dimension aligns well with the journal’s tradition of exploring the societal impact of innovation and will provide a necessary counterbalance to more celebratory narratives of entrepreneurship and innovation.
5. Broad Appeal Across Disciplines
The interdisciplinary nature of this SI encourages submissions of a wide range of scholars from various fields, including management, economics, geography, sociology, and public policy. This broad appeal is consistent with Research Policy’s aim to publish research that spans disciplinary boundaries and fosters collaboration among scholars from different academic backgrounds. By addressing themes that cut across multiple domains—such as the role of networks and ecosystems in innovation and the geographic factors that influence outsider success—this SI aims to stimulate rich, interdisciplinary dialogue and contribute to the journal’s reputation as a leading forum for innovative research.
PAPER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
The guest editors will be offering a unique opportunity for management and innovation scholars to develop their work for possible publication in this Special Issue by participating in a pre-submission workshop jointly sponsored by the University of Bologna, HafenCity University Hamburg, New York University, and the University of Hong Kong. The workshop will take place at the University of Hong Kong on December 15-16, 2025.
Attending the workshop does not guarantee acceptance of the paper into the Special Issue, nor is attendance a prerequisite for publication. However, we expect this collegial forum will provide great guidance, insights, and inspiration to all the participants, increasing the chances of making it into the Special Issue. There is no workshop fee; however, due to a limited number of slots available, places will be limited to the papers selected by the workshop organizing committee.
All meals, as well as pre-and post-workshop reception, will be provided by the organizing committee. Participants must, however, cover their own travel and accommodation costs. Financial support is available through the provision of a limited number of bursaries. This is a needs-based scheme; recognizing that limited financial means can be the result of many factors, we therefore encourage in particular applications from PhD students, post-docs, and those from under-represented groups (including but not limited to, gender, identity, ethnicity, etc.), and/or geographic areas. Details of the bursary, as well as further logistical details, will be made available to successful applicants.
Manuscript submission information:
DEADLINE, SUBMISSION, AND REVIEW PROCESS
Workshop
Authors who wish to participate in the pre-submission workshop in Hong Kong should send an extended abstract through this link by August 31, 2025. Extended abstracts should be no more than 10 pages double-spaced, excluding tables, figures, and references. We will notify selected authors of their inclusion in the workshop by September 20, 2025.
Special Issue
Manuscripts will be submitted via established Research Policy protocols through Editorial Manager: https://www.editorialmanager.com/respol/. The submission system will open on June 1, 2026, and manuscripts received through July 15, 2026 (Midnight, GMT) will receive full consideration on a rolling basis. Please ensure manuscripts conform to the standard Research Policy Author Guidelines: https://www.elsevier.com/journals/research-policy/0048-7333/guide-for-authors. All papers will be reviewed according to the standard policies of Research Policy. Authors invited to Revise and Resubmit after the first or second round of reviews will be invited to participate in an additional paper development workshop (PDW) in which they can present and give feedback on each other’s papers. This event will take place presumably in July 2027 and aims to ensure overall coherence of the Special Issue. It is anticipated that the Special Issue will be published at the beginning of 2028.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For questions regarding the content of this Special Issue, please contact the guest editors:
• Gino Cattani, gc59@stern.nyu.edu
• Simone Ferriani, simone.ferriani@unibo.it or simone.ferriani.2@city.ac.uk
• Monika Kackovic, m.kackovic@uva.nl
• Kirstin Martinus, kirsten.martinus@uwa.edu.au
For questions about the paper development workshop, please contact Simone Ferriani.
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