Chapter 11: Dark Side of Innovations and Sustainability in South Asia

This chapter aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the dark side of innovations and sustainability in the South Asian region.

The researcher employed a multi-methods research approach as its research choice. Accordingly, a systematic literature review (SLR) using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) model and qualitative interviews were used in this study. The study's final sample is composed of 34 studies for the SLR and purposively selected 10 in-depth interviews under the qualitative phase.

The study identifies innovation as playing a significant role in the growth and development of South Asian countries, but at the same time, the study notes that innovation comes with negative impacts on the environment, exploitation of resources and displacement of people. The chapter is primarily devoted to innovation; its advantages and disadvantages are described concerning case studies. They point out where particular deficiencies in policy and governance perpetuate these problems and where much more has to be done to achieve better sustainable innovation.

The present study has implications for South Asian policymakers, businesses and communities. Strict regulating measures, a code of ethics and cooperation with other business parties are significant to guarantee that innovative impact on sustainability will be required.

The research's multi-methods nature and its focus on exemplary cases bring novelty and richness to the extant literature about innovation and sustainability.