Abstract

Sustainable innovation has emerged as a critical imperative in addressing contemporary global challenges, yet its conceptualization has predominantly relied on technological and economic perspectives, often neglecting the profound contributions of humanities and social sciences. This review examines humanities-driven approaches to sustainable innovation, emphasizing the integration of cultural dimensions, ethical considerations, and societal values within innovation frameworks. The study explores theoretical models that position culture, technology, and society as interconnected domains requiring holistic and participatory methodologies. Key conceptual frameworks discussed include socio-technical systems theory, transition management, participatory action research, and critical innovation studies, which collectively underscore the importance of human-centered and context-sensitive approaches. The article analyzes major application areas including policy formulation, urban planning, educational reform, and community-based innovation systems, demonstrating how humanities perspectives enhance the sustainability and social legitimacy of innovation processes. Methodological approaches spanning ethnographic research, discourse analysis, and transdisciplinary collaboration are examined for their capacity to address complex sustainability challenges. The review identifies persistent challenges including disciplinary silos, power asymmetries in participatory processes, and the need for more robust evaluation metrics that capture cultural and social impacts. Future research directions emphasize the development of integrative frameworks that reconcile technological efficiency with cultural preservation, social equity, and environmental stewardship, positioning humanities scholarship as essential to achieving genuinely sustainable and socially just innovation pathways.