{{Short description|Practices aiming to meet social needs}} {{Multiple issues| {{Copy edit|date=February 2026}} {{Tone|date=February 2026}} }}
'''Social innovations''' are new social practices that aim to meet [[social]] needs in a better way than the existing solutions,<ref name="sfs.tu-dortmund.de">{{cite journal |last1=Howaldt |first1=J. |last2=Schwarz |first2=M. |url=http://www.sfs.tu-dortmund.de/cms/en/social_innovation/publications/IMO-MAG_Howaldt_final_mit_cover.pdf |title=Social Innovation: Concepts, research fields and international trends |journal=IMO International Monitoring |year=2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=do Adro |first1=Francisco |last2=Fernandes |first2=Cristina I. |title=Social innovation: a systematic literature review and future agenda research |journal=International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing |date=2020 |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=23–40 |doi=10.1007/s12208-019-00241-3|s2cid=255527398 |doi-access=free |hdl=10400.6/14077 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Satalkina |first1=Liliya |last2=Steiner |first2=Gerald |title=Social Innovation: A Retrospective Perspective |journal=[[Minerva (Springer journal)|Minerva]] |date=2022 |volume=60 |issue=4 |pages=567–591 |doi=10.1007/s11024-022-09471-y |pmid=35855418 |pmc=9283819 |doi-access=free}}</ref> resulting from – for example – [[working condition]]s, [[education]], [[community development]] or [[health]]. These ideas are created with the goal of extending and strengthening [[civil society]]. Social innovation includes the social ''processes'' of [[innovation]], such as [[open source]] methods and techniques and also the innovations which have a [[social purpose]]—like [[activism]], [[crowdfunding]], [[time-based currency]], [[telehealth]], [[cohousing]], [[coworking]], [[universal basic income]], [[collaborative consumption]], [[social enterprise]], [[participatory budgeting]], [[repair Café]], [[virtual volunteering]], [[microcredit]], or [[Distance education|distance learning]]. There are many definitions of social innovation, however, they usually include the broad criteria about social objectives, social interaction between actors or actor diversity, social outputs, and innovativeness (The innovation should be at least "new" to the beneficiaries it targets, but it does not have to be new to the world). Different definitions include different combinations and different number of these criteria (e.g. [[EU]] is using definition, stressing out social objectives and actors interaction).<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Milosevic N, Gok A, Nenadic G | title = Natural Language Processing and Information Systems | chapter = Classification of Intangible Social Innovation Concepts | volume = 10859 | pages = 407–418 | date = June 2018 | doi = 10.1007/978-3-319-91947-8_42 | series = Lecture Notes in Computer Science | publisher = Springer | location = Cham | isbn = 978-3-319-91946-1 | s2cid = 43955397 }}</ref> Transformative social innovation not only introduces new approaches to seemingly intractable problems, but is successful in changing the social institutions that created the problem in the first place.<ref name="Westley Patton Zimmerman 2006 " />
According to Herrero de Egaña B., '''social innovation''' is defined as "new or novel ways that society has to deal with Relevant Social Challenges (RSCh), that are more effective, efficient and sustainable or that generate greater impact than the previous ones and that contribute to making it stronger and more articulated".<ref>{{cite journal|access-date=24 May 2022|last=Herrero de Egaña|date=2018|first=Blanca|periodical=Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid|title=La Innovación Social en España: Ejes vertebradores desde la Teoría Fundamentada|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339799564}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
Prominent innovators associated with the term include Pakistani [[Akhter Hameed Khan]], Bangladeshi [[Muhammad Yunus (economist)|Muhammad Yunus]], the founder of [[Grameen Bank]] which pioneered the concept of [[microcredit]] for supporting innovations in many developing countries such as [[Asia]], [[Africa]] and [[Latin America]],<ref>{{cite book| last1=Domanski | first1=Dmitri | last2=Monge | first2=Nicolás | last3=Quitiaquez V. | first3=Germán A. | last4=Rocha | first4=Daniel|title=Innovación Social en Latinoamérica|date=2016|publisher=Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios|isbn=978-958-763-196-8 |language=es|url=http://sfs.tu-dortmund.de/Publikationen/Innovacion_Social_en_Latinoamerica.pdf}}</ref> and inspired programs like the [[Jindal Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship]] and Infolady Social Entrepreneurship Programme<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/global-news/asia/bangladesh/3284-internet-info-ladies.html |title=Internet rolls into Bangladesh villages on a bike |publisher=Asafeworldforwomen.org |access-date=2014-05-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://amaderkotha.com.bd/2012/11/08/info-ladies-riding-internet-into-rural-bangladesh |title=Info Ladies – Riding Internet into Rural Bangladesh! |publisher=Amader Kotha |date=2012-11-08 |access-date=2014-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317182454/http://amaderkotha.com.bd/2012/11/08/info-ladies-riding-internet-into-rural-bangladesh/ |archive-date=2014-03-17 }}</ref> of Dnet (A Social Enterprise).
== Definitions == [[Geoff Mulgan]] defines social innovation as consisting of "activities and services that are motivated by the goal of meeting a social need and that are predominantly developed and diffused through organisations whose primary purposes are social."<ref name=":0" /> Social innovation is understood in contrast to business innovation, which is aimed at profit maximization. The [[European Commission]] cites it as "another way to produce value, with less focus on financial profit and more on real demands or needs."<ref>{{Cite book |last=European |first=Commission |title=Community-Led Local Development: Cohesion Policy 2014–2020 |publisher=European Commission |year=2014 |location=Brussels}}</ref> More specifically, it defines social innovation as comprising "innovations that are social in both their ends and their means. They are innovations that are not only good for society but also enhance individuals' capacity to act."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Commission |first=European |title=EaSI: New EU Umbrella Programme for Employment and Social Policy |publisher=European Commission |year=2013 |location=Brussels}}</ref>
==Focus and application== Social innovation has an inter-sectoral approach and is universally applicable.<ref>{{cite book| last1=Howaldt | last2=Kaletka | last3=Schröder| last4=Zirngiebl |title= Atlas of Social Innovation. New Practices for a Better Future |date=2018|publisher= Sozialforschungsstelle, TU Dortmund University |isbn= 978-3-921823-96-5 |url= https://www.socialinnovationatlas.net/}}</ref> Social innovations are launched by a variety of actors, including research institutions, companies and independent organizations, which tend to use their respective definitions of Social Innovation. Therefore, it is worth discussing what distinguishes it from other forms of social work or [[innovation]].
Social innovation focuses on the process of innovation, how innovation and change take shape (as opposed to the more traditional definition of innovation, giving priority to the internal organization of firms and their productivity). It likewise centers on new work and new forms of cooperation (business models),<ref name="Klievink Janssen 2014 pp. 240–249">{{cite journal | last1=Klievink | first1=Bram | last2=Janssen | first2=Marijn | title=Developing Multi-Layer Information Infrastructures: Advancing Social Innovation through Public–Private Governance | journal=Information Systems Management | publisher=Informa UK Limited | volume=31 | issue=3 | date=2014-07-03 | issn=1058-0530 | doi=10.1080/10580530.2014.923268 | pages=240–249| s2cid=12643830 | doi-access=free | url=https://repository.tudelft.nl/islandora/object/uuid%3A5bbb7f8a-1838-4e2c-824e-48f1ef3064fc/datastream/OBJ/download }}</ref> especially on those that work towards the attainment of a sustainable society.
Social innovation can take place within [[government]]; the for-profit sector, the [[nonprofit]] sector (also known as the third sector), or in the spaces between them. Higher education institutions, such as the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation, Cambridge Judge Business School, [[University of Cambridge]], leverage the power of research to support this aim. Research has focused on the types of platforms needed to facilitate such cross-sector collaborative social innovation.<ref>{{cite report | last1=Howaldt | last2=Kaletka | last3=Schröder | last4=Rehfeld | last5=Terstriep |title= Mapping the World of Social Innovation Key Results of a Comparative Analysis of 1.005 Social Innovation Initiatives at a Glance |date=2016|publisher=SI-DRIVE Project |url=https://www.si-drive.eu/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/SI-DRIVE-CA-short-2016-11-30-Druckversion.pdf}}</ref> Historical studies suggest that transforming any system may take many years, and requires not only the capacity for multiple partnerships, but also for engaging policy, legal and economic institutions.<ref>{{harvnb| Westley | McGowan | Tjörnbo | 2017}}</ref>
[[Social entrepreneurship]], like social enterprise, is typically in the nonprofit sector excluding both for-profit and public organizations. Both social entrepreneurship and social enterprise are important contributions to social innovation by creating social value and introducing new ways of achieving goals. Social entrepreneurship brings "new patterns and possibilities for innovation" and are willing to do things that existing organizations are not willing to do.<ref name="James A 2008">{{cite journal | last1=Phills Jr. | first1=James A. | last2=Deiglmeier | first2=Kriss | last3=Miller | first3=Dale T. | title=Rediscovering Social Innovation | journal=Stanford Social Innovation Review | date=2008 | volume=6 | issue=4 | doi=10.48558/GBJY-GJ47 | pages=34–43 | url=https://ssir.org/articles/entry/rediscovering_social_innovation}}</ref>
Social innovation success is often shaped by strategic alliances.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Le Ber |first1=Marlene J. |last2=Branzei |first2=Oana |date=March 2010 |title=(Re)Forming Strategic Cross-Sector Partnerships: Relational Processes of Social Innovation |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0007650309345457 |journal=Business & Society |language=en |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=140–172 |doi=10.1177/0007650309345457 |s2cid=153872194 |issn=0007-6503|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Those startups motivated by a social mission can improve their business performance via equity and non-equity strategic alliances, to enhance growth and foster social innovation. However, [[sustainable growth]] requires to attract the right investments at the right stage of development of the startup. Cacciolatti et al. (2020) developed a framework based on international business theory to explain the mechanisms regulating strategic alliances and firm performance in the context of startups with a social mission.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Cacciolatti|first1=Luca|last2=Rosli|first2=Ainurul|last3=Ruiz-Alba|first3=José L.|last4=Chang|first4=Jane|date=2020-01-01|title=Strategic alliances and firm performance in startups with a social mission|url=https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/download/7e74311730fa0b704be20f98134ef71821fdc83a62ef344c78480f131921f528/338124/manuscript_for_repository%2023.9.19.pdf|journal=Journal of Business Research|language=en|volume=106|pages=106–117|doi=10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.08.047|s2cid=203493041 |issn=0148-2963}}</ref>
Social innovation is often an effort of mental [[creativity]] which involves fluency and flexibility from a wide range of disciplines. The act of social innovation in a sector is mostly connected with diverse disciplines within the society. The social innovation theory of 'connected difference' emphasizes three key dimensions to social innovation.<ref name=":0">{{cite report |last1=Mulgan |first1=Geoff |first2=Simon |last2=Tucker |first3=Rushanara |last3=Ali |first4=Ben |last4=Sanders| title=Social Innovation: What It Is, Why It Matters and How It Can Be Accelerated | year=2007 | url=http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/centres/skoll/research/Pages/socialinnovationpaper.aspx | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902021840/http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/centres/skoll/research/Pages/socialinnovationpaper.aspx | archive-date=2012-09-02 |isbn=978-1-905551-03-3}}</ref> First, innovations are usually new combinations or hybrids of existing elements, rather than completely new. Second, their practice involves cutting across organizational or disciplinary boundaries. Lastly, they leave behind compelling new relationships between previously separate individuals and groups.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Nambisan | first=Satish | title=Platforms for Collaboration | journal=Stanford Social Innovation Review | date=2009 | volume=7 | issue=3 | doi=10.48558/48MV-NK43 | pages=44–49 | url=https://ssir.org/articles/entry/platforms_for_collaboration }}</ref> Social innovation is also gaining visibility within academia.<ref name="sfs.tu-dortmund.de"/>
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, far-reaching investments in scientific research and community infrastructure laid the groundwork for many social and economic improvements in society. Despite the challenges of [[industrialisation]], optimism about the power of technology to promote positive change created momentum for social innovation projects in healthcare, housing, sanitation, public infrastructure, communication, and transportation.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Halvorson, M. J. |author2=Kurtz, S. C.|title=This Little World: A How-To Guide for Social Innovators. |date=2024 | publisher=Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon|isbn= 978-1-032-70892-8}}</ref>
Since 2014, a subdomain of social innovation has been defined in relation to the introduction of digital technologies. The subdomain is called digital social innovation and refers to "a type of social and collaborative innovation in which innovators, users and communities collaborate using digital technologies to co-create knowledge and solutions for a wide range of social needs and at a scale and speed that was unimaginable before the rise of the Internet".<ref>{{cite book |first=Francesca |last=Bria| title=Growing a digital social innovation ecosystem for Europe: DSI final report. |date=2015 | publisher=Publications Office | doi=10.2759/448169 | url=https://media.nesta.org.uk/documents/dsireport.pdf|isbn= 978-92-79-45603-9}}</ref>
==History== Social innovation was discussed in the writings of figures such as [[Peter Drucker]] and [[Michael Young, Baron Young of Dartington|Michael Young]] (founder of the [[Open University]] and dozens of other organizations) in the 1960s.<ref>see for example Gavron, Dench e ds ''Young at 80'', Carcanet Press, London, 1995 for a comprehensive overview of one of the world's most successful social innovators</ref> It also appeared in the work of French writers in the 1970s, such as [[Pierre Rosanvallon]], [[Jacques Fournier (writer)|Jacques Fournier]], and [[Jacques Attali]].<ref>{{cite book | last1=Chambon | first1=J.L. | last2=David | first2=A. | last3=Devevey | first3=J.M. | title=Les innovations sociales | publisher=Presses universitaires de France | series=Que sais - je? : Collection encyclopedique | year=1982 | isbn=978-2-13-037388-9 | language=fr}}</ref> However, the themes and concepts in social innovation existed long before. [[Benjamin Franklin]], for example, talked about small modifications within the social organization of communities<ref>{{cite journal|title=Social Innovation: Ten Cases from Benjamin Franklin |journal=Creativity Research Journal |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=253–266 |date=2002 |doi=10.1207/S15326934CRJ1402_11 |last1 = Mumford|first1 = Michael D.|s2cid=143550175 }}</ref> that could help to solve everyday problems. Many radical 19th century [[reform]]ers like [[Robert Owen]], founder of the cooperative movement, promoted innovation in the social field and all of the great sociologists including [[Karl Marx]], [[Max Weber]] and [[Émile Durkheim]] focused attention on broader processes of [[social change]]. In recent years, the work of [[Gabriel Tarde]] on the concept of imitation has been rediscovered by social scientists in order to better understand social innovation and its relation to social change.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Howaldt|last2=Kopp|last3=Schwarz |title= On the theory of social innovations: Tarde's neglected contribution to the development of a sociological innovation theory |date=2015|publisher=Beltz Juventa |isbn=978-3-7799-2727-3 |url= https://www.ssoar.info/ssoar/bitstream/handle/document/41963/ssoar-2015-howaldt_et_al-On_the_theory_of_social.pdf?sequence=1}}</ref> Other theories of innovation became prominent in the 20th century, many of which had social implications, without putting social progress at the center of the theory. [[Joseph Schumpeter]], for example, addressed the process of [[innovation]] directly with his theory of [[creative destruction]] and his definition of entrepreneurs as people who combined existing elements in new ways to create a new product or service. Beginning in the 1980s, writers on technological change increasingly addressed how social factors affect technology diffusion.<ref>notably in the writings of [[Christopher Freeman]], Carlotta Perez, Ian Miles and others</ref>
The article "Rediscovering Social Innovation" mentions how social innovations are dependent on history and the change in institutions. The article discusses the ten recent social innovations reflecting current change to include: * '''[[Charter school]]s''' and other educational initiatives: Charter schools are a social innovation that provides an alternative avenue for students to continue to develop and build upon their educational foundation without many of the issues prominent in the public school system. These primary and secondary schools are publicly funded and operate independently, which allows the teachers and parents to collaboratively develop alternative teaching methods for their students as related regulations are less stringent for Charter Schools.<ref name="James A 2008"/> Other educational initiatives include institutions such as the West Philadelphia Community Free School, operated by the School District of Philadelphia's experimental Office of Innovative Programs from 1969 to 1978.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nichols |first1=T. |last2=Maton |first2=R. |last3=Simon |first3=E. |title=Opposing Innovations: Race and Reform in the West Philadelphia Community Free School, 1969-1978 |journal=History of Education Quarterly |date=May 2023 |volume=63 |issue=2 |pages=221–242|doi=10.1017/heq.2023.11 |s2cid=258190134 |doi-access=free }}</ref> * '''Community-centered planning:''' This social innovation allows communities to plan and develop systems that cater solutions to their specific local needs by using their historical knowledge and other local resources.<ref name="James A 2008"/> * '''[[Emissions trading]]:''' The Emissions Trading program was designed to address issues associated with the continuous increase in pollution. The program provides solutions such as setting a cap on the amount that certain pollutants can be emitted, and implementing a permit system to control the amount of pollution produced by each participating business. If a business needs to use more pollution than permitted, it can purchase credits from a business that has not emitted its maximum permitted amount. The goal of the Emissions Trading program is that, over time and with increased awareness, society will limit the types and the numbers of pollutants emitted to what is only necessary.<ref name="James A 2008"/> * '''[[Fair trade]]:''' Products including coffee, sugar, and chocolate are currently being traded without high standards that result in tough conditions for farmers and a less sustainable environment. Fair trade is a movement that certifies traders to exchange with the farmers that produce these products. The idea behind this movement is that by being paid a living-wage, being able to meet social and environmental standards and promoting "environmental sustainability, the lives of these farmers will be improved.<ref name="James A 2008"/> * '''[[Habitat conservation]] plans:''' Habitat Conservation Plans is an effort by the [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service|US Fish and Wild Life Service]] and the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] to protect species and their endangerment by providing economical incentives to conserve their habitats and protect these species from endangerment.<ref name="James A 2008"/> * '''Individual Development Accounts:''' This social innovation is made to support the working poor with saving decisions that they have made to better enhance their lives. This initiative will give $2 per every $1 saved by the working poor for College tuition, purchasing a home, starting a business, and other similar and productive initiatives. This is made possible by philanthropic, government and corporate sponsors that donate to this cause.<ref name="James A 2008"/> * '''International [[labor standards]]:''' Labor standards differ country-to-country, with some agreeably better than others. In effort to internationally align these, the International Labor Organization, participating governments, and employees contributed to the development of standards that protect workers' rights to freedom, equity, security, and human dignity".<ref name="James A 2008"/> * '''[[Microfinance]]:''' This social innovation is created to support those financially unable to gain access to financial services such as banking, lending, and insurance. The ultimate goal of Microfinance is to enable an escape from poverty by helping to improve the living conditions and financial viability among the impoverished program participants.<ref name="James A 2008"/> * '''[[Socially responsible investing]]:''' "An investment strategy that attempts to maximize both financial and social returns. Investors generally favor businesses and other organizations whose practices support environmental sustainability, human rights, and consumer protection."<ref name="James A 2008"/> * '''[[Supported employment]]:''' Supported employment is a social innovation geared towards helping disabled or disadvantaged workers who are un- or under-employed due to their condition obtain suitable employment. The Support Employment service provides access to job coaches, transportation, assistive technology, specialized job training, and individual tailored supervision in effort to help program participants become more competitive applicants and better prepared overall for the job market.<ref name="James A 2008"/>
== Developments since 2000 == Academic research, [[blogs]] and websites feature social innovation, along with organizations working on the boundaries of research and practical action. Topics include:
* '''Innovation in public services''' was pioneered particularly in some [[Scandinavia]]n and [[List of Asian countries|Asian countries]]. Governments are increasingly recognizing that innovation requires [[healthcare]], schooling and [[democracy]].<ref>{{cite report |first1=Geoff |last1=Mulgan |first2=David |last2=Albury|url=http://www.strategy.gov.uk/downloads/files/pubinov2.pdf |title=Innovation in the Public Sector |date=October 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927025501/http://www.strategy.gov.uk/downloads/files/pubinov2.pdf |archive-date=2006-09-27 |publisher=Strategy Unit, Cabinet Office}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |last=Mulgan |first=Geoff| title=Ready or not: Taking innovation in the public sector seriously | publisher=nesta | date=2007-04-01 | url=https://media.nesta.org.uk/documents/ready_or_not.pdf}}</ref> * [[Social entrepreneurship]], which is the practice of creating new organizations focusing on non-market activities.<ref>{{cite book |last=Nicholls |title=Social Entrepreneurship |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-19-928387-3}}</ref> * [[Responsible Research and Innovation]], which takes into account effects and potential impacts on the environment and society. It includes Engagement of all societal actors (researchers, industry, policymakers and civil society); [[Gender equality|Gender Equality]]; Science Education; Open Access; Ethics; and Governance. * '''Online volunteering''', a free service launched in 2000 whereby individuals from all over the world contribute to the needs of development organizations and public institutions<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home {{!}} UNV Online Volunteering service|url=https://www.onlinevolunteering.org/en|access-date=2021-06-14|website=www.onlinevolunteering.org|language=en|archive-date=2008-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028092911/http://www.onlinevolunteering.org/}}</ref> * '''[[Open source]]''' innovation, in which the intellectual property involved in a product or service is made freely available.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/5544.html |title=Innovation in open source |website=harvard business school|date=20 November 2006 }}</ref> * '''[[Complex adaptive system]]s''', which have built-in mechanisms to help them adapt to changing circumstances.<ref name="Westley Patton Zimmerman 2006">{{harvnb| Westley | Patton | Zimmerman | 2006 }}</ref> * '''Collaborative approaches''' which involve [[Stakeholder (corporate)|stakeholder]]s who are not directly responsible for some activity, such as stockholders and unions collaborating on business issue and business collaborating with government on regulatory issues.<ref name="Klievink Janssen 2014 pp. 240–249" /><ref>{{cite web | title=Transforming Government Through Collaborative Innovation | website=IBM Center for The Business of Government | date=2009-03-12 | url=https://www.businessofgovernment.org/report/transforming-government-through-collaborative-innovation}}</ref><ref name="James A 2008"/> * '''[[Innovation diffusion]]'''<ref>various studies by Greg Dees and others and the study published by NESTA ''In and out of sync: growing social innovations, London 2007''</ref> *'''Localized influences''' that make some localities particularly innovative.<ref>''Transfomers'' published by NESTA, London, 2008</ref> * '''Institutional or system entrepreneurship''' which focuses on agents who work at a broad system level in order to create the conditions which will allow innovations to have a lasting impact.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Westley |first1=Frances R. |first2=Ola |last2=Tjornbo |first3=Lisen |last3=Schultz |first4=Per |last4=Olsson |first5=Carl |last5=Folke |first6=Beatrice |last6=Crona |first7=Örjan |last7=Bodin|year= 2013 |title=A Theory of Transformational agency in Linked Social Ecological Systems |journal=Ecology and Society |volume=18 |issue=3 |doi=10.5751/ES-05072-180327 |jstor=26269375|doi-access=free |hdl=10535/9134 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> * '''Business''', particularly in services.<ref>{{cite web | last=Riper | first=Tom Van | title=Designing Companies | website=Forbes | date=2006-05-08 | url=https://www.forbes.com/2006/05/08/innovation-design-services-cx_tvr_0508design.html}} article by Forbes magazine about how companies are innovating in the way they offer services</ref> * '''Public health innovation''' and co-design of equity centered health<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bazzano |first1=Alessandra N. |last2=Martin |first2=Jane |last3=Hicks |first3=Elaine |last4=Faughnan |first4=Maille |last5=Murphy |first5=Laura |date=2017 |title=Human-centred design in global health: A scoping review of applications and contexts |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=12 |issue=11 |article-number=e0186744 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0186744 |doi-access=free |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=5665524 |pmid=29091935|bibcode=2017PLoSO..1286744B }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tucker |first1=Joseph D. |last2=Manderson |first2=Lenore |last3=Amazigo |first3=Uche |last4=Alger |first4=Jackeline |last5=Chen |first5=Elizabeth |last6=Labarda |first6=Meredith |last7=Kpokiri |first7=Eneyi |last8=Dako-Gyeke |first8=Phyllis |last9=Peeling |first9=Rosanna W. |last10=Cuervo |first10=Luis Gabriel |last11=Halpaap |first11=Beatrice |date=2022-07-01 |title=Social innovation in health: concepts and practice |url=https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/4666876/7/Tucker_etal_2022_Social-innovation-in-health-concepts.pdf |journal=BMJ Innovations |language=en |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=133–136 |doi=10.1136/bmjinnov-2022-000982 |issn=2055-8074}}</ref> * '''Social innovation in tourism development''', which involve creation of innovative and appropriate development strategies to involve local communities as a key agent in the decision-making and planning of tourism destinations.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Malek | first1=Anahita | last2=Costa | first2=Carlos | title=Integrating Communities into Tourism Planning Through Social Innovation | journal=Tourism Planning & Development | publisher=Informa UK Limited | volume=12 | issue=3 | date=2014-09-03 | issn=2156-8316 | doi=10.1080/21568316.2014.951125 | pages=281–299| hdl=11328/1169 | s2cid=73557415 | hdl-access=free }}</ref>
===Institutional support=== The [[United States]] created an Office for Social Innovation in the [[White House]], which is funding projects that combine public and private resources.<ref name=economist810/> with foundations that support social innovation.<ref>{{cite web | title=Capital Ideas (July 2010) | website= The Young Foundation | date=2010-07-06 | url=http://www.youngfoundation.org/publications/reports/capital-ideas-july-2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706224459/http://www.youngfoundation.org/publications/reports/capital-ideas-july-2010 | archive-date=2010-07-06 }}</ref> In 2010, the [[Federal government of the United States|US government]] listed 11 investments made by its '[[Social Innovation Fund]]', with public funding more than matched by philanthropic organizations. This fund focuses on partnerships with charities, [[social enterprise]]s, and business.<ref name="economist810">{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/briefing/2010/08/12/lets-hear-those-ideas |title=Let's hear those ideas |date=August 12, 2010 |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=December 28, 2010}}</ref> Moreover, educational institutions are now increasingly supporting teaching and research in the area of social innovation. In addition to pioneered efforts by institutions such as the [[Harvard Business School|Harvard Business School's]] Initiative on Social Enterprise (launched 1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hbs.edu/socialenterprise/ |title=The Social Enterprise Initiative at Harvard Business School |publisher=Hbs.edu |access-date=2014-05-22}}</ref> and [[Saïd Business School|Said Business School]]'s [[Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship]] (launched 2003),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/ideas-impact/skoll |title=The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, Said Business School, University of Oxford |publisher=Sbs.ox.ac.uk |access-date=2014-05-22}}</ref> INSEAD<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insead.edu/facultyresearch/centres/social_entrepreneurship/ |title=INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme |publisher=Insead.edu |access-date=2014-05-22}}</ref> and other universities now offer short-term programs in Social Innovation, and a few such as [https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/programmes/professional-practice/mst-social-innovation/ Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge], and [[Goldsmiths, University of London]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gold.ac.uk/pg/ma-social-entrepreneurship/ |title=The Goldsmiths MA Programme in Social Entrepreneurship, University of London |publisher=Gold.ac.uk |date=2014-04-16 |access-date=2014-05-22}}</ref> offer Masters courses dedicated entirely to the study of theory and practice in relation to social entrepreneurship and innovation. The Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation's aim is to build best practices across business, civil society, policy and academia for a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable world.
Public policy makers support social innovation in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], [[Australia]], [[China]] and [[Denmark]], as well.<ref>Mulgan, Ali, Tucker; ''Social innovation: what it is, why it matters, how it can be accelerated, published by Said Business School, Oxford, 2007''</ref> The [[European Union]]'s innovation strategy<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm |title=Home page - Innovation Union - European Commission |publisher=Ec.europa.eu |date=2014-05-13 |access-date=2014-05-22}}</ref> was the first well-funded research and development strategy to emphasize social innovation.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Open Book of Social Innovation (March 2010) |website= The Young Foundation | date=2010-05-07 | url=http://www.youngfoundation.org/publications/reports/the-open-book-social-innovation-march-2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008044055/http://www.youngfoundation.org/publications/reports/the-open-book-social-innovation-march-2010 | archive-date=2010-10-08 }}</ref>
In 2002, the [[South Australia]]n government, led by Premier and Social Inclusion Minister [[Mike Rann]], embraced a ten-year social innovation strategy with big investments and a focus on reform in areas such as [[homelessness]], school retention, [[mental health]] and disability services.
The Common Ground<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.commonground.org.au | title=Common Ground Home}}</ref> and Street to Home homelessness initiatives and the Australian Centre for Social Innovation<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://tacsi.org.au/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=The Australian Centre for Social Innovation|language=en}}</ref> were established in [[Adelaide]] and many reforms trialed in South Australia have been adopted nationally throughout [[Australia]]. This initiative, headed by Monsignor [[David Cappo]], South Australia's Social Inclusion Commissioner, was advised by 'Thinkers in Residence' [[Geoff Mulgan]] and [[New York City|New York]] social entrepreneur [[Rosanne Haggerty]].
== Role in curbing corruption == Lin and Chen, in "The Impact of Societal and Social innovation: a case-based approach" have argued that social innovation's goal is to produce actions that are "socially valuable and good for many".<ref name=":10">{{cite book | last1=Lin | first1=Carol Yeh-Yun | last2=Chen | first2=Jeffrey | title=The impact of societal and social innovation: a case-based approach | publisher=Springer | publication-place=Singapore | date=2016-08-17 | isbn=978-981-10-1766-7 |oclc=956953682}}</ref>
In governance, its main role is to enhance and maximize the trust of citizens through active involvement in society, whether in the public or private sphere.<ref name=":10" /> Social innovation's role in curbing corruption is carried out through two main mediums. Firstly, it is institutionalized through actors (in the public and the private sectors), and secondly, it is executed with new tools available, specifically ICTs.
==Local and regional development== Literature on social innovation in relation to territorial/[[Regional development|regional]] development covers innovation in the [[social economy]], i.e. strategies for satisfaction of human needs; and innovation in the sense of transforming and/or sustaining [[social relations]], especially [[governance]] relations at the regional and local level. Beginning in the late 1980s, Jean-Louis Laville and [[Frank Moulaert]] researched social innovation.<ref name="Laville, J 1994">{{cite book |editor-last=Laville |editor-first=J.-L. |year=1994 |title=L'économie solidaire, une perspective internationale, Desclée de Brouwer, Paris}}</ref><ref name="Taylorandfrancis.metapress.com">{{cite journal|url=http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&eissn=1360-0591&volume=37&issue=3&spage=289 |author1=Moulaert, F. |author2=Sekia, F. |year=2003 |title=Territorial Innovation Models: a Critical Survey |journal=Regional Studies |volume=37 |issue=3 |pages=289–302 |doi=10.1080/0034340032000065442 |bibcode=2003RegSt..37..289M |s2cid=15838198 |via=Taylorandfrancis.metapress.com |access-date=2014-05-22|url-access=subscription }}</ref> In [[Canada]] CRISES<ref name="CRISES">{{Cite web|url=https://crises.uqam.ca/actualites/en-deux-mois-le-pacte-a-deja-touche-1500-personnes/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214164731/http://www.crises.uqam.ca/pages/en/|title=En deux mois, le Pacte a déjà touché 1500 personnes – CRISES UQAM|archive-date=December 14, 2007}}</ref> initiated this type of research. Another, larger project was SINGOCOM<ref name="users.skynet.be">{{cite book | title=Social innovation, governance and community building: SINGOCOM. | publisher=Publications Office | doi=10.2777/24171 | url=https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/24171 |year=2007 | author1=European Commission. Directorate General for Research. | isbn=978-92-79-07788-3 }}</ref> a [[European Commission]] [[FP5|Framework 5]] project, which pioneered so-called "Alternative Models for Local Innovation" (ALMOLIN). These models were further elaborated through community actions covered by KATARSIS<ref name="KATARSIS Homepage">{{cite web|url=http://katarsis.ncl.ac.uk/ |title=KATARSIS Homepage |publisher=Katarsis.ncl.ac.uk |date=2009-10-07 |access-date=2014-05-22}}</ref> and SOCIAL POLIS.<ref name="Social Polis">{{cite web|url=https://www.socialpolis.eu/ |title=Social Polis |publisher=Socialpolis.eu |access-date=2014-05-22}}</ref> More recent works focus on the societal role of the economic life in terms of innovations in social practices and social relations at the local and regional levels. Social Innovation, therefore, is increasingly seen as a process and a strategy to foster human development through solidarity, cooperation, and [[cultural diversity]].<ref name="MacCallum, D. 2009">{{cite book | last=MacCallum | first=Diana | title=Social Innovation and Territorial Development | publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. | publication-place=Farnham Burlington, VT | date=2009 | isbn=978-0-7546-7233-3}}</ref><ref name="Masselin">{{cite web|last=Masselin |first=Matthieu |url=https://www.paristechreview.com/2011/12/16/social-innovation-future-economy/ |title=''Is Social Innovation the Future of Economy?'', ParisTech Review, Dec. 2011 |publisher=Paristechreview.com |access-date=2014-05-22}}</ref>
The EU funded URBACT programme is designed to help cities to exchange and learn around urban policies. The URBACT methodology can be seen as a social innovation action planning approach. A typical URBACT network would have ten cities working on a specific theme such as active inclusion or regenerating disadvantaged neighbourhoods. They examine good practice and then working through a local support group use the results to inform their local action plan.<ref>{{cite report |last1=Jégou |first1= F. |first2= M. |last2=Bonneau| title= Social innovation in cities, URBACT II capitalisation | year=2015 | url=http://urbact.eu/sites/default/files/03_socialinn-web.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501041915/http://urbact.eu/sites/default/files/03_socialinn-web.pdf | archive-date=2015-05-01 }}</ref>
The Social Innovation Europe<ref name="Socialinnovationeurope.eu">{{cite web|url=http://socialinnovationeurope.eu |title=Home | Social Innovation Europe |publisher=Socialinnovationeurope.eu |date=2014-05-15 |access-date=2014-05-22}}</ref> initiative, funded by the [[European Commission]]'s [[Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry|Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry]], was set up to map social innovation at a European level, by creating a directory of grass-roots examples of social innovation from across the 27 member states.
The European Commission funded the SELUSI study between 2008 – 2013 that looked at over 550 social ventures and examined how these insights can spark change and innovation at a much larger scale. It looked at business models of social ventures in five countries – UK being one of them – identifying which specific practices evolved by social ventures are particularly successful, and how and by whom – be it social enterprise, public sector body or mainstream business – they can be most effectively scaled-up.
The European Commission has launched a new initiative (project) in 2013 under FP7 funding, with the aim to build a network of incubators for social innovation across regions and countries. This network facilitates identification of 300 social innovation examples and facilitates its scaling. The network is organised in a way to identify new models for scaling of social innovations across various geographical clusters in collaboration with each other, communicating the ideas, finding the tools and funds, developing business plans and models in order to promote the new promising ideas throughout [[Europe]].
* A guide also exists that provides a way to promote social innovations at a local or regional level.<ref name="s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu">{{cite book |title=The Guide to Social Innovation |location=Belgium |publisher=European Commission |year=2013 |url=https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/brochure/social_innovation/social_innovation_2013.pdf }}</ref>
==Some noted scholars== * [[Akhtar Hameed Khan]] * [[Frank Moulaert]] * [[Geoff Mulgan]] * [[Ted London]] * [[Jürgen Howaldt]] * [[Frances Westley]]
==See also== * [[Appropriate technology]] * [[Civil society]] * [[Online volunteering]] * [[Post fordism]] * [[Social capital]] * [[Social entrepreneurship]] * [[Social entrepreneurship in south asia]] * [[Sustainopreneurship]] * [[Technological innovation]]
==References (books)==
*[http://www.europetomorrow.org Europe Tomorrow, (2015) "Europe tour of Social & Environmental innovation".] *[http://www.socialinnovationexchange.org/home Social innovation exchange, (2015) "worldwide social innovation exchange".] * Halvorson, M. J., Kurtz, S. C. (2024). This Little World: A How-To Guide for Social Innovators. Abingdon, UK, and New York: Routledge. * Hubert A. (ed.) (2010). Empowering People, Driving Change: Social Innovation in the European Union. Brussels: BEPA – Bureau of European Policy Advisers. * Kleinert S., Horton R. (2013). Health in Europe – Successes, Failures, and New Challenges. The Lancet, 381: 1073–1074. * Mulgan G., Tucker S., Rushanara A., Sanders B. (2007). Social Innovation. What it is, why it matters and how it can be accelerated. London: The Young Foundation. * Mulgan G. (2019) Social Innovation: how societies find the power to change, Bristol, Policy Press * Murray R., Caulier-Grice J., Mulgan G. (2010). The Open Book of Social Innovation. London: The Young Foundation and Nesta. * {{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FqGdDwAAQBAJ&dq=community+social+innovation%3A+taking+a+long+view+of+community+enterprise&pg=PA145 |last1=Stott |first1=N. |last2=Fava |first2=M. |last3=Slawinski |first3=N. |year=2019 |chapter=Community social innovation: taking a long view on community enterprise |editor-last1=George |editor-first1=G. |editor-last2=Baker |editor-first2=T. |editor-last3=Tracey |editor-first3=P. |editor-last4=Joshi |editor-first4=H. |title=Handbook of inclusive innovation: the role of organizations, markets and communities in social innovation. |location=Cheltenham |publisher=Edward Elgar|isbn=978-1-78643-601-6 }} * {{cite conference | last1=Stott | first1=Neil | last2=Fava | first2=Michelle | last3=Tracey | first3=Paul | last4=Claus | first4=Laura |year=2018 |title=Leading urgent acts of categorisation: the construction of 'community anchor organizations' |conference=Leading Social Innovation Symposium, Academy of Management Annual Meeting, 10–14 August 2018, Chicago, IL, USA}} * {{cite conference | last1=Stott | first1=Neil | last2=Fava | first2=Michelle | last3=Tracey | first3=Paul | last4=Claus | first4=Laura |year=2018 |title=Playing well with others? Community cross-sector work in poor places |conference=Re-thinking Cross-Sector Social Innovation Conference, 6–7 April 2018, Social Innovation and Change Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA, USA}} * {{cite journal | last1=Stott | first1=Neil | last2=Tracey | first2=Paul | title=Organizing and innovating in poor places | journal=Innovation | publisher=Informa UK Limited | volume=20 | issue=1 | date=2017-08-08 | issn=1447-9338 | doi=10.1080/14479338.2017.1358093 | pages=1–17| s2cid=149260490 | url=https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/274521 }} * {{cite journal | last1=Tracey | first1=Paul | last2=Phillips | first2=Nelson | title=Managing the Consequences of Organizational Stigmatization: Identity Work in a Social Enterprise | journal=Academy of Management Journal | publisher=Academy of Management | volume=59 | issue=3 | year=2016 | issn=0001-4273 | doi=10.5465/amj.2013.0483 | pages=740–765| url=https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/254448 | hdl=10044/1/23431 | hdl-access=free }} * {{cite journal | last1=Tracey | first1=Paul | last2=Stott | first2=Neil | title=Social innovation: a window on alternative ways of organizing and innovating | journal=Innovation | publisher=Informa UK Limited | volume=19 | issue=1 | date=2016-12-28 | issn=1447-9338 | doi=10.1080/14479338.2016.1268924 | pages=51–60| s2cid=152240356 | doi-access=free | hdl=11343/238572 | hdl-access=free }} * {{cite book | last1=Westley | first1=Frances | last2=Patton | first2=Michael Quinn | last3=Zimmerman | first3=Brenda | title=Getting to Maybe | date=2006 | publisher=Random House Canada | isbn=0-679-31443-1}} * {{cite book | last1=Westley | first1=F. | last2=McGowan | first2=K. | last3=Tjörnbo | first3=O. | title=The Evolution of Social Innovation: Building Resilience Through Transitions | publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing | year=2017 | isbn=978-1-78643-114-1}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
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[[Category:Civil society]] [[Category:Information society]] [[Category:Innovation]] [[Category:Public administration]] [[Category:Social influence]] [[Category:Social information processing]] [[Category:Social issues]] [[Category:Sociology of technology]] [[Category:Technology in society]]