IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/zbw/efisdi/284388.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Social innovation: (accompanying) instrument for addressing societal challenges?

Author

Listed:
  • Weber, Karl Matthias
  • Giesecke, Susanne
  • Havas, Attila
  • Schartinger, Doris
  • Albiez, Andreas
  • Horak, Sophia
  • Blind, Knut
  • Bodenheimer, Miriam
  • Daimer, Stephanie
  • Shi, Liu
  • Stadler, Maria
  • Schmitz, David

Abstract

The importance of social innovation for overcoming societal challenges is now widely recognised. In addition to their contribution to the transformation of socio-technical systems, they are also assigned an important role in flanking disruptive technological developments and coping with crisis situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the theoretical understanding of social innovations is very heterogeneous, which is detrimental to both the development of measurement concepts and indicators and the well-founded derivation of innovation policy measures. Building on recent research, a conceptual process model of social innovation is developed and subsequently used to analyse four case studies (energy communities, autonomous driving, corona warning app, social housing in Vienna). In addition, the report deals with rationales for justifying state interventions in social innovation, as well as with the use of new policy instruments to support social innovations in four pioneering countries. It also assesses the current state of research on the measurement and indicators of social innovation. It concludes with implications for the research and innovation policy debate in Germany.

Suggested Citation

  • Weber, Karl Matthias & Giesecke, Susanne & Havas, Attila & Schartinger, Doris & Albiez, Andreas & Horak, Sophia & Blind, Knut & Bodenheimer, Miriam & Daimer, Stephanie & Shi, Liu & Stadler, Maria & Sc, 2024. "Social innovation: (accompanying) instrument for addressing societal challenges?," Studien zum deutschen Innovationssystem 10-2024, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Berlin.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:efisdi:284388
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/284388/1/1882324102.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Schot, Johan & Kanger, Laur, 2018. "Deep transitions: Emergence, acceleration, stabilization and directionality," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(6), pages 1045-1059.
    2. Darwis Agustriyana & Gusni & Didi Tarmidi & Dinda Kayani Putri Bestari, 2019. "Organization Culture - Oriented Training Design," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(5), pages 82-91, August.
    3. Fabien Martinez & Patrick O'Sullivan & Mark Smith & Mark Esposito, 2017. "Perspectives on the role of business in social innovation," Post-Print hal-02065937, HAL.
    4. Joanna Morawska-Jancelewicz, 2022. "The Role of Universities in Social Innovation Within Quadruple/Quintuple Helix Model: Practical Implications from Polish Experience," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(3), pages 2230-2271, September.
    5. Andries, Petra & Daou, Alain & Verheyden, Laura, 2019. "Innovation as a vehicle for improving socially vulnerable groups’ access to basic provisions: A research note on the development of a questionnaire module," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 281-288.
    6. Faridah Djellal & Faïz Gallouj, 2012. "Social Innovation and Service Innovation," Springer Books, in: Hans-Werner Franz & Josef Hochgerner & Jürgen Howaldt (ed.), Challenge Social Innovation, edition 127, pages 119-137, Springer.
    7. Faucheux, S. & Nicolaï, I., 2011. "IT for green and green IT: A proposed typology of eco-innovation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(11), pages 2020-2027, September.
    8. Ana Filipa Silva & Luisa Carvalho & María Isabel Sánchez-Hernández, 2021. "Social Innovation: Insights in the Fourth Sector in Portugal," Studies on Entrepreneurship, Structural Change and Industrial Dynamics, in: María Isabel Sánchez-Hernández & Luísa Carvalho & Conceição Rego & Maria Raquel Lucas & Adriana Noro (ed.), Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Fourth Sector, pages 255-281, Springer.
    9. Geoff Mulgan, 2006. "The Process of Social Innovation," Innovations: Technology, Governance, Globalization, MIT Press, vol. 1(2), pages 145-162, April.
    10. Fabien Martinez & Patrick O'Sullivan & Mark Smith & Mark Esposito, 2017. "Perspectives on the role of business in social innovation," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) hal-02065937, HAL.
    11. Jörg Firnkorn & Martin Müller, 2012. "Selling Mobility instead of Cars: New Business Strategies of Automakers and the Impact on Private Vehicle Holding," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(4), pages 264-280, May.
    12. Saras Sarasvathy & Nicholas Dew, 2005. "New market creation through transformation," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 15(5), pages 533-565, November.
    13. Faïz Gallouj & Maria Savona, 2009. "Innovation in services: a review of the debate and a research agenda," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 149-172, April.
    14. Geels, Frank W. & Schot, Johan, 2007. "Typology of sociotechnical transition pathways," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 399-417, April.
    15. Jensen, Morten Berg & Johnson, Bjorn & Lorenz, Edward & Lundvall, Bengt Ake, 2007. "Forms of knowledge and modes of innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 680-693, June.
    16. Richa Kumari & Ki-Seok Kwon & Byeong-Hee Lee & Kiseok Choi, 2019. "Co-Creation for Social Innovation in the Ecosystem Context: The Role of Higher Educational Institutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-21, December.
    17. Susana Borrás & Jakob Edler (ed.), 2014. "The Governance of Socio-Technical Systems," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 16034, December.
    18. Casparus J. A. Machiels & Ulrich R. Orth, 2019. "Multisensory Packaging Design across Cultures," Springer Books, in: Carlos Velasco & Charles Spence (ed.), Multisensory Packaging, chapter 11, pages 287-315, Springer.
    19. Thomä, Jörg & Zimmermann, Volker, 2019. "Non-R&D, interactive learning and economic performance: Revisiting innovation in small and medium enterprises," ifh Working Papers 17/2019, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).
    20. Geels, Frank W., 2002. "Technological transitions as evolutionary reconfiguration processes: a multi-level perspective and a case-study," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(8-9), pages 1257-1274, December.
    21. Carlota Perez, 2010. "Technological revolutions and techno-economic paradigms," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 34(1), pages 185-202, January.
    22. Scheidgen, Katharina & Gümüsay, Ali Aslan & Günzel-Jensen, Franziska & Krlev, Gorgi & Wolf, Miriam, 2021. "Crises and entrepreneurial opportunities: Digital social innovation in response to physical distancing," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 15(C).
    23. Kenneth Arrow, 1962. "Economic Welfare and the Allocation of Resources for Invention," NBER Chapters, in: The Rate and Direction of Inventive Activity: Economic and Social Factors, pages 609-626, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    24. Fiona Wilson & James Post, 2013. "Business models for people, planet (& profits): exploring the phenomena of social business, a market-based approach to social value creation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 715-737, April.
    25. Fabien Martinez & Patrick O'Sullivan & Mark A. Smith & Mark Esposito, 2017. "Perspectives on the role of business in social innovation," Post-Print hal-02887662, HAL.
    26. André Habisch & Cristian R. Loza Adaui, 2013. "A Social Capital Approach Towards Social Innovation," CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance, in: Thomas Osburg & René Schmidpeter (ed.), Social Innovation, edition 127, pages 65-74, Springer.
    27. Matthijs B. Punt & Thomas Bauwens & Koen Frenken & Lars Holstenkamp, 2022. "Institutional relatedness and the emergence of renewable energy cooperatives in German districts," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(4), pages 548-562, April.
    28. Bergek, Anna & Jacobsson, Staffan & Carlsson, Bo & Lindmark, Sven & Rickne, Annika, 2008. "Analyzing the functional dynamics of technological innovation systems: A scheme of analysis," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 407-429, April.
    29. Furman, Jeffrey L. & Porter, Michael E. & Stern, Scott, 2002. "The determinants of national innovative capacity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 899-933, August.
    30. Richard R. Nelson, 1959. "The Simple Economics of Basic Scientific Research," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 67(3), pages 297-297.
    31. Kivimaa, Paula & Rogge, Karoline S., 2022. "Interplay of policy experimentation and institutional change in sustainability transitions: The case of mobility as a service in Finland," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(1).
    32. Mario Biggeri & Enrico Testi & Marco Bellucci, 2017. "Enabling Ecosystems for Social Enterprises and Social Innovation: A Capability Approach Perspective," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 299-306, April.
    33. Diercks, Gijs & Larsen, Henrik & Steward, Fred, 2019. "Transformative innovation policy: Addressing variety in an emerging policy paradigm," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 880-894.
    34. Frank Pot & Fietje Vaas, 2008. "Social innovation, the new challenge for Europe," International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 57(6), pages 468-473, July.
    35. Schot, Johan & Steinmueller, W. Edward, 2018. "Three frames for innovation policy: R&D, systems of innovation and transformative change," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(9), pages 1554-1567.
    36. Smith, Adrian & Voß, Jan-Peter & Grin, John, 2010. "Innovation studies and sustainability transitions: The allure of the multi-level perspective and its challenges," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 435-448, May.
    37. Smith, Wendy K. & Gonin, Michael & Besharov, Marya L., 2013. "Managing Social-Business Tensions: A Review and Research Agenda for Social Enterprise," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(3), pages 407-442, July.
    38. Irina Krasnopolskaya & Irina Korneeva, 2020. "Social innovation measurement: a room for quantitative metrics," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(5), pages 567-587, September.
    39. Erica Kim Man Lee & Ho Lee & Chi Hing Kee & Chi Hong Kwan & Chui Ha Ng, 2021. "Social Impact Measurement in Incremental Social Innovation," Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(1), pages 69-86, January.
    40. Fabien Martinez & Patrick O'Sullivan & Mark A. Smith & Mark Esposito, 2017. "Perspectives on the role of business in social innovation," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) hal-02887662, HAL.
    41. Johanna Mair & Julie Battilana & Julian Cardenas, 2012. "Organizing for Society: A Typology of Social Entrepreneuring Models," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 111(3), pages 353-373, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Attila Havas & Doris Schartinger & K. Matthias Weber, 2022. "Innovation Studies, Social Innovation, and Sustainability Transitions Research: From mutual ignorance towards an integrative perspective?," CERS-IE WORKING PAPERS 2227, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies.
    2. Fagerberg, Jan, 2018. "Mobilizing innovation for sustainability transitions: A comment on transformative innovation policy," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(9), pages 1568-1576.
    3. Edler, Jakob & Köhler, Jonathan Hugh & Wydra, Sven & Salas-Gironés, Edgar & Schiller, Katharina & Braun, Annette, 2021. "Dimensions of systems and transformations: Towards an integrated framework for system transformations," Working Papers "Sustainability and Innovation" S03/2021, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI).
    4. Andersen, Allan Dahl & Markard, Jochen, 2020. "Multi-technology interaction in socio-technical transitions: How recent dynamics in HVDC technology can inform transition theories," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    5. Dierk Bauknecht & Allan Dahl Andersen & Karoline Dunne, 2020. "Challenges for electricity network governance in Energy transitions: Insights from Norway," Working Papers on Innovation Studies 20200115, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo.
    6. Rakas, Marija & Hain, Daniel S., 2019. "The state of innovation system research: What happens beneath the surface?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(9), pages 1-1.
    7. Warneryd, Martin & Håkansson, Maria & Karltorp, Kersti, 2020. "Unpacking the complexity of community microgrids: A review of institutions’ roles for development of microgrids," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    8. Haddad, Carolina R. & Bergek, Anna, 2023. "Towards an integrated framework for evaluating transformative innovation policy," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(2).
    9. Dahesh, Mehran Badin & Tabarsa, Gholamali & Zandieh, Mostafa & Hamidizadeh, Mohammadreza, 2020. "Reviewing the intellectual structure and evolution of the innovation systems approach: A social network analysis," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    10. Laatsit, Mart & Grillitsch, Markus & Fünfschilling, Lea, 2022. "Great expectations: the promises and limits of innovation policy in addressing societal challenges," Papers in Innovation Studies 2022/9, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    11. Xiangping Jia, 2021. "Agro-Food Innovation and Sustainability Transition: A Conceptual Synthesis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-24, June.
    12. Diercks, Gijs & Larsen, Henrik & Steward, Fred, 2019. "Transformative innovation policy: Addressing variety in an emerging policy paradigm," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 880-894.
    13. Kok, Kristiaan P.W. & Loeber, Anne M.C. & Grin, John, 2021. "Politics of complexity: Conceptualizing agency, power and powering in the transitional dynamics of complex adaptive systems," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(3).
    14. Steve Talbot, 2016. "Creating a smart rural economy through smart specialisation: The microsphere model," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 31(8), pages 892-919, December.
    15. Yap, Xiao-Shan & Truffer, Bernhard, 2019. "Shaping selection environments for industrial catch-up and sustainability transitions: A systemic perspective on endogenizing windows of opportunity," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 1030-1047.
    16. Laplane, Andrea & Mazzucato, Mariana, 2020. "Socializing the risks and rewards of public investments: Economic, policy, and legal issues," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(S).
    17. Jonas Heiberg & Christian Binz & Bernhard Truffer, 2020. "Assessing transitions through socio-technical network analysis – a methodological framework and a case study from the water sector," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2035, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Aug 2020.
    18. Raven, Rob & Walrave, Bob, 2020. "Overcoming transformational failures through policy mixes in the dynamics of technological innovation systems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    19. Thanos Fragkandreas, 2023. "Case study research on innovation systems: paradox, dialectical analysis and resolution," Working Papers 65, Birkbeck Centre for Innovation Management Research, revised 15 May 2023.
    20. Palm, Alvar, 2022. "Innovation systems for technology diffusion: An analytical framework and two case studies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).

    More about this item

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:zbw:efisdi:284388. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.e-fi.de/index.php?id=1&L=1 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.