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A Research Agenda for Social Innovation
This insightful Research Agenda offers unique perspectives into the different strands of social innovation research, covering the history and theory of this ever-growing research field. Chapters show the range and depth of the social advances that characterize this vibrant and contested subject, and analyse the strong increase in political and public interest in social innovation.
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Critical Acclaim
Contributors
Contents
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Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary.
This insightful Research Agenda offers unique perspectives into the different strands of social innovation research, covering the history and theory of this ever-growing research field. Chapters show the range and depth of the social advances that characterize this vibrant and contested subject, and analyse the strong increase in political and public interest in social innovation.
Exploring the potential influence of social innovation on important social factors, the Research Agenda looks at education, poverty reduction, environmental policies, and health and social care. Contributors examine the approaches and successful initiatives that illustrate the strengths of social innovations in manifold areas and in establishing sustainable patterns of consumption, while coping with demographic change. Possible future research pathways are outlined and new topics such as social innovation ecosystems, epistemic diversities and sustainable development are examined in detail.
This discerning and innovative Research Agenda will be an ideal read for social innovation researchers, policy-makers and innovation-policy stakeholders. It will be a welcome addition to the literature for innovation practitioners and entrepreneurs looking for theoretical insights into this influential subject.
This insightful Research Agenda offers unique perspectives into the different strands of social innovation research, covering the history and theory of this ever-growing research field. Chapters show the range and depth of the social advances that characterize this vibrant and contested subject, and analyse the strong increase in political and public interest in social innovation.
Exploring the potential influence of social innovation on important social factors, the Research Agenda looks at education, poverty reduction, environmental policies, and health and social care. Contributors examine the approaches and successful initiatives that illustrate the strengths of social innovations in manifold areas and in establishing sustainable patterns of consumption, while coping with demographic change. Possible future research pathways are outlined and new topics such as social innovation ecosystems, epistemic diversities and sustainable development are examined in detail.
This discerning and innovative Research Agenda will be an ideal read for social innovation researchers, policy-makers and innovation-policy stakeholders. It will be a welcome addition to the literature for innovation practitioners and entrepreneurs looking for theoretical insights into this influential subject.
Critical Acclaim
‘A rich 15-chapter collection from key thinkers in the field ensures this volume will be a beacon for navigating understanding on the diversity of social innovation and creating new impulses for future research. Perceptive organization of the collection brings deep insights on the historical and theoretical foundations, ecosystem and actor constellations, and framework conditions and infrastructures, to critically assess and advance new practices in a post-Pandemic world. A must-read for academics and practitioners alike.’
– Anne de Bruin, Massey University, New Zealand
‘We will not change the world for the better by waiting for the state or the market to change the world for us. We need to change our social practice. The multiplication and scaling up of hundreds of social innovations, in all walks of life, everywhere in the world, will be the critical main element to tackle our grand challenges. This being so, this book does exactly what is needed now. It takes stock of Social Innovation as an academic field and as an empirical phenomenon; and it outlines the research agenda of the future. This edition is refreshingly diverse and reflective on the challenges for academics and practitioners. World leading experts from all corners of the globe and – importantly – from a diverse range of disciplines reflect on how to better understand and enable social innovation. This is also a huge credit to the editors and confirms their front-running role in this rather new field of research. This book will be essential for research and teaching in innovation and transition studies and social science more generally and it will help to frame the field for years to come.’
– Jakob Edler, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI and Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, UK
– Anne de Bruin, Massey University, New Zealand
‘We will not change the world for the better by waiting for the state or the market to change the world for us. We need to change our social practice. The multiplication and scaling up of hundreds of social innovations, in all walks of life, everywhere in the world, will be the critical main element to tackle our grand challenges. This being so, this book does exactly what is needed now. It takes stock of Social Innovation as an academic field and as an empirical phenomenon; and it outlines the research agenda of the future. This edition is refreshingly diverse and reflective on the challenges for academics and practitioners. World leading experts from all corners of the globe and – importantly – from a diverse range of disciplines reflect on how to better understand and enable social innovation. This is also a huge credit to the editors and confirms their front-running role in this rather new field of research. This book will be essential for research and teaching in innovation and transition studies and social science more generally and it will help to frame the field for years to come.’
– Jakob Edler, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI and Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, UK
Contributors
Contributors: E. Alexiuk, Erin, G.D. Alperstedt, C. Andion, N. Antadze, S. Banerjee, A. Deserti, S. Dhondt, S. Geobey, B. Godin, J. Howaldt, L. Hulgård, C. Kaletka, T. Komatsu Cipriani, G. Krlev, K. McGowan, G. Mildenberger, J. Millard, M.-L. Moore, G. Mulgan, P. Oeij, F. Pot, F. Rizzo, M.J. Roy, N. Šalamon, A. Schröder, C. Schubert, K. Schuch, M. Schwarz, A. Shaban, S. Strambach, S. Teasdale, J. Terstriep, J.-F. Thurmann, O. Tjornbo, E. Wascher, F. Westley, L. Wloka, R. Ziegler
Contents
Contents:
1 A research agenda for social innovation – the
emergence of a research field 1
Jürgen Howaldt, Christoph Kaletka and Antonius Schröder
PART I HISTORY OF THE CONCEPT AND
THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS
2 Research on the history of innovation: from the
spiritual to the social 21
Benoît Godin and Cornelius Schubert
3 Social innovation and social change 39
Jürgen Howaldt and Michael Schwarz
4 The importance of systems thinking and
transformation for social innovation research: the
evolution of an approach to social innovation 59
Katharine McGowan, Frances Westley,
Michele-Lee Moore, Erin Alexiuk, Nino Antadze,
Sean Geobey and Ola Tjornbo
5 The role of social innovation research in
sustainable development 81
Jeremy Millard
6 Digital transformation of work: spillover effects of
workplace innovation on social innovation 99
Steven Dhondt, Peter R.A. Oeij and Frank D. Pot
PART II GOVERNANCE, ACTORS AND ECOSYSTEMS
7 Capabilities approach and social innovation 117
Rafael Ziegler
8 Unpacking epistemic diversities in grassroots
social innovation and enterprises in India:
a critical agenda for re-centering people 133
Swati Banerjee and Abdul Shaban
9 Social innovation ecosystems: a literature review
and insights for a research agenda 149
Graziela Dias Alperstedt and Carolina Andion
10 Power and conflict in social innovation:
a field-based perspective 169
Simon Teasdale, Michael J. Roy and Lars Hulgård
PART III FRAMEWORK CONDITIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURES
11 Research on social innovation: advancing the
frontiers of social innovation research and policy 189
Geoff Mulgan
12 Collaborative spaces for social innovation 211
Eva Wascher
13 The role of design research in and for social innovation 229
Tamami Komatsu Cipriani, Alessandro Deserti
and Francesca Rizzo
14 Social innovation and social sciences: reflections
on a difficult relationship 245
Klaus Schuch and Nela Šalamon
15 Measuring social innovation 263
Judith Terstriep, Gorgi Krlev, Georg
Mildenberger, Simone Strambach, Jan-Frederik
Thurmann and Laura Wloka
Index
1 A research agenda for social innovation – the
emergence of a research field 1
Jürgen Howaldt, Christoph Kaletka and Antonius Schröder
PART I HISTORY OF THE CONCEPT AND
THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS
2 Research on the history of innovation: from the
spiritual to the social 21
Benoît Godin and Cornelius Schubert
3 Social innovation and social change 39
Jürgen Howaldt and Michael Schwarz
4 The importance of systems thinking and
transformation for social innovation research: the
evolution of an approach to social innovation 59
Katharine McGowan, Frances Westley,
Michele-Lee Moore, Erin Alexiuk, Nino Antadze,
Sean Geobey and Ola Tjornbo
5 The role of social innovation research in
sustainable development 81
Jeremy Millard
6 Digital transformation of work: spillover effects of
workplace innovation on social innovation 99
Steven Dhondt, Peter R.A. Oeij and Frank D. Pot
PART II GOVERNANCE, ACTORS AND ECOSYSTEMS
7 Capabilities approach and social innovation 117
Rafael Ziegler
8 Unpacking epistemic diversities in grassroots
social innovation and enterprises in India:
a critical agenda for re-centering people 133
Swati Banerjee and Abdul Shaban
9 Social innovation ecosystems: a literature review
and insights for a research agenda 149
Graziela Dias Alperstedt and Carolina Andion
10 Power and conflict in social innovation:
a field-based perspective 169
Simon Teasdale, Michael J. Roy and Lars Hulgård
PART III FRAMEWORK CONDITIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURES
11 Research on social innovation: advancing the
frontiers of social innovation research and policy 189
Geoff Mulgan
12 Collaborative spaces for social innovation 211
Eva Wascher
13 The role of design research in and for social innovation 229
Tamami Komatsu Cipriani, Alessandro Deserti
and Francesca Rizzo
14 Social innovation and social sciences: reflections
on a difficult relationship 245
Klaus Schuch and Nela Šalamon
15 Measuring social innovation 263
Judith Terstriep, Gorgi Krlev, Georg
Mildenberger, Simone Strambach, Jan-Frederik
Thurmann and Laura Wloka
Index
