Social innovation ecosystems in Latin America Dmitri Domanski TU Dortmund University sfs German-Brazilian workshop Social Innovation and its Research Rio de Janeiro 4 October, 2016 This project has received funding from the European Union s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no 612870.
Some empirical findings from the global mapping although mainly all initiatives are scaling there is almost no or limited (local, regional) transfer of the solution two of three initiatives are embedded in networks, social movements, umbrella organisations or policy programmes guaranteeing impact in almost half of the initiatives there is a direct user / beneficiary involvement all societal sectors can be actively involved in social innovation (multi-sectoral approach instead of focusing on single sectors, such as social economy) even more: to overcome social demands and societal challenges cross-sector collaboration is crucial, actively involving public, economic and civil society partners (including active user/beneficiary involvement) Social innovations take place in ecosystems, which need to be further developed
Towards social innovation ecosystems Actors who drive the supply of social innovations, Actors who drive the demand for social innovations and The intermediaries who act as brokers (Hansson et al. 2014, 10) resources (financial, human, social/political, and intellectual capital) [ ] and the environmental conditions (CASE 2008, iv) An ecosystems framework, in contrast [to Porter s cluster approach], incorporates the broader environment within which organizations operate. It captures the elements of Porter s economic analysis, adds other potentially important actors, and incorporates the nonmarket forces (Bloom and Dees 2008, 48)
Towards social innovation ecosystems a set of complex, interdependent relationships that function best through effective networks and communities (Pulford 2011, 113). a paradigm shift where grass-root, bottom-up, spontaneous movements and communities of change are shaping new ecosystems (Sgaragli 2014, 9) replacement of existing governance models with ones that are more open, inclusive and participatory (Sgaragli 2014, 9)
Towards social innovation ecosystems developing a scientific concept of social innovation ecosystems is much more demanding than just trying to adapt existing concepts, such as innovation systems, triple-helix or quadruple-helix it implies a better understanding of what social innovation ecosystems are about social innovation ecosystems are environments where innovations emerge which are different from technological innovations and which are not necessarily profit-oriented such environments always exist, even if they may be poorly developed or apparently invisible
What are SI ecosystems? They include Financial support: grants for early stage development, crowdfunding, loans, venture philanthropy, prizes for social innovation, Non-financial support: Professional services, mentors and coaching, labs for SI, accelerator programmes, incubators, Skills for innovation: tailored courses for innovators and entrepreneurs Demand enhancement through campaigning and advocacy, personalised budgets, commissioning and procurement Intermediaries: SI networks, centres, labs transferring knowledge, about social innovation and probably more
Promote the change Old school In the future Trickle-down model: pushing innovations into society Co-creation model: Making societies the source of innovation (Open Innovation, user involvement, citizen participation, )
Two characteristics of an active social innovation culture Absorptive capacity A region / community is able to recognize the value of such new solutions, is able to implement and test them, and is open to change Social serendipity A region / community is systematically encouraging and supporting inventions to overcome societal challenges
The role of universities Universities and research institutes together present in 21% of the initiatives Different from technological innovation science and research are usually not having a relevant role as a trigger or driver By acting as an anchor in the social innovation ecosystem, universities have the capacities to fill existing gaps and therewith help social innovators to thrive by, for example, complementing users knowledge with scientific approaches, methods and tools or consulting to overcome social innovators lack of capacities in certain fields This also includes the question of new modes of knowledge production and scientific co-creation of knowledge aiming at an integration of practitioners and social innovators in the innovation processes
Paradigm change From top-down towards bottom-up approaches: Involving in social innovation processes with communities beyond typical topdown patterns where the former create solutions and the latter just play the passive role of a target group that receives support Creating solutions out of the communities Facilitating role not less important than a knowledge-based expert role Universities as coordinators and networkers
Upcoming project Students for Change: Social Entrepreneurship in Academia Erasmus + 2017-2019 Main objectives: to develop a pedagogical method for universities and higher education institutions to teach and train university entrepreneurs to be active players implementing social innovations to integrate social innovation in curricula and learning environments at the universities of Latin America, improving the quality and relevance of its academic programs in relation to the skills that ought to be developed by students in order to solve the social problems affecting the region
Social Innovation in Latin America: The Chilean Case http://www.cieplan.org/media/publicaciones/archivos/373/social_innova_tion_in_latin_america_ The_Chilean_Case.pdf
Key characteristics of the social innovation ecosystem in Chile Strengths: increasing participation of NGOs and universities, altogether great potential for social innovation Weaknesses: public policy still needs to better include incentives for SI governmental programmes and institutions lack a clear concept of social innovation different institutions support social innovations, but their efforts are not coordinated among each other; resources are scarce SI often understood as social entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurs as the only agents of change public policy lacks a systemic, integral concept which would include all societal actors and promote different approaches there is no research nor impact studies
Social innovation in Latin America
Thank you very much. Dmitri Domanski domanski@sfs-dortmund.de @DmitriDomanski www.si-drive.eu www.sfs.tu-dortmund.de