Social innovation

For the purposes of this portal social innovation is defined as new strategies, concepts, ideas and organisations that meet social needs. Activities as diverse as micro-financing, the reformulation of the arts sector as ‘creative industries’ and the introduction of community development workers are regarded as social innovations.

Generally speaking social innovation takes place within society or the non-profit sector, but can also take place within government and private companies. The documents related to social innovation and policy in this section are aimed at supporting rigorous approaches to policy formulation.

Policy briefs

• Innovation in response to social challenges 
  
  Argues that the mechanisms for stimulating social innovation need to be investigated in a systematic way through a programme of practice-based research. Also read other policy briefings from NESTA
  National Endowment for Science Technology and Arts, 2008
• Ready or not?: taking innovation in the public sector seriously 
  
  An account of innovation in the public sector, with an innovation checklist, and six elements of an innovative public sector. Also read other provocations from NESTA.
  National Endowment for Science Technology and Arts, April 2007
• Using emergence to take social innovation to scale 
  
  Reviews the influence of networ­ks on social innovation initiatives.
  Impact Alliance, February 2007

Research reports & papers

• At arm’s length - the relationship between research & policy in arts & culture 
  
  Examines how the SA­ Department of Arts and Culture and some provinces have conceived of and used research in the formulation of arts and culture policy since 1994.
  Deacon, H., October 2009
• Forms of knowledge and modes of innovation 
  
  Contrasts two modes of innovation, and makes recommendations on their combined use for improved innovation outcomes.
  Research Policy, June 2007
• In and out of sync: the challenge of growing social innnovations 
  
  Examines social innovations to find out how they grow and spread, and what can be done to achieve scale. Also read other reports from NESTA.
  National Endowment for Science Technology and Arts, September 2007
• Innovation and poverty reduction 
  
  Discusses the concept of innovation and how it can be applied to local solutions to reduce poverty.
  Caledon Institute of Social Policy, November 2003
• Innovation policies as social policies: on strategies for the pursuit of proactive equality in underdevelopment 
  
  Explores the theory that inequality can be reduced by connecting innovation policies with social needs.
  Universidad de la Republica, 2005
• Intellectual property and access to medicines: an analysis of legislation in Central America 
  
  How intellectual property provisions impact on medicines access in developing countries.
  Bulletin of the World Health Organisation, October 2009
• Investing in social innovation: harnessing the potential of partnership between corporations and social entrepreneurs 
  JF Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, 2006
• Mass localism: A way to help small communities solve big social challenges 
  
  Proposes an approach by which central and local government can encourage local responses to social challenges.
  NESTA, February 2010
• Rediscovering social innovation  
  

  Argues that social innovation is a better vehicle for achieving social change than social entrepreneurship or social enterprise.

  Stanford Social Innovation Review, September 2008
• Social innovation in Canada: how the non-profit sector serves Canadians ... and how it can serve them better 
  Canadian Policy Research Networks, November 2004
• Social profits 
  
  Discusses the various dimensions of that sector of the economy in which business enterprises and economic activity seek both to generate revenue while advancing social goals.
  Caledon Institute of Social Policy, September 2008
• The African creative economy: Arts, culture and creative industry research in Africa 
  
  Collates existing research material on the impact of the art and creative industries on Africa’s economy over the last five years.
  Arterial Network, 2009
• The dilemmas of engagement: The role of consultation in government 
  
  Maps out some ­approaches used by governments to engage with communities.
  Australian National University, June 2009
• The Innovation imperative: why radical innovation is needed to reinvent public services for the recession and beyond 
  
  Calls for radical innovation in public services in response to the international economic downturn.
  
  National Endowment for Science Technology and Arts, March 2009

Case studies

• Grameen Foundation 
  
  The ­Grameen Foundation website highlights successful microfinancing case studies in a number of countries, and how these were implemented. Note information on the Progress out of Poverty Index.
  2009
• Health innovation networks to help developing countries address neglected diseases 
  
  Highlights an important means to improve health equity: the growing ability of some developing countries to undertake health innovation.
  Science, July 2005

Toolkits & guidelines

• Towards a smarter state 
  
  ­Sets out practical steps that are needed to deliver a more effective state.
  Institute for Public Policy Research, September 2009

Conference & seminar papers

• 1st Latin American conference on research and innovation for health  
  
  This conference worked towards ensuring that research deals with the countries’ health priorities and contributes to equitable development in Latin America.
  Pan American Health Organisation, April 2008
• Community networks as a means to improve service delivery efficiency?: A case study 
  
  Presentation from the 4th UK social networks conference, Greenwich, London.
  Human Sciences Research Council, July 2008
• Complexity of innovation policy of today 
  
  Presentation from the Conference on knowledge for Africa's development.
  Lemola, T., September 2006
• Innovation conference 2008 
  
  Papers from the CPSI conference which focused on inclusiveness and better access to government services.
  Centre for Public Service Innovation, November 2008
• Innovative South Africa: conference 
  
  Showcased innovation developments in South Africa and provided a platform for developing an innovation policy dialogue with European partners.
  Department of Science and Technology, June 2006
• South Africa's 10 year innovation plan 
  
  ­Presentation providing an overview of the nation­al innovation strategy.
  Department of Science and Technology, 2007

Advocacy initiatives

• Observatory of Cultural Policies in Africa 
  
  ­A pan-African non-governmental organisation aiming to enhance the development of national cultural policies in the region and their integration in human development strategies through advocacy and promoting information exchange, research, capacity building and cooperation at the regional and international level.
  January 2010
• Policy responses and submissions 
  
  Read NESTA's policy responses and submissions over the ­past few years.
  National Endowment for Science Technology and Arts, 2009
• The Arterial Network 
  
  An informal, dynamic network of individuals, institutions and funding partners working to support the effectiveness and growth of African arts and culture in civil society and to enhance the sustainability of creative industries in Africa.
  2010