Connecting the Dots: Creating an Environment for Innovation to Flourish

Abstract

From climate change and aging, to poverty and unemployment, the world is facing increasingly acute social and environmental challenges. The case for social innovation has never been clearer - doing things the old way cannot solve these challenges.

Local and national governments, businesses, NGOs, charities and cities are beginning to use social innovation – whether it’s through new top-down approaches to social services; businesses and universities running competitions to find fresh young innovators with radical new ways to use technology; or communities working out better ways to share resources and support each other. All of these players are facing many challenges. Some concerns relate to the practical issues of actually “doing” social innovation - What is the best way to incubate new ideas? How can I set up the right kind of institutions to do this? How can we successfully use prizes and competitions to promote innovative practice? How can we effectively scale or replicate great ideas? Other questions arise on supporting social innovation – focusing on the favorable environment needed for social innovation to flourish. How can we build up new finance flows for social innovation? What does an effective policy for social innovation look like? And perhaps most importantly, how can I feel more confident as an innovator? Who can I draw on with experience, and how can I convince the people with power in my area to promote and support social innovation?