1st Edition

Social Innovation New Forms of Organisation in Knowledge–Based Societies

Edited By Carmen Ruiz Viñals, Carmen Parra Rodríguez Copyright 2013
    256 Pages 20 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    256 Pages 20 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    'Social innovation’ can be simply defined as the new ideas and initiatives that make it possible to meet our society’s challenges in areas such as the environment, education, employment, culture, health and economic development. It is currently becoming increasingly important as a central concept for social theories and politics. This edited volume brings together interdisciplinary contributions which examine the complex interrelation between innovation and social problems, a link which has been surprisingly underexplored in academia and practice thus far.

    Social Innovation: New Forms of Organisation in Knowledge–Based Societies examines the mutual interdependence of innovation processes and social affairs. This interdependent relationship is characterised by a high degree of complexity which stems on the one hand from the true uncertain character of innovation and on the other hand from the different time scales in both domains.

    The alliance between innovation and social policy is highly relevant to the challenges which we are facing in the 21st century, such as resource scarcity, ageing societies and climate change. All of these issues demand substantial, continuous and sustainable structural change to maintain international competitiveness. Social change can only be understood by improving our knowledge about the impact of innovation processes in their co-evolutionary alliance with social evolution.

    The purpose of this book is to increase awareness of social participation among civil society organisations, SMEs, governments and research institutions, in order to promote economic, political and social changes that enhance collective welfare. This volume offers a key starting point for those looking to further explore this important realm of social research.

    Part I: The Concept of Social Innovation  Introduction to Social Innovation as a New Form of Organisation in Knowledge-Based Societies Carmen Ruiz  1. Social Innovations and the Advancement of the General Concept of Innovation Josef Hochgerner  2. Social Innovations in the Perspective of Comprehensive Neo-Schumpeterian Economics Andreas Pyka and Horst Hanusch  Part II: Innovation and Non-Profit Organisations  3. Non-Profit Organizations and New Social Paradigms Tibor Palánkai  4. Fundraising and Transparency in the Not-for-Profit Sector Peter Maple and Alex Murdock  5. The Principles of Probity and Transparency in the Third Sector Rui Teixeira-Santos  Part III: Social Innovation and New Technologies  6. Social Innovation, Non-Profit Organizations and the Internet Joan Francesc Fondevila  7. Web 2.0 and Social Innovation David Sancho  8. Social Innovation by Citizens and Organizations as a Way to Tackle Complex Societal Problems: The case of opening access to public data Jari Kuusisto, Arja Kuusisto and Pirjo Yli-Viitala  Part IV: Social Entrepreneurship  9. Employment and the Social Economy: EU funding opportunities for developing human resources Ákos Kengyel  10. Private and Public Innovation Networks in Services and Social Innovation Luis Rubalcaba, Gisela Di Meglio and Jorge Gallego  11. Towards Financial Solidarity in the European Union Ryszard Wilczynski  Conclusion Re-examining the Concept of Social Innovation Carmen Parra

    Biography

    Carmen Ruiz Viñals is Director of  Business Management Studies at Abat Oliba CEU University, Spain.

    Carmen Parra Rodríguez is Director and Chair of Social Economy and Solidarity at Abat Oliba CEU University, Spain.