About SI-DRIVE

While the SI-DRIVE Critical Literature Review (Howaldt et al. 2014) provided a general depiction of how social innovation resonates within the wider frameworks of existing innovation theory and research, the concepts and perceptions of social change and of societal and policy development, the purpose of the Comparative Analysis is to check the theoretical framework against the first empirical dataset of SI-DRIVE (empirical phase 1).

This first Comparative Analysis investigates empirical data based on more than 1.000 cases in seven major policy areas all over the world, supplemented by policy field related state of the art reports, a regional trend study including the major world regions (Australia/New Zealand, Western and South-East Asia, North and South Africa, North and South America, Russia) and first policy and foresight workshops. SI-DRIVE aiming at a comprehensive and systematic analysis is focusing on the main societal challenges reflected by different policy fields and combining qualitative research (reviewing and reporting social innovation relevant theories and state-of-the art) with a first quantitative mapping of the whole world of Social Innovation. [Read more]

On 20^th April 2016, the SI-DRIVE team organised an International Policy Round Table (IRT) in Brussels. This Round Table followed less than 10 days after the shocking bombings in Brussels. The context for the discussion was therefore quite difficult for 'just' another meeting. But the SI-DRIVE team was very happy to have 12 participants at the meeting, with half of them coming from the European Commission and half of them coming from different parts of Europe. The IRT was very motivated to bring in their ideas, needing to wait for hours at the damaged airport of Zaventem. We are glad to have had the input of a nice mix of policy specialists and social innovation experts to help discuss with the SI-DRIVE team the results of the work. [Read more]

The Benisi Scaling Guide – Accelerating the Scaling of Social Innovations is the conclusion of the trans-European project BENISI. The handbook for social innovators, people working at incubators and the social innovation community comprises learnings from the 13 project partners. Moreover, the publication includes case studies of public sector innovations and social enterprises, success tips and a directory of resources to help other social innovations tread the path to scale. More information can be found here.

In the course of the XIV International Triple Helix Conference ‘Addressing ecosystem challenges in the era of crises’ from 25^th to 27^th September 2016 in Heidelberg, the SI-DRIVE partner ‘Innovation Systems Department, Austrian Institute of Technology’ (AIT), will host a session on ‘Social Innovation – is there a Role for Universities?’. This session will be a mixed event with the possibility to present academic papers. For more details, please, have a look at the new call! Submissons are accepted until 31^st July 2016.

SI-DRIVE partner LAMA Agency, in collaboration with Cooperatives Europe, is carrying out an exploratory study on the innovation of cooperative companies. The aim of the study is to analyse the transformations that the emerging sharing economy paradigm is inspiring and bringing about to different types of cooperatives across Europe, and to identify new 
opportunities for social and digital innovation that have the potential to re-design future cooperatives.
A mapping survey has been launched to identify any relevant cases of cooperatives that are developing innovations such as new collaborative and peer-to-peer services, new collaborative platforms, new models for sharing and exchanging resources in an efficient and sustainable way.

Know a cooperative that is developing innovations in the collaborative economy field? Follow the link and contribute to the European mapping.
The results will be presented at the International Social Innovation Research Conference (ISIRC), Glasgow, 5^th to 7^th September 2016.

Leading Social Entrepreneurship is a brand new Executive Education short course at UCT's Graduate School of Business that gives leaders of social enterprises exposure to the most recent developments in the field. Nonprofit leaders and those operating in the social enterprise space will be given tools to strategically grow the impact of their organisations and businesses, while also exploring models to positively influence the systems within which they operate.
The Impact Investing in Africa, Executive Education short course is an interactive three and a half day investment training opportunity, which offers a rich learning experience blending theory and practice. This course is for finance professionals, funders, lawyers, intermediaries and consultants who are interested in understanding this growing field and how they can and should position themselves within it. [Read more]

Why are urban social innovations needed?

• A huge part of the world’s population lives in cities;
• Urban areas are laboratories of change in which stakeholders of science, industry, creative sectors, etc. interact;
• Cities face challenges in terms of inequality and diversity, economic viability and sustainability and the resilience of infrastructures and services. They must and can develop social innovations in order to address these challenges.

Social innovations shift functions between policy, the administration, the private sector, civil society and households and negotiate these shifts.

The SIC Summer School is organised in cooperation with the ‘European Social Innovation Week’ and takes place from 20^th to 23^rd September 2016 in Tilburg/The Netherlands. A detailed programme will be available here.

From 20^th to 23^rd September 2016 in Tilburg/The Netherlands

11^th SI-DRIVE Newsletter