TEPSIE: the theoretical, empirical and
policy foundations for building social
innovation in Europe
Special focus on the role of science
in social innovation and the
example of demographic change
Jeremy Millard
Danish Technological Institute
1
TEPSIE is a research project under
EU’s 7th framework programme
Tepsie objectives
Major contributions to:
• Developing tools, methods and
policies for EU strategy for social
innovation and tackling ‘wicked’
problems
• Examining theoretical underpinnings,
content and methodological
frameworks
• Moving towards consistency of
definitions and understandings
• Strengthening the scientific
foundations
2
TEPSIE is a research project under
EU’s 7th framework programme
Some scientific underpinnings (1)
What is the theoretical challenge?
Summary definition of social innovation
BEPA definition (2011): “Social innovations are
innovations that are both social in their ends
and their means.”
Here, social innovation has two main parts
1. Processes: new ways in which societies operate
2. Impacts: new solutions to meeting real social demands at 3 levels:
a. Social demand: Needs of groups, e.g. disadvantaged & vulnerable
b. Societal challenge: Broader view of social wellbeing across all society
c. Systemic change: Tackling need by changing fundamentals of society
3
TEPSIE is a research project under
EU’s 7th framework programme
Some scientific underpinnings (2)
How does social innovation take place?
Three main steps (?)
1. Experiment & multiply options
– ”publish”
 prompts
 Proposals
2. Select the best, what works –
”filter”


prototypes
sustaining
3. Scale – ”grow”
 scaling
 systemic change
4
“Failure” is good – but fail small and
early, rather than big and late
TEPSIE is a research project under
EU’s 7th framework programme
Some scientific underpinnings (3)
Mixes of methods and tools ?

Tools & techniques: e.g. ethnographic;
visualisation from product design; user
involvement from social movements;
commissioning methods from public sector
Funding methods used for science; venture
capital; tendering; grant giving


Best/good practices and knowledge sharing from industry; qualitative,
appreciative enquiry and social policy experimentation from the social
sciences; more quantitative log-frames and randomised control trials from
medical and other sciences
 Cross sector learning, e.g. businesses using models for mobilising user
networks developed by non-profits; and NGOs learning from venture capital
how to finance emerging ideas and how to kill off ones not working.
5
TEPSIE is a research project under
EU’s 7th framework programme
Some scientific underpinnings (4)
How to measure ?
Three trends in measurement
Up the value chain
More focus on outcomes and impacts
Out of the organisation
Draw on multiple sources and actors
Down the organisational hierarchy
More focus on localities, the front line, users and beneficiaries
6
TEPSIE is a research project under
EU’s 7th framework programme
Rapidly changing demographics
•
•
•
•
Population growth
Migration
Urbanisation
Ageing ”timebomb”
• Inter-generational
transfers
7
Economic costs of ageing (conservative estimate)
TEPSIE is a research project under
EU’s 7th framework programme
Example: social innovation and the
”ageing crisis”
The Viedome community platform (NL)
 Mextal: commercial firm with €7m
turnover pa, 25 employees
 Partnerships with LAs, civil
organisations, communities, firms
 Embedding services and activities in
everyday life and community
8
Toolbox for personalising home care by user
choice of services and ICT across 8 pillars of
support:
 Care
 Advice
 Comfort
 Communication
 Security
 Entertainment
TEPSIE is a research project under
EU’s 7th framework programme Commerce
 Information