Challenge social innovation. Innovating innovation by
research - 100 years after Schumpeter
19 - 21 September 2011
Tech Gate Vienna / Vienna Austria
Ms Antonella Noya
Senior Policy Analyst
LEED Division
OECD Center for entrepreneurship, SMEs and Local
Development
Societal challenges of the 21st century: developing a research
agenda
Plenary panel discussion among:
• Liesbet de Letter, European Commission DG Regional Policy,
Brussels, Belgium
• David Lane, University of Modena, Italy
• Geoff Mulgan, National Endowment for Science, Technology and
the Arts (NESTA), London, United Kingdom
• Antonella Noya, OECD Forum on Social Innovations, Paris,
France
• Stephan Schulmeister, Economic Research Institute (WIFO),
Vienna, Austria
• Moderation: Hans-Werner Franz, Social Research Centre (sfs) of
Dortmund University of Technology, Germany
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The OECD LEED Forum on Social Innovations
(FSI)
• A multi- stakeholder Forum, with an international scope,
putting together theory ( social innovation) and practices
( social innovations) . Created in 2000 by 11
organisations from 6 countries to :
• facilitate exchanges of best practice and policies in social
innovation.
• provide a framework for a comparative assessment of
social innovations.
• reinforce international networks of policy-makers in this
field.
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The OECD LEED Forum on Social Innovations 2
• The FSI provided in 2000 a working definition
of social innovation, the very first one by an
international organisation, agreed by the
founders of the FSI and endorsed by the
OECD/Local Economic and Employment
(LEED) Directing Committee
• The definition linked social innovation to the
improvement of individual and collective
well - being and quality of life.
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Definition of social innovation
• Social innovation can concern conceptual, process or
product change, organisational change and changes in
financing, and new relationships with stakeholders and
territories.” It seeks new answers to social problems
by:
– identifying and delivering new services that improve
the quality of life of individuals and
communities;
– identifying and implementing new labour market
integration processes, new competencies, new jobs,
and new forms of participation, as diverse elements
that each contribute to improving the position of
individuals in the workforce both as
producers and consumers. (OECD, 2000)
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Definition of social innovation 2
• In a nutshell, social innovations are processes
and outcomes which transform practices and
policies of local and global economic and social
development.
• Whenever social innovations appear they always
bring about new references and processes.
• Social innovation aims at improving people’s
live by promoting social change
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Key elements of social innovation
• Individual, collective and institutional creativity
• Capacity to « think out of the box » and to walk
off the beaten tracks
• Ability to mobilise different human and financial
ressources and to work in partnership
• Ability to make a social impact and to change the
society
• Enabling environment with the adequate
incentives, finances, structures and drivers.
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Why social innovation is coming to the fore now?
• 10 years ago, when the OECD FSI was created, several
reasons already explained the emergence of social
innovation, now urged by the financial and economic
crisis and the public budget constraints:
1. Rise of civile society and social economy: not residual
actors. Willingness to transform the society
2. Failure of market and State to adress social challenges
using conventional wisdom and traditional approaches
3. Emergence of social challenges ( poverty, social
exclusion, ageing population, rising inequalities,
demographic change, ) which are threats but also
opportunities
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Why social innovation is coming to the fore now? 2
4. Need of the traditional business to reconnect
with the society ( ex CSR, social audits, etc)
5. Emergence of new investors attracted by social
return on investments
6. Emergence of social venture philantrophy
7. Increasing importance of intangible assetts
(creativity, social capital)
8. Need to modernise the public sector and to
increase its efficiency
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The FSIthematic areas
• Main thematic areas:
– Access to capital and changes in financing
– Employment, targeted insertion, delivery of social and
community services
– Balanced growth approaches to development
– Social cohesion in the “New Economy”
– Social enterprises and social entrepreneurship
– Corporate social responsibility
– Community capacity building
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The FSI publications
• Antonella Noya (ed.) (2009) The Changing Boundaries of
Social Enterprises, Paris: OECD
• Antonella Noya, Emma Clarence, Gary Craig, (eds.)
(2009) Community Capacity Building: Creating a Better
Future Together, Paris: OECD
• Antonella Noya and Emma Clarence (eds.) (2007) Social
Economy: Building Inclusive Economies, Paris: OECD
(available in French in 2009, published by Economica,
France)
• OECD (2004) Entrepreneurship: A Catalyst for Urban
Regeneration, Paris: OECD
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The FSI publications 2
• OECD (2003) The Non-Profit Sector in a Changing
Economy, Paris: OECD (also available in French
and in Spanish)
• OECD (2003) Asset Building and the Escape from
Poverty: A New Welfare Policy Debate, (on-line
booklet also available in French, Spanish and
Italian)
• OECD (2001) Corporate Social
Responsibility: Partners for Progress, Paris, OECD
• OECD (1999) Social Enterprises, Paris: OECD
(also available in French and Spanish)
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Thank you
antonella.noya@oecd.org
www.oecd.org/cfe/leed/socialinnovation