Social entrepreneurs as change makers: expanding public service networks for social innovation

ABSTRACT

Social innovation, in the context of public innovation, has gained increased attention in the literature, and is approached relative to the third sector, to social enterprises, or as practices initiated by the public sector. However, the interplay among these actors in enabling social innovation is still underexplored. Therefore, the article investigates the role of social entrepreneurs from outside the public sector in enabling public sector innovation networks. Since social innovation is inherently relational, four cases demonstrating how social entrepreneurs have pushed the boundaries of public sector services, and hence expanded public innovation networks, are analysed.

KEYWORDS:

• Public service innovation
• social innovation
• social entrepreneurs
• innovation networks

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement [No 770356]. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Agency cannot be held responsible for any use, which may be made of the information contained therein.

Notes on contributors

Anne Vorre Hansen

Anne Vorre Hansen is Associate Professor of Social Entrepreneurship at Roskilde University. Anne is an an experienced consultant, project manager and researcher of user- and citizen driven innovation processes across the private, the public and the third sector besides civil society led initiatives. In her current research, she focuses on social innovation and value co-creation processes and practices.

Lars Fuglsang

Lars Fuglsang is Professor at Roskilde University. His research is how institutional and organizational frameworks are created to deal with the impact of innovation, technology and other forms of change on business and society. His current research is focusing on a practice-based understanding of the innovation process, i.e. innovation is seen as closely connected with practices and routines.

Faïz Gallouj

Faïz Gallouj is Professor of Economics and Editor-in-Chief of the European Review of Service Economics and Management. He has authored or co-authored 155 articles that have been published in scientific journals and books and 35 research reports for different national and international institutions (including OECD, European Commission). He is also the author, co-author or editor of 17 books on services and innovation.

Ada Scupola

Ada Scupola is Professor at Roskilde University. Her main research interests are at the intersection between digitalization, innovation and service sector and include user driven innovation, digital innovation, adoption and diffusion of information and communication technologies. Her research counts over 160 publications including articles in international journals, book chapters and edited books.