This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020

research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 693883.

Urban Social Innovation Systems and Networks Exemplified by the case of Vienna

Josef Hochgerner

23 SEPT 2016

23 SEPT 2016 / 2

Social innovation network

governance

Visions and strategies

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There is no innovation without a nexus to society. And just as society is complex

and diverse, so are innovations, be they new technologies or new practices in

doing things in varied roles, relations which are based on norms and values.

ALL INNOVATIONS ARE SOCIALLY RELEVANT

Overview

1. Several principles 2. Cultural change in Vienna 3. Existing intermediaries 4. The social innovation eco-system of Vienna 5. Requirements of an effective SI eco-system

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All innovations are socially relevant

To qualify as innovation, an idea must become effective: No impact → no innovation

Four stages of SI development: Idea → Intervention → implementation → impact

Social innovation is not necessarily ‚good‘ for society at large

Objectives may differ depending on culture, sociao-economic conditions of players

Impact is always contextual, depending on time, age, gender, education, wealth ….

Most important framing by: welfare systems, policy regime, economic development

Critical assessment of impact is required: Is SI only compensating flaws (degradation) of social systems, or is it complementing the functions of a working social system?

Mood matters, and so do features of an urban environment: from history to future concepts, cultures, infrastructure, quality of life, employment, environment, stress ….

Principles concerning social innovation properties and impact

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I favour an analytic concept of social innovation, broad enough to capture the

wide-spread manifestations of empirical cases, and specific enough to allow

sound scientific determination and measurement:

Definition of social innovation

Social innovation must involve a criterion to distinguish it from a mere (social) idea, just as a new

product or process in the economy is recognized as an innovation – distinct from an invention –

only if it proves commercially successful in markets.

Social innovations apply to all sectors of the society, therefore „living and working conditions“ are

the most appropriate criteria to identify the essential impact.

Though a social innovation usually is a novelty on purpose, its impact cannot be judged normatively

„good“ (in particular not „for the whole of society“ as is often claimed). Impact assessment may

vary a lot depending on people, groups or organisations affected differently by new practices.

Social Innovations are new practices of action by

individuals, groups or organisations asserting

impact on living- and working conditions in parts

or the whole of a society.

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Few innovations have basic and lasting impact, most innovations only improve what’s already functioning

Type of Innovation

Innovative technologies

Innovative practices

Incremental Innovation

Radical*) Innovation

Few (breakthroughs), with fundamental impact

Very few: Game changing systemic social innovations

Most: Social demand SI Many: Societal challenges SI

Vast numbers (follow-up), with cumulative impact

*) Other terms in use: Previously “basic innovation”, currently “disruptive innovation”

IS INNOVATION SPECTACULAR BY NATURE ?

/ Urban Socia l Innovat ion Systems and Networks

Ideation Intervention Implementation Impact

Idea

Idea

Idea Idea

Intervention

Implementation

Impact

New/modified idea

Next intervention

Implementation, 2nd

Intervention, 3rd try

Persistent idea

The „4-i process“ of social innovation development:

o Idea >> What is the issue, objectives of change

o Intervention >> Conceptualisation, define approaches, methods

o Implementation >> Using resources, breaking deadlocks, cooperation

o Impact >> Measures of quality, range and scales, life cycle!

But: It‘s usually not an ideal linear process …

… often interrupted, back to field one, iterative ...

HOW TO CREATE SOCIAL INNOVATION ?

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Novelty of the idea: seldom in in absolute terms, usually in respect of location, time, social strata, field of action

Social quality of the intervention: involvement, participation of the target group(s) and benefits

Sustainability of the implementation: effectiveness after acceptance by the those concerned

Notable impact: are there durable and factual changes, potential of up- or outscaling, replicability?

Evaluation criteria, applied by „SozialMarie“ – Award for Social Innovation in Austria and neighbouring countries _ www.sozialmarie.org

QUALITIES OF A NEW PRACTICE TO BECOME

A SOCIAL INNOVATION IN ACTION

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Cultural change in Vienna

Historic development: Imperial centre ( > WW I), social progress in decline (inter-war period), reconstruction phase (1945 – 1970), modernization (1970 – 1990), openness / internationalization / multi-ethnic growing population

Cultural assett: Housing policies, social housing tradition since the inter-war period

From a museum and music city to a smart city with highest standards in quality of life

Image by User:Maclemo

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Intermediaries in Vienna

Social partnership institutions and their role in governance (Chambers, trade unions)

Vienna Business Agency, Social funds, Fund for working life and employment

The social Innovation eco-system of Vienna

Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI), like-minded institutes at Vienna University of Economics, Social Partner‘s Education and Training Facilities, „People‘s Colleges‘ (VHS)

Impact Hub, Social Impact Award, SozialMarie (Prize for Social Innovation)

Vienna RTDI – Strategy includes measures enabling and supporting social innovation

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Requirements of a prolific social innovation eco-system

Pre-conditions and context: Analyse the framework of the issue, the potential measures,

inhibitors and supporting factors

„Framing“: Concepts, vision, mission, objectives, measures

Structural trigger: Search for a core mover (like the university in the framework of

the „Dortmund Consensus“, cf. H.W. Franz‘ presentation)

Consider path-dependency: Who will follow, why and how?

Success breeds success: Management, marketing, from voluntarism to professionalism

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Social change, development,

crisis and ‚Grand Challenges‘:

Resources and solutions

Evolution of Brains

Innovative Technologies

WHY SOCIAL INNOVATION NOW ?

Social Innovation for Social Action !

>> Cultural Evolution → Collaborative intelligence & intelligent collaboration

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/ This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020

research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 693883. 23 SEPT 2016 13

With compliments from Vienna, Josef Hochgerner, Centre for Social Innovation

Thank you!