ICT-enabled Social Innovation in support of the Implementation of the Social Investment Package (IESI) - Mapping and analysis of ICT-Enabled Social Innovation initiatives promoting social investment through integrated approaches to the provision of social services

Abstract

This report presents the results of the mapping and analysis of ICT-enabled social innovation initiatives promoting social investment through integrated approaches to the provision of social services, which was conducted as part of the research on ICT-Enabled Social Innovation in support of the Social Investment Package (SIP). The main goal of the research carried out by the European Commission's JRC-IPTS jointly with the Directorate General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, was to explore the potential contribution of ICT-enabled social innovation as an enabler of change in the EU Member States’ efforts to pursue active policies to prioritise social investment and modernise their welfare systems. More specifically, building on a review of existing literature and theoretical approaches, this report defines the state of the art in the field under investigation and develops the conceptual and analytical framework of the research. The report also provides an overview of the findings from analysis of initiatives from both a quantitative and a qualitative perspective. The results of the analysis of the empirical findings are illustrated through a 'Knowledge Map' of ICT-enabled social innovation initiatives promoting social investment through integrated approaches to the provision of social services, including a special focus on the area of active and healthy ageing and long-term care for older people. The report concludes by outlining implications and directions for future research.