What is the social innovation system? A state-of-the-art review

Abstract

The social innovation system concept in our study is an inter-connection of things or actors in developing, diffusing, and utilising innovation targeting social issues or needs. The impetus of our theoretical contribution is that little or no attention has been given to the topic of social innovation system even though social innovation and social economy are emerging topics of research. Our aim was to analyse the current scholarly contributions by performing a state-of-the-art review. This review will broaden our understanding of the emerging social innovation system concept. The state-of-the-art review of 15 peer-reviewed articles indicates that there are currently four themes of social innovation system. These are institutional, organisational and social-public good and quality of life. Our theoretical and initial study indicates that social innovation system studies have not yet been formalised in the innovation system milieu. Therefore we posit that social innovation system requires more research.