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Innovation is perhaps the buzzword in local economic development policy. Associated narrowly with neoliberal ideas, conventional notions of innovation—like its capitalocentric counterparts, enterprise and entrepreneurialism—may promise higher productivity, global competitiveness and technological progress but do not fundamentally change the ‘rules of the game’. In contrast, an emerging field reimagines social innovation as disruptive change in social relations and institutional configurations. This article explores the conceptual and political differences within this pre‐paradigmatic field, and argues for a more transformative understanding of social innovation. Building on the work of David Graeber, I mobilize the novel constructs of ‘play’ and ‘games’ to advance our understanding of the contradictory process of institutionalizing social innovation for urban transformation. This is illustrated through a case study of Liverpool, where diverse approaches to innovation are employed in attempts to resolve longstanding socio‐economic problems. Dominant market‐ and state‐led economic development policies—likened to a ‘regeneration game’—are contrasted with more experimental, creative, democratic and potentially more effective forms of social innovation, seeking urban change through playing with the rules of the game. I conclude by considering how the play–game dialectic illuminates and reframes the way transformative social innovation might be cultivated by urban policy, the contradictions this entails, and possible ways forward.

Diverses caractéristiques personnelles, physiques, sociales ou culturelles peuvent influencer l’expérience, les chances de vie et la construction de l’identité des personnes et des groupes qui les portent. Elles sont aussi susceptibles de servir de base à leur identification comme « différents » et à leur discrimination, directe ou systémique, au sein de la société et des institutions. Ces « marqueurs » de la diversité, en constante évolution, incluent, entre autres, le genre, l’orientation sexuelle, l’identité et l’expression de genre, la condition sociale, le handicap, l’âge, l’appartenance aux Premiers Peuples, le statut migratoire, l’origine ethnique, la langue, la religion ainsi que l’appartenance à un groupe racisé.

Responsible Innovation can be the corporate answer to tackle the grand societal challenges. However, companies still have not implemented the concept in their daily innovation practices. Furthermore, citizens, as the voice of societal needs and issues, only have been involved in corporate innovation processes (design thinking, co-creation) on a very limited scale. This raises the question on how to enable the participation of citizens in corporate innovation processes in an effective and efficient way. Therefore, certain quality criteria need to be defined and tested, which has not been researched before in such a context. The aim of this exploratory case study, thus, is to develop and test quality criteria of citizen participation and find out what quality companies can reach in 20 pilot-workshops all over Europe.

From the perspective of sustainability, this paper analyzes how stakeholders realize sustainable social innovation through co-creation. Through literature and case analysis, based on the group classification of social networks, this paper proposes three elements of social innovation: place creation, situation creation and relationship structure, and further sorts out the co-creation of meaning co-creation, behavior co-creation and value co-creation. The research shows that co-creation is a practical activity based on cultural identity, group interaction and resource integration, and stakeholders can achieve the goal of sustainable social innovation through meaning co-creation, behavior co-creation and value co-creation.

From the perspective of sustainability, this paper analyzes how stakeholders realize sustainable social innovation through co-creation. Through literature and case analysis, based on the group classification of social networks, this paper proposes three elements of social innovation: place creation, situation creation and relationship structure, and further sorts out the co-creation of meaning co-creation, behavior co-creation and value co-creation. The research shows that co-creation is a practical activity based on cultural identity, group interaction and resource integration, and stakeholders can achieve the goal of sustainable social innovation through meaning co-creation, behavior co-creation and value co-creation.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Amazonian countries has undergone important technological improvements in recent decades. Nevertheless, this type of mining is largely associated with the use of rudimentary, low-tech and often manual methods, with inefficient gold recovery. This article aims at investigating how innovations and improvements in the technology used in small-scale gold mines are connected to a broader perception of the miners about the integration of more modern and effective techniques. A technographical approach enabled the understanding of mining practices as embodied cultural knowledge and to fill the information gap between the study of materials and techniques with the study of people and communities. We discuss how the technology of small-scale gold mining in the region of Peixoto de Azevedo (Mato Grosso, Brazil) has changed since the early 1980s, giving particular attention to the recent introduction of two main innovations: the mechanized exploration drill and the cyanidation process. In this region, miners are successfully organized in cooperatives efforts to mutually reinforce the integration of innovative and effective techniques. Finally, we introduce the three notions of foresight (visão), agility (agilidade) and development (desenvolvimento) that emerged during fieldwork and conceptually frame the likeliness of acceptance and promulgation of innovations in this context. Sustainable mining may only succeed if a wider vision of the future of the sector (foresight) joins public policies that facilitate the practical process of innovation during each phase of its realization (agility) in order to achieve an advanced social status of the local community (development). Highlights • Technological innovation is connected to miners' perception of appropriate practices. • A sustainable mining occurs when technological innovation joins social innovation. • Foresight, agility and development are key concept for adopting technical innovation. • Forming local cooperatives ease the development of the small-scale mining sector.

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the Amazonian countries has undergone important technological improvements in recent decades. Nevertheless, this type of mining is largely associated with the use of rudimentary, low-tech and often manual methods, with inefficient gold recovery. This article aims at investigating how innovations and improvements in the technology used in small-scale gold mines are connected to a broader perception of the miners about the integration of more modern and effective techniques. A technographical approach enabled the understanding of mining practices as embodied cultural knowledge and to fill the information gap between the study of materials and techniques with the study of people and communities. We discuss how the technology of small-scale gold mining in the region of Peixoto de Azevedo (Mato Grosso, Brazil) has changed since the early 1980s, giving particular attention to the recent introduction of two main innovations: the mechanized exploration drill and the cyanidation process. In this region, miners are successfully organized in cooperatives efforts to mutually reinforce the integration of innovative and effective techniques. Finally, we introduce the three notions of foresight (visão), agility (agilidade) and development (desenvolvimento) that emerged during fieldwork and conceptually frame the likeliness of acceptance and promulgation of innovations in this context. Sustainable mining may only succeed if a wider vision of the future of the sector (foresight) joins public policies that facilitate the practical process of innovation during each phase of its realization (agility) in order to achieve an advanced social status of the local community (development). Highlights • Technological innovation is connected to miners' perception of appropriate practices. • A sustainable mining occurs when technological innovation joins social innovation. • Foresight, agility and development are key concept for adopting technical innovation. • Forming local cooperatives ease the development of the small-scale mining sector.

An array of new programs gives students an opportunity to tackle issues of importance to their local communities.

This essay revisits the historical development of a concept – tecnologia social – as one avenue for discussing alternatives to post-development, arguing that the Western-based historical path of technology development is one of the main sources of growing human impoverishment, social inequalities and economic dependency. The concept of tecnologia social points towards political processes that create opportunities to redefine the arrangements among social groups, artefacts and methods used in everyday life, particularly for production and consumption. Because the post-development debate has been criticised for formulating a sound and strong critique to mainstream development but failing to propose concrete empirical alternatives, we seek to foster the debate through the Latin American concept of tecnologia social.

This essay revisits the historical development of a concept – tecnologia social – as one avenue for discussing alternatives to post-development, arguing that the Western-based historical path of technology development is one of the main sources of growing human impoverishment, social inequalities and economic dependency. The concept of tecnologia social points towards political processes that create opportunities to redefine the arrangements among social groups, artefacts and methods used in everyday life, particularly for production and consumption. Because the post-development debate has been criticised for formulating a sound and strong critique to mainstream development but failing to propose concrete empirical alternatives, we seek to foster the debate through the Latin American concept of tecnologia social.

Titre officiel : Recommandations du Groupe directeur chargé de la co-création de la stratégie d'innovation sociale et de finance sociale Le Canada est une terre d'innovateurs. Notre pays a une riche tradition d'innovation à des fins sociales et environnementales, que l'on pense aux peuples autochtones dont les sociétés ont prospéré grâce à l'interdépendance de leur culture et à leur ingéniosité, aux caisses populaires établies au tournant du 20e siècle pour assurer l'accès au crédit dans leur région ou encore aux premiers réseaux de bénévoles et de donateurs qui ont fait leur apparition pendant la Première Guerre mondiale pour recueillir les fonds à l'appui de leurs collectivités. Aujourd'hui, plus que jamais, nous devons tirer parti de cet esprit novateur. Les défis sociaux, économiques et environnementaux complexes auxquels fait face notre pays – l'itinérance, les changements climatiques, l'emploi des jeunes et la crise des opioïdes, pour ne nommer que ceux-là – exigent de la créativité et des solutions transformatrices. Si nous voulons faire mieux, il nous incombe de travailler différemment.

Titre officiel : Recommandations du Groupe directeur chargé de la co-création de la stratégie d'innovation sociale et de finance sociale Le Canada est une terre d'innovateurs. Notre pays a une riche tradition d'innovation à des fins sociales et environnementales, que l'on pense aux peuples autochtones dont les sociétés ont prospéré grâce à l'interdépendance de leur culture et à leur ingéniosité, aux caisses populaires établies au tournant du 20e siècle pour assurer l'accès au crédit dans leur région ou encore aux premiers réseaux de bénévoles et de donateurs qui ont fait leur apparition pendant la Première Guerre mondiale pour recueillir les fonds à l'appui de leurs collectivités. Aujourd'hui, plus que jamais, nous devons tirer parti de cet esprit novateur. Les défis sociaux, économiques et environnementaux complexes auxquels fait face notre pays – l'itinérance, les changements climatiques, l'emploi des jeunes et la crise des opioïdes, pour ne nommer que ceux-là – exigent de la créativité et des solutions transformatrices. Si nous voulons faire mieux, il nous incombe de travailler différemment.

Funding opportunities for social innovators are endless. If you have a good idea or initiative already, money can follow if you know where to look for.

Funding opportunities for social innovators are endless. If you have a good idea or initiative already, money can follow if you know where to look for.

Educating social innovators in higher education is of great importance as many societal challenges exist. This study combines experiential learning with ICT tools to provide students with the needed competences and experiences to solve societal challenges. We employ this approach in an innovative course, named Experts in Teamwork (EiT), which follows the experiential learning cycle. The participants of this study are undergraduate students interested to learn how they can solve societal challenges. Specifically, 26 students with various background and nationalities participated. A collaborative platform was developed that supports teamwork and cooperation, as well as the social innovation process. The findings show that this approach can influence positively learning outcomes and increase students' engagement and motivation with both social innovation and the learning process. Also, students' creativity was increased leading to the development of better solutions. The overall outcomes contribute to theoretical and practical development, to allow educators to take appropriate measures to enhance students' learning experience and foster social innovation through ICT.

Educating social innovators in higher education is of great importance as many societal challenges exist. This study combines experiential learning with ICT tools to provide students with the needed competences and experiences to solve societal challenges. We employ this approach in an innovative course, named Experts in Teamwork (EiT), which follows the experiential learning cycle. The participants of this study are undergraduate students interested to learn how they can solve societal challenges. Specifically, 26 students with various background and nationalities participated. A collaborative platform was developed that supports teamwork and cooperation, as well as the social innovation process. The findings show that this approach can influence positively learning outcomes and increase students' engagement and motivation with both social innovation and the learning process. Also, students' creativity was increased leading to the development of better solutions. The overall outcomes contribute to theoretical and practical development, to allow educators to take appropriate measures to enhance students' learning experience and foster social innovation through ICT.

This paper aims to present how contemporary students are self-organizing using smart technologies (ST) and the future social implications of ST. The research model is based on the concepts of the soft system methodology, social systems thinking, innovative smart systems, and cybernetic and knowledge management. Design/methodology/approach The study contains elements of exploratory and descriptive case studies. Narrative analysis and interpretation of the collected data have been carried out. Findings Students mostly use ST to save time when studying and in their free time. Students are surprised by how ST developed and are cautious when imagining how the technology will change and affect their lives. They are concerned regarding several ethical dilemmas of using it, such as privacy and spending time with their loved ones and friends. Students perceive their self-organization in the future as very dependent on the availability of ST in institutional settings (e.g. education and business process) as well as their personal lives. Students discuss their present perceptions about what the future will be and note that social system will be more dynamic in terms of socialization, and loss of personal contact with their friends and family is seen as the main threat. Research limitations/implications The research is qualitative, and the questionnaire was carried out among business students at the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Practical implications The paper offers an understanding of the usage of ST among business students. This study provides a road map of a few possible ways for usage of ST among students. The topic is also relevant for human resource managers, technology developers and marketing strategists for their better understanding of the behaviour of young people using ST in professional or private environments. Social implications The findings can be useful for professors in identifying different learning methods that are useful for their students. Originality/value The authors offer conceptualizations of ST within the social innovation framework and provide a contemporary understanding young people’s ST usage.

This paper aims to present how contemporary students are self-organizing using smart technologies (ST) and the future social implications of ST. The research model is based on the concepts of the soft system methodology, social systems thinking, innovative smart systems, and cybernetic and knowledge management. Design/methodology/approach The study contains elements of exploratory and descriptive case studies. Narrative analysis and interpretation of the collected data have been carried out. Findings Students mostly use ST to save time when studying and in their free time. Students are surprised by how ST developed and are cautious when imagining how the technology will change and affect their lives. They are concerned regarding several ethical dilemmas of using it, such as privacy and spending time with their loved ones and friends. Students perceive their self-organization in the future as very dependent on the availability of ST in institutional settings (e.g. education and business process) as well as their personal lives. Students discuss their present perceptions about what the future will be and note that social system will be more dynamic in terms of socialization, and loss of personal contact with their friends and family is seen as the main threat. Research limitations/implications The research is qualitative, and the questionnaire was carried out among business students at the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Practical implications The paper offers an understanding of the usage of ST among business students. This study provides a road map of a few possible ways for usage of ST among students. The topic is also relevant for human resource managers, technology developers and marketing strategists for their better understanding of the behaviour of young people using ST in professional or private environments. Social implications The findings can be useful for professors in identifying different learning methods that are useful for their students. Originality/value The authors offer conceptualizations of ST within the social innovation framework and provide a contemporary understanding young people’s ST usage.