Social Innovation

Social Innovation

By Dr Arvind Kumar

Social innovation is about meeting the unmet social needs and improving social outcomes. According to José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, social innovation is about "tapping into the creativity of charities, associations and social entrepreneurs to find new ways of meeting pressing social needs, which are not adequately met by the market or the public sector and are directed towards vulnerable groups in society." The concept of "social innovation" was not widely understood by the wider public. The European Commission is encouraging civil society groups and so-called 'social entrepreneurs' to participate in a new EU-wide initiative to promote new approaches in the provision of public services. One of the main aims of this new initiative is to develop an interactive online database that will enable all kinds of social actors to learn about different approaches to the delivery of public services that are being tried out in other countries.

It will provide information about funding opportunities and facilitate new relationships between civil society organisations (CSOs), governments, public sector institutions, social service providers and private companies to tackle social issues as Europe strives to lift itself out of the economic downturn. In the framework of the strategy, the European Commission will implement seven flagship initiatives including the 'Innovation Union', presented in October 2010. The main aims of the EU's 'Innovation Union' are:

Ø To make EU into a world-class science performer;

Ø To remove obstacles to innovation; and

Ø To encourage public bodies and private companies to work together, notably through Innovation Partnerships between the European institutions, national and regional authorities and business.

Keeping in view the myriad problems facing India, social innovation seems right option.