Exploring the Research Landscape of Social Innovation – A deliverable of the project Social Innovation Community (SIC)

The report focus on the international field of social innovation research with its actors and networks, projects and initiatives, trends and topics, and achievements. The report mirros the thematic structure used in the EU funded project Social Innovation Community (SIC), which aims to create a ‘network of networks’ of social innovation actors by identifying, engaging and connecgting researchers, social innovators, citizens, policy makers, intermediaries, businesses, civil society organisations, public sector employees etc. SIC aims to deepen and strengthen different thematic communities and forge new connections between them. The report reflects upon these communites seperatly and provides an overview of the current research landscape in Europe and beyond. The purpose of this report is to allow for insights into the complex field of social innovation research through relatively short and not entirely academic articles. These insights should help to better understand what social innovation research is about, how it is organised through networks and communities and how it is related to practice in order to support the emergence of an inclusive social innovation research community which transcends European borders and research disciplines. The findings of the report can be used by all those who work in social innovation and are looking for new opportunities to get involved with a community, which is growing in a very dynamic way. Hence, one particular feature of this report is that it not only refers to usual suspects, but also reveals that there are important parts of the research landscape which are often not recognised as such. The report demonstrates ongoing processes of community building in all thematic areas under review. At the same time, it makes clear that more possibilities are needed for researchers to work on social innovation. Funding provided by the European Commission has been crucial for successful development of the area of social innovation. Hence, further funding opportunities will largely determine the future of social innovation and its research.