Social engagement:towards a typology of social innovation

Social innovation has seen several different interpretations and definitions in recent years. Either considered as innovation with a ‘social twist’, or a facet of social entrepreneurship, or an innovation type that has to be distinguished from other types, social innovation has been central in academic and policy discourses especially in the context of dealing with societal challenges. Given this increasing importance, the aim of this paper is to identify the special features of social innovation and thus clarify the fuzziness around the multiple definitions, conceptualisations and interpretations. In particular the development of a typology of social innovation types is attempted largely based on the role of society in the innovation cycle. The paper concludes with reflections on the analysis and policy implications.