In and out of sync: The challenge of growing social innovations

This research study examined how social innovations grow, drawing on analysis and case studies. These range from the Big Issue magazine to extended schools, and from Ohmynews (South Korea’s very successful new online media organisation) to Alcoholics Anonymous and Surestart. It provides a novel way of thinking about how good ideas get put into practice – sometimes by being taken up and copied, sometimes through the growth of a single organisation.

The research looked at how innovators work hard not just on making their innovations workable but also on creating demand for their ideas – recognition for example of the importance of helping rough sleepers, or of the need for carbon accounts. It studied the range of organisational options open to innovators – from broad diffusion, through federations, franchises, licensing to organisational growth. And addressed some of the weaknesses in the social innovation field which make it harder for good ideas to grow: the lack of effective markets for innovation; the absence of strong intermediary organisations of the kind that exist in science and technology; and weak understanding on the part of policy makers in governments.

Finally, the study provided a toolkit for the various players involved in the field – including innovators themselves, funders and policy makers – helping to guide them on where best to direct time and money.

To download the report, please click here