What do public authorities look for when adopting social innovations with the potential to transform public policy?
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A social initiative can deliver results, improve people’s lives and provide solutions to problems that once seemed difficult to address. But how can we ensure that an innovation that has proven its value reaches more people and becomes part of public policy? This is one of the key challenges facing social innovation: moving beyond individual initiatives to bring about system-wide change.
Scaling a social innovation is about more than replicating a successful project in other places or expanding its reach to benefit more people. It means ensuring that a solution can grow, adapt to different contexts and, above all, become embedded in public structures and policies to achieve lasting impact. Making this happen requires more than demonstrating that an initiative works. It also means understanding what public authorities need, the value an innovation can bring to them and the conditions necessary for its adoption.
So, what do public authorities expect from social innovation?
You can explore this question and many others on 13 November at the 14th European Forum on Experiences and Trends in Innovation for Inclusion, under the theme "Moving towards more innovative, more inclusive, and more connected systems". Organised by the European Network for Innovation for Inclusion and led by Action Against Hunger, the event will bring together professionals and organisations from across Europe to share knowledge and experience on how to drive systemic change through social innovation.
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“Challenges of scaling to influence systemic change” will be one of the forum’s sessions. Featuring Gorka Espiau, Director of the Agirre Lehendakaria Center (ALC) for Social and Political Studies, it will provide an opportunity to explore public authorities’ expectations, the key factors behind successful scaling and the opportunities for collaboration between public institutions and social organisations.
First and foremost, public authorities look for solutions that address real needs and are supported by evidence of their impact. They also seek proposals that can be integrated into existing structures, are sustainable over time and align with current policies and services. Collaboration between social organisations and public institutions is essential. Social organisations bring knowledge, experience and innovative approaches, while public institutions can provide the resources, networks and institutional framework needed to scale these solutions. The challenge, but also the opportunity, lies in developing solutions together, rather than simply transferring a project from one context to another.
HOW CAN WE MEASURE THE VALUE AND EFFICIENCY OF AN INNOVATION?
However, this process is not always straightforward. Social organisations may face funding constraints, limited resources, difficulties in demonstrating impact, or challenges related to public administrations' timelines and procedures. Moreover, an innovation that works in one area will not necessarily work in the same way in another. That is why scaling requires careful planning, adaptability, strong partnerships and a shared understanding of what needs to change.
How can these barriers be overcome, and what does it take for social innovation to shape public policy? Join us at the 14th European Forum to explore these questions.
Social innovation does not fulfil its full potential simply by proving that it works. Its true potential is realised when it transforms the way we address social challenges. The real challenge is to ensure that effective solutions move beyond isolated examples and become part of broader systemic change.