In the last 20 years, publicly provided social services–a pillar of the Post-WW2 welfare states–
have experienced significant restructuring throughout Europe. An important stream of …

This article discusses localised forms of social innovation in social services in relation to
social policy and welfare issues. It draws upon research findings from the EU project …

In light of the major challenges facing societies and political and social systems in Europe,
there is an increasing focus on micro-scale social innovations. But what can such …

EU member states have seen high levels of unemployment in recent years especially
amongst young people. At the same time the fiscal crisis of welfare states has made it …

Socially innovative initiatives (SIIs) involve collective actions that aim at improving
opportunities for people threatened by a wide diversity of exclusionary processes or looking …

Social innovation as a concept has moved into the political limelight of many welfare
societies in Europe. It has become one of the key buzzwords, beloved by policymakers and …

In recent years, social innovation has become increasingly influential in both scholarship
and policy. It is the conceptual foundation for community-based trusts, think tanks, corporate …

The aim of this chapter is to understand the relationship between local welfare initiatives and
social innovation and how it varies across places. Since welfare policies must tackle …

1.1 InTrodUcTIon reading and talking about social innovation, as the authors of this chapter
have done for many years, do not necessarily make its scientific meaning unambiguously …

Social innovation discourses see in social challenges opportunities to make societies more
sustainable and cohesive through inclusive practices, coproduction and pro-active …