Collaboration networks for social innovation in the context of social incubators: Constitutive elements

Abstract

Social innovation is a concept that arises in a complex environment. Problems related to climate change, the global epidemic of chronic diseases and social inequality are challenges that the current political structure has not treated in an egalitarian approach. Experiences in social innovation point to collaborative work. Several types of players relate to finding solutions to the problems inherent in the less favored population. In this sense, the objective of this article is to identify the constituent elements of the collaboration network, which emerge in the context of social innovation. This is a qualitative and descriptive research, of the case study type, applied in a social incubator. The authors used documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews to collect the data. Based on the thematic analysis of the primary data, it was concluded that the constituent elements of the collaboration network in the context of social incubators are: partnerships (networks of players and types of partnerships); collaboration (mutual aid, commitment and trust); self-management (shared leadership, joint decision-making and shared processes); resources (financial, material and human); learning (training, lecture and sharing of experiences). It is also worth noting that economic, social and environmental sustainability, and empowerment (recognition and construction of identity) are recognized as a result of the collaboration network.