Social innovation and territory in municipalities: The Distrito Metropolitano de Quito case

Abstract

The concept of sustainable development combines a triple objective of social, economic and environmental improvement, goals sought by social innovations. The evolution of the Metropolitan District of Quito (dmq) in recent years has signaled a transformation, considered as a model of sustainable development. This paper analyzes the constitutive elements of social innovation and its diffusion process applied to the dmq case. The results prove that the transformation occurred in this Ecuadorian district can be considered a social innovation. The innovative process of diffusion of innovations is oriented from developing countries towards developed countries.