The importance of social innovations in rural areas

Abstract

The aim of this study to analyze the difference between the classic sense of mechanical-technical innovation and the social innovation, as well as the analysis of the impact of social innovations on employmentenhancing and the role of it in the rural development. I have analysed the literature of the rural development and social innovation. The definition of social innovation in the literature is not yet uniform at the same time all, novel and innovative idea to overcome existing social problems can be considered as social innovation. The successful examples of social innovations play a key role; these can be observed in the local development or in the rural development. Those development strategies based on the participation of the rural society's members can be successful, which expect themselves as an innovation, and they suppose the renewal of the society. I have collected such social innovations (Hernadszentandras-innovative public employment program involving the Romanises, Belecska-social land program, Nemesvamos-innovative manager approach and Poroszlo-innovative tourism development) that have been developed in recent years either to develop underdeveloped areas or to catch-up deprived marginalized social groups and I have analysed these innovations and made some comparisons. As a result, the social innovations are playing an increasingly important role in rural development, as for the termination of the existing problems and it is also necessary the active involvement of the citizens and civil organizations. To do this, we need a local society that supports the local identity, the cohesion and the willing to do it locally.