The co-working as a form of social innovation. A qualitative study of the reasons for creating co-working spaces

Abstract

Co-working is an emerging form of social innovation within the collaborative economy. It is a response to job insecurity and to the isolation experienced as a consequence of changes in forms of work by the creative classes and by entrepreneurs from certain sectors. Its growth has been basically limited to the last decade, so it remains in a stage of interpretive flexibility. A qualitative study was performed into coworking spaces in the city of Alicante (Valencia Region, Spain). Empirical data were used to explore this area, which revealed two different development dynamics in these spaces based on the professional profile of participants. It was therefore found that with co-working spaces being shaped differently depending on people's motivations.