How can social innovators influence and shape policy and systems change?

As a social scientist and systems thinker, I think the best ways that social innovators can influence and shape policy and systems change is by developing the "narrative" test. What story can I tell given the current ecosystem and what story would I WANT to tell if things were as (I, my client, or another stakeholder) might want them to be. What would have to change? What would stay the same? How might I know if I'm successful? Narrative supports vision and quick recall...

Be active and curious about the system. Most usually you have be on right place at the right time with the right people so you have to learn to read the "signs". This also means taking calculated risks to anticipate and forecast where you should be going on the near future.

It's worth noting that the returns on investment in innovation are inherently linked to benefits for future generations. For instance, at Rahim Invest, our exclusive emphasis on DeepTech startups with a robust ESG strategy mirrors the emerging trend in the investment market. This trend underscores the significance of innovation, not just for the advancement of businesses today, but also for its role in shaping a better world for future generations. In essence, the focus on measuring the impact of innovation and aligning it with ESG principles represents a crucial stride towards responsible and meaningful progress.

Social innovators can shape policy and system changes by collaborating with stakeholders to demonstrate the tangible benefits of their innovations. Engaging in advocacy and public education, they can raise awareness and support for their causes. By leveraging data and evidence-based approaches, they can influence decision-making and promote scalable solutions. Building strategic partnerships facilitates broader impact, driving systemic change through innovative thinking and persistent action.

Social networking is one the key ingredients on almost anything interactive nowadays. Only engagement is not enough, you have to also create relationships with trust and mutual interest. Engagement you are making has to bring value and has to have a meaning if you want to influence the stakeholders efficiently.

I believe engaging with stakeholders is important for driving effective social innovation. As a founder of DiscoverSTEM, I have worked on policies and seen great results from involving educators, students, and industry partners early in the development process. By actively seeking their feedback and collaborating on solutions, I have been able to tailor our STEM programs to better meet their needs and overcome challenges. This approach has led to more effective and widely accepted educational tools. From my experience, building strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders not only enhances the relevance and impact of our work but also fosters a supportive network.

Engaging stakeholders in social innovation is key to creating impactful change. It’s essential to not only involve them but also to facilitate co-creation processes where stakeholders contribute to the development of solutions. This approach can lead to more sustainable and accepted outcomes. Additionally, using digital platforms can enhance stakeholder engagement by providing a space for broader and more inclusive participation, ensuring that all voices are heard and considered in the decision-making process.

Esta é a parte da política. Você precisa envolver se com as partes interessadas e precisa "jogar um jogo", por mais que você tente evitar isso. E você pode fazer isso sem perder a sua essência. Mas a verdade é que todas as partes interessadas precisam perceber o benefício que determinada a??o oferece, seja ele direto ou indireto.

Take calculated risks. If you play it safe, you risk losing a lot of learning possibilities. Experimenting different options systematically and strategically (and learning from them) gives you insights of the complete picture also. So create strategical experiment plan to follow (but leave space for changes)

Na minha experiência, uma boa prática é pilotar projetos em pequena escala para testar suposi??es e coletar dados. Usar esses resultados para ajustar e iterar as solu??es permite demonstrar seu impacto real e fornecer evidências sólidas para influenciar mudan?as em políticas e sistemas.

Experiment and learn, but do so wisely. You must make careful note of the variables involved in the experiment including the social contexts and the underlying systems in place. Afterwards, reasonable hypotheses must be made which can be tested against the variables you have identified. In your experiments, in which people may be testing your innovative idea or product, you must be ready to change the parameters or even pivot if your hypothesis is failing or you see your data being skewed. Also, be open to people's suggestions and ideas and take into account their feedback. In doing all these, you will have all the pieces in place to have an informed decision-making process to boost your innovations to really shape public policy.

Uma das grandes vantagens de se implementar uma inova??o social é que uma vez que ela é provada num universo reduzido ela pode ser replicada e multiplicada, principalmente neste cenário em que estamos falando do contexto político.

Trust and education are crucial for building an inclusive innovation landscape. Both Invent Together’s study on trust in patenting and the USPTO's National Strategy for Inclusive Innovation highlight trust and education as key factors. Resources like The Inventor’s Patent Academy, a free online patent education course, and the USPTO Patent Pro Bono program create opportunities for social innovation. To drive innovation, we need equal participation from all inventors, leveraging diverse perspectives to create solutions that benefit our society. Data from initiatives like the Idea Act is vital to understanding and increasing engagement in patenting. By raising awareness, we can shift narratives and shape policy for a strong IP ecosystem.

Social innovators can show policymakers and other decision-makers that their solutions are effective and can make a real difference in people's lives by sharing stories and examples from real work. This can be done through pilots, demonstrations, and rigorous impact evaluations. Partnering with other organisations, including government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses, to scale their solutions and advocate for policy change is a way to advocate - amplify their voices and have a greater impact. Key is the value of education on the issues that matter. Building interest, excitement and passion can increase the pressure on policymakers to act, and drive other innovators to bring their ideas forward.

Advocacy and communication are vital for social innovation, enabling the shift of public opinion and policy. It’s essential to leverage digital platforms for broader reach and to use data analytics to tailor messages for impact. Storytelling can humanize issues, making them relatable and urgent. Engaging with media and leveraging social networks can amplify the message, creating a movement that drives systemic change.

Use evidence-based advocacy to raise awareness about the issue, mobilize public support, and influence decision-makers. Develop compelling narratives and communication strategies to effectively convey the urgency and importance of the proposed policy and systems changes.

Social innovators can raise public awareness about pressing social issues and the need for policy and systems change. Through campaigns, media outreach, educational programs, and community events, innovators can mobilize public support and pressure policymakers to take action. This is demonstrated time and time again within the disabilities community. Encouraging increased access to tools, clothing and even footwear, not only supports the needs of the community but it doesn't take away from those that don't ordinarily need them.

Moonshots for Development (M4D), is an alliance comprising innovation labs and venture arms of multiple multilateral development banks. It stands out as one of the most impactful collaborative and co-creating communities.

Social innovators can drive policy and systems change by engaging with or establishing policy labs or innovation hubs, where stakeholders collaborate to co-create, test, and refine policies. These hubs accelerate the pace of change, fostering innovative solutions to complex societal challenges.

Os empreendedores sociais, talvez mais do que qualquer um outro tipo, podem ser fortemente apoiados por editais de fomento e acelera??o de projetos de impacto socioambiental. Esses editais, muitas vezes est?o atrelados a fundos perdidos de organiza??es públicas ou privadas. Com esse tipo de oportunidade, a organiza??o social pode receber um grande apoio de uma grande corpora??o, trazendo uma rela??o mutuamente benéfica para ambas as partes. Um grande exemplo a nivel mundial ocorre na rede de empreendedorismo social ENACTUS. Diversas grandes corpora??es como Cargill, KPMG, Unilever e Ford, alocam esfor?os e recursos financeiros para apoiarem negócios sociais proveniente dos estudantes universitários.

Collaborate with other social innovators, organizations, and institutions to leverage collective expertise, resources, and networks. Embrace participatory approaches that involve affected communities in the design, implementation, and evaluation of solutions.

Being a social innovator comes with power and great responsibility. This should be used to influence public policies and societal systems for the better and not for one's own personal gain. All that we should do as innovators is to create solutions for the public good that will benefit humanity long after we are gone. This will be a legacy that we will leave behind that will speak for us. There are so many persons with great influence who shape public opinion and affect policies for their own benefit, leaving different communities in society marginalised and in the dark. We must advocate against such, and ensure equity and equality while promoting beneficial goals and outcomes with our innovative ideas, works and products.