Applying Strategic Niche Management to understand how universities contribute to the development of social innovation niches: the case of the Social Innovation Scientific Park in Colombia

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Sara Calvo Martinez
Andrés Morales
Jefferson Enrique Arias Gómez

Resumen

Little literature has looked at the role of universities promoting and supporting grassroots social innovations. This paper addresses this gap by examining how universities contribute to social innovation in Colombia. In seeking to develop a good understanding of how universities can contribute to the development of social innovation niches, we draw upon the Strategic Niche Management theory and the three areas of activity which constitute effective niche-building: social networks, expectations and visions and learning. We explore this phenomenon with the Parque Científico de Innovación Social, founded by Uniminuto University in 2012, using video case study research methodology. Findings suggest the important role played by Uniminuto University influencing the current higher education system regime by enhancing the development of social innovation niches. These results have implications for advancing the debate on the role of higher education institutions in contributing to the development of social innovation processes.

Poca literatura ha analizado el papel de las universidades promoviendo y apoyando las innovaciones sociales de base. Este documento aborda esta brecha al examinar cómo las universidades contribuyen a la innovación social en Colombia. Al tratar de desarrollar una buena comprensión de cómo las universidades pueden contribuir al desarrollo de nichos de innovación social, recurrimos a la teoría de Gestión Estratégica de Nichos y las tres áreas de actividad que constituyen la creación efectiva de nichos: redes sociales, expectativas y visiones y aprendizaje. Exploramos este fenómeno con el Parque Científico de Innovación Social, fundado por la Universidad de Uniminuto en 2012, utilizando la metodología de investigación de estudios de casos de video. Los hallazgos sugieren el importante papel desempeñado por la Universidad de Uniminuto que influye en el régimen actual del sistema de educación superior al mejorar el desarrollo de nichos de innovación social. Estos resultados tienen implicaciones para avanzar en el debate sobre el papel de las instituciones de educación superior en la contribución al desarrollo de los procesos de innovación social.

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Martinez, S. C., Morales, A., & Arias Gómez, J. E. (2018). Applying Strategic Niche Management to understand how universities contribute to the development of social innovation niches: the case of the Social Innovation Scientific Park in Colombia. RECERCA. Revista De Pensament I Anàlisi, (23), 95–130. https://doi.org/10.6035/Recerca.2018.23.5
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Biografía del autor/a

Sara Calvo Martinez, Middlesex University

Dr Sara Calvo is a Senior Lecturer in Organizational Behaviour and the Social Enterprise Champion at the Enterprise Development Hub at Middlesex University Business School. Her research interests include social enterprise, social innovation and the social and solidarity economy, the informal sector, ethnic minority enterprise, social enterprise support policy and visual research. She has carried out research in South America, Africa, Asia and Europe. She is also the co-founder and director of a social enterprise organisation, 'Living in Minca' (www.livinginminca.org) and a documentary filmmaker having participated in a number of international film festivals. Sara has published several papers in established international journals, book chapters and online websites.

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