What is the Innovation Network for Communities and how can we develop scalable social innovations?

1. Developing Innovation Production Networks: A USA Experience Peter Plastrik The Innovation Network for Communities Presentation at “Summer School for Social Innovation” San Sebastian, Spain July 2008

3. The INC Mission is to develop and spread scalable innovations that transform the performance of community systems. www.in4c.net Pete Plastrik 231-448-3169 [email_address] John Cleveland 616-240-9751 [email_address]

8. Developing Scalable Social Innovations

11. INC’s Operating Framework

13. The Grand Design Community Innovation Infrastructure Urban Sustainability Transnational Communities Etc., Etc., Etc. Urban Education Adult Workforce Development Civic Engagement Double Bottom Line Investment Early Childhood Family Empowerment A set of well-capitalized innovation networks with a defined innovation agenda for community systems Living Cities Network Detroit Northern California Etc., Etc., Etc. West Michigan Boston Pittsburgh Northern New Hampshire NW Louisiana A network of communities that are intentionally building community innovation infrastructures Bay Area Distribution systems that efficiently connect communities with innovation sources.

15. Innovation Production Networks

16. Definition An organization or network of organizations that is focused on the identification of innovation opportunities within a sector, and the design, prototyping, incubation and scaling of innovations to meet those opportunities. An innovation network is the social equivalent of commercialization entities within the private sector. An innovation net is part R&D lab; part best practice networker; part business incubator; and part intellectual property commercializer.

17. Innovation Networks Under Development RW Ventures (Chicago) Community economic development approaches that expand economic activity in urban communities and reconnect underinvested assets, people, and places to the mainstream economy Market-Driven Community Economic Development Council for Adult & Experiential Learning; Jobs for the Future; National Association of Manufacturers Innovations that contribute to development of place- and sector-based integrated systems for adult WFD Workforce Development Alvaro Lima, Madeleine Taylor (Boston) Innovations that improve outcomes for transnational immigrants in US and other countries Transnational Immigrant Communities Sustainable Systems (SF Bay Area) Private equity funds for “double bottom line” investments in real estate and business development Double Bottom Line Equity Funds New Urban Learning (Detroit) Transformation of urban school districts with low-income, minority and immigrant students Urban Learning Systems Center for Neighborhood Technology (Chicago) Innovations that simultaneously improve environmental performance and advance equitable economic development Urban Sustainability Lead Partners Innovation Focus Network

22. Lessons about Innovation Production Net Development

27. Transnational Opportunities Create an International “Urban Learners” Innovation Network Explore Transnational Social Innovation Development

29. Some Elements of A “Field” Element Description Identity Definition of the “boundaries” of the field and the content it encompasses. Frameworks Intellectual structures for organizing field content and knowledge, including core field hypotheses. Practice Innovations New ways of doing things that emanate from the field hypotheses. These might be practices; processes; technologies; enterprises; or systems. Standards Professional standards of quality that can be encompassed in Best Management Practices; credentials; certifications; etc. Reward Systems Ways in which practice innovations are incentivized through public or private market mechanisms. Networks Connecting, aligning and production networks of players within the field. R&D Investments in field innovations.

30. Evolution of “Practice Fields” Stage 1: FRAMING. Stage 2: NETWORKING. Stage 3: MATURATION. Stage 4: STANDARDIZATION. Conceptual framing and isolated practice examples. Networking of innovators and the proliferation of practices. Practices are fragmented and often considered “proprietary.” Maturation of practices; convergence around common methods and tools; integration of previously differentiated practices; development of a professional implementation support network. Practices become highly standardized, and incorporated into formal training; credentialing and certification systems. Practices are considered “commodities.” Reward systems reinforce desired behaviors.

31. Characteristics of “Young” & “Mature” Fields Element Young Fields Mature Fields Identity Confused/multiple identities Well defined boundaries; easy to know what is “in” and “out” Frameworks Lack of integration between multiple frameworks Strongly shared frameworks (theoretical premises; principles; ways to organize knowledge) Practice Innovations Competing “gurus” each of whom consider their ideas and business models to be “proprietary” Standardization of methods, tools, enterprises, etc. for implementation Standards Lack of standards in all areas Well-defined professional standards for defining competence & quality (regulatory; skill certification; testing of innovations) Reward Systems No real feedback mechanisms from the market Market feedback matches best practice thinking Networks Isolated individual practitioners Well developed networks for sharing knowledge and best practice R&D Investment happens on a haphazard basis Well organized R&D infrastructure to support innovation