Photography of the publication on a table.

Encyclopedia of Social Innovation: a new reference work collecting the current state of the art in social innovation research


From left to right: Marthe Zirngiebl, Jürgen Howaldt, Christoph Kaletka, Daniel Krüger, Karina Maldonado-Mariscal.


Published in October 2023 by Edward Elgar Publishing, the Encyclopedia of Social Innovation provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in the field of social innovation research.

Edited by Jürgen Howaldt and Christoph Kaletka and coordinated by the editorial team of the sfs researchers Marthe Zirngiebl, Daniel Krüger and Karina Maldonado-Mariscal, the Encyclopedia of Social Innovation offers an interdisciplinary and comprehensive summary of the current state of scientific research in the field. The 77 contributions by prominent international scholars outline the theoretical foundations, concepts, types, processes and measurement of social innovation. The entries cover a variety of key themes including social innovation ecosystems, co-creation, new technologies and methods, education, governance and policies. The Encyclopedia serves as a significant reference point for both scholars and students of the dynamically developing research field. It will also be beneficial for all those seeking to clarify various problem-solving routes in the face of contemporary societal challenges. The Encyclopedia of Social Innovation  published can be ordered here.