The challenge of social innovation : approaches and key mechanisms of development

Recently, a key motive for innovation has been the generation of economic value. Currently we are facing a challenge to develop new approaches to involving the public in solving social problems through innovation based on collaboration and cooperation. Consequently, there is an urgent requirement to shape a favorable environment for innovation, creating both economic and social value. The purpose of this study is to reveal mechanisms for the development of social innovation that can be successfully introduced and implemented in Russia. The advantage of a systems-based approach to social innovation is that social innovation is defined as institutional change leading to the emergence of new routines (traditions) or practices. The use of benchmarking, along with comparative and historical analysis, to study foreign experiences of social innovation makes it possible to identify best practice in creating the conditions needed to develop social innovations, organize innovation processes and promote systemic innovations. On the basis of information received, key mechanisms of social innovation were identified, including that of innovation mediation. The system capabilities of Living Labs in the promotion of social innovations were, in particular, investigated.peer-reviewe

Moscow youth non-governmental organizations as a youth behavior regulator

The Russian youth of today are inhomogeneous in terms of their composition, deeply polarized as to their social, national and ethnic characteristics and have unequal opportunities for starting their lives and careers.   The objective of this research is to identify the preventive influence of youth non-governmental organizations on the illegal activities of students and reduction of the manifestations of destructive behavior patterns. The obtained results have shown that the general mood of participants of youth non-governmental organizations consists in preservation of the identity of each non-governmental organization, defining it as a unique establishment with its own elaborated solutions and effectiveness. It has been found that the main focus areas of Moscow youth non-governmental organizations are very diverse and embrace nearly all spheres of social life