Assessing the Third Sector’s contribution to Innovativeness in Structurally Weak Regions in Germany

• In Event: NGO Innovation in Support of Development

Abstract

In our paper we aim to answer the question, in how far the organizations of the Third Sector (TSOs) increase innovativeness and thus contribute to a positive economic, political, ecological and social development of regions in Germany. We base our argument in established sociological works by Robert Putnam on Civil Society, Everett Rogers on diffusion of innovations and Mark Granovetter on networks and the strength of weak ties. In addition, we use evidence produced by an ongoing collaborative research project (GIs – Gesellschaftliche Innovationsfähigkeit stärken / Strengthening Societal Innovativeness) and review empirical findings for Germany and other European countries. The paper will focus on the hypothesis that innovation is driven by informal and formal networks that link up actors who are diverse i. a. regarding their sectoral and regional background. TSOs not only contribute to this diversity, but also create opportunities and provide spaces for formal and informal networking of these actors, resulting in innovations.

The capacity to innovate contributes to the potential of regions to actively shape processes of change, to increase quality of life and strengthen regional resilience (Trippl 2021). In Germany, structural and regional policies for equal opportunities and conditions of living used to focus on innovativeness in technology and for economic goals exclusively. Recently, there have been attempts to broaden this understanding, both in policy and research, to include not only new and better technology, but also intangible objects of innovation (ideas, practices, organizational forms, etc.), on the one hand, and not-for-profit purposes on the other hand. This broader understanding of innovation is usually subsumed under the catch-all term of “social innovation” (Zieliński et al. 2023).

This broader understanding of (social) innovation comes with the expectation that capacity for such innovation enables to better address current challenges such as climate change, demographic change, (forced) migration and social inequality. These are particularly challenging for weaker regions. Secondly, it brings new interest and attention to not-for-profit and non-governmental solutions (von Ravensburg et al. 2019). TSOs seem to be perfect candidates for innovations that combine economic, social and ecological goals. It is therefore timely and relevant to provide evidence in how far they actually provide this function.

Building on evidence from an ongoing study (see above), the paper will present a new composite indicator to measure the structural and performative capacity of civil society on a local level (NUTS-3) that will allow to compare different types of regions regarding various economic and non-economic variables. This will serve as a starting point for detailed analysis. For example, we are interested to see if TSO density and voluntary activity correlate with economic indicators across regions, or not, thus expanding the – so far very limited (Franzen & Botzen 2011) – base of evidence on the topic.

References

Franzen, Axel; Botzen, Katrin (2011): Vereine in Deutschland und ihr Beitrag zum Wohlstand der Regionen. In: Soziale Welt 62 (4), S. 391–413.
Göler von Ravensburg, N., Krlev, G., & Mildenberger, G. (2019). Social enterprises contributing to social innovation. In A world of new practices. München: oekom verlag. https://www.socialinnovationatlas.net/fileadmin/PDF/volume-2/02_SI-around-the-World/02_09_Social-Enterprises-Contributing-to-SI_GoelervonRavensburg-Krlev-Mildenberger.pdf
Granovetter, Mark S. (1973): The Strength of Weak Ties. In: American Journal of Sociology 78 (6), S. 1360–1380. DOI: 10.1086/225469.
Putnam, Robert D. (1993): Making democracy work. Civic traditions in modern Italy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Univ. Press.
Rogers, Everett M. (2003): Diffusion of innovations. Fifth edition. New York, London, Toronto, Sydney: Free Press.
Trippl, M. (2021). Neue Entwicklungen in der geographischen Innovationsforschung. GW Unterricht, 159, 5-15. https://doi.org/10.1553/gw-unterricht159s5.
Zieliński, F., Rabadjieva, M., Terstriep, J. & Mildenberger G. (2023). Wirkung Sozialer Innovationen. Eine Theoretische Annäherung. In Forschung Aktuell, 2023 (02), Gelsenkirchen: Institut Arbeit und Technik, Westfälische Hochschule Gelsenkirchen Bocholt Recklinghausen. www.iat.eu/media/forschungaktuell_2023-02.pdf

Authors

• Georg Mildenberger, Centre for Social Investment

• Filip Zielinski, CSI Universität Heidelberg