Social innovation is a relatively new concept in Russia. Despite the need felt by the government and people for new ideas in social fields, these emerging thoughts are rarely spread in society. But how to implement social innovation in Russia?
Challenges and advances in solving social problems
In today’s world, social innovation is used as an effective tool to solve social problems and reduce their negative effects. When traditional methods cannot solve new social challenges, social innovation appears as a useful solution.
In Russia, the concept of social innovation has recently been introduced. Unlike developed European countries where civil society plays an essential role, in Russia the government plays a big role in expanding social innovation activities. This issue is due to the existence of obstacles such as laws and financial issues that make it difficult to implement social innovation in this country. Also, Russians are generally less interested in participating in social affairs and often view social change more cautiously.
Despite these challenges, the first significant effort to support social innovation has come from the private sector. In 2007, the head of Lukoil company, Veget Elkprov, launched the “Our Future” foundation. Also in 2011, the Russian government created the “Strategic Programs Organization” to support non-profit organizations. One of the goals of this organization is to find social entrepreneurship ideas in different regions of Russia. Since 2013, Centers for Social Innovation (CISS) have been established to promote social entrepreneurship. However, these organizations fundamentally prefer to support small and medium-sized businesses rather than non-profit organizations with social goals. This tendency towards social entrepreneurship compared to non-profit organizations is influenced by government interests and the belief that the process of social entrepreneurship is very similar to small and medium businesses.
Despite all these challenges, social innovation is still happening across Russia. From 2007 to 2016, “Our Future” Foundation has supported 187 innovation projects. It should be noted that social innovation in Russia is mainly focused on health and social care (33%), education (25%), reducing disparities (20%), employment (19%) and ecology (4%).
Solutions and prominent role of non-governmental organizations in social innovation in Russia
In Russia, there are issues such as employment, health care for the elderly, and access to quality education that the government has not been able to solve well with conventional solutions. Currently, individuals, companies and non-profit organizations are taking the lead in finding new solutions. Non-governmental organizations play a key role and use technology to gather and apply Russian and foreign ideas.
Some institutions, such as social innovation centers and strategic planning systems, direct these efforts. However, the support of innovative projects from public sources depends more on their focus on a specific field than on a systematic approach.
In Russia, the main barriers to social innovation include financial constraints and lack of government support. Social entrepreneurship, which combines economic and social goals, has become a significant force for social innovation. However, the lack of clear rules has made it difficult to engage in these activities; On the other hand, the financial support of the government only reaches some specific organizations.
With these challenges, the number of social innovation projects is increasing annually. People feel the need for change, especially when government efforts are not working. In Russia, many projects operate on a philanthropic basis driven by the will of leaders and teamwork. However, financial sustainability for these projects is critical to their survival.
The future of social innovation in Russia
Now, in Russia, efforts are being made to create a favorable environment for nascent social ideas. As such, progress has been made through the formation of various groups that support these ideas, and the necessary infrastructure for social innovation is being built in Russia. People have gradually started to understand the importance of participation in society, which leads to the formation of new methods of cooperation. But there are still obstacles in the way of progress.
In the future, the government should play a greater role in managing social projects at the national and local levels. They should formulate clear rules and create a positive environment for the growth of nascent social ideas. The scientific community is also responsible. They should examine the theories and ideas behind social change and monitor their progress, as well as provide forecasts and plans, thereby guiding the government in this regard. With these measures, the spread of new social ideas will be easier and will help solve or reduce many of Russia’s social problems.
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