Soziale Unternehmen: Akteur_innen Sozialer Innovation: Eine Spurensuche

Abstract

This article explores the contribution of social enterprises to social innovation. Starting with a clarification of the terms social innovation and social enterprises, linkages between the two concepts are sought on a theoretical basis. Afterwards, these connections are concretized on the basis of research on the development of social enterprises in Austria. Thereby, examples from social work are illustrated. In the development processes, various traces of social innovation can be identified, which relate in particular to the development of needs-oriented solutions. It also becomes apparent that contextual factors have a promoting or inhibiting effect on these innovative achievements.