Social Innovation at Midpoint Brabant: from ambitions to results

Researchers

• Tamara Metze
• Jasper de Vries

Funded by

• Midpoint Brabant

Period

• 2015-2016

Summary

In 2010, the region ‘Hart van Brabant’ in the South of the Netherlands, formulated the ambition to be the region of social innovation in the Netherlands and Europe. In the accompanying strategy the region formulated five goals: the establishment of a high profile institute on social innovation, the creation of an open-source knowledge and development platform (Midpoint Brabant), a better habitat for economic development, the development of new modes of governance, and the branding of the region. 

Now, after five years, the region wants to know what has become of these ambitions and the focus on social innovation. This study therefore seeks to answer the following questions: Is the theme of social innovation still relevant? To what extent is it complementary to technical innovations? Do new modes of governance contribute to the socio-economic success of the region? 

To answer these questions, a literature review was performed, a series of semi-structured interviews was performed, and policy documents were analyzed. In addition to these explorations, the study comprises of two sessions with the main actors in the area in order discuss the set up as well as the outcomes of the study and co-develop a trajectory for the Hart van Brabant region.