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The Innovation Network
for Communities
Mission
To develop and spread scalable innovations that transform the performance of community systems.
Vision
Communities are supported by an integrated national system that helps them import, develop, scale and export social innovations with transformative potential.
Strategy
INC organizes production networks that design, prototype, launch, and scale place-based social innovations. These networks come in two types:
- National networks focused on developing innovations for national distribution.
- Place-based networks focused on organizing social innovation capacity in a specific community or region.
Social Innovation Niches
We are actively supporting the development of innovations in the following niches:
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Niche
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Innovations
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Urban Learning Systems
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· Urban learner “engagement schools”
· College completion models
· Urban school incubator
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Adult Workforce Development
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· Sector-based talent development systems
· Regional talent development systems
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Double Bottom Line Private Equity Investment Funds
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· DBL Investing Institute
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Urban Sustainability
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· Car sharing
· Community energy systems
· Equity-focused climate mitigation
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Transnational Immigrant Communities
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· Global immigrant social networks
· Remittance-based immigrant community funds
· Transnational Immigration Index for Communities
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Market-Driven Community Economic Development
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· Center for market-based economic development
· Regional development trusts
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Early Childhood Development
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· Early childhood innovation network
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Family Empowerment
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· Family empowerment networks
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Community Philanthropy
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· Rural development philanthropy
· Charitable Asset Stewards
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Community Innovation Infrastructure
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· Local social innovator networks
· Social innovation “store”
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Premises
- The process of social innovation can be systematized into a replicable practice at the community level.
- Systems change at the community level requires the ability to assemble an “ensemble” of innovations and integrate them together in a place.
- Social innovation at the community level can be supported and accelerated by a network of well-capitalized social innovation “production networks” that specialize in the design and development of social innovations for community systems.
Definitions
- Place-Based Social Innovation. We define a place-based social innovation as a new product, process, service, enterprise, or system that creates significant measurable improvements in the performance of any given community system. Transformative innovations will typically create improvements in the 40-50 percent range. A social innovation should only be considered successful when it is both financially sustainable and scalable, meaning it has a predictable flow of revenue and is not heavily dependent on conditions in a particular context.
- National Networks. There are three basic kinds of networks:
Connecting networks that allow easy flow of and access to information and transactions.
Aligning networks that develop and spread a particular identity and collective value proposition.
Production networks that foster joint action for specialized outcomes.
INC supports production networks focused on the identification of innovation opportunities within a specific content area. An innovation production network performs the same functions in the social sector that commercialization entities perform in the private sector. Innovation development networks are an emerging practice area in the social sector. Part R&D lab, part best-practice networker, part business incubator, and part intellectual-property commercializer, they provide a critical structural capacity for identifying innovation opportunities within a field or sector and designing, prototyping, incubating, and scaling innovations to meet those opportunities.
- Place-Based Networks. Place-based networks build capacity within a community or region to import, develop, scale and export social innovations. These networks will typically link four kinds of capacity: 1) community leadership and engagement to support a culture of social innovation; 2) local innovation management systems and standards; 3) networks of social entrepreneurs and social innovation brokers; and 4) a system for social innovation investing.
Contact Information
John Cleveland
john@in4c.net
616-240-9751
Pete Plastrik
pete@in4c.net
231-448-3169
URBAN SCHOOLS THAT WORK:
Lessons and Questions from Detroit's University Preparatory Academy
Downloaded 215 times since April 11, 2007.
NET GAINS:
A Handbook for Network Builders Seeking Social Change
Downloaded 1469 times since December 15, 2006.
YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP:
A Field Ripe for Investment
Downloaded 356 times since March 25, 2007.
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INC ARTICLE 05/08:
Climate Change
and the Poor
By John Cleveland
A look at integrating community development and urban climate mitigation.
INC ARTICLE 11/07:
Using Social Innovations to Transform Community Systems
By John Cleveland, Peter Plastrik & Bill Shutkin
How to accelerate, increase, and spread impact of place-based innovation.
WBUR News Series: The New Transnational Immigrants
By Alvaro Lima
Results from a recent survey of Brazilian immigrants in Massachusetts & a report on the growth of transnational immigration.
Social Networking for Social Innovation
By Karen Wolf
Scanning Internet social networking capacities & their potential value for social innovators.
Urban Schools that Work
By Doug Ross & Peter Plastrik
Lessons from a successful school in Detroitwhat works and what is still needed.
Net Gains Handbook
By Peter Plastrik & Madeleine Taylor
How nonprofits can use network-building strategies to increase their impact.
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