The Contribution of Social Innovation to Territorial Development: A Review of the Literature: The Case of the TAYSSIR Program in Morocco

Abstract

The concept of social innovation can be understood according to three approaches: a public policy modernization approach, a social enterprise approach and an institutionalist approach. Indeed, there are several definitions of social innovation that converge towards an effective, efficient and sustainable solution to economic and social problems. Social innovation can be defined as "any new approach, practice, intervention or product developed to improve a situation or to solve a social or socio-economic problem and that has found a buyer at the market, institutional, organizational or community level" (Bouchard, C.2010). The present work, which is intended to be theoretical, aims first to define and characterize the concept of social innovation, then to distinguish it from technological innovation and to present the main theories. The central question that this research work has to answer is to what extent does social innovation contribute to territorial development? As for territorial development, it can be analysed according to productive, technological, political and social approaches. The productive approach consists of geographically grouping together the different companies and actors working in the same activities in order to create a dynamic of local development. The technological approach, on the other hand, emphasizes social arrangements that can foster technological innovation within local firms.

At this stage, we can present the innovative experience in the fight against school drop-out entitled the TAYSSIR programme and its contribution to territorial development.

Keywords : Social innovation, territorial development, territorial governance, TAYSSIR programme.

Classification JEL : O 35

Paper type : Theoretical Research