Keynotes

Social Innovation is considered relevant to meet the great challenges faced by contemporary societies. Social innovation requires a commitment for solving social problems, involves different actors and interactions, and combines diverse knowledge to introduce solutions with manageable, if not predictable, long-term results. In this context, scientists are pointing to the need for a new contract between science and society to encourage stronger links between the scientific community and the rest of society. This need for societal transformation is reflected in European Union policies and calls for a transition from the knowledge society 1.0 to a knowledge society 2.0, from globalization 3.0 to industry 4.0, and recently to the promotion of innovation ecosystems as a more inclusive vision which emphasizes the ecologic and sustainable aspects of innovation systems. In this framework of societal transformation toward an innovation ecosystem, European universities are being required to reform and assume a role which includes societal engagement. 
Since the 1980s, European universities have become increasingly centralized due to a process of strategic modernization based on payment-by-results and managerial autonomy introduced to improve the productivity and efficiency of public spending. This has affected the relationship between universities and society by framing the value of university activities in cash terms, ranking university activities based on their strategic importance, and encouraging universities to focus on a few strategically important activities. Prioritizing engagement with the business sector has meant that other social engagement activities have become less visible and less valued. European universities have always been linked to their host societies and to provide a more understanding of university-community engagement in terms of the university’s contribution to society is needed. This conference will provide new knowledge of scientific and social interest, and can help universities to create the right conditions for being actively involved in social innovation processes.