Together for an innovative society

The laboratory started operating in a fortunate field, as social innovation is still a new area, thus, in the first year, the period of foundation was already full of new scientific findings and results. A complex and well-planned structure and research organization model was then built on these new scientific foundational and summative studies.

In addition to taking extensive and intensive research, the first steps have been taken to develop the system, and the basis for professional cooperation and partnership has been expanding consciously and continuously ever since. The Scientific Advisory Board, which plays a key role in quality assurance and provides connections in the field of science, has also been established. As a result, TINLAB can show concrete results in a large number and in various fields now.

RESEARCH REPORT: FOR THE FOUNDATION OF HUNGARIAN SOCIAL INNOVATION

For TINLAB to become a real knowledge centre and network node in the field of social innovation in Hungary, the partnership mainly had to carry out a comprehensive and thorough mapping work. The whole field of social innovation will be assisted by the completed theoretical framework, which identified 4 focus areas and identified 8 clusters / thematic areas:

• the social effects of digitalisation;
• cultural innovations and the creative industries;
• local development and good governance;
• environmental social innovations and climate;
• social welfare;
• the future of work, the social aspects of the economy of the future;
• human systems;
• social innovation management.

As the first step of the survey, 16 focus group interviews were conducted in the 8 thematic areas - with a wide range of social actors - followed by a questionnaire survey with nearly a thousand responses, and a research report summarizing the completed results.

THE RESEARCH MODEL IS BUILT ON FOUR FOCUS AREAS

The laboratory will carry out outstanding R & D & I activities in the following focus areas:

1. SOCIAL IMPACTS OF DIGITALIZATION FOCUS AREA

Digitalisation, while becoming part of everyday life, is still a challenge from a technological, economic and social point of view. Social (innovation) methods can be used to promote the uptake of digital technologies, the spread of new paradigms and the elimination of harmful effects.

In connection with the focus area, a research program examining online depression forums was launched using NLP, i.e., computer text analysis methodologies. Research has started on 'The latest - technical - solutions for modern public administration', 'The impact of digitalisation and automation on the labour market and social solidarity', 'The challenges of consumer protection in the digital age, online marketplaces' and 'Digital content delivery in consumer relations' topics as well. There were also two presentations on consumer protection research.Another sub-project, 'Attitude Research on Social Media and Smart Systems', focuses on FOMO (fear of missing out) and JOMO (joy of missing out) phenomena. The the accompanying questionnaire reached 450 respondents. (The study does not only focus on the general FOMO-JOMO phenomenon, but also links it to digital emotional intelligence, workplace FOMO, and other subfields.)

2. CULTURE, COMPETENCE AND HUMAN CAPITAL FOCUS AREA

A human resource is the totality of abilities, skills, and talents that an individual possesses and that includes competencies, knowledge, skills, and creativity. Social innovation means the implementation of new solutions that ultimately aim to improve the well-being of individuals and communities and to help integrate all actors in the information society. In addition to the launch of research on problems related to mathematics (dyscalculia, anxiety in education), this includes cultural playgrounds as well as research programs on teacher well-being and perspective development. A narrative skill test is being developed to assess the language status of children using storytelling methodology and it is already seen as a potential market exploitation. The study of social enterprises as teachable models and the study of generational knowledge transfer by digital means has also begun.

3. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL INNOVATIONS IMPROVING THE QUALITY-OF-LIFE FOCUS AREA

The consortium partners will carry out research in the following areas:

• the application of a science-based disability awareness-raising program in a market environment;
• circular economy - waste management;
• strengthening quality news consumption: developing critical attitudes and media literacy by developing a fact-finding tool;
• developing a measurement tool and measurement practice to measure the readiness to accept smart developments;
• the transformation of industrial relations, social dialogue and the future of work;
• SHAKES subproject: a prototype of a development for a novel diagnosis of autism in preschool has been completed.

4. DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL INNOVATION METHODOLOGIES FOCUS AREA

Research on social innovation constantly requires the development of newer and more accurate methodologies.With new solutions to research processes, not only the field of social research, but also technological innovation can use new methodological services and tools. The plans include the launch of research examining the factors influencing the spread of technological innovations and new paradigms, as well as identifying the economic and legal aspects of the spread of innovations. NetSur App research, which renews representative sampling with a new methodology, has been launched to develop an application that enables representative sampling (using controlled sampling) for different target groups, responding to one of the most pressing problems in market and public opinion research, and growing internationally. This focus area includes the innovation program that will help fulfill the gender equality agenda in the Horizon Europe Program. The project SegítéSEK is a development related to the topic of helping and volunteering.

KNOWLEDGE CENTER ACTIVITIES AND RESEARCH SUPPORT

TINLAB has been doing serious professional research in the short time passed so far. In addition to the comprehensive Research Report already mentioned, it summarized the new scientific findings in two publications.

The 'White Book on Social Innovation' was drafted in order to progress and shape the general concept of social innovation, including the formulation of a legislative proposal that would lay new foundations for the legal recognition of innovation. The book was published in 150 copies. This may be discussed and finalized later.

The 'Collection of Good Practices for Social Innovation' presents 20 good practices and analyses them based on a unified research framework and has also been published in 150 copies.

THEMATIC FORUMS - WHERE EVERYTHING BECOMES REALITY

The thematic forums related to the topic clusters are strategically important forums and organizations for the operation and professional implementation of TINLAB. The main driving force is the mobilization and involvement of the widest possible range of quadruple helix, or “quadruple spiral” - government, economic actors, academia, civilians. In addition, special attention is paid to the flow of knowledge and networking between the thematic forums during the operation. The embeddedness of the research results is also ensured by the thematic forums through the test environments, the so-called providing living labs.

PILOT PROJECTS AND MENTOR NETWORK

The aim of the pilots is to test the methods and activities that help to solve the targeted social problem and to examine their applicability. The instrument provides an opportunity to finance the development costs of social innovation by external actors. In April 2022, the first eight pilot projects will be selected and launched. The organization and operation of the mentoring network is closely related to the implementation of the pilot program.The aim is for active mentors in each of the eight thematic areas to help implement projects and initiatives.

TRAININGS AND EVENTS PROMOTE SOCIAL INNOVATION

Three of TINLAB's four partners are universities (ELTE, University of Miskolc, University of Pannonia); hence, there was no delay in exploiting its potential for education and knowledge sharing. The social innovation manager training was accredited and conducted at all three institutions already in the first year, through which 105 students obtained a management certificate. Meanwhile, the social innovation mentor training has also been planned.

Already in the first year of operation, several conferences were organized by TINLAB. A major professional social innovation event was the International Workshop on Strategy of Social Innovation. The aim of the event was to further improve the already developed White Book and the definition of social innovation and put it into social debate. TINLAB-URBAN21 - 'Social innovation, the future of innovation?' conference focused on the importance of local innovation. A separate Social Innovation Section was held at the first Innovation Conference of the University of Pannonia.

In addition, we will report on the first concrete results of this research and development in May.