Social Innovation: Field Analysis and Gaps for Future Research

Abstract

Scientific publications on social innovation and interest in the subject have grown substantially in the last decade, evidencing the need for more studies in this direction. This study aimed to map the scientific publications and intellectual structure in the field of social innovation, through a bibliometric study. The bibliometric survey specifically considered the period 2006–2021, through data indexed by the SCOPUS database, which included journals with a high impact factor. A total of 1192 articles were analyzed using the software VOSviewer (VOS) 1.6.15, to graphically map the material. The results showed explosive growth in the academic literature on social innovation in the last decade; moreover, they allowed the identification of the main authors, articles, topics, institutions, and countries in the field. From the analyses, a theoretical framework structured with four main emphases (clusters) was evidenced: (1) social entrepreneurship and the third sector; (2) strategic management and innovation; (3) sociopolitical aspects, urban development, and governance; and (4) innovation and sustainability.