Social Innovation Assessment at the University Level

Abstract

Based on a literature review, our paper points out the need for an assessment model that could account social aspect of technological innovations generated in universities. Rather than quantitative metrics, using cases seems an appropriate approach to evaluate social innovations at universities to capture the richness of social impact. We further suggest the consideration of gathering information on four dimensions of social innovation to complement case approach: (1) the categories of beneficiaries who will benefit from social innovations, (2) the geographic location of impact, (3) the type of social innovations in terms of their output, and (4) the social benefit that innovation will bring. This paper ends with a few suggestions for further studies.