Social innovation hubs: experiences of incubators as promoters of territorial development and urban regeneration

This study explores the intersection of social innovation, universities, and territorial dynamics, focusing on how these elements foster the development of social innovation hubs, specifically university incubators. Addressing gaps in existing literature, the research examines the institutional configurations, power relations, and strategies that support these processes, with a particular emphasis on the mutual relationship between social innovation and spatialisation processes. The research involved a comparative analysis of university incubators in Brazil, Argentina, and Italy, regions with significant yet distinct experiences of social innovation environments. Quantitative research analyzed 186 incubators in Brazil, 91 in Argentina, and 197 in Italy, followed by qualitative case studies of five incubators (two each in Brazil and Argentina, and one in Italy) deemed particularly relevant. The study employed qualitative methods, including biographical reconstructions of innovators and assessments of incubation approaches, to identify governance models of social incubators. Key findings reveal that in Latin American contexts, social incubators emerged as responses to economic crises, initially fostering grassroots solidarity and later serving as mechanisms for job creation and economic regeneration. The Brazilian and Argentinian incubators demonstrated a participatory and circular governance model, aligning with the Open Innovation paradigm, while the Italian case displayed a more unidirectional approach from university to territory. All the analyzed cases highlighted the critical role of universities in weaving relational networks among diverse actors, including educators, students, technicians, local businesses, artisans, and marginalized community members. This aligns with an infrastructuring approach that transcends traditional stakeholder frameworks, fostering ecosystem-based incubation to promote social and territorial innovation. The Latin American experiences were particularly notable for engaging traditionally marginalized actors through participatory methodologies, confirming the efficacy of quadruple and quintuple helix models in transforming social relations. Despite these advancements, the Italian case struggled to empower local actors fully, reflecting challenges in achieving capability-building—a key element in social innovation. The study identifies specific capabilities required to involve territorial actors in the quintuple helix model and emphasizes the importance of participatory, inclusive, and collaborative governance in transforming social relations to achieve economic, psychological, social, and political empowerment. While offering valuable insights into university-led social incubators, the study calls for further exploration of diverse forms of social innovation hubs across broader contexts and countries.