Social Innovation Ecosystems in Times of Crisis: Rethinking Innovation Policy Through the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed structural weaknesses in health systems, economies, and governance frameworks, while simultaneously stimulating diverse forms of social innovation. This article examines the emergence and operation of Social Innovation Ecosystems (SIEs) during the crisis, drawing on a qualitative review of experiences from 34 countries. The objective is to analyze how these ecosystems were configured, the mechanisms that enabled their continuity, and the implications for the design of innovation policies. The findings highlight three main dimensions through which SIEs were mobilized: governance arrangements, digital platforms, and community resilience. These ecosystems brought together civil society, academia, government, and, in a more limited role, private-sector organizations, providing adaptive responses to urgent needs while also revealing challenges to their institutional consolidation. Conceptually, the article advances understanding of SIEs as experimental arrangements with potential to contribute to socio-technical transitions when embedded in inclusive policy frameworks. From a policy perspective, the study underlines the importance of flexible funding instruments, adaptive governance mechanisms, and collaborative infrastructures that integrate social innovation as a central component of regional and sustainable development.