Social innovations as the foundation of inclusive local development

Melnyk, Liliya

Ternopil Ivan Puluj National Technical University, 56 Ruska str., Ternopil, 46001, Ukraine

Melnyk, L. (2025) Social innovations as the foundation of inclusive local development. Socio-Economic Problems and the State (electronic journal), Vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 40-51. URL: http://sepd.tntu.edu.ua/images/stories/pdf/2025/25mlmild.pdf

Scientific Journal "Socio-Economic Problems and the State"

2(33)

Dec-2025

Oct-2025

1-Jan-2026

Ternopil Ivan Puluj National Technical University

UA

Ternopil

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8844-5490

https://doi.org/10.33108/sepd2025.02.040

332.1:304

M14
O35
R11

social innovations
inclusive development
local communities
public participation
social integration
sustainable development
institutional mechanisms
social cohesioninstitutional mechanisms
social cohesion

12

40-51

40

51

The article examines the role of social innovations as a key factor in shaping inclusive local development amid the transformational processes taking place in Ukrainian society, particularly in the context of wartime challenges and post-war recovery. Theoretical generalization of the essence and main characteristics of social innovations has been carried out, and the interrelation between social innovations, inclusiveness, and local development has been revealed. The study presents a classification of social innovations according to their sphere of influence, purpose, level of social impact, and nature of stakeholder interaction. It is substantiated that social innovations serve as an instrument for enhancing social cohesion, strengthening trust in local institutions, expanding citizen participation in decision-making processes, and promoting equitable opportunities for different social groups. The paper analyzes the main theoretical models of inclusive development – the human development concept, the inclusive growth model, the concept of social inclusion, the model of inclusive local development, and the Four pillars model of inclusive development. Particular attention is paid to identifying the mechanisms of interaction between social innovations and inclusive development, including participatory governance, social partnership, the development of social innovation platforms, digitalization, and open innovation. It is proved that the implementation of these mechanisms contributes to meeting the needs of the population, transforming social relations, expanding access to resources and opportunities, as well as strengthening the resilience and sustainability of territorial communities. The results of the research confirm that social innovations are an essential precondition for the sustainable development of territorial communities, especially in the context of Ukraine’s post-war recovery. They contribute to the formation of a new culture of interaction based on the principles of inclusiveness, partnership, trust, and collective responsibility. Further research should focus on developing a system of indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of social innovations in communities, identifying the factors influencing their implementation, and defining practical models for scaling innovative approaches in the context of rebuilding and modernizing local development.

The authors received no direct funding for this research.

http://elartu.tntu.edu.ua/handle/lib/50827

2223-3822

Scientific Journal "Socio-Economic Problems and the State"

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https://economyandsociety.in.ua/journals/10_ukr/88.pdf
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Article

Scientific Journal "Socio-Economic Problems and the State", Vol.33, No.2