Barriers and incentives for
social innovation in Colombia:
Towards the construction of a
public policy in this field
Nazly Frías G.
National Planning Department (DNP)
Marcela Lozano B.
Colombian Observatory of Science and Technology (OCYT)
Santiago Aparicio V.
Ministry of Information Technology and Communications

OUTLINE
1. The context
2. Methodologies used in the
identification and prioritization of the
B&I for the PP
3. Main B&I identified
4. Public policy recommendations and
conclusions
2
Inspire other countries to design SI Public
Policy and propose a methodology

1. THE CONTEXT: COLOMBIA´S CHALLENGES
Challenges that require the
incorporation of new
alternative and
complementary mechanisms
into traditional public policy
(PP) strategies: + efficient,
sustainable & effective
Revista Mundo Minero
3

1. THE CONTEXT: COLOMBIA´S CHALLENGES
Innovation as a fundamental axis of all
development spheres
National Development Plan 2010-2014
Social Innovation (SI) as an alternative
and complimentary instrument of the
economic and social policy
4

2. THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS: PROPOSED METHODOLOGY
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2. THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS: NATIONAL NODE OF SOCIAL INNOVATION
A collective action platform for citizens, communities, Government and the
rest of societyʼs sectors relevant in the construction and implementation of SI
policies, programs and projects.
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2. THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS: MULTIPLE CASE STUDIES
The study of the SI processes as a social phenomenon requires an
understanding of the factors that contribute to the process, how to
combine these factors, what players intervene, and what are the
aspects of the institutional environment that strengthen/create
obstacles for said processes, among others.
7

ALLIANCE EAFIT UNIVERSITY UTÓPICA PROJECT
8

COMMUNITY SOCIO ECONOMIC SERVICES NETWORK. LAUDES INFANTIS
9

ESCUELA NUEVA
10

PARTICIPATIVE RURAL INNOVATION. PBA CORPORATION
11

HERMES, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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III. Identified
Barriers &
Incentives
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BARRIERS
Definition of challenges and experimentation phase: lack of financing for
pilots and prototypes and the weak coordination between players that
develop or promote the SI
Sustaining phase: lack of solid business models, lack of management
skills from the social innovator and the support on weak organizational
structures
Scaling phase: weak knowledge management capacity
Systemic change phase: institutional framework associated barriers
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INCENTIVES
1) Coordination between collaboration and cooperation players, through instruments such as
network creation
2) Financial resources to promote and consolidate SI
3) Citizen participation, community empowerment and the recognition of local knowledge
4) Systematization of processes
5) Publications, awards or recognitions as a way to favor their scaling and to promote a SI
Culture
6) Technical consulting services aimed at improving the capabilities of social innovators

IV.Recomendations

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
Progressive institutional arrangements for policy coordination
Develop specialized mechanisms to articulate the social needs and challenges with
the SNCTIʼs offer
Leverage the SI development in its different stages, through Public-Private
Partnerships
Creation of a cross-cutting body within the National Government that will promote the
use of SI approaches within government

CULTURAL DYNAMICS AND SOCIAL CAPITAL
Integrate the SI component within the promotion strategies for innovative culture and
entrepreneurship
Develop new platforms and enhance the existing volunteer and community service platforms
around SI practices
Promote through the use of ICT the involvement of communities and citizens through personal
and virtual mechanisms in public policy develompent
Promote the development of the social innovatorʼs capabilities based on partnership between
government and academic sector

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
Implement SI evaluation, measurement and systematization
initiatives
Develop and promote technology transfer schemes from
universities to third sector organizations and communities
Design and implement communication channels with social
innovators that will allow them to share their results and needs
Increase public spending for research and development focusing
on SI

SUPPORT SERVICES
Implement specialized instruments that target the existing public offer in matters of innovation and
entrepreneurshiph
Promote the use of philanthropic investment and CSR as a catalyst for early stage social
innovations to increase the initiativeʼs critical mass
Support the strengthening of the emerging group of social impact investment funds and financial
intermediaries that
Implement public-private scaling platforms that identify high impact initiatives and support their
scaling through the coordination of the existing financial and non-financial services
Fund created by the National Government to finance entrepreneurship through start-up capital.

V. CONCLUSIONS
The NNIS, as a policy design methodology, has proven to be a useful instrument to
strengthen the SI ecosystem, coordinating diverse national and regional stakeholders,
strengthening institutional capabilities and generating awareness about this subject in
the country.
In the case studies, the used methodology not only allowed the identification of
concrete facts, but also provided answers to the origin of those issues, attempting to
understand its causes and effects. This also shed light on the trends that help to
achieve an understanding of the countryʼs issue in in terms of SI.
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Nazly Frías G.
National Planning Department (DNP),
nfrias@dnp.gov.co
Marcela Lozano B.
Colombian Observatory of Science and Technology (OCYT)
mlozanob@ocyt.org
Santiago Aparicio V.
Ministry of Information Technology and Communications
saparicio@mintic.gov.co