Preface
The goal of the Global Innovation Index (GII) is to be a holistic and flexible measure of the innovation happening all around the world today. To achieve this goal, the GII needs to go beyond capturing technological breakthroughs. It has also to account for the pioneering business models and social innovations driving positive change.
The 2024 edition of the GII focuses on social entrepreneurship, a model gaining prominence for its role in spearheading innovation aimed at addressing critical societal challenges. In recent years, an increasing cohort of entrepreneurs has embarked upon ventures that not only strive to achieve meaningful social impact, but also to be sustainable through market-based mechanisms. This innovative paradigm presents novel solutions in domains where traditional commercial enterprises have failed.
When executed aptly, social entrepreneurship promises shared value across communities and nations, facilitating the type of multidimensional value creation able to harmonize societal advancement with financial sustainability. Yet, despite its burgeoning significance, social entrepreneurship remains relatively unexplored within the traditional spheres of innovation research.
With this in mind, this 2024 edition of the GII sets out to provide an evidence-based foundation for advancing our understanding of social entrepreneurship as a significant driver of innovation. Rigorous research is now needed into how to cultivate an environment able to unleash the full innovation potential of social entrepreneurship. As co-editors of the GII, we remain committed to precise data and analytical rigor – principles with immense value that have been the cornerstone of the GII since its inception – and are proud to mobilize in order to cast additional light on the promising linkages between social entrepreneurship and innovation.
Developing comprehensive insights into the socioeconomic implications of social entrepreneurship empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions and implement strategic initiatives with a long-term impact, rather than resorting to sporadic actions yielding only anecdotal and short-lived effects. Within this context, the GII has a pivotal role to play as a catalyst for progress within both the public and private sectors. By objectively evaluating policies, initiatives, and the ecosystems that foster innovation, the GII can be instrumental in helping shape an informed landscape of global innovation practices, including social entrepreneurship.
Published annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the GII has consolidated its position as the world's leading benchmark study of innovation. This authoritative report is enriched by valuable insights drawn from Academic Network partners across 13 countries that further contribute to the GII’s status as the world’s leading innovation study.
With steadfast support from the leadership at WIPO, including Director General Daren Tang and Assistant Director General Marco Alemán, the dedicated team behind the GII continues in its effort to advance the quantification of innovation's crucial role as an engine for sustainable and inclusive development. It is our hope that the 2024 edition of the GII will prove to be a seminal contribution in highlighting the significant potential of social entrepreneurship as a powerful catalyst for innovation and for global good.
Soumitra Dutta
Founder and co-editor of the Global Innovation Index
Co-founder of the Portulans Institute
Bruno Lanvin
Co-editor of the Global Innovation Index
Co-founder of the Portulans Institute