%0 Journal Article %J Technology Innovation Management Review %D 2019 %T Bridging Participatory Policy Trends and Research Traditions through Social Innovation %A Malin Lindberg %A Daniel Hallencreutz %A Anna Tengqvist %K action research %K co-creation %K innovation %K participatory research %K social innovation %X This study explores whether social innovation may serve as a bridge between participatory policy trends and research traditions when striving for improved societal relevance and impact of research and innovation (R&I). Despite their shared aim of relevance and impact through civic involvement, European R&I policies and participatory action research approaches seldom refer to each other or harness each other’s resources. The study advances the knowledge regarding how the participatory elements in the policies and research approaches relate through a participatory case study of a joint R&I process to develop a model for social innovation support in Sweden. The case study helps distinguish potential synergies between various degrees of involvement advocated in the policies and research approaches, as well as between the reliance on trending policy concepts vs. scientific notions of validity. Social innovation is perceived as a potential bridge between these elements, as it draws upon participatory academic traditions, while simultaneously tapping into current policy trends of co-creation, in the development of new approaches and solutions to societal challenges. %B Technology Innovation Management Review %I Talent First Network %C Ottawa %V 9 %P 27-36 %8 04/2019 %G eng %U https://timreview.ca/article/1231 %N 4 %1 Luleå University of Technology Malin Lindberg is a Professor at Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, where he specializes in participatory action research, in which knowledge is developed jointly by researchers and societal stakeholders. Her main topic of interest is inclusive forms of innovation and organization, with specific focus on social innovation, participatory innovation, and sustainable development. She has published several studies on policies, support, and management of inclusive innovation and organization in international anthologies and journals, for example, the International Journal of Innovation Management, the International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, the International Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and the European Public & Social Innovation Review. %2 WSP Daniel Hallencreutz is a Senior Consultant for WSP in Sweden. He specializes in participatory processes of regional development with a scholarly base in human geography. His main topic of interest is mechanisms of growth and societal change in clusters and innovation systems in various industrial and geographical contexts. His PhD thesis scrutinized growth patterns in Swedish clusters of design-intensive and cultural-products industries, such as multimedia, fashion, and music. He has managed several participatory evaluation processes of regional and national clusters and innovation systems, for example, in the European Regional Development Fund. %3 WSP Anna Tengqvist is a Senior Consultant for WSP in Sweden. She specializes in participatory processes of social sustainability, equality management, and gender mainstreaming. One of her main topics of interest is social innovation development and support, and in this area she has managed several co-creative evaluations of multi-actor platforms and projects on regional level. She has also managed several participatory model development processes for gender equality, equal opportunities, intersectionality, and accessibility in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. This work includes the development of a European standard for gender mainstreaming in the European Social Fund. %R http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/1231