INNOVAZIONE SOCIALE NELLE STARTUP INNOVATIVE: UN APPROCCIO NARRATIVO

Abstract

In modern industrial Economies, the investments in innovation is a fundamental driver for growth in all local economy system. In this situati on, innovative start-up companies are taking an increasingly central role in several government ini tiatives as one of the possible drivers for economi c and social recovery. In addition, the innovative start -ups represent one of the bigger opportunity of wea lth sector in Europe. The aim of this paper is to ident ify and understand the critical elements that innov ative start-ups face, in the Calabria region and their im pact in relaunching the local economy. Accordingly to this aim it is necessary to identify the characteri stics of the Italian start-up companies in order to better understand the elements that support them; in this way it will be possible to suggest the design of appropriate public policies for regional business d evelopment. Design/methodology/approach – We propose a two step -based approach. Firstly, a literature review has been carried out in order to shape a wider understa nding of the innovation start-up, as well as to picture their characteristics and dynamics creation. After this, a qualitative approach has been adopted by combining narrative and cases study approaches loca ted in the Calabrian Region selected and investigated in accordance with the adopted researc h technique. Originality/value – This methodology puts in eviden ce how the analysis can contribute to better understand the traits of the phenomenon like the In novation Start-up. The attempt is to define and discuss concepts and variables that, through the an alyzed cases studies, could contribute to shape a theoretical model to be fully developed and tested with future research. Practical implications – The study can play a relev ant role in supporting a new innovative and social entrepreneurship. These entrepreneurial activities – as start-ups - are nowadays particularly importan t, especially when in most countries public funding is decreasing. Therefore, the study has an explorative role of analysis, which can be useful to generate research hypotheses for future works.