As the fields of social entrepreneurship and social enterprise develop in practice, it is imperative that the academic theory related to these fields evolves as well. The Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) is one publication well known and respected for providing consistent research and practice-based knowledge to readers who are working to make the world a better place. Great Bay is a SSIR subscriber, and I’m sure we’ll be blogging about many of its articles as time goes on.

Today, however, I’m writing to highlight Innovations, a quarterly academic journal published by MIT Press. The journal’s content focuses on the intersection between technology, governance, and globalization. Innovations’ audience includes entrepreneurial public servants, entrepreneurs with a “public conscience,” innovators, and scholars interested in innovation. The journal’s authors include a former head of state, the founder and CEO of the World Economic Forum, a former director of the U.S. National Science Foundation, former university presidents, MacArthur Fellows, Ashoka Fellows, Skoll awardees, and Schwab Social Entrepreneurs.

According to the Innovations website, the publication is based on “two simple premises”: (1) “while culture and economics do create significant differences among populations, creativity is a characteristic shared by people everywhere”; and (2) “while many pressing societal challenges are global, their solutions are local.” The site states, “Innovations in one place can inform and inspire innovations elsewhere.” We couldn’t agree more with this statement, as social entrepreneurs’ efforts often serve as catalysts for large-scale, fundamental social change. Great Bay grantee Kathy Freund, who founded the Independent Transportation Network™ and ITNAmerica®, is a great example.

If you’re interested in learning more about Innovations, many of its articles are available free of charge online (until August 30th). Here’s a quick sample of a few that you might find interesting and relevant to your work:

“Empowering the Rural Poor to Develop Themselves: The Barefoot Approach” (Bunker Roy and Jessie Hardigan, in the Spring 2008 issue)

“Toward an Entrepreneurial Society: Why Measurement Matters” (Carl J. Schramm, Winter 2008 issue)

“Social Innovators with a Business Case: Facing 21st Century Challenges One Market at a Time” (Klais Schwab and Pamela Hartigan, Fall 2006 issue)

Are you aware of other academic publications that offer research and practice-based information for social entrepreneurs?