Relevance of information sources to supporting social innovation outcomes in the service sector

Abstract

Despite the advancements made in comprehending the determinants of social innovation, there remain crucial aspects to explore concerning the collaborative process among actors within the innovation ecosystem and the utilization of information within this framework. This study aims to examine the impact of diverse information sources on social innovation outcomes in the service sector. Building upon estimating an innovation equation dependent on human capital, firm size, and research and development investment, this study utilizes micro-level data from the Chilean Innovation Survey spanning 2021-2022. Through probit regression analysis conducted on 522 service sector enterprises, we study the effects of various knowledge sources on social innovation outputs. The results reveal that institutional information sources derived from public research institutes significantly influence social innovation. Other knowledge sources have insignificant impacts on social innovation among service sector firms. This work has the novelty of focusing exclusively on the determinants of social innovation among service sector firms, finding that the only information source that significantly promotes social innovation in the service sector is from public research institutions. This finding enriches the comprehension of how diverse knowledge sources influence social innovation in the service sector, offering novel insights for firms and policymakers aiming to shape evidence-based innovation policies. This empirical evidence can be used to promote social innovation, leading to the development of new services that have the potential to address critical social issues, such as health, nutrition, education and security. © 2025, Czestochowa University of Technology. All rights reserved.