Global Center for Technology Transfer, Arizona State U., United States
The purpose of this research is to explore how social innovation ecosystems utilize resources and which roles are played by universities in contributing to building these ecosystems in the Global South. Resource Orchestration Theory is utilized to identify four critical roles that universities play at the meso-level organizational processes: bridging, configuring, involving, and facilitating. To fulfill these roles, universities use their core functions, collaborate with stakeholders, and work with social entrepreneurs and other participants in the ecosystem. Understanding these roles is especially significant in the Global South context, which faces sustainability challenges due to limited access to diverse resources across ecosystems. It enables universities to promote social innovation while effectively managing resource utilization. However, it's important to note that resource orchestration also comes with implicit responsibilities and risks that universities must navigate in this intricate process.
