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Nordic project on CSR-driven innovation

CSR-driven innovation is a process of innovation based on social or environmental regards. It contributes to the development of a cost-effective service or product that benefits the employees, the environment or society in new ways. For instance, CSR-driven innovation can support the development of handicap-friendly products, products contributing to reduce carbon emissions or products targeted at the world’s poorest client bases.

From 2007 to 2010, the Danish Government Centre for CSR conducted a Nordic project on CSR-driven innovation. The point of departure were that when companies are innovating based on societal needs and global challenges, society as a whole becomes more innovative and sustainable, and for companies – and their employees – new market opportunities will open.

The purpose of the project "CSR-driven innovation" were to underpin a competence boost among Danish and Nordic SMEs in the area of CSR-driven innovation. For instance, the project collected information on best practice and developed papers and tools for companies and entrepreneurs to use freely in order to realise their potential in CSR-driven innovation as a position of strength and an opportunity for growth.

The CSR-driven Innovation project involved Danish and international partners from the business world, the research world and national authorities such as the Danish Business Authority (the then Danish Commerce and Companies Agency) (project manager), Copenhagen Business School, the Finnish Ministry of Commerce, Index:, Business and Society Finland, Region Zealand and research representatives from universities in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. The project were financed by Nordic Innovation Centre, Region Zealand, TrygVesta and the Finnish Ministry of Commerce.

In January 2010, The Ideas Compass was launched. The Ideas Compass is the place where small and medium-sized companies can find inspiration to innovate and evolve. The focus of the website is on CSR-driven innovation – an innovation process focusing on current social and environmental needs which gives companies an opportunity to develop sustainable products or services.

The project was concluded in 2010 by a CSR innovation event called Ideas Factor - a competition among small and medium-sized companies from Region Zealand with a first price of DKK 100.000 (€ 13.500) to the best sustainable idea that was of benefit both to society and the company business.

An evaluation report, and a series of other documents are made available in English.

Complete list of partners

These partners were involved in the project:

Contact

Project Documents