In the context of increasing economic hardships and retreating state responses in terms of welfare nets, social needs are growing and social divisions are getting sharpened. Philosophical foundations of Social innovations are expected to provide scalable and sustainable solutions to such unintended outcomes of current development process. Social innovations as new ideas (products, services and models) that simultaneously meet social needs (more effectively than alternatives) and create new social relationships or collaborations. They are innovations that are not only good for society but also enhance society’s capacity to act. Thus the transformatory potential of social innovations makes it essential to believe that the solution in itself is inadequate, but it rests upon its ability to engage in a dialogue and networking with the multiple stakeholders (Nyssens, 2006).

"Problem based learning" of Roskilde University and "People‐centred development" of Tata Institute of Social Sciences are considered here as important benchmarks of social innovations in addressing  complex socio‐developmental challenges of contemporary society. We consider that both these academic institutions have a critical role to play in developing a partnership‐based research and intervention framework for social innovation in the double perspective of enhancing a people’s democracy and the struggle for social justice and eventually expanding on "people centred social innovation (PCSI)".

Here the idea is to locate people at the centre of Social Innovation discourse which essentially requires that a fusion of knowledge horizons where knowledge is co‐created and development is collectively designed. Such practices contain a transformative potential that goes beyond local contexts. They can transcend mere micro‐public spheres to obtain greater transformative power on the wider society (Hulgård and Shajahan, 2013).

The round table on Research and Development for Social Innovation & People Centred Development is aimed as a platform to discuss a variety of arenas in creating partnerships, increased knowledge sharing between organizations and across sectors in identifying effective and promising solutions to the most pressing development concerns of the society. At the round table, ideas for promoting research and development in the social sector through evolving innovative approaches, building newer relationships and thereby co‐creating newer spaces for innovations for sustainable social impacts will be explored.

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