Societal innovation refers to a systemic change in the interplay of the state and civil society.
It is a relative of social innovation, but differs from it by considering the state to be an important co-creator in achieving sustainable systemic change.
In this sense, the term's origins lie beyond the traditional anglosaxon understanding for the concept of social innovation.
A formal definition exists [3] A societal innovation introduces a novel economic and/or social improvement to people’s everyday life.
It brings a (radical or incremental) systemic change to society’s structures or modes of operation, and it is legitimated by the majority of societal stakeholders.