A Sustainable Approach to Territories and Employment? Lessons from Place-Based Social Innovations

This session aims to situate the question of innovation within both a territorial and social approach. Indeed, in the face of multiple challenges – such as the widening of inequalities, long-term unemployment, and the climate crisis, to name but a few – several experiments have chosen to act from a local anchor. These territorialized social innovations, exemplified by initiatives like Territoires Zéro Chômeur de Longue Durée, “Réussir ensemble,” the employment caravans, and the SEVE Emploi scheme, whether institutionally driven or not, rely on the mobilization of a broad range of local actors. They bring together residents, associations, institutions, and local businesses to devise concrete and contextually appropriate solutions for their territories. However, their implementation also raises questions regarding the challenges encountered and the fragility of their long-term sustainability. This session therefore also seeks to discuss these limitations.