Innovation has always been one of humanity’s greatest driving forces. We invent, improve and innovate to create safer, more efficient and more well-functioning societies. But what is considered “better” changes over time. In the past, progress was often synonymous with “more” – more production, more consumption, more growth. Today, we are beginning to realize that a better world does not necessarily mean a bigger world, but rather a more balanced and meaningful one.
This insight creates a system shift where we need to think differently, not only in technology and economics, but in how we organize our societies and what we actually value.
From more to just enough – a new need shapes society
For many decades, societal development has been about maximizing welfare, consumption and accessibility. We have built cities around shopping malls, streamlined production to be able to buy cheaper goods and created a culture where ownership is seen as a measure of success.
But something is changing. More and more people are realizing that happiness does not come from owning more, but from experiencing more – meaning, community and creation. We are seeing a movement where people value time and relationships over things. Where consumption is no longer a hobby, but something we consciously engage with. Where we would rather grow our own food than chase discounts at the supermarket.
This shift is changing the way we build our societies. We are already seeing how spaces that were previously intended for shopping are being transformed into creative meeting places, urban gardens and cultural spaces. It is no longer about creating environments where we can buy, but where we can experience and create together.
System innovation – thinking holistically instead of optimizing
In this paradigm shift, we can no longer optimize individual parts of society without understanding how everything is connected. Simply making transportation more efficient without changing the way we work, simply building sustainable houses without thinking about social community, or simply investing in technology without changing people’s behavior – that is no longer enough. We need system innovation.
System innovation means that we look at the big picture and understand how technology, culture, rules and structures interact. It is about creating new conditions where people naturally choose more sustainable and meaningful behaviors, instead of being forced into them by rules and restrictions.
Examples of system innovation in social development:
- Circular cities: Where materials, energy and resources flow in cycles instead of being wasted.
- Car-free neighborhoods: Where people do not need a car to live comfortably, but are close to everything they need.
- Sharing economy as the norm: Where we borrow, rent and share instead of owning everything ourselves.
- Hybrid models for work and leisure: Where work and meaningful leisure are integrated in a way that reduces stress and increases quality of life.
When we understand that a better world is not about having more, but living better, new possibilities open up for how we organize our society.
Great as in good – a new view of success
In our current culture, the concepts of “great” as in “good” and “great” as in “large” are often mixed up. We measure success in numbers – money, square footage, number of employees, GDP growth. But what happens if we start to see success in a different way?
A billionaire can easily feel successful because he can buy whatever he wants, travel wherever he wants and do whatever he wants. But he can still experience an emptiness. Because what creates genuine joy is not consumption, but contributing and giving. People who help others, who create something of value for others, experience a deeper and more lasting happiness than those who only own.
This insight should permeate innovation in social development. Instead of chasing economic growth as an end in itself, we should create societies where people can experience joy by contributing, creating and sharing.
Innovation for a more humane society
Innovation in social development is no longer about making everything bigger, faster or more efficient. It’s about creating a world where we can live in balance – with ourselves, each other and nature.
It’s a paradigm shift where we move from building more shopping malls to creating more meeting places. From measuring success in ownership to valuing meaningfulness. From maximizing well-being to finding a level of “just well-being” where we have enough, but not at the expense of the planet or our quality of life.
When we redefine what a better world means, we create the conditions for innovation that really makes a difference – innovation that builds societies where people thrive, feel good and live sustainably. Because in the end, the greatest wealth is not what we own, but how we live.
