The 21st century has brought a cornucopia of new knowledge and technologies. But there has been little progress in our ability to solve social problems using social innovation – the deliberate invention of new solutions to meet social needs - across the globe. Geoff Mulgan is a pioneer in the global field of social innovation. Building on his experience advising international governments, businesses and foundations, he explains how it provides answers to today’s global social, economic and sustainability issues. He argues for matching R&D in technology and science with a socially focused R&D and harnessing creative imagination on a larger scale than ever before. Weaving together history, ideas, policy and practice, he shows how social innovation is now coming of age, offering a comprehensive view of what can be done to solve the global social challenges we face.Geoff Mulgan, a pioneer in the global field of social innovation – the deliberate invention of new solutions to meet social needs – explains how it provides answers to the most pressing global social, economic and sustainability problems. Building on his experience as a social entrepreneur, policy maker, funder and adviser to governments, businesses and foundations, he argues for matching research and development in technology and science with a socially focused research and development and for harnessing creative imagination on a larger scale than ever before. He shows how social innovation is now coming of age, offering a comprehensive view of what can be done to solve the global social challenges we face.