Innovations have a direct impact on the emergence and development of new technologies, necessary solutions and the increase in the competitiveness of enterprises. The turbulence of the local and international environment forces business entities to take specific actions, including following the expectations of customers and a quick and appropriate response to social changes.

The change in the attitude of the economy from product to customer as the most important element of the market has also contributed to a change in the perspective of creating innovation. Among the product, process, marketing and organizational innovations, which are now a classic division, a new trend began to take shape social innovation. The main determinant of the popularity and development of social innovations are also open innovations, which are characterized by the use of both internal and external ideas in the market activity of enterprises

The existing definitions of social innovations are shaped primarily around the emerging benefits for a selected social group. One of the more general definitions points to "A new solution to a social problem that is more efficient, effective, sustainable or equitable than the existing solutions, and the benefits of this innovation primarily accrue to society as a whole, and not to private persons.

Innovations are not only created as a result of the desire to solve problems, but also as an additional, unexpected value, resulting from coincidences, or simply due to the development of technology. Often there are social innovations determinants of social, demographic, geopolitical, urban changes or any cultural changes reflected in the selected society.

The European Commission adopts a fairly general definition, which can be found as new ideas, services or models that better address social issues[1]. Entrepreneurship and self-employment help:

-        create jobs

-        develop skills

-        give unemployed and vulnerable people an opportunity to fully participate in society and the economy.

The Europe 2020 strategy recognises entrepreneurship and self-employment as key for achieving smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. In its support to entrepreneurship and self-employment, the European Commission focuses its efforts on[2]:

-        business start-ups by unemployed and people from vulnerable groups

-        support for social entrepreneurs

-        microfinance

The stimulus to create innovation is often the observation of the market, demographic processes or social attitudes

The basis for the further development of social innovations seems to be the information society, where one of the most important determinants is the efficiency of using resources in the form of information. Active participation of society in shaping changes is a consequence of the will to improve the quality of life. Where the quality of life can be understood as the comfort of life, taking into account the prohibition of wasting those elements that may raise it or prolong its duration

Social innovations, similarly to other types of innovations, should be characterized by an element of innovation, which does not necessarily have to be on a global scale. It is enough to refer to the country, industry or even the enterprise itself. The second important element is the implementation, i.e. the practical application of a specific solution or product. In the context of social innovations, the social benefits resulting from the implementation are also an important element. The profits from exploitation should primarily target the users (group or society as a whole).

Summarizing the analysis of the cited definitions of the concept

social innovations, for the purposes of this publication, a definition is introduced characterizing them as the implementation of a new solution or product characterized primarily by social benefits and the lack of financial benefits for bidders at the expense of users. To be more specific, it should be noted that the term "new" depends on the point of reference, changes may be qualified here only from the point of view of enterprises and new products on a global scale. On the other hand, social benefits are recognized as an improvement in the quality of life, and at the level of online commerce, an improvement for the e-customer online, both in terms of security, duration, economic benefits, as well as convenience and usefulness. The providers of social innovations are enterprises implementing them on the market, while the users are the society or any user group

[1] Employment, social Affairs & inclusion. (n.d.). Retrieved April 05, 2021, from https://ec.europa.eu/social/

[2] Supporting entrepreneurs and the self-employed. (n.d.). Retrieved April 05, 2021, from https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=952&langId=en