The 2024 edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII) places special emphasis on social entrepreneurship. This form of entrepreneurship is recognized as a model that offers innovative solutions to society’s most pressing challenges while promoting sustainability through market-based mechanisms. Commenting on the report, Isa Qasimov, Head of the "Enterprise Azerbaijan" portal at the Center for Analysis  of Economic Reforms and Communication, stated that an increasing number of entrepreneurs are launching new initiatives aimed at generating both strong social impact and economic sustainability. This approach enables the introduction of new and effective solutions in areas where traditional commercial enterprises have struggled to succeed.

When implemented effectively, social entrepreneurship forms a multifaceted activity that integrates financial sustainability with social development, creating shared value across societies and nations. According to the report, despite the growing significance of social entrepreneurship, it remains an underexplored area within traditional innovation research frameworks. However, the 2024 GII report provides a clearer perspective on the relationship between social entrepreneurship and innovation, calling for a stronger scientific approach in this field. A deeper and more comprehensive study of the socio-economic impacts of social entrepreneurship can enable stakeholders to make more informed and strategic decisions while fostering long-term, goal-oriented initiatives. Unlike short-term or episodic interventions, this approach lays the foundation for systematic and sustainable change. In this regard, the GII not only serves as an assessment tool for innovation ecosystems but also acts as a key catalyst for advancing innovation in both the public and private sectors.

According to Isa Qasimov, evaluations conducted in the field of social entrepreneurship help identify the necessary directions for expanding this model and increasing its effectiveness. By highlighting the key factors that drive the development of social entrepreneurship, the GII underscores the potential for building a more inclusive and sustainable innovation landscape on a global scale. The primary objective of social entrepreneurship is not solely profit generation but also providing societal benefits and driving social change. In other words, business activities within this model are shaped around addressing societal challenges.

Social entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in integrating vulnerable groups—including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and low-income families—into economic life. This contributes to social equity and fair development, expands labor markets, activates a larger share of human capital, and increases self-employment opportunities. Social entrepreneurs develop localized and innovative solutions tailored to societal needs, enhancing economic adaptability and fostering the growth of new sectors. In this context, social innovations offer alternative solutions to challenges that traditional economic models fail to address.

Isa Qasimov further noted that this type of entrepreneurship serves as a motivation for small businesses in regional areas, utilizes local resources effectively, and helps bridge the urban-rural divide, thereby promoting regional development. Additionally, social entrepreneurs alleviate the government's burden in social sectors by addressing community needs through independent initiatives. This, in turn, enables the state to manage its resources more efficiently.