Integrating social and responsible innovation for sustainable entrepreneurship: A metasynthesis of contemporary case studies

This article analyzes the possibilities for integrating Social Innovation (SI) and Responsible Innovation (RI) to guide the development of models of innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship. To this end, a metasynthesis was carried out, analyzing qualitative case studies published between 2021 and 2025, totaling 51 articles. The analysis resulted in four analytical propositions that distinguish the two fields in terms of focus (resolution of social demands versus ethical reflection), impact (systemic transformation versus normative alignment), forms of engagement (organic versus institutionalized collaboration) and locus of origin (bottom-up versus top-down). Based on these propositions, the study proposes a set of integrative guidelines for hybrid initiatives — reflective co-creation, ethical scalability, polycentric governance, and multidimensional evaluation — applicable to social enterprises, impact startups, sustainability-oriented organizations, and community initiatives. These guidelines articulate the normative foundations of IR with the participatory and contextual processes of SI, contributing to the theoretical advancement of the field of innovation and entrepreneurship guided by social, environmental and ethical values. The main contribution lies in the construction of an analytical model capable of guiding practices, public policies and organizational strategies committed to the transition to more responsible and transformative forms of innovation.