Collaborative innovation presents itself as a promising method for crafting
innovative solutions to wicked problems. While the barriers and drivers of collaborative
innovation have been studied extensively in the expanding collaborative innovation
literature, there is still a need for more empirical studies of the role of public leadership
in overcoming the barriers and strengthening the drivers of collaborative innovation. In
order to contribute to this endeavour, this chapter conducts a cross-case analysis of 14
cases of collaborative innovation aimed at curbing gang violence in the city of
Copenhagen. The chapter provides empirically informed answers to the questions of
when and where leadership is particularly needed, what public leaders should be aware
of when leading collaborative innovation processes and how they should go about
developing innovative solutions to wicked problems such as the current Danish gang
problem.
Keywords: Collaborative innovation, gangs, leadership, public safety, wicked
problems.
