For many social entrepreneurs governments are a crucial source of income, but also a barrier to action because of their perceived inability to innovate and change. Yet most academics, commentators, and social activists recognise that genuine systemic global change requires institutional and political entrepreneurship. This panel will explore examples of state social entrepreneurship and will consider the question: to what extent is government the best solution or the biggest problem to addressing the big, ‘wicked’ dilemmas that we face today?