Support protecting single innovator (7)
I believe the answer is:
pioneer
'innovator' is the definition.
('pioneer' can be a synonym of 'innovator')
'support protecting single' is the wordplay.
'support' becomes 'pier' (pier is a kind of support).
'protecting' is an insertion indicator.
'single' becomes 'one' (I've seen this before).
'pier' placed around 'one' is 'PIONEER'.
(Other definitions for pioneer that I've seen before include "Trailblazer - initiate" , "Colonist" , "Innovate" , "person arriving early" , "spacecraft" .)