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ThePublicPolicyForumworkswithalllevelsofgovernmentandthepublicservice,theprivatesector,labour,post-secondaryinstitutions,NGOsandIndigenousgroupstoimprovepolicyoutcomesforCanadians.Asanon-partisan,member-basedorganization,weworkfrom"inclusiontoconclusion,"byconveningdiscussionsonfundamentalpolicyissuesandbyidentifyingnewoptionsandpathsforward.For30years,thePublicPolicyForumhasbrokendownbarriersamongsectors,contributingtomeaningfulchangethatbuildsabetterCanada.©2016,PublicPolicyForumOttawaOffice1400-130,rueAlbertStreetOttawa,ON,Canada,K1P5G4Tel/Tél:613.238.7160Fax:Téléc:613.238.7990www.ppforum.ca|@ppforumca
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SocialInnovationGeneration(SiG)isacollaborativepartnershiporiginallyconceivedin2007byTheJ.W.McConnellFamilyFoundationanddevelopedinpartnershipwiththeUniversityofWaterloo’sWaterlooInstituteforSocialInnovationandResilience(WISIR),theMaRSDiscoveryDistrict,andthePLANInstitute.Ourultimategoalistobeacatalystforsupportingwholesystemchangebycontributingtochangingthebroadereconomic,culturalandpolicycontextinCanadatoallowsocialinnovationstoflourish.SiGintentionallyengagespartnersacrossallsectorstocreateacultureofcontinuoussocialinnovation.Workingwithmanyotherorganizationsandsocialinnovators,SiGhasadvancedtheconceptsandtoolsofsocialinnovation,socialfinance,socialentrepreneurship,sociallabsandcross-sectorpartnershipbuildingtoCanada.SiGendeavourstorolemodelhownewcollaborativepartnershipsaccelerateourabilitytosolvecomplexandperniciousproblems.
Ourcurrentfociincludes:enhancingsocialimpactbybuildingsectoralandregionalsocialinnovationnetworksandecosystems,exploringhowsocialinnovationcancontributetoreconciliationbetweenaboriginalandnon-aboriginalCanadians,andimprovingthesocialimpactofCanada’sinnovationsystembydeepeningtheintegrationanddeploymentofsocialinnovationwithinit.
MaRSCentre101CollegeStreetToronto,ON,Canada,K1P5G4Tel/Tél:613.238.7160http://www.sigeneration.ca|@sigeneration
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TableofContents
Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................................................5
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................6
Takingan“IntegratedInnovation”ApproachtodriveInclusiveGrowth............................................7
CultivatingaCultureandPracticeofInnovation.................................................................................8
StrengtheningInnovationCapacityinSocialImpactSector................................................................8
BetterConnectingCanada’sSocialInnovationSystem.......................................................................9
ActionableRecommendations.....................................................................................................................9
Createacommonsupportplatform:ACross-sectorWorkingGrouponSocialInnovation................9
Advocatefora“CentreforSocialEvidence”....................................................................................9
HostaCanadian‘IntegratedInnovation’Summit..............................................................................10
AppendixA:Agenda……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...11
AppendixB:ParticipantsList………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….12
AppendixC:GlossaryofTerms………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………13
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Acknowledgements
ThissummarydocumentwasauthoredbyVinodRajasekaran,FellowwithSocialInnovationGeneration(SiG)andDarrenTouch,AssociatewithPublicPolicyForum.
ThedocumentalsobenefittedfromtheinsightandobservationsofTimDraimin,ExecutiveDirectorofSiG,EdwardGreenspon,CEOofPublicPolicyForum,andJeannieDempster,Vice-PresidentofPublicPolicyForum.
SiGandPublicPolicyForumthanktheroundtableparticipantsfortheirtimeandperspectives,andacknowledgetheinvolvementofEmploymentandSocialDevelopmentCanadainsupportingthisimportantdialogue.
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Introduction
SocialinnovationhelpstoadvanceCanadians’wellbeingandinclusivegrowth.Socialinnovationsarethosenewprocesses,products,programs,policiesandservicesthatfocusonimprovingthesocialandecologicalwellbeingofourcommunitiesbytacklingtherootcausesofcomplexchallenges.AsimportantasScience,Technology,EngineeringandMaths(STEM)andbusinessinnovationare,ourmodernchallenges—rangingfrompreventablechronicdiseasetosocialhousingtoindigenouseducationandmentalhealth—demandsolutionsthattakeadvantageofourcombinedinnovationDNA,includingsocialinnovation.
TheFederalgovernmenthasbeenmakingprogressbyidentifyingandadvancingdistinctopportunitiesindeployingsocialinnovation,including:socialimpactbonds,registereddisabilitysavingsplan,communityandcollegesocialinnovationfund,amongothers.Moreover,socialinnovationishighlightedinanumberofmandateletters,includingin:DepartmentofInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopment,DepartmentofEmploymentandSocialDevelopment,andDepartmentofPublicServicesandProcurement,amongothers.
Socialinnovationisanevidence-backedapproach,whichisseeingincreasinginvestmentandpolicyadvancesinmanyjurisdictionsaroundtheworld.InCanada,despitesomesignificanteffortsandfocusinrecentyears,thefieldofsocialinnovationlagsbehindintermsofinfrastructure,capacity,policydevelopment,incentives,andinvestment.Notwithstandingthefield'sevolution,Canadians'aregainingareputationforbeingworldclasssocialinnovators.
SocialInnovationGeneration(SiG)andPublicPolicyForumbelievethatCanadacanandshouldbeagloballeaderinharnessingsocialinnovationtoenhancetheimpactofCanada'sinnovationprowess.
HowmightweseizetheopportunityoftheReviewofCanada'sInnovationPolicytoshapeaninnovationstrategythatalsosupportsnewandscale-readyinnovationsthataccelerateCanadians’wellbeing?
ItisimportantforCanadatoidentifytheconditionsthatenablesocialinnovationpriortothepolicyprocessonsocialinnovationandinnovationbroadly.Toadvancethisobjective,onMay18th,2016,PublicPolicyForumandSiGconvenedfederalgovernment,socialentrepreneurs,academia,socialinnovationintermediaries,andbusinessleadersinOttawa.Notableparticipantsinclude:JohnKnubley,DeputyMinisterforInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopment;BlairMcMurren,DirectorofSocialInnovationforEmploymentandSocialDevelopmentCanada;TonyaSurman,CEOofCentreforSocialInnovation;AilishCampbell,AssistantDeputyMinisterforFinanceCanada;YancyCraig,HeadofStrategicDevelopmentforNationalAssociationofFriendshipCentres,and;SandraOdendahl,SeniorDirectorforSocialInnovationatRoyalBankofCanada.Theroundtable,although,intimatebydesign,
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comprisedofindividualsindiversesectorsanddisciplines.ThegoalwastoexplorehowCanadacanintegrateandleveragethestrengthsofSTEM,business,andsocialinnovationinordertoadvancechallengesonallfronts,withaparticularfocusondevelopingnewapproachestolongstandingsocialissues.
Thepurposeoftheroundtablewasto:
• Hostandcurateanewenvironmentbetweenmultiplesectorsforamoreconstructiveco-explorationofinnovationpolicytoolsandprogramstoadvancesocialinnovation;
• Deepentheawarenessofroleofsocialinnovationtodrivingoverallinnovation,and;
• Generateconsensusaroundadvancingnewwaysofco-creatinginnovationstrategy.
Throughfacilitateddiscussions,wegainedinsightintotheperspectivesonCanada’scurrentinnovationecosystem,barriersfororganizationsadvancingwellbeingusingsocialinnovation,andidentifiedpolicychangesandconditionsforstrengtheningsocialinnovationinCanada.
Theroundtableconsistedoftworoundsofdiscussions.ThefirstcentredaroundsurfacingbarriersthatpreventCanadafromunleashingthesocialimpactsector’sinnovationpotentialandidentifyinggapsinCanada’ssocialinnovationecosystem.Theseconddiscussioncentredaroundidentifyingwhatpolicychanges,conditions,policyinnovations,incentivesandinvestmentswouldbestremovethosebarriers.DiscussionswereunderChathamHouseRules.TheroundtablewasopenedbyStephenHuddart,PresidentandCEOofTheJ.W.McConnellFamilyFoundationandVictoriaLennox,Co-FounderandCEOofStartupCanada.StephensharedexamplesofthepositiveimpactthusfarofCanada’sphilanthropicsectorsupportingsocialinnovationandhelpingtogrowthefieldofsocialinnovation,inparticularthecontributionsofTheJ.W.McConnellFamilyFoundation.Inthisregard,heinvitedparticipantstoconsiderthecompellingopportunityspaceatpresentaroundhelpingtosupportgovernmentinplacingsocialinnovationasacorecomponentofCanada’sinnovationagenda.VictoriasharedhighlightsinsocialinnovationfromStartupCanada’sDayontheHill,includingtherecurringthemeoftheneedforsocialinnovationtoachieveCanada’sgoalofinclusivegrowth.TheroundtablewasmoderatedbyTimBrodhead,SeniorFellowofSiG.
Thissummarydocumenthighlightskeythemesfromthediscussionsandidentifieswhereadditionalactionwasrecommendedbytheparticipants.
Thefollowingarefourkeythemesthatemergedthroughthetworoundsofdiscussion.
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1.Takingan“IntegratedInnovation”ApproachtodriveInclusiveGrowth.TheHonourableNavdeepBains,MinisterofInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopmentandTheHonourableJean-YvesDuclos,MinisterofFamilies,ChildrenandSocialDevelopmentarecommittedtoaninclusivegrowthfuture,whereeveryoneisabletoparticipate.Weheardthatinclusivegrowthmustnotbelimitedtoengagingethnicminorities,women,youth,andindigenouspeopleininnovation,butalsosupportinginnovationinthethirdsector,suchascharitiesandnot-for-profitorganizations.Inordertobettersupportthethirdsector,GovernmentwouldneedtoevolveitsveryoutdatedregulatoryframeworkandIncomeTaxAct(ITA),andprovidethesectorwithsimilarincentivesandopportunitiesthatareofferedtobusinesses,tocharitiesandnot-for-profitorganizationsaswell.Inparticular,participantsnotedthatforthethirdsectortomeaningfullypursueinnovation,fund-matchingandbusinesscreditsprogramsneedtobeexpandedtoincludethesector.Itwasalsohighlightedthatpartnershipsandsupportforsocialinnovationcouldalsocomefromthebusinessandacademiccommunity,whocanofferfundingandinvestments.AnumberofparticipantshighlightedGrandChallengesCanada’sfederallyfinancedandrobustmodelof‘integratedinnovation’combiningSTEM,businessandsocialinnovation.Itwassuggestedbytheseparticipantsthatwecouldapplyourinternationalintegratedinnovationexpertiseandexperiencedomestically.
2.CultivatingaCultureandPracticeofInnovation.Canadaisoftencharacterizedasarisk-aversecountry.Experimentingiscentraltopursuinginnovationandinordertobeaninnovationnation,Canadamustfindawaytostrikeabalancebetween“safebets”and“exponentialbets”-boldexperimentsinwhichoutcomesandpotentialmightbeuncertain.WeheardthatCanadawhileincreasinglymorecomfortablemakingexponentialbetsinadvancingtechnology,whenitcomestomakingmoonshotsforsignificantlyadvancingwellbeing,weplayitsafe.Integraltofosteringandsupportinginnovationbothwithinandwithoutgovernmentwouldbetoempowerpublicservantstocontinuouslyinteract,share,andexchangeexperimentalapproachesacrosssectors,throughhybridplatformsandcollaborativeenvironmentssuchasImpactHubOttawa,wherehundredsofindividualsandorganizationsarepursuingsocialinnovation.Anditwasrecognizedthatuppingourinnovationgamerequiredculturalchangeattheorganizational,businessandsocietallevels.
3.StrengtheningInnovationCapacityinSocialImpactSector.WhileitiswellunderstoodthatinvestmentininnovationandR&Dcapacityhelpstheprivatesectordrivenewcommerciallyorientedproducts,servicesandprocesses,thereisawideninginnovationandR&Dgapinthesocialimpactsector.ThereisagrowingbodyofpracticewhichdemonstratesthatR&Dandinnovationalsohelpssocialmissionorganizationsachievesignificantadvancementsinlong-termqualityoflifeforCanadians.Forexample,thesocialenterpriseorganizationInWithForwardconductedR&Dintohowadultswithcognitivedisabilitieslearn,leadingtotheimplementationofaninnovative
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start-upinVancouvercalledKudoz,anadultlearningexchangehostinghundredsoflearningexperiences.Thishashelpedtocreateamoreinclusive,strongercommunity.
AnotherexamplewasFusionJeunesseinMontreal,whichisseeingsuccessinloweringhigh-schooldropoutratesacrossQuebecbyinvolvingover12,500youth-at-riskinmeaningfulschoolprojects.Thisprogramfosterslearning,skillsandsocialintegration—apracticesupportedbyexperimentationandfindingnewsocialengagementformulas.Theseexamplesdemonstratethatinvestmentininnovationpracticesandinnovationcapacityyieldsadvancementinwellbeingoutcomes.Solutionsarenotdevelopingatthesamepaceasourchallengesbutinnovationcapacityandinvestmentisstagnating.
GiventhatCanada'ssocialspending,saystheOECD,is17%ofGDP,nowisthetimetoboostcapacityandresourcessoorganizationsadvancingwellbeingcangeneratebreakthroughsenabledbysocialR&Dandinnovation.
4.BetterConnectingCanada’sSocialInnovationSystem. Canada’scurrentinnovationsystemwouldneedasignificantevolutiontobe21stcentury-ready.Thereareanumberofinstitutionsacrossthecountrythatsupportsocialinnovation,including:nationalcouncils,governments,intermediaries,grant-makingnot-for-profits,universitiesandcolleges,philanthropicinstitutions,amongmanyothers.Whileaplethoraofactorssupportandfundinnovation,fromauserperspective,participantsaffirmedthatthissystemiscomplicatedtonavigateinorderto:identifyright-sizedfunding,bestpractices,latestfielddataandinsights,andsupports.Moreover,theRoundtableheardthattheabsenceofadynamicnetworkfunctionmeansthatthereishighlikelihoodofslowerstartupsandscaling,reinventingthewheel,disparateone-offfundingandprojects,andoverallinefficientuseoflimitedresources.
Inordertoadvancethekeythemesabove,SiGandPublicPolicyForumhavedistilledthreeinitialnextstepsbasedonthekeythemes,participantrecommendations,andoveralldiscussion.Thesearebrieflyoutlinedasfollows:
1.Createacommonsupportplatform:ACross-sectorWorkingGrouponSocialInnovation
ParticipantsagreedthatacommonsocialinnovationWorkingGroupcouldbecreatedtohelptosupport,informandnetworkthepolicyprocessesoftheDepartmentofInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopment,DepartmentofEmploymentandSocialDevelopment,andotherministriesdeployingsocialinnovationapproachesandtools.Thiscross-sectorWorkingGroupwouldalsosupportproblemsolvingforexistingandemergingsocialinnovationindifferentdepartmentsacrossthepublicservice.Suchaworkinggroup,focusedonenablingpublicsectorinnovatorsacrossmultipledepartments,couldbehostedcross-sectorallyanddrawuponnetworkedalliesofentrepreneurs,thinkers,andpractitionersindiversesectorssuchascorporate,charitable,socialenterprise,academia
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andsocialservicesfromacrossCanada,includinganumberoftheroundtableparticipants.TheWorkingGroupwouldreportregularlytoachampions'networkofDeputyMinisters.
2.Advocatefora“CentreforSocialEvidence”
AnumberofparticipantsnotedthatCanadacouldbettersupportbringingtogethertheevidencearoundresultssurroundingsocialinnovation,andthatthelackofeffectiveevidencehasbeenabarriertoargueinfavourofmorerobustsocialinnovationpolicy.Throughconsistentlycapturing,mobilizing,synthesizing,andsharingfielddata,insights,andevidencefromacrossthecountry,policy-makersandpractitionersalikecouldmakeevidence-baseddecision-making.Althoughthegovernmenthasbeenlimitedinitscollectionofdata,participantsstressedthattheprivateandnon-voluntarysectorscouldalsohelpgovernmentcollectevidenceandsynthesizeknowledge.Thereisanopportunitytolinktogetheranumberofseparatebutalignedconversationsabouthowanewinstitutionalplatformforsocialevidenceanddatecanbebestdevelopedtoserveallsectors,learningfromnationalglobalbestpracticesfromWhatWorkscentresandUsefulEvidenceinitiatives.
3:HostaCanadian‘IntegratedInnovation’Summit
AnumberofparticipantssawthevalueforavisionaryCanadianIntegratedInnovationSummit,duringCanada’s150thbirthdayyearthatwouldlaunchanewnarrativeforCanada'sinnovationaspirations.TheSummitwouldcelebrateCanada'sinnovationcapabilitiesandgoalsbybuildingonourrichhistoryandcultureofsocialinnovation,highlightingcompellingevidenceofhowintegratingSTEM,business,andsocialinnovationgeneratessignificantimprovementsinourqualityoflife,andbeacapstoneforthe2016-2017policyprocesshighlightingintegratedinnovation.Thiscross-sector,cross-generational,andcross-disciplinarySummitcouldbeco-hostedwiththeDepartmentofEmploymentandSocialDevelopmentandDepartmentofInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopmentinpartnershipwiththeothersectors.Itcouldfocusonexploringandadvancingtheoutlook,modelandpracticeofintegratedinnovationinordertosettheconditionsforinclusivegrowth.
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APPENDIXA:Agenda
Agenda______________________________________________________________________________
7:30-8:00 Coffee,Breakfast,Network
8:00-8:10 WelcomeRemarksbyEdGreensponandJeannieDempster
8:10-8:15 HighlightsfromStartupCanadaDayontheHill
(VictoriaLennox)
8:15–8:25 Renewingtherelationshipbetweengovernmentandcivilsociety(StephenHuddart)
8:25–9:10 Moderateddiscussion#1:Givenwhatexcitesyouthemost,whatdoyouthinkarethebiggestbarrierspreventingCanadafromunleashingthesocialsector’sinnovationpotential?ModeratedbyTimBrodhead;TimDraimin
9:10–10:15 Moderateddiscussion#2:Whatpolicychanges,conditions,policyinnovations,incentivesandinvestments(programinvestmentsorsocialfinancefinance)wouldbestremovethosebarriers?ModeratedbyTimBrodhead;TimDraimin
10:15–10:30 WrapUp
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APPENDIXB:ParticipantsList
ShereenBenzvyMillerAssistantDeputyMinisterScienceandEconomicDevelopmentCanadaMayaBorgenichtSpecialAdvisorMinisterofInfrastructureandCommunitiesTimBrodheadFoundingPartner&SeniorFellowSocialInnovationGeneration;
AilishCampbellAssistantDeputyMinisterFinanceCanada
YancyCraigHeadofStrategicDevelopment NationalAssociationofFriendshipCentres
JeannieDempsterVicePresidentPublicPolicyForum
SarahDoyleSeniorManager,Research&PolicyMaRSCentreforImpactInvesting
TimDraiminExecutiveDirectorSocialInnovationGeneration
MichelleGauthier SpecialAdvisortothePresidentandChiefExecutiveOfficerUnitedWayCentraideCanada
AaronGood VicePresidentTheJ.W.McConnellFamilyFoundation
EdwardGreenspon PresidentandCEO PublicPolicyForum
CeliaHaigBrown AssociateVicePresidentResearchYorkUniversity
TessaHebb Director CarletonUniversityCentreforCommunityInnovation
DianeHodginsChiefFinancialOfficerShorefastFoundation
StephenHuddart PresidentandCEO TheJ.W.McConnellFamilyFoundation
JohnKnubley DeputyMinister InnovationScienceandEconomicDevelopment
VictoriaLennox ChiefExecutiveOfficerStartupCanada
SaraLyonsDirectorofStrategicInitiativesCommunityFoundationsofCanada
BlairMcMurren DirectorofSocialInnovation,EmploymentandSocialDevelopmentCanada
KatieMiller ManagingDirector(Acting)ImpactHubOttawa
SandraOdendahl SeniorDirectorofSocialInnovation RoyalBankofCanada
VinodRajasekaran Fellow SocialInnovationGeneration
KarleeSilver VicePresidentofProgramsGrandChallengesCanada
TonyaSurmanChiefExecutiveOfficerCentreforSocialInnovation
LiseTessier Advisor InnovationScienceandEconomicDevelopment
IlseTreurnichtChiefExecutiveOfficerMaRS
RachelWernick AssistantDeputyMinisterCanadianHeritage
JanetYale ChiefExecutiveOfficerArthritisSocietyofCanada
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APPENDIXC:GlossaryofTerms
Integratedinnovation:AconceptpioneeredbyGrandChallengesCanada,integratedInnovationisthecoordinatedapplicationofscientific/technological,business,andsocialinnovationtodevelopsolutionstocomplexchallenges.Thisapproachdoesnotdiscountthesingularbenefitsofeachofthesetypesofinnovationalone,butratherhighlightsthepowerfulsynergiesthatcanberealizedbyaligningallthree.IntegratedInnovationrecognizesthatscientific/technologicalinnovationshaveagreaterchanceofgoingtoscaletoachieveglobalimpactandsustainabilityiftheyaredevelopedfromtheoutsetinconjunctionwithappropriatesocialandbusinessinnovations.
Reference:GrandChallengesCanada/GrandDéfisCanada,“IntegratedInnovation”,September2010.
Scaling:Forinnovationoncomplexsocialproblems,threedifferentaspectsofscaleareimportanttoconsider:
Scalingout:Involvesthereplicationofaninnovation;workingtomakeagoodinitiativehappeninmoreplacesinordertoincreaseandspreaditsimpactonmanagingaproblem.
Scalingup:Referstoincreasinganinnovation’simpactinthebroadersysteminordertoaddresstherootcausesoftheproblem.Sometimesthishappensthroughpolicychange.Often,tomakethiskindoftransformativechangeinabroadersystem,theinnovationevolvesandlooksdifferentinordertohaveimpactonadifferentscale.
Scalingdeep:Referstothosedurabledeeplyrootedculturalchanges,transformationsinself,relationshipsandcollectivevaluesthatcandriveandunderpinsocietalchange.
Socialentrepreneur:Asocialentrepreneurissomeonewhorecognizesasocialproblemandusesentrepreneurialprocessestocatalyzesystemchangesovercomingtheproblem.Doingthisofteninvolvescreatingandmanaginganot-for-profit,for-profit,orhybridventuretoaddressthesocialorecologicalchallenge.Successfulsocialentrepreneursareadeptatcreatingandintroducingnewdisruptiveideas,processesandproductsintoexistingsystems.
Socialfinance:Socialfinancereferstoasustainableapproachformanagingmoneythatcreatespositivesocialandenvironmentaloutcomesaswellaseconomicreturnthroughvarioustypesoffinancialinvestmentsintraditionalbusinesses,non-profits,socialenterprises,andoutcomesfinance.
Socialinnovation:Inthecontextofchangingthesystemdynamicsthatcreatedtheprobleminthefirstplace,asocialinnovationisanyinitiative(product,process,program,projects,policyorplatform)thatchallengesand,overtime,contributetochangingthedefiningroutines,resourceandauthorityflowsorbeliefsofthebroadersocialsysteminwhichitisintroduced.
GlossaryReferences:SiG