The most recent edition of the Canadian Forum for Social Innovation was the culmination of a nation-wide co-design and backcasting exercise. Through a series of deliberative workshops in Toronto, Ottawa/Wakefield, Montréal, and Calgary, the team collected input from 95 key actors to define a vision and fine-tune the milestones for a Roadmap for Canada’s Innovation Ecosystem.

What strategy does Canada need to bolster talent and knowledge mobilization in a fully connected innovation ecosystem, prepared to tackle local, national and global challenges and to promote sustainable social, cultural, environmental and economic prosperity?

On 11-12 June 2024, 125 delegate from stakeholder organisations collaborated to take ownership of the vision, set priorities, identify actors to be engaged, reflect on the mechanisms necessary to promote concerted action and initiate the elaboration of an action plan.

Forum guests participated in an immersive backcasting exercises aiming at creating a roadmap for Canada’s innovation ecosystem with the aim to formulate an agenda for Canada 2040 that revolves around collective action to increase talent and expertise for the social impact ecosystem and social transitions.

Goal 1. A strategy to support All Dimensions of Innovation Across All Zones of Impact

The Canadian research and higher education systems are supported by an innovation strategy that places society at the core of its models. Knowledge and talent for innovation in in all zones of impact equally support social, cultural, environmental and economic prosperity.

Goal 2. Skills and Talent Across Innovation Ecosystems

Innovation ecosystems benefit from the diversity and mobility of skills in highly qualified multidisciplinary talent. Universities and colleges each play their unique role in generating the skills and expertise that bolster inclusive innovation across all zones of impact

Goal 3. Infrastructure and Capacity for Connectivity Across Innovation Ecosystems

In Canada, infrastructures are in place within and between universities, colleges, industry, social sector and public sector to ensure that all aspects of innovation processes are supported. Innovation is enabled by intentional ecosystem capacity building and transition mediation strategies in all zones of impact.

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