The second edition of the Canadian Forum for Social Innovation will convene stakeholders across sectors to identify key actions and best-practices for capacity building and skills development in the social innovation ecosystem. Building on emerging consensus, the program will alternate between participatory plenary roundtables and deliberative workshops to create a Roadmap. The genuinely cross-sectoral setting will provide an opportunity to learn from a variety of perspectives in an effort to reduce barriers to knowledge-driven collaboration and partnerships and increase universities’ place-based connectivity to streamline impact and techno-social transitions.

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.

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

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.