The next edition of the Canadian Forum for Social Innovation will be hosted by Dalhousie University in Halifax, 2-4 June 2025.

The/La Collaborative and the Canadian Science Policy Centre welcome Social Innovation Canada as convener of the third edition of the Canadian Forum for Social Innovation.

The 2025 edition of CFSI will build on the outcomes of last year’s deliberation.

Canada’s current innovation strategy is perceived to be fragmented, overly focused on traditional models of commercialization and economic growth that are not equipped to deal with complexity and systemic challenges.

Building Capacity for Ecosystem Connectivity. Intelligence for the Implementation of Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy.

To achieve prosperity, communities must be empowered to contribute to innovation. They must build capacity much beyond the economic sectors, and recognize the value of diverse approaches and knowledge systems, including Indigenous ways of knowing.

In particular, Canada’s innovation strategy must be designed to tackle the difficulty of implementing policy-driven, mission-oriented innovation across the ecosystem given Canada’s size and diversity. There is a need to unlock the potential of place-based approaches to innovation governance. In this context, social innovation methodologies play a crucial role in tackling complex societal issues and creating a more equitable and sustainable future.