Forum for Social Innovation Sweden been awarded 1.5 million Swedish kronor by Vinnova for a research project on academic policy support for social innovation aimed at transitioning to sustainable societies.
In this one-year research project, Forum for Social Innovation Sweden's six nodes Forum for Social Innovation Sweden's —at the University of Borås, Jönköping University, Luleå University of Technology, Malmö University, Umeå University, and Örebro University—are joining forces to examine and improve academic policy support for social innovation aimed at sustainable transition.
The project aims to increase understanding of the role that academia can play in sustainable social development.
“More and more universities are trying to shift from being so-called ‘entrepreneurial universities’—with a focus on technical and commercial development—to what are known as ‘engaged and developmental universities’—with a focus on societal challenges and sustainable development,” says Malin Lindberg, visiting professor of social innovation at Malmö University and project leader for the research project.
A narrow view of innovation is insufficient
Swedish universities have traditionally supported innovation through technology transfer, commercial entrepreneurship, and academic-industrial collaboration. This is evident in many of the innovation offices, incubators, science parks, and holding companies that offer support for the commercialization of research results through patents, licenses, and spin-off companies.
As we move toward a university that is engaged and committed to development, with a focus on societal challenges and sustainable development, this narrow view of innovation is insufficient.
“Social innovation can be crucial to a sustainable transition by offering a better understanding of the process through which social systems adapt, change, or evolve,” says Malin Lindberg.
Will analyze strategic policy documents
The project will analyze strategic policy documents from the participating universities and identify international best practices in this field. Based on this, practical guidance will be developed for academic policy support for social innovation, as well as a visionary roadmap for the reorientation toward broader and deeper societal engagement. The project will also result in a scholarly article that combines the perspectives of “transformative social innovation” and “the engaged/developing university” to understand the complex process of transforming established systems.
The work will be carried out in collaboration between researchers, administrators, and support staff from higher education institutions, as well as stakeholders from other sectors of society.
“It is gratifying that all Forum for Social Innovation Sweden at our six universities are joining forces in a joint research and development project. By pooling our resources, we are strengthening both research on and policy support for social innovation,” says Sara Bjärstorp, Executive Director of Forum for Social Innovation Sweden.
The project will run from January to December 2025 and is part of Vinnova’s initiative on Research on Interaction for the Transition to Sustainable Societies.
Learn more about the project: