The year 2020 has been marked by social distancing, and many believe that the “lack of casual conversation at the coffee machine” has created major obstacles to our ability to move forward in our work processes. In a year like this, few have managed to collect business cards at in-person conferences, and many projects have been put on hold. At Forum for Social Innovation Sweden , we Forum for Social Innovation Sweden heard firsthand accounts of how challenging it has been to network and collaborate under the current circumstances.
Collaboration in a digital format
But even though we are unable to meet in person, Forum for Social Innovation Sweden mission to strengthen social innovation as a force for social change in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda remains. That is why, this fall, we have focused on developing a concept for “coalition-building”—a format designed to test how we can network, share knowledge, and collaborate in a digital format.
Although many of us long to return to in-person meetings, it’s hard not to recognize the value of the digital format. There is a strength in everyone coming together on equal, unadorned terms. But above all, there are opportunities for new perspectives and movements to connect, no matter where in the country they are based.
Digital coalition-building – what exactly is it?
A coalition is a group of stakeholders who come together to pool their resources in response to a current societal challenge. The digital format allows for participation from all over Sweden, but it is of course perfectly possible to form a coalition with stronger local roots. The idea behind forming a coalition is that it should serve as a cross-sectoral meeting place, a forum for knowledge sharing, a source of inspiration, and a potential basis for collaboration.
New Concept for Digital Meetings
This fall, Forum for Social Innovation Sweden has Forum for Social Innovation Sweden to develop a concept for the meeting format. The result was a structure based on four two-hour digital sessions designed to discuss and collaborate on a current societal challenge. The concept included a clear agenda for each session, fostering an open and inclusive atmosphere. The participants themselves were responsible for driving the process forward.
“For me, it has given me more motivation and inspiration at work, since we sometimes focus too much on internal ideas and processes and forget to look ‘upward’ or ‘outside’ our own workplace for ideas, solutions, and ways of working”– Representative from the public sector.
Coalition to Harness the Power of Young People: First Report
The societal challenge that formed the basis for the formation of this fall’s coalition was: How can we better harness the skills, experiences, and innovative power of young people? – a forum for the future labor market, innovation strategies, and youth participation. The coalition brought together 18 stakeholders who are addressing this societal challenge in various innovative ways. Of these stakeholders, 100 percent reported that they had expanded their networks through their involvement in the coalition. Approximately 90 percent of the participants stated that they planned to develop their collaboration with other stakeholders within the coalition after the final meeting had taken place.
“I feel like I’ve had the chance to discuss various issues and topics with people I’ve been meaning to reach out to for a long time. It’s great when someone takes the initiative to do that :)” – Representative from the nonprofit sector.
A big thank you to the organizations that participated in the “Coalition for Youth Innovation”:
- AFRY, Malmö
- Pen Pals, Lund
- Boost by FC Rosengård, Malmö
- City of Borås
- Coompanion, Leksand
- Borås NATSAM Innovation Platform
- Jönköping University
- City of Malmö
- NetPort Science Park, Karlshamn
- Olofsson Travel & Consulting AB, Gothenburg
- PE Engineering and Architecture & Sustainable Future Hub, Lund
- Schvung, Karlshamn
- SoPact Lund University, Helsingborg
- City of Stockholm
- Together in the Association, Malmö
- Trygg Rätt, Helsingborg
- Young People with Disabilities, Stockholm
- Youth 2030, Stockholm
For more information about the coalition concept, visit
Do you have questions about the coalition concept? Or are you interested in joining a future coalition? Please don’t hesitate to contact us at Forum for Social Innovation Sweden: socialinnovation@mau.se.