Forum for Social Innovation Sweden Forum for Social Innovation Sweden and established nationwide. Luleå University of Technology, Jönköping University, Malmö University, Stockholm University, Umeå University, and Örebro University are the main partners in the initiative, which is being implemented with support from Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency. The platform aims to increase knowledge and create meeting places to promote social innovation, social entrepreneurship, and social enterprise.
The six universities will host regional hubs operating under the name Forum for Social Innovation Sweden. MSI’s national efforts in Malmö will gain further momentum and reach through a physical presence in Stockholm as well. The establishment and development of the knowledge platform involves regions, companies, innovation promoters, universities, municipalities, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and other valuable stakeholders in the area’s development. The work within the knowledge platform will focus on identifying needs for new knowledge regarding social innovation, sharing and disseminating important knowledge and information, connecting with research, and creating opportunities for practitioners and potential practitioners in the field to meet and drive the field forward.
Develop methods and tools
Generating and sharing knowledge is the core mission of higher education institutions. Collaboration with other stakeholders is an important part of higher education institutions’ mission, and it is also of great importance to develop methods and tools that create the conditions for realizing more social innovations.
The Knowledge Platform’s national steering group consists of members from the leadership of each higher education institution who view the establishment of the platform as an important part of the institutions’ core activities and collaboration mission.
– The fact that six Swedish universities are now joining forces provides both a strong regional foundation and significant potential for national growth. Malmö University and Forum for Social Innovation Sweden already Forum for Social Innovation Sweden a vital role on the national stage, and this project will give the initiative a stronger regional presence, which is a positive development. There is also the capacity to foster international connections and attractiveness, and to make a significant contribution to the government’s strategy for social enterprises and help Sweden achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda. The knowledge now being generated will benefit relevant stakeholders such as regional development managers, innovation promoters, and government agencies, says Judit Wefer, program manager at Vinnova.
Long-term work
The national knowledge platform will also serve as a point of contact for international actors seeking to collaborate with Sweden on the development of social innovation. Learning, experimentation, advocacy, and the creation of forums for dialogue will be key components of the knowledge platform’s long-term work.
“For Luleå University of Technology, the main goal of the project is to establish a regional knowledge platform for social innovation in Norrbotten, through collaboration between stakeholders in academia, business, and civil society,” says Marita Holst, a strategist at the university’s innovation office and project manager for the establishment of the regional hub.
In many ways, Norrbotten is a socially innovative region, with innovative solutions in both urban and rural areas that promote an inclusive workforce, accessible public services, and a vibrant cultural life, she says.
– Luleå University of Technology was an early pioneer in cutting-edge research and collaboration in this field, which has led to new knowledge, methods, and connections for the region’s innovators and innovation promoters, and has put the university on the map nationwide. We are building on this foundation to create a sustainable knowledge platform for social innovation in the region.