Innovative ways of addressing complex societal challenges such as ill health, unemployment, segregation and climate change often require collaboration between different societal actors and sectors. The complexity of these societal challenges means it can take a long time to deal with them, thereby creating a need for long-term forms of collaboration beyond time-limited projects. This is particularly true at a regional level; that is to say, in geographical areas that extend across municipal boundaries but do not include entire countries (although they may transcend national borders). Regional collaboration on societal challenges has been discussed in terms of what are known as “ecosystems” for social innovation. This report presents a mapping of Swedish and international examples of regional collaboration on societal challenges. The aim is to gather and disseminate knowledge and experience as inspiration for further development of support structures for social innovation.
The mapping has been conducted by Forum for Social Innovation Sweden (FfSIS), a national knowledge and collaboration platform based at Malmö University and with regional nodes at the University of Borås, Jönköping University, Luleå University of Technology, Malmö University, Umeå University and Örebro University.
Download the report Regional collaboration on societal challenges – a mapping of examples of long-term organisation (2024) here (link to pdf), or read it below.