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ThePublicPolicyForumworkswithalllevelsofgovernmentandthepublicservice,theprivatesector,labour,post-secondaryinstitutions,NGOsandIndigenousgroupstoimprovepolicyoutcomesforCanadians.Asanon-partisan,member-basedorganization,weworkfrom"inclusiontoconclusion,"byconveningdiscussionsonfundamentalpolicyissuesandbyidentifyingnewoptionsandpathsforward.For30years,thePublicPolicyForumhasbrokendownbarriersamongsectors,contributingtomeaningfulchangethatbuildsabetterCanada.©2016,PublicPolicyForumOttawaOffice1400-130,rueAlbertStreetOttawa,ON,Canada,K1P5G4Tel/Tél:613.238.7160Fax:Téléc:613.238.7990www.ppforum.ca|@ppforumca

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SocialInnovationGeneration(SiG)isacollaborativepartnershiporiginallyconceivedin2007byTheJ.W.McConnellFamilyFoundationanddevelopedinpartnershipwiththeUniversityofWaterloo’sWaterlooInstituteforSocialInnovationandResilience(WISIR),theMaRSDiscoveryDistrict,andthePLANInstitute.Ourultimategoalistobeacatalystforsupportingwholesystemchangebycontributingtochangingthebroadereconomic,culturalandpolicycontextinCanadatoallowsocialinnovationstoflourish.SiGintentionallyengagespartnersacrossallsectorstocreateacultureofcontinuoussocialinnovation.Workingwithmanyotherorganizationsandsocialinnovators,SiGhasadvancedtheconceptsandtoolsofsocialinnovation,socialfinance,socialentrepreneurship,sociallabsandcross-sectorpartnershipbuildingtoCanada.SiGendeavourstorolemodelhownewcollaborativepartnershipsaccelerateourabilitytosolvecomplexandperniciousproblems.

Ourcurrentfociincludes:enhancingsocialimpactbybuildingsectoralandregionalsocialinnovationnetworksandecosystems,exploringhowsocialinnovationcancontributetoreconciliationbetweenaboriginalandnon-aboriginalCanadians,andimprovingthesocialimpactofCanada’sinnovationsystembydeepeningtheintegrationanddeploymentofsocialinnovationwithinit.

MaRSCentre101CollegeStreetToronto,ON,Canada,K1P5G4Tel/Tél:613.238.7160http://www.sigeneration.ca|@sigeneration

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TableofContents

Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................................................5

Introduction.................................................................................................................................................6

Takingan“IntegratedInnovation”ApproachtodriveInclusiveGrowth............................................7

CultivatingaCultureandPracticeofInnovation.................................................................................8

StrengtheningInnovationCapacityinSocialImpactSector................................................................8

BetterConnectingCanada’sSocialInnovationSystem.......................................................................9

ActionableRecommendations.....................................................................................................................9

Createacommonsupportplatform:ACross-sectorWorkingGrouponSocialInnovation................9

Advocatefora“CentreforSocialEvidence”....................................................................................9

HostaCanadian‘IntegratedInnovation’Summit..............................................................................10

AppendixA:Agenda……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...11

AppendixB:ParticipantsList………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….12

AppendixC:GlossaryofTerms………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………13

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Acknowledgements

ThissummarydocumentwasauthoredbyVinodRajasekaran,FellowwithSocialInnovationGeneration(SiG)andDarrenTouch,AssociatewithPublicPolicyForum.

ThedocumentalsobenefittedfromtheinsightandobservationsofTimDraimin,ExecutiveDirectorofSiG,EdwardGreenspon,CEOofPublicPolicyForum,andJeannieDempster,Vice-PresidentofPublicPolicyForum.

SiGandPublicPolicyForumthanktheroundtableparticipantsfortheirtimeandperspectives,andacknowledgetheinvolvementofEmploymentandSocialDevelopmentCanadainsupportingthisimportantdialogue.

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Introduction

SocialinnovationhelpstoadvanceCanadians’wellbeingandinclusivegrowth.Socialinnovationsarethosenewprocesses,products,programs,policiesandservicesthatfocusonimprovingthesocialandecologicalwellbeingofourcommunitiesbytacklingtherootcausesofcomplexchallenges.AsimportantasScience,Technology,EngineeringandMaths(STEM)andbusinessinnovationare,ourmodernchallenges—rangingfrompreventablechronicdiseasetosocialhousingtoindigenouseducationandmentalhealth—demandsolutionsthattakeadvantageofourcombinedinnovationDNA,includingsocialinnovation.

TheFederalgovernmenthasbeenmakingprogressbyidentifyingandadvancingdistinctopportunitiesindeployingsocialinnovation,including:socialimpactbonds,registereddisabilitysavingsplan,communityandcollegesocialinnovationfund,amongothers.Moreover,socialinnovationishighlightedinanumberofmandateletters,includingin:DepartmentofInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopment,DepartmentofEmploymentandSocialDevelopment,andDepartmentofPublicServicesandProcurement,amongothers.

Socialinnovationisanevidence-backedapproach,whichisseeingincreasinginvestmentandpolicyadvancesinmanyjurisdictionsaroundtheworld.InCanada,despitesomesignificanteffortsandfocusinrecentyears,thefieldofsocialinnovationlagsbehindintermsofinfrastructure,capacity,policydevelopment,incentives,andinvestment.Notwithstandingthefield'sevolution,Canadians'aregainingareputationforbeingworldclasssocialinnovators.

SocialInnovationGeneration(SiG)andPublicPolicyForumbelievethatCanadacanandshouldbeagloballeaderinharnessingsocialinnovationtoenhancetheimpactofCanada'sinnovationprowess.

HowmightweseizetheopportunityoftheReviewofCanada'sInnovationPolicytoshapeaninnovationstrategythatalsosupportsnewandscale-readyinnovationsthataccelerateCanadians’wellbeing?

ItisimportantforCanadatoidentifytheconditionsthatenablesocialinnovationpriortothepolicyprocessonsocialinnovationandinnovationbroadly.Toadvancethisobjective,onMay18th,2016,PublicPolicyForumandSiGconvenedfederalgovernment,socialentrepreneurs,academia,socialinnovationintermediaries,andbusinessleadersinOttawa.Notableparticipantsinclude:JohnKnubley,DeputyMinisterforInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopment;BlairMcMurren,DirectorofSocialInnovationforEmploymentandSocialDevelopmentCanada;TonyaSurman,CEOofCentreforSocialInnovation;AilishCampbell,AssistantDeputyMinisterforFinanceCanada;YancyCraig,HeadofStrategicDevelopmentforNationalAssociationofFriendshipCentres,and;SandraOdendahl,SeniorDirectorforSocialInnovationatRoyalBankofCanada.Theroundtable,although,intimatebydesign,

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comprisedofindividualsindiversesectorsanddisciplines.ThegoalwastoexplorehowCanadacanintegrateandleveragethestrengthsofSTEM,business,andsocialinnovationinordertoadvancechallengesonallfronts,withaparticularfocusondevelopingnewapproachestolongstandingsocialissues.

Thepurposeoftheroundtablewasto:

• Hostandcurateanewenvironmentbetweenmultiplesectorsforamoreconstructiveco-explorationofinnovationpolicytoolsandprogramstoadvancesocialinnovation;

• Deepentheawarenessofroleofsocialinnovationtodrivingoverallinnovation,and;

• Generateconsensusaroundadvancingnewwaysofco-creatinginnovationstrategy.

Throughfacilitateddiscussions,wegainedinsightintotheperspectivesonCanada’scurrentinnovationecosystem,barriersfororganizationsadvancingwellbeingusingsocialinnovation,andidentifiedpolicychangesandconditionsforstrengtheningsocialinnovationinCanada.

Theroundtableconsistedoftworoundsofdiscussions.ThefirstcentredaroundsurfacingbarriersthatpreventCanadafromunleashingthesocialimpactsector’sinnovationpotentialandidentifyinggapsinCanada’ssocialinnovationecosystem.Theseconddiscussioncentredaroundidentifyingwhatpolicychanges,conditions,policyinnovations,incentivesandinvestmentswouldbestremovethosebarriers.DiscussionswereunderChathamHouseRules.TheroundtablewasopenedbyStephenHuddart,PresidentandCEOofTheJ.W.McConnellFamilyFoundationandVictoriaLennox,Co-FounderandCEOofStartupCanada.StephensharedexamplesofthepositiveimpactthusfarofCanada’sphilanthropicsectorsupportingsocialinnovationandhelpingtogrowthefieldofsocialinnovation,inparticularthecontributionsofTheJ.W.McConnellFamilyFoundation.Inthisregard,heinvitedparticipantstoconsiderthecompellingopportunityspaceatpresentaroundhelpingtosupportgovernmentinplacingsocialinnovationasacorecomponentofCanada’sinnovationagenda.VictoriasharedhighlightsinsocialinnovationfromStartupCanada’sDayontheHill,includingtherecurringthemeoftheneedforsocialinnovationtoachieveCanada’sgoalofinclusivegrowth.TheroundtablewasmoderatedbyTimBrodhead,SeniorFellowofSiG.

Thissummarydocumenthighlightskeythemesfromthediscussionsandidentifieswhereadditionalactionwasrecommendedbytheparticipants.

Thefollowingarefourkeythemesthatemergedthroughthetworoundsofdiscussion.

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1.Takingan“IntegratedInnovation”ApproachtodriveInclusiveGrowth.TheHonourableNavdeepBains,MinisterofInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopmentandTheHonourableJean-YvesDuclos,MinisterofFamilies,ChildrenandSocialDevelopmentarecommittedtoaninclusivegrowthfuture,whereeveryoneisabletoparticipate.Weheardthatinclusivegrowthmustnotbelimitedtoengagingethnicminorities,women,youth,andindigenouspeopleininnovation,butalsosupportinginnovationinthethirdsector,suchascharitiesandnot-for-profitorganizations.Inordertobettersupportthethirdsector,GovernmentwouldneedtoevolveitsveryoutdatedregulatoryframeworkandIncomeTaxAct(ITA),andprovidethesectorwithsimilarincentivesandopportunitiesthatareofferedtobusinesses,tocharitiesandnot-for-profitorganizationsaswell.Inparticular,participantsnotedthatforthethirdsectortomeaningfullypursueinnovation,fund-matchingandbusinesscreditsprogramsneedtobeexpandedtoincludethesector.Itwasalsohighlightedthatpartnershipsandsupportforsocialinnovationcouldalsocomefromthebusinessandacademiccommunity,whocanofferfundingandinvestments.AnumberofparticipantshighlightedGrandChallengesCanada’sfederallyfinancedandrobustmodelof‘integratedinnovation’combiningSTEM,businessandsocialinnovation.Itwassuggestedbytheseparticipantsthatwecouldapplyourinternationalintegratedinnovationexpertiseandexperiencedomestically.

2.CultivatingaCultureandPracticeofInnovation.Canadaisoftencharacterizedasarisk-aversecountry.Experimentingiscentraltopursuinginnovationandinordertobeaninnovationnation,Canadamustfindawaytostrikeabalancebetween“safebets”and“exponentialbets”-boldexperimentsinwhichoutcomesandpotentialmightbeuncertain.WeheardthatCanadawhileincreasinglymorecomfortablemakingexponentialbetsinadvancingtechnology,whenitcomestomakingmoonshotsforsignificantlyadvancingwellbeing,weplayitsafe.Integraltofosteringandsupportinginnovationbothwithinandwithoutgovernmentwouldbetoempowerpublicservantstocontinuouslyinteract,share,andexchangeexperimentalapproachesacrosssectors,throughhybridplatformsandcollaborativeenvironmentssuchasImpactHubOttawa,wherehundredsofindividualsandorganizationsarepursuingsocialinnovation.Anditwasrecognizedthatuppingourinnovationgamerequiredculturalchangeattheorganizational,businessandsocietallevels.

3.StrengtheningInnovationCapacityinSocialImpactSector.WhileitiswellunderstoodthatinvestmentininnovationandR&Dcapacityhelpstheprivatesectordrivenewcommerciallyorientedproducts,servicesandprocesses,thereisawideninginnovationandR&Dgapinthesocialimpactsector.ThereisagrowingbodyofpracticewhichdemonstratesthatR&Dandinnovationalsohelpssocialmissionorganizationsachievesignificantadvancementsinlong-termqualityoflifeforCanadians.Forexample,thesocialenterpriseorganizationInWithForwardconductedR&Dintohowadultswithcognitivedisabilitieslearn,leadingtotheimplementationofaninnovative

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start-upinVancouvercalledKudoz,anadultlearningexchangehostinghundredsoflearningexperiences.Thishashelpedtocreateamoreinclusive,strongercommunity.

AnotherexamplewasFusionJeunesseinMontreal,whichisseeingsuccessinloweringhigh-schooldropoutratesacrossQuebecbyinvolvingover12,500youth-at-riskinmeaningfulschoolprojects.Thisprogramfosterslearning,skillsandsocialintegration—apracticesupportedbyexperimentationandfindingnewsocialengagementformulas.Theseexamplesdemonstratethatinvestmentininnovationpracticesandinnovationcapacityyieldsadvancementinwellbeingoutcomes.Solutionsarenotdevelopingatthesamepaceasourchallengesbutinnovationcapacityandinvestmentisstagnating.

GiventhatCanada'ssocialspending,saystheOECD,is17%ofGDP,nowisthetimetoboostcapacityandresourcessoorganizationsadvancingwellbeingcangeneratebreakthroughsenabledbysocialR&Dandinnovation.

4.BetterConnectingCanada’sSocialInnovationSystem. Canada’scurrentinnovationsystemwouldneedasignificantevolutiontobe21stcentury-ready.Thereareanumberofinstitutionsacrossthecountrythatsupportsocialinnovation,including:nationalcouncils,governments,intermediaries,grant-makingnot-for-profits,universitiesandcolleges,philanthropicinstitutions,amongmanyothers.Whileaplethoraofactorssupportandfundinnovation,fromauserperspective,participantsaffirmedthatthissystemiscomplicatedtonavigateinorderto:identifyright-sizedfunding,bestpractices,latestfielddataandinsights,andsupports.Moreover,theRoundtableheardthattheabsenceofadynamicnetworkfunctionmeansthatthereishighlikelihoodofslowerstartupsandscaling,reinventingthewheel,disparateone-offfundingandprojects,andoverallinefficientuseoflimitedresources.

Inordertoadvancethekeythemesabove,SiGandPublicPolicyForumhavedistilledthreeinitialnextstepsbasedonthekeythemes,participantrecommendations,andoveralldiscussion.Thesearebrieflyoutlinedasfollows:

1.Createacommonsupportplatform:ACross-sectorWorkingGrouponSocialInnovation

ParticipantsagreedthatacommonsocialinnovationWorkingGroupcouldbecreatedtohelptosupport,informandnetworkthepolicyprocessesoftheDepartmentofInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopment,DepartmentofEmploymentandSocialDevelopment,andotherministriesdeployingsocialinnovationapproachesandtools.Thiscross-sectorWorkingGroupwouldalsosupportproblemsolvingforexistingandemergingsocialinnovationindifferentdepartmentsacrossthepublicservice.Suchaworkinggroup,focusedonenablingpublicsectorinnovatorsacrossmultipledepartments,couldbehostedcross-sectorallyanddrawuponnetworkedalliesofentrepreneurs,thinkers,andpractitionersindiversesectorssuchascorporate,charitable,socialenterprise,academia

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andsocialservicesfromacrossCanada,includinganumberoftheroundtableparticipants.TheWorkingGroupwouldreportregularlytoachampions'networkofDeputyMinisters.

2.Advocatefora“CentreforSocialEvidence”

AnumberofparticipantsnotedthatCanadacouldbettersupportbringingtogethertheevidencearoundresultssurroundingsocialinnovation,andthatthelackofeffectiveevidencehasbeenabarriertoargueinfavourofmorerobustsocialinnovationpolicy.Throughconsistentlycapturing,mobilizing,synthesizing,andsharingfielddata,insights,andevidencefromacrossthecountry,policy-makersandpractitionersalikecouldmakeevidence-baseddecision-making.Althoughthegovernmenthasbeenlimitedinitscollectionofdata,participantsstressedthattheprivateandnon-voluntarysectorscouldalsohelpgovernmentcollectevidenceandsynthesizeknowledge.Thereisanopportunitytolinktogetheranumberofseparatebutalignedconversationsabouthowanewinstitutionalplatformforsocialevidenceanddatecanbebestdevelopedtoserveallsectors,learningfromnationalglobalbestpracticesfromWhatWorkscentresandUsefulEvidenceinitiatives.

3:HostaCanadian‘IntegratedInnovation’Summit

AnumberofparticipantssawthevalueforavisionaryCanadianIntegratedInnovationSummit,duringCanada’s150thbirthdayyearthatwouldlaunchanewnarrativeforCanada'sinnovationaspirations.TheSummitwouldcelebrateCanada'sinnovationcapabilitiesandgoalsbybuildingonourrichhistoryandcultureofsocialinnovation,highlightingcompellingevidenceofhowintegratingSTEM,business,andsocialinnovationgeneratessignificantimprovementsinourqualityoflife,andbeacapstoneforthe2016-2017policyprocesshighlightingintegratedinnovation.Thiscross-sector,cross-generational,andcross-disciplinarySummitcouldbeco-hostedwiththeDepartmentofEmploymentandSocialDevelopmentandDepartmentofInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopmentinpartnershipwiththeothersectors.Itcouldfocusonexploringandadvancingtheoutlook,modelandpracticeofintegratedinnovationinordertosettheconditionsforinclusivegrowth.

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APPENDIXA:Agenda

Agenda______________________________________________________________________________

7:30-8:00 Coffee,Breakfast,Network

8:00-8:10 WelcomeRemarksbyEdGreensponandJeannieDempster

8:10-8:15 HighlightsfromStartupCanadaDayontheHill

(VictoriaLennox)

8:15–8:25 Renewingtherelationshipbetweengovernmentandcivilsociety(StephenHuddart)

8:25–9:10 Moderateddiscussion#1:Givenwhatexcitesyouthemost,whatdoyouthinkarethebiggestbarrierspreventingCanadafromunleashingthesocialsector’sinnovationpotential?ModeratedbyTimBrodhead;TimDraimin

9:10–10:15 Moderateddiscussion#2:Whatpolicychanges,conditions,policyinnovations,incentivesandinvestments(programinvestmentsorsocialfinancefinance)wouldbestremovethosebarriers?ModeratedbyTimBrodhead;TimDraimin

10:15–10:30 WrapUp

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APPENDIXB:ParticipantsList

ShereenBenzvyMillerAssistantDeputyMinisterScienceandEconomicDevelopmentCanadaMayaBorgenichtSpecialAdvisorMinisterofInfrastructureandCommunitiesTimBrodheadFoundingPartner&SeniorFellowSocialInnovationGeneration;

AilishCampbellAssistantDeputyMinisterFinanceCanada

YancyCraigHeadofStrategicDevelopment NationalAssociationofFriendshipCentres

JeannieDempsterVicePresidentPublicPolicyForum

SarahDoyleSeniorManager,Research&PolicyMaRSCentreforImpactInvesting

TimDraiminExecutiveDirectorSocialInnovationGeneration

MichelleGauthier SpecialAdvisortothePresidentandChiefExecutiveOfficerUnitedWayCentraideCanada

AaronGood VicePresidentTheJ.W.McConnellFamilyFoundation

EdwardGreenspon PresidentandCEO PublicPolicyForum

CeliaHaigBrown AssociateVicePresidentResearchYorkUniversity

TessaHebb Director CarletonUniversityCentreforCommunityInnovation

DianeHodginsChiefFinancialOfficerShorefastFoundation

StephenHuddart PresidentandCEO TheJ.W.McConnellFamilyFoundation

JohnKnubley DeputyMinister InnovationScienceandEconomicDevelopment

VictoriaLennox ChiefExecutiveOfficerStartupCanada

SaraLyonsDirectorofStrategicInitiativesCommunityFoundationsofCanada

BlairMcMurren DirectorofSocialInnovation,EmploymentandSocialDevelopmentCanada

KatieMiller ManagingDirector(Acting)ImpactHubOttawa

SandraOdendahl SeniorDirectorofSocialInnovation RoyalBankofCanada

VinodRajasekaran Fellow SocialInnovationGeneration

KarleeSilver VicePresidentofProgramsGrandChallengesCanada

TonyaSurmanChiefExecutiveOfficerCentreforSocialInnovation

LiseTessier Advisor InnovationScienceandEconomicDevelopment

IlseTreurnichtChiefExecutiveOfficerMaRS

RachelWernick AssistantDeputyMinisterCanadianHeritage

JanetYale ChiefExecutiveOfficerArthritisSocietyofCanada

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APPENDIXC:GlossaryofTerms

Integratedinnovation:AconceptpioneeredbyGrandChallengesCanada,integratedInnovationisthecoordinatedapplicationofscientific/technological,business,andsocialinnovationtodevelopsolutionstocomplexchallenges.Thisapproachdoesnotdiscountthesingularbenefitsofeachofthesetypesofinnovationalone,butratherhighlightsthepowerfulsynergiesthatcanberealizedbyaligningallthree.IntegratedInnovationrecognizesthatscientific/technologicalinnovationshaveagreaterchanceofgoingtoscaletoachieveglobalimpactandsustainabilityiftheyaredevelopedfromtheoutsetinconjunctionwithappropriatesocialandbusinessinnovations.

Reference:GrandChallengesCanada/GrandDéfisCanada,“IntegratedInnovation”,September2010.

Scaling:Forinnovationoncomplexsocialproblems,threedifferentaspectsofscaleareimportanttoconsider:

Scalingout:Involvesthereplicationofaninnovation;workingtomakeagoodinitiativehappeninmoreplacesinordertoincreaseandspreaditsimpactonmanagingaproblem.

Scalingup:Referstoincreasinganinnovation’simpactinthebroadersysteminordertoaddresstherootcausesoftheproblem.Sometimesthishappensthroughpolicychange.Often,tomakethiskindoftransformativechangeinabroadersystem,theinnovationevolvesandlooksdifferentinordertohaveimpactonadifferentscale.

Scalingdeep:Referstothosedurabledeeplyrootedculturalchanges,transformationsinself,relationshipsandcollectivevaluesthatcandriveandunderpinsocietalchange.

Socialentrepreneur:Asocialentrepreneurissomeonewhorecognizesasocialproblemandusesentrepreneurialprocessestocatalyzesystemchangesovercomingtheproblem.Doingthisofteninvolvescreatingandmanaginganot-for-profit,for-profit,orhybridventuretoaddressthesocialorecologicalchallenge.Successfulsocialentrepreneursareadeptatcreatingandintroducingnewdisruptiveideas,processesandproductsintoexistingsystems.

Socialfinance:Socialfinancereferstoasustainableapproachformanagingmoneythatcreatespositivesocialandenvironmentaloutcomesaswellaseconomicreturnthroughvarioustypesoffinancialinvestmentsintraditionalbusinesses,non-profits,socialenterprises,andoutcomesfinance.

Socialinnovation:Inthecontextofchangingthesystemdynamicsthatcreatedtheprobleminthefirstplace,asocialinnovationisanyinitiative(product,process,program,projects,policyorplatform)thatchallengesand,overtime,contributetochangingthedefiningroutines,resourceandauthorityflowsorbeliefsofthebroadersocialsysteminwhichitisintroduced.

GlossaryReferences:SiG