Social Innovation

Create positive social change

Engaging faculties and community to create social good through collaboration, research, and evaluation.

What is the Social Innovation Initiative (SII)?

The SII is supported by the Office of the Vice-President (Research) to mobilize academic experience and transdisciplinary expertise into solutions for complex social challenges. 

We define social innovation as the intentional implementation of a transdisciplinary initiative to address a social problem enabled through collaborative action leading to new or improved capabilities and relationships with community to generate evidence-informed solutions that are more effective, efficient, just, and sustainable.

SII's goal is to build capacity for academic social innovators.

Social Innovation Taskforce Report

The SII serves:

Faculty-based researchers working on solutions for positive social change in community

We provide:

  • Funding for indirect costs of research and partnership (i.e., expert-led workshops, IP and knowledge mobilization support services, outreach activities, costs associated with research conferences and symposiums, marketing of teaching materials)
  • Connection to UCalgary's innovation ecosystem
  • Community informed and integrated collaborations

Review eligibility.

Community agencies developing solutions to complex social challenges

 

We provide:

  • Multidisciplinary approaches for collaboration and consultation
  • Access to research and evaluation expertise to help advance your programming and mandate
  • Connection to UCalgary's broad innovation ecosystem

UCalgary's SI ecosystem to develop the infrastructure to advance social innovation

We do this by:

  • Advancing a SI culture at UCalgary
  • Thought leadership and accountability
  • Reward and Recognition

Liminality Innovations

Learn more about Liminality Innovations, a social enterprise based on UCalgary research to provide family integrated solutions to improve quality management solutions in maternal and newborn care.

Learn more.

Trevor Alberts

Social Innovation Stories

UCalgary becomes host of Canada’s UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network

UCalgary becomes host of Canada’s UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network

New chapter sees organization continue to strengthen its network and support initiatives across the country

Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship appoints 16 academic co-leads

Institutes for Transdisciplinary Scholarship appoints 16 academic co-leads

New appointments will support expanding transdisciplinary scholarship at UCalgary

Ceremony celebrates success of early-stage innovators

Ceremony celebrates success of early-stage innovators

Highlights from 2023/2024 Evolve to Innovate graduation ceremony

Canadian Innovation Week celebrates researchers accelerating positive change through collaboration

Canadian Innovation Week celebrates researchers accelerating positive change through collaboration

Join the conversation May 16 to discover how UCalgary faculty are leveraging their expertise to tackle social issues

Read more Innovation news

Now Innovating, a research-to-impact series

Sharing the stories of UCalgary researchers who have moved their discoveries forward and their innovation journeys to implementation and creating impact.

This series aims to inspire researchers and community partners to take new steps toward transforming discoveries into solutions, products, and services.

Hear from our Social Innovators

Now Innovating with UCeed and LyfeMD

Celebrating UCeed and Social Impact with LyfeMd

Watch the episode

Or listen to the episode here
Libsyn Browser  |  Apple  |  Google  |  Spotify

Now Innovating with Julia Imanoff

Nursing, Research and Mental Health with Julia Imanoff

Watch the episode

Or listen to the episode here
Libsyn Browser  |  Apple  |  Google  |  Spotify

Now Innovating with Kathy Sitter

Multisensory Storytelling with Dr. Kathleen Sitter

Watch the episode

Or listen to the episode here
Libsyn Browser  |  Apple  |  Google  |  Spotify
 

Now Innovating with Sandra Davidson

Nursing Culture, Practice & Education w/ Dr. Sandra Davidson

Watch Pt. 1 | Watch Pt. 2 

Or listen to the episode here
Libsyn Browser  |  Apple  |  Google  |  Spotify

Moving and Thriving with Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed

Moving and Thriving with Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed

Watch the episode

Or listen to the episode here
Libsyn Browser  |  Apple  |  Google  |  Spotify

Podcast Only Episodes

Karen Benzies

Strengthening Community Bonds with Karen Benzies

Listen

Aleem Bharwani

Stewarding Common Purpose with Dr. Aleem Bharwani

Listen

Craig Ginn

Finding Validation in Your Work with Craig Ginn

Listen

Carlene Donnelly

Defining Your Goals for Impact with Carlene Donnelly

Listen

The Social Innovation Initiative is supported by the Government of Canada Incremental Project Grants. Learn how UCalgary uses the Incremental Project Grants.