Academic policy support of social innovation for sustainable transition
Facts
- Contact person:
- Malin Lindberg
- Financer:
-
- Vinnova
- Responsible at MaU:
- Malin Lindberg
- Project members at MaU:
- External project members:
-
- Maria Wolmesjö – University of Borås
- Lucas Haskell – Umeå University
- Time frame:
- 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
- Faculty/department:
- Research environment :
About the project
In this project, six Swedish universities in the Forum for Social Innovation Sweden (FSIS) join forces to investigate and improve the academic policy support of social innovation for sustainable transition.
Starting point
This ambition is based on the acknowledged importance of social dimensions in innovation for transition to sustainable societies, by offering a better understanding of the multi-level process by which established systems can be transformed. By combining the notions of 'transformative social innovation' and 'the engaged/developmental university' the project helps mediate different dimensions of sustainability in academic engagement in novel approaches to societal challenges. In the project, we will analyse strategic policy documents of the FSIS universities regarding their support of academic engagement in this field and map international best practices.
Result
The results will be used as a basis for both a scientific article and for co-creating policy guidelines, as well as a roadmap for the current reorientation towards a wider and deeper societal engagement among Swedish universities. Using an interdisciplinary and participatory research approach, the project involves researchers from both SSH and STEM, university top managers and support staff, as well as other societal stakeholders from civil society, public sector and industry.