What are we working on?
Localized Innovation
Within the last decade, there have been an increase in support for initiatives that drives innovation based in regional communities and cities worldwide. Research done by organizations such as EIT (European Institute of Innovation & Technology) and IDIN (International Development Innovation Network), show that innovative initiatives can not only help the regions that they are implemented in, but can have crucial contributions to overall ability to be innovative within a country and globally. While there are differences in approach, research shows that such initiatives are successful both in the Global North and the Global South.
We are working with partners to start a pilot program to build regional innovation ecosystems in 2022. If you are a community that is looking to improve economic development and innovation in your region, we would love to talk to you.
SYSTEMIC COLLABORATION
The complex challenge of solving environmental and societal challenges such as those defined in the UNs SDGs, are predicated on the successful systemic
collaboration between different stakeholder groups.
Given the complexity of these challenges, no individual actor can hope to solve them in a vacuum. Only through vertical (across SDGs) and horizontal (across stakeholder groups) collaboration, can we hope to find sustainable solutions.
While we work on building specific partnerships and initiatives that that promote systemic collaboration, it also runs at the core of all of the work we do.
NORDIC CANADIAN COLLABORATION
We have been working with the entrepreneurial ecosystems in Canada and the Nordic countries over the last decade. We continue to explore how the different environments are changing and adapting, and how we can use our experience to help understand ways in which stakeholders compliment each other. Through collaborations with partners, we are working on how we can foster a greater systemic two-way collaboration between the countries.
ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT
Both local and international innovation policy needs to be adaptive, especially in an environment where our needs and challenges are in constant flux. In order to foster an environment where entrepreneurs and innovators can not only succeed, but thrive, we need to constantly revisit how we act as an ESO. We need to assess how we are doing through our own impact measurement, and encourage other ESOs to do the same.
Innovation and entrepreneurship is our most important tool in overcoming societal and environmental challenges. We need to find equally innovative ways of supporting them.
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Work With Us
We acknowledge the land we live and work on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. Because we work with individuals and organizations worldwide, we’d like to extend this acknowledgement to all those who have historically stewarded and nurtured the lands we live, work, and play on today.