2 – 4 June 2025
Dalhousie University

Organized by The/La Collaborative and
The Canadian Science Policy Centre

socialinnovationforum.ca

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The 4th edition of the Canadian Forum on Social Innovation will take place on June 1-2, 2026, followed by the Canadian Forum on Social Innovation (CFSI) Symposium on June 3, 2026, at the University of Calgary.

Organized jointly by the Canadian Science Policy Centre, the Canadian Collaborative for Society, Innovation and Policy and the Future Skills Centre.

The Canadian Forum on Social Innovation (CFSI) Symposium

In a knowledge-driven economy, Canadian universities play a central role in advancing the country’s science and research strategy by generating and mobilizing the talent and knowledge  that support economic, social and public innovation, national competitiveness, effective regulation, and societal well-being. 

To maximize the public value and uptake of research-based evidence, innovation and expertise, interest holders must align on these broader strategic objectives.

On June 3rd 2026 in Calgary, AB, the CFSI Symposium will launch the Strategic Science and Innovation Leadership Initiative (SSIL) and convene a high-level national dialogue on the science and research strategy Canada needs to support a more holistic approach to conceiving, implementing and maintaining the conditions for inclusive prosperity. The CFSI SSIL Symposium will bring together higher education, industry and nonprofit leaders, policymakers, research and community funders and capacity builders to examine how science and research can support Canada’s ambitions across all sectors.  

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The Forum

Building on evidence and emerging consensus, deliberative workshops will alternate with catalyst roundtable discussions to chart a plan of action for a future-ready talent strategy that speaks to higher education’s current challenges, the needs of our innovation ecosystems and is rooted in a value-driven vision of prosperity for Canada.

The 4th edition of CFSI’s deliberative convening will take place 1-2 June 2026, by invitation only.

This joint initiative of Canadian Science Policy Centre and The/La Collaborative will convene stakeholders across sectors to identify key actions and best-practices for capacity building and skills development in the social innovation ecosystem. Building on emerging consensus, the program will alternate between participatory plenary roundtables and deliberative workshops to establish a shared vision for Canada’s social innovation strategy. The genuinely cross-sectoral setting will provide an opportunity to learn from a variety of perspectives in an effort to reduce barriers to knowledge-driven collaboration to advance social impact and techno-social transitions.

On June 2-4, 2025 in Halifax, Forum guests will participate in an immersive backcasting exercises aiming at creating a roadmap for Canada’s innovation ecosystem with the aim to formulate an agenda for Canada 2040 that revolves around collective action to increase talent and expertise for the social impact ecosystem and techno-social transitions.

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