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Social Innovation: challenges and perspectives for Higher Education

The future of Social InnovationRémi Quirion, Chief Scientist of QuébecMontreal, May 2015

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The Chief Scientist – Mandate

As a Neuroscientist• Research focused on the roles of the cholinergic system in Alzheimer’s

disease, of neuropeptide Y in depression and memory and of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in pain and opiate tolerance.

• Over 80 trainees and 700 publications. One of most cited neuroscientists.

As Chief Scientist

• Level of Deputy Minister. Advise the Minister and the government on research and innovation strategy. Over 3 y:5 Ministers and 4 ministerial organisations!

• Chair the Boards of the three Québec Research Funds (Health, SNG, SSH). Focus on major societal challenges and intersectorial research.

• Support the training of a new generation of scientists (‘more translational?) and science literacy.

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The Quebec’s Research and Innovation system

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The knowledge mobilization

In the field of social innovation•Centre de liaison sur l’intervention et la prévention psychosociales•Centre de transfert pour la réussite éducative du Québec•Territoires innovants en économie sociale et solidaire

Centres collégiaux de transfert technologique à vocation sociale :•Centre d’étude en responsabilité sociale et écocitoyenneté•Centre d’initiation à la recherche et d’aide au développement durable•Centre d’innovation sociale en agriculture•Centre de recherche pour l’inclusion scolaire et professionnelle des étudiants en situation de handicap•ÉCOBES – Centre d’Étude des COnditions de vie et des BESoins de la population•Institut de recherche sur l’intégration professionnelle des immigrants

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Three FRQ: a shared mission

• In their respective fields, the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ) promote and provide financial support for research, for the training of researchers, and for the dissemination and innovative ‘use’ of scientif ic knowledge. They also create any necessary partnerships, in particular with universities, colleges, health care institutions, and the governement departments and public or private bodies concerned.

• Three FRQ: Nature et Technologies (Natural sciences and engineering); Santé (Health sciences); Société et Culture (Social sciences, management, humanities and fine arts)

• Budget of about 200M per year

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Main Research Objectives 2014-2017….Universites as key partners

1. Training the next generation and young researchers (40% of our budget)

2. The Research Base (infrastructures and independent, non-targeted research) (80% of our budget)

3. Intersectorial, targeted programs including all aspects of innovation (eg demographic changes; sustainable development, the North….)

4. Partnerships• with the public sector –Universities are key!• with the private sector• on the international stage

5. Knowledge mobilization & transfer

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The FRQ plays a catalytic role in the establishment of collaborations between researchers and research usersE.g.: support for networks, joint research programs, collaborative research with the milieu, co-creation & co-design….

The FRQ supports activities of transfer and dissemination by researchers and research studentsE.g.: financial incentives within programs

The FRQ organizes activities to enhance the use of research results by potential usersE.g.: involving elected officials and ministries in order to integrate research into public policy

The FRQ and knowledge mobilization

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Support for innovative social innovation pratices over the years

• The FRQSC supports social innovation since its creation in 2001

• Some examples Strategic clusters, especially the ‘Centre de recherche sur les

innovations sociales’ (Juan-Luis Klein)Research Teams: in 2014-2015, the FRQSC sponsored 115 research

teams. Some teams focus on structuring and promoting the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Others aim to build partnerships with communities of practice to enhance the mobilization and exploitation of research results in collaboration with these communities.

Actions concertées: an effective model of co-creation & partnerships (eg suicide; scholl drop out, etc)

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Actions concertées: a partnership program aiming at social innovation

• Aims to ‘rapidly’ meet the needs of partners such as govermantal departments and agencies. Key roles of academicians

Help with decision making New practices and interventions Collaborative research, co-design, co-construction with the partners and

community.

• A longitudinal approach: Tailored steps for partners Research based on specific needs Priviledged access to leading academic expertise Reliability and quality of results Dynamic sharing of research results. Aiming for ‘open access’

• This program will be presented in detail at Innovation Expo in Paris this June.

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Exemples of ‘Actions Concertées’Key partnership with our universities

Two research programs in partnership with the Ministry of Education since 2001, with a knowledge transfer strategy involving stakeholders.• Student retention and success: $19,5 M•Research program on writing/reading: $ 10 M A marked decline in the dropout rate in Quebec

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Targeted research: other examples of Social Innovation

Product: A school textbook, Approcher l’écrit à pas de loup, which is very popular among teachers, from preschool to sixth grade.

Public policy: Recommendations following a research program co-developed with and for Aboriginal women victims of domestic violence have inspired several measures in the 2012-2017 Government Action Plan..

Intervention: A innovative method (cost-effectiveness analysis) toward intervention for breast cancer screening.

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A non-targeted exemple of a program supported by the FRQSC

The importance of independent research

Some research topics make us question their utility….. In recent years, the FRQSC has financed researchers preoccupied with issues related to radicalization and terrorism. A very relevant expertise nowadays…..

Scientific capsule available on the FRQSC website a week before last January’s terrorist attacks in Paris!!.

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The Future of Social Innovation: Suggestions from a non-expert….

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Social Innovation & Training

• Social Innovation research and practices should muscle-up and take the centerstage in most if not all major research programs and major challenges of our society and the global world. Critical ie social acceptability; buy-in; bonification of programs and research objectives by stakeholder’ involvements

• All trainees (graduate levels) should be exposed to social innovation strategies with hands-on experiences during thier studies—key roles here for 1. Universities to adapt their programs and 2. Funding agencies

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• Demographic changes: how to adapt the organisation of our society as it ages? Future calls: Prevention strategy including socially-oriented approaches; Intelligent homes; culture and well-being in old ages

• Labor market changes: A tertiary economy; changing customer habits, IT & the digital economy…

• Entrepreneurship: Forum on entrepreneurship, SMEs and creativity held on April 2nd. ‘Professeurs Cliniques’ en Innovation??

The future for social innovation: Socioeconomic Challenges

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• Sustainable development: better balance between human beings and their environment (climate changes, energy choices, mobility and modes of transportation, exploitation of modes of transportation, lifestyles). Some examples:

Future Earth: Global research platform involving 65,000 researchers from all over the world. Research on climate changes and their impacts on health, economy and society. Social innovation is key to increase likelihood of success.

Quebec Marit ime Strategy: Research on various themes ranging from health and the preservation of marine ecosystems to transportation. Social acceptability is key

Quebec Plan Nord 2.0 : A flagship program aiming to balance each dimension: society, economy, health, culture and environment. Co-creation of research programs with the local inhabitants-preservation of their cultures, languages, ..

The future for social innovation: Environmental Challenges

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Documenting the impact of research: a challenge and a crit ical role for universit ies

• Demonstrating the impact of research in social sciences, humanities, arts and literature: how research generates social innovation?

• Key partnerships involving all stakeholders….and whenever possible from day 1….

• A useful background document: The Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences released in the fall of 2014 a framework on SSHAL research impacts....

The future for social innovation: measuring the impact

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The keyword: Partnership• Different modes of partnerships between universities,

colleges and the civil society; between universities, governments and elected officials; between researchers from different fields; between researchers and trainees

• Truly collaborative research programs involving all stakeholders, co-construction of knowledge, participatory action research...

• Social Innovation should be front and centre & included in all graduate training programs with hands-on experience for the trainees—The FRQ is ready to make changes in that direction but needs the support of our higher education network

In conclusion: Social innovation means genuine partnership

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Thank you!

www.frqsc.gouv.qc.ca/www.frqnt.gouv.qc.ca/www.frqs.gouv.qc.ca/