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Social Innovation: challenges and perspectives for
Higher Education
The future of Social
Innovation
Rémi Quirion, Chief Scientist of Québec
Montreal, 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
scientific 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 users
E.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 students
E.g.: financial incentives within programs
The FRQ organizes activities to enhance the use of research
results by potential users
E.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 Maritime 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 critical role for universities
• 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/