Impact Day 2024: Bottom-up Initiatives

How may academics and bottom-up initiatives mutually strengthen each other's impact? Do academics and societal entrepreneurs mean the same with the word 'impact'? Do we have the same expectations about the time frame within which concepts and ideas can be turned into reality? And how does co-creation between academics and societal partners actually work?

These and other issues will be addressed at the Bottom-up Initiatives for Societal Change Impact Day 2024!

We cordially invite social entrepreneurs, citizens' initiatives, academics and policy makers in and around the City of Utrecht to use this event to learn from each other's experiences, to meet each other and to discuss new forms of co-creation and solutions.

The afternoon will start with our keynote speaker Professor Sophie Bacq. She is professor of social entrepreneurship and holds the chair of sustainable development at the Coca-Cola Foundation (IMD Business School, Lausanne). 
We will then discuss three cases on three different social themes in parallel sessions. In addition, there will be plenty of room for networking and getting acquainted during the breaks and a drink at the end. 
The keynote lecture will be in English, sessions will be mainly in Dutch.

Three social issues

Inclusion

In recent years, on the one hand, national and European policies around migration, newcomers and diversity seem to be more nationalistically inspired, with a strong focus on cultural differences. On the other hand, many local and regional bottom-up initiatives and social entrepreneurship have instead emerged that focus on inclusion, both in the labour market and in communities. They often flourish in collaboration with local governments and national organisations. These initiatives tend to remain local and thus fragmented and with less impact than would potentially be possible. Why does this happen? How can they create more impact? How can co-creation of knowledge by all these different types of organisations and people happen in a meaningful way? 

Moderator: Karin Geuijen
In cooperation with partners from the Municipality of Utrecht, Municipality of Meijerijstad, the Red Cross, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, De Thuisgevers, Movisie, Berenschot and Hogeschool Utrecht.

Social entrepreneurship

To what extent does the current ‘ecosystem of entrepreneurship’ hinder or foster the emergence and growth of social enterprises focused on the transition of energy and health services? How can integrating academic knowledge and practical experience help scale up the impact of local initiatives? In this interactive session, academics and social partners will bring forward how co-creation can work in practice in this regard.

Moderator: Niels Bosma
In collaboration with partners from the Municipality of Utrecht, Impact030 et al.

Culture

This session highlights the collaboration between the Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Utrecht and Utrecht University, Patronage Studies. Based on this case study, we reflect on the pros and cons of collaboration between social partners and researchers in impact-oriented research projects. How to co-create research questions with social partners? What advantages and effects does co-creation have in terms of research results and impact for involved parties? What should we take into account in a public-private partnership?

Moderator: Helleke den Braber 
In collaboration with partners from the City of Utrecht, Cultural Affairs Department.

Want to join? Please do! Register free of charge via this link.