Conference - Social Innovation for Refugee Inclusion Final Session - From Niche to Mainstream: Unlocking the Potential of Innovation for Lasting Change

Summary: <p>Following the arrival of large numbers of migrants and asylum seekers in Europe from 2015 onwards, many non-traditional actors—from tech start-ups to social enterprises—have pioneered innovative solutions to foster the social and economic inclusion of newcomers. In the context of this experimentation, business has played a fundamental role, with companies on both sides of the Atlantic leveraging their potential as employers, donors, and partners in innovative alliances. This two-day conference reflected on how innovative initiatives for refugee inclusion can grow beyond pockets of good practice and inspire large-scale, long-term change. The event brought together a diverse group of public officials, business leaders, service designers, social entrepreneurs, civil society organisations, and refugee initiatives from Europe, the United States, and Canada.</p><br> <p>The final interactive panel session “From Niche to Mainstream: Unlocking the Potential of Innovation for Lasting Change” included contributions from:</p><br> <ul> <li>Chair: Elizabeth Collett, Director, Migration Policy Institute Europe</li> <br> <li>Louisa Taylor, Director, Refugee 613, Canada </li> <br> <li>Ben Mason, Project lead on digital innovation around refugees and migration, Betterplace lab, Germany</li> <br> <li>David Manicom, Assistant Deputy Minister, Settlement and Integration Sector, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada</li> <br> <li>Laura Corrado, Head of Unit Legal Migration and Integration, DG HOME, European Commission</li> <br> </ul>