Global Challenges Research Fund 20/21

The University of Northampton is driving its development related and GCRF research activity through its Institute for Social Innovation and Impact (ISII), and focusing this on one country, Vietnam. This decision is based upon the in-depth work that the University has already completed in Vietnam since 2014, in supporting capacity building and research into social enterprise, social innovation and social impact measurement (herein referred to as the social innovation ecosystem). It is also based upon the increasing desire for and support of social enterprise in Vietnam, in order that it meet its Sustainable Development Goals and achieve sustainable growth.

The project sought to support the development of social innovation activities in Vietnam, both within higher education and also outside in the business community. Through research projects to explore Vietnamese social innovation and the social impact created by Vietnamese social enterprises, the project looked to inform policy-makers, support social impact measurement in the country and create networks between universities and social innovators. The delivery of workshops through partner universities also supported capacity-building or academics and practitioners in supporting social innovators. Finally, the networks created both led to additional work in Cambodia to support social innovation focused NGOs, as well as the submission of new funding bids with partners.