International

Many of the past innovations developed by the Young Foundation’s predecessors were taken up around the world – and many also drew on innovative ideas from around the world. Our aim over the next few years is to be simultaneously a local organisation, rooted in east London, and global in our sources of ideas and our practical work.

To that end we are developing a programme of events, networking and partnerships. The Social Innovation eXchange SIX is a partnership of the Young Foundation, Cisco, Global Ideas Bank, Kaos Pilots, MIK, OECD, SEP - Sustainable Everyday Project, School for Social Entrepreneurs, Tallberg Foundation, and many others working on social innovation to meet unmet needs.

SIX aims to develop existing and new links with similar organisations and social enterprises all over the world, providing a 'network of networks'. By connecting people, bringing together resources and sharing ideas and practical solutions, SIX will raise the profile of social innovation, and help accelerate the process and its effects all over the world.

The Beijing conference on social innovation which we hosted with the China Centre for Comparative Political Economy and the British Council in October was a great success with some 250 attendees, senior Chinese representation at Vice Minister level, senior UK official representation and representatives from nearly 20 countries. A website was developed for the conference discoversocialinnovation.org which includes many examples of innovations from around the world and China. We also held a second event in Chongqing (sometimes described as the world’s largest city) with the municipal government and the British Council – building on a programme of events earlier in the year in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongxing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.