The Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University is launching a new program designed to bring a multidisciplinary approach to solving tricky social problems and create new enterprises from the solutions.
The new RADIUS (RADical Ideas, Useful to Society) program is called is being dubbed a “social innovation and venture incubator.”
It will bring together students from all SFU faculties to help develop innovative approaches to social issues, such as developing tracking for forest products in order to qualify for certification under sustainable forest practices.
“RADIUS will teach students to rethink problems from the ground up, empathize with those affected, and create radical, sustainable opportunities,” David Dunne, co-founder and chairman of RADIUS, said in a press release.
“As a business school, we have made a longstanding commitment to social innovation and entrepreneurship,” Beddie School of Business Dean Daniel Shapiro said.
“Our students engaged with RADIUS will continue to inspire and motivate us as we help them learn how to become responsible, creative leaders and entrepreneurs. This is a great example of learning that that is adaptive, interactive and highly experiential.”
Although it has a philanthropic motivation, the ultimate goal of the program is to create enterprises based on novel approaches to social problems.
