McMaster University has joined Catalyst 2030, an international network that fosters social innovation in support of achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

McMaster is the first Canadian university to join Catalyst 2030, convening and facilitating collaboration between social entrepreneurs and innovators to help tackle the root causes of social problems and drive systemic change.

The SDGs are at the heart of much of the research, education, and community initiatives at McMaster, says Provost and Vice-President (Academic) Susan Tighe.

“McMaster’s ongoing work to support the sharing of learning and knowledge in a global environment positions our university well to spark collaborations as a member of Catalyst 2030,” Tighe says.

“We are committed as an institution to building and cultivating strong partnerships across regions, sectors and causes in the pursuit of the United Nations sustainable development goals and a brighter world.”

The university has consistently ranked among the top 40 institutions in the world for global impact based on the Sustainable Development Goals, which are a call to action to help create a safer, greener, healthier, more equitable world by 2030.

McMaster philosophy Professor Sandra Lapointe played a pivotal role in initiating McMaster’s involvement with Catalyst 2030. Lapointe heads The/La Collaborative, a pan-Canadian network whose mission is to create new ways to mobilize social sciences, humanities and arts knowledge, training students for innovation, partnerships, and social impact.

“McMaster’s emphasis on societal well-being and sustainable development is a natural model or exemplar of what universities can and should do to help achieve the SDGS,” Lapointe says.

“As anchor of their communities, institutions of higher learning can make a tremendous contribution to the social innovation ecosystem by mobilizing the knowledge of their researchers.”

As part of its commitment, McMaster will host the inaugural meeting of the Canadian Forum on Innovation and Societal Impact on 12-13 October 2022, convening stakeholders across the social, municipal and innovation sectors to align education, practice and policy around social innovation.

About Catalyst 2030

Launched at the World Economic Forum in January 2020, Catalyst 2030 is a global movement of social entrepreneurs and social innovators from all sectors who share the common goal of creating innovative, people-centric approaches to attain the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Comprising more than 1,500 people and organizations who are active in over 180 countries and who directly reach an estimated two billion people, Catalyst 2030 connects communities, governments, businesses, and others.