Creating the Space for SDG Innovation: A Geneva case study

This case study describes the Geneva 2030 Ecosystem, an initiative by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) designed to foster collaboration and innovation among diverse actors in Geneva to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• The author defines innovation not only as the introduction of new ideas, devices, or methods, but more comprehensively as an intervention that alters the dynamics of a complex system by changing the flow of resources, information, or power. Innovation may also involve 'bricolage', which is the process of combining existing approach elements in new ways or applying established models to new contexts.
• The Geneva 2030 Ecosystem is an IISD-facilitated initiative that brings together over 80 individuals from various sectors—including academic institutions, private sector entities, social entrepreneurs, non-governmental organizations, and United Nations organizations—to collaborate on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at international and national levels.
• As part of the Geneva 2030 Ecosystem, IISD launched an 'Innovation Sprint', a six-month process involving 30 individuals. This program utilizes rapid prototyping, systems mapping, and design thinking to build innovation capacity and create a safe space where ideas can be proven before being scaled.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2017). Creating the Space for SDG Innovation: A Geneva case study. https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/creating-space-sdg-innovation-geneva-case-study

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Creating the Space for SDG Innovation: A Geneva case study. 2017. https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/creating-space-sdg-innovation-geneva-case-study.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Creating the Space for SDG Innovation: A Geneva case study |date=5 July 2017 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/creating-space-sdg-innovation-geneva-case-study |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2017creating, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Creating the Space for SDG Innovation: A Geneva case study}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2017}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/creating-space-sdg-innovation-geneva-case-study}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }