The first international scientific and practical forum “Social Innovation Theory. Municipal Experience” was held in Vologda by the City Administration with the support of the International Assembly of Capitals and Cities and the Union of Russian Cities.
Leading Russian and foreign social design experts met in Vologda, 14-15th August 2014. The forum became a platform for exchange of experience in the best social innovation practices. Among its participants there were 40 municipalities and more than 600 people in total. Twenty platforms were divided into five sections: city environment formation; social design; public-private partnership; public self-administration system; social adaptation.

The Forum’s experts noted that Vologda is an innovation center of development of municipal practices. Vologda’s social ideas annually win international contests. The Forum particularly resulted in the International Assembly’s decision to make Vologda an annual platform for exchange of experience in implementation of social practices. The organizers also see a joint development of a universal technique for application of innovation practices as a result of the Forum’s work.

SI-DRIVE’s partner, the Institute of Socio-Economic Development of Territories of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ISEDT RAS), took an active part in the Forum.