Babson Social Innovation Lab

ACTION TANKS In our Action Tanks, concepts in social innovation are prototyped, evaluated, and proven in real-world contexts—all addressing the UN Global Goals. Action Tanks, powered by the Babson Social Innovation Lab, foster “smart action” by bringing together diverse audiences with unique strengths and perspectives to address critical dilemmas facing the world.​​ Current Action Tanks The Lewis Institute is currently running the following Action Tanks: Food Sol Food Sol creates hubs that support both students and food entrepreneurs in growing their positive ideas and actions for the food system. Our lens on business and entrepreneurship frames a steady eye on food solutions that are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable simultaneously not sequentially. Babson Youth Impact Lab Babson Youth Impact Lab is educating our next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders around the globe through the ACTIVATE curriculum and programs like Babson Summer Study for high school students. Global Healthcare Entrepreneurship The Leonard A. Schlesinger Fund for Global Healthcare Entrepreneurship provides opportunities for Babson faculty and students to apply their entrepreneurial skills to the field of global health. As its first project, the fund is working with the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery on the writing of several traditional and living case studies on access to and innovations in surgical care around the world. IoT For Good Lab Sponsored by Verizon, the IoT for Good Lab at Babson encourages the creation of social impact using IoT (Internet of Things) technology. The Lab convenes interdisciplinary teams of entrepreneurial thinkers, engineers, designers, artists, and liberal arts students in order to experiment with ideas and solutions for addressing the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals using the IoT; supports IoT for Good entrepreneurs working to generate social value using the IoT, integrative thinking, human centered design, innovative engineering, and creative business cases; and provides resources, seed funds, and support to initiate and launch IoT-enabled social ventures. Social Sector Impact The Social Sector Impact initiative uses Babson’s ET&A™ methodology to engage the philanthropic and non-profit communities to address the pressing changes and disruptions happening in the social sector. Specifically, this initiative focuses on accelerating and growing the Babson Board Fellows​ program, as well as expanding the curriculum both for Babson students and the broader social sector community.