Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Emerging Technologies

Overview

Dive into the transformative world of social innovation and entrepreneurship with this comprehensive day school in Oxford.

The day is designed to unveil the pivotal role of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR), in crafting solutions to societal challenges. Throughout the day, you will journey through the intricacies of integrating these advanced technologies into the innovation process, thereby enhancing your ability to devise impactful solutions that address critical social problems. 

The day intricately covers the fundamentals, processes and strategic approaches essential for fostering social innovation and entrepreneurship, with a particular emphasis on the synergy between technology and social impact. Engage in a curriculum that includes a blend of theoretical insights and practical exercises, ranging from defining social innovation to developing and evaluating technology-enhanced social enterprise ideas. 

You will emerge from the day equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to initiate your own tech-driven social ventures, poised to make a significant contribution towards sustainable social change.

Whether you're an academic, innovator or entrepreneur keen on leveraging technology for social good, this event will empower you to transform your visionary ideas into reality, marking the beginning of your journey towards creating a profound social impact. 

Programme details

9.45am
Registration at Ewert House reception

10am
Understanding social innovation, entrepreneurship, and the role of emerging technologies
Sepi Chakaveh

11.15am
Tea/coffee 

11.45am
Hand grenades of innovation: unlocking value in emergent technologies
Brandon Donnelly

12.15pm
Delving into social problems (causes and recognition) and harnessing AI, VR, and emerging technologies for social innovation
Selvakumar Ramachandran

1pm
Lunch 

2pm
Evaluating and scaling social enterprises in the age of emerging technologies
Mark Neill

2.30pm
Ideation techniques for social innovation
Selvakumar Ramachandran

3.15pm
Tea/coffee 

3.45pm
From idea to impact: group discussion
Sepi Chakaveh, Selvakumar Ramachandran, Brandon Donnelly and Mark Neill

5pm
End of day

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee (includes tea/coffee) £120.00
Baguette Lunch £7.30

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit or are a full-time student in the UK you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees.

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutors

Dr Sepi Chakaveh

Speaker

Dr Sepideh Chakaveh is a Departmental Lecturer in Data Science and Course Director for the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in IT System Analysis and Design (ADITSAD). Sepi has a BSc in Electronic Engineering and a PhD in Experimental Astrophysics and Space Sciences from the University of Kent.

She has extensive experience as a Senior Scientist/Academic working both in the UK and Germany, including Imperial College London, Max Planck Institute in Heidelberg, University of Göttingen, Fraunhofer Society and the University of Southampton where she was the co-founder and the former Director of Southampton Data Science Academy, the first UK online data science academy.

Brandon Donnelly

Speaker

Brandon Donnelly is an innovator in technologies like AI, ML, AR, VR, and in digital transformation. He holds 11 patents, 4 trademarks, and has been involved in over 40 transformative projects. He is the founder of Intellect Horizon, a free digital conference where top minds and institutions focus on the transformative capabilities of AI, XR, and Web3, and has been recognized as a global talent by two governments. 

Brandon holds a PhD in Strategic Communication from Regent University, and a PG Diploma in Strategy and Innovation from the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He also holds a PG Certificate in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Cambridge and from MIT. A published researcher and technologist, some of his patents include: System for Reducing Pathogenic Bioburden Using a UV-C light Emitting Device and Sensors, as well as Sterile Implant Tracking Device and System, and other fluid-dispensing devices.

Mark Neill

Speaker

Mark Neill is a seasoned Managing Director and Non-Executive Director with over two decades of leadership experience spanning Defence, infrastructure, and public sector partnerships. Currently leading Landmarc Support Services, Mark is recognised for embedding innovation and agility by championing SMEs and start-ups as part of his corporate mission.

As a Non-Executive Director of X-Forces Enterprise CIC, one of the UK’s most successful social enterprises supporting Armed Forces entrepreneurs, Mark is deeply committed to enabling enterprise as a force for social good. His current focus is on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in start-ups, particularly within the social enterprise sector, helping organisations align emerging technologies with sustainable and scalable impact.

Dr Selvakumar Ramachandran

Speaker

Selvakumar (Selva) Ramachandran is Technologist and Entrepreneur developing 360-degree VR-based tourism to VR-travellers and virtual tourism. Selva has a Bachelor Degree of Electrical and Electronics Engineering form Madurai Kamaraj University, India and a MSc – Software Engineering from Blekinge Tekniska Hogskola, Sweden and a PhD in Information Science from University of Rome, Italy. Dr Selva Ramachandran is the winner of several UK industrial awards as well as the recipient of Google Scholarship for showing excellence in the field of Computer Science – 2012.

Application

Please use the 'Book' button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us to obtain an application form.

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included in the price, but if you wish to stay with us the night before the course, then please contact our Residential Centre.

Accommodation in Rewley House - all bedrooms are modern, comfortably furnished and each room has tea and coffee making facilities, Freeview television, and Free WiFi and private bath or shower rooms. Please contact our Residential Centre on +44 (0) 1865 270362 or email res-ctr@conted.ox.ac.uk for details of availability and discounted prices. For more information, please see our website: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/accommodation