NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

WHY ASIA PACIFIC?

The Asia Pacific region stands as the world’s largest economic powerhouse, generating approximately $40 trillion and representing nearly 35.1% of global GDP. However, this remarkable economic strength contrasts sharply with the region’s pressing social challenges, including the climate crisis, digital inequality, youth unemployment, and rapid demographic transitions. While innovative solutions are emerging throughout the region to address these complex issues, they often operate in isolation—fragmented across borders, constrained by limited resources, and working within organizational silos that prevent the scale of impact needed to drive meaningful systemic change.

WHY NOW?

The Catalyst Now Asia Pacific Social Innovation Summit brings together social innovators and transformational organizations across borders and sectors to unlock collective action. This is where grassroots wisdom meets power, and where regional collaboration can drive global transformation.

Welcome to the Social Innovation House
where purpose, power, and progress converge.

The Social Innovation House is a Catalyst Now initiative that began as a spark in Davos in January 2025 with the partnership with Echoing Green, Ashoka and One Family Foundation — and is fast becoming a growing constellation of catalytic spaces around the globe. As we expand, we carry with us the same spirit: to spotlight social innovators, cross-sectoral collaborations, host solution-driven conversations, foster partnerships, and create visibility for social impact ecosystems that transform systems and solve the most pressing challenges.

ABOUT CATALYST NOW

Catalyst Now is a dynamic global movement of over 6,000 social innovators transforming systems and driving sustainable change to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals worldwide. Founded in 2019 at the World Economic Forum by 50 pioneering innovators who created Catalyst 2030, we unite social entrepreneurs, civic society, funders, private sector leaders, academia, and governments to create lasting systemic change through bold, cross-sector collaborations.

With more than 100 collaborations across 150 countries, Catalyst Now creates spaces where social innovators connect, collaborate, and drive transformational change. From education and climate action to mental health and gender equality, we empower and amplify local and regional initiatives—pioneering innovative solutions that address the world’s most pressing social challenges.

OUR PROGRAM

Accelerating Social Innovation with leading social entrepreneurs and social innovators from the Asia-Pacific region.

A three-day convening, the Summit will bring together 100 of Asia Pacific’s most visionary social innovators and changemakers. In collaboration with businesses and organizations committed to addressing social and environmental challenges, we aim to drive a global movement that propels social innovation beyond borders. By fostering discussions among leaders from diverse fields and backgrounds, we seek to enhance regional cooperation and generate collective impact.