Collaborative Innovation Principles
The foundations of a lab
Question Boundaries
We work together to dismantle silos. Cross-functional thinking leads to stronger outcomes.
Build Trust Naturally
Trust can't be enforced, it has to grow naturally. Safe spaces create real innovation.
Turn Discussion into Action
Using the right tools helps convert ideas into concrete next steps.
Embrace Disagreement
Different views make stronger solutions. Healthy pushback sparks breakthroughs.
Share the Air
Every voice gets space. A neutral environment and a constructive atmosphere create better results.
Work Within Constraints
Understanding constraints means we can focus our energy. Limits drive creative solutions.
Find Who is Missing
Who is missing in this room? All people impacted matter. How do we meaningfully inlcude them in addressing this problem?
Leave with Commitment
No committment, no accountability = no action, no change, no impact. Our labs drive commitment.
Each Lab is Unique
We recognise that every group and every challenge is unique. We work closely with you to understand your specific objectives, and then we design a session that fits those goals.
This includes selecting the best format, time frame, group size, and defining the approach to get the best results. Whether that means working in small groups, inviting speakers along, or getting the whole organisation together, we create the experience for your specific needs.
Lab Formats
We deliver sessions in various formats to suit your needs:
Focused Sessions (2-3 hours) Targeted problem-solving with core stakeholders.
Half-Day Workshops (3-4 hours) Intensive collaboration combining ideation with a focus on practical solution.
Full-Day Innovation Labs (6-8 hours) Comprehensive programs addressing complex, sector-wide challenges.
Collab Lab Series Extended engagement for challenges requiring deep exploration and refinement.
The Process
Our role as facilitators is to stimulate meaningful conversations. While we don't provide consultation or offer our own solutions, we create an environment where participants explore challenges openly. We spark discussion, ensure every voice is heard, and document what emerges.
1
Understand
We help you define the goals, constraints and invite list to create a collaborative lab with the strongest potential to address the challenge.
2
Collaborate
We create a space where every voice matters and conflict can be productive, meeting the challenge head on.
3
Act
We synthesise the session's insights so that you and participants can drive what happens next.
Past Collab Labs
Hear about previous collaborative innovation events
Not-For-Profit Innovation Forum
CBRIN partnered with Hands Across Canberra, the University of Canberra and a coalition of sector, research and government partners to deliver the inaugural Not-for-Profit Collaborative Innovation Forum. The forum brought together community organisations, funders, researchers and innovators to build innovation capability in the NFP sector, with loneliness selected as the first annual challenge theme.
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ACTNRM Rehydration Collab Lab
Participants examined seven key landscape rehydration techniques across a range of contexts throughout the workshop, sharing their experiences and building a group understanding of the high-level issues that need to be addressed.
AI Colab: Action Cluster Ignition Collab Lab
Participants examined seven key landscape rehydration techniques across a range of contexts throughout the workshop, sharing their experiences and building a group understanding of the high-level issues that need to be addressed.
What participants say?
It was one of the most well organised events I’ve been to with a great variety of the types of activities and ways to engage with new people and it was all helped by excellent facilitators who were passionate, articulate and eloquent.”
NFP summit 2025, participant
Facilitation was excellent and I particularly liked the reflections provided. I liked the reflective circle at the end as it provided a great summary of the event and left us feeling positive and hopeful rather than potentially dwelling on some of the challenges identified during the course of the event.
ACTNRM Rehydration Collab Lab, participant