What Lien Centre for Social Innovation does

The Lien Centre for Social Innovation (LCSI) is a research center embedded within the School of Social Sciences at Singapore Management University, co-founded in 2010 by the Lien Foundation and SMU. The Centre operates with a small team of approximately 12 staff led by Executive Director Steve Loh and Chairman Dr Tan Chi Chiu, drawing on a management committee that spans senior figures from philanthropy, banking (Lazard, S&P Global, DBS), private equity (Titan Capital, TPG Capital), and academia. Its mandate is to serve as an integrated platform for social innovation in Singapore and Asia, conducting commissioned research and consultancy for government agencies, foundations, and corporates while running capacity-building programmes for non-profit leaders, youth, and student changemakers.

LCSI's product portfolio is organised around four lines: research and consultancy services (including the Governance Maturity Framework and nationally representative studies such as The Hunger Report), professional programmes (ACE Capstone Leadership Programme, GIFT, Women in Entrepreneurship Incubator, The Lotus Initiative), youth programmes (Create4Good Challenge, HSBC-SMU Change Leaders for Sustainability, Diana Koh Social Transformation Programme), and internship pathways (Tote Board Social Capital Internship, Summer Associates). Its flagship content platform, Social Space, functions as the Centre's thought-leadership channel. Underlying technology is rooted in qualitative social-science methods (surveys, interviews, focus groups, landscape analyses) rather than software or AI systems.

The revenue model combines commissioned research and consultancy fees from foundations and government (NCSS, Tote Board, UBS Optimus Foundation, APB Foundation), corporate CSR/sustainability advisory (HSBC, Standard Chartered, LVMH, CDL, UNIQLO), grant-funded programme delivery, and in-kind institutional support from SMU. Most programmes are delivered free to participants; paid internships, stipends, and capped grants flow outward rather than constituting revenue. Geographic scope is anchored in Singapore with growing project-based reach across ASEAN (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, India).

Name

Lien Centre for Social Innovation

Legal name

Lien Centre for Social Innovation

Website

https://lcsi.smu.edu.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lien Centre for Social Innovation is a 12-person research center within Singapore Management University that conducts commissioned social-sector research, consultancy, and capacity-building programmes for government agencies, foundations, corporates, and youth across Singapore and ASEAN.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Innovation Research and Advisory

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Social Sciences & Public Policy Research Universities (EDAHABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Business & Management Research Universities (EDAHABAE)

Keywords

• Social innovation research
• Impact measurement
• Capacity building
• Nonprofit advisory
• Translational research

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Research Consultancy: Customized research and consultancy services for organizations seeking to understand social needs and measure impact
2. Programme Fees and Grants: Capacity-building programmes and grants funded by foundations and corporate partners
3. Commissioned Research: Research projects commissioned by foundations and government agencies (e.g., UBS Optimus Foundation, NCSS, Tote Board, APB Foundation)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Lien Centre for Social Innovation conducts commissioned social-sector research, impact assessments, and consultancy for government agencies, foundations, and corporations, while delivering capacity-building programmes for non-profit leaders, youth, and SMU students. It translates academic research into actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners across Singapore and Southeast Asia, anchored in its role as a research centre within Singapore Management University's School of Social Sciences.

Product overview

The Lien Centre for Social Innovation offers a portfolio of research consultancy services, impact measurement tools, and capacity-building programmes. Its core offerings include research and consultancy services, professional development programmes (ACE Capstone, GIFT, Women in Entrepreneurship Incubator, The Lotus Initiative), youth programmes (Create4Good Challenge, HSBC-SMU Change Leaders, Diana Koh Social Transformation Programme, Social Impact Exposure Trip), internship programmes (Summer Associates, Tote Board Social Capital Internship, NPO Internships), and the Social Space digital platform. The Centre also provides research publications including the Governance Maturity Framework and studies on unmet social needs in Singapore and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Social Space: LCSI's flagship digital platform for social innovation content and publications

Products and services

• Research and Consultancy Services

Quantifiable outcome

• First nationally representative study on food insecurity in Singapore (The Hunger Report)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and secondary.

• Lien FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLien Foundation, a family foundation known for forward-thinking approaches in education, eldercare, and environment, co-founded LCSI with Singapore Management University. Laurence Lien serves as Management Committee member representing Lien Foundation.
• Singapore Management University (SMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCSI operates as a research center within SMU's School of Social Sciences, benefiting from university infrastructure, academic networks, and institutional credibility.
• National Council of Social Service (NCSS)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCSS partnered with LCSI on the Transforming the Volunteer Experience in the Social Service Sector report and collaborated on the ACE Capstone Leadership Programme.
• Ashoka SingaporekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting Coffee for Change virtual dialogue sessions on social sustainability issues. Ashoka U recognized SMU/LCSI as first Changemaker Campus in Asia.
• UBS Optimus FoundationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned LCSI to conduct Regional Landscape Analysis on Vulnerable Children in ASEAN to inform the Foundation's regional strategy ahead of its Singapore office opening.
• APB FoundationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPB Foundation engaged LCSI and Ernst and Young to review its philanthropic strategy, providing recommendations on future strategic thrusts.
• LVMHkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerLCSI carried out Environmental Performance Assessment of the LIFE (LVMH Initiatives for Environment) programme in selected businesses under LVMH group in Singapore.
• City Developments Limited (CDL)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDL Chief Sustainability Officer serves on LCSI advisory; CDL aligned with LCSI's vision to nurture young minds and cultivate CSR champions.
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerDKSTIP expanded to include overseas internship opportunity with UNHCR ASEAN duty stations in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) and Indonesia (Jakarta).
• Lotus Life Foundation SingaporekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for The Lotus Initiative - social innovation and entrepreneurship development to improve livelihoods in Sahidbhumi, a rural village in Eastern Nepal (2019-2023).
• Standard Chartered BankkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-powered the Women in Entrepreneurship Incubator programme providing female-led startups with training, mentoring, and seed funding. Part of Futuremakers global initiative.
• HSBCkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSBC-SMU Change Leaders for Sustainability Programme - 12-month experience supporting entrepreneurs dedicated to social ventures addressing UN SDGs with emphasis on sustainability.
• Tote BoardkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBSC Initiative at SMU established with Tote Board support to promote social capital through initiatives including selective internship programme through LCSI.
• Aalto Executive EducationkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-sector collaboration for ACE Capstone Leadership Programme building competency among C-suite executives in non-profit sector.
• University of PennsylvaniasecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPenn Abroad programme brings University of Pennsylvania students to Singapore for exposure through LCSI, providing international experience in social innovation.
• UglyGoodsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSocial enterprise alumni of LCSI programmes (Impact Accelerator, Create4Good Challenge, HSBC Change Leaders) providing testimonial endorsement.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN): Pan-Asian membership organisation supporting social investors, funders, and resource organisations. Comparable in delivering capacity-building programmes, commissioned research, and cross-sector convening for the Asian social sector, with overlapping leadership via Patsian Low.
• Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP): Singapore-based organisation that develops tools, research, and ecosystems to advance impact investing across Asia. Directly comparable to LCSI in producing measurement frameworks and research for the social/impact sector in Singapore and the region.
• Institute of Policy Studies (IPS): Singapore-based policy research institute that conducts social, political, and economic research to inform public policy. Comparable to LCSI as a Singapore-anchored research center producing evidence-based studies on social issues, though IPS is broader in policy scope.
• Singapore Management University - Centre for Social Responsibility (C4SR): SMU's internal center guiding community service initiatives among undergraduates. Comparable as a SMU-affiliated center addressing social impact; LCSI management committee member Devi also heads C4SR, indicating operational and strategic alignment.
• National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC): Singapore non-profit that promotes volunteerism and philanthropy through research, programmes, and ecosystem-building. Comparable to LCSI in producing research on Singapore's social sector (including volunteerism) and developing capacity-building initiatives for non-profits.
• Ashoka Singapore: Singapore hub of global social entrepreneurship network identifying and supporting leading changemakers. Directly comparable as a social innovation ecosystem player; LCSI and Ashoka co-host Coffee for Change dialogues and both operate within Singapore's changemaker ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Lien Foundation: Singapore family foundation co-funder of LCSI focused on education, eldercare, and environment. Comparable in commissioning social sector research and capacity building in Singapore, though Lien Foundation is the funder/principal rather than the research intermediary.
• National Council of Social Service (NCSS): Singapore statutory board overseeing the social service sector. Comparable as a key Singapore stakeholder commissioning research (e.g., volunteerism study) and capacity-building programmes for non-profits, but operates as a government regulator rather than an academic research center.
• Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (NUS): Asia-focused public policy school within NUS producing policy research, executive education, and thought leadership. Comparable as a Singapore university-based research and capacity-building institution operating across Asia, with overlapping funder/corporate relationships.

Emerging players

• Impact Investment Exchange (IIX): Singapore-headquartered impact enterprise that operates an impact investment exchange and produces social impact research across Asia. Comparable in producing impact measurement frameworks and connecting corporates/foundations to social investment opportunities across the region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sgsmu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/smutubesg
• Facebookfacebook.com/sgsmu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lien-centre
• Instagraminstagram.com/sgsmu
• TikToktiktok.com/@sgsmu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lien Centre for Social Innovation