History and Journey of Making More Health

The partnership idea emerged from Boehringer Ingelheim's desire to commemorate its 125th anniversary in 2010 by initiating a social project in the healthcare sector. The company aimed to collaborate with a global NGO to launch a health-focused initiative that would have a meaningful societal impact, moving beyond traditional corporate social responsibility.

Ashoka's global structure, opportunities for employee engagement, entrepreneurial spirit, and expertise in social innovation were key factors that complemented Boehringer Ingelheim's goals. This alignment in values and approaches laid a strong foundation for the collaboration.

Co-Designing a Shared Vision

From the outset, Making More Health has been developed through a genuine co-creation effort, with both partners equally engaged in shaping the collaboration's evolution. This approach transcends the typical funder–service provider dynamic often seen between the profit and non-profit sectors.

The goal is not to confine this knowledge within Making More Health but to actively promote and share experiences, ideas, and outcomes. This dissemination aims to amplify social innovation in the health sector and drive transformative changes in industry practices.

Areas of Impact

At the heart of the Ashoka and Boehringer Ingelheim partnership lies a shared commitment to supporting system-changing projects led by Ashoka Fellows who are driving innovation in the health space. Since 2011, this collaboration has supported over 130 Ashoka Fellows worldwide, enabling them to expand their impact across the world.

Through this partnership, Ashoka and Boehringer Ingelheim focus on key areas such as:

Health Equity
Access to Healthcare for Underserved Communities
Responsible & Sustainable Sourcing
Animal Health Nutrition
Environmental Health
Mental Health & Well-being
Awareness and Access to Specialized Care
Decarbonization & Water Management

Enabling Employees to Become Changemakers

Making More Health has embraced the “everyone a changemaker” vision by creating meaningful opportunities for Boehringer Ingelheim employees to explore and apply their changemaking potential. Through immersive experiences with communities and collaboration with Ashoka Fellows and local organizations, employees have developed empathy, leadership, and a deeper understanding of social challenges.

These experiences have inspired many to take initiative, mobilizing teammates, launching local projects around the world, and engaging in socially impactful work. Given the freedom and encouragement to build their own initiatives, employees have embraced a culture of intrapreneurship, proving to themselves and others that they can drive meaningful innovation from within the company.