Rural regions are trying to build resilience as they transition from natural resource extraction economies to service and knowledge-based economies. In response to this challenge, four colleges in BC’s interior partnered to design and are now implementing a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSRHC)-funded social innovation experiment. Design elements are grounded in the concepts of new regionalism and learning regions where innovation, learning, and knowledge flows have become critical to economic outcomes. This presentation will share findings from case study research with specific attention paid to design, college applied research capacity, strategic partnerships, performance measurement, and links to student learning.