Competing to innovate society

In 2010 ten projects from around Europe were chosen as the first time winners of the European Social Innovation Competition.

“This is European Social Innovation” is a new initiative launched by the European Commission, in partnership with Euclid Network, the Social Innovation eXchange and the Bilbao Social Innovation Park.

As Geoff Mulgan, Director of the Young Foundation, and a member of the jury that selected the winning projects, said: “Europe has great traditions of social innovation – but in recent years innovation has often been talked about as if it’s only for scientists and technologists. This initiative was designed to showcase a selection of current examples of radical innovation taking place below the radar across Europe – to help people understand what social innovation is and why it matters so much to a continent facing urgent challenges of ageing, jobs and climate change.”

Organizers received over 100 entries from 23 countries. The standard of the projects was high and the range of social issues they were tackling very wide. The successful response to the initiative showed that there is no shortage of social innovation across Europe. However, it has to be adequately supported and developed in order to create an impact beyond the established social innovation community.

The 10 selected projects were identified because of their potential for impact and relevance to the issues facing Europe. The partners of this competition didn’t try to classify the best social innovation initiatives; rather, they have chosen to highlight some of the most promising innovations happening at the moment in different fields and countries across Europe.

These projects will be used by the European Commission as case studies in future communication about social innovation in the EU and will be featured in an official EU publication on social innovation which will be distributed across Europe.

Vita Europe interviewed members from the winning projects, tackling topics, which go from health, to social inclusion, education, sustainability, mobility, legal rights and disability.

The 10 winners of “This is European Social Innovation” are:

Aconchego Program, Porto Social Foundation, Portugal: a programme that solves housing problems of students and elderly people loneliness.

Ageing Well, Siel Bleu, France: Siel Bleu offers physical activity programmes to prevent or reduce ageing effects.

Connected Care, Turning Point, UK: a model of community-led commissioning.

Copenhagen Honey Cooperative, København Byhonning Kooperation, Denmarkç: a sustainable honey industry in the heart of the city gives work to the homeless.

Digital Pioneers, Kennisland, The Netherlands: a small-scale fund for innovative social media initiatives.

Dreams Academy, Turkey: a social responsibility project to breakthrough social deprivation and improve opportunities for disabled individuals.

ELTERN-AG, Germany: a voluntary empowerment project that works with parents of socially disadvantaged children.

La Petite Reine, France:? a French inner city “cargocycle” transportation initiative.

Your Identity – a chance for legal rights, Vrancea County Council, Romania: a programme combating the lack of legal identities in Roma communities.

Vitaever, Nethical Innovating Healthcare, Italy: a technology to innovate healthcare by enabling home services.