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European Social Innovation Competition 2015

Cities & Societies
Map of Europe|A person in a beekeeping suit in a wheelchair tends to some hives|Two older people wearing outdoor clothing and rucksacks post in front of a scenic view|A person in a wheelchair going up a ramp into the back of a vehicle

What was the European Social Innovation Competition 2015?

‘New Ways to Grow’ was a challenge prize to promote sustainable models of growth that create an inclusive society where nobody is left behind. It was funded by the European Commission.

The 2015 European Social Innovation Competition supported European innovators – people whose entrepreneurial ideas had the potential to change the landscape of growth across Europe. The competition sought out new collaborations and projects that created both financial value and social progress in the EU. Three prizes of €50,000 were awarded to the winning teams to kick start their social progress, at an awards ceremony in Brussels in November 2015.

1,400 applications...

from over 40 countries were received to the 2015 Competition

There was a great geographical spread...

with 20% of applications coming from Italy, 9% from Spain, 8% from Romania, and 7% each from the UK and Poland

The ideas submitted addressed major concerns...

including education and youth, employment, health and ageing, climate change, food waste and the environment

What is the European Social Innovation Competition?

Launched in memory of social innovation pioneer Diogo Vasconcelos, the European Social Innovation Competition is a challenge prize run by the European Commission across all EU Member States and Horizon 2020 Associated Countries. Now in its 8th year, the Competition acts as a beacon for social innovators in Europe, employing a proven methodology for supporting early-stage ideas and facilitating a network of radical innovators shaping society for the better. Each year the Competition is based around a different issue facing Europe.