What was the European Social Innovation Competition?
We worked with the European Commission on nine Competitions which took place between 2013 and 2021.
The European Social Innovation Competition launched in 2013 and acts as a beacon for social innovators across Europe, employing a proven methodology for supporting early-stage ideas and facilitating a network of radical innovators shaping our society for the better. Each year the Competition addresses a different issue facing Europe.
Through its combination of financial and non-financial support during the Competition as well as the ongoing opportunities it offers to its alumni, the Competition has unearthed game-changing ideas from all across Europe and helped them to become viable, scalable and visible social enterprises.
The Competition is supported by a consortium of organisations from across Europe. From 2015 to 2021, the consortium was led by Challenge Works and included Euclid Network, GOPA Com. and Ashoka Spain.
We are honoured and proud of having delivered the Competition since its inception in 2013, and we will continue to support the European Commission in their mission to deliver impactful future editions of the Competition.
How did the Competition come about?
Diogo Vasconcelos was a Portuguese leader who focused on fostering innovation to address some of the great societal challenges of our time. During his career he worked closely with the European Commission and others on issues such as globalisation, sustainability, climate change, urbanisation, democratic participation and healthcare.
Diogo sadly passed away in 2011 at the age of 43. To keep his ambitions alive, the European Commission established the European Social Innovation Competition to inspire entrepreneurs across the continent to continue developing ideas that tackle the challenges our society faces.
Each year, three €50,000 prizes are awarded for the most innovative projects designed to change the world for the better.
