Industrial innovation

The launch of Social Innovation Europe initiative

On 16 and 17 March 2011, Social Innovation Europe was launched in Brussels. Funded by the European Commission, Social Innovation Europe will create a dynamic, entrepreneurial and innovative new Europe. The time has come for Europe to embrace the broad concept of innovation and set an example globally. By 2014, Social Innovation Europe will have become the meeting place - virtual and real - for social innovators, entrepreneurs, non-profit organisations, policy makers and anyone else who is inspired by social innovation in Europe.

Through a series of gatherings, and a new online resource, Social Innovation Europe will:

connect projects and people who can share experiences and learn from each other;
develop an easily accessible resource bank - so you can find about other projects, organisations and ways of working;
develop a resource bank of up to date policies at local and national levels and provide information on funding opportunities;
facilitate new relationships between civil society, governments, public sector institutions and relevant private sector bodies
develop concrete recommendations in financing and in upscaling/mainstreaming of social innovation in Europe

Final report [706 KB]

Photo gallery

Conference presentations and speeches:

16 March
14.30-15.30	Briezz band
15.30-15.55 Welcome	Opening by Henriette van Eijl (DG Enterprise and Industry) and Louise Pulford (Young Foundation) Opening speech by László Andor [39 KB] , European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
15.55-16.15	Putting a face to the Social Innovation Europe Initiative Geoff Mulgan, Diogo Vasconcelos, Louise Pulford
16.15-17.00	Putting a face to the policy <>Moderator: Peter Dröll (DG Enterprise and Industry) Description: <>1. Could you bring an item that embodies social innovation actions in your Directorate General (DG), and describe why? <> <>2. What is my DGs budget (rough estimate) for social innovation, and who benefits most? <> <>3. Could you share a success story where your policy/DG has made a big impact on social innovation? Order of presentations: <>Henriette van Eijl - DG Enterprise and Industry <>Olivier Rouland - DG Employment and Social Affairs <>Liesbet de Letter - DG Regional Policy <>Philippe Kehaudren - DG Research and Innovation <>Peter Wintlev-Jensen - DG Information Society and Media <>Agnes Hubert - Bureau of European Policy Advisors
17.00-18.20	Panel discussion: Showcasing the work of European social innovation pioneers Panel members <>- Ana Vale, Gabinete de Gestão EQUAL/ESF Management authority <>- Martin Hirsch, President, Agency for civil service <>- Mirosław Miller, President, Wrocławskie Centrum EIT + ltd <>- Vickie Cammack, President & CEO, Tyze Personal networks <>- Simon Roberts, President, Ideas Bazaar <>- Gorka Espiau, Programme manager DenokInn, Social Innovation Park <>Moderated by: Geoff Mulgan, Chief Executive, Young Foundation Description: <>There is no shortage of social innovations in Europe. Some are less well established, as individuals, communities, organisations and companies search for new ways, and adapt old ones, to address the modern societal challenges. The shortage is of effective innovations that can demonstrate impact and cost-effectiveness; and of effective demand to pull through innovations that work. <>We have chosen these highly experienced practitioners to take part in a panel discussion, because of your pioneering experiences of either running effective innovations, or supporting effective innovations.
19.30-22.30	Conference dinner <>Speech by Francis Beland, X Prize Foundation <>Mr Beland's inspirational speech was about the power of prizes for solving social challenges. Short presentations by winners of the "This is European social innovation" <>1. Vitaever [2 MB] <>2. Eltern- AG [2 MB] <>3. Dreams Academy [3 MB] <>4. Dialogue Cafe [2 MB]
17 March
10.00-10.30	Presentation of the Social Innovation Europe Initiative, by Geoff Mulgan [2 MB] , Young Foundation and leader of the consortium that will run the Social Innovation Europe. Speech by European Commission President Barroso: 'Europe; leading Social Innovation' [42 KB] Video
10.30-11.45	Panel discussion: Refuting assumptions: what does Europe need to do now? Panel members: - Ingrid Lieten, Deputy Prime Minister of Flanders <>- Isobel Mota, Trustee of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation <>- Mercedes Bresso, President of the Committee of the Regions <>- Barbara Eros, Strategic programme director DemNet <>- Filippo Addarii, Executive director Euclid Network <>Moderator: Diogo Vasconcelos, Chairman of SIX and Distinguished Fellow, Cisco Description: <>The discussion should focus on the future possibilities and opportunities for social innovation. What Europe should do to engage in social innovation from your perspective? Moderator: Diogo Vasconcelos, Distinguished Fellow, Cisco and Chairman of SIX
11.45-11.55	Brief pitches about 6 workshops <>Each moderator was invited to make a one minute speech on their session
12.00-13.00	Round 1:How: workshops A, B. C <>Workshop A: The ecology of finance – What should a family of funds and funding packages for Europe look like? <>(presentation of Luc Soete [37 KB] , MERIT) <>Workshop B: Metrics for innovation (the step between what works and what doesn’t and how to integrate economic and social value) <>(Digital Pioneers presentation [2 MB] ) <>Workshop C: Scaling up success
13.00-14.30	Lunch break
14.30-15.30	Round 2: Where: Social innovation priority areas three idea generating sessions (D, E, F) <>Workshop D: Social Inclusion: Encouraging active ageing in Europe <>(Aconchego presentation [3 MB] ) <>Workshop E: Workplace innovation - Summary of the workshop [111 KB] <>Workshop F: Cities and eco-innovation
15.45-16.30	Auction of conference ideas by Marcel Brouwer of Gavelers Art Auctioneers <>Description: <>We have asked 'rapporteurs' from each workshop to develop ideas with their group and present these ideas as lots (title, few sentences on what and how).The bidding is about gauging interest in social innovation ideas by participants.
16.30-17.15	Closing speech by Commissioner for Research and Innovation - MaireGeoghegan-Quinn Concluding remarks by Diogo Vasconcelos