Proud to present: Europe’s 10 best social innovations

The 10 finalists of the European Social Innovation Competition have been announced by the European Commission. They represent all a different country: Austria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine. The three winners will be announced during the awards ceremony in Brussels on November 8th.

The European Social Innovation Competition++European Social Innovation CompetitionThe Competition is organised by the European Commission with support from Nesta, Kennisland, the European Network of Living Labs, Ashoka and Scholz & Friends. Kennisland is responsible for designing and implementing the support programme for all competitors, including coaching and organising a social innovation academy. is an initiative of the European Commission that awards three € 50.000 prizes per year to the most innovative ideas developed to address societal issues in EU Member States and Horizon 2020 Associated countries. This year’s theme is RE:THINK LOCAL, and focuses on projects that turn local challenges into opportunities for young people.

All 30 semi-finalists receive coaching to support the development of their idea, and attended the Social Innovation Academy++AcademyRead about the outcomes of the academy here. in Cluj, Romania. After reviewing all adapted development plans, our jury++Judging panelCurious who is in our impressive judging panel of experienced social innovators? You can check them out here.  decided on the following finalists:EUSIC is an initiative of the European Commission that awards three € 50.000 prizes per year to the most innovative ideas developed to address societal issues in EU Member States and Horizon 2020 Associated countries.

• Career Bus brings career orientation to young people living in rural areas by combining innovative technologies and a face-to-face interaction. Travelling to remote places, Career Bus will boost the employability and knowledge of young residents.
• ConnecTech offers modular coding courses, internships and mentoring from tech professionals to young people with physical impairments in order to expand employment opportunities and promote flexible working conditions. 
• es im-perfect has set up a network of hubs that are helping to save fresh produce that would be wasted in conventional processing settings by turning it into jams, patés and other delicious products. Simultaneously, they offer employment opportunities for young people.
• GoFundEd is an online crowdfunding platform that enables students and teachers to move towards newer teaching and testing methods in order to equip young people with the relevant skills to find good employment or become successful entrepreneurs in their home country.
• Heritage Lab teaches established innovation incubation methods to young people in small towns, supporting them in the launch of new businesses and services based on local cultural heritage that deserves appreciation.
• imagiCase introduces teenage girls to the tech field by providing them with a platform to develop their programming skills by means of fun practical projects such as customising mobile phone cases.
• MTOP goes digital combines smart offline and online solutions to prepare young qualified refugees to enter the Austrian labour market. Long-lasting working relationships are ensured through post-placement support.
• REvive Greece combines traditional classroom and e-learning methods to re-skill young unemployed Greeks and refugees in computer programming. It then connects them with companies from the IT sector, so that they can secure internships as software developersJoin us in Brussels on November 8th to see which three projects will walk away with a trophy and €50,000 to develop their ideas..
• ScOLARgeno empowers secondary school students to act against climate change by supporting them in establishing cooperatives to plan and operate their own school photovoltaic energy generating systems. It hence prepares them to contribute to a more ecological economy of the future.
• Ulisse is the first ever European digital platform that creates, markets & promotes local travel experiences and full-holiday bundles designed by deaf people for deaf people. By doing so, it also fosters international sign language education.

Join us in Brussels on November 8th to see which three projects will walk away with a trophy and € 50,000 to develop their ideas. All ten Finalists will pitch their ideas on stage that day.

The Competition takes place every year – each time with a different theme. Individuals, organisations and companies from all EU Member States and Horizon 2020 associated countries can participate.

You can follow the Competition on Twitter at @EUSocialInnov and #diogochallenge or subscribe to the Competition newsletter.