The European Social Innovation Competition (EUSIC), funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) under Horizon Europe, aims at raising awareness about social innovation across a wide audience, sparking the creation of new socially innovative ideas, creating a network of like-minded practitioners and supporting finalists to transform their ideas into structured businesses. This year's challenge concerns social innovation in “Digital democracy”.
Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, announced the launch of the prize during the opening of the European Youth Week. The Commissioner said: “Social innovation in digital democracy can significantly improve the lives of vulnerable citizens and benefit EU society. With this year's challenge, the European Social Innovation Competition aims to reward innovations that identify and tackle disinformation, connect actors in emerging democratic practices, build grassroots communities and strengthen civil society through participation and open technologies. I look forward to seeing the exciting projects that will compete this year.”
Launched in 2013 in memory of social innovation pioneer Diogo Vasconcelos, the European Social Innovation Competition features three prizes of €75 000, €50 000 and €25 000, awarded to the first, second and third ranked, for the best social innovation projects designed to change the world for the better.
This competition is open, among others, to non-profit and for-profit organisations such as entrepreneurs and social enterprises, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), educational institutions and universities. Social innovators from EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe may apply. A jury of independent experts will evaluate the applications considering the following criteria:
- Degree of innovation: the degree to which any new product, service and/or organisational or business model is new for its given context in connection to the challenge of the competition. The idea must be new and innovative within its given socio-economic and geographical context.
- Usability and inclusiveness: whether the proposed solution is easy to use and affordable, and can engage the largest part of EU citizens, irrespective of their background or digital skills.
- Positive social impact: the potential of the proposal to tackle the competition challenge, fostering collaboration and partnerships with relevant stakeholders. The applicant must demonstrate how the proposed solution will contribute to solving this year's challenge.
- Viability and sustainability: the financial and environmental sustainability of the proposal, including a sustainability plan to make the solution durable in the medium- or long-term.
- Scalability and replicability: the idea's potential to scale and be replicated across sectors, governance levels or at regional, national, European, or global level.
- Decentralisation and governance: improvements in transparency and accountability (while respecting privacy and/or anonymity).
