The European Commission has launched the European Social Innovation Competition in memory of Diogo Vasconcelos.
Based on the theme “SKILLS FOR TOMORROW – Shaping a green and digital future“, the 2021 edition calls for social innovations that will contribute to job creation, growth and European competitiveness by helping people and businesses and industries identify, develop and strengthen the skills that will power the European economy’s green and digital future.
The competition is open to individuals, groups and organisations from EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe.
The competition is looking for inspiring ideas, including, but not limited to:
- Solutions that identify skills needs and gaps to innovative skills development approaches that will support people to reskill or upskill.;
- Solutions to identify, develop and strengthen the skills and empower the European economy’s green and digital future;
- Solutions that will contribute to job creation, growth and European competitiveness (considering sustainability and environmental impact).
Entries must be original ideas and they may propose new or improved ways to implement existing solutions, combine them, or adapt them to a different context or target group, but cannot be exact copies of those.
How to apply
Entries must be submitted in one of the official languages of the European Union, by the (lead) participant via the online entry form available at http://eusic.challenges.org
Prize
The Competition will support the winning solutions with cash prizes awarded in two steps:
● In 2021, three winners receive a cash prize of 50,000 Euros.
● in 2021, it is expected to award 1 impact prize of 50,000 Euros to the project which has achieved the most significant social impact amongst the 2021 semi-finalists and finalists.
Competition process
The competition is made up of three phases:
Phase 1: 30 semi-finalists will be announced in July 2021 to receive mentoring support and further progress their ideas, and they will be invited to take part in a ‘Social Innovation Academy’.
Phase 2: In November 2021, 10 finalists are announced and receive further training, including webinars from international experts and continued support from their coach. In December 2021, the awards are delivered.
Phase 3: In 2022, the Impact Prize opens for all 30 semi-finalists. The most significant result receives a cash prize of 50,000 Euros.
Deadline
12 May 2021
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