European Social Innovation Competition
Overview
2021 theme: Skills for tomorrow - Shaping a green and digital future
The European economy is changing. The coming years will see a shift towards a green and digital future. These twin transitions present individuals, businesses and industries with exciting opportunities. Understanding the skills that will be needed and how best to develop them will be key to unlocking these opportunities for individuals and organisations alike.
The ‘Skills for tomorrow’ 2021 edition of the competition is looking for scalable social innovations that will contribute to job creation, growth and European competitiveness by helping people, 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 early-stage ideas that tackle challenges relating to the transition to either or both futures. These include but are not limited to identifying and mapping skills gaps as well as approaches to development and training that will support people to reskill or upskill.
All solutions must work towards sustainability, taking into consideration their own environmental impact.
Eligibility criteria
This annual competition is open to individuals, groups and organisations (as a legal entity) across the European Union and in countries participating in the Horizon Europe programme.
The competition is governed by the rules of contest below, specified in the FAQs.
You may submit your proposal independently of its degree of maturity, including concept or early-stage ideas, as well as those that in the prototyping stage.
Ideas and proposals from all sources, sectors and all types of organisations including for-profit, non-for-profit, or private companies are welcome.
Award criteria
Three prizes will be awarded to the applicants who, in the opinion of the jury, best address cumulative criteria regarding:
- degree of innovation - the degree to which the product, service or model addresses unmet needs more effectively within its given socio-economic and geographical context, in a new and innovative way
- impact - the applicant must demonstrate how the proposed solution has the potential to tackle the competition challenge
- sustainability - the financial and environmental sustainability of the proposal
- scalability and replicability - the idea's potential to scale and be replicated, be it at regional, national, European or global level
Impact prize of the European Social Innovation competition
They also reward one semi-finalist of the 2020 ‘Reimagine Fashion’ competition with an impact prize of €50.000. In the coming months, they will contact the 2020 semi-finalists directly with more information on the steps to take.