ESF+ Administration Support Thematic Network - 2nd meeting - promising achievements of SI Plus

27-07-2023 thematic network, ESF+, administration, social innovation, achievements

In each presentation, the support provided by the National Competence Centres for Social Innovation to the design of the new operational programmes under the ESF+ was introduced. As part of their ESF+ administration support activities, partners presented the results of the national mapping activities focusing on the definition of social innovation in the partner countries, the description of the local social innovation ecosystems and the identification of development needs within the national social innovation ecosystems based on jointly elaborated theoretical and methodological frameworks.

The following main challenges related to the development of social innovations in each country were highlighted by the partners:

Unifying the definition for the social innovation and raising awareness
Providing access to financial and non-financial support
Networking on the national and transnational level
Monitoring and evaluating of the innovative projects

At the end of every presentation, in the form of strategic recommendations, every partner explained what needs to be done in the close future for the social innovation ecosystem development. The operational structures of the national social innovation competence centres and their future roles in the local ecosystems also were introduced by the experts of the partner organizations.

The joint conclusion of the meeting was that the national competence centres for social innovation could achieve significant visibility in the local ecosystems and provide valuable support and inputs to the ESF+ administration in the partner countries. Accordingly, each partner is committed to sustaining the activities and services of the competence centres in the future.

Documents of the meeting: