EU Social Innovation: an important milestone at Web Summit 2018

par | 12 Nov 2018 | Communs & plaidoyer, Editorial

For the first time, European social innovation project holders and policy makers were gathered at Web Summit 2018 aka the “Davos for Geeks” in Lisbon (Novemebr 5-8th). Web Summit is the biggest venue of Tech players and innovators in Europe, and it was a very clear move that challenges Europe is facing could not been solved only by technology, but first by social and environnemental purposes and impacts. Around our “Social Innovation Village” and its 24 exhibiting projects were planned two discussions about Social Innovation at Forum Stage, before a thousand attendees. One year after the “High level conference – Opening up to an ERA of Social Innovation” in Lisbon, European social innovators and policy makers are again proving their ability to gather forces and networks to make their voice heard. Again in Lisbon at Web Summit 2018, an important milestone has been added along with Carlos Moedas, European Comissioner for Research, Science and Innovation.

First discussion on Tuesday november 6th at Web summit : Conference “Social innovation: Achieving a triple A rating for Europe” gathering Carlos Moedas (European  Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation), Isabel Mota (Director, Gulbenkian Foundation), Maria Leitao Marques (Portuguese Minister of the Presidency and of Administrative Modernisation) and Madeleine Gabriel (NESTA foundation, Social innovation Community).

The European Commission’s actions on social innovation stem from the Innovation Union initiative (2010) and of the Social Investment Package (2013). These actions facilitate the inducement, uptake and scaling-up of social innovation solutions. The main objectives were to promoting social innovation as a source of growth and jobs, sharing information about social innovation in Europe and supporting innovative entrepreneurs and mobilising investors and public organisations.

At Web Summit 2018, a big annoucement has been made : more money is going to be invested by European institutions in Social Innovation, while the Mutiannual Financial Framework for the 7 years to come has already been discussed, prior to the European election next May 2019.



Social Innovation Community was one of the H2020 funded Social Innovation Village ‘s projects at Web Summit 2018. During the following official visit on Social Innovation Village, they handed Social Innovation Community Declaration to Mr. Moedas and Mr Mahjoubi (French Secretary of State for Digital Affairs) : “For a Fairer, More Inclusive Europe” #SIDeclaration


 
Social Innovation Community will be gathered in Sevila, Spain from November 12 to 13th, to prepare the next European mandate and gain leverage to increase funds, skills and acknowledgement, in the same effort as our Manifesto #MakeItForGood, more focus on the acceleration of partnerships in between Tech and social innovators.


EU Prize for Women Innovators launched at Web Summit 2018 in Lisbon

par | 10 Nov 2018 | Editorial, Revue de presse

Along with other major declarations such as the Athenes nomination as EU Capital for Innovation of the rise of EU fundings for Social innovation, Carlos Moedas, EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation announced the launch of the EU Prize for Women Innovators at Web Summit 2018 in Lisbon this week.

He was of the major speaker this year at Web Summit and maybe the leading one for more Social Good in Tech… and also a more balanced Tech economy. Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, has launched the 2019 EU Prize for Women Innovators at the Web Summit in Lisbon along with Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality.

EU Prize for Women Innovators : why and what is it ?

Because women are underrepresented in terms of creating innovative enterprises. This is untapped potential for Europe, which needs to optimise all available resources to remain competitive and find solutions to our societal challenges.This award recognises the role of women in bringing about game-changing innovations to market and honours the outstanding achievements of female entrepreneurs running innovative companies.

The EU Prize for Women Innovators is a cash prize awarded every year to European women from across the EU and countries associated to Horizon 2020, who founded a successful company and brought an innovation to market.
  • 3 prizes of €100,000 each
  • Rising Innovator (35 or younger): €50,000

The award also recognises a number of finalists specially acknowledged for their outstanding record as women entrepreneurs and innovators.
The prize will be awarded to up to 4 women innovators in total, who have had the largest impact on the innovation ecosystem by transforming ideas into new and advanced products and/ services for the benefit of European citizens.

Award criteria

  • breakthrough innovation – the company  funded / co-funded  by  the  contestant  provides a cutting edge product or service
  • impact – the cutting edge product or service brings major benefits to citizens and society and the economy
  • inspiration – the contestant has shown active leadership, her role has influenced the success of the company and has the potential to inspire others

Applications are judged by a panel of independent experts from across Europe.

How to apply before Jaunary 16, 2019

Participants can apply for the contest online BEFORE JANUARY 16, 2019. The full details are explained in the following documents.