Our work in Europe
Our work in Europe is wide-ranging, from influencing policy at the EU level to creating a ‘network of networks’ and connecting social innovation research and practice across Europe. We play a key role in transnational social innovation knowledge exchange in Europe.
The Social Innovation Eurovision Podcast
How diversity, culture and history is shaping the future of social innovation in Europe.
Political, social and cultural contexts of innovation matter and it is vital we understand them to accelerate learning and exchange across borders and sectors, in order to better prepare for the common societal challenges we face.
Through conversations with social innovation leaders across Europe, this podcast explores the interaction between social innovators and the environment they function in.
Thriving in the in between spaces
Danish innovator, entrepreneur and Member of the Danish Folketing, Uffe Elbæk, talks about Thriving in the in between spaces
Learning as you scale
Founding Director of Genio Ireland, Madeleine Clarke, discusses the importance of brokering connections and scaling
Growing a national social innovation ecosystem
Filipe Almeida, President of Portugal Inovação Social shares how, by working closely with government, Portugal has catalysed a strong ecosystem.
The spirit of social innovation
Founder of Kollektiva, Amalia Zepou talks to us about social innovation from ground up in Greece.
Hacking the system
Founder and director of “la 27e Région” (Region 27) shares his insights from decades of working with the public sector in France.
The art of political advocacy
Katrin Elsemann, Managing Director of the German social entrepreneurship network, SEND shares her insights on what it takes to create a successful national advocacy campaign.
How Societies Find the Power to Change
Geoff Mulgan talks to us about why social innovation matters and how the field has developed in the UK context.
Sowing the seeds for social innovation in Estonia
Minna shares about her work in the Estonian government and the unique socio-historical context of innovation in Estonia.
Crisis response and civic power with Kuba Wygnanski
Kuba talks about the social innovations happening in Poland currently, in response to the recent crisis in Ukraine.
Transforming systems with Gorka Espiau
Gorka talks to us about systems change through social innovation through the lens of conflict resolution.
On poetry, politics and the future with Birgitta Jónsdóttir
Birgitta shares about her unique approach as a poetician working from within the system to change it.
Recent work
Financing Social innovation
We hosted a global panel discussion on Financing Social Innovation — a collaboration between the European Social Innovation Alliance (ESIA), SIX, SEND, CSI – University of Heidelberg and BMW Foundation. Gorgi Krlev from CSI – University of Heidelberg shared the results from a recently published study, Financing social innovation – international evidence. Read more about the event and download the report.
For a fairer, more inclusive Europe
In 2019, as part of the EU funded SIC project, we co-created the Social Innovation Declaration calling on the EU to build on the world-leading practices established over the last decade and make social innovation a core part of its strategy to achieve a “social triple A” for Europe. Learn more about what happened next and download the Declaration.
Ecosystems for social innovation
Over the last 10 years, our work in Europe has explored what it means to develop effective and supportive ecosystems for Social Innovation. This short film highlights some of the big questions. Learn more about how this started.
Our Experience
1 We build networks and communities
We played a key role in building social innovation networks across Europe.
Streamlining social innovation field in Europe
Funded by the European Commission’s DG Enterprise, SIE created a hub—a meeting place in the network of European networks—where innovative thinkers from Europe can come together to create a streamlined, vigorous social innovation field in Europe, to raise a shared voice, and to propel Europe to lead the practice of social innovation globally.
Creating and nurturing social innovation community
SIX led the creation and coordination of SIC, the social innovation community, a project involving partners scattered across Europe and sectors. This “network of networks” provides research, experimentation based learning, new frameworks, news and insights, all of which is made open to the wider community through www.siceurope.eu.
2 Connecting research and practice
How do you build shared knowledge and better connect research and practice?
Streamlining social innovation field in Europe
Funded by the European Commission’s DG Enterprise, SIE created a hub—a meeting place in the network of European networks—where innovative thinkers from Europe can come together to create a streamlined, vigorous social innovation field in Europe, to raise a shared voice, and to propel Europe to lead the practice of social innovation globally.
Social frontiers
Funded by the European Commission’s DG Enterprise, SIE created a hub—a meeting place in the network of European networks—where innovative thinkers from Europe can come together to create a streamlined, vigorous social innovation field in Europe, to raise a shared voice, and to propel Europe to lead the practice of social innovation globally.
3 Exploring the roles of universities in social innovation
How can universities be catalysts for social innovation?
Connecting universities to their surroundings in South East Asia
Just like LASIN, the SEASIN project is shifting the role of universities in the community, this time in South East Asia. We created social innovation support units in 8 universities in Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia. SIX ran Social Innovation Studio in each country in partnership with Design Factory Aveiro, Portugal, to bring the units to life.The project also developed a regional network of universities in South East Asia.
Streamlining social innovation field in Europe
Funded by the European Commission’s Erasmus programme, SIKE is a knowledge exchange programme to develop new social projects and products through universities across Europe. SIX helped the project develop effective communication strategies and developed an online bank of useful tools.
Connecting universities to their surroundings in Latin America
Funded by the European Commision Erasmus programme, the LASIN project is shifting the role of universities in the community. We created units in 8 universities in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Panama which will specialise in supporting social innovation SIX ran Social Innovation Studio in each country to bring the units to life, engaging their students beyond the classroom.The project also developed a regional network of universities in Latin America
4 Exploring technology and co-creation
What is co-creative innovation in theory and what is it in practice? How can co-creation be scaled up in a socially robust manner?
SCALINGS – Exploring co-creation and responsible innovation in technology
SCALINGS, a Horizon 2020 project, explored pathways and challenges for socially robust innovation in Europe. SIX was the communication partner for the project.