The Social Innovation Community (SIC) project aimed to develop an enabling environment for social innovation by connecting social innovators from Europe and beyond. SIX was one of 12 European partners involved in building this initiative. This was a an important next step in Europe, following the work of SIX and others to connect social innovation actors and highlight innovative initiatives in Europe through the Social Innovation Europe initiative ( Funded by DG Enterprise from 2011- 2015).
The global challenges that we face are diverse and resistant to solution. Issues like inequality, climate change, housing shortages, and migration require new thinking. They require an environment in which we appreciate that collaboration drives good ideas and good ideas can come from anywhere. SIC looked to build this environment.
This Social Innovation Community engaged with actors including researchers, social innovators, citizens and policy-makers in order to help create a context where new ideas and new voices can more effectively contribute towards solving social problems.
SIC was funded under the European Commission Horizon 2020 programme over a three year period, from 2016 to 2019. During these three years, SIC ran a series of on and offline activities – including practical place-based experimentation, learning, policy and research.
The SIC project was run by a consortium of 12 leading organisations across Europe. The partners were AEIDL, TU Dortmund University, University of Bologna, The Young Foundation, Nesta, Social Innovation Lab, the Dutch Research Institute for Transitions, Sinnergiak UPV/ EHU, ZSI, the Danish Technological Institute, REVES and Social Innovation Exchange.
Although the project officially ended in January 2019, the social innovation community in Europe is still thriving, and many of the activities that were created under the SIC brand still continue today. At the end of this booklet, you will find ways to continue to work with the SIC consortium partners, to continue to nurture and grow social innovation in Europe.
More details about the SIC project can be found on the website here.
