Latest News on Social Innovation

After years of hard work and collaboration, we are thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of the Atlantic Social Lab Project! Together, we’ve driven social innovation, empowered communities, and positively impacted some regions in the Atlantic Area.

All the results from the project can be found at: http://atlanticsociallab.eu/ and we also developed the Atlantic Social Innovation Observatory – a tool to keep you updated on social innovation trends across the Atlantic Area.

Let’s stay connected, continue collaborating, and build on this momentum to drive greater change. Together, we have the power to shape a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable future for all.

#atlanticsociallab #socialinnovation #drivingchange #communityempowerment #InnovationForGood

Ayuntamiento de Avilés

Gijón

Enterprise North West

Centro de Estudos Sociais da Universidade de Coimbra

Comunidade Intermunicipal do Ave

Info Jeunes Toulouse

The Research and Innovation Office – GCU

The Atlantic Social Lab, a pioneering initiative to promote social innovation in the Atlantic region, is coming to an end. The project has made significant progress in raising the profile of social innovation in addressing contemporary issues. Through a series of pilot actions, the publication of technical reports, observatory updates, communication activities and capitalisation efforts, the partnership hopes that the project has left a lasting impact on the participating communities.

In its second phase, which began in June 2022, the Atlantic Social Lab project included a wide range of pilot actions, each designed to address specific challenges connected with digitalisation:

Youth Compass – a digital platform that connects young people with local experts, has successfully bridged the gap and provided valuable support for youth empowerment, developed by Info Jeunes Toulouse (CRIJ).

“No Lo Pierdas, es tu Derecho” – different media formats to communicate the availability and location of social services directly to people, which facilitated improved access to essential social services, developed by the City of Avilés.

Improving the Communication Policy of Social Services in Gijón – this initiative has improved accessibility and efficiency in the delivery of key social services, thereby promoting a more inclusive society.

Building Community Wealth in Enterprise North West – aimed to optimise public spending to achieve the greatest possible economic, social and environmental benefits. This involved improving the commissioning and procurement skills of the social economy and government purchasers alike, ultimately leading to improved service delivery by social enterprises and community organisations.

The Art of Straw in CIM Ave – a framework has been established to promote economic opportunities and empower individuals through the different stages of straw production, combining local tradition with innovation.

In addition to these pilot actions, three technical reports have been published, providing valuable insights and assessments. These reports include “Capacities for transformative social systems innovation: a tentative framework for public policies“, “Social Innovation and Digitalisation of Public Services: An Impact Assessment of Atlantic Pilot Initiatives” and “Digitalisation in the Atlantic Area: A brief statistical overview“.

One of the lasting outputs of the project is the Atlantic Social Innovation Observatory. To ensure the continuity of the observatory beyond the project’s end, it is being regularly updated and a sustainability report has been developed, clarifying its long-term operation and relevance.

As the project is ending, its contribution may continue to inspire future endeavours in social innovation. The project has demonstrated the immense potential of social innovation inspired-approaches in addressing contemporary societal challenges and building more inclusive communities.

For further information about the Atlantic Social Lab project, including access to project resources and publications, please visit http://atlanticsociallab.eu/.

The Atlantic Social Lab, led by Avilés City Council (Spain) is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through the INTERREG Cooperation Program Atlantic Area, with the reference EAPA_246/2016.

Coimbra, 20 June 2023

Contact person:

Principal Investigator (PI) at CES, Hugo Pinto hpinto@ces.uc.pt

In a significant development for the field of social innovation and digitalization, the Atlantic Social Lab project has published a series of comprehensive reports that shed light on transformative social systems innovation, the impact of pilot initiatives on public services, and digitalization trends in the Atlantic Area. These reports aim to provide valuable insights and inform policymakers, researchers, and practitioners working in the region.

These reports mark a significant milestone in the Atlantic Social Lab project, showcasing the project’s commitment to advancing knowledge and understanding in the fields of social systems innovation and digitalization. By bridging the gap between research and practice, the reports aim to support evidence-based decision-making and facilitate the development of effective policies and strategies that can drive positive social transformation in the Atlantic Area.

The Atlantic Social Lab project encourages policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to explore these reports and leverage the valuable insights provided to shape future initiatives, foster innovation, and promote digitalization for the betterment of public services and society as a whole.

The full version of these reports is available for download at: https://atlanticsociallab.ces.uc.pt/project-outputs/

Research Internships from Cintus – Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-Being from the University of Algarve (Portugal), have developed a report on the implementation of some Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This internship benefited from the development of the Atlantic Social Lab Project. 

The interns conducted specific analyses, providing actionable recommendations for advancing the SDGs. Their efforts were supported by mentors from Cintus who are also part of the Atlantic Social Lab Team

Centre for Social Studies (CES) will present the Atlantic Social Lab and the main findings of the evaluation of the pilot actions carried out by the partners at the University of Ljubljana at the Regional Studies Association Annual Conference taking place on 14-17 June.

This four-day event will provide a unique opportunity for academics, policy makers and industry professionals to come together and exchange knowledge and ideas related to regional studies and science, economic development, policy and planning.

Organised in partnership with leading institutions such as the School of Economics and Business at the University of Ljubljana and the Slovenian Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, the conference promises to be one of the largest gatherings of its kind. With a hybrid format that allows for both face-to-face and virtual participation, participants from around the world will have the opportunity to share their research and perspectives on a range of topics.

The conference will feature presentations from established experts as well as early career researchers, providing a platform for emerging voices in the field. Participants will also have ample opportunity to network with their peers, engage in lively discussions, and explore the city of Ljubljana.

For more information on the conference please click here!

The European Union and the United States convened the fourth ministerial meeting of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Luleå, Sweden. At the Ministerial, the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) agreed on a comprehensive list of key outcomes to advance transatlantic cooperation on emerging technologies, sustainable trade, economic security and prosperity, secure connectivity, and human rights in the digital environment. Both sides also reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to support Ukraine.

Read more here!

The European Commission has put forth a proposal for fresh regulations that aim to safeguard the protection of adults in cross-border scenarios. The proposed rules also seek to uphold the right of individual autonomy for adults, which includes their freedom to make decisions about their person and future arrangements, as they move within the European Union. The proposal is designed to address the challenges faced by adults who move between EU countries and require support or protection, especially those who are vulnerable due to incapacity or disability. It aims to ensure that such individuals receive adequate care and protection while also respecting their right to self-determination.

For more information click here!

The European Commission has released guidance to Member States on how to build a strong and sustainable economy that can withstand the challenges posed by the current geopolitical climate. The 2023 European Semester Spring Package calls for an integrated approach across all policy areas, including the promotion of environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness, and macroeconomic stability. The goal is to ensure long-term prosperity and competitiveness for all citizens.

To achieve this, Member States must focus on implementing policies that support sustainable growth and development. This includes investing in renewable energy, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Additionally, policies must be put in place to ensure that economic growth is inclusive and benefits all members of society.

The Commission has stressed the importance of a holistic approach to economic development. By promoting environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness and macroeconomic stability, Member States can build a robust and sustainable economy that benefits all.

For more information click here!

The final conference of the extension phase of the Atlantic Social Lab (ASL) project took place in Glasgow on 18-19 May and was organised by Glasgow Caledonian University. The conference was integrated into the Second Changemakers and Pioneers: Social Innovation Fair and started with the intervention of the Glasgow Caledonian University partner.

The first day was dedicated to one-hour interactive sessions hosted by three projects to present their results, including Severe project; Atlantic Social Lab and Social Innovation Connect UK/ European Social Innovation Alliance. During the ASL session, partners presented and discussed the project results and the implementation of the pilot actions. Centre for Social Studies (CES) from the University of Coimbra concluded the session by presenting the assessment and evaluation of the impact of the pilot actions developed. On the first day, participants also had the opportunity to visit booths set up by GCU partner organisations to learn more about each project and its impact.

On the second day, participants attended roundtable discussions to deepen their understanding of social innovation within their respective networks and communities. The discussions focused on exploring different forms of collaboration that could be used to increase the impact of social innovation initiatives. Through these discussions, participants gained insights into how they can work together to address some of the most pressing social challenges facing their communities and beyond.

Four stakeholders were invited by ASL to take part in the roundtable discussions: Susan Paxton from the Scottish Community Development Centre and Claire MacRae from Glasgow Caledonian University on community wealth building and community asset management; Nelson Dias from Oficina and Karin Pereira from the Municipality of Cascais on participatory budgeting and civic engagement. They discussed how participatory budgeting can increase civic engagement and promote transparency in decision-making processes. Enterprise North West’s partner also joined to share some insights into social enterprise and knowledge sharing. He discussed the benefits of harnessing the knowledge and skills of different stakeholders and encouraging collaboration between different industries to create a future that is both sustainable and fair for all.

The Atlantic Social Lab, led by Avilés City Council (Spain) is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through the INTERREG Cooperation Program Atlantic Area, with the reference EAPA_246/2016.

Coimbra, 21st May 2023

Contact person:

Principal Investigator (PI) at CES, Hugo Pinto hpinto@ces.uc.pt

The European Commission has officially launched the third edition of the European Innovation Procurement Awards (EUIPA). This initiative, supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC) under Horizon Europe, aims to recognise and reward public and private purchasers, individuals and legal entities that promote innovation procurement and innovative procurement solutions. 
A total of six prizes will be awarded in the competition for the two categories: Innovation Procurement Initiative and Tackling Societal Challenges – Green Energy Transition.

Applications will be accepted until 17 August 2023 (17:00:00 CET). An online information session for potential applicants will be held by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) on 31 May 2023. To register, please check the event page.

Please click here for more information!

A new Skills Partnership for Energy Intensive Industries (EIIs) was launched on 11 May by industry partners, research organisations, social partners and education and training organisations,with the support of the Commission.This large-scale partnership aims to address the skills gap in the EII sector and ensure that workers have the necessary skills to meet the evolving needs of the industry. The partnership will focus on developing new training programmes, promoting apprenticeships and work-based learning, and fostering cooperation between different stakeholders in the sector. The partnership will have a significant impact on the European energy sector. By developing new skills and expertise, it will help drive innovation and competitiveness in the EIIs.This initiative is part of the EU’s wider efforts to support sustainable growth and job creation in Europe’s industrial sectors.

Please click here for further information!

The Professional Internships project in Portugal is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) to help young, unemployed or disadvantaged people secure long-term employment. The initiative aims to help young people in their first steps towards building a career and breaking the cycle of unemployment.

This project is part of a wider ESF effort to tackle youth unemployment and promote social inclusion across Europe. By funding targeted programmes like this one, the ESF hopes to equip young people with the skills and experience they need to succeed in the world of work.

Please click here to read the original article!

The European Year of Skills will be celebrated with the European Skills Festival on 9 May, Europe Day. This celebration aims to promote investment in training and up-skilling, enabling individuals to stay in their current jobs or find new ones that match their ambitions and skills. The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the largest investment in improving the skills of individuals across Europe.

The European Year of Skills was launched by the European Commission in December 2020, as part of the EU’s wider efforts to promote a more resilient and inclusive economy. The initiative aims to improve the skills of Europeans so that they can adapt to the changing job market and contribute to economic growth.

The European Skills Festival will showcase success stories from across Europe and highlight best practice in skills development. The festival will include a range of events, including webinars, workshops and networking opportunities, and will be held at the Cité des Métiers in Brussels and live-streamed for wider participation.

For  more information, please click here!

Cohesion policy funding for the period 2021-2027 is expected to have a positive impact on the European Union’s economy. It is expected to create around 1.3 million jobs and increase EU GDP by an average of 0.5% by the end of the decade, with some Member States experiencing an increase of up to 4%. Moreover, the policy will facilitate the delivery of a range of public goods that will bring tangible benefits to European citizens, regions and cities. Cohesion policy aims to mobilise a total investment of €545 billion over this period, of which €378 billion will be financed by the EU. These investments will facilitate sustainable socio-economic convergence, territorial cohesion and promote a socially inclusive Europe, while ensuring a seamless and equitable transition towards a green and digital economy. The aim of this policy is to facilitate the development and integration of technology in public services, which include more than 22,500 administrative bodies, and to promote the digital transformation of commercial entities. It also aims to improve digital skills and infrastructure by providing 3.1 million households with access to high-speed mobile networks and fixed digital infrastructure.

You can find more information here!

The Commission has put forward new rules to help businesses, especially SMEs, to maximise their innovation, exploit new technologies and strengthen the EU’s competitiveness and technological autonomy. The suggested regulations regarding standard essential patents, compulsory patent licensing during crisis scenarios, and the review of laws concerning supplementary protection certificates will establish an intellectual property rights framework that is more transparent, efficient and sustainable.

The proposals presented will work in tandem with the Unitary Patent system, which is set to start operating on 1 June. While both systems are based on existing international and EU intellectual property law, they aim to streamline the patent process by minimising fragmentation within the single market, simplifying bureaucratic procedures and improving overall efficiency.

For more information please click here!

HEC Montreal (Canada), in partnership with the University of Northampton, ESSCA and Foreign Trade University, will host the Social Business Creation (SBC) global conference in 2023 which will take place between 15 and 20 June. The event will bring together experts, researchers, practitioners and students from around the world to discuss social entrepreneurship and innovation.

The SBC conference aims to provide a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices in social business creation. It will explore how social entrepreneurship can be used to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including poverty, inequality and environmental degradation.

The main theme of this year’s conference is “Empowering the Disadvantaged”.

Participants will have the opportunity to attend keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops and networking events. They will also be able to present their research and projects related to social entrepreneurship and innovation.

You can join as a speaker or attendee.

Please note the following dates:

1. Presentation proposals: May 30, 2023

2. Practitioner-oriented sessions: June 15-18, 2023

3. Academic-oriented sessions: June 19-20, 2023

You can register here!

The European Commission has proposed new rules for economic governance that are fit for the future. These new rules aim to make the EU’s Economic and Monetary Union more resilient to future crises and better able to support sustainable and inclusive growth. The proposed rules include changes to the Stability and Growth Pact, which sets out the EU’s fiscal rules, and new measures to improve economic coordination and surveillance.

The proposed changes to the Stability and Growth Pact would introduce a more flexible approach to the fiscal rules, allowing Member States to invest in areas such as climate change, digitalisation and social inclusion without breaking the rules. The Commission has also proposed a new debt rule that would take into account the long-term sustainability of public finances, rather than just short-term deficits.

In addition to these changes, the Commission has proposed new measures to improve economic coordination and surveillance in the EU. These include a new macroeconomic imbalance procedure to identify and address imbalances in member states’ economies before they become a problem, and a new competitiveness scoreboard to help member states identify areas where they need to improve their competitiveness.

For more information please click here!

The European Commission is proposing an overhaul of pharmaceutical legislation in the European Union. This reform is considered the biggest in more than 20 years and aims to increase agility, flexibility and responsiveness to the needs of citizens and businesses across the EU. The proposed revision will improve the availability, accessibility and affordability of medicines, while supporting innovation and enhancing the competitiveness and attractiveness of the EU pharmaceutical industry. It will also promote higher environmental standards, contributing to a more sustainable future.

The proposed revision includes several important changes to the existing legislation. One of these changes is the introduction of a new category of medicines called “innovative medicines”, which will benefit from an accelerated approval process. Another change is the creation of a new framework for cooperation between regulators in different EU countries, aimed at reducing duplication and streamlining procedures. In addition, the revision proposes measures to improve transparency and strengthen pharmacovigilance.

For further information please click here!

Today, 26 April, Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve  in partnership with the Centre for Social Studies at the University of Coimbra hosted an Open Masterclass on Social Innovation and Territorial Dynamics under the European project Atlantic Social Lab.The event was presented by Professor Hugo Pinto, the principal investigator of CES. The main aim of the masterclass was to provide a perspective on social innovation, drawing on his experiences in the Atlantic Social Lab and briefly present the research conducted in this project since 2017.

During the masterclass, Professor Hugo Pinto explained how social innovation can be used to address complex social challenges. He also discussed how territorial dynamics can influence social innovation, and how it can be used as a tool for regional development.

This open event gave participants the opportunity to learn more about the work of the Atlantic Social Lab project, and to engage with Professor Hugo Pinto and other members of the CES team.

Overall, the open masterclass on social innovation and territorial dynamics was a great success and provided valuable insights into the importance of social innovation in tackling social challenges.

The professor closed the masterclass with the following sentence: “All innovation is social”

The Atlantic Social Lab project, which was launched in 2017, aims to foster social innovation in the Atlantic Area. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and involves partners from Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland and the UK.

The 2023 European Public Employment Services (PES) Network Stakeholder Conference was a professional gathering aimed at empowering the workforce and bridging the skills gap. The conference brought together around 150 participants in Brussels on 30 March 2023 as part of the European Year of Skills. The event focused on discussing strategies to improve the skills of the European workforce and address the challenges posed by the skills gap.

During the conference, various stakeholders from different sectors shared their experiences and insights on how to improve skills development and training programmes. Discussions focused on issues such as emerging technologies, lifelong learning and innovative approaches to skills development. Participants also explored ways to promote cooperation between employers, educational institutions and policy makers to ensure that the workforce is equipped with the necessary skills to meet the demands of a rapidly changing labour market.

Please click here to read the original post!

On April 18th, the European Commission approved a proposal for the EU Cyber Solidarity Act with the aim of enhancing cyber security capabilities within the European Union. The act is designed to promote a secure and safe digital environment for both citizens and businesses, while also safeguarding critical facilities and essential services such as hospitals and public utilities. The proposal includes measures to increase cooperation among member states in responding to cyber attacks, establish a framework for assessing cyber risks, and improve the resilience of critical infrastructure.

For more information please click here!

The European Commission has adopted a proposal to improve digital education across Europe. The plan aims to equip citizens with the skills and competences they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world. The proposal includes measures such as promoting the use of digital technologies in education, supporting the development of digital skills among teachers, and ensuring that all students have access to high-quality digital infrastructure.

The Comission believes that improving digital education will not only benefit individuals, but also contribute to the growth and competitiveness of the European economy. By equipping citizens with the skills they need to succeed in a digital world, Europe can ensure that it remains at the forefront of technological innovation.

You can read the original post here!

On May 18th, a variety of social innovation projects taking place across Europe will be highlighted at the Social Innovation Fair Event in Glasgow Caledonian University. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit booths set up by partner organisations, where they can learn more about each project and its impact. Additionally, one-hour sessions will be hosted by different projects, allowing attendees to gain a deeper understanding of the work being done. On the second day of the conference, which will take place on the 19th of May, roundtable discussions will be held to delve deeper into the significance of social innovation in the networks and communities that participants belong to. The attendees will explore various options for collaboration to further enhance the impact of social innovation.

The Social Innovation Fair is an annual event that aims to showcase innovative social projects and initiatives that address various societal challenges

Anyone who is interested in social innovation and entrepreneurship can attend the fair without any cost.

You can find further information here!

The European Parliament recently adopted new rules aimed at tackling the gender pay gap through mandatory pay transparency measures. The new legislation requires companies with more than 250 employees to publish information on the gender pay gap within their organisation. This includes providing data on the average salaries of male and female employees, as well as information on bonuses and other benefits.

The aim of these measures is to increase transparency on pay differences and encourage companies to take action to close the gender pay gap. The European Parliament hopes that by making this information publicly available, it will put pressure on companies to address any inequalities and take steps to ensure that men and women are paid equally for doing the same work.

You can read more here!

On April 11th, the Commission initiated the first round of consultations with European social partners regarding a potential revision of the European Works Councils Directive. This consultation is a result of the European Parliament’s legislative own-initiative resolution of February 2023, which requested a revision of the Directive.

European Works Councils play a significant role in fostering a common understanding of the cross-border issues that large multinational corporations face, and they also facilitate employee participation in the decision-making process, with the aim of sharing ideas on potential solutions, streamlining their execution, and amplifying the influence of employer’s strategic decisions.

If you would like to learn more, please check out the original press release available here!

The 11th edition of the European Social Innovation Competition has been initiated by the Commission. This competition aims to encourage social innovation and its potential to offer solutions to societal challenges. Additionally, it also aims to promote sustainable and inclusive growth in Europe.

The competition is accessible to social innovators belonging to EU Member States and countries linked with Horizon Europe.

Applications for the Competition will be accepted until 5:00 PM Central European Time on May 30th, 2023.

Please click here for more information!

Atlantic Social Lab partnership wishes you a Happy Easter.

An open masterclass on social innovation and territorial dynamics will be held on 26th April at the University of the Algarve’s Faculty of Economics (room 3A) by Hugo Pinto, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and CinTurs researcher and Principal Investigator of the Atlantic Social Lab at CES-University of Coimbra.

The course is part of the Masters in Tourism Economics & Regional Development, but is open to the entire academic community.

You can register here! Check out the poster.

On the 5th of April, under the title “Social Innovation and Digital Transition in the Atlantic Area: Pilot experiences to respond to new social needs with the Covid-19 pandemic”, the research team of the Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra will present the Atlantic Social Lab project at the XII Portuguese Congress of Sociology in Coimbra.

The Portuguese Congress of Sociology provides an opportunity for many colleagues in research and practice to meet, in person or at a distance, where the exchange and discussion of concepts, theories, methodologies and practices in sociology can provide new responses to the challenges of the present. They welcome the participation of sociologists working in non-academic contexts who bring a practice perspective that can complement the academic research perspective.

The official website of the congress can be found here!

A proposal for a Directive to make it easier for companies to extend the use of digital tools and processes in EU company law has been adopted by the European Commission today. The aim of this proposal is to simplify the cross-border activities of companies and to enhance transparency and trust in business by increasing the availability of company information to the public at EU level. It also aims to reduce administrative burdens for cross-border companies, saving around €437 million per year through the use of an EU Company Certificate or the application of the “one-stop shop” principle. It will further contribute to the digitalisation of the internal market and make it easier for companies, especially SMEs, to do business in the EU.

You can find more information here!

The conference “Investing in Digitalisation in the Western Balkans” took place in Sarajevo and involved a donor coordination meeting on the Western Balkans Common Regional Market and the Regional Digital Area. The event, which was organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), gathered the region’s digital ministers and other key government officials, local and international experts in digital projects, main donors and international financial institutions, as well as business representatives from the Western Balkans. They exchanged major success experiences of digitalisation in the Western Balkans and recognised the importance of promoting successful digitalisation models in the area of soft and hard infrastructure in the private and public sectors. They also recognised the need to address the infrastructural and financial gaps in the digital infrastructure sector, to create a regional digital space and digital ecosystems, and to increase financing opportunities for the digitalisation of small businesses as key priorities for the future.

For more information please click here!

The Atlantic Social Lab (ASL) partners met last 16-17 March 2023 in Guimarães (Portugal) for the third coordination meeting of the extension phase of the project. This meeting was organised by the Intermunicipal Community of Ave and aimed to outline the project’s accomplishments at each work package.

The ASL activities are being executed in an appropriate manner. All partners feel optimistic about the progress made so far in the project. The digital platforms created for communicating the project’s development have been frequently updated. A co-created strategy for the Social Innovation Observatory sustainability was developed by the consortium.

A series of pilot actions on the digitalisation of social services in a post-covid-19 scenarios are being implemented by ASL partners, namely Comunidade Intermunicipal of Ave (Portugal), Ayuntamiento de Avilés (Spain), Fundación Municipal de Servicios Sociales del Ayuntamiento de Gijón (Spain), CRIJ Occitanie Pyrénées Mediterranée (France) and Enterprise NorthWest (Northern Ireland). These are also under current evaluation by the Centre for Social Studies (Portugal), using an approach inspired by the Theory of Change to comprehend the (potential) impacts of these small-scale initiatives. The assessment intends to provide an overview of the pilot actions, including the main barriers, facilitators of implementation and activities developed, obtained results, expected results, and durability.

The project’s partnership meeting involved visits to local social innovation initiatives to identify good practices that can benefit the project’s interventions. On the first day, a study visit was made to the Museu da Palha – Centro de Etnotecnologia e Design de Golães (Straw Museum – Ethno-technology and Design Centre of Golães) and to the Oficina Criativa da Trança da Palha (Creative Workshop on Straw Braiding) at Casa do Povo in Fafe, promoted by the CLDS do Sol do Ave team. The purpose of this visit was to gain a deeper understanding of the art of braiding straws, combining tradition and innovation, as well as to meet some of the craftspeople involved in the pilot action “The art of straw” implemented by the Intermunicipal Community of Ave. The second day was largely dedicated to a study visit to the Centro de Acolhimento de Emergência Social de Guimarães (Social Emergency Shelter Centre) in the parish of Atães and to the Comunidade Criativa de Inclusão Digital (Creative Community of Digital Inclusion). The latter is an itinerant project developed by the Delegação da Cruz Vermelha de Guimarães (Red Cross Delegation), for the purpose of promoting youth volunteering to include the most vulnerable population at risk of digital exclusion to develop their digital skills.

Another focus of the meeting was to present the provisory agenda for the project’s final conference. The event, entitled ‘Changemakers and Pioneers’, will include a Social Innovation Fair. The aim is to showcase the main findings of the project and to network with other social innovation projects. It will take place in Glasgow on 18-19 May, hosted by Glasgow Caledonian University.

The Atlantic Social Lab, led by Avilés City Council (Spain) is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through the INTERREG Cooperation Program Atlantic Area, with the reference EAPA_246/2016.

Coimbra, March 21, 2023

Contact person:

Principal Investigator (PI) at CES, Hugo Pinto hpinto@ces.uc.pt

A hearing was held on 14 March by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on the Social Progress Protocol (SPP), which would prioritize fundamental rights over economic freedoms in conflict and in EU policies. SPPs were discussed as equal to the Treaties to safeguard and strengthen the European social model.

The SPP aims to safeguard basic social rights and ensure that the EU and Member States constantly strive to improve people’s working and living conditions. Additionally, it seeks to ensure the autonomy of social partners by regulating employment relations, promoting the highest standards of social rights whether derived from national, European, or international law and protecting all existing rights.

At the June plenary session, the EESC will vote on its opinion on the SPP.

For more information, please click here!

In order to help children caught up in fragile humanitarian settings remain in school, or to return to school, the European Commission and UNICEF are calling for strengthened collective engagement and increased public funding. On 22 March 2023, the European Humanitarian Forum and the joint High-Level Conference on Education in Emergencies will be held in Brussels.
From 2015 to 2022, the EU allocated €970 million for education in emergencies. Over 10 years after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded, the EU has funded education in emergencies projects through its humanitarian aid programmes.
In 2023, the EU plans to provide €158 million for education in emergencies projects worldwide.

Please click here to read the original post!

On behalf of the European Commission the European Social Fund Agency of Lithuania (ESFA) has released an open call inviting external experts to support ESFA in implementing the ESF Social Innovation+ initiative (ESF SI+ initiative). The initiative is financed by the European Social Fund+ (ESF+) and will take place between 2022 and 2030.

This call is open for the entire duration of the ESF SI+ initiative 2021-2030. Experts will be selected from the Database (as and when needed) based on a variety of selection criteria, including professional expertise and experience, language skills, a balance between the business and the academic sectors, gender equality, regular rotation, and absence of conflicts of interest.
If you have interest you can find the original call here!

Launch events were held across Spain to kick-start the implementation of the new cohesion programmes for 2021-2027, including the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).

A total of €11.3 billion will be contributed by the EU to Spain’s €16.3 billion ESF+ budget, which will be implemented through four national thematic programmes: Employment, Training, Education and Social Economy; Social Inclusion; Youth Employment; and Material Deprivation. A total of 19 regional programmes will be funded through ESF+ in Spain – one for each autonomous region or city.
For more information, please click here!

On the occasion of a “Don’t Panic” day, Centre Régional Information Jeunesse – CRIJ invited students to participate in an innovative action in the form of a free escape game on health.

The game consists of two distinct and complementary areas, which the participants go through in teams of 4 to 6 people. In the first area, they have to solve four riddles about the good reflexes to acquire as a young insured person: open their ameli account, update their Vitale card, send their RIB to their health insurance fund and finally declare their attending physician. If they manage to solve them, the second space opens up to them: Amélie’s room. This is where various preventive health issues are addressed, with messages about addictions (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis), mental well-being, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and contraception, among others.

This activity aims to promote health system education and to teach everyone how to preserve their health capital through play.

See a video about this game here!

The Commission welcomes the political agreement reached today by the European Parliament and Member States concerning the European Year of Skills. With the help of the European Parliament, the Commission, Member States, social partners, public and private employment services, associations of commerce and industry, education and training providers, workers, and businesses, the European Year of Skills will promote skills development, enhancing people’s employment prospects and quality of life. In addition to increasing Europe’s competitiveness, the green and digital transformations, as well as the economic recovery, will be equitable.
If you want to know more please click here!

Brock University is offering a new short course that teaches skills to help solve current global challenges. In four sessions, Foundations in Social Innovation Skills will introduce different types of social innovation and the skills needed to become social innovators. In this course, students will learn how to identify social innovation problems, how to address them, and how to overcome potential barriers.   Note that, in addition to Brock students, the course is open to the general public.
For more informations please click here!

Today, the UN Women, the United Nations, and its partners and allies around the world are celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) , calling on governments, activists, and businesses to take action for a safer, more inclusive, and more equitable digital world. To accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, a paradigm shift is needed.
Click here to read the orginal post!

The European Commission has launched the 16th edition of the REGIOSTARS awards competition, which recognizes the best projects funded under Cohesion Policy. All Cohesion Policy-funded projects, including those from the European Social Fund (Plus), are invited to apply.
Applications will be accepted in six thematic categories until 31 May 2023, namely a competitive and smart Europe; a green Europe; a connected Europe; a social and inclusive Europe; a Europe closer to the Citizens; and the topic of the European Year of Skills 2023.

Please click here for more information !

On the 28th of February, the European Commission approved Denmark’s payment request for €301 million of grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the key instrument for NextGenerationEU.
In its first instalment implementation decision, the Council selected 23 milestones and two targets based on which Denmark submitted a payment request to the Commission on 16 December 2022. Among them are reforms related to the green tax reform and the digitalization of the health system. There are also several milestones and targets related to green transitions of agriculture and environment, energy efficiency, clean vehicles and ferries, as well as research.

To read the original post please click here!

On the 27th of February an agreement in principle on the Windsor Framework was reached between the European Commission and the United Kingdom government. This provides a wide range of collaborative solutions that intends to ensure citizens and businesses in Northern Ireland with long-term certainty and predictability in addressing their main challenges.

Please click here for more information!

In September 2022, the European Commission presented the European Care Strategy to ensure quality, affordable, and accessible care services throughout the EU and to improve working conditions for caregivers. The EU ministers called for Member States to adjust the offer of long-term care services to people’s needs, ensure that services are accessible and of high quality, support fair working conditions and ensure adequate skills in the sector, and promote effective and long-term investments, including using EU funds. 
Please click here to read the original article.

The 31st European Social Services Conference will take place in Malmö, Sweden, on 14-16 June 2023, bringing together leaders in social services to discuss innovative technology and digital means for modernizing social services.
The conference aims to showcase research and practice on innovation in social services through technology; IT developments for social inclusion, accessibility, or autonomy; organisational and workforce improvements and data management for decision-making.
Click here for more information !

The European Commission has decided to register a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) entitled ‘Ensuring a dignified reception of migrants in Europe’.According to the initiative’s organizers, the Commission should develop a new system for voluntary distribution of asylum seekers throughout the EU while ensuring effective solidarity among member states.
Additionally, they call for binding reception standards ensuring dignified living conditions for asylum seekers across the EU in terms of food, health, housing, education, and employment.
Check out for morre information here!

European Social Innovation Competition (EUSIC) winners were announced on February 2nd by the European Commission and the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). This challenge aimed to attract applications from diverse fields addressing issues related to the current architecture and sustainable solutions of European housing districts.

In the 10th edition of the EUSIC, the following three winners who will receive EUR 50 000 each were selected: ReLearn (Italy) monitors the waste produced by companies and municipalities to reduce their environmental impact, using Artificial intelligence; Sostre Cívic (Spain) implements a non-profit, non-speculative and transformative alternative housing model that is more equitable and accessible, and SolMatePro (Austria) enables urban areas to store energy (a pressing issue for renewable energy transition) with great ease.

For more information please click here!

On the 15th of February, in attempting to ensure that the Single Market for services functions properly, 24 cases were brought by the Commission against several Member States.

To make cross-border services easier for companies, the Commission will continue to use all available tools to remove barriers that are holding back the Single Market’s potential. As part of the efforts to strengthen the EU’s recovery and resilience, the services sector and persisting obstacles deserve special attention.

Please click here to read the original press release!

The Monitoring Committee has extended the deadline for the First Call for Projects until March 3rd at 1 pm (Portuguese Time). With this decision, applicants will be able to improve the quality of their proposals and submit them in the best possible way.

For more information please click here!

Since November 2022, the European Innovation Council Fund (EIC Fund) has made 42 new investment decisions into deep-tech companies for €331 million. A total of 13 companies have already signed investment agreements. These are pioneering start-ups that are set to provide significant innovations to citizens and businesses, such as computer vision software and robotics technologies for orthopaedic surgeons; visual search technologies for businesses and industry applications; breast reconstruction using patients’ own tissue; innovative photonics; reduced emissions in food production; and the first miniaturised universal gas analyser.

For more information about this new please click here!

An updated Research in Practice briefing, by Ferguson, Kelly & Gilsenan (2023), discusses the impact of COVID-19 on child protection and its implications for the future.

During the pandemic, digital technology was increasingly used in social care practices. In casework, this resulted in the widespread use of ‘virtual visits’, where video calls were made to children and their families in place of home visits.

Open access briefing presents findings regarding the increased use of digital technologies in social service and opportunities to develop person-centered practice. As the boundaries between home and office have become increasingly nebulous, the briefing also examines how organizations can support staff well-being effectively.

Click here to find the original post!

On 9-10 June 2023, in Strasbourg, European Youth Event (EYE) will bring together thousands of youth aged 16-30 from across the EU to discuss and share ideas on how to shape the future of Europe. Young people will have the opportunity to interact, to exchange views and to get inspired in a democratic environment, surrounded by experts, activists, influencers and decision-makers.

If you are interested in participating, please click here to register until 24 February at 23.59 CET.

You can find more information on this link.

One of the EU-funded projects coordinated by The Research and Innovation Office – GCU is called SEVERE (Social enterprise through virtual environments and remote entrepreneurship). This project aims to promote social entrepreneurship and support social innovators through partnerships with universities from Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Ireland, and Scotland.

Students from across Europe and beyond can lend their skills and knowledge to social innovators through a platform for internships developed within this project.

You can sign up here !

In collaboration with Social Innovation Connect UK (SIC UK), RIO – GCU is considering the establishment of a university network for social innovation. In recent years, social challenges are becoming increasingly prevalent, and this will provide an opportunity to learn about and develop new ways of working together to address them.

With the help of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) programmes, SIC UK has been approved and it is a member of the European Social Innovation Alliance (ESIA), which is a partnership with Germany, Estonia, Denmark, Poland, and the UK. It supports the establishment of national ‘competence centers’ for social innovation throughout Europe.

Learn more and register for the event taking place on 22 February (12:00 NN GMT) here!

On January 25th the Commission presented an action plan to further strengthen and promote social dialogue. With the transition to a digital and climate neutral economy and the emergence of new forms of employment, this initiative enhances social dialogue to adapt to the changing world of work.

For more information please click here to read the original new!

This year, the EU celebrates 30 years of its Single Market – a major achievement of European integration and one of its key drivers. The European Single Market was established on 1 January 1993, allowing goods, services, people, and capital to move freely within the EU, enhancing the quality of life for both citizens and businesses.

As a driver of economic growth and competitiveness and supporting Europe’s economic and political power at a global level, the Single Market has led to unprecedented market integration between Member States’ economies. Moreover, it accelerated the economic development of new member states, by removing entry barriers.

For more information please click here!

Next Thursday 26th at 10 am CET the SIRENE project will be at the workshop “Projects under the European Innovation Ecosystems Work Programme in support of the New European Innovation Agenda”

SIRENE is an HorizoneEurope CSA coordinated by SHINE 2Europe with the greatest consortium: AFEdemy, age-friendly environments academy, TECNALIA Research & Innovation, ISTITUTO PER SERVIZI DI RICOVERO E ASSISTENZA AGLI ANZIANI DI TREVISO, ECHAlliance Group (European Connected Health Alliance) and F6S.

SHINE 2Europe and AFEdemy, age-friendly environments academy will also participate in the INTEGER project – i2CAT Foundation Toñi Caro, PhD Kai Schnackenberg

You can watch the event here !  Please click here for more information on the SIRENE project.

An online information session will be held on 31 January from 9:30 to 13:00 CET for organizations interested in applying for the call supporting ALMA preparation and implementation.

The First Call of ESF Social Innovation Plus to support ALMA (Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve) was launched in December 2022 and is open until 15 March at 5:00 PM CET. The ALMA project aims to help disadvantaged young people integrate in society and gain access to the job market by providing education, vocational training, or employment support in their home countries and work-related learning opportunities in another EU country.

Registration for the online information session ends on Friday, 27th January at 11:00 CET.

You can find the original article here.

If you want to be up to date with the ASL project’s newsletters, you can subscribe through one of the following forms:

English: https://forms.gle/HB7d3WPYPMKKLkS68

Spanish: https://forms.gle/PBSThasWmvhh9Gj98

French: https://forms.gle/zupZx8GKmuuBa3nS9

Portuguese: https://forms.gle/ZHskuqapio8vyj4AA

Recently, the UK science, innovation and business communities gathered to launch the Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT) at the Royal Institution in London and the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester.

Salford-based GOTT, now part of BEIS, aims to exploit more than £106 billion in public sector knowledge assets for the UK economy and taxpayers and position it as an Innovation Nation.

GOTT will support government projects by providing funding and expertise. As well, it will identify areas of synergy and best practices with organizations that have mature technology transfer capabilities.

Click here for more details!

A report by Nanette Maupertuis, President of the Corsica Regional Assembly, on “Enhancing Cohesion Policy support for regions with geographical and demographic handicaps (Article 174 of the EU Treaty)” was adopted by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) on 1st December. There is already a political discussion brewing about the future of EU support for territorial cohesion that revolves around this issue.

As part of the Committee of the Regions Opinion, AEIDL (European Association for Innovation in Local Development) promotes community-led innovation in areas such as territorial development, entrepreneurship, social inclusion, environment, climate action, and green growth.

For more information, please click here!

During the Communication on Harnessing Talent in Europe’s Regions, the commission introduced the ‘Talent Booster Mechanism’. It is the first key initiative in 2023 to contribute to the European Year of Skills, whose aim is to give re-skilling and upskilling a new impetus.

By implementing this Mechanism, EU regions affected by the accelerated decline of their working-age population will be able to train, retain and attract the people, skills, and competencies needed to cope with the demographic transition.

Please click here to access the full article!

The Synthesis Report prepared by the European Social Policy Network (ESPN) describes and analyzes the conditions under which persons with disabilities have effective access to social protection. A number of disability-specific income support schemes are provided, as are benefits for some risks other than disability, as well as a number of support services for people with disabilities. Furthermore, the report identifies good practices to increase access to benefits and services for people with disabilities in the context of ongoing policy reforms and national debates.

Click here to download the report. You can find the original new here!

The Youth Info Points network offers workshops throughout the year to assist you with your various searches.
Whether it’s a search for internships, work-study contracts, summer jobs, training, ParcourSup information, or help with writing a CV, cover letter or preparing for an interview…
But before you embark on a search,  the Youth Info Points can help you with approaches prior to any project. In order to improve many of your processes, you can develop your soft skills through play: Debate, Self-analysis, Emotion management, Self-image, Role-playing, self-talk, Self-esteem, etc.

Click here to register. You can find the original article here!

The project “Los mayores, delante y detrás de las cámaras” brings users of La Camocha and El Natahoyo centers closer to the use of tablets to record others narrating their memories.
On december 19th, under the title of ‘Nice Life Stories’ a documentary was projected at the Antiguo Instituto in which five users of the day center for the elderly of La Camocha remembered their childhood and youth, their working years and other experiences of life.In addition to the prominence given to five anonymous elders, the uniqueness of the projection lay in the cameras themselves. Besides receiving training in new technologies, elderly users of the social centers of La Camocha and El Natahoyo were also in charge of editing the video and using tablets as cameras. This training was provided by the Center for Social Innovation at the Business School in Gijón in collaboration with the Social Services Foundation to five seniors, including Juan Manuel Robles, who said it was a blessing experience to learn how to work with video, editing, and sound, as well as do interviews with people whose stories have been spectacular. In collaboration with El Llano senior citizens’ center, Gijón City Council is already planning a new experience.

Atlantic Social Lab partnership wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2023 with lots of news.

The youth compass is an innovative tool for information and access to rights. 

There are many services and devices for young people.

Often lost in this maze, they give up and do not benefit from the services to which they are entitled.

In order to help them find their way and get informed, Info Jeunes Occitanie is committed, with the support of many partners, to the deployment of the youth compass, in several territories in Occitania.

Carried by the DJEPVA (direction of youth, popular education and associative life) and developed in several territories in France, the Boussole des Jeunes is part of the continuity of the missions of youth information, namely: deliver reliable, free and appropriate information.

This national digital platform is a tool for 15-30 year olds to support them in their path to autonomy, regardless of situation or profile.

Find more about this initiative at: https://www.crij.org/fr/actualite/apprendre-a-s-informer/la-boussole-des-jeunes-un-outil-innovant-d-information-et-d-acces-aux-droits-1.php

The EaSI Focal Point in Portugal was launched to support Portuguese organisations and companies wishing to apply for support from the EaSI strand of the ESF+ Programme, which is managed directly by the European Commission.

In Portugal, the EaSI Focal Point is implemented by the consortium led by the Agency for Development and Cohesion, in partnership with Portugal Inovação Social, funded by the DG Employment and Social Affairs of the European Commission, to disseminate information on the EaSI strand of the ESF+ Programme, namely the work programmes and the opening of calls for applications and tenders

More information at the EaSI Focal Point website!

The Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra research team will present the Atlantic Social Lab project on December 9 at the seminar “Social Innovation Ecosystems – theory, policy and practice”.

This seminar aims to take stock of what has been the practices, policies and research on social innovation in Portugal and Europe, but also look into the future and understand the trends.

The Atlantic Social Lab will be presented as an example of good practice that establishes links between academia, social enterprises, social organisations and social innovation practices.

The poster can be consulted here.
The event will be in Portuguese and will be broadcasted online. 

The event is organised by MISIE – Master in Social Intervention, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Atlantic Social Lab partners met last 22-23 November in Toulouse (France) for the second coordination meeting of the extension phase of the project. The meeting was organised by CRIJ Occitanie Pyrénées Mediterranée and aimed at presenting the progress made on all work packages. The meeting was attended by all the partners: the municipality of Avilés (Spain), the Social Services of Gijón (Spain), the Intermunicipal Community of Ave (Portugal), the CRIJ Occitanie Pyrénées Mediterranée (France), Enterprise North West (Northern Ireland), Glasgow Caledonian University (Scotland) and the Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra (Portugal).

The progress made by all partners has been positive. The communication of the project has been done regularly and across the channels developed for this purpose. The dissemination of this extension phase has already included the presence of the project researchers in several networking events. The Social Innovation Observatory is being updated and the strategy for its sustainability is being developed. The pilot actions – a crucial dimension of the Atlantic Social Lab – are being implemented at a good pace, and the first results are expected in the first quarter of 2023.

In addition to discussing the progress of the activities and defining the next steps for the successful implementation of the project, the partners participated in a participatory focus group streamlined by CES – Centre for Social Studies. This activity aimed to collect information that will be crucial for the development of the sustainability strategy of the Observatory. 

A common practice in the project’s partnership meetings is to visit local social innovation initiatives to observe good practices that may help implement the Atlantic Social Lab pilot actions. In Toulouse, the partnership made three study visits. The first one was to the “Maison de L’Orientation Toulouse”. This vocational guidance centre supports the population of Toulouse in the design of their professional or educational integration projects. The second was to a Second Opportunity School dedicated to young people at risk of social exclusion, focusing on transversal skills and a pedagogical approach adapted to the student’s individual needs and goals. The last study visit was at the CRIJ Occitanie Pyrénées Mediterranée’s facilities and focused on demonstrating a set of gamification and virtual reality tools and techniques to train its users’ soft skills, such as self-confidence.

The next partnership meeting is planned for March 2023 in Guimarães (Portugal).

The Atlantic Social Lab, led by Avilés City Council (Spain) is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through the INTERREG Cooperation Program Atlantic Area, with the reference EAPA_246/2016.

Coimbra, November 30^th 2022

Contact person:

Principal Investigator (PI) at CES, Hugo Pinto hpinto@ces.uc.pt

In the Summer Activities Programme for children and adolescents, inclusive activities offered by other municipal departments such as Education and Culture, Youth, Environment, Innovation as well as the Municipal Water Company and the Gijón Aquarium have been incorporated for the first time.

These activities ensure that children and young people with disabilities can participate in the summer leisure activities offered in Gijón on an equal footing with their non-disabled peers.
On the other hand, activities are organised exclusively for children and young people with disabilities and high support needs, as the inclusive activities described in the previous paragraph are not accessible to them. This is the case of Social Services and the Municipal Sports Board, which organise summer camps specifically for these people.

Social Services provided support through auxiliary professionals from the municipal Home Help Service in all the required activities, to facilitate the participation of those participants with disabilities who needed it.

The publication of the Summer Activities Leaflet two thousand and twenty-two has required the teamwork of many professionals. Since the year two thousand and twenty-two, Municipal Social Services has been leading a working group in which professionals from all the municipal departments and organisations offer activities in which the participation of children and young people with disabilities is guaranteed, either inclusively or exclusively (as detailed above), and in which the three Special Education schools in the city also participate: Marítimo, Ángel de la Guarda and Castiello.

Given the good reception and the results, this inclusive leisure initiative will be consolidated in the summer activities programme for children and adolescents in Gijón for the following years.

“Acting for an industry of the future”: this is the theme of this 11th edition, which gives schoolchildren the opportunity to discover jobs they would not have thought of by meeting professionals in the field.

For teachers, it is also an opportunity to build bridges with the professional world.

And with more than 55,000 jobs available and 280,000 recruitment projects in 2023, recruitment professionals will be able to meet jobseekers during one of the 1,800 jobdating sessions already organised.

This was a national operation where CRIJ Toulouse has participated. More information here!

The Wired Up Digital Report developed by an Expert Advisory Panel’s is an independent report that contains 26 recommendations to deliver real and sustainable change.

The report, which was launched with a wide range of Community sector organisations in attendance, considers the potential for improved social and economic outcomes by making policy, legislative and practical changes in a number of areas including Social Value, Community Rights, support for Social Enterprise, Social Finance, Real Living Wage and Workers Rights.

The original new can be found here and the complete report is available for download. 

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is calling for a Digital Strategy for Northern Ireland to be brought forward.

The call was made at a breakfast launch of ‘Wired Up’, a report, commissioned by the Foundation assessing digital skills, inclusion and capacity in the Community, Voluntary, and Social Economy sectors.

More information can be found here!

The first European Employment & Social Rights Forum will be held on 16 and 17 November 2022.

The forum will gather European Commission representatives, Ministers, academics, policymakers and stakeholders to discuss the current societal challenges and opportunities of the green transition.

The Forum will be a hybrid event, with speakers and participants in Brussels and online on this platform.

More information here!

Flash information on the Deploying advanced national QCI systems and network call results

The results for the Call for proposals: Deploying advanced national QCI systems and network under the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) are out.

Check out the results here!

The Atlantic Area Joint Secretariat is organizing a 2-hour informative webinar addressed to all applicants interested in the ongoing First Call for Projects to help delivery a better project application.

The session will focus on two main topics: the Programme Manual’s content and how to complete the Application Form.

It will be held on the 21st of November from 14:30 to 16:30 (Lisbon time).

Those interested should register here until the 18th of November. 

More information at: https://www.atlanticarea.eu/news/231

A project to improve social services’ access to EU funding – the EU Social Services Helpdesk – was launched in Brussels on 20 October. Alfonso Lara Montero, European Social Network (ESN)’s CEO, opened the event highlighting the importance of the partnership which has brought together ESN as the network for public social services with private not-for-profit social services providers to support social services across the spectrum to access EU funding for their programmes

The launch event highlighted many of the challenges of accessing EU funding, not only how information is shared, the application process but also questions related to policy development and prioritisation of needs at national level.

Original news with more information.

European Commission proposes stronger rules on ambient air, surface and groundwater pollutants, and urban wastewater treatment. All of the new rules provide a clear return on investment thanks to benefits in health, energy savings, food production, industry, and biodiversity.

These proposals are a key advance for the European Green Deal‘s zero pollution ambition of having an environment free of harmful pollution by 2050 and also respond to specific demands of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Detailed information on the new rules can be found here!

Are you looking for partners in the Atlantic Area to develop your project?

It is easy now with a mobile APP launched by the Atlantic Area. The APP facilitates matchmaking between people and organisations, to find the right partners for implementing projects.

This APP was created for the Atlantic Area launch event and is still running until February 2023.

The Atlantic Area APP is available for Android: Google Play and iOS: Apple Store. 

More information can be found here!

The first-ever European Inventors Week will be held from 7-13 November at the European Parliament. 

This initiative celebrates Europe as a driver of invention, innovation and prosperity and welcomes every individual or organisation in Europe to join inventors, scientists and young people in a conversation on Europe’s inventiveness and how to encourage the next generation to become inventors of tomorrow.

The full programme is available on the European Inventors Week Website.

Original news can be found here. 

The common European data space for cultural heritage is an initiative of the European Union, funded under its Digital Europe programme.

The service contract for deploying the common European data space for cultural heritage has been awarded to a consortium of 19 partners from 9 EU countries. It supports the digital transformation of Europe’s cultural sector. It allows cultural heritage institutions across Europe to share digitised cultural heritage content, with high-quality metadata, including in 3D.

More information here!

The European Commission will make 2023 the European Year of Skills. The aim is to ensure that Europe is ready for the jobs of the future.

In this sense, one of the top priorities of the European Social Fund Plus is training, reskilling and upskilling workers to prepare for the green, blue and digital transitions. 

These investments will help prepare Member States for the changing needs of the labour market – with a focus on the a green and digital economic recovery.

Detailed information about this initiative can be found here!

The European Investment Bank Social Innovation Tournament is the flagship initiative of the Institute’s Social Programme recognising and supporting Europe’s best social entrepreneurs.

The 2022 competition had 200 applications from which 15 finalists from eight European countries and a diversity of initiatives that aim to generate social, ethical and environmental impact were selected.

The initiatives that passed to the final stage can be consulted at: https://www.socialinnovationacademy.eu/best-social-entrepreneurs-in-europe-2022/

The first call for projects within the Interreg Atlantic Area programme is already open. 

This call – the first for the 2021-2027 programming period – is open between 14 October 2022 and 17 February 2023. 

More information about the call, including budget, important documents and how to apply, can be found here!

The Atlantic Social Lab (ASL) has approved an extension to continue developing its work. ASL is a project that seeks to develop and promote approaches and methods of social innovation oriented to meet the social challenges of the Atlantic Area. The project ended in May 2021 and although it has achieved many tangible results, both in the territorial implementation of social innovation practices and at the knowledge generation level, the pandemic has highlighted the gaps and weaknesses regarding social protection and inclusion policies.

The extension of the project, which started in March this year and will last until June 2023, has as the main goal to reflect and respond to these gaps. To this end, a set of pilot actions will be tested, seeking to provide services to citizens in a Covid-19 context, focusing on digitalization – identified as a common challenge throughout the Atlantic Area. This new phase of ASL is also concerned with disseminating and capitalizing the lessons and good practices achieved during the initial phase of the project.

Gijón City Council to call 2,261 elderly people in the centre to detect unwanted loneliness. 

This is the great unfinished business of old age: unwanted loneliness. It is to them, to them, that the shock plan for the elderly is addressed, which from this month will give a decisive boost to three of its lines: the preparation of a census of elderly people, the implementation of the pilot project in the downtown area based on the network of friendly shops and the revitalisation of the senior citizen centres. These are the main commitments of the Municipal Foundation for Social Services, because as its director, Marco Luengo, acknowledges, “there are currently elderly people who we are not reaching”.

The municipal centres of El Coto, Contrueces and El Polígono will be the first to revitalise their activities from this month onwards.

Detailed information on the activities to be developed can be found in the original article. 

During the presentation of the POCTEFA 2014-2020 results in Bilbao on October 4th, Nuria LOPEZ, in charge of the cross-border project TRAMPOLINE for CRIJ OCCITANIE, presented the network dedicated to the accompaniment of young people for their first work experiences on both sides of the Pyrenees.

Several life paths enriched by these opportunities were highlighted.

A great success that needs to be continued! Indeed, thanks to this remarkable feedback, the opportunity for a continuation of the cross-border project is emerging. The Trans-Pyrenean Youth Forum which took place a few days earlier will also feed the genesis of the new TRAMPOLINE2 project.

More information available at: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/crijoccitanie_infojeunes-infojeunesoccitanie-trampoline-activity-6983099142684221442-P_rr

he Interreg Anual Event 2022 will take place in Brussels on Wednesday 26, Thursday 27 and Friday 28 October 2022.

Under the theme “Interreg: better together” the event will highlight that cooperation is central to our European response to today’s challenges.

Besides plenary sessions there will be three hybrid workshops as well as five on-site “Experience Rooms” showcasing some of Interreg’s innovative projects in diverse fields such as creative industries, social innovation, gaming or smart technology.

To mark this year’s European Year of Youth, an entire morning will be dedicated to exchanges with young people involved in Interreg or not and listen to some of their concerns and proposals. The Youth4Cooperation Summit will be the occasion to showcase the implementation of the 12 recommendations present in the Interreg Youth Manifesto

Deadline for registrations (on invitation only) : 14 October 2022

More information available here!

The Emotional Wellbeing, Prevention and Self-Care Space for young people (BEPA) in Avilés will be the protagonist at the Cabueñes Meetings.

The impulse to the BEPA came from the concern of the Ayuntamiento de Avilés about the negative impact that COVID restrictions could have on the emotional and mental state of young people.

The Youth Council’s initiative Espacio de Bienestar Emocional, Prevención y Autocuidado (BEPA) for young people, has its centre of operations in the Noria building in Ferrera building Park, has become a benchmark for policies aimed at young people, not only in Asturias, but also in Europe. Next Thursday, the project will be the protagonist in a meeting of professionals working with young people held in Latvia in the framework of the Mobility Office Europe Here.

Original article can be found here

More information about BEPA and Noria Building here

The Governing Board has approved the collaboration agreement between the City Council and the Principality for the maintenance of the network of shelters for women victims of gender violence during the financial year 2022. This agreement aims to establish the general framework of collaboration between the parties, the amount of which is 120,000 euros.

The City Council has been developing for years an important work in the care of women victims of gender violence, with a municipal shelter under the Municipal Foundation of Social Services, the Malva House, which was incorporated into the regional network of shelters through accession to the Framework Agreement of Collaboration for the creation of the Regional shelter houses, signed between the Principality of Asturias and the Spanish Red Cross in Asturias by addendum of 13 April 2000. This accommodation was then managed by the Spanish Red Cross in Asturias, an entity that continues to manage this Network this year, by virtue of the Resolution of the Regional Ministry of the Presidency of the Principality of Asturias of 12 September 2022.

Original article available here!

World Economic Forum publishes report entitled “Jobs of Tomorrow: The Triple Returns of Social Jobs in the Economic Recovery”.

The report reflects on the social inequalities exacerbated by the 2020 pandemic and the social work that will be structural to minimise its consequences and recover the global economy.

The findings show that most jobs created as a result of public investment will be in teaching (4.2 million jobs), followed by personal care and service workers (1.8 million jobs) as well as healthcare professionals (0.9 million jobs).

The European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) IS the main EU instrument for investing in people. 

On 28 September 2022, the European Commission called on Member States to modernise their minimum income schemes and came up  with a proposal for a  Council Recommendation on how they can modernise their minimum income schemes to make them more effective, lifting people out of poverty, while promoting the labour market integration of those who can work.

Original article: here!

During its September plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted an own-initiative opinion on the EU Youth Test. This tool will enable young people to give their views on the decision-making process.  

In the new we can see that there is a concern on the part of European bodies to give a voice to young people: “It is more important than ever to ensure that young people have a voice in decision-making across all sectors. Policies that were previously thought to be not directly targeting young people or not part of the traditional youth policy field can evidently have a significant impact on the lives of young people and future generations”.

The complete article can be found here and information on the EU Youth Test is already available!

A call for proposals under the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) is now open!

The call falls on the Specific Objective 2 of the Digital Europe Programme aims to reinforce the EU’s core Artificial Intelligence (AI) capacities as a crucial driver for the digital transformation of the public and private sectors.

More information about this call can be find here!

A panel of expert judges are currently evaluating the applications received for the European Social Services Awards (ESSA). This year ESSA are under the theme of ‘Innovation for Social Change’ and are awarding successful new approaches and the extraordinary ongoing work done by public social services managers, funders, planners, providers, and deliverers of social services.

In order to reflect the nature of ESN as a platform for the wider social services community as well as a network of experts, an online public vote will be held for all shortlisted applications that will be combined with the judges scores to determine the winners. The online public vote is expected to open in early October.

You can find more information on the award process and judges here!

The Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA) will support the network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH), to accelerate the digital transformation of the European economy.

The DTA contract has been awarded to a consortium to support and coordinate the consolidation and extension of the European DIH network through community building events and activities, training sessions, collection and analysis of impact indicators, and by taking care of the online presence and external communication of the network.

The DTA contract starts in September 2022; most of the services provided by the DTA to the EDIHs will be available by the end of the year.

Original new can be found here!

GCU together with the University of the West Scotland is organising the CHANGEMAKERS AND PIONEERS event, to be held at Scotland House, Brussels on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th. The event will be also branded under ASL project.

This event is a celebration of the changemakers, the innovators and pioneers who have been able to develop unique projects through European funding. Despite the obstacles placed before us and the challenges for future collaboration there is a real need for us to continue to work together to ensure that our achievements have meaningful impact.

The agenda and full information is available here!

Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights met students from two schools that are using European Social Fund money to drive innovation in education: the Second Chance School, which has laid the foundations for a national model for alternative education, and Equinox Smart Campus at Science Po Aix in Aix en Provence.

This meeting was held during the 43rd Congress of French health insurance.

The two projects demonstrate the wide spectrum of ESF-funded opportunities for boosting the skills and learning potential of young people. They represent examples of innovative and engaging education, applying methods that adapt to the individual needs of students and signifying a major investment in their future.  

Original and complete press release at: https://ec.europa.eu/european-social-fund-plus/en/news/commissioner-visit-highlights-innovative-education

Member States can use the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) to invest in long-term care and childcare, and for the implementation of the new European Care Strategy from 7 September 2022. 

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is Europe’s main instrument for investing in people and implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights. The fund has a specific objective of enhancing equal and timely access to quality, sustainable and affordable services and aims to increase the effectiveness and resilience of healthcare systems and long-term care services.

Original new can be found here.