The 2015 European Social Innovation Competition has been launched, with €50 000 in prize money for the top three project ideas.

Now in its third year, the competition is aimed at individuals and organisations that have ‘game changing’ ideas for EU social innovation projects.

This years’ theme ‘New Ways to Grow’ encourages entries with the potential to exemplify new models of growth, capable of sustaining both financial value and social progress for citizens, government and enterprises alike.

The competition offers support for creative and tangible ideas, with the potential to change the way our European economies and societies operate and interact.

Examples of ideas and projects that the Commission is looking to support may include:

  • Collaborative economy – ideas that challenge assumptions on which economic growth is usually conceived
  • Supply and production – ideas that question supply chain, production and delivery modes, or usage of mainstream products or services
  • New technologies – new ideas, or ideas that propose smarter use of existing technologies for the benefit of society
  • Solutions for future challenges e.g. ageing, climate change or sustainable food.

The competition will help transform the most innovative ideas into concrete projects and sustainable businesses. The most promising applications will be chosen as semi-finalists and the teams will be invited to a social innovation academy, in Vienna, in September to progress their ideas.

The three most effective projects will each be awarded with a prize of €50,000 at the awards ceremony to take place in Brussels in November 2015.

The competition is open to applicants across the European Union and in countries participating in the European Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation. Social innovation is a core dimension of the programme.

The competition deadline is Friday 8 May 2015 at 12.00 Brussels time (noon).

For full details visit http://ec.europa.eu/growth/social-innovation-competition

For questions about applications contact info@socialinnovationprize.eu

You can follow the competition on Twitter at: @EUSocialInnov #diogochallenge

Watch the European Social Innovation Competition 2015 Trailer