A €150,000 challenge prize by the European Commission
The European Social Innovation Competition is a challenge prize run by the European Commission across all European countries.
The challenge started in 2012 and sets out to find the best ideas in order to ensure that everyone in Europe benefits from the opportunities created by technological change.
The Competition is run by the European Commission and supported by a consortium of partners including Impact Hub, Nesta, Kennisland, Matter&Co, and Shipyard.
The problem
European societies are transforming rapidly due to technological change.
Trends such as digitalisation and automation are changing the way we live and work faster than ever before, reshaping the labour market and wider economy in fundamental ways.
Digital / ICT-based businesses, the creative industries, high tech manufacturing, and knowledge-intensive services are creating increasing value for the economy, driving and taking advantage of technological progress. Low tech, labour-intensive manufacturing and routine jobs in service sectors are being disrupted.
Finding solutions
The European Commission was looking for innovations in tools, services and models to equip all members of society with the appropriate skills and opportunities they need to be able to compete in a changing economy.
The competition was open to entrepreneurs, social innovators, students, designers, makers, tech enthusiasts, educators, individuals, groups and organisations from throughout the European Union and in countries participating in the Horizon 2020 programme.
The winners
Buildx, Feelif and SAGA-The Peer to Peer Learning Platform were announced as the winners at the Awards Ceremony in Brussels on 26 October.
Selected from nearly 800 applicants from more than 40 countries, each project will receive a €50,000 prize from the European Commission.
10 Finalists pitched on stage at the Awards Ceremony before the prizes were awarded by Lowri Evans, Director General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs at the European Commission.
