The 2017 European Social Innovation Competition is open!
(From ec.europa.eu)
Amalia Zepou, Vice Mayor of Athens said: “Rising income inequality, shifting labour market, and digitalisation have brought significant change across Europe that we have also seen first-hand here in Greece. However, it’s now more clear than ever that social innovation has the power to catalyse positive change and new approaches around Europe. I’m proud to support the launch of the 2017 European Social Innovation Competition in Athens”.
On 28 February in Athens, the European Commission officially launched the 2017 edition of the European Social Innovation Competition aiming to ‘reboot’ equality by inspiring Europeans to provide fresh and energetic approaches to technologies, digital inclusion, connectivity and skills development.
The Competition is calling on Europeans to come up with innovations that will allow everyone to seize the many opportunities offered by the digital revolution. Social progressmust go hand in handwith technological change and the on-going transformation of our societies must bring benefits for all.
The European Commission is therefore looking for inspiring ideas, large and small, from people all around Europe who believe inbuilding a truly inclusive economy and making the most of skills and technologies to close the gapin our society.
Entries must be submitted through the Competition webpage by 7 April 2017. The three winners will each be awarded a prize of €50,000 in October 2017 in Brussels. Beforehand, all 30 semi-finalists of the Competition will be supported with mentoringand networked with partners to progress their ideas.
Organised since 2012 in memory of Diogo Vasconcelos, the European Social Innovation Competition runs with a new theme each year, focused on addressing a different issue in Europe.
This year’s launch was hosted at the Benaki Museum in Athens and brought together inspiring social innovators from around Europe and from Greece especially. The Competition was officially opened by Rania Antonopoulou, Greek Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Security and by Panos Carvounis, Head of Representation of the European Commission in Greece.
Follow the latest developments of the #diogochallenge Competition on Twitter: @EUSocialInnov.
Amalia Zepou, Vice Mayor of Athens said: “Rising income inequality, shifting labour market, and digitalisation have brought significant change across Europe that we have also seen first-hand here in Greece. However, it’s now more clear than ever that social innovation has the power to catalyse positive change and new approaches around Europe. I’m proud to support the launch of the 2017 European Social Innovation Competition in Athens”.