Winners named in the 2023 European Social Innovation Competition: energy poverty in the spotlight

On 14 November 2023 the European Commission announced the three winners of the 2023 European Social Innovation Competition. This edition focused on the theme 'fighting energy poverty' and the announcement was made during the Social Economy: People, Planet, Action conference in San Sebastian organised under the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Each winner will receive a cash award of €50,000 and the 15 finalists will be invited to the European Social Innovation Academia taking place in Brussels on 31 January and 1 February 2024.

The winners

The Commission highlighted that the winners are social innovation projects with concrete tools to tackle energy poverty. Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, underlined the EU’s commitment to tackling energy poverty and framed the prize as recognising projects that make tangible differences for vulnerable consumers.

Who reached the final and what ideas they pitched

The competition shortlisted 15 finalists whose proposals covered a wide range of approaches to energy poverty including household monitoring, alternative pricing models, small-scale production and local energy sharing, retrofitting, community investment models and methods to empower vulnerable residents. The organisers said assessment focused on degree of innovation, demonstrated impact, financial and environmental sustainability, and the potential to scale or replicate the idea.

How the competition works and who runs it

The European Social Innovation Competition (EUSIC) is one of five EIC prizes supported under Horizon Europe. The 2023 edition, the eleventh run, was supported by the European Innovation Council and managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Applications are evaluated by independent experts against the announced criteria. The EUSIC aims to stimulate social innovation to address societal challenges and to foster inclusive growth by connecting social innovators, civil society, academia and entrepreneurs.

Background: where the prize fits in EU innovation policy

EUSIC is funded under Horizon Europe and sits within the portfolio of EIC prizes meant to spotlight early-stage innovations with social or market impact. The competition has run themes since 2013 that track policy priorities and social trends, from new forms of work to affordable housing and digital democracy. The prize is designed to do two things: reward promising ideas and create connections between innovators, funders and regions to help projects scale.

What the prize delivers and what it does not

A €50,000 award is useful for pilots, validation, and visibility. The competition also gives winners a profile boost and introductions into EU innovation networks. That said, the scale and longevity of energy poverty challenges typically demand sustained public policy measures, regulatory changes and long term capital for building retrofits or community energy assets. Winning a prize is not a substitute for the deeper funding and policy levers needed to move from project-level successes to systemic change.

Practical limits and common risks

Prizes can create momentum but face-to-face outreach, local administration buy-in and patient capital remain essential. Common obstacles include securing follow-on investment, aligning with national social protection systems, legal and regulatory barriers for energy communities, and ensuring projects can measure and sustain social impact. There is also a reputational risk for public funders if prize winners are not subsequently supported to scale and their pilots remain isolated.

Critical perspective and implications for policy

The Commission framed the prize as evidence of the EU’s commitment to tackling energy poverty and celebrating social innovation. That is valid, but it is worth underscoring that energy poverty sits at the intersection of energy markets, housing policy and social protection. While bottom-up innovations showcased by the competition are necessary and often effective at local scale, they will not eliminate energy poverty alone. Policy change is needed on regulated energy tariffs, targeted subsidies, large-scale building renovation programmes and enabling legal frameworks for energy communities.

For prize-winning projects the next challenge is bridging the gap between recognition and scale. Visibility helps but successful scaling typically requires a pipeline of follow-on funding, partnerships with local authorities or utilities, and integration into national programmes. European Commission support through matchmaking, access to structured co-funding and policy dialogue would materially improve the odds that winners become systemic contributors rather than isolated pilots.

Next steps and follow-up

All 15 finalists will be invited to the Social Innovation Academia in Brussels on 31 January and 1 February 2024. Winners received their awards at the ceremony in San Sebastian on 14 November 2023. For innovators seeking funding or partnership routes the EIC and EISMEA channels remain relevant entry points. Observers should watch whether the Commission or EISMEA deploys structured post-award support such as introductions to impact investors, regional funds or technical partnerships that can bridge the well-documented valley between pilot funding and sustained scaling.

Contacts and where to find more information

The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) manages the prize. Details about the competition, winners and finalists are published on the EIC / EISMEA websites. For follow-up or press queries contact the EIC press channels or the competition mailbox listed on the EIC site.