European Social Innovation Competition 2021: finalists and next steps

On 3 November 2021 the European Commission, together with the European Innovation Council and the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, EISMEA, announced the ten finalists in the 2021 European Social Innovation Competition. The competition theme this year was Skills for Tomorrow - Shaping a green and digital future. The selection followed a review of the 30 teams that had reached the semi-final round.

Who was announced and what they will receive

The Judging Panel narrowed the field to 10 finalists. Each finalist will receive a package of support to finalise their projects and prepare for the awards event scheduled for 8 December 2021. The three winners chosen at that event will each receive a prize of €50,000. The finalists will also be invited to the awards ceremony alongside semi-finalists and the winner of the 2021 Impact Prize.

Selection process and finalist support

Organisers said the Judging Panel selected the 10 finalists from the 30 semi-finalists after a thorough review. The finalists will receive an additional support package including one-on-one expert coaching. Each team will receive up to ten hours of personalised coaching across the finalist phase to help them refine their projects and prepare their pitches for the final event on 8 December 2021. The three winners will each be awarded €50,000.

Statements from officials

Valentina Superti, Director at the European Commission DG GROW, said the jury had a difficult task narrowing 30 semi-finalists to ten finalists and praised the teams for their innovative visions for skills that will support a greener and more digital Europe. Jean-David Malo, Director of the European Innovation Council and SME Executive Agency EISMEA, emphasised that the finalists reflect the spirit of the competition by targeting societal needs with innovative approaches. Both officials noted the challenge ahead for the jury in choosing the final three winners.

About the European Social Innovation Competition

Launched in memory of social innovation advocate Diogo Vasconcelos, the European Social Innovation Competition is an initiative of the European Commission supported by the European Innovation Council. By 2021 the competition had reached its ninth edition. Its stated purpose is to surface and support early-stage social innovations across EU Member States and associated countries. Each year the Competition addresses a specific social challenge and awards three prizes of €50,000 to the most promising projects. The programme provides mentoring, coaching and access to a peer network, aiming to help ideas move towards implementation.

What happens next and timeline

Finalists will receive one-on-one coaching in the weeks leading to the Award Ceremony. The competition organisers provide ten hours of personalised coaching per team during the finalist phase. The Awards event is scheduled for 8 December 2021. After judging the live pitches the agency will announce three winning projects, each receiving €50,000.

A critical perspective and context for innovators and observers

The Competition provides visibility, mentoring and a modest cash injection to early-stage social innovators. That combination can be valuable for validation and early development. At the same time €50,000, while helpful, is unlikely to be sufficient for scaling many market-creating or technology-intensive solutions. Observers should also note that coaching and network access are often the most durable benefits from programmes like this, yet their value depends on the quality of mentoring and the follow-on funding environment.

The European innovation ecosystem comprises multiple channels of support including the EIC Accelerator, EIC Fund investments, regional and national instruments and private investors. A prize competition is useful for discovery and signalling, but winners typically need additional investment, partnerships and procurement pathways to transition to wider deployment. Transparency around selection criteria and post-award tracking of impact would make it easier to assess the Competition's long term effectiveness in producing scalable social innovation.

How to follow and contact the Competition

Organisers invited interested parties to consult the Competition web pages for more details and to follow updates on social channels. The Competition accounts and handles referenced in the announcement include the European Social Innovation Competition and the European Innovation Council. Queries were directed to the Social Innovation Prize email address provided by the organisers.

Further reading and sources

Primary information on the finalists and the Competition was published by the European Commission and EISMEA in their 3 November 2021 announcement. Background on the Competition format, its link to Diogo Vasconcelos and the role of the European Innovation Council is available on EIC and European Commission web pages. For journalists and researchers seeking to evaluate impact, look for post-award updates from winners and independent follow-up reporting on whether projects secured further funding or entered into partnerships after the prize.