Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany
I am nothing - by choice I am not an expert, an innovator, a leader or an academic. I am not a label, brand or title - not a representative of a nation, ethnicity or race - I am just a human being. I refuse to be a leader - authority does not create a better world - by telling others what to think. It's more about knowing how we think ourselves. And we don't learn that through manipulation, pressure or persuasion - those changes are superficial and obviously don't change anything. Transformation lies in the actual realisation by each individual that we, as a human race, cannot go on living like this. In this respect, the essence of my work is thinking together with other people. I don't sell anything - no new paradigm, I don't propagandize, I don't lead others, I don't tell them what to do - nothing like that. I'm not an authority, I'm not a leader to follow, I don't argue and I don't theorise with words. Rather, I try to be serious and responsible by learning with others. This is not manipulation, pressure or persuasion, but an invitation to engage where we are not engaged. I argue that transformation happens in a genuine dialogue that takes place at a deep, fundamental level - where both sides are willing to change - with people who want to listen, who have a genuine interest in finding out for themselves the answer to these fundamental questions. A fundamental, scientific and ongoing dialogue, without being pushed into any spiritual, esoteric or religious ideas, or economic, innovative or political concepts, nor acting as authorities telling others what is right, but only stimulating, raising and exploring questions. It's about finding out - it's about opening the door to questioning our knowledge base. I want to meet people without superiority or inferiority, in full reciprocity. I want to express myself openly and authentically, not trying to appear different from who I am. By overcoming our egocentricity, we humans are able to turn to others. And when we succeed in being with the other person, an authenticity of interpersonal relationships is created. The encounter then takes place in a 'space' characterised by respect, clarity, understanding and compassionate care. And this is the ground from which a fundamental insight can emerge - leading to the transformation of a person. If we really feel responsible - for a better world - there must be a feeling of genuine affection, of genuine care for a person - then we are not training or conditioning them.
The Competence Center for Social Innovation (KoSI) sees itself as an impulse generator, network and source of information and consists of 14 partners who have decisively shaped the development of the ecosystem of social innovations in Germany over the last 10 years. We are part of a European network of competence centers that are being established in many European countries on behalf of the European Commission. 148 organizations in 25 countries are actively driving the development of Social Innovation - at local, regional, national and transnational levels.
How can we work together to create ecosystems that support a culture of continuous social innovation? We understand Social Innovation as a bridge between vulnerability and resilience of a society. Its goal is to build a resilient, robust social-ecological social system. to cope with permanent change in a positive, inclusive, empowering way. We want to consciously cultivate a system that actively promotes continuous social innovation by bringing together the entire innovation community. By building a collaborative infrastructure, we enable the embedding of a culture of continuous social innovation. It is not enough to innovate. We as a society need to build the capacity to repeat - again and again, forever. This is how the Social Impact Lab Frankfurt works for an inclusive, sustainable and resilient society through social innovation.
The pilot project 'Think globally - Act locally' aims to strengthen the resilience of rural regions in Brandenburg, Germany. In the face of growing economic, social and environmental challenges, innovative strategies are needed to bridge the development gap between urban centres and rural peripheries. Social Impact gGmbH initiates this project to improve the quality of life and economic vitality in the focus regions through social innovations, new forms of cooperation and strategic development approaches. The project aims to mobilise local stakeholders - from businesses, social economy and civil society organisations to politics and administration - and involve them in a collaborative process. A bottom-up approach is used to create sustainable forms of work and employment opportunities that meet both social and environmental challenges. The project focuses on activating endogenous potential by + Formation of cross-sectoral focus groups, + Developing and applying a self-analysis toolbox for a holistic assessment of the regional and socio-environmental starting point, + Promoting cooperation and collaboration to initiate social innovation processes, + Implementation of design thinking workshops for the concrete planning and implementation of measures. Value Proposition - Effect and Impact + Strengthening the local economy by creating new, sustainable jobs and improving regional value chains. + Promoting social cohesion by involving different social groups in the development process, leading to a more inclusive community. + Environmental sustainability by considering and integrating environmental principles into the region's development strategy. + Transferring and scaling up the model approach by documenting and disseminating successful practices and innovations, both within Brandenburg and in other rural regions. The project sees itself as a catalyst for local initiatives and relies on the active participation and commitment of the target groups.
The overall objective of the Social Innovation CoP (SI CoP) for the period of 2023–2027 is to facilitate and accelerate the transfer and upscalingof proven innovative solutions (approaches, models, services, products, or practices) in public policies by using ESF+ funding. The aim is to achieve system changes by improving the results and impact of public policies, and by turning social innovation into a core element of their design and implementation. he current SI CoP will build on the work and results achieved by the previous SI CoP (2020–2022), taking into consideration the lessons learned from the 2014–2020 ESF programmes and EaSI calls. It will gradually integrate the needs and experience from ESF+ bodies and other relevant stakeholders, resulting from the current programming period, and will make use of all newly available resources. It will also benefit from the growing expertise and reinforced synergies of both the NCCs and the expanding network of EaSI NCPs, which will be supported by the 2023 EU call from ESFA5 with the aim to help relevant organisations/networks cooperate at transnational level and thus further improve their capacity to support social innovation in their respective countries. The SI CoP will evolve to become ’practice-oriented’ and will assist ESF+ Managing Authorities in implementing social innovation and social experimentation within national and regional programmes, regardless of whether they include dedicated social innovation priorities or are of a more general nature.
ESSI considers the utmost significance of social innovations in the 21st century in enabling the socially beneficial utilization of the vast economic potential of the „knowledge society“, as part of society, to better serve distributive justice and braking the acceleration of social inequality. Transformative science, trans-disciplinary research and professional practices are required to create new capacities in knowledge generation, knowledge diffusion and knowledge application, involving those who know how and others who know why. Combining analytical thought and practical doing requires innovative organisations, methods, networks and infrastructures in support of effective collaboration. ESSI shall serve as an umbrella organisation, a platform to stimulate, promote and develop co-operative activities, measures and projects of its members. ESSI, as a School of Thought, considerably shapes concepts and activities in the field of social innovation, as it facilitates the collaboration between members that can form consortia to plan and execute projects of different kind. Yet through the backing by ESSI, single member organisations or even individuals may enjoy stronger positions in their social innovation activities.
The Social Innovation Match tool (SIM) is a platform where you can explore inspirational examples of successful social innovation initiatives and connect with future partners. It is designed to facilitate the transfer and scaling-up of social innovation throughout Europe. Which areas are covered? SIM focuses on the investment areas of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), i.e. initiatives related to employment, education and training, and social inclusion. What does SIM offer? SIM provides an overview of social innovation initiatives and key stakeholders across Europe, with filters for type, level of action, country, thematic area, and funding source. SIM enables stakeholders to: + showcase their social innovation examples, + discover social innovation projects developed and tested in other countries, + identify organisations whose work is a source of inspiration + find potential partners for European calls for transnational projects. National validators, such as the National Competence Centre for Social Innovation, ensure the quality and appropriateness of local, regional, and national initiatives. The European Competence Centre for Social Innovation validates transnational and EU-level initiatives.
The OECD Mission Action Lab is a joint initiative of the OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, the Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (OPSI) of the OECD Directorate for Public Governance, and the OECD Development Co-Operation Directorate. Bringing diverse sets of international expertise and focus areas, we work with policymakers to establish and operationalise missions in real world contexts. The OECD Mission Action Lab takes an action research approach by collaborating directly with policymakers and public administrators to design, refine, implement, and govern mission-oriented policy. By working in close collaboration with policy teams to provide tailored, strategic and tactical advice, the Lab helps countries overcome challenges that prevent them from getting started or meaningfully staying on course with their missions. In turn, the Lab seeks to leverage this project work to build the broader evidence base and develop guidance on how governments can best implement mission-oriented approaches to public policy. The OECD Mission Community of Practice, supported by the European Commission, connects over 250 different policymakers and mission practitioners around missions and mission-oriented approaches to promote knowledge exchange, discuss tools and methods, and gain insights into the latest OECD work on missions. The themes explored in the Community range from core mission elements – such as mission governance, mission monitoring and evaluation, and mission portfolio management – to context-dependent applications like missions for climate mitigation and emerging mission practice in low- and middle-income countries. Monthly gatherings will explore these different facets of missions as well as allow Community members to share their own insights and expertise and contribute to shaping the research of the Mission Action Lab.