The conference 'Opening up to an ERA of Social Innovation Conference' will help script a new narrative for social innovation and inform the design of the future framework programme (FP) for research and innovation of the European Union for the period 2020–2027. The FP is open to the world and serves the advancement of science and the promotion of innovation internationally. The next FP should lend its support to reconciling economic and social performances by embedding social innovation in each element of its construct. Consequently, the conference will focus on sharing experience, learning about new trends, and networking to increase the effectiveness of social innovation as a global public policy instrument.
The conference will be structured in the following manner:
- Taking stock of social innovation achievements
- Identifying potential future opportunities brought by social innovation not only in terms of societal well-being, but also of growth, jobs, and business development for Europe
- Reviewing new trends in social innovation
- Examining the possible role of social innovation in the next generation of public policies
- Exploring funding instruments
The conference is jointly organised by the European Commission, the Portuguese Government and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
