A turning point for social innovation in Europe
Europe is at a critical moment for social innovation as the next programming period of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is starting to take shape. With an estimated budget of €142.7 billion, this instrument has set a milestone in Europe’s investment in people, education, employment, skills, and social inclusion.
In this context, a key question emerges: how can we turn the pilot projects launched through this funding into sustainable, replicable public policies that can shape the future of our societies?
To address this and many other questions, the European Network of Innovation for Inclusion, led by Action Against Hunger, is organizing the 13th European Forum on Experiences and Trends in Innovation for Inclusion, which will take place on November 26, 2025, in Madrid. The event will also be streamed live on Action Against Hunger Spain’s YouTube channel and the Network’s LinkedIn page. It will bring together professionals, public representatives, social entrepreneurs, and third-sector specialists to exchange experiences, learn from best practices, and explore new opportunities in inclusive employment and social entrepreneurship.
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Why this is a decisive moment for social innovation?
The European Forum provides a space to reflect on how to scale social innovation and integrate evidence into public policy design—a crucial step to ensure that effective solutions reach people and communities across Europe.
Indeed, social innovation plays a central role in Europe’s twin transitions: the green transition (environmental sustainability) and the digital transition. Embedding these goals into social innovation projects fosters inclusive employment, strengthens communities, and boosts social resilience in the face of technological and environmental challenges.
From pilot to systemic change
In this context, the European Network of Innovation for Inclusion’s renewed approach has been essential: both the Network and the European Forum now focus on scaling social innovations. Their goal is to support organizations in growing pilot projects, ensuring that successful solutions move beyond the experimental stage to achieve systemic and sustainable impact across Europe.
Because social innovation is not just about having a good idea. It’s about collaboration—between public institutions, municipalities, social enterprises, and citizens—supported by impact measurement and scaling strategies that transfer and adapt successful solutions to different contexts, ensuring long-lasting results.
The European Forum on Experiences and Trends in Innovation for Inclusion will be a unique opportunity to explore how to move from “pilot” to “mainstream”, from small-scale experiments to large-scale transformation, considering the “3S Framework” (Start, Scale, Sustain) developed by the OECD:
- Start: test solutions in limited contexts.
- Scale: expand and adapt them to new contexts and/or target groups.
- Sustain: consolidate and embed them into policies and systems.
Who is this European Forum for?
This event is designed for:
- Project managers and third-sector organizations, eager to learn how to scale their initiatives and measure impact.
- Social entrepreneurs, looking for opportunities for alliances and collaboration.
- Public representatives and policymakers, seeking to explore successful European experiences and integrate them into public policy.
- Citizens interested in social innovation, who want to anticipate trends and take part in transforming communities and systems.
Shaping the future of social innovation
The central message of the Forum is clear: social innovation must become part of systems and policies —it can no longer remain an isolated experiment. The event on November 26 in Madrid and online will be the perfect opportunity to:
- Learn strategies to ensure your project has a systemic and sustainable impact
- Connect with key social innovation actors across Europe
- Discover best practices already transforming communities
- Be part of a more inclusive, cohesive, and innovative Europe
It’s not just about generating ideas—it’s about implementing them, measuring their impact, and sustaining them over time. What the European social ecosystem need is innovation that transforms.
Book your place now and be part of this event that shapes the future of social inclusion in Europe.
