"Boosting Innovation for a Better Social Outcome: Edinburgh, 21 st May "Social Innovation: A European Commission perspective and recent activities " Aurelio Fernández DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Unit Social Policies, Innovation and Governance
Social innovation in EU activities Different perspectives have been considered in EC approaches to social innovation From Innovation Union to the Social Investment Package considerable amount of actions were taken since 2010 by different DGs to foster and/or used social innovation to reach EU policy goals Employment, Social affairs and Inclusion Research and Innovation Grow Connect Structural and Investment Programs and Plans
EU Policy Frameworks (rooting social innovation) Europe 2020 Seven EU flagship initiatives (in particular, Innovation Union and the European Platform Against Poverty). Complementing funding programmes (such as FP7, Progress, EaSI, Horizon2020, COSME) Main policy packages Social Business Initiative, Employment Package, Social Investment Package The new multiannual financial framework for the Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020
New European Commission Rebalancing economic policy, employment and social affairs A model of economic growth where efficiency and social fairness feed each other Breaking policy silos (integrated approaches) A new economic governance package: Investment, Structural reforms, fiscal responsibility Job creation and modernisation of social protection systems at the heart of the agenda
The Social Investment Package (SIP): A strategic social investment approach to modernisation Social protection systems that prevent against risks, respond as early as possible and respond to people's needs throughout their lives Join up adequate benefits with activating and enabling benefits to support people's inclusion in society and the labour market More effective and efficient social spending to ensure adequate and sustainable social protection
"Social Policy Innovation" SIP brought a specific perspective for social innovation that emphasizes the importance of - connecting social innovation to strategic policy packages and EU priorities. - mainstreaming social innovation in the implementation of Member States reforms supporting social investment and the modernisation of social protection systems. - taking into account the added value of innovation as a key tool for achieving improved social outcomes. http://ec.europa.eu/social/blobservlet?docid=13691&langid=en
Conference on Social Policy Innovation (Brussels, 19 th 20 th May). How social policy innovation can contribute to implement efficient and effective reforms in social protection systems based on a social investment perspective? Around 400 participants 25 show-casing sessions on policy experiences The outcomes of the Conference provided inputs to the new Commission on the way forward in this of policy area. http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langid=en&catid=88&eve ntsid=981&furtherevents=yes
Innovative social policy investments TCP- National telecare development programme (Scotland). Long-term care integrated services reform (Slovenia) Barcelona (ES innovative model organisation of social services) South Karelia (SI integrated social and health services) Leap Project (MT family resource centers)
Innovative social policy investments (II) Partnerships involving the business community (Wallet of the Poor initiatives BE, FR, PT). Innovation by social entrepreneurs (Ashoka, Oksigen). Innovations by Civil Society Organizations: Caritas, Diakonie, Local organizations ESF multiregional program against discrimination (ES 2006-2011).
Funding instruments: Employment and Social Innovation Program (EaSI - 2014-2020) Stronger connection to Europe 2020 and the integrated policy guidelines Funding allocated in the new programme for social innovation has increased in relation to PROGRESS (10 to 14 million euros a year). Further synergies with ESF activities on social innovation will be built http://ec.europa.eu/social/easi
EaSI: First Call for Proposals (2014) Social policy innovations supporting reforms in social services 9.2 million. Maximum EU co-financing (80%) More that 100 innovation initiatives from 20 Member States Focus areas: One-stop-shop approaches Personalised approaches to social services Innovative partnerships 2015 Call (to be launched in the second semester). http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langid=en&catid=629
EaSI: Supporting social economy and social entrepreneurs EaSI (Entrepreneurship axe): funding for helping the creation and scaling-up of social enterprises (not direct finance, entrepreneurs or social enterprises are final beneficiaries).. 86 million to stimulate, broaden and speed up the development of social finance markets across Europe (2014 2020). Similar amount to microfinance and institutional capacity building for microfinance providers
ESF and Social Innovation With the new programming period, there is much more scope to use the ESF in support of social policy innovation (ESF shall promote social innovation). Member States are required to identify the themes for social innovation corresponding to their specific needs in their Operational Programmes and/or during implementation (art 9 ESF regulation). Possibilities of a priority axis devoted to social innovation and of an increasing of 10% in the co-financing rate. Relevant examples: New ESF operational programmes (CZ, AT, ES), Sachsen Ansalt (DE), Friuli Venetia (IT), Flanders (BE)
IESI Project ICT enabling social innovations supporting social investment Specific objectives To provide a deeper understanding of how EU Member States can make better use of ICT-enabled social innovation to implement the actions suggested by the SIP To contribute building evidence-based knowledge by providing results of a structured analysis of ICT-enabled social innovation initiatives implemented in EU Member States To develop a methodological framework of analysis of the impacts generated by ICT-enabled social innovation initiatives `promoting/embodying social investment. http://is.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pages/eap/einclusion.iesi.html
The IESI Knowledge Map 2014 A static view 15
The way forward: Further steps Making sure social policy innovation play a role in reforms made by Member states for modernizing social protection systems. Pursuing the promotion of social innovation in ESF implementation activities Support Member states through guidance, evidence-based knowledge, capacity building and the use of funds for social policy innovation Pursue broad partnerships between public authorities, the private sector and civil society to deliver better social outcomes
THANKS