Join us for the launch event of the 2019 European Social Innovation Competition!

The launch event will take place at Cankarjev Dom in Ljubljana, Slovenia on 28 February 2019.

We’re bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs and policy makers for an afternoon of networking and talks on social innovation in Ljubljana. We’ll announce the theme for this year and officially open the Competition to entries.

Run by the European Commission in memory of Diogo Vasconcelos and now in its seventh year, the Competition calls all Europeans to come up with solutions to the problems affecting our society. Every year three prizes of €50,000 are awarded to the best ideas that aim to tackle a social problem faced by communities across Europe. You can express your interest in entering the 2019 Competition on our website.

Join us at the event to hear from previous Competition winners sharing their experience and from experts discussing the solutions we’re looking for this year. We’ll explore how Ljubljana became the first zero waste capital in Europe and the attendees will participate in group activities brainstorming possible solutions to the problem that 2019 Competition will try to tackle! The event will end with the ‘Toasted Furniture’ art exhibition by Nuša Jelenec and Nina Mršnik during the reception.

We’re excited to be hosting this year’s launch event at CANKARJEV DOM, Cultural and Congress Centre in Ljubljana - Slovenia's largest cultural institution built in the early 1980’s and designed by the architect Edvard Ravnikar.

The agenda for the event is:

14:00 - Registration

->Refreshments and networking

15:00 - Introduction and Official Welcome to Ljubljana

15:25 - Insights from Slovenian 2018 Competition Winner

->2018 Competition Winner Heritage Lab share their experience of the Competition and provide advice for other Slovenian entries

15:40 - Official Launch of the Competition

->2019 theme announcement and formal opening of the application window

16:00 - Break

->Refreshments and networking

16:30 - In Conversation with the Judges

->Representatives from the Judging Panel share their expertise and insights on social innovation and the 2019 Competition theme

17:15 - Closing Remarks

17:25 - Ideation and Brainstorming

-> Opportunity to innovate with other attendees

18:00 - Drinks Reception

->Refreshments, networking and ‘Toasted Furniture’ art exhibition that aims to visualise the circular economy

19:00 - Event closes

Registration opens at 14:00 with the event starting promptly at 15:00. Please make sure you allow enough time to go through the check-in process.

Follow us on Twitter: @EUSocialInnov #diogchallenge

Find out more about the Competition: bit.ly/diogochallenge

For any questions about the event or Competition, email us: info@socialinnovationprize.eu

The Competition is founded by the European Commission (DG GROW) and delivered by a Consortium of partners led by Nesta, and including Kennisland, Ashoka, European Network of Living Labs, and Scholz&Friends.