Forum for Social Innovation Sweden, together with Coompanion Sweden, Famna, and the National Network for Coordination Associations, will receive just over 16 million kronor to continue its work as a Competence Centre for Social Innovation under the European Social Fund.
Over the next 3.5 years, Competence Centre for Social Innovation will Competence Centre for Social Innovation knowledge, support, and structures for social innovation across the country—with the goal of contributing to a more inclusive workforce.
“ESF+ creates a space for social innovation to make a real difference for people and society. “With continued support, we can build on capacity, knowledge, and meeting places where new solutions can emerge,” says Anna Tengqvist, coordinator at Forum for Social Innovation Sweden, the national knowledge and collaboration platform for social innovation at the universities of Borås, Luleå University of Technology, Malmö University, Umeå University, and Örebro University.
Three years of development – now the center is stepping up its efforts
During the first project phase, a national support structure was established. Knowledge regarding methods, tools, learning processes, and analyses for ESF projects in the field of social innovation has been developed. Dialogue with the ESF Council has strengthened the role of social innovation in the call-for-proposals processes, and stakeholders in Sweden’s social innovation ecosystem have come together for collaborative learning. The Competence Center has also conducted surveys on the financing and organization of social innovation, as well as an external analysis of political trends and initiatives.
“We have established a support structure and developed content, and we have engaged in dialogue with various key stakeholders in the ecosystem. In the early years, we have taken important steps to create the conditions for learning and applying knowledge about social innovation in the labor market sector,” says Anna Tengqvist.
Long-term solutions and systemic change are needed
The Competence Center is now receiving just over 16 million kronor from the European Social Fund, which means it can further develop its support for social innovation across the country and strengthen the ecosystem. In the coming years, the Competence Center will work to contribute even more significantly to innovations with long-term systemic impact. The goal is to create more targeted, value-adding, and sustainable social innovations—and to ensure that these solutions can be scaled up and implemented in regular operations.
The work of the Center of Excellence is based on cross-sectoral collaboration and the exchange of experiences, both nationally and internationally. In the coming years, the center’s expertise and capacity for action will be strengthened through expanded collaboration within Forum for Social Innovation Sweden national network of five universities—the University of Borås, Luleå University of Technology, Malmö University, Umeå University, and Örebro University—as well as new partners.
The center is being strengthened with new partners
Coompanion, which works to promote more and stronger cooperative enterprises and a vibrant social economy, will contribute expertise on local development and organization, as well as various types of entrepreneurship and ownership models. Famna, an advocacy and knowledge organization for the non-profit sector that promotes the sector’s potential within the Swedish welfare system, will contribute valuable expertise on financing and the Swedish welfare system, as well as key contacts within civil society, the non-profit sector, and public policymakers. The National Network for Coordination Associations (NNS) represents the Coordination Associations in Sweden, which are joint-party organizations through which the Swedish Public Employment Service, the Swedish Social Insurance Agency, the Region, and the municipality can fund initiatives that provide support and rehabilitation to individuals who need assistance to achieve or improve their work capacity. Through the NNS, the center gains extensive knowledge of the Finsam legislation and establishes contacts within the labor market sector, as well as with decision-makers and politicians.
Aims to strengthen long-term funding and organizational structure
An important part of the project is to establish frameworks for long-term funding and coordination at the regional and national levels, so that social innovation can continue even after the project period ends.
Over the next 3.5 years, the competence centre will:
- Further develop call for proposals processes and working methods in consultation with the ESF Council to enable more projects to develop social innovations.
- Offer support services and learning sessions to projects to strengthen their capacity to develop sustainable and innovative projects.
- Develop models for Theory of Change the dissemination of social innovations, and create digital tools and knowledge resources that are freely available.
- Explore funding models and map the funding ecosystem.
- Strengthen both national and regional coordination of the social innovation ecosystem, including through expert teams and collaboration with regional hubs at Swedish universities.
Fact: Competence Centre for Social Innovation
- Project period:December 31, 2025 – June 30, 2029
- Project owner:Forum for Social Innovation Sweden, Malmö University
- Partners:Famna, Coompanion Sweden, the National Network of Coordination Associations
- Funding:ESF grant of 16.15 million Swedish kronor, with 5% co-financing from the project.
- Learn more about Competence Centre for Social Innovation here.
Contact:
Coordinator, Anna Tengqvist, anna.tengqvist@mau.se
Project Manager, Josefin Aggestam, josefin.aggestam@mau.se
Text: Lotta Orban