Competence Centre for Social Innovation led by Forum for Social Innovation Sweden Malmö University, has been in operation for a year. A report on its work highlights both the opportunities and challenges associated with a support structure for innovative inclusion in the workplace and society.
There are high hopes for social innovation within the EU as a way to tackle societal challenges such as unemployment, segregation, and poor health. The Swedish ESF program specifically calls for innovative initiatives in the labor market, education, and social inclusion to promote inclusion in the workforce and society—particularly for people who are disadvantaged due to poor health, disability, foreign background, or young age.
Forum for Social Innovation Sweden, at Malmö University, in collaboration with the National Network for Coordination Associations and the Partnership for Social Innovation in the Örebro County Region, has established Competence Centre for Social Innovation this year Competence Centre for Social Innovation behalf of the Swedish ESF Council and carried out a number of initiatives. The aim is to promote conditions for effective, long-term, and value-creating social innovations that, in turn, can lead to a more inclusive and dynamic labor market.
Has developed a support process for the exchange of knowledge and experience
During the year, a process was developed for the exchange of knowledge and experience regarding social innovation among stakeholders in ESF projects that have been awarded funding under the ESF’s social innovation program area. Initiatives include coalition meetings and coaching. Methods and tools for a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of completed initiatives have been developed and have begun to be implemented.
– Among project representatives, social innovation is seen as both self-evident and thought-provoking. The learning exchange confirms and puts into words some of what they are already doing, but can also contribute to new perspectives and development. The projects learn from one another, and we at the competence center also learn from their development journeys, says Anna Tengqvist, coordinator for the competence center and national and international coordinator at Forum for Social Innovation Sweden at Malmö University.
Concrete support to unlock the potential of social innovation
In addition to supporting individual projects and facilitating knowledge transfer between ESF projects, Forum for Social Innovation Sweden has Forum for Social Innovation Sweden reflection meetings and learning sessions for the Swedish ESF Council to help strengthen expertise in social innovation and develop the process for program calls for proposals. A pilot initiative has also been carried out with ESF Southern Sweden, ahead of their regional call for proposals on social innovation.
– As a funder of social innovation through a dedicated program area, we’ve had to go on a journey to deepen our understanding and knowledge, and the center of expertise has provided concrete and fruitful support in that regard. It’s not just about process issues, but also about the need to get to the very essence of what social innovation is and can be, and how we can unlock its potential as a force for change and development,” says Johnny Karlsson, National Coordinator, Swedish ESF Council.
Overview of the current state of knowledge and the need for funding models
Finally, to promote the social innovation ecosystem in Sweden, stakeholders working to support social innovators have been identified and met with. Forum for Social Innovation Sweden also conducted an overview of the current state of knowledge, challenges, and funding needs for social innovation. The aim is to strengthen opportunities to innovatively address societal challenges through tailored funding models and increased collaboration among funders.
Has the potential to build bridges between stakeholders and functions
In November, 250 participants gathered in Malmö for the conference “Innovative Solutions for an Inclusive Working Life.” During the conference, the first annual analysis report on the work was released. It shows that the competence center, as currently designed, has the potential to build bridges between various stakeholders and functions within the Swedish ecosystem for social innovation. One key piece of the puzzle is the competence center’s combination of initiatives at the project, program, and system levels. Another key piece is the competence center’s ability to facilitate collaboration and co-creation among various stakeholders and target groups in ESF projects, the ESF program, and the ecosystem for social innovation.
“This is crucial for the center of excellence to be able to support the projects’ and the program’s efforts toward innovative inclusion in the workplace and society,” says Malin Lindberg, visiting professor of social innovation at Malmö University and report author at Forum for Social Innovation Sweden.
The Swedish ecosystem for social innovation has both strengths and weaknesses
The Swedish ecosystem for social innovation has strengths in the form of many innovative initiatives and committed actors, but also weaknesses in the form of a lack of coordination, support structures, and political backing. A particular challenge is that ESF programs and projects are largely separate from both traditional and socially focused innovation support in Sweden.
Another challenge is that all aspects of the innovation process rarely fit within the framework of the ESF’s project format, which tends to prioritize short-term, individual-focused initiatives rather than long-term, structural changes. Finally, there is limited scope for action when it comes to influencing established structures and norms within organizations and society. The capacity to absorb support and the willingness to change are often limited among the actors who have the mandate and capacity to alter the prevailing order. Although an increasing number of actors within both traditional and socially focused innovation support have begun to advocate for and promote innovative solutions to societal challenges, the majority of financial resources are still allocated based on old patterns of prioritization.
“As a center of excellence, in order to shape future developments, we need to strive to facilitate transformative social innovation and innovation that influences governance through cross-sectoral collaboration and by bridging the gaps between different policy areas,” says Anna Tengqvist.
Fact:
Competence Centre for Social Innovation the European Social Fund has been in operation for just under a year. The work is led by Forum for Social Innovation Sweden at Malmö University, in collaboration with the National Network for Coordination Associationsand the Partnership for Social Innovation in the Örebro County Region. The purpose of Competence Centre for Social Innovation to promote effective, sustainable, and value-creating social innovations addressing work-related societal challenges. The work is carried out on behalf of the Swedish ESF Council and is co-financed by the European Union.
Learn more about Competence Centre for Social Innovation: https://socialinnovation.se/kompetenscenter-for-social-innovation/
Read the report "Support Structure for Innovative Inclusion in the Workplace and Society":
https://socialinnovation.se/publications/stodstruktur-for-innovativ-inkludering-i-arbetsliv-och-samhalle/
Text: Lotta Orban