May 2014 – Gorka Espiau blog

David Avra Lane has invited me to take part as a discussant of his presentation at INSITE Conference tomorrow. It is a great pleasure an honor to take part in this project. They are very interested in learning more about the Basque case of socio-economic transformation. These are the ideas and approaches that INSITE project is exploring:

The overriding imperative for our society is economic growth. The engine of this growth is innovation, the creation of new kinds of artifacts. But the increasing threatens of environmental, social and economic crises urge us to pose a question: is “the innovation society” sustainable? INSITE is investigating whether Western society’s innovation processes and its dependence on them might lie at the root of the sustainability crises. And if so – what can be done about it?

If you want to join us to celebrate the 3 winners of the Second European Social Innovation Competition, register your attendance request by clicking HERE. The Ceremony will take place at Arsenal, a former military headquarters turned into a conference facility (Chaussée de Wavre 950, 1040 Brussels). The venue is easily accessible by metro (Station Pétillon, Line 5) and by car (five-minute drive from the European district). The event is expected to start at 14.30 and close at 18.30, with lunch before and cocktail afterwards – consult the programme.

The Ceremony will mark the culmination of the Competition. From the 1,254 entries received to tackle the Job Challenge, the European Commission will award the 3 best ideas with a prize of €30,000 each from the 10 finalists which have been selected. Last year prizes were awarded by President Barroso. This year they will presented by Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Enterprise and Industry.

The event will provide a unique occasion to meet not only the finalists and winners, but all 30 semi-finalists of the Competition, to learn about their ideas, to advise on the problems they face and – why not? – to offer your support.

The Ceremony will conclude 2 days dedicated to social innovation in Brussels. On 19 May and 20 May (morning) the Commission is organising a Social Policy Innovation Conference to present the new Employment and Social Innovation programme and to explore ways to translate social innovation into systemic change.

This is the spirit of the Declaration on social entrepreneurship adopted this year in Strasbourg and this was the goal of Diogo Vasconcelos, to whom this Competition pays tribute.