Deadline for submission of proposals: 6 March 2018
The Social Innovation Tournament recognises and supports the best European social entrepreneurs. It is organised in a different country every year to reward and sponsor European entrepreneurs whose primary purpose is to generate a social, ethical or environmental impact.
All projects compete for the General Category and Special Category 1st and 2nd Prizes of EUR 50 000 and EUR 20 000 respectively. In 2018, the Special Category Prizes will go to projects focusing on sustainable development with special emphasis on circular economy.
Projects also compete for a residency at IRIS (Incubadora Regional de Inovação Social) and for numerous mentoring vouchers.
All finalists join the SIT Alumni network and benefit from numerous training opportunities, participation in conferences around Europe, and network with investors, venture philanthropists and foundations who can help their project to scale.
Projects are typically related to combating unemployment, marginalisation of disadvantaged communities and promoting access to education in a wide range of fields, from education and health care to the natural or urban environment, using new technologies, new systems, and new processes.
The tournament runs in two rounds. A selection committee, comprised mainly of EIB Group experts in innovation, the environment, and other relevant disciplines, selects 15 finalists. The finalists are invited to a mentoring bootcamp to provide them with the necessary guidance to finalise their proposals. At the final event, all the finalists have to present and defend their project to a jury of social innovation specialists.
Key dates & deadlines
| Announcement of call for proposals | 1 February 2018 |
| Deadline for submission of proposals | 6 March 2018, 23:59 CET |
| Announcement of finalists | 10 May 2018 |
| Mentoring workshop (two days) for the finalists (Amarante, Portugal) | 27-28 June 2018 |
| Submission of final proposals related to presentation materials | 18 September 2018 |
| Submission of final presentations | 12 October 2018 |
| Rehearsal bootcamp (Copenhagen, Denmark) | 22 October 2018 |
| Final event (Copenhagen, Denmark) | 23 October 2018 |
| INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme (Fontainebleau, France) | 11-16 November 2018 |
Who can apply?
The EIB Institute Tournament responds to the considerable need for greater emphasis on Social Innovation and aims to attract interest from both non-for-profit and for-profit organisations, mainly from young entrepreneurs and social enterprises, corporate responsibility departments of private-sector companies of any size, NGOs and government or local government entities and university communities. Entries from student teams are also welcome.
The Tournament is open to individuals or teams from (or residing in) the European Union Member States, Candidate and Potential Candidate countries, and EFTA countries that submit proposals to be implemented in one or more such countries.