Abstract

The workshop is inspired by the Atlantic Social Lab - Atlantic cooperation for the promotion of social innovation (EAPA_246/2016) project and aims to analyse the potential of social innovation to function as an effective mechanism for the sustainable, inclusive and smart development of the Atlantic Area. This workshop will focus, on the one hand, on the discussion and reflection on the wide discrepancies in the level of community engagement in social innovation initiatives across the Atlantic region, from a micro perspective; And on the other hand, in the articulation between the smart specialisation strategies (RIS3) of the Atlantic Area regions and the incorporation of the social innovation dimension in these strategies, in a macro perspective. The discussion of these themes aims to contribute to multidimensional reflection on social innovation, as a concept and as a political process, promoting the debate about the social needs that the Atlantic Area faces and allowing the knowledge transfer between stakeholderds. It also intends to promote the sharing of good practices in order to build a common strategic vision and to define concrete lines of action to create the socially inclusive and sustainable model of regional development in the Atlantic Area.

Website do evento: http://www.atlanticstrategy.eu/en/news-and-events/news/4th-atlantic-stakeholder-platform-conference-programme

Workshop structure:

The workshop intends to work in a dynamic and horizontal structure that allows the constant sharing and transfer of knowledge. At first, the moderator will present the topics to be discussed and appeal to participants' participation and interaction. The first presentation intends to outline the general concept of social innovation, namely in its characteristics as a political and strategic process and as a mechanism to fill the problems of the Atlantic Area. To this end, it presents an analysis that articulates the dimensions of social innovation with the RIS3 of the Atlantic Area. The second presentation intends to analyse the discrepancies in the level of community engagement in social innovation initiatives across the Atlantic region. The focus of the discussion is on the methods of creating stakeholder groups to identify the main social concerns and unmet needs in the Atlantic Area and to critically evaluate the type, extent and effectiveness of community engagement initiatives. Each presentation will have a duration of 10 minutes so that from their contributions, a process of reflection on the main challenges of the Atlantic Area can be initiated through the co-creation of concrete actions that can serve to fill them.
 

Workshop expected audience:

In order to create a horizontal, dynamic and multidisciplinary discussion - fundamental for the identification of the main challenges and concrete, socially innovative proposalss, that can help to overcome them, it is necessary the active participation of several stakeholders. In particular: sector representatives (associations, unions ...), entrepreneurs from different types of companies (micro, medium and large sized), social entrepreneurs, third sector, NGOs (local, regional, national and international), universities and research centres, elected officials (local, regional, national and international), public authorities (local, regional, national and international) and individual participants with interest in the topics to be addressed.

Workshop expected outcomes:

The workshop intends to have two types of outcomes: a more general, but fundamental, that consists on establishing links between potential project partners, dissemination of good practices, collective transfer of knowledge and creation of cooperation networks. Another output, also crucial, is the identification of new joint actions that will result in the construction of a report, in matrix form. This report will be produced taking into account the moment of discussion of the workshop. At this point of discussion, participants will be asked to divide into groups and each group will identify the societal needs they consider most challenging for the Atlantic Area and then identify concrete actions that can serve as mechanisms to overcome these challenges. This identification process will be conducted through 2 discussion moments: a first intragroup moment and a second intergroup phase. In the end, it is intended to have a matrix of problems (societal needs) and solutions (socially innovative). In general, this workshop presents an opportunity to elaborate on best practice methods of active and effective community engagement by having civil society co-creators in Atlantic Area social innovation.

SPEAKER 1

Sílvia Ferreira is assistant professor in Sociology at the Faculty of Economics of Coimbra University, researcher at the Centre for Social Studies and at the Center for Cooperative and Social Economy Studies of the Faculty of Economics. She lectures at undergraduate and at graduate levels in the Sociology and Economics degrees, master in Sociology, master in Society, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, master in Roads to Democracy and in the Sociology PhD Programme. She is co-coordinator of the Sociology PhD Programme and of the Post-graduation in Social Economy and coordinator of the Sociology Degree and the Sociology Department. She holds a PhD in Sociology from Lancaster University (UK). She has been involved in research on social security reform, third sector and social policy, gender equality in third sector organisations, social entrepreneurship and social innovation in the social and solidarity economy, volunteering and local governance through state/third sector partnerships. Her basic interest has been the evolving nature of the welfare mixes, more recently, from a sociological standpoint based on complex social systems approaches. Her extension work focuses the relation between the university and society, particularly the third sector/social economy.

Can we really plan social innovation?

The idea that policies, organizations and individuals have the capacity to plan the emergence of social change through social innovation is an outcome of recent transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral encounters. This idea is part of the paradigm shift towards the knowledge-based society and economy and represents a new way to think about how societies may tackle social and societal problems. The planning of social innovation includes, on one hand, a set of assumptions and tools about the ways to generate, sustain and scale it and, on the other hand, the awareness that social systems and problems are complex and resist control. Therefore, the awareness that social innovation implies a new way to perceive and act upon society is a critical background for its possibilities of success.

SPEAKER 2

Francisco Javier Val Campos is the representative of the City of Aviles. Lead Partner of the 'Atlantic Social Lab' Project. He has a degree in Business Administration and Management and since 2011, officer at the Social and Welfare Department of the City of Aviles. The Social and Welfare Department Action Plan has five strategic lines: promoting economic, sustainable and responsible growth, commitment with innovation and knowledge, promoting training and employment, environment protection, priority for inclusion and social cohesion. Javier has previous experience in European funded project management and coordinat