European Social Innovation Alliance / ESIA

Project Duration: 06/2024 – 06/2027

Embedded within our research on social innovations and their impact measurement, the ESIA – European Social Innovation Alliance project aims to establish and systematically develop National Competence Centres (NCCs) for social innovation in Germany, Luxembourg, Estonia, and the Netherlands. These NCCs serve as central hubs for promoting, networking, and implementing evidence-based approaches to social innovation. The objective is to strengthen national innovation ecosystems and make a substantial contribution to achieving the European Union’s strategic goals in social innovation.

Funding

European Commission (ESF+)

Funded by the European Union. The expressed views and opinions are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the funding authority can be held responsible.

Project Description

ESIA addresses the complex and evolving societal challenges across Europe by systematically applying and operationalising current scientific insights in social innovation. The project adopts an innovative, integrative approach to fostering social innovation and enhancing engagement at both civil society and organisational levels. At its core is the establishment and expansion of National Competence Centres (NCCs) for social innovation in Germany, Luxembourg, Estonia, and the Netherlands. These NCCs act as key knowledge and networking platforms supporting the transfer of evidence-based practices, interdisciplinary exchange, and the implementation of effective social innovation processes. This approach aims to sustainably strengthen national innovation ecosystems and advance the European Union's overarching strategic objectives in social innovation.

The project partners bring specialised expertise in supporting social innovators, navigating and shaping EU funding programmes, social science research on social innovation, social investment, and impact measurement. The interdisciplinary and transnational cooperation forms the foundation for developing and implementing coordinated measures to promote social innovation across multiple spatial levels – from local and regional to national and European. A central goal is to contribute evidence-based insights towards creating a supportive innovation ecosystem, improving the conditions for social innovation, and intensifying dialogue with policymakers, private financiers, and the wider public.

Project Partners

Social Impact gGmbH (SI)

TU Dortmund (SFS)

Finanzierungsagentur Social Entrepreneurship (FASE)

Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland (SEND)

Wider Sense

Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (CSI)

Diakonisches Werk Schleswig-Holstein (DIAKONIE-SH)

Mittetulundusuhing Sotsiaalsete Ettevotete Vorgustik (Estland)

Sihtasutus Kodanikuuhiskonna Sihtkapital (Estland)

Tallinn University (Estland)

Heateo SA (Estland)

Social Enterprise NL (Niederlande)

Kennisland (Niederlande)

Sihtasutus Vorumaa Arenduskeskus (Estland)

Tartu Ulikool (Estland)

Ministère du Travail (Luxembourg)

Universiteit Utrecht (Niederlande)

Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (Niederlande)

Project Objectives

The partnership aims to establish effective National Competence Centres for social innovation embedded in cross-border networks and collaborations to generate mutual benefits. These centres will support social innovators, policymakers, and project managers at national, regional, and local levels in a transparent, coordinated, and targeted manner, providing opportunities for experimentation and knowledge exchange.

1. Knowledge and Capacity Building

• Provide an independent resource for project implementers in the field of social innovation, especially ministries and ESF managing authorities responsible for implementing Article 13 of the ESF+ Regulation
• Develop awareness-raising, information, advisory, mentoring, and coaching services to strengthen social innovation initiatives and disseminate successful approaches
• Contribute to the development (where absent) and implementation of national social innovation strategies

2. Knowledge Transfer

• Ensure the creation and transfer of a robust knowledge base at national and transnational levels (notably through ecosystem analyses)
• Develop evidence-based strategies and measures to enhance transnational cooperation in social innovation
• Identify and develop appropriate tools and methods to create a shared toolkit supporting social innovation (train-the-trainer, business incubation, social finance, impact measurement)

3. New Partnerships

• Support social innovation initiatives in building partnerships with authorities, academic institutions, private organisations, and third-sector actors to establish new relationships and collaborations
• Leverage synergies, particularly regarding the design, support, monitoring, and continuous integration of innovative measures potentially expanded, further developed, or repeated in coming years with ESF+ and EaSI funding

4. Networking and Support for Upscaling

• Promote a transparent, collaborative, transnationally embedded, and focused network around each national competence centre
• Continuously reflect on activities through networking with other NCCs, exchanging expertise, and utilising synergies where possible
• Prepare scouting and test upscaling (through replication or adaptation) of 1-2 social innovation projects in other countries

Methodological Approach

The Institute for Work and Technology (IAT) contributes its expertise in impact measurement of social innovations to ESIA and the National Competence Centre Germany (KOSI). The project’s methodology centres on developing and implementing so-called “middle-range impact models” (see Zielinski et al., 2025), which serve as standardised yet adaptable templates for measuring the impact of various social interventions. Building on previous research (including IndiSI+ and ISI), these models provide a collection of blueprints designed to optimise resource use, enhance comparability, and facilitate standardised staff training. The models are linked to a combination of standard and intervention-specific indicators that are systematically collected, made accessible, and evaluated for usability.

In cooperation with CSI Heidelberg, IAT plays a key role in implementing this methodology. Together, they establish a transnational Community of Practice (CoP) on impact measurement, serving as a platform for exchanging experiences, methodologies, and indicators. This CoP fosters peer learning, the development of shared standards, and the formation of thematic subgroups for research and practice.

Additionally, workshop series are developed and piloted to support the application of middle-range models and facilitate the selection and construction of relevant impact indicators. IAT and CSI also conduct a comparative study of impact measurement methods used by European funding bodies and public authorities to document and analyse best practices.

To further promote professional exchange and advance impact measurement and management (IMM), IAT and CSI organise virtual roundtables. These bring together researchers and practitioners from various countries to discuss best practices, recent research, and methodological approaches, and to drive standardisation efforts. The roundtables are thematically focused, carefully prepared, and complemented by external experts as needed, with activities coordinated closely with consortium partners to maximise synergies and expertise in social innovation.

Project Lead: 

Dr. Judith Terstriep

Team Members: 

Maria Rabadjieva

Coordinator Contact

Sven Zivanovic 

Project Manager 

Social Impact gGmbH 

Schiffbauergasse 7 

14467 Potsdam