The Social Innovation Tournament recognizes and supports the best European social entrepreneurs. Moreover, 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.

Projects are typically related to combating unemployment, marginalization 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.

This year’s Social Innovation Tournament will take place in Dublin, Ireland.

Benefits

• All projects compete for the General Category and Special Category 1st and 2nd Prizes of EUR 50 000 and EUR 20 000 respectively.
• In 2019, the Special Category Prizes will go to projects focusing on sustainable consumption and sustainable production (including circular economy).
• Two projects will be selected to attend INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship programme in Fontainebleau, France.

Finalists from all SIT editions become members of the SIT Alumni Network and benefit from numerous training opportunities such as applying to attend an SIT Impact Bootcamp, a full-time executive training course focused on scaling, pitching and engagement with investors, join innovation grants programme, participate in conferences around Europe and network with investors, venture philanthropists and foundations who can help their project to scale. Furthermore, to explore synergies and complementarities with the growing community of social entrepreneurs supported by the Institute through the SIT, the Institute is supporting the first social incubator in the North of Portugal (Amarante).

Eligibility

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. Also, Entries from student teams are also welcome.