Open call for social innovators – SI Mission Facility

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Scale your social innovation for the EU Missions

Join the SI-Mission-Facility Training & Scaling Programme, a European capacity-building journey for social innovators and social entrepreneurs working on solutions connected to the EU Missions: climate adaptation, cancer, oceans and waters, climate-neutral and smart cities, and soil and food systems.

The programme combines EU-wide webinars, mission-focused learning, national in-person meetings and regional practical sessions delivered by the Impact Hub Network together with mission-focused Impact Hubs across Europe.

Through the programme, you will explore where your initiative fits within the EU Missions, strengthen your scaling readiness, learn from experts and peers, and prepare for future opportunities – including the later SI-Mission-Facility Competition of scaling SIs* (*The Scaling Competition will open early in 2027 through a separate application and selection process).

Table of Contents

Registration is now open for the capacity-building activities.

The Scaling Competition will open early in 2027 through a separate application and selection process.

Participation in the SI-Mission-Facility capacity-building activities is open to social innovators and social entrepreneurs from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. These activities are designed to inform, prepare and identify promising mission-relevant social innovations. Social innovators interested in the later competition will be invited to complete an expression of interest or apply once the competition call opens in 2027.

Delivered by the Impact Hub Network together with mission-focused hubs across Europe*, the programme combines practical learning with real mission insight.

*Read more about the mission related expertise of the Mission Hubs below in FAQ.

PROJECT CONTENT

Task 2.2 capacity
Task 2.3 competition
7 webinars hosted by Global
- 1 intro
- 2-6 missions
- 7 competition
1 in person event +3 webinars hosted by each impact hub = 60+/hub = 300 participants
- Topics for IHs events
  - how to successfully scale EU Mission relevant SIs
  - most fitting legal entities for social innovators on a national case-by-case basis.
Objective for coaching sessions
- building credible scaling plans and investment proposals which include relevant qualitative and quantitative data
BSOs/SISOs engaged as guest/speakers

your benefits

By joining the SI-Mission-Facility Training & Scaling Programme, you will:

Understand where your innovation fits within the EU Missions
Learn how your work can contribute to one or more of the five EU Missions: Climate Adaptation, Cancer, Oceans and Waters, Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, and Soil, and Food Systems.
Access and apply practical tools for scaling social innovation
Use frameworks, reflection tools and guidance designed to help social innovators clarify their mission fit, scaling potential, impact logic, and support needs.
Learn from mission-focused experts and ecosystem practitioners
Take part in EU-wide and regional sessions with Impact Hub teams, mission-focused partners, support organisations and invited practitioners.
Connect with a European community of social innovators
Meet peers working on similar challenges across Europe, exchange experiences and identify opportunities for collaboration.

Get better prepared for the future Scaling Competition
Participants interested in the later competition will be able to use the programme to clarify their scaling needs and prepare for the future application process. Participation in the programme does not guarantee selection, but it is a strong preparation pathway.
Access tailored coaching to develop your scaling plan (*for 50 SIs)
Selected initiatives may have the opportunity to join a dedicated coaching process to further develop credible scaling plans, investment proposals and support strategies.
Gain visibility through online voting process (*for 30 SIs)
Shortlisted initiatives may be promoted through online voting and communication activities, with final awardees invited to an in-person award ceremony in Italy and connected with potential funders, investors and ecosystem partners.
Join the in-person award ceremony in Italy

10 finalists will receive the opportunity to participate in the award ceremony hosted in Italy.

programme activities

EU-wide webinars hosted by Impact Hub Network
Open online sessions on discovering the programme, the EU Missions, and the competition.

National in-person meetings
Local ecosystem gatherings hosted by the affiliated Impact Hubs in Athens, Bucharest, Ljubljana, Stockholm, Turin. (limited spots available, details will be provided to participants by the local Impact Hub hosting the event)

Regional webinars
Practical sessions on scaling mission-relevant social innovations, and country-specific legal entity questions.

Develop your own scaling plan with expert guidance

Combine peer group sessions with individual coaching to build a personalised scaling plan for your organisation, addressing your specific needs around growth, partnerships and investment readiness.

The journey	Status	Best for	What it includes	CTA
1 Learn & explore	Open now	Anyone interested in EU Missions and social innovation scaling	EU-wide webinars on EU Missions, scaling, investment readiness, legal/funding topics and competition preparation	Register
2 Choose and join the mission-focused scaling support	Open now	Social innovators who want more practical and mission-specific support, focused on scaling and investment readiness	One national in-person meeting + three regional webinars hosted by one Mission Hub	Choose your Mission Hub when registering
3: Future competition opportunity	Opens later	Piloted, tested or promising social innovations ready to scale	Separate application, selection of 50 innovators and coaching programme, 30 scaling plans selected go into public voting and 10 awardees are invited in Italy	Apply later

who should register

This programme is open to social innovators, social entrepreneurs and mission-driven organisations working on, supporting or exploring social innovation connected to one or more EU Missions.

You should join if you are:

a social innovator or social entrepreneur developing a solution with social, environmental, health or community impact;
- an NGO, association, CSOs, cooperative, social enterprise, for-profit businesses, public and semipublic care- or common-good-providers etc.
- a public or semi-public organisation working on mission-related challenges;
- an initiative that is already piloted, tested or running and wants to prepare for future scaling opportunities;
- an early-stage initiative that wants to understand the EU Missions and explore its best fit.
If you are connected/ active/ interested/ curious in at least one of the five EU missions:
- Adaptation to Climate Change (Climate Mission)
- Cancer: working with Europe’s Beating Cancer plan (Cancer Mission)

legally established in:
- an EU Member State, or
- a Horizon Europe Associated Country
  SIs established outside these locations may be considered for the online program, only after the minimum participation threshold is reached and if capacity remains.
Have a good working level of English, as all activities and materials will be delivered in English.
Have access to basic computer facilities and a stable internet connection, including the ability to join live webinars via Zoom and use shared online collaboration tools.

Not sure which Mission fits your work? You can still register. The general sessions will help you understand the Missions and identify where your initiative, organisation or expertise can contribute.

calendar of activities

Step	Activity	Host	When	Format
Step 1: Learn and explore	Kickoff webinar, then five webinars on the EU Missions, and one on the scaling competition	Impact Hub Network and Mission Hubs	Sept 2026 to April 2027. Dates announced after registration	Online
Step 2: Climate Mission	Info day plus three webinars	Impact Hub Bucharest	Oct 2026 to Feb 2027. Dates announced after registration	In person in Bucharest, online option
Step 2: Cancer Mission	Info day plus three webinars	Impact Hub Ljubljana	Oct 2026 to Feb 2027. Dates announced after registration	In person in Ljubljana, online option
Step 2: Oceans and Waters Mission	Info day plus three webinars	Impact Hub Athens	Oct 2026 to Feb 2027. Dates announced after registration	In person in Athens, online option
Step 2: Cities Mission	Info day plus three webinars	Impact Hub Stockholm	Oct 2026 to Feb 2027. Dates announced after registration	In person in Stockholm, online option
Step 2: Soil Mission	Info day plus three webinars	Impact Hub Turin	Info day 19 Jan, then 26 Jan, 1 Feb, 8 Feb 2027	In person in Turin, online option
Step 3: Scaling competition	Application, selection, coaching, public voting, awards	SI-Mission-Facility partners	Feb to Nov 2027	Separate open call

Register now to receive from the organisers the confirmed dates and times of the sessions, invitation to the in-person event, session links and practical details for the activities most relevant to your work.

how to join the activities?

Joining the programme is simple:

1. Fill in the registration form

Tell us who you are, what you are working on, which EU Mission is most relevant to your work, and what kind of support you are looking for.

2. Choose your programme pathway

Join the Learn & Explore webinars, which includes EU-wide webinars on EU Missions, scaling, investment readiness and competition preparation.

Choose and join the most suitable mission-focused scaling track, hosted by the mission hubs. Each Scaling Track includes one national in-person meeting and three regional webinars focused on how to successfully scale most fitting and legal entities for social innovators on a national case-by-case basis.

3. Receive the practical details

After registration, we will share the relevant dates, links, formats and logistical details for the activities you selected.

4. Join the activities and prepare for what comes next

Take part in the webinars, national meetings and regional sessions to clarify your mission fit, strengthen your scaling readiness and connect with peers and experts.

A dedicated application process for the Scaling Competition will be announced separately. Expressing interest now helps us keep you informed, but it is not yet the competition application and does not guarantee selection.

frequently asked questions

1) What is the SI Mission Facility?

Social Innovation Mission Facility is a project funded under Horizon Europe (project ID: 101216478; duration: May 1, 2025 – April 30, 2029) which aims to unlock the untapped potentials of social innovations (SIs) to boost the EU Missions by promoting, activating, scaling and mainstreaming SIs and by engaging and advising SI funders, investors, social innovators and R&I policymakers at European, national and local level through a series of interconnected measures.

2) Who are the Mission hubs?

The 5 local Impact Hubs are leading the EU missions within the SIMF project framework, as follows:

Climate – Impact Hub Bucharest
Cancer – Impact Hub Ljubljana
Water/Oceans – Impact Hub Athens
Cities – Impact Hub Stockholm
Soil – Impact Hub Torino

4) Is this a funding call?

No. This is a capacity-building programme (training, tools, peer learning). It does not provide direct funding to participating organisations.

5) Do we need prior experience with EU Missions?

No. Prior experience is an advantage, but not required. We welcome organisations with strong motivation and a clear interest in aligning their work to one or more EU Missions.

6) Are travel and accommodation covered for the in person activities?

Travel and accommodation are generally not covered unless explicitly communicated otherwise by the hosting hub/project partners.

7) What technical requirements do we need?

You will need reliable access to a computer and a stable internet connection to participate in live online webinars (Zoom) and use shared online collaboration tools.