National Competence Centres Mutual Learning Event ‘Social Innovation Portfolios in Practice: Building Advocacy for Systemic Change’
We are pleased to invite you to the onsite event ‘Social Innovation Portfolios in Practice: Building Advocacy for Systemic Change‘, which will take place on 4-5 May in Madrid, Spain. This event is organised by the National Competence Centres Working Group under the Community of Practice on Social Innovation and Transnational Calls Team.
The event will focus on how National Competence Centres (NCCs) can design, manage, and facilitate mission-driven portfolios of social innovation, and how knowledge generated through experimentation can be translated into public policies and advocacy strategies.
The study visit will provide an opportunity to learn from the Spanish experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating a large-scale portfolio of experimentation aimed at incorporating a community perspective into the current care system. This experience has also supported a strong advocacy approach, positioning the Spanish NCC as a strategic collaboration between government ministries, national public agencies, and the wider social innovation community.
Through presentations, discussions, and meetings with local initiatives in Madrid, participants will explore how portfolio approaches can generate collective learning, strengthen policy dialogue, and contribute to more systemic solutions. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on which learnings are relevant to their own context and how a peer learning process can be activated to accelerate their current efforts.
Venue for 4 May: Spanish National Research Council, Calle Serrano 117, Madrid
Venue for 5 May: Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, Paseo del Prado 18, Madrid
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4 May
5 May
| Time (CEST) | Topic and speaker |
|---|---|
| 10:00 - 10:30 |
Registration
|
| 10:30 - 10:50 |
Opening and Welcome
Ana Castro,
Vice-President for Innovation and Knowledge Transfer, Spanish National Research Council
Raluca Painter,
Head of Unit, Directorate-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
Ángel María García Frontelo,
Deputy Director General of the European Social Fund Administrative Unit, Ministry of Labour, Migration and Social Security
Neringa Poškutė,
Head of the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation
|
| 10:50 - 11:00 |
Introduction to the Event
The Experts of the National Competence Centres Working Group (NCC WG) will present the objectives, structure, and working approach of the study visit, explain the main theme and its relationship to the NCC WG Work Programme 2026, and clarify the participants’ active role as well as the expected outputs and outcomes of the two-day programme.
The goal of the event is threefold: 1) to discuss challenges in portfolio approach to social innovation and draw a list of solutions to overcome challenges, 2) draw a list of lessons learnt and how NCC can drive SI, and 3) identify a set of actions to be undertaken to enhance advocacy, to mobilise resources for SI and to evaluate the NCC activities. Gorka Espiau,
Lead Thematic Expert of the National Competence Centres Working Group
John Healy,
Thematic Expert of the National Competence Centres Working Group
|
| 11:00 - 11:30 |
From Experimentation to Policy: Building a Social Innovation Portfolio for Community-based Care
Introduction to the host context, providing an overview of the social innovation ecosystem, governance frameworks, and current approaches within ESF+ and related policies, including the role of the National Competence Centre.
Rosa Martínez,
Secretary of State for Social Rights, Spain
|
| 11:30 - 12:00 |
Coffee Break
|
| 12:00 - 12:40 |
An Inter-Ministerial Vision for Social Innovation: Spain's Path Towards a National Competence Centre
This session will showcase how Spain designs and implements mission-driven portfolios of social innovation. It will explore how different actors collaborate, how experimentation is structured, and how insights are generated and translated into policy and advocacy efforts.
Patricia Bezunartea Barrio,
General Director for Family Diversity and Social Services, the Ministry for Social Rights and 2030 Agenda, Spain
Gonzalo Valencia Sagrera,
Deputy Director General for Inclusion Policies, Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration
Ascensión Barajas Íñigo,
Head of Evaluation, Strategy and Evaluation Department, CDTI Innovación, Spain
Fernando Mérida Martín,
Deputy Director General for Knowledge Transfer, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
Moderator: Daniela Patiño,
Advisor at the Secretariat of State for Social Rights, Spain
|
| 12:40 - 13:20 |
Round Table: Key Advocacy Lessons
During this discussion, representatives from NCCs will reflect on key lessons related to advocacy. The session will focus on how evidence from social innovation portfolios can be used to influence policy, shape narratives, and strengthen the role of NCCs as change agents.
Mario Vottero,
Rethink Ireland, Ireland
Jelena Pavlović,
ACT Grupa, Croatia
Barbara Willsberger,
L&R Social Research, Austria
Evelyn Valtin,
National Foundation of Civil Society, Estonia
Moderator: Gorka Espiau,
Lead Thematic Expert of the National Competence Centres Working Group
|
| 13:20 - 14:20 |
Lunch
|
| 14:20 - 14:30 |
Introduction to the Session 'Addressing Key Challenges in Portfolio Implementation'
This session will introduce key challenges faced by NCCs when implementing portfolio approaches. It will frame the group work and provide guidance on how participants, together with representatives of ongoing projects, can collaboratively explore solutions.
Berta González Antón,
Advisor at the Secretariat of State for Social Rights, Spain
|
| 14:30 - 16:30 |
Session 'Addressing Key Challenges in Portfolio Implementation'
Participants will work in three groups to tackle practical challenges faced by the National Competence Centres. During the session, hosts will present their ongoing projects, and participants will collaboratively discuss the specific challenges and solutions implemented in these projects. This will provide an experience similar to a study visit, allowing for hands-on learning and exchange of practices.
The focus will be on peer learning, sharing experiences, and identifying practical solutions that can be adapted to different national contexts. |
| 16:30 - 17:30 |
Feedback and Reflection from Day One
This session will consolidate the main insights from the day. Participants will reflect on key learnings, emerging ideas, and how these can be applied in their own countries.
Gorka Espiau,
Lead Thematic Expert of the National Competence Centres Working Group
John Healy,
Thematic Expert of the National Competence Centres Working Group
|
| 19:00 - 21:00 |
Dinner. Visit to Ovillo.
Address: Calle Pantoja 8, Madrid, Spain.
|
| Time (CEST) | Topic and speaker |
|---|---|
| 09:00 - 09:30 |
Signing of the General Cooperation Protocol for the Spanish National Competence Centre
The Protocol establishes general guidelines to facilitate the creation of the National Competence Centre in Social Innovation (CECIS) in Spain as an interministerial public structure, and formalizes a shared institutional commitment to collaborate and prepare the arrangements for its further development.
The signature will bring together representatives from the competent units of the ministries and public agencies involved. |
| 09:30 - 09:40 |
Introduction to Day Two
This session will reconnect participants with the key messages from Day 1 and outline the objectives and structure of the second day, focusing on translating learning into action.
Gorka Espiau,
Lead Thematic Expert of the National Competence Centres Working Group
|
| 09:40 - 10:30 |
Results Unlocked: 18 months of NCC Experience
This session will present key insights and results from the work of NCCs over the past 18 months in implementing activities under the Call 'National Competence Centres for Social Innovation: Building-up and Consolidating the Capacity.' It will highlight key achievements, challenges encountered, and lessons learned from NCC activities in driving systemic change.
ESF-SI-2023-NCC-01-0001: Juliette Marie Oliva, AVISE, France; Luisa Bernardes, Portugal Social Innovation; Anna Tengqvist, Forum for Social Innovation, Malmö University, Sweden; Daniela Patiño Monroy, Secretary of State for Social Rights, Spain. ESF-SI-2023-NCC-01-0002: Barbara Willsberger, L&R Social Research, Austria. ESF-SI-2023-NCC-01-0003: Danijela Paska, ACT Grupa, Croatia. |
| 10:30 - 11:00 |
Coffee Break
|
| 11:00 - 11:40 |
Results Unlocked: 18 months of NCC Experience (Part 2)
ESF-SI-2023-NCC-01-0004: Norbert Kunz, Social Impact gGmbH, Germany.
ESF-SI-2023-NCC-01-0005: Tomas de Groote, Social Innovation Factory, Belgium. |
| 11:40 - 12:10 |
The Features of the New Multiannual Financial Framework - the Social Dimension
Raluca Painter,
Head of Unit, Directorate-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
|
| 12:10 - 12:20 |
A Shared Call for Stronger Social Innovation Support in the Next Multiannual Financial Framework
Raluca Prelucă,
Head of the National Competence Centre, Romania
|
| 12:20 - 12:30 |
Introduction to Thematic Workshops
John Healy,
Thematic Expert of the National Competence Centres Working Group
|
| 12:30 - 13:15 |
Thematic Workshops
These interactive workshops will provide participants with the opportunity to explore key topics related to the work of NCCs in smaller groups. Discussions will focus on practical challenges, exchange of experiences, and identification of effective approaches to strengthen NCC capacities, including areas such as advocacy, financing, and evaluation. The sessions will encourage peer learning and aim to generate actionable insights that can be applied in different national contexts.
1. Advocacy Roadmap This workshop will focus on defining the core capacities and services of NCCs and how these can be communicated effectively. Participants will work on strengthening advocacy narratives and identifying compelling examples. 2. New Financing Strategies Participants will explore innovative ways to mobilise resources and attract diverse funding sources. The discussion will focus on sustainability and scaling of social innovation portfolios. 3. Common Evaluation Framework This workshop will address how NCCs can develop shared approaches to measuring impact and learning. It will explore methods for assessing portfolio performance and supporting evidence-based policymaking. |
| 13:15 - 14:15 |
Lunch
|
| 14:15 - 15:00 |
Thematic Workshops (Part 2)
|
| 15:00 - 15:20 |
Feedback from Workshops
Each group will present their key findings and recommendations. This session will help identify common priorities and opportunities for collaboration across Member States. The key findings and recommendations will be reflected in dedicated factsheets which will be circulated after the event.
|
| 15:20 - 15:30 |
Wrap-up and Closing
The final session will summarise the main outcomes of the event, highlight key takeaways, and outline next steps for the NCC Working Group and participants.
Gorka Espiau,
Lead Thematic Expert of the National Competence Centres Working Group
John Healy,
Thematic Expert of the National Competence Centres Working Group
Raluca Painter,
Head of Unit, Directorate-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
|