National Competence Centres Mutual Learning Event ‘Advancing Social Innovation through Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing’

Event Information

Onsite
09 - 10 Sep
09:00 am 05:00 pm CEST

We are pleased to invite you to the National Competence Centres (NCC) Mutual Learning Event ‘Advancing Social Innovation through Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing’, which will take place on 9–10 September 2025 in Malmö, Sweden. This event is organised by the National Competence Centres Working Group under the Community of Practice on Social Innovation and Transnational Calls Team, in collaboration with the Swedish National Competence Centre. 

The event will bring together representatives from NCCs across Member States to: 

  • Exchange experiences and lessons learned from ESF+ implementation, 
  • Explore scientific and knowledge-based approaches to addressing complex societal challenges, 
  • Visit innovative social projects in Sweden, 
  • Participate in peer learning, collaborative workshops, and strategic discussions on the future of social innovation. 

The venue of the event is Scandic Triangeln (Triangeln 2, Malmo, Sweden).

Please find the final agenda below.

Download Agenda
9 September 2025
10 September 2025
Time (CET) Topic and speaker
08:45 - 09:15
Welcome Coffee and Registration
09:15 - 09:25
Opening and Welcome
Michael Grosse, Directorate-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
Sara Bjärstorp, Director of Forum for Social Innovation Sweden and Action Head of Malmö University’s Executive Office
Neringa Poškutė, Head of the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation
09:25 - 09:35
Introduction to the Event 
Gorka Espiau, Lead Thematic Expert for the National Competence Centres Working Group
09:35 - 10:00
Getting to Know Each Other
Facilitator: Anna Tengqvist, Coordinator of Forum for Social Innovation Sweden
10:00 - 10:30
Setting the Scene: ESF+ Support to Social Innovation in Sweden
Andreas Larsson, Regional Director, The Swedish ESF Council
Anna Tengqvist, Coordinator of Forum for Social Innovation Sweden
10:30 - 11:30
Scientific Knowledge to Address the Complex Societal Challenges - The Role of the Academy and Scientific Knowledge in the Work of the NCCs
Daniel Krüger, Research Associate, Social Research Center, TU Dortmund University
Malin Lindberg, Guest Professor of Social Innovation, Malmö University
Norbert Kunz, Chief Executive Officer, Social Impact gGmbH
11:30 - 12:00
Coffee Break 
12:00 - 12:40
Workshop: Scientific Knowledge in Action: Addressing Societal Complexity through Innovation - The Role of Scientific Knowledge in the Work of the NCCs
Facilitators: Anna Tengqvist, Coordinator of Forum for Social Innovation Sweden
Gorka Espiau, Lead Thematic Expert for the National Competence Centres Working Group
Eglė Butkevičienė, Thematic Expert for the National Competence Centres Working Group
12:40 - 13:00
Feedback from Workshop
13:00 - 14:15
Lunch
14:15 - 14:30
Introduction to Project Visits
Tom Roodro, Project Manager, Malmö University
Rasa Penkauskienė, Coordinator of the Community of Practice on Social Innovation
14:30 - 17:30
Project Visits
Malmö FF
Kraftsamling Herrgården
Social Innovation Center South
Botildenborg
19:00 - 21:00
Dinner
Time (CET) Topic and speaker
09:00 - 09:30
Welcome Coffee
09:30 - 10:00
Feedback from Project Visits
Facilitator: Eglė Butkevičienė, Thematic Expert of the National Competence Working Group
10:00 - 11:00
Case Studies – Large/System Level Examples of Social Innovation
Gorka Espiau, Lead Thematic Expert of the National Competence Working Group
Eglė Butkevičienė, Thematic Expert of the National Competence Working Group
11:00 - 11:30
Coffee Break
11:30 - 13:00
Workshop: Shared Challenges, Shared Solutions: Peer Support for NCCs
Facilitators: Gorka Espiau, Lead Thematic Expert of the National Competence Working Group
Eglė Butkevičienė, Thematic Expert of the National Competence Working Group
13:00 - 14:15
Lunch
14:15 - 15:30
Parallel Workshops for NCC WG Sub-Groups
Insights for Social Innovation Forum
Facilitators: Gorka Espiau, Lead Thematic Expert of the National Competence Working Group
Eglė Butkevičienė, Thematic Expert of the National Competence Working Group
Sofia Lai Amândio, Lead Thematic Expert of the Community of Practice on Social Innovation
15:30 - 16:00
Coffee Break
16:00 - 16:45
Feedback from Workshops
Facilitators: Gorka Espiau, Lead Thematic Expert of the National Competence Working Group
Eglė Butkevičienė, Thematic Expert of the National Competence Working Group
Sofia Lai Amândio, Lead Thematic Expert of the Community of Practice on Social Innovation
16:45 - 17:00
Wrap-up and Next steps
Gorka Espiau, Lead Thematic Expert of the National Competence Working Group
Rasa Penkauskienė, Coordinator of the Community of Practice on Social Innovation