Mutual Learning for Progress: Highlights from the Recent NCC Workshop
On 30th of October, the Community of Practice on Social Innovation has organised the online event ‘Mutual learning workshop for the National Competence Centres’.
The objective of the event was to discuss roadmaps for engaging with key stakeholders and developing financial mechanisms for the National Competence Centres (hereinafter – NCCs). Additionally, the event aimed to identify new needs of the NCCs and to share the latest information from the follow-up meetings. Furthermore, it provided beneficiaries of the call ‘National Competence Centres for Social Innovation: Building-up and Consolidating the Capacity’ with essential information regarding the management of the funding allocated to the NCCs.
As Gorka Espiau, Lead Thematic Expert at the NCC Working Group, reflected, ‘There is no total expert on Social Innovation. We are all learning together and in real time how to co-create the best National Competence Centre for Social Innovation in the EU. This workshop has created a genuine safe space for sharing experiences, challenges and connect all the existing efforts.’
The New needs identified by the National Competence Centres
During the online mutual learning event, participants identified emerging needs for the NCCs, expressing interest in additional support to:
- design a basic framework for impact measurement and learning strategies.
- conduct ecosystem mapping in coastal communities.
- build a dialogue with Horizon Europe and other relevant EU programmes.
NCCs play a valuable role in supporting broader efforts to address societal challenges by helping to integrate social finance with private and public funding, in forming social impact assessment, mobilisation and citizen engagement strategies, scaling innovations in complex areas, and ecosystem mapping. Participants highlighteda need to analyse relevant plans from other EU initiatives (e.g., the EU Missions) to show how NCCs might support these plans in the future where there is alignment with NCC roles.
‘Reflecting evolving challenges and opportunities for the National Competence Centres, there is a demand for collaboration across various consortiums and NCCs to strengthen uptake of new knowledge and skills,’ noted Eglė Butkevičienė, Thematic Expert at the NCC Working Group.
Key Outcomes from the Mutual Learning Workshop for NCCs
The workshop produced several important outcomes:
- Participants gained insights from the September meetings of the three groups of NCCs with similar capacities. Thisinformation helped in designing and building a mutual learning pathway.
- Participants were guided through a roadmap for engaging key stakeholders at both the national and EU levels, with a detailed focus on the key stages of the stakeholder engagement strategy.
- Options for developing financial mechanisms to support NCCs were analysed and discussed.
- Miglė Aleksonytė, Head of Project Management at the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation, provided the latest update on the call: ‘National Competence Centres for Social Innovation: Building-up and Consolidating the Capacity’. She also outlined upcoming mutual learning onsite events planned with the NCC Working Group for the 2025-2027 period.
- Participants were introduced to the new Social Innovation+ website and received guidance on dissemination and communication requirements.
- Participants also had the opportunity to learn from best practices presented by the “Change Hubs for Ecosystemic Social Solutions” team, who showcased the outputs of their Horizon Europe project (CHESS).
The call, ‘National Competence Centres for Social Innovation: Building-up and Consolidating the Capacity,’ is designed to strengthen and consolidate the capabilities of National Competence Centres for Social Innovation. It encourages systematic cooperation, capacity building, and ongoing mutual learning.
Regular participation in mutual learning events, such as this recent workshop, is essential for beneficiaries of the NCC call. This event, in particular, highlighted the importance of collaboration among NCCs, encouraging knowledge sharing and best practices, as well as, establishing a foundation for a more integrated approach moving forward.