Apply for the 2022 challenge

You can consult the EIC Work Programme 2022 featuring the full EUSIC call text.

In addition to non-technological social innovations, the competition will look for projects with a particular focus on breakthrough, market-creating and deep-tech innovations embracing the policy objectives of this year’s editions, which will boost innovation within housing districts and, consequently, will have an impact on local prosperity and sustainability.

Eligibility criteria

1. The applicant must be a natural person or a legal entity (such as universities, research organisations, SMEs, start-ups or NGOs, except public administrations) located in one of the Member States (including overseas countries and territories, (OCTs)) or Associated Countries to Horizon Europe.
2. Proposed solutions that harm the environment or social welfare are not eligible.
3. The proposed solutions or activities contained in the application must have taken place (or, in case of early stage solutions, must target beneficiaries) in a Member State (including overseas countries and territories, OCTs) or in an Associated Country to Horizon Europe.
4. The proposed solutions must relate to ongoing (even in an early phase) or completed initiatives started after 11 December 2019). In the case of ongoing activities, only work achieved by the submission deadline will be considered for the prize. (Applicants will be required to prove the starting date of the proposed solution by providing supporting documents)
5. Winners of all categories, including both from the Challenge and the Impact Prizes, of previous editions of the European Social Innovation Competition are not eligible.
6. Applicants that have already received an EU or Euratom prize cannot receive a second prize for the same activities.

Award criteria

1. Degree of Innovation - the degree to which any new product, service or model is new for its given context in connection to the challenge of the competition. The idea must be new and innovative within its given socio-economic and geographical context;
2. Impact - the potential of the proposal to tackle the competition challenge. The applicant must demonstrate how the proposed solution will contribute to solving the challenge;
3. Sustainability- the financial and environmental sustainability of the proposal;
4. Scalability and replicability - the idea's potential to scale and be replicated, be it at regional, national, European or global level.