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Grow your social innovation impact for the EU Missions
Are you a social innovator or social entrepreneur working on topics like climate, health, waters/oceans, cities, or food and soil? Your work may already be part of something bigger: Europe’s five 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).
Registration is now open for the capacity-building activities.
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.
your benefits
What every participant gains (open to everyone who registers)
- Understand where your innovation fits within the EU missions context
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.
If you want to go further (a separate selection opens in 2027):
- Access tailored coaching to develop your scaling plan (*for 50 social innovators/entrepreneurs)
Develop your scaling plan with expert coaching. 50 selected initiatives will receive support from a coach to build a credible plan for growth and investment. - Gain visibility through online voting process (*for 30 SIs)
Visibility through public voting. 30 selected initiatives are promoted in a public voting campaign. - Join the in-person award ceremony in Italy
An award ceremony in Italy. Ten finalists are invited to the in-person ceremony and connected with funders, investors, and partners.
Taking part is the best way to prepare, though it does not guarantee selection.
programme activities
The programme has three steps. You can start with the open webinars, go deeper with one Mission Hub, and later apply for the scaling competition.
| The journey | Status | Best for | What it includes | CTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Learn & explore | Open to all, register now | Anyone curious about the EU Missions and social innovation | EU-wide webinars on the programmes, the EU Missions, and competition preparation | Register |
| 2 Choose and join the mission-focused scaling support | Open to all, register now | Social innovators who want more practical and mission-specific support, focused on scaling and investment readiness | One national in-person meeting (*limited seats available) plus three regional webinars hosted online by one Mission Hub | Choose your Mission Hub when registering |
| Step 3: Scaling competition opportunity | Opens 2027, separate selection | Piloted, tested or promising social innovations ready to scale | Separate application, selection of 50 innovators and coaching programme, public voting for 30 scaling plans and 10 finalists are invited in Italy | Apply in 2027 |
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.Whether you are an early idea or an established initiative, you are welcome at least for the first step of the programme. Consider the following steps (2 and 3) are addressing more advanced and scale ready innovations.
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.
- an impact-driven business (a for-profit with a clear social or environmental purpose)
- a public or semi-public organisation working on mission-related challenges;
- an established initiative (piloted, tested, or running) preparing for future growth and scaling opportunities
- an early-stage initiative that wants to understand the EU Missions and explore its best fit.
To take part, you should:
- Be connected/ active/ interested/ curious in at least one of the five EU missions:
- 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? Register anyway.
The general sessions will help you understand the Missions and identify where your initiative, organisation or expertise can contribute.
orientative programme timeline
Calendar of activities
| The journey | 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 | Dec 2026 to Feb 2027. Dates announced after registration | In person in Bucharest + online webinars |
| Step 2: Cancer Mission | Info day plus three webinars | Impact Hub Ljubljana | Dec 2026 to Feb 2027. Dates announced after registration | In person in Ljubljana + online webinars |
| Step 2: Oceans and Waters Mission | Info day plus three webinars | Impact Hub Athens | Dec 2026 to Feb 2027. Dates announced after registration | In person in Athens + online webinars |
| Step 2: Cities Mission | Info day plus three webinars | Impact Hub Stockholm | Dec 2026 to Feb 2027. Dates announced after registration | In person in Stockholm + online webinars |
| 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 webinars |
| Step 3: Scaling competition | Application, selection, coaching, public voting, awards | SI-Mission-Facility partners | Feb to Nov 2027 | Separate open call |
* dates are indicative and may evolve as activities are finalised.
Register now to get the confirmed dates and times, your invitation to the in-person meeting, session links, and practical details for the activities most relevant to you.
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
Start with the Learn & Explore webinars,open to everyone, on the EU Missions, scaling and competition preparation.
Then 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 your innovation and most fitting 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. It helps social innovations grow and contribute to the EU Missions, and connects innovators with funders, investors, and policymakers across Europe.
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
3) Is the programme free?
Yes. Taking part is free. Travel and accommodation for in-person events are not covered, unless a hosting hub says otherwise.
4) Is this a funding call?
No. This is a training and support programme: webinars, practical tools, and peer learning. It does not provide direct funding.
5) Do we need prior experience with EU Missions?
No. Experience helps, but it is not required. We welcome anyone with a clear interest in connecting their work to one or more EU Missions.
6) What language is the programme in?
All activities and materials are in English. You need a good working level of English to take part.
7) 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.
8) 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.
Do you have a question?
For general questions, reach out to lucia.radu@impacthub.net.
For a national in-person event, contact the relevant Mission Hub below.
Climate – Impact Hub Bucharest – victoria.dinu@impacthub.ro
Cancer – Impact Hub Ljubljana – jovana.jovanovic@impacthub.net
Water/Oceans – Impact Hub Athens – violetta.tsitsiliani@impacthub.net
Cities – Impact Hub Stockholm – stockholm@impacthub.net
Soil – Impact Hub Torino – milan.projectsoffice@impacthub.net
