The Italian Centre of Competence for Social Innovation (ICCSI) is a national hub established at the initiative of the European Commission. It is officially recognised as the only Italian member of the European Union’s network of National Competence Centres for Social Innovation. ICCSI’s mission is to act as a bridge between public policies and innovative social practices. It promotes social innovation by fostering a systemic, multidisciplinary, and collaborative approach in the development of impact-oriented public policies and services. The aim is to improve administrative capacity, promote dialogue, and strengthen complementarity between public and private actors in tackling complex social challenges.

ICCSI’s definiton of Social Innovation alings with the one adopted in the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025–2027. Social Innovation refers to initiatives designed to address social challenges through the active involvement of end-users in the innovation process. These innovations take shape as new products, services, or models that respond to social needs more effectively than existing solutions. In doing so, they foster new social relationships or forms of collaboration, ultimately enhancing society’s capacity to act.

ICCSI’s core objectives include generating and sharing knowledge and technical expertise on social innovation with both public and private stakeholders. It aims to foster the development of strategic partnerships at national and international levels, encouraging co-design and collaborative approaches to build impact-driven public-private partnerships. The Centre also seeks to promote intersectoral dialogue, strengthen coordination across different levels of government, and enhance collaboration between public and private actors. Its goal is to support the integration of social innovation into policy strategies and ensure greater alignment with national policies. Furthermore, ICCSI aims to become a reference point for the design of public policies and the development of innovative services and solutions, guided by the principles of shared administration. It also plays a key role in linking Italy with other European Competence Centres, facilitating the exchange and transfer of knowledge on social innovation models and practices.

ICCSI provides tailored services in research, capacity building, consulting, and training for both public and private actors. These services include support in defining integrated strategies and action plans for social innovation, as well as assistance in developing processes and capabilities for designing innovative services and sustainable business models. ICCSI also facilitates effective stakeholder engagement, the creation of public-private partnerships, and co-design and co-creation initiatives. It offers guidance on optimizing the use of ESF+ funds and strengthening the capacity to integrate social innovation into programmes. The Centre also promotes capacity development and a data-informed culture in the design and implementation of both ex-ante and ex-post evaluation processes.

ICCSI provides a number of freely accessible resources. These include the publication of insights and data on the mapping of the social innovation ecosystem in Italy, as well as the organisation of an annual workshop dedicated to emerging trends, key competencIes and case studies. ICCSI also supports the submission of best practices to the SIM platform, which aims to promote the transferability and scalability of social innovation in Europe.

ICCSI’s activities are aimed at a wide range of public and private stakeholders. These include the European Commission and the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation, national ministries, ESF Managing Authorities, public agencies, regional governments, and metropolitan city administrations. Beneficiaries also include local authorities – particularly municipalities – as well as third sector organisations, local communities, and civil society groups.

ICCSI was established at the initiative of the European Commission and is the only Italian entity recognised within the EU network of National Competence Centres for Social Innovation. It is an active member of the Community of Practice on Social Innovation (CoP SI), promoted by the European Commission to enhance the capacity of Member States to design and implement social innovation initiatives within the framework of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). At the national level, ICCSI is part of the National Table for the Social Economy, an initiative led by the Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance, where it contributes to strengthening the strategic connection between the social economy and social innovation.

ICCSI is committed to promoting an open and outward-looking model aimed at building strategic relationships with the country’s key institutional, economic, and social actors. It promotes structured, project-based collaborations that recognise and leverage the unique contributions of each partner to support the growth of the broader ecosystem. ICCSI also works to establish inclusive forms of representation and involvement, ensuring continuous dialogue and alignment around shared strategic priorities. Its main objectives include facilitating the creation of strategic partnerships and promoting co-design and cooperation processes to develop impact-oriented public-private collaborations.

Yes, one of ICCSI’s key roles is to serve as an “accelerator of knowledge and technical skills” in the field of social innovation within the national ecosystem. ICCSI is a central hub for training and support in the design of public policies, targeting both central and regional Managing Authorities, as well as local service planning. The Centre assists a wide range of public and private stakeholders in strengthening their capacities for social innovation, including by sharing knowledge on available support and funding programmes. Among its freely accessible resources, ICCSI is developing an online capacity-building course focused on core social innovation skills.

Yes, ICCSI both organises and takes part in public events. For instance, the outcomes of a national workshop on social innovation – held in Bologna on December 5–6, 2024 – were shared, emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach and the strong involvement of young researchers. Building on that experience, plans emerged for a follow-up event in 2025 in Catania, supported by an expanded partnership, with the aim of engaging new territories and institutions not yet actively involved. As part of its freely accessible resources, ICCSI offers an annual workshop dedicated to exploring emerging trends, key skills, and exemplary case studies in social innovation.