ESF+ Social Innovation+ Initiative - EU-level Grants

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Enriched – · Found: 2026-03-13 17:21

Recurring EU-wide calls for transnational projects transferring and upscaling innovative solutions to societal challenges in employment, education, skills and social inclusion. Budget of approximately 197 million euros for 2021-2027. Supports social economy organizations and NGOs for circular economy value chains and green jobs.

Source: https://european-social-fund-plus.ec.europa.eu/en/esf-social-innovation-initiative

Funding Details

Funder: European Commission / European Social Fund Agency (ESFA) Lithuania — ESF+ Social Innovation+ Initiative
Funding Goal: EU-level transnational grants for projects that transfer or scale up social innovations addressing societal challenges, mainly in the fields of employment, education, skills, and social inclusion. The initiative also supports knowledge sharing, mutual learning, and capacity building for ESF+ managing authorities. Project types include conceptualizing tested approaches, scaling up promising models, and building the capacity of social innovation organizations across Europe.
Funding Amount: Total budget of EUR 197 million for 2021-2027 programming period. Individual call budgets vary (e.g., EUR 10 million for the 2025 disability employment call). Grants typically EUR 500,000 to 1,000,000 per project, covering up to 80% of total project costs.
How to Apply: Calls for proposals published periodically on the Social Innovation Plus Initiative website (socialinnovationplus.eu/transnational-calls/). Applications submitted via the eSInnis electronic system. Each call has specific documentation requirements including application form, budget table, grant agreement template, and declarations.
Target Region: European Union and participating non-EU countries
Contact: European Social Fund Agency (ESFA): M. Katkaus str. 44, LT-09217 Vilnius, Lithuania. info@esf.lt
Last Checked: 2026-03-15 09:50

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Must be a legally incorporated entity in an EU Member State or participating non-EU country
Must form a transnational consortium of at least 3 eligible entities from at least 2 countries
Consortium must include at least one public authority as applicant or associated partner

Project Scope

Project must be based on already-tested social innovations — not concept-stage ideas

Required Documents

Applications submitted via eSInnis electronic system; paper applications not accepted
Required documents typically include application form, detailed budget table, declarations of honour, and list of previous projects

Constraints

Grant covers up to 80% of project costs; minimum 20% co-financing required from other sources
Expected project duration: 18-24 months per call (check specific call conditions)

Summary

The ESF+ Social Innovation+ Initiative is an EU-level funding program that issues transnational grant calls to support the transfer and scaling of proven social innovations across Europe. Managed by the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation — operated by the Lithuanian European Social Fund Agency — the initiative has a total budget of EUR 197 million for the 2021-2027 period. Individual calls typically provide EUR 500,000 to EUR 1,000,000 per project, covering up to 80% of eligible costs, with the remainder to be co-financed by the project consortium. Calls are thematic and require transnational consortia of at least three legal entities from at least two eligible countries, including at least one public authority. Past calls have addressed social experimentation, disability employment, and labor market inclusion. Future calls are expected to address other social policy areas. Eligible applicants include NGOs, associations, public bodies, and universities from EU Member States and associated countries. While the initiative's primary focus is employment, education, skills, and social inclusion — rather than environmental topics — organizations that can frame their work around social inclusion aspects of circular economy transitions (e.g., inclusive waste management, social enterprises in the recycling sector, integrating marginalized workers into circular value chains) could potentially compete for funding if an appropriate thematic call is launched. The program emphasizes tested, scalable social innovations rather than pilots or new concepts.

Historical Context

The ESF+ Social Innovation+ initiative is part of the 2021-2027 ESF+ programming period with a budget of EUR 197 million. The initiative is managed by the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation set up by the Lithuanian ESFA. Multiple calls have been run, including on social experimentation and specific themes like disability employment.

Sources

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