DenokInn presents SI Park:

The first Social Innovation Park in Europe

Executive Summary

The Social Innovation Park (SI Park) is a pioneering initiative

promoted by DenokInn, the Basque Centre for Social and

Corporate Innovation, aiming to provide the best environment

for social leaders and institutions to cooperate, learn from

each other and to build new initiatives.

A large number of joint projects have already been developed A large number of joint projects have already been developed

on this field but a shared space fully dedicated to social

innovation has never been implemented.

SI Park will host in the Greater Bilbao area of Northern Spain

consolidated social enterprises and international innovation

projects. All of them will benefit from the new resources

incorporated to this initiative: the Social Innovation

Laboratory (G-Lab), the Social Innovation Academy and the

Social Enterprise Generator.

The Basque region of Spain have a long tradition of a vibrant

economy powered by a deep social approach. SI Park will offer

international entities working on this field a unique

opportunity to be present in one of the most innovative

experiences connected to social enterprising.

The figures-The Social Innovation Park will start operating in June 2010.

-SI Park will cover initially 72.000 squared metres, 25 kms

away from Bilbao international airport.

-This project is supported by national and local authorities

with an initial budget of 6 million Euro and will be managed

by DenokInn.

-More than 50 entities and companies will be established.

-1.000 professionals will be involved.

-SI Park will launch the first “Social Enterprise Generator”.

-SI park will also host the first Social Innovation Laboratory in

Southern Europe.

-Basque, Spanish and European institutions are already

funding several initiatives related to the project.

SI Park ResourcesG-lab-Gizartea means “society” in Basque, the oldest European language. The G-

lab is, therefore, the laboratory for social innovation within SI park.

-G-lab will identify emerging social tendencies applying participatory

democracy methodologies.

-G-lab will also offer innovative approaches to the current social services

provided by the public administration.provided by the public administration.

- Social demands not sufficiently covered by the welfare system will be a

potential target for new enterprises launched at the Park.

-SI park members will determine those research areas covered by G-lab

annually.

-The outcomes of this research conducted at G-lab will be offered to all

entities present at SI park.

-G-lab will be associated to the leading European social innovation labs.

SI Park Resources

Social Innovation

Academy

-SI Park will provide specific training for upgrading the quality of

the services provided by third sector institutions, organizations

and enterprises.

-The new enterprises established at SI Park will receive ad hoc -The new enterprises established at SI Park will receive ad hoc

training in collaboration with international Social Innovation

schools.

-DenokInn has already signed a collaboration agreement with the

London School of Economics Enterprise for this purpose.

-The Social Innovation Academy will offer “Intensive Training for

Third Sector Leaders” and project based education.

--SI Park will also host “spin off” training centres from the most

successful entrepreneurial schools.

SI Park Resources

Social Enterprise

Generator

-SI Park will host a pilot project led by DenokInn to generate

social enterprises under an innovative approach. Local

institution will allow social income receptors to test new institution will allow social income receptors to test new

entrepreneurial initiatives without loosing their benefits.

-This project will allow a large number of small and medium

size enterprises to be located in the park.

-Related experiences tested in Sweden and France will be

integrated in this project.

-The Social Enterprise Generator has received the support of

the European Commission and the Regional Government of

Gipuzkoa.

-

SI Park Resources

Incubator of Social

enterprises

-The collaboration between the entities established in the park

will offer the opportunity to generate new social enterprises that

will be incubated within the park.

-A “Social Club of Angels” will provide seed capital for the new

enterprises.

-The leaders of these initiatives will be trained, mentored and

evaluated by the services of the park, incorporating the know how

present in this privileged social environment.

-Emerging tendencies identified by the G-lab will also provide new

opportunities for the members of the park to launch new projects.

SI Park

Who is going to be established

in SI Park?

-Foundations, charities and social enterprises.

-NGOs.

-Social Economy and Cooperative Enterprises.-Social Economy and Cooperative Enterprises.

-Social Programmes linked to Financial Corporations.

-Business companies offering social services and products.

-New enterprises linked to the SI Park Generator.

-Living labs.

-Think tanks.

-Entrepreneurial Schools.

-Social Innovation networks.

-Third sector networks.

New partners

Those entities interested in exploring their participation in the park may choose between the following options:

1.- SI Park Space Probe. A large number of third sector organizations, private corporations and public institutions

have requested a test-bed in the park. With this purpose, SI Park will offer in 2010 the possibility of hosting

international delegations to visit the park and discuss the details and conditions for a twelve-month trial

residency. DenokInn also welcomes international organizations, companies and governments to join an

international network discussing the launching of SI Park. Members of this network will receive updated

information on the latest developments in order to facilitate their analysis on further possibilities.

2. Si Park Project_based partnership. SI Park offers the possibility of project-based participation in the park.

Potential partners are invited to inform DenokInn about their fields of interest. SI Park will co-design with

potential partners concrete international collaboration proposals based in Bilbao. To facilitate third sector

organizations, private corporations and public institutions to explore these projects, an advance team of DenokInn

staff is ready to visit them and facilitate idea-generation, design and development into an rapid organizational or

business prototype.

3. SI Park Strategic partners. SI Park is looking for international strategic partners. These partners will form the

International Steering Committee, monitoring the launching phase and exploring new avenues for the future. The

International Steering Group will coordinate the extension plan for new Social Innovation Parks around the globe.

The role of DenokInn

SI Park is a pioneering infrastructure promoted by DenokInn, the Basque

Centre for Social and Corporate Innovation, which provides the best

environment for social enterprises to cooperate, learn from each other

and launch new initiatives.

DenokInn will:DenokInn will:

-promote the project.

-identify the potential partners and institutions to be established in the

park.

-design and conceptualize the services provided by the park.

-coordinate the international programmes.

-provide Internal and external communication.

-manage the funding.

The New Social Silicon ValleySocial Innovation leaders have a long tradition of collaborative projects but a business park fully dedicated to this

field has never been experienced in Europe. The Social Innovation Park (SI Park) will host in the Greater Bilbao area of

Northern Spain consolidated social enterprises and emerging innovation projects aiming to create the new “Social

Silicon Valley”. All of them will benefit from the new resources incorporated in this initiative: the Social Innovation

Laboratory (G-Lab), the Social Innovation Academy and the Social Enterprise Generator.

The Basque region of Spain has a long tradition of a vibrant economy powered by a deep social approach. This is the

homeland of Mondragon Cooperative Corporation and the Guggenheim Museum, promoted and funded by the local

authorities. The Basque area has also demonstrated a successful history in terms of socio-economic regeneration. This

is one of the few international cases which overcame the steel and shipbuilding crisis of the 80s, transforming itself

into a new economy employing 100,000 workers around the globe. In addition, the Basque region is leading renewal

energy enterprises by birthing global corporations such as Gamesa and Iberdrola.

According to the UN Human Development Index parameters, the Basque region ranks as the world´́́́s most socially

balanced countries. SI Park will offer, therefore, a unique opportunity for international entities working in this field to

be present in one of the most innovative environments connected to social enterprising.

Designed and nurtured for over a decade, the Social Innovation Park will start operations in June 2010. Initially, the

Social Silicon Valley will cover 72,000 square metres located in Santurtzi, 25 km away from the Bilbao international

airport. The master project has been supported by national and local authorities with an initial phase budget of 6

million Euro. Basque, Spanish and European institutions are also funding several initiatives related to the project

that are already being implemented in the area. Long-term working relationships will be developed with a network

of 1,000 professionals around the globe representing more than fifty national and international entities to be

established at the Social Innovation Park.

SI Park will host a laboratory for identifying emerging social tendencies (G-Lab) applying participatory democracy SI Park will host a laboratory for identifying emerging social tendencies (G-Lab) applying participatory democracy

methodologies. G-Lab will evaluate current social services provided by the public administration to design and

develop innovative testbeds. SI Park will operate under an open innovation framework, with membership annually

determining potential areas of laboratory research. As a priority, G-Lab´́́́s research will be royalty-free to all

institutions present in Bilbao and it will be associated to the leading international networks of social innovation

laboratories.

SI Park will provide on-site and on-line training to bring fresh ideas to services provided by third sector institutions,

organizations and enterprises. The Social Innovation Academy will offer a regularly-scheduled programs: Intensive

Training for Third Sector Leaders, project-based education, and welcoming “spin off” training centres from the most

successful entrepreneurial schools. The Social Innovation Academy will collaborate for this purpose with Euclid, the

European Network of third sector leaders, and with the Social Innovation Exchange, the global alliance committed

to growing the capacity of the field.

Collaborating entities within the SI Park will be offered the opportunity to incubate new social enterprises and

emerging tendencies identified by the G-lab will encourage SI Park membership to launch new projects.

With the purpose of providing the necessary support to new innovation entrepreneurs at SI Park, DenokInn has

signed a collaboration agreement with the London School of Economics Enterprise. The new innovation

entrepreneurs will be trained, mentored, and evaluated by SI Park staff, incorporating the know-how present in a

privileged social environment. Finally, the Social Club of Angels will provide seed capital for new enterprises,

guaranteeing a comprehensive approach to the innovation process.

SI Park will also host a pilot project led by DenokInn to generate social and cooperative enterprises under an

innovative approach. Local institution will allow social income receptors to test new entrepreneurial initiatives

without loosing their benefits. The DenokInn pilot will allow a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises

to be located in the park, integrating related experiences successfully tested in Sweden and France.

We are living fascinating times. The whole social welfare system is reinventing itself with new paradigms. DenokInn

offers a sustainable and equitable approach to the structure and management of social innovation ventures. SI Park

offers a great opportunity to participate in advancing the process of social innovation from a totally new

perspective.

You are all welcome.

Do you want to be established in SI Park?If you are interested in receiving more information about the SI Park

Please contact Gorka Espiau at gespiau@denokinn.eu