{"id":45088,"date":"2026-05-11T14:10:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T11:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kysk.ee\/?p=45088"},"modified":"2026-05-11T14:10:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T11:10:17","slug":"kusk-shared-estonian-experience-in-developing-social-innovation-in-madrid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kysk.ee\/en\/kusk-shared-estonian-experience-in-developing-social-innovation-in-madrid\/","title":{"rendered":"K\u00dcSK shared Estonian experience in developing social innovation in Madrid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On 4\u20135 May 2026, the National Competence Centres Mutual Learning Event titled \u201cSocial Innovation Portfolios in Practice: Building Advocacy for Systemic Change\u201d took place in Madrid, Spain. Evelyn Valtin participated in the event and contributed to a panel discussion. The event was organised by the National Competence Centres Working Group under the Community of Practice on Social Innovation and the Transnational Calls Team.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Evelyn Valtin participated as a speaker in the panel discussion \u201cKey Lessons in Advocacy.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

On 4\u20135 May 2026, the National Competence Centres Mutual Learning Event titled \u201cSocial Innovation Portfolios in Practice: Building Advocacy for Systemic Change\u201d took place in Madrid, Spain. Evelyn Valtin participated in the event and contributed to a panel discussion. The event was organised by the National Competence Centres Working Group under the Community of Practice on Social Innovation and the Transnational Calls Team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event brought together ecosystem builders of social innovation \u2013 people who do not only observe change but actively create it, as highlighted by Neringa Po\u0161kut\u0117, Head of the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The focus of the event was on how National Competence Centres (NCCs) can design, manage, and facilitate mission-driven portfolios of social innovation, and how knowledge generated through experimentation can be translated into public policy and advocacy strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study visit provided an opportunity to learn from the Spanish experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating a large-scale portfolio of experimentation aimed at integrating a community perspective into the current care system. This approach is supported by a strong advocacy dimension, positioning the Spanish NCC as a strategic collaboration between government ministries, national public agencies, and the wider social innovation community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSocial innovation is not an option. It is not a trend. It is a necessary condition for public systems to respond to the great challenges of our time,\u201d emphasised Rosa Mart\u00ednez, Secretary of State for Social Rights (Spain).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through presentations, discussions, and site visits to local initiatives in Madrid, participants explored how portfolio approaches can generate collective learning, strengthen policy dialogue, and contribute to more systemic solutions. They also reflected on which lessons are relevant in their own contexts and how peer learning processes can be activated to accelerate ongoing efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evelyn Valtin reflected on the mission-oriented portfolio approach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt has strong potential as it generates cumulative knowledge on how innovations work, where the gaps are, and what conditions are needed for scaling initiatives. It supports more informed decision-making on where to invest. It is important to build a learning infrastructure that connects experimentation with decision-making, ensuring consistent progress towards systemic change. Analysing current grant calls in Estonia, the social innovation ecosystem landscape, the National Competence Centre for Social Innovation Network, its strategy, and the Estonian Social Innovation Strategy 2030, as well as deepening understanding of the portfolio approach, will provide greater clarity on how to move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evelyn also shared key lessons learned on advocacy:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n