Problem addressed

In Poland, the challenge is not a lack of social innovations but rather the necessity for enhancing the system that facilitates the exploration of solutions with significant potential. We wanted to exploit and boost the potential of individuals and smaller entities who have a deep understanding of social problems and, at the same time, ideas on how to solve them but they need support in developing their solutions. Another goal was to create a system for generating social innovation that is cost-effective due to testing new ideas on a small scale using small resources. 

The new solutions should effectively address specific needs while being suitable for widespread implementation. Additionally, there is a focus on reaching potential innovators, identifing significant social problems and needs, and further developing the most effective micro innovations. 

Incubators actively seek potential innovators with compelling ideas for micro innovations, often including small organisations or individuals facing various challenges. The selection process involves distinct methods, stages, and criteria developed by each incubator. These criteria for micro innovations include among others: innovation on a national scale, universality, adjustment to the needs of the recipients and cost-effectiveness. Incubators may also identify significant problems or social needs and connect those experiencing these issues with innovators. The “funnel method” is employed to evaluate and refine ideas, shaping them into concepts for testing.

Micro-innovations may involve: changes in service delivery method, alterations to product features, modifications to the organization of a place, service format, or changes in institutional management. The goal of developing micro-scale innovations is to enhance citizens’ quality of life by introducing changes that address existing or emerging social needs.

Incubators work with innovations through two primary pathways:

1) Pre-incubation and incubation involving a multi-stage process. Pre-incubation starts by identifying problems, social needs or engaging in animation activities within various environments and local communities. Ensuring that innovations align with the recipients' needs is crucial. The incubator facilitates contact between individuals facing problems and innovators who generate ideas to address them. During incubation phase, innovators develop, and test solution on a small scale with involvement of its recipients. Continuous reflection, verification and adjustments to the idea are essential. Each innovator receives a grant in the amount up to €27,500 for incubating their ideas. After the testing is completed, the incubator selects the best innovations. These are the ones that worked the best, are the most useful, and have the biggest chance of being widely used. The selection process is based on clear criteria like ease of use and cost-effectiveness and takes into account the evaluation results of the solutions chosen for dissemination

2) The acceleration – this stage concerns the development of innovations already worked out and verified in practice, which have significant potential for dissemination, but require improvement, expansion, or further verification of their effectiveness and efficiency. This is a stage for refining solutions, testing them in different environments, and preparing for larger- scale use. Acceleration varies depending on innovation nature or development degree and may include retesting, refining solutions and preparing potential users for implementation. Refinement may also involve preparing solutions for commercialization.

Innovative solution

The system of incubators aligned with specific thematic areas has proven effective in fostering the development of social micro-innovations. These incubators, equipped with expertise in particular domains, not only offer guidance in specific areas but also provide innovators with essential tools and methodologies necessary for developing novel solutions.

Incubators have several years of experience in implementing such initiatives. Among them, there are representatives from non-governmental organizations, administration, and business. This diversity ensures a varied perspective, which is crucial for working on innovations. 

Incubators tailor their support to each innovator, considering the unique nature of their innovation. They collaborate with innovators throughout all stages of solution development, offering mentors specialized in relevant topics and experienced in testing new solutions. Support in working on micro-innovations also involves the continuous process of adapting the solution to the needs of those who will use it (through various tools). After testing solutions on a small scale, the incubator is responsible for selecting and supporting the broader application of those with the greatest potential. 

A new element present in all incubators is acceleration. Incubators will not only seek out new innovations but also develop those that have already been prepared, often supported by the incubators in previous projects. 

As for the innovators, there are representatives from a wide range of institutions and organizations, various specialists, and activists. Municipalities, schools, cultural centres, organizations specializing in supporting individuals with disabilities, migrant organizations, artists, doctors, teachers, psychologists, IT professionals, parents, siblings, and local environment of individuals with special needs all bring their ideas to address various, often challenging, social issues.

Thanks to the involvement of the incubators, we have expanded the circle of entities eligible for funding under the European Social Fund (ESF). Our innovators would not have sufficient organizational capacity on their own to be beneficiaries of projects funded by European funds.

Thanks to the activities carried out by the National Competence Centre for Social Innovation in Poland, all incubators actively engage in a network where they exchange experiences, share best practices, and learn from one another (see more: https://european-social-fund-plus.ec.europa.eu/en/social-innovation-match/case-study/social-innovation-catalyst-competence-centre-social-innovation ). This collaborative approach enhances the overall effectiveness of the incubation process.

Key results and benefits

Multiple incubators operate within distinct thematic areas, sharing their knowledge with social innovators and guiding them through both the incubation and acceleration processes. This collaborative approach proves instrumental in developing the most effective micro-innovations that align closely with identified social needs.

By funding the incubators since 2015, we have managed to create and further support a sustainable system of entities specialized in the search for new micro-innovations in Poland. Among the innovators who received support nearly 40% are individuals or groups of such people, and over 40% are non-governmental organizations. Thanks to this system, we generated over 1200 micro-innovations in different areas. 

Potential for mainstreaming

A similar model of searching, supporting, and developing micro social innovations can also be applied in other countries. The model is universal because it assumes comprehensive and diverse support for various types of innovators - those who have only a seed of an idea and need support in its development and refinement, those who already have a ready idea and need to thoroughly test it, and those who identify socially important problems and want to solve them through micro-innovation. Moreover, they can effectively operate in various thematic areas.