Scaling-up Social Innovations: the French Way

Scaling-up and transfer is the main objective of the ESF+ Social Innovation+ initiative, as well as one of the topics for which members of the Community of Practice on Social Innovation have expressed strong interest and learning needs.   

Hence, the ESF+ Community of Practice on Social Innovation held a two-day study visit in Paris (4-5 June), at la REcyclerie, to exchange and learn about how to scale-up and transfer successful social innovations, the main objective of the ESF+ Social Innovation+ initiative. The event brought together around 80 participants from all over Europe, representing ESF+ Managing Authorities and the National Competence Centres, as well as the European Commission, and hosted by the General Delegation for Employment and Vocational Training (DGEFP), national management authority of the ESF+ and Avise, National Competence Centre for social innovation in France. 

The aim of the study visit was to discover the scaling-up approach in France, supported by several actors providing a range of mechanisms, tools and practices, revealing a solid expertise on this topic. By exploring one model, the different MS representatives can get inspired and identify new ideas and experiences to be used in their own contexts. Mutual learning remains the overall aim of SI CoP events. 

The first day was a deep dive into the French approaches. After an opening statement from Maxime Baduel, Social Economy Ministerial Delegate, the DGEFP, the Region Hauts-de-France (regional ESF+ MA) and Avise presented the financial support provided by the FSE+ to develop social innovation the French context, with a specific focus on scaled initiatives and mechanisms to support this change like the programme P’INS. A World Café session allowed participants to exchange views with 8 organisations (Direction générale du Trésor, France Active, FAIR, Communauté Émergence & Accélération, Kiif, Antropia ESSEC and Fondation Macif) providing financial and non-financial support for scaling-up and transferring social innovations.  

The afternoon was dedicated to field visits, offering hands-on insights into three exemplary scaled-up projects funded by ESF+: 

La Cravate Solidaire aims to to remove the obstacles to the hiring of job seekers by fighting against discrimination related to appearance by offering appropriate clothing and advice from HR specialists to prepare the candidate for job interviews. Their scaling-up strategy launched the “Coup de Pouce à la Maison” online workshops, particularly in rural areas, assisting jobseekers in preparing for remote job interviews.  

Label Emmaüs presented its logistics and e-commerce platform for integration and reuse of second-hand items, in particular books, enabling the reintegration of people far from employment through support and training in digital professions (e-commerce operator, web project manager, after-sales service operator, etc.). By leveraging its experiences in the Paris region and Nouvelle Aquitaine, the initiative focuses on finding a methodology for scaling up and transferring its model to new territories and sectors. 

ENVIE Autonomie, a network of integration companies specialising in collecting, reconditioning and resale of medical equipment at a solidarity price, presented its scaling-up strategy through the creation of 20 new regional levels, promoting a circular economy within the medical sector. 

Based on the scaling-up experiences presented, the second day was devoted to feedback and discussions at EU level, among European participants, about scaling-up and transfer main obstacles and success factors. Lively discussions took place during a panel discussion between representatives from the European Commission, France, Austria, Czechia, and Poland. Active participation from the audience, followed by three workshops to discuss and identify main obstacles, success factors and possible improvement, allow successful social innovations to benefit more people, organisations and territories. 

The event not only highlighted the strong ecosystem supporting social innovation in France but also fostered rich exchanges of ideas and practices that participants can use, adapt and implement in their respective contexts, even partially. The event once again proved the importance of transnational collaboration in scaling and transferring social innovations across Europe.