A new centre for social innovation was established in November at the University of Iceland by two EMES members: professors, Ómar H. Kristmundsson (Faculty of Political Sciences) and Steinunn Hrafnsdóttir (Faculty of Social Work).

The objective of the centre is to create conditions for social progress by becoming centre of knowledge and learning for the Icelandic civil society, especially for new social entities “to grow”.

Specifically the aims are to:

1. Create incentives and support for social innovation and new social entrepreneurs.
2. Work on applied research and projects dealing with new approaches for social progress.
3. Be a center for education, training and public debate on social innovation, social enterprise and social entrepreneurship.

At the launching of the centre a MoU was signed between the University, The Ministry of Innovation and Almannaheill, the umbrella organization for the third sector, to create better conditions for civil society to work towards social innovation and social entrepreneurship in Iceland.

The key lecturer at the event was Lars Hulgård, professor at Roskilde University’s Centre for Social Entrepreneurship (CSE) and co-founder of EMES, who discussed social innovation in the context of civil society. These three members of EMES met in person in the framework of the Empower-SE COST Action chaired by Sílvia Ferreira that EMES coordinates.