Apply now for EU grants on social innovation

The European Social Catalyst Fund (ESCF) is an initiative designed to have significant impact on some of Europe’s most pressing social challenges. The objective of the ESCF is to bring together public and private resources to improve social services to enable people who need support to live as valued and participating members of their communities.

Utrecht signs pledge to make affordable, preventive and curative health care available for all residents!

Utrecht pledges on principle 16 - health care - of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Vienna pledges for better assistance and services for children and homeless people

Vienna pledges for better assistance and services for children and homeless people.

Bologna - U-area for all

Within U-Lab, the local Living Lab inaugurated in Bologna in 2017 thanks to the ROCK project, ‘U-Area for All’ started in March 2019. This co-design process will create and experiment with a service in the form of guided tours inclusive and accessible to both tourists and people who live in the area. The service considers accessibility as autonomy and empowerment over information about the use of public space.

Lisbon - Beato and Marvila Interpretive Centre

Through the ROCK project, the Lisbon municipality is working on the social transformation of a remote neighbourhood (Marvila/Beato) with a strong identity linked to its industrial and rural heritage. The mix between rural and industrial heritage created a complex set of cultural traditions and societal behaviours in Marvila and Beato. These traditions still resonate today.

Lyon- Let there be light! Cultural heritage and light management

Lyon has for a long time an outstanding relationship with light as an urban issue and tool. The city of Lyon realised in the early 1990s that it could amplify its cultural and heritage offer by working with the medium that brings that culture to people, and since then Lyon has been at the forefront of cities experimenting with light. Light has changed the image of the city, increased its attractiveness and transformed its nocturnal landscape over the years.

Turin - Abbonamento Musei

Turin’s cultural heritage at your fingertips! First developed back in 1995 by the city administration, the Abbonamento Musei is a single card with a low annual payment for accessing the city and surrounding region’s cultural offer.

Vilnius - The colour of data

Vilnius is revitalising its Old Town area, a UNESCO cultural heritage site, by using cultural heritage as a driver for sustainable growth, turning underused cultural heritage into a resource to be taken advantage of. To achieve this, Vilnius is using open data and tools including video neuroanalytics, which measures the emotional and psychological states of residents and visitors. This information is used to improve the city’s cultural offer, by showing how happy people are at cultural...

ROCK cities provide inspiring ideas to ensure better access to cultural heritage

Accessibility is connected to all the aspects that determine the possibility to fully participate in urban life: overcoming physical and economic barriers, perception of safety, equal access to institutions, cultural productions, participation and empowerment of citizens, information and opportunities