Applications are now officially open for the OPEN and IDEA programmes, promoted by NOVA University Lisbon as part of CONNECT – Turning Knowledge into Impact, a Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative (IIES) developed in consortium with Casa do Impacto (Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa) and the Catholic University of Portugal, through the Yunus Social Innovation Center. The consortium is supported by Social Investors: Lisbon City Council, Galp Foundation, and Santander Foundation.
These two programmes mark the first edition of the initiative and focus on the theme of Housing, Habitat and Mobility. Running from June 26 to July 17, the programmes aim to engage professionals, researchers, faculty members, and students in the exploration, ideation, and testing of innovative solutions to pressing social and territorial challenges.
“CONNECT aims to create a true ecosystem of social and territorial innovation by linking academic knowledge to communities and real-world challenges. The OPEN and IDEA programmes are the starting point,” says João Seixas, Pro-Rector for Socio-Territorial Innovation at NOVA University Lisbon and coordinator of the consortium at the university.
Applications are open until June 20 and can be submitted through the online form.
About the Programmes
OPEN is a foresight and analysis programme featuring immersive sessions on trends and opportunities in the area of Housing, Habitat, and Mobility.
IDEA fosters the ideation and early development of innovative projects and solutions.
Selected participants will benefit from:
- Specialized mentoring;
- Design thinking tools and innovation training;
- Integration into active social innovation networks;
- Opportunity for one-year incubation at Casa do Impacto (for selected projects).
More information here.