*Apologies for cross-posting*
LAST FEW PLACES REMAINING:
EU Public Policy, Social Innovation and Marginalisation: Reconciling ambitions with policy instruments
Wednesday 6th May 2015, 15:15-17:30, Nesta, 1 Plough Place, London, EC4A 1DE
CRESSI is a four-year research programme funded by the European Commission. The project is exploring the economic underpinnings of social innovation with a particular focus on how policy and practice can enhance the lives of the most marginalised and disempowered citizens in society. This seminar offers an opportunity for academics, policymakers and stakeholders to engage with some of the most recent work of the CRESSI research programme. The seminar will reflect upon the current status of EU-level and domestic policy agendas supporting social innovation and identify their social, economic and political underpinnings.
In recent years, social innovation has become an increasingly prominent concept employed by political leaders and administrations. It has been posited as a solution to both old and new social risks at a time of heightened uncertainty and pressure on public administrations and finances (Bonoli, 2005, OECD, 2011, Sinclair and Baglioni, 2014). In many respects, social innovation has captured the political imagination of supranational organisations and domestic institutions (Pol and Ville, 2009, Grisolia and Ferragina, 2015). In light of the Europe 2020 targets on employment, education, poverty and social exclusion, this seminar considers the following questions:

 *   What are the causes and effects of EU social innovation policy agendas?
 *   To what extent do EU policy instruments reflect EU policy ambitions?
 *   How do social innovation policy agendas differ across individual member states and what are the key factors determining difference?
 *   How are domestic institutions responding to and interacting with EU policies supporting social innovation?
 *   What measures ensure social innovation is scaled in a way that maximises social and economic utility whilst concomitantly tackling marginalisation?
 *   How can EU-level institutions encourage social innovation at the domestic level to tackle poverty and social exclusion?
Prior to the event, delegates will be sent an executive summary of the research. Delegates will contribute towards a thematic discussion on the questions outlined above and will inform the final publication of the research and its applied policy recommendations. The seminar is being hosted at the national innovation charity Nesta.
Refreshments will be provided. Registration for the event is available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cressi-seminar-eu-public-policy-social-innovation-marginalisation-tickets-16129705383
Please do consider circulating to any interested colleagues or relevant networks.