On May 15, we hosted the last Cross-Consortia Learning Exchange on Stakeholder Collaboration, an interactive session dedicated to exploring how NCCs identify and engage the right stakeholders to ensure effective partnerships.
We were inspired by two powerful case studies:
- Tadej Slapnik from SEED2SCALE consortium (Slovenian NCC), shared how a bottom-up, cooperative model fosters local ownership, legitimacy, and co-creation. By building bridges between grassroots actors and policymakers, Slovenia’s NCC creates a truly inclusive and participatory ecosystem for social innovation.
- Alexandra Telepcakova from SI PLUS (Slovakian NCC under the Ministry of Labour), offered key insights into stakeholder engagement through participatory call preparation and the value of advisory structures. She highlighted how public-private-academic partnerships are essential for shaping effective national strategies.
Key takeaways:
- Stakeholder collaboration is both strategic and necessary for systemic social innovation
- Participatory, inclusive governance models lead to stronger legitimacy and long-term policy impact
- Challenges to engage with stakeholders include siloed funding, time/resource demands, and complex coordination—but the benefits outweigh the costs
- Cross-national exchanges like this one build collective capacity and help align local innovation with broader European priorities
A huge thank you to all who contributed their energy and insights. These conversations are critical to advancing the social innovation agenda across Europe.
