This is a presentation of the first Social Innovation Park in Europe that will be located in the Greater Bilbao area of Northern Spain

1. The New Social Silicon Valley
Social Innovation leaders have a long tradition of collaborative projects but a business park
fully dedicated to this field has never been experienced in Europe. The Social Innovation Park
(SI Park) will host in the Greater Bilbao area of Northern Spain consolidated social enterprises
and emerging innovation projects aiming to create the new “Social Silicon Valley”. All of them
will benefit from the new resources incorporated in this initiative: the Social Innovation
Laboratory (G-Lab), the Social Innovation Academy and the Social Enterprise Generator.
The Basque region of Spain has a long tradition of a vibrant economy powered by a deep
social approach. This is the homeland of Mondragon Cooperative Corporation and the
Guggenheim Museum, promoted and funded by the local authorities. The Basque area has
also demonstrated a successful history in terms of socio-economic regeneration. This is one
of the few international cases which overcame the steel and shipbuilding crisis of the 80s,
transforming itself into a new economy employing 100,000 workers around the globe. In
addition, the Basque region is leading renewal energy enterprises by birthing global
corporations such as Gamesa and Iberdrola.
According to the UN Human Development Index parameters, the Basque region ranks as the
world´s most socially balanced countries. SI Park will offer, therefore, a unique opportunity for
international entities working in this field to be present in one of the most innovative
environments connected to social enterprising.

2. Designed and nurtured for over a decade, the Social Innovation Park will start operations in
June 2010. Initially, the Social Silicon Valley will cover 72,000 square metres located in
Santurtzi, 25 km away from the Bilbao international airport. The master project has been
supported by national and local authorities with an initial phase budget of 6 million Euro.
Basque, Spanish and European institutions are also funding several initiatives related to the
project that are already being implemented in the area. Long-term working relationships will
be developed with a network of 1,000 professionals around the globe representing more than
fifty national and international entities to be established at the Social Innovation Park.
SI Park will host a laboratory for identifying emerging social tendencies (G-Lab) applying
participatory democracy methodologies. G-Lab will evaluate current social services provided
by the public administration to design and develop innovative testbeds. SI Park will operate
under an open innovation framework, with membership annually determining potential areas
of laboratory research. As a priority, G-Lab´s research will be royalty-free to all institutions
present in Bilbao and it will be associated to the leading international networks of social
innovation laboratories.
SI Park will provide on-site and on-line training to bring fresh ideas to services provided by
third sector institutions, organizations and enterprises. The Social Innovation Academy will
offer a regularly-scheduled programs: Intensive Training for Third Sector Leaders, project-
based education, and welcoming “spin off” training centres from the most successful
entrepreneurial schools. The Social Innovation Academy will collaborate for this purpose
with Euclid, the European Network of third sector leaders, and with the Social Innovation
Exchange, the global alliance committed to growing the capacity of the field.

3. Collaborating entities within the SI Park will be offered the opportunity to incubate new social
enterprises and emerging tendencies identified by the G-lab will encourage SI Park membership to
launch new projects.
With the purpose of providing the necessary support to new innovation entrepreneurs at SI Park,
DenokInn has signed a collaboration agreement with the London School of Economics Enterprise.
The new innovation entrepreneurs will be trained, mentored, and evaluated by SI Park staff,
incorporating the know-how present in a privileged social environment. Finally, the Social Club of
Angels will provide seed capital for new enterprises, guaranteeing a comprehensive approach to
the innovation process.
SI Park will also host a pilot project led by DenokInn to generate social and cooperative
enterprises under an innovative approach. Local institution will allow social income receptors to
test new entrepreneurial initiatives without loosing their benefits. The DenokInn pilot will allow a
large number of small and medium-sized enterprises to be located in the park, integrating related
experiences successfully tested in Sweden and France.
We are living fascinating times. The whole social welfare system is reinventing itself with new
paradigms. DenokInn offers a sustainable and equitable approach to the structure and
management of social innovation ventures. SI Park offers a great opportunity to participate in
advancing the process of social innovation from a totally new perspective.

4. Those entities interested in exploring their participation in the park may choose between the
following options:
1.- SI Park Space Probe. A large number of third sector organizations, private corporations and
public institutions have requested a test-bed in the park. With this purpose, SI Park will offer in
2010 the possibility of hosting international delegations to visit the park and discuss the details
and conditions for a twelve-month trial residency. DenokInn also welcomes international
organizations, companies and governments to join an international network discussing the
launching of SI Park. Members of this network will receive updated information on the latest
developments in order to facilitate their analysis on further possibilities.
2. Si Park Project_based partnership. SI Park offers the possibility of project-based participation
in the park. Potential partners are invited to inform DenokInn about their fields of interest. SI
Park will co-design with potential partners concrete international collaboration proposals based
in Bilbao. To facilitate third sector organizations, private corporations and public institutions to
explore these projects, an advance team of DenokInn staff is ready to visit them and facilitate
idea-generation, design and development into an rapid organizational or business prototype.
3. SI Park Strategic partners. SI Park is looking for international strategic partners. These
partners will form the International Steering Committee, monitoring the launching phase and
exploring new avenues for the future. The International Steering Group will coordinate the
extension plan for new Social Innovation Parks around the globe.
If you are interested in receiving more information about the SI Park
Please contact Gorka Espiau at gespiau@denokinn.eu