The first Social Innovation Park in Europe

1. DenokInn presents SI Park:
The first Social Innovation Park in Europe

2. Executive Summary
The Social Innovation Park (SI Park) is a pioneering initiative
promoted by DenokInn, the Basque Centre for Social and
Corporate Innovation, aiming to provide the best environment
for social leaders and institutions to cooperate, learn from
each other and to build new initiatives.
A large number of joint projects have already been developed
on this field but a shared space fully dedicated to social
innovation has never been implemented.
SI Park will host in the Greater Bilbao area of Northern Spain
consolidated social enterprises and international innovation
projects. All of them will benefit from the new resources
incorporated to this initiative: the Social Innovation
Laboratory (G-Lab), the Social Innovation Academy and the
Social Enterprise Generator.
The Basque region of Spain have a long tradition of a vibrant
economy powered by a deep social approach. SI Park will offer
international entities working on this field a unique
opportunity to be present in one of the most innovative
experiences connected to social enterprising.

3. The figures
-The Social Innovation Park will start operating in June 2010.
-SI Park will cover initially 72.000 squared metres, 25 kms
away from Bilbao international airport.
-This project is supported by national and local authorities
with an initial budget of 6 million Euro and will be managed
by DenokInn.
-More than 50 entities and companies will be established.
-1.000 professionals will be involved.
-SI Park will launch the first “Social Enterprise Generator”.
-SI park will also host the first Social Innovation Laboratory in
Southern Europe.
-Basque, Spanish and European institutions are already
funding several initiatives related to the project.

4. SI Park Resources
G-lab
-Gizartea means “society” in Basque, the oldest European language. The G-
lab is, therefore, the laboratory for social innovation within SI park.
-G-lab will identify emerging social tendencies applying participatory
democracy methodologies.
-G-lab will also offer innovative approaches to the current social services
provided by the public administration.
- Social demands not sufficiently covered by the welfare system will be a
potential target for new enterprises launched at the Park.
-SI park members will determine those research areas covered by G-lab
annually.
-The outcomes of this research conducted at G-lab will be offered to all
entities present at SI park.
-G-lab will be associated to the leading European social innovation labs.

5. SI Park Resources
Social Innovation
Academy
-SI Park will provide specific training for upgrading the quality of
the services provided by third sector institutions, organizations
and enterprises.
-The new enterprises established at SI Park will receive ad hoc
training in collaboration with international Social Innovation
schools.
-DenokInn has already signed a collaboration agreement with the
London School of Economics Enterprise for this purpose.
-The Social Innovation Academy will offer “Intensive Training for
Third Sector Leaders” and project based education.
--SI Park will also host “spin off” training centres from the most
successful entrepreneurial schools.

6. SI Park Resources
Social Enterprise
Generator
-SI Park will host a pilot project led by DenokInn to generate
social enterprises under an innovative approach. Local
institution will allow social income receptors to test new
entrepreneurial initiatives without loosing their benefits.
-This project will allow a large number of small and medium
size enterprises to be located in the park.
-Related experiences tested in Sweden and France will be
integrated in this project.
-The Social Enterprise Generator has received the support of
the European Commission and the Regional Government of
Gipuzkoa.
-

7. SI Park Resources
Incubator of Social
enterprises
-The collaboration between the entities established in the park
will offer the opportunity to generate new social enterprises that
will be incubated within the park.
-A “Social Club of Angels” will provide seed capital for the new
enterprises.
-The leaders of these initiatives will be trained, mentored and
evaluated by the services of the park, incorporating the know how
present in this privileged social environment.
-Emerging tendencies identified by the G-lab will also provide new
opportunities for the members of the park to launch new projects.

8. SI Park
Who is going to be established
in SI Park?
-Foundations, charities and social enterprises.
-NGOs.
-Social Economy and Cooperative Enterprises.
-Social Programmes linked to Financial Corporations.
-Business companies offering social services and products.
-New enterprises linked to the SI Park Generator.
-Living labs.
-Think tanks.
-Entrepreneurial Schools.
-Social Innovation networks.
-Third sector networks.

9. New partners
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.

10. The role of DenokInn
SI Park is a pioneering infrastructure promoted by DenokInn, the Basque
Centre for Social and Corporate Innovation, which provides the best
environment for social enterprises to cooperate, learn from each other
and launch new initiatives.
DenokInn will:
-promote the project.
-identify the potential partners and institutions to be established in the
park.
-design and conceptualize the services provided by the park.
-coordinate the international programmes.
-provide Internal and external communication.
-manage the funding.

11. 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.
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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.

12. 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
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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.

13. 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.
You are all welcome.

14. Do you want to be established in SI Park?
If you are interested in receiving more information about the SI Park
Please contact Gorka Espiau at gespiau@denokinn.eu