Open BioMedical Initiative
Open BioMedical Initiative selected as semi-finalist in European Social Innovation Competition 2017 to harness technological change
2017 European Social Innovation Competition ‘Equality Rebooted’ to award three €50,000 prizes for the best ideas to spread the benefits of technological change in Europe
Today Open BioMedical Initiative has been selected out of almost 800 applications in the 2017 edition of the European Social Innovation Competition, Equality Rebooted. Open to applicants across European Union and Horizon 2020 countries, this year’s competition saw the judges choose entries with the potential to address the growing gap between those with the skills and opportunities to take advantage of technological progress and those without, who might face wage stagnation or job losses.
Since 2014, Open BioMedical Initiative is a non profit organization of volunteers without borders that collaborate online realizing projects to help people with disabilities and health issues using new technologies such as 3D printing. It’s community and growing number of initiatives are gaining the attention not only of makers and creatives but also of institutions and key players of innovation.
Applications from 40 European Union and Horizon 2020 countries highlight the vast spread of Europeans coming up with innovations in tools, services and models to allow all members of society to acquire the appropriate skills and seize the opportunities of the digital revolution. See the full 2017 Competition announcement and list of 30 semi-finalists here:
In response to digitalisation’s transformative effect on the labour market, the 2017 Competition aims to ‘reboot’ equality and shape future society by inspiring fresh, energetic approaches to digital inclusion, collaborative economy, connectivity and skills development. Along with 29 other semi-finalists, the Open BioMedical Initiative will be invited to the social innovation mentoring academy to progress their ideas with tailored support and workshop sessions.
The social innovation academy is to be held from 3-5 July in Madrid, where semi-finalists will take part in workshops and visit examples of successful social innovation projects in Spain. Following the academy, ten finalists will be selected by the jury and the three most effective projects will each be awarded with a prize of €50,000 at the awards ceremony in Brussels in October 2016.
Valentino Megale at Open BioMedical Initiative said:
“The OBM Initiative was born from a simple idea: help people in a new way using the potentiality of new technologies and open collaboration among people. After 3 years of work with our community volunteers, gaining the attention and support of such an initiative as the EU Social Innovation Competition is an amazing confirmation of our commitment and passion. An opportunity to spread a new approach to technology and its social impact, that we definitely want to catalyse and spread with all passionated people that share our mission.”
Organised since 2012 in memory of Portuguese politician and social innovator Diogo Vasconcelos, the European Social Innovation Competition will help the most innovative ideas to turn into real and sustainable projects.
For full details please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/social-innovation-competition
Caricato il 07/06/2017
