NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

The Social Innovation Tournament is the flagship initiative of the Institute’s Social Programme. It is organised every year in a different country to reward and sponsor European entrepreneurs whose primary purpose is to generate a social, ethical or environmental impact. Three prizes are awarded by a jury, composed of specialists from the academic and business world: General Category 1st and 2nd Prizes of EUR 25 000 and EUR 10 000 respectively and a Special Category Prize of EUR 25 000. In 2015, the Special Category Prize will go to projects addressing equal opportunities issues with a special emphasis on people with disabilities. Projects are typically related to fighting unemployment, marginalisation of disadvantaged communities and promoting access to education in a wide range of fields, from education and health care to natural or urban environment, through new technologies, new systems, and new processes. The Tournament runs in two rounds. A Selection Committee comprised mainly of EIB Group experts in innovation, the environment, and other relevant disciplines selects 15 projects. The finalists are invited to a mentoring boot camp to provide them with the necessary guidance for the finalisation of their proposals. In the Final Event, all the finalists have to present and defend their project to a jury composed of social innovation specialists.