Social Impact Challenge

The Social Innovation Prize from the Lisbon City Council, organized by the Unicorn Factory Lisboa and supported by the European Innovation Council, aims to discover and support innovative and impactful solutions that can be applied to the city of Lisbon.

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

€360,000 in Prize

€120,000 per Category

rules and regulations

Social innovation for the well-being of our community.

Social innovation for the well-being of our community. Social innovation for the well-being of our community.

Get to know the finalists

Quality of Education
Growappy is a digital platform for Primary Education that uses AI to personalize education from early childhood, reduce the bureaucracy on education professionals, and facilitate communication between schools and families.

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Quality of Education
Jade developed a game-based platform fast-tracking education for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or other learning disabilities, helping their cognitive development and using technology for inclusive education.

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Quality of Education
ubbu is an EdTech platform that revolutionises computer science education for children aged 6 to 12, transforming coding into an engaging adventure through gamification, interactive activities, and project-based learning.

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Access to Healthcare
Usawa Care makes good use of advanced digital and AI technology to improve quality and access to pediatric healthcare and dramatically scale the number of children that a single pediatrician can safely treat.

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Access to Healthcare
RadiSen combines edge computing, cloud, and AI technologies to provide advanced diagnostic solutions for chest x-rays, mammograms, and more. This enables radiologists to diagnose anomalies in patients more efficiently.

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Access to Healthcare
Virtuleap works at the intersection between neurosciences and technology. The Enhance4All project, aims to promote mental and cognitive health to elderly citizens by making VR-based cognitive training accessible to this population.

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Integration of Migrants
A decentralized identification solution created to improve the integration of migrants and global talent. Uses AI to verify and contextualize skills and credentials, enabling individuals and societies unlock opportunities.

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Integration of Migrants
"MAGOS for All" by Class of Wonders is an innovative adaptation of our existing gamified Portuguese learning platform, that will be specifically designed to address the language learning needs of migrant children.

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Integration of Migrants
Commu is a platform of helping - let’s say a "Tinder for Good Deeds".
Commu matches people who want to help with people who need, through an easy-to-use mobile app.

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Quality of Education

Solutions focused on improving the lives of students and innovating in Primary, Secondary, and University education. We are looking for:

Primary and Secondary Education

Increasing learning capacity, especially in mathematics and sciences
Reinforcing technological skills
Promoting creative and critical thinking
Testing alternative learning methods
Increasing students' access to university education
Strengthening the city's capacity to attract teachers.

Universities

Reducing the cost of living for university students
Facilitating access to housing
Improving access to financial support

Low Qualifications
In 2021, over 30% of the population in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area lacked a high school diploma, significantly higher than other European capitals like Paris (12%), London (15%), or Madrid (25%). This educational disparity contributes to socio-economic challenges, limiting opportunities for higher education and perpetuating cycles of poverty.
Shortage of Teachers
Moreover, Portugal's education system faces a shortage of teachers and outdated teaching methods. Between 2012 and 2022, the country struggled to attract talent to the education sector, resulting in students lacking teachers for at least one course. Additionally, the aging teacher population and limited young professionals exacerbate the problem.
Decreased Performance
This educational crisis is underscored by Portugal's declining performance in global education rankings, such as the PISA ranking, with poor results in mathematics, life sciences, and literature. Urgent investment in alternative education models is imperative to address this persistent challenge and provide youth with the necessary tools to break free from poverty.

Access to Healthcare

Solutions to increase the quality of life and support patients in need of medical care. We are looking for:

Increasing the reach of preventive healthcare, including the use of wearables for medical purposes
Strengthening the management of chronic diseases, promoting medication adherence, and monitoring patients
Increasing the city's capacity to attract healthcare professionals. Increasing access to family doctors
Reducing or eradicating waiting lists
Promoting healthy lifestyles
Increasing access to specialized care, such as dental, ophthalmological, mental health, and basic maternal and child care services.

Access to Healthcare
The correlation between quality of life, poverty, and healthcare underscores the importance of providing vulnerable populations with access to effective healthcare services. Portugal faces significant challenges in healthcare, with high rates of chronic diseases like diabetes and widespread reports of poor health among the population.
Cost-related barriers prevent many low-income individuals from accessing essential healthcare services, exacerbating health disparities. Obesity rates are above the EU average, and physical inactivity is prevalent, contributing to poor health outcomes. Depression rates are high, particularly among women and low-income individuals.
Shortage of Some Health Professionals
Attracting young healthcare professionals is a major challenge, with Portugal experiencing a shortage of nurses, especially in the Lisbon capital. Additionally, a significant portion of Lisbon's population lacks access to a family doctor, further hindering healthcare accessibility.

Integration of Migrants

Solutions to promote social integration and improve the quality of life of migrants. We are looking for:

Improving the exchange of information between public institutions, NGOs, and the private sector
Facilitating navigation through bureaucratic procedures
Increasing housing solutions
Improving access to data and tools for monitoring the situation on the ground
Supporting job search efforts
Combating racism and discrimination

Barriers upon Arrival
Immigration plays a vital role in Lisbon's economy and cultural diversity, with foreign residents now comprising a significant portion of the population. However, many immigrants encounter significant challenges upon arrival, including language barriers, housing insecurity, bureaucratic hurdles, and job scarcity.
Increase in Homelessness
In Lisbon, homelessness among immigrants has risen in recent times, prompting the municipality to invest in a new action plan to address the issue.
High Levels of Bureaucracy
Nationally, there are also currently thousands of pending applications at the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), with many immigrants facing complex bureaucratic processes.