According to the OECD "Social innovation refers to the design and implementation of new solutions that imply conceptual, process, product, or organisational change, which ultimately aim to improve the welfare and wellbeing of individuals and communities”.

Gladly, there are several initiatives across Europe working to bring innovation to society and fostering more inclusive and happy communities. It is key to connect them and have their key stakeholders discussing how to progress further.

The International Conference Learning and implementing social innovation – Talking about SHAFE will take place in Coimbra, on the 8-9 November 2022, co-organised by Coimbra Nursing School with SHINE 2Europe, AFEdemy and the COST Action NET4Age-Friendly.

It aims to expand knowledge and information about socially innovative networks and projects, give visibility to the participating initiatives, facilitate their interconnection and strengthen the community of social innovators in the field.

This 2-day event includes the International Conference and a Working Group 2 meeting of the COST Action NET4Age-Friendly (CA 19136), plus several project-related workshops and discussions on smart healthy age-friendly environments, and will take place in Campus A and C of the Nursing School of Coimbra, Portugal.

It will also host the multiplier events of the Erasmus+ projects STEP_UP, DESIRE, BIG and Hands-on-SHAFE.

The consortiums of the projects SIRENE (Horizon Europe coordinated by SHINE), BIG (Erasmus+ coordinated by AFEdemy) and SAVE (Erasmus+) will also join this mega gathering and host transnational project meetings on the 7th, 9th and 10th, back-to-back with this vibrant event and community.