Connecting minds and hearts?

European Research funding sets the stage for social innovation agenda within  member states and bordering countries.

A last shot is fired to provide cover for the European Project. Many months of prepration have resulted in this last attempt to set the stage for Social Innovation in Europe.

Despite the increasing fragility of its members states (or should we say 'thanks to') the European Commission is throwing in her last resort option: massive funding to connect the minds of the European brightest thinkers.

Asian competition
The EC has been grippling with a decreasing demand from industries that already shifted their focus to Asia and South America where emerging economies supply fresh minds and souls for their modernization agenda's. This FP7 call is a last attempt to connect the minds of scientists to the hands of industries. It's successor, the new Horizon 2020 programme will hopefully finally endeavor to make the heart connection.

Heart connections
Because that's what is missing in the European project: heart connections. Many social entrepreneurs have been calling for this but had to divert their voice to audiences in Asia and southern nations where more ears were listening. The 'Dance4Life' type of festivals lost the battleground to souls that still dwell on individual gain as the main driver of change. Which may be true, but the change it drives is not supported by many.

Let us hope the bits and pieces in this last call for action of FP7 targeting social innovation, will manage to make the heart connection between Europeans of different origin, but also between Europeans, Africans, Asians and South-Americans (and possibly even North-Americans) in a common thrive for more durable ways of living.

More information on this call on YourAcademy pages.

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