Because inclusion matters!

The Social Inclusion Incubator (IWS) was more than just a project — it was a catalyst that sparked transformation where it was most needed. It provided people with concrete tools, space, and support to make their initiatives come alive. Grounded in grassroots ideas and collaboration, we supported them through mentoring, grants, and guidance. Out of over 250 proposals, 60 entered the testing phase, and 9 were implemented and scaled up.

IWS built on our previous mission of promoting equality and accessibility, but this time extended beyond Lesser Poland — achieving national reach and impact. Although a public administration initiative, we operated like a dynamic social startup. We adopted business-world approaches — flexibility, prototyping, testing — and adapted them to modern social challenges. This created a safe environment for experimentation and development of solutions tailored to real needs.

Dot by dot, we built the project’s pillars of innovation:

• Integrated approach – we combined educational, social, and economic measures, creating a holistic support system for people at risk of exclusion.
• Individualization – each innovator received tailored support based on their needs and experience. Even individuals without prior innovation experience were welcome.
• Network building – we fostered collaboration among government agencies, NGOs, businesses, educational institutions, and individuals.
• Data-driven work – the entire process was based on diagnostics, analysis, and evaluation, allowing ongoing improvement of solutions.
• Participation – we involved people from excluded groups as co-creators of innovations, restoring their agency and self-worth.

Our approach gained recognition at the European level — the European Commission highlighted IWS as an inspiring practice in its report “Social innovation: inspirational practices supporting people throughout their lives.”

Why does it work? Because it lives!

IWS influenced social policy development and improved quality of life across the country. A key phase was dissemination — innovations reached the communities they were designed for, with some already integrated into institutional practice and strategic documents. Our actions continue:

1. Leveling the playing field in cases where there’s a gap between needs and opportunities, including:
   1. equal access to services (e.g. HearIT, an e‑learning platform teaching coding to Deaf users),
   2. equal access to healthcare (e.g. Health Guide PL, a healthcare system guide for foreigners),
   3. support for marginalized communities (e.g. Portable modular bathrooms, a low‑cost sanitary solution for homes without facilities),
   4. enhancing culture and tourism (e.g. Blue Sea Eye, a mobile device with a compass interface and app enabling blind and visually impaired users to independently steer boats).
2. Empowering local communities by fostering inclusive jobs, educational activities, and social activation of marginalized groups, while minimizing risk for innovators.
3. Engaging citizens – people from excluded groups and users (e.g., caregivers, supporting institutions) participated in creating solutions, co-shaping public policy.
4. Building sensory capital via inclusive competence development and education.
5. Supporting rural areas — implementing innovations in rural regions helped reduce regional disparities.
6. Creating a cooperative network — innovators from across the country connected to share knowledge and experience.

We changed the rules of the game — 8 steps to action

We used our eight-stage incubation model, starting with needs diagnosis and trend analysis, through workshop work (e.g. innovation marathons), local testing with target groups, to implementation and scaling of the best solutions. Beneficiaries included people with disabilities, refugees, the homeless, youth (including those from care institutions), and seniors. Participants included individuals, NGOs, public institutions, and businesses. With simplified procedures (based on results rather than spending, and less bureaucracy), plus ongoing project team support, we created a safe environment for experimentation and building practical solutions. Each innovation underwent evaluation to assess its effectiveness, scalability, and social impact. The project continued earlier efforts promoting accessibility, equality, and social integration.

IWS is a flexible model for testing social innovation. It allows creation of solutions that precisely respond to users’ needs. Easily adaptable to different local contexts and issues, it operates on local, regional, and supra-regional levels. At every stage, it involves both users and experts — from diagnosis and creation to testing and evaluation. Innovators receive comprehensive support: knowledge, tools, mentoring, and networking opportunities. The model includes three-stage evaluation to determine each innovation’s implementation potential. Resulting innovations are ready for use and adaptation by users with diverse needs.

We don’t stop change!

The Social Inclusion Incubator is not an archive of ideas — it delivers tangible, practical responses to the challenges confronting people at risk of exclusion — flexible, scalable, and ready to deploy. Some activities continue under new initiatives: “Social Inclusion Incubator 2.0” and “Sensitive Service – spreading social innovation in local communities.”

The aim of Social Inclusion Incubator 2.0 is to increase uptake of social innovations in the broad process of social inclusion for people at risk (including children) through incubation and acceleration of new products, services, methods, and IT solutions. We will develop, fund, and test 32 innovative ideas, with 12 entering an acceleration phase to refine them for broader accessibility. The nine best solutions will be recommended for nationwide dissemination.

Meanwhile, the pilot project “Sensitive Service – spreading social innovation in local communities” runs in Lesser Poland, aiming to implement and disseminate social services based on innovative solutions developed in prior incubators (Social Innovation Incubator, Accessibility Incubator, Social Inclusion Incubator). Through grant mechanisms, we aim to deploy innovative services and products that improve life quality for Małopolska residents and increase civic engagement.