Social Innovation – Empowering the Young for the Common Good The aim of SocIEtY is to explore how social innovation can help create social and institutional opportunities which will better enable young people, aged 15-24 years, to live lives they have reason to value.   Description Using Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach as a framework, the project will seek to develop a broad knowledge base to foster socially innovative policymaking. Using quantitative and qualitative methods SocIEtY will build knowledge on : how existing policies and social practices of networks of social support tackle the problems faced by disadvantaged young people; how far, and in what ways, young people’s ideas, experiences, aspirations and voices can be included in policymaking; and how social innovation can link these two issues, leading to social inclusion and to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. SocIEtY draws together 13 partners from different disciplines in 11 European countries (Germany, UK, France, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Romania, Austria, Switzerland) and is funded through the EU’s 7th Framework. Work Packages WP1: Management WP2: Theoretical Framework WP3: Socio-economic political context WP4: Design for participatory research WP5: Participatory research WP6: Dissemination Participating Institutions • Bielefeld University (Co-ordinator) • Edinburgh Napier University • Center for Research on Qualifications • Aarhus University • University of Pavia • University of Amsterdam • University of Ghent • Universidad Politécnica de Valencia • University of Bucharest • BBJ Consult AG • Working Life Research Centre • Johannes Kepler University • University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland Funding Duration Webpage Contact EU 7th Framework January 2013 – December 2015 www.society- youth.eu v.egdell@napier.ac. uk