Date of label : 29/10/2024
An outdoor event or conference, likely focused on social innovation and education.
Summary
The Human Power Hub (HPH) in Braga (PT) is a citizen-centric initiative developed under the URBACT Programme's Boosting Social Innovation network. It enhances public sector innovation in Braga, by promoting corporate social responsibility, and supporting scientific research and social entrepreneurship. Linked to Braga’s Municipal Strategic Plan for Social Innovation and the Braga Innovation Strategy 2020-2030, HPH provides incubation and support for social enterprises, organises collaborative projects, and promotes community engagement.
The solutions offered by the Good Practice
The Human Power Hub (HPH), Braga's Social Innovation Centre, is a citizen-centric initiative developed under URBACT's Boosting Social Innovation network and funded by Portugal Inovação Social. It creates a robust social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Braga by:
- Enhancing public sector innovation.
- Promoting corporate social responsibility.
- Supporting scientific research.
- Empowering social entrepreneurs.
HPH conducts diverse activities such as providing incubation support for social enterprises, organising collaborative projects, and promoting community engagement.
These efforts have improved public sector innovation, increased corporate social responsibility, strengthened research, and made a notable community impacts.
Areas for improvement include scaling successful initiatives, strengthening stakeholder engagement, enhancing financial sustainability, improving monitoring and evaluation, and expanding research and knowledge sharing.
HPH showcases Braga's coninued commitment to promoting social innovation. Since its inception:
- Over 60 new social solutions have been delivered by entrepreneurs.
- Over 100 social organisations have improved their governance.
- Universities have conducted several studies in the area of social innovation.
- HPH has supported many companies with their low-carbon (ESG) transition.
Building on the sustainable and integrated urban approach
The Human Power Hub (HPH) in Braga employs an integrated approach based on a Quadruple Helix model, a model of innovation that emphasises the importance of collaboration between science, policy, industry, and society.
The project addresses the three main dimensions of urban challenges:
Economic: HPH supports social entrepreneurship and innovation, providing incubation, mentorship, and resources for local social enterprises. This fosters job creation and sustainable economic growth, while promoting corporate social responsibility.
Social: HPH enhances public engagement by implementing community-driven projects and offering capacity-building programmes for citizens and social leaders. It addresses social issues such as unemployment, social exclusion, and inequality, improving the overall quality-of-life for residents.
Environmental: HPH promotes green and blue economies through initiatives focused on sustainability and environmental stewardship. Projects include green technological innovations, sustainable urban planning, and conservation efforts that address local environmental challenges.
By combining these dimensions, HPH creates a holistic ecosystem that leverages the strengths of civil society, the public and private sectors, and academic institutions. This integrated model facilitates the development of economically-viable, socially-inclusive, and environmentally-sustainable solutions.
Based on participatory approach
The Human Power Hub (HPH) in Braga exemplifies a participatory approach to addressing urban challenges, involving collaboration between a diverse range of stakeholders.
This participatory approach was evident in the establishment of the HPH itself, involving the collective efforts of civil society, local businesses, academic institutions, and public authorities. Through extensive consultations and workshops, these stakeholders identified the main social, economic, and environmental issues.
Key stakeholders include:
Municipality of Braga: Provides strategic oversight and facilitates public sector innovation.
Local businesses: Engaged through corporate social responsibility initiatives and support for social enterprises.
Academic institutions: Contribute through research, innovation, and educational programmes that align with HPH’s objectives.
Citizens: Participate in project design and implementation through community-driven initiatives, volunteering, and capacity-building programmes.
The participatory approach of HPH not only enhances the relevance and impact of its initiatives, but also builds a sense of ownership and commitment among all stakeholders, driving sustainable urban development.
What difference has it made?
The Human Power Hub (HPH) has made significant impacts at the local level in Braga, addressing key social, economic, and environmental challenges.
Impacts:
- Addressed issues such as unemployment, social exclusion, and lack of innovation in the public sector.
- Fostered social entrepreneurship, created new job opportunities and empowered local entrepreneurs.
- Promoted social responsibility among businesses, enhancing their contributions to community well-being.
- Driven initiatives focused on sustainability and green practices.
Achievements:
- Supported over 50 social enterprises, and created more than 200 jobs.
- Engaged over 1 000 citizens in capacity-building programmes, workshops, and community projects.
- Increased community-driven solutions and innovations addressing local issues.
- Benefitted the Social Network of Braga, with over 300 organisations directly involved in HPH activities.
Before the implementation of HPH, Braga faced high unemployment rates, limited public sector innovation, and low levels of community engagement. Thanks to the project, unemployment rates in the targeted areas have decreased by 15%, and there has been a noticeable increase in civic participation and volunteering.
Why this Good Practice should be transferred to other cities
Braga’s Human Power Hub (HPH) is highly relevant for other European cities wanting to integrate social innovation into urban development. The practice effectively combines public sector innovation, corporate social responsibility, scientific research, and social entrepreneurship to address local challenges.
HPH aligns with:
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure), and SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities).
- The Urban Agenda for the EU.
- The EU Territorial Agenda 2030.
HPH also aligns with the National Strategy for Social Innovation (Portugal 2030), which supports funding and strategic partnerships and so enhances HPH’s effectiveness.
The practice is highly adaptable to other city contexts. Its core principles of collaboration, social responsibility, and sustainability can be tailored to different urban environments. Adjustments can be made to align with local governance structures, cultural contexts, and specific social or economic challenges.
To transfer the HPH practice, key elements are needed:
- Strong stakeholder engagement with local governments, businesses, academia, and civil society.
- Adaptation to local governance, culture, and challenges.
- Adequate funding and resources.
- Training and capacity-building programmes.
- Shared documentation and best practices.
- Robust monitoring and evaluation.
- Alignment with relevant policies.
HPH has inspired similar initiatives in other cities, such as St. John, Canadá, and Malaga, Spain, through international social innovation networks. Stakeholders from these cities visited Braga, participated in workshops, and received training on best practices, to ensure that the core principles of HPH were respected.