Nova SBE Wins ERA Chair for the First Time
Promoted by Nova | 06 April 2020 Nova SBE Wins ERA Chair for the First Time

Nova SBE has been awarded a European Research Area (ERA) Chair, for the first time in its history. ERA denotes that these are special awards from the European Union (EU) to help consolidate high capability research skills across the European Research Area.

The European Commission selected the SOCIALinNOVA-HUB project for funding. With the coordination of Professor Daniel Traça, this project aims to position the School as a European reference in social innovation research.

This 2.5 M € project is no doubt the result of Nova SBE's and Portugal's pioneering spirit and credibility for rigorously implemented social innovation initiatives. Nova SBE will use this award to implement structural changes, therefore increasing its research capacity, visibility, and competitiveness. The Nova SBE Leadership for Impact Knowledge Center was the main contributor to apply for this chair, and it will provide project management support.

This funding will permit SOCIALinNOVA-HUB to pursue the recruitment of an internationally acclaimed professor and researcher in social innovation, and a team to develop this area across education, research, and community engagement. Quality teaching in social innovation, strengthening research operations, and the expansion of international research networks are some of the principal goals of this project. The ERA Chair will also actively contribute to the structure of the European Research Area.

Also, the co-creation of a social innovation area will be promoted. This will support the social initiatives the School undertakes and its network of stakeholders in this area, which include organizations that supported the project. Among these are Portugal Inovação Social, the Cascais Municipality, BPI/Fundação "La Caixa", Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Ashoka, Impact Hub, IES-Social Business School, Maze, and Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa.

SOCIALinNOVA-HUB is related to Nova SBE's mission – "a community dedicated to the development of talent and knowledge that impacts the world." Society faces many challenges, hampering progress, and a sustainable future. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, to which this ERA Chair aims to contribute, are a universal and interdisciplinary calling to confront these challenges as a community of stakeholders.

Social innovation combines social and economic convergence, entrepreneurship, and innovation. It brings new ideas, products, services, and models. Consequently, there is a strong need to promote excellence in social innovation research so it can effectively contribute to solving global challenges - impacting civil society, public, private, and third sectors.

Nova SBE will become a reference in social innovation education and research in Europe, focusing on producing knowledge and stimulating a growing number of local and European social innovation initiatives. We anticipate the outputs from this new initiative will contribute to the social innovation ecosystem, helping the European Union to contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

"Social innovation and talent recruitment are strategic axis for NOVA University Lisbon, which aims to serve its community through knowledge. Only this way can we contribute to a more equitable, cohesive, and inclusive society. I congratulate Nova SBE for the work that it has been developing, and that makes us all proud" - João Sàágua, Rector of NOVA University Lisbon.

“We are proud to have been awarded a European Research Area (ERA) Chair, for the first time in our history. The area of Social Innovation is particularly relevant in the current context. In the face of unprecedented societal and economic reality, social innovation initiatives will undoubtedly play an essential role in the reconstruction of Europe. The future social innovation hub at Nova SBE will be a crucial source of differentiation and impact for our School.” - Daniel Traça, Dean of Nova SBE.

"The School's strategic goal is to produce impactful scientific knowledge relevant to society in general. The ERA Chair is a key contribution. It gives us the chance to recruit a group of renowned professors and researchers in the social innovation area", clarifies Miguel Ferreira, President of Nova SBE's Scientific Council. Professor Miguel also states that the "ERA Chair demonstrates the "ability that Nova SBE has to attract international research funds."

 

About the ERA Chair: ERA Chairs stand for bringing excellence to institutions. ERA Chairs projects bring outstanding academics, with proven research excellence and management skills, to universities and research institutions in Widening countries with potential for research excellence. They aim to attract and maintain high-quality human resources under the direction of an outstanding researcher (the 'ERA Chair holder') while at the same time implementing structural changes necessary to achieve excellence on a sustainable basis.

What's happening