Center for Open Social Innovation

We Create Solutions.

To society's greatest challenges through Open Social Innovation.

We bring together academia, government, industry and civil society to co-create innovative, sustainable and human-centred solutions that generate measurable social impact.

Explore our work

COSI facilitating a European Social Economy Summit session

Open Social Innovation

Research · Collaboration · Sustainable impact

About COSI

Ideas become action through collaboration.

We believe that the world's most complex challenges cannot be solved by one organisation alone.

Through collaborative innovation processes, design thinking, systems thinking and stakeholder engagement, we enable organisations to develop practical solutions with lasting impact.

Our work combines research, digital innovation, education and facilitation to create ecosystems where ideas become action.

How we work

Four connected practices

Collaborative methods grounded in research, participation and practical outcomes.

Policy Hackathons

Co-create public policy with citizens, experts and decision-makers through structured innovation processes.

Design Sprints

Develop and validate innovative solutions rapidly using human-centred design methodologies.

Impact Events

Facilitate conferences, innovation labs and collaborative workshops that inspire action.

Knowledge Sharing

Transform research and expertise into practical learning experiences through workshops, online education and digital collaboration.

Our approach

VICE

Our innovation framework guides organisations from identifying challenges to implementing sustainable solutions.

Vision

Innovation

Collaboration

Execution

Current projects & research

Selected initiatives

Programmes connecting expertise, entrepreneurship and public purpose.

Incubator / Accelerator

European Impact Hero

Europe's first accelerator for sustainable and impact-driven start-ups working in climate action, circular economy and sustainable supply chains.

Incubator / Accelerator

Digital Social Innovation Lab

Empowering the next generation of social entrepreneurs through digital innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Innovation

Canvas for Social Impact & Environment

A practical framework helping organisations design projects that generate measurable social and environmental value alongside economic sustainability.

Workshop / Education

FCCI Cacao Academy at Harvard University

Digital farmer education and peer learning across global cacao value chains, developed with the Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute.

Innovation

Cooperation for a Gender-Equal Social Economy (Coop4Equality)

Promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusion across the European social entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Event

European Social Economy Summit

A gathering of policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers and civil society leaders committed to advancing the European social economy.

Workshop / Lecture

Mindful Entrepreneurship Lecture at Mannheim Business School

Exploring how entrepreneurs can build resilient, purpose-driven organisations by combining entrepreneurial thinking with mindfulness and responsible leadership.

FCCI Cacao Academy at Harvard University Cooperation for a Gender-Equal Social Economy (Coop4Equality)European Social Economy Summit Mindful Entrepreneurship Lecture at Mannheim Business School

Partners & collaborators

Working across sectors

Contact

Let's create solutions together.

Center for Open Social Innovation
Zeppelinstraße 189
69121 Heidelberg, Germany

Get in touch

Manuel.Kreitmeir@cosi.social