Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL)

As the thoughtful leader and mastermind behind this groundbreaking effort, Giulio Pasi, Senior Policy Officer at the European Commission, has led the development of a transformational funding mechanism to strengthen the social impact investing market through impact performance intelligence services. The Social Innovation Call for Proposals he designed, launched and implemented is a €6 million initiative by the European Commission with disrupting potential.
This first-of-its-kind global initiative funds eight projects, all leveraging AI and deep-tech solutions, and has mobilized over 200 European actors around the call. It addresses structural weaknesses in the sector, such as hesitant institutional investors, impact washing, and a lack of accessible impact data. Unlike previous policy approaches that focused on supply-side funding, investment-readiness programs, and intermediaries, this initiative directly tackles market transparency and trust by supporting the development of data verification tools, impact performance benchmarking, and governance models.
By fostering informed investment decisions, strengthening trust among market actors, and overcoming scalability barriers for small service providers, this call aims to build a more structured, transparent, and investment-ready social innovation ecosystem. It also aligns with broader policy goals, potentially influencing future sustainable finance regulations.
This is not just another funding call—it is the first global initiative of its kind, marking a transformational shift toward a knowledge-driven, high-impact social investing framework, with Giulio Pasi’s vision and leadership at the forefront of this historic step forward.