2nd DANUBE REGION SOCIAL INNOVATION SUMMIT

Caring Communities in Focus: Ruse Hosts the Second Danube Social Innovation Summit

Social innovation starts with connection — and even science is paying attention.

From 13 to 16 May 2025, the University of Ruse “Angel Kanchev” welcomed participants from across Europe for the Second Danube Region Social Innovation Summit. The event brought together policymakers, researchers, NGOs, business leaders, and students to explore collaborative approaches for building Caring Communities across the Danube Region.

Highlights from the Summit

Key moments included:

Workshops and sessions on the Social Innovation Lab (SIL) and Accelerator, financial planning, and project development.
A focus on impact evaluation, combining dashboards and qualitative insights to ensure meaningful results beyond the project’s lifetime.
World Café 2025, where participants explored digital solutions to reduce loneliness, improve safety and mobility, and support caregivers in Bulgaria’s care sector.

Strengthening European Collaboration

A major milestone was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between:

University of Ruse
University of Heidelberg
Diakonie Baden
Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

This partnership paves the way for joint research, innovation, and education initiatives in the field of care and social inclusion.

Shaping the Future of Social Care

In his keynote, Professor Andreas Schröer emphasized the urgency of rethinking care systems amid demographic changes. He presented the Swiss Caring Community Network as a model for how trust-based, community-driven solutions can address real social needs.

The summit reinforced a powerful message: