Towards social and solidarity-based digital technology, the Social Tech Academy project innovates!

The tech sector and the social economy sector both have great potential in terms of job development in Europe in the coming years. The “Social Tech Academy” project led by Social Good Accelerator (SOGA) and in which POUR LA SOLIDARITÉ-PLS is a partner is located at the intersection of these two worlds.

On 01 and 02 December, the project partners met in Barcelona at the premises of the partner ESPLAI.

The Social Tech Academy team met in Barcelona, Spain in December 2022

In a social model where cases of illiteracy and digital divide are still visible, for social and/or generational reasons, it is crucial to incorporate “more social good in tech, more tech in social good”. Social economy organisations themselves need to get into the digital age. Thus, it is important that social economy organisations benefit from organisational and systemic change support. This is the objective of the Social Tech Academy (STA) project.

The last meeting of the project allowed for the establishment and reinforcement of mutual exchanges and the co-construction of the first result of the project: the Social Tech Academy framework. This is the result of a research and discussion on the need to increase skills and recruitment in the digital sector of the social economy. The publication will soon be available online on the project website.

If the social economy is to emerge as the new viable model for the European Union, Social Tech must develop for a digital public good. POUR LA SOLIDARITE – PLS is part of the framework of action that mixes the social economy and social tech. Like the dynamic launched by the Transition Pathway – for the green and digital transitions – technical, innovative and social projects are flourishing within the social economy. Here are the reasons to join the movement:

– The digital transition of social economy organisations – especially associations – is a political unthinkable;
– The digital transition is a systemic change (cultural and organisational);
– The need to strengthen organisations before funding projects, through a useful and responsible digital transformation;
– The Social Economy has its own digital champions, which should be supported;
– The topic needs more cooperation.

A working session between the involved partners in the premices of Fundación Esplai in December 2022

Pour La Solidarité 

The Social Tech Academy team