“The technological dimension of social innovation”, conference organized by the CDTI in Madrid
On June 9, 2025, ALC participated in the conference “The technological dimension of social innovation”, organized by the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI) at its headquarters in Madrid. The meeting brought together representatives of the public administration, technology centers and organizations specialized in social innovation to reflect on how to integrate the social dimension in public policies for technological innovation.
The conference was opened by José Moisés Martín Carretero, Director General of the CDTI, and Patricia Bezunartea, Director General of Family Diversity and Social Services of the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030. Both highlighted the importance of aligning technological innovation with the most urgent and complex social challenges.
During the session, Itziar Moreno, co-director of ALC, together with Berta González (Cabinet of the Secretary of State for Social Rights) presented the BIRDS project and the digital strategy of the Competence Centers for Social Innovation. In her speech, it was underlined that “the Competence Centers for Social Innovation are key structures that interconnect and mobilize capacities, knowledge and different actors and levels of government, using social innovation as a means to drive responses to the most complex challenges of our society and the transformation of public policies.”
A complex social challenge is a systemic, dynamic and multisectoral challenge that does not admit single or previously known solutions, but requires multiple responses based on transverse collaboration, collective experimentation and social innovation. To address them, integrative approaches are required, such as:
- Transversal and integral collaboration
- Co-creation and social innovation
- Adaptive solutions and deep structural transformations (systemic)
