Today BBK Kuna opens a new Kuna-co Proiektuak call to promote innovation projects with a focus on the SDGs
BBK Kuna: The Home of the SDGs, launches a new KUNA-CO PROIEKTUAK call, an initiative with which the entity wants to promote Innovation Projects aimed at achieving the SDG in the Basque Country and in Bizkaia in particular. In this new call, the challenges to address are: TECH FOR GOOD; MIGRATION AND TALENT; AND NEW LONGEVITY.
BBK Kuna, by means of a reflection process through its board BBK Kuna Institutoa, has identified and prioritised the challenges the Territory of Bizkaia has to face. This call, precisely attempts to address some of those challenges defined more specifically and aimed at achieving the maximum impact and social benefit.
The innovation projects subject to be chosen must be submitted and led by entities who articulate their collaboration by means of a Consortium, namely, a group of entities who collaborate together to conduct the research and action work.
The consortium must be made up of at least two actors representing one of these fields: university, business, public administration or organised civil society. In coordination, they will submit a research proposal for one of the topics and challenges addressed.
One of the entities will lead the consortium. The entity will be called the coordinator. The leader/coordinator entity must be non-profit.
RESEARCH-ACTION PROJECT
The Kuna research-action methodology aims to change reality and not only examine it, seeking to produce valid and actionable knowledge. Thus, the proposal must include research on the topic selected, but should ensure a result in terms of a practical application, and a tangible and transferable action.
The call has a budget of 150,000 euros which will be distributed between the selected projects. The selection panel may select one or more projects for each challenge.
The project submission process will be in 2 phases:
PHASE 1: From 27 February to 27 March – Submission of abbreviated project.
PHASE 2: From 5April to 5 May. The projects who have made it through Phase 1 will submit a detailed project.
BASES: https://kuna.bbk.eus/proyecto/kuna-co-proiektuak/
CHALLENGES OF THE CALL The challenges that have to be met through the research action projects are:
- TECHNOLOGY FOR GOOD: “TECH FOR GOOD”
Digitalisation is everywhere. The digital transformation economy can change our way to view and do things and generate new entrepreneurship models, such as innovation by means of cooperation and new opportunities of social activism. The recent pandemic has accelerated the relevance of digitalisation in order to tackle all types of challenges and problems, not only as regards public health, but also in relation to work, administrative management, social policies, mobility, citizens’ participation and the climate emergency.
Consequently, this challenge looks for projects which rely on technology as leverage for doing good (Tech for Good). This call seeks disruptive ideas which, relying on technology, will positively impact the environment or social development.
- MIGRATION AND TALENT.
Social and economic transitions come together as a framework in this challenge which looks for projects linked to both. On the one hand, the economic downturn in the current situation has generated or is generating an impoverishment in society which may affect the sustainability of public policies and cause greater social inequalities. In addition, situations of inequality particularly affect vulnerable and violated collectives such as migrant collectives. On the other hand, the concern for creating, attracting and retaining talent in the territory of Bizkaia is shared by businesses, organisations and society. This makes it necessary to rethink and try to link the need of talent to these migratory itineraries, incorporating tools to prevent the brain drain in every direction.
This challenge seeks projects to identify those needs and the talent gap and propose a pilot project to help adjust the need or call.
- NEW LONGEVITY:
For the first time in the history of humanity, there are more people over 65 years of age than children under the age of five. Bizkaia is the most aged historical territory in the state. The Eustat population projections state that by 2031, 29% of the population in Bizkaia will be over the age of 65 and 10% over the age of 80.
Faced with this reality, a good number and diverse range of public and private institutions, both at a global as well as local level, point to the importance and the effect this change in the demographic structure will have in all walks of life. This demographic change requires rethinking about systems and structures, but also revising how we understand old age.
This challenge looks for projects to generate pilots that address the new longevity from a constructive view.
KUNA-CO PROIEKTUAK 2022
In the last Kuna-Co Proiektuak call the challenges addressed were: Migration and Prosperity: Inclusive Economic and Social Development; Humanistic Digital Transition; and Sustainable Gastronomy.
The project selected to address Migration and Prosperity: Inclusive Economic and Social Development was Ertzean whose aim is to improve the employability and quality of life of persons of foreign origin who work in the care sector, by designing and providing a service for guidance, accompaniment, and training for persons who are dependant and with disabilities, at home and/or in social institutions.
The project is developed by Grupo Servicios Sociales Integrados S.Coop.Grupo SSI, the Fundación Social Ignacio Ellacuría, Ikuspegi – Observatorio Vasco de Inmigración, and the University of Deusto.
Humanistic Digital Transition is addressed by the HUME group of the University of Deusto with the collaboration of Wikitoki and actors from four different fields: cybersecurity, protection of personal data, open government, and civil society.
It consists of conducting research aimed at identifying and assessing the accountability mechanisms in the governance of the Technological-Digital Transition (TTD) in Bizkaia, targeted towards the SDG.
Sustainable Gastronomy is addressed with a project developed by the Fundación AZTI-AZTI Fundazioa along with the participation of the Basque Know How Fundazioa (BKHF) and the Gorka Izagirre Winery (BGI). In the case of BKHF, it will bring together and coordinate the gastronomy sector and its value chain. For its part, the Gorka Izagirre winery, will act as a liaison with the primary sector and provide the project with its knowhow, as well as the necessary means to approach this part of the project.