With sociovation to innovation

16.05.2023 - The Hannover Region supports socio-ecological innovations with a fund

v.l.n.r. Berit Lüdecke (Region Hannover), Vanessa Thielemann (BrALI CoWorkation Retreats), Astrid Nienaber (kreHtiv Netzwerk Hannover e. V.), Wirtschaftsdezernent der Region Hannover Ulf-Birger Franz, Mehimede Hempel-Tchonda (TogoColor) & Ute Friese (Aktion Kindertraum) — f.l.t.r. Berit Lüdecke (Region Hannover), Vanessa Thielemann (BrALI CoWorkation Retreats), Astrid Nienaber (kreHtiv Netzwerk Hannover e. V.), Ulf-Birger Franz (Head of Economic Affairs of the Region Hannover), Mehimede Hempel-Tchonda (TogoColor) & Ute Friese (Aktion Kindertraum)

With theSOZIOVATIONproject, the Hannover Region promotes socially innovative project ideas and start-ups in order to support the innovative strength of the Hannover Region of the Future.

Since 2022, the Hannover Region has beenprovidingfundingof up to €30,000, which can be applied for by non-profit organizations, start-ups and founders.

27 projects have beenfunded in the project period to date and these demonstrate the widerange of socio-ecological, innovative ideas and business models inthe Hannover Region. The applicants are supported by thekreHtivNetwork Hannover, which also accompanies the funded projects until they are completed.

"The fund shows how great the innovative strength is in the start-up scene in the Hannover Region: we have reached so many founders in such a short space of time that we have even exceeded our targets"

Ulf-Birger Franz, Head of Economic Affairs of the Hannover Region

In order to be able to support all eligible projects this year, the Committee for Economic Affairs and Employment has thereforegiventhe green light to increasethe total funding amount by 100,000 euros. The founders are supported in their implementation by the kreHtiv Network Hannover.

"Non-profit projects rarely have the necessary equity to develop the first prototypes from ideas. With the fund, we are closing this gap and creating the necessary framework conditions for founders from the social-creative scene to innovate in a way that will benefit society in the future."

Ulf-Birger Franz, Head of Economic Affairs of the Hannover Region

"We are delighted to be able to support the implementation of these diverse projects. From the initial consultation through to implementation, we are there for the founders and non-profit organizations and experience first-hand how diverse the ideas are here in the Hannover Region. The fact that further innovative projects can be supported thanks to the promised increase in the total funding amount is a positive signal for the start-up scene. We are sure that we will once again meet with huge interest here"

Astrid Nienaber, project manager at kreHtiv

The entrepreneurs and organizations that have already received support include
Mehimede Hempel-Tchonda from TogoColor, Vanessa Thielemann from BrALI
CoWorkation Retreats and Ute Friese from Aktion Kindertraum:

TogoColor

TogoColor isa social, sustainable fashion label from Hanover that sources fabrics from Togo. In her project, founder Mehimede Hempel-Tchonda makes the seamstresses and designers from Togo visible in a video. She is also procuring new machines to further professionalize the work.

With BrAli CoWorkation Retreats

With BrAli CoWorkation Retreats, founder Vanessa Thielemann organizes sustainable
workation and offsite formats at natural locations inGermany.

At a time when many employees are no longer in the office every day, work and team cohesion are becoming a challenge. In its SOZIOVATION-funded project, BrAli is working with companies and their teams to develop team-building and training workstations at locations throughout Germany that focus on sustainability.

From silence to sound

Allowing hearing-impaired children to experience music for the first time. Giving them the chance to learn an instrument and make music together with their peers. To pave the way for them into the acoustic world and thus create important conditions for their social participation. "From silence to sound" stands for all these goals. This project trains music teachers at Aktion Kindertraum to enable hearing-impaired children to hear and learn better by learning a musical instrument such as the violin or piano.

SOZIOVATION supports organizations from the social economy, start-ups and (future) founders from the social-creative scene. Applicants based in the Hannover Region must address at least one of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals with their projects.

These include, for example, the fight against poverty and hunger, gender equality, affordable energy, fewer inequalities and climate protection measures. Special consideration is given to funding priorities such as the creation of jobs for disadvantaged groups in the labour market or non-profit organizations with digital or technological solutions for greater participation.

Funding can be applied for in three different models, while the first level up to €10,000 can be applied for without the use of own funds, the second (up to €20,000) and third (up to €30,000) levels require own funds.

The project sponsor of SOZIOVATION is the kreHtiv Network Hanover. All information on funding and the application process can be found at soziovation.de.