Deadline Date: July 31, 2026
The New Solutions Lab is a national initiative in Ireland that supports individuals, groups, and organisations in developing, refining, and testing innovative solutions to social challenges while strengthening the country’s social innovation ecosystem.
The Lab focuses on exploring and defining social problems, developing practical and testable solutions, building skills in social innovation and problem-solving, fostering peer learning and collaboration, and connecting participants to further supports and opportunities.
The programme is designed for early-stage social innovators, people with lived experience of social issues, community activists, students, individuals, groups, and organisations interested in creating positive social change. Applicants do not need prior experience or a fully developed idea to participate.
The New Solutions Lab provides a structured learning environment through eight workshops delivered fortnightly using a blended model of online and in-person sessions. The programme is scheduled to begin in late September or October 2026.
The workshops will cover key areas including Introduction to Social Innovation, Problem Definition and Stakeholder Mapping, Systems Thinking, Theory of Change, Participatory Design, Testing and Piloting, Pitching and Storytelling, and Evaluation and Impact Measurement.
Participants will have the opportunity to develop a testable idea, gain practical social innovation skills, receive expert feedback, and connect with peers working on similar challenges. A small number of participants may also apply for a competitive seed grant of up to €5,000 to support the development of their solutions.
Applicants are not required to have a developed idea or previous experience but must demonstrate a commitment to actively engage throughout the programme. The Lab is open to applicants who are residents of the Republic of Ireland.
For more information, visit New Solutions.
