Innovation is often pictured as a lone inventor in a laboratory. But in the world of social innovation, the best tools are built by a “village.”
At DIAMOND Empower, we have been working hard at developing the ᴱGROW Index, a tool designed to help people navigate the modern job market by mapping their skills, motivation, and readiness for work. But how does a tool like this actually come to life?
A “Common Front” of Expertise
To create something that truly supports people facing economic or social barriers, we needed a multidisciplinary team. This meant bringing together different worlds that don’t always speak the same language:
- The Scientists: Researchers from leading European universities dived deep into the psychology of employment. They explored what truly drives motivation and how “digital readiness” affects a person’s ability to find a career they love.
- The Builders: Technology experts and developers took those complex scientific findings and translated them into a digital prototype. Their goal? To make the tech smart enough to be powerful, but simple enough for anyone to use.
- The Reality Check: Perhaps most importantly, we stepped out of the offices and into the community. Through workshops with grassroots organizations and practitioners, we put the prototype to the test. These “reality checks” ensured the ᴱGROW Index stays practical, accessible, and aligned with what people actually need in the real world.
Why Diversity Matters for Innovation
This collaboration reflects a core principle of the European Pillar of Social Rights: the belief that everyone has the right to quality education and support that leads to employment.
As we recently celebrated International Women’s Day, we are reminded that diverse teams are the secret ingredient to successful innovation. When we combine the perspectives of different genders, cultures, and professional backgrounds, we build tools that work for everyone, not just a few.
What’s Next?
The ᴱGROW Index is currently being refined based on the feedback from our community partners. We are moving closer to a final version that will empower individuals across Europe to bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be.
Because at the end of the day, real innovation is about the people who build it and the people who use it.
It takes a village. And we’re proud of ours.
Source: European Commission, The European Pillar of Social Rights in 20 principles
Partners:
- Aarhus Universitet
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Universidad de Burgos
- Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
- Universität Wien
CETIC - Immersion
- European Centre for Economic and Policy Analysis and Affairs
- Evolutionary Archetypes Consulting SL
- Proportional Message Associacao
- Ente Morale Giacomo Feltrinelli per l’incremento Dell’Istruzione Tecnica
- Deinde Spolka Z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnoscia
- Fundacja Obiektywna
- Youth Power Germany EV
- Fundación Miradas
Funding Agency: European Research Executive Agency (REA)
