Impact Policy Tracker Policy

Innova Social



Innova Social is a programme led by CORFO (a public agency created to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment across Chile) that aims to promote social innovation by supporting projects that offer creative solutions to complex social and environmental challenges. It provides public funding and technical assistance to initiatives driven by civil society organisations, businesses, and other actors working to improve the well-being of vulnerable communities in Chile. The programme finances pilot projects and prototypes that demonstrate innovative approaches to public problems, with a focus on generating scalable and sustainable impact.

Highlights

  • Dedicated to address key social impact challenges: the programme targets a broad range of social and environmental issues, including the inclusion of marginalised groups, advancing gender equality, promoting circular economy practices, improving social cohesion and productivity, enhancing access to and efficient use of water resources; reducing territorial inequality and preserving local cultural, social, and productive heritage tied to regional identity.

  • Regional and local focus: each call for proposals is tailored to specific territories, and applicants must align their projects with the locally prioritised challenges, as the programme is co-funded by CORFO and each relevant regional government. The programme explicitly promotes territorial participation and collaboration among key local actors, aiming to build lasting innovation capabilities in those regions. This place-based approach ensures that solutions are not only context-relevant but also strengthen local social and productive ecosystems.

Government’s Role:
Market Facilitator


Country:
Chile

Policy Type:
Capacity Building Programmes

Year: 2023

Responsible Institution:
Production Development Corporation (CORFO)

Capacity Building Programmes

What are capacity building programmes for impact-driven enterprises?

Capacity-building programmes aim to strengthen the skills, systems, and strategies of impact-driven enterprises so they can grow sustainably, deliver measurable social or environmental outcomes, and attract investment. These programmes typically provide targeted support such as business planning, financial management, impact measurement and management (IMM), legal and governance structuring, and market access. Support may come in the form of technical assistance, training, mentorship, grants, or facilitated access to networks of investors and advisors. Capacity-building programmes often involve partnerships between governments, private sector actors, and intermediary organisations (such as incubators or accelerators). These programmes aim to bridge the gap between promising impact-focused initiatives and the investment ecosystem, enabling them to scale their operations and increase their positive impact.