The Seal of Excellence is a new initiative promoted by Torino Social Impact within the framework of the Social Economy Projects HUB, in collaboration with Weco Impresa Sociale and with the support of Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo.

The initiative aims to recognise projects supported by the HUB that, despite receiving a positive evaluation from the European Commission, were not funded due to the exhaustion of available resources. These proposals demonstrate high project quality and strong strategic relevance for the social economy ecosystem, and therefore deserve further support and development.

The Seal of Excellence is inspired by the recognition model awarded by the European Commission and seeks to strengthen the strategic alignment between supported proposals and:

• local policies and development plans;
• the priorities of the social economy, particularly in terms of innovation, inclusion and impact;
• the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the proposed interventions.

A quality recognition for high-impact projects

Within the HUB, the Seal of Excellence represents a pilot initiative designed to enhance and support high social impact projects developed by organisations within the ecosystem. It is a quality recognition granted to initiatives that have benefited from the HUB’s support when applying to European programmes and have received a positive evaluation, even if they were not ultimately funded.

Through this instrument, Torino Social Impact aims to strengthen the link between European project development and local funding opportunities, recognising the value of the expertise developed and reducing the loss of resources, know-how and investments that often results from unsuccessful European funding applications.

Funding and eligibility criteria

For the 2026 pilot phase, a total contribution of €100,000 has been allocated.

Partner organisations of Torino Social Impact may apply with projects that meet the following criteria:

• the project was supported by the HUB in relation to a European call;
• the project was formally submitted and received a negative outcome or was placed on a reserve list;
• the project achieved a high quality threshold, verified through the score received in the European evaluation process.
• The applicant organisation, acting on behalf of the entire partnership, must also:
• authorise the full sharing of the project with the HUB, the Steering Committee and the Evaluation Commission;
• accept the rules regarding intellectual property, content use and communication of the Seal;
• confirm the willingness of the European partnership to implement or redefine the project — including budget adjustments — for the whole partnership or part of it;
• ensure, in the event of funding, the proper management of the entire project budget, assuming an administrative and financial coordination role and acting as the operational link for the partnership.

A contribution to strengthening impact-driven territorial development

Winning projects, selected by an Evaluation Commission appointed by mandate of the HUB’s Steering Committee, will be able to submit their funding request through the ROL platform of Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo.

The initiative aims to generate a multiplier effect within the ecosystem: transforming project proposals already validated at the European level into concrete local interventions, strengthening international partnerships, consolidating skills and attracting new investment opportunities.

By supporting projects with high innovation and impact potential, the Seal contributes to making the territory more dynamic and competitive, while enabling it to address contemporary social challenges through sustainable, inclusive and long-term solutions.