Social Innovation Mentoring Program

Supporting social organizations in the Viseu Dão Lafões region to solve concrete challenges through structured mentoring, mobilizing IPV’s technical and scientific knowledge, promoting social innovation and sustainable local development.

• • Mentors: Professors and students (preferably master’s or final degree students) from the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, with an interest and/or experience in social innovation, management, technologies, psychology, education, health, etc. and all professionals with an interest in the subject.
  • Mentors: Social organizations in the territory of CIM Viseu Dão Lafões (IPSS, associations, cooperatives and other non-profit entities with a social purpose) with identified challenges in areas such as management, communication, digitization, fundraising, social intervention, etc.

Operational duration: 3 months (with the possibility of extension) (October to December)

1. Applications between June 1 and July 31, 2025

2. Selection, Matching and dissemination of results August 1-31, 2025

• • Curated by the incubator team.
  • Matching based on thematic affinity and skills.

3. Initial Training from September 29 to October 3, 2025 in Online format

• • Design Thinking for Social Innovation.
  • Good mentoring practices.
  • Diagnosis and collaborative planning.

4. Mentoring in Action (8 weeks) October 6 to December 12

• • Each mentor-mentee pair co-constructs an Action Plan with:
    • • Specific objective.
      • Indicators of success.
      • Activities and responsibilities.
  • Fortnightly monitoring by the incubator.
  • Involvement of groups of students as task forces under the supervision of mentor teachers.

5. Closing and Presentation of Results December 15-19, 2025

• • Final pitch session or social solutions fair.
  • Certificates and dissemination of impact stories.
  • Possibility of continued support via the incubator.

• • Digitization of processes and communication.
  • Financial sustainability models.
  • Creation of partnerships and collaborative networks.
  • Social impact assessment.
  • Intervention with vulnerable audiences.
  • Attracting and retaining human resources

• • For organizations: practical solutions, process improvement, training.
  • For students: practical learning, social impact, mentoring experience and certification.
  • For teachers: connection with the community, application of scientific knowledge, certification and the possibility of joining a paid mentoring network. Inclusion in the ANGES pool of trainers and funded projects.
  • For the region: strengthening the social innovation and cooperation ecosystem.