PROJECT RESULTS AND OUTPUTS

1 Social Innovation Strategy for the integration of non-EU nationals in rural areas

1 Tool-box for the integration of non-EU nationals through social innovation

9 Pilot Actions testing social innovation in the integration of non-EU nationals

1 Transnational learning through study trips, trainings and research

Partners of the Arrival Regions project have analysed good practices in social innovation aiming at better integration of non-EU nationals to elaborate the project's Transnational Strategy. Stakeholders from public institutions, higher research and civil society (NGO) were thereafter invited to form local stakeholder alliances to implement the strategy's recommendations in nine local pilot actions which tested concepts of social innovation to promote the integration of non-EU nationals, albeit under the conditions of the pandemic. These pilot actions were peer reviewed between project partners and associated stakeholders to further promote transnational learning and exchange, and to derive insights about the transferability of pilot approaches. Transnational collaboration was essential to prepare the pilot actions' concepts and to analyse their results which feature in a tool-box and integrated policy recommendations to promote wider uptake. Knowledge on social innovation was furthermore passed on in a series of three capacity building workshops and through scientific papers. Training participants represented public authorities of all levels, NGOs, educational institutions and business representatives.

The project results promote knowledge of social innovation in integration efforts and were already put to use to manage the arrival of Ukrainian war refugees in spring 2022. The project furthermore facilitated better collaboration between public and private integration stakeholders. Members of the public are invited to learn more about the project on the regularly updated project website or through social media, including small local dissemination events to promote awareness raising. Video testimonials produced by the consortium allow further insights. A project movie titled "Heimat" combined video testimonials of non-EU nationals to a powerful audiovisual tool to promote further efforts to welcome non-EU nationals to Central European societies.