What is BRICKS?
BRICKS is a European project that explores how social entrepreneurship can drive the transformation of urban neighbourhoods. Working with local communities, cities, researchers and businesses, the project co-designs and tests innovative solutions that combine social and environmental benefits with economic sustainability, contributing to more beautiful, sustainable and inclusive neighbourhoods in line with the values of the New European Bauhaus.
Our approach
BRICKS adopts a place-based and transdisciplinary approach, bringing together scientific expertise, professional experience and local knowledge to address neighbourhood challenges. Through collaborative design, real-world experimentation, monitoring and shared learning, the project develops and tests social entrepreneurship initiatives tailored to local needs and resources, while generating knowledge, methods and tools that can be transferred to other contexts.
Our objectives
Empower local communities
BRICKS brings together residents, local authorities, businesses and civil society organisations in five European cities to establish Place-Based Innovation Labs. These Labs build on the knowledge, skills and resources of each neighbourhood to co-design and test solutions addressing local challenges.
Target local sustainability challenges
BRICKS supports communities in co-designing and testing new services and initiatives that address local challenges related to energy transition, circular economy and sustainable mobility, while improving inclusion and quality of life in their neighbourhoods.
Make social innovation sustainable
BRICKS helps turn promising ideas into viable social entrepreneurship initiatives. By testing business models and assessing results, the project aims to develop solutions that can continue creating value beyond its lifetime.
Turn local experience into shared knowledge
BRICKS learns from real-world experimentation across its five pilot cities, identifying what works, what doesn't and why. These insights will inform practical methods, tools and policy recommendations to help other European cities and communities develop and sustain similar initiatives.