![\"Social](\"https:\/\/igop.uab.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/b9dc2e2c-4403-8d84-8606-ddcfcc4a8c07.png\")
The study has been included in the book Social Innovation and Welfare State Retrenchment. A Comparative Analysis of Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe and Beyond (Emerald Publishing), edited by Raquel Gallego, Lara Maestripieri, (IGOP-UAB researchers) and Sheila Gonz\u00e1lez Motos, professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Barcelona. The study has had the participation of the Institute of Government and Public Policies of the UAB and has been funded by the La Caixa Foundation. <\/p>\n
The book examines how social innovation can contribute to ensuring equity and the universalization of services for children aged 0 to 3 \u2014 an area where social investment is essential to promote equal opportunities and reduce gender and educational inequalities. It offers an innovative research design studying the institutionalization of social innovation in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) through seven case studies across Europe and beyond. <\/p>\n
One of the main conclusions is that social innovation has become a key element in the transformation of the welfare state. In four of the seven cases analyzed (Oslo, Seine-Saint-Denis, Venice, and Tokyo), it is shown how institutionalizing social innovation can improve the integration and accessibility of public early childhood education services. In three other contexts (Portsmouth, Barcelona, and Tel Aviv), social innovation is shown to fill the gaps left by the market and the state, covering family needs where public provision is limited. However, in all cases, regulating social innovation is crucial to prevent socioeconomic bias. <\/p>\n
Social Innovation in Barcelona: Equity or Difference?<\/strong><\/p>\n The event included a roundtable moderated by Lara Maestripieri (UAB), with participants David Palomera<\/strong> (expert in 0\u20133 protection systems) and Maria Tru\u00f1\u00f3<\/strong>, former Education Commissioner for the Barcelona City Council. The debate addressed issues such as: What are the most notable advances and innovations in 0\u20133 education in Catalonia? What role should social innovation play? What political proposals should be adopted? <\/p>\n According to Palomera<\/strong>, Catalonia suffers from a \u201clost decade\u201d during which austerity measures (2011\u20132019) hindered its historical advantage, and today, in Barcelona, \u201c50% of the demand is unmet in public centers.\u201d This burden, he claims, casts doubt on the rhetoric of innovation: \u201cTalking about social innovation often hides the lack of public initiative.\u201d He highlighted cost reduction through income-based pricing as the main advance and sees the budget recovery and Next Generation funds as \u201ca window to institutionalize and structure funding\u201d, but warns that unless consolidated, free provision may disproportionately benefit those already with resources. <\/p>\n His roadmap includes strong public leadership working alongside social initiatives, combining workforce dignity \u2014 \u201cmany private-sector teachers take civil service exams just to survive\u201d \u2014 improved staff-child ratios for early detection, and a \u201ccaring city\u201d model with flexible 0\u20131 services (community centers, support spaces) so that classrooms are \u201cjust meeting points\u201d in a wider care ecosystem where mothers\u2019 work is recognized and men are also included in caregiving. He also warned that community-led innovation without state involvement could \u201cdeepen territorial inequalities\u201d, especially in municipalities with limited fiscal capacity. He stressed the need to reform municipal financing and collect data and indicators to assess what works and what doesn\u2019t. <\/p>\n Maria Tru\u00f1\u00f3<\/strong>, former Education Commissioner of the Barcelona City Council and director of the Education 360 Alliance, emphasized early childhood as a social investment and celebrated that 0\u20133 has gained ground on the institutional agenda \u2014 \u201cwe\u2019ve gained space for 0\u20133 on the social agenda\u201d \u2014 but warned that free provision \u201chas masked equity: those who need it most don\u2019t always access it.\u201d She insists that universalization only makes sense \u201cwith equity criteria,\u201d prioritizing vulnerable children via income-based pricing (including food) and seat reservations coordinated with social services. She also advocated for expanded parental leave. <\/p>\n The event highlighted the fundamental contribution of this study in understanding how the interaction between social innovation and public policy affects equity and well-being in advanced capitalist economies. The findings, researchers emphasized, underscore the need for a flexible policy framework that enables the integration of innovative solutions into early childhood education services, ensuring accessibility and quality for all families. <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” link_text_color=”#008539″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Educaci\u00f3 i cures a altres pa\u00efsos<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/Og4mwX_9YYc” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Video Espanya” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”12px” button_bg_color=”#008539″ button_icon=”||fa||900″ background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/Qij1gxn4730″ url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Video Oslo” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”12px” button_bg_color=”#008539″ button_icon=”||fa||900″ background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/gcsujWTxcxM” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Video Portsmouth” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”12px” button_bg_color=”#008539″ button_icon=”||fa||900″ background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/OwAoItcgY7U_6w2U_ZYg” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Video Seine Saint-Denise” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”12px” button_bg_color=”#008539″ button_icon=”||fa||900″ background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/vTLC3phhqZw” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Video Tel Aviv” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”12px” button_bg_color=”#008539″ button_icon=”||fa||900″ background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/lM0ITt4BzIw” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Video T\u00f2quio” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”12px” button_bg_color=”#008539″ button_icon=”||fa||900″ background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/rEACFBPotCw” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Video Ven\u00e8cia” _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”12px” button_bg_color=”#008539″ button_icon=”||fa||900″ background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.3″ _module_preset=”default” link_text_color=”#008539″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n La not\u00edcia als mitjans<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/igop.uab.cat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Taula-Rodona-Palomera-Maestripieri-Maria-1024x576.jpg\")
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Her most solid public innovation bet is the Family Childcare Space Network, which grew from 10 to 27 facilities and, as she noted, acts as an \u201centry point to the education system\u201d for families \u2014 especially migrants \u2014 who are reluctant to delegate care during such early stages. She also calls to \u201cdiversify services,\u201d with nursery schools as the backbone (flexible hours, regulated childminders, home services), as families are increasingly unequal and diverse, and \u201cwe still think needs can be standardized.\u201d Finally, she calls for a cross-departmental 0\u20136 perspective: \u201cIt\u2019s a mix<\/em> of education, care, and social action \u2014 hybridizing is essential to scale up.\u201d <\/p>\n