On July 9, 2025, Co-Lab Connects brought together a dynamic mix of 43 participants from 15 organizations at Café Nerly in Erfurt for an afternoon of collaboration and learning. Co-organized between Plattform e.V. and Melton Foundation with the support from CGE Erfurt e.V., the event’s aim was to foster social entrepreneurship and inclusive innovation through open stakeholder dialogue. Attendees included local changemakers and international Melton Foundation fellows, all eager to explore how entrepreneurial ideas can drive positive social impact. The atmosphere was semi-formal and welcoming, setting the stage for meaningful exchanges across sectors and cultures.
The event kicked off with a warm welcome and introductions from the organizing team. Lara Schüth (Plattform e.V.) took the floor to present the TASK4ISI project and announce upcoming Social Hackathon in September 2025. To break the ice and build connections, participants engaged in a fun networking activity. In a relaxed “Human Bingo” icebreaker, guests mingled and discovered interesting facts about each other, which helped spark initial conversations and a friendly vibe. This lighthearted start energized the group and prepared everyone for deeper discussions ahead.
World Café Conversations on Key Themes
The core of Co-Lab Connects event was a World Café session – an interactive format for structured yet free-flowing dialogue. In a World Café, participants rotate between discussion tables, allowing ideas to “cross-pollinate” in a relaxed, conversational format. At Café Nerly, seven tables were arranged (with 6–8 seats each), and over three 20–25 minute rounds participants moved between tables to explore multiple topics. Each table had a designated host who remained for all rounds, guiding the conversation and summarizing key points so new arrivals could quickly catch up. The organizers provided prompting questions, sticky notes, and notepads at each station to capture insights and keep the discussions focused. This setup created a welcoming space for collaborative thinking, where everyone’s voice could be heard.
Discussions centered on four thematic topics reflecting critical areas of inclusive social innovation:
- Inclusive Education & Lifelong Learning – How can learning systems adapt to diverse needs and support people of all ages?
- Economic Empowerment & Decent Work – What does true economic inclusion look like, and how can entrepreneurship opportunities be made accessible to all?
- Social Justice & Representation – How do we ensure fair representation and rights for marginalized communities in society?
- Climate Action & Environmental Justice – In the face of climate crises, how can we advance environmental solutions that are equitable and community-driven?
Each table’s theme was introduced with framing questions and examples, prompting participants to share their own experiences and ideas. For instance, at one table people brainstormed ways to make education more inclusive, while at another they discussed strategies for empowering migrants and under-represented groups in the job market. Participants eagerly discussed their business ideas and community initiatives in the context of these themes, bringing practical examples from their own lives. As they rotated through different topics, connections emerged between themes – ideas from the Inclusive Education conversation might resurface when talking about Economic Empowerment, and so on. The rotating format, along with the table hosts’ facilitation, ensured continuity and depth: new perspectives were layered onto earlier insights in each round. By the end of the World Café session, everyone had engaged with several themes and gained a broader understanding of social innovation across different domains.
Photos: Maryna Bykova
Our staff members Mariana Matoso, Maryna Bykova, and Nela Kłosiewicz co-hosted the table on Inclusive Education & Lifelong Learning, guiding participants through discussions on making education more accessible and continuous. Meanwhile, Vlad Artiukhov, Lara Schüth (Plattform e.V.) and Kevin Verduci led the table on Economic Empowerment & Decent Work, where they steered conversations about inclusive entrepreneurship and fair employment opportunities, deriving their knowledge from the experiences gained within the Social Impulse Hub. By serving as table hosts, the facilitators ensured that these thematic discussions remained insightful and on-track, aligning with TASK4ISI’s goals of inclusive social innovation. Their expertise and enthusiasm kept participants engaged and encouraged everyone to contribute their ideas.
Diverse participation and stakeholder dialogue
One hallmark of the Co-Lab Connects event was the diversity of its participants. In total, 43 people attended, representing 15 organizations ranging from grassroots initiatives to academic and global networks. This included groups focused on migration, anti-discrimination, education, entrepreneurship, disability advocacy, and more.
The guest list featured an anti-discrimination initiative (EmpowerMensch Erfurt), a migrant support group (Second Chance Latam), a public policy school (Willy Brandt School of Public Policy), a disability support association (VSBI), a local feminist collective (Chin Chin Erfurt), and a global development network (Eine Welt Netzwerk Thüringen), among others.
Bringing together such a broad array of stakeholders was intentional – it created a rich mosaic of perspectives and expertise in the room.
The value of this diversity was evident in the discussions. Participants noted that hearing from people in different fields and communities helped them see challenges and opportunities in a new light. Social entrepreneurs could learn about the needs of various groups directly from those working with them, whether it was insights on integrating refugees into the workforce or ideas for inclusive curriculum design. Likewise, community organizers gained exposure to global social innovation projects through the Melton Foundation fellows’ experiences.
The open exchange between NGOs, students, activists, and entrepreneurs embodied the “co-lab” spirit – a collaborative lab where everyone’s input mattered. By sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in conversation, attendees built empathy and understanding across sectors, laying the groundwork for future cooperation beyond the event itself.
Positive feedback, connections, and outcomes
As the afternoon transitioned into early evening, the formal World Café rounds gave way to a brief wrap-up and reflection session. Table hosts shared a few highlights from their themes with the whole group, and participants jotted down key takeaways on reflection cards (such as one new insight, idea, or connection they gained). The event formally concluded with a round of thanks and an invitation to continue the dialogue in future TASK4ISI activities. Many guests lingered afterward for informal networking over coffee and snacks, eager to keep the conversation going.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Although the program ran nearly three hours, nobody left early – a testament to how engaging the experience was. In fact, many attendees remarked that they made new connections and had valuable conversations that day.
Several mentioned feeling inspired by the real-world examples of social entrepreneurship shared, and motivated to incorporate more social impact into their own projects.
Crucially, the event succeeded in its core goal: it got participants thinking about their business ideas in a broader social context. By contextualizing entrepreneurship within community needs and global challenges, Co-Lab Connects “kickstarted” the social innovation mindset for people who hadn’t fully explored the social aspects of their ideas before.
There were also tangible networking outcomes. Participants exchanged contact information and planned follow-up meetings to explore collaborations. The organizers noted that they were able to identify new partner organizationsinterested in supporting TASK4ISI’s mission going forward. Overall, the consensus was that bringing together such a wide variety of stakeholders for open dialogue was extremely valuable. As one conclusion in the meeting report highlighted, having an open exchange with so many different stakeholders proved helpful for learning about the needs of different groups and finding common ground for action. This positive energy and cross-pollination of ideas set a strong foundation for future co-creation and partnerships in the region.
Photo: Maryna Bykova
Summary
CGE’s involvement in Co-Lab Connects exemplifies its commitment to fostering collaborative innovation in the community. The event demonstrated how joint efforts by organizations like CGE Erfurt e.V. and Plattform e.V. can create a vibrant space for stakeholders to learn from one another and co-create solutions. In the end, Co-Lab Connects was more than just a meeting – it was a catalyst for new ideas, partnerships, and inspiration. As the TASK4ISI initiative moves forward, the connections and insights forged at this World Café will continue to inform and energize the collective journey toward social entrepreneurship and inclusive innovation in Erfurt and beyond.
🇪🇺 The project has been co-funded under the Interred Central Europe program of the European Union through the project “TASK4ISI” – Transnational Action to advance SKills and competences FOR Inclusive entrepreneurship and Social Innovation.
