betterSoil at the Bucharest Bootcamp
At the Impact Hub Bucharest bootcamp, betterSoil explored how social innovation and sustainable soil management can advance the EU Missions. The experience highlighted the value of cross-sector collaboration and innovative solutions for a healthier, more resilient Europe.
The Social Innovation Mission Facility: purpose and vision
The Social Innovation Mission Facility (SIMF) is a European project funded by the EU through the Horizon Europe programme. Coordinated by the Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI) in Vienna, SIMF aims to help organisations develop their ideas, find funding, build partnerships and capacity. It targets all five EU Missions: climate change adaptation, cancer solutions, climate-neutral and smart cities, ocean restoration and soil health.
From 7 to 9 September 2026, SIMF gathered 25 changemakers from 13 European countries at Impact Hub Bucharest in Romania for an intensive three-day Cross-Mission Bootcamp. The framework was built to train Business Support Organisations (BSOs) and Social Innovation Support Organisations (SISOs) to identify promising projects, support them and help them grow. Rather than being a recipient of support, betterSoil contributed its practical experience, methods, best practices and lessons learned, sharing how scientific knowledge and local farming practices can improve soil health and help scale social innovations for greater impact.
How betterSoil brings EU missions together
We directly unite the EU missions for soil health and ocean restoration by solving the aquatic crisis right at its terrestrial source. In agricultural systems, poor land management directly degrades water quality. When depleted fields are heavily treated with chemical fertilisers, rain and irrigation wash excess nitrogen into water tables and rivers, triggering a destructive process called eutrophication. This massive influx of nutrients fuels toxic algae blooms that block sunlight and deplete dissolved oxygen, effectively suffocating fish and marine ecosystems.
By bridging scientific research and local knowledge, betterSoil restores healthy soil to function as a natural sponge that traps vital fields’ nutrients.
The role of the Smart City in environmental sustainability
The bootcamp brought together 25 participants from across Europe, with activities running from nine to five each day. The programme included discussions on social innovation, environmental challenges and opportunities for collaboration. It also introduced the EU’s Smart Cities Mission, highlighting how smart cities can contribute to a better, more sustainable Europe by reducing carbon emissions and strengthening environmental protection. These discussions emphasised the importance of addressing environmental challenges and overcoming barriers to help achieve the broader goals of EU Missions.
Networking and future partnerships
The event also addressed how social innovation organisations and innovators can access European funding opportunities, prepare for investment and navigate the requirements for securing public and private support. These sessions were built on a series of six webinars held between 5 May and 9 June, which introduced tools and resources related to the different EU missions.
Beyond funding, the event also created opportunities for participants from different countries and sectors to connect and explore potential collaborations. For betterSoil, this included preliminary discussions with A Biota about a possible partnership that could bring together complementary approaches to soil health and biodiversity and explore new ways to scale their environmental impact.
Looking ahead
The Bucharest bootcamp produced valuable insights into how social innovation and collaboration can advance the goals of the EU Missions. By connecting scientific knowledge with local experiences and practical approaches, betterSoil continues to support sustainable soil management while recognising the links between soil health, water quality and wider environmental protection. Our participation further highlighted how bridging the gap between the rigors of scientific research and local farming traditions is essential for long-term ecological restoration. The connections established during the event may also create opportunities for future collaboration.