The Social Impact Award (SIA) represents the largest European programme supporting youth social entrepreneurship, launched in 2009 by Impact Hub Vienna, in partnership with the Erste Foundation and the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

The programme is designed to raise awareness of social entrepreneurship among young people, companies, state institutions, actors in the academic and scientific community, as well as the interested public. The implementation of activities contributes to stronger education in the field of innovation, knowledge and skills, as well as concrete support for ideas that have the potential for realisation and positive social impact in Montenegro and throughout the world.

The long-term goal of the project is to empower an innovative and scientific community of young and ambitious people who, together with all interested parties, create a micro eco-system that will encourage its members to create positive changes in their local communities and at the national level through their work and participation.

In addition to its educational and informational aspects, the programme also provides mentoring and financial support to participants and winners of the Social Change Award competition, and the organisation of the final event is an integral part of the agenda of the largest annual science festival in Montenegro - the Days of Science and Innovation.

This international project is simultaneously implemented on 3 continents (Europe, Africa, Asia), in 18 countries, where more than 12,000 young innovators gather annually, founding more than 230 social enterprises per year through teamwork.

The Social Impact Award (SIA) project in Montenegro has been implemented since 2022 by the NGO Center for Youth Education with the support and patronage of the Ministry of Science and Technological Development, on behalf of the Government of Montenegro.