Social innovation by its very nature helps to overcome the socio-economic disparities between the regions and may contribute to the reduction of social inequalities. In the previous programming period (2007-2013) social innovation emerged as a positive externality projects beneficiaries of aid from the European Social Fund. Primary research among the beneficiaries of two Operational Programmes (OP Human Resources and Employment and Education for Competitiveness) identified main barriers which defend their formation such as ignorance of the meaning of social innovation, low level of motivation of beneficiaries and lack of active support from institutions.