The ‘European Social Economy Summit’ (#EUSES) is a digital conference jointly organised by the European Commission and the City of Mannheim. #EUSES is a conference which aims at strengthening the social economy in Europe, working to maximise its contribution to economic development and social inclusion as well as supporting the green and digital transitions. The discussions will focus on three dimensions: digitalisation of the Social Economy; (social) innovation; and cross-country and cross-sectoral collaboration. #EUSES is an opportunity to bring all stakeholders active in the social economy together.
Euclid Network (EN) is proud to host five different sessions at #EUSES . Therefore, we kindly invite you to join us in exploring the role of the social economy in Europe as a means for economic development and social inclusion.
Reaching the SDGs and transforming towards a Social Economy: In-depth insights, lessons learned and barriers for Social Entrepreneurship across Europe
When? 26 May, 11:30 – 13:00 CEST
EN is proud to announce that we are hosting a session to officially launch the inaugural European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM) Report. ESEM is a panel research conducted by EN in close collaboration with partners in eight European countries. The report provides in-depth data and insights on social enterprises and social start-ups across Europe. The first of its kind, ESEM aims to fill the current gap in available data on social entrepreneurship in Europe. The report ensures that data provided by impact practitioners are readily available for decision-makers in politics, civil society and the economy.
During our panel at EUSES, the role of data as well as the outcomes highlighted by the ESEM report will be discussed. The panel will be moderated by Wieteke Dupain, the ESEM project lead and EN’s Head of Knowledge, Research & Development. She will be joined on stage by ESEM partners and members of the research board: Michael Wunsch (Head of Scientific Cooperation, SEND); Pablo Hoffman (Project Office, SEND); Johanna Mair, (Professor, Hertie School); Matthias Raith (Professor, OVGU); and Lina Palmer (Impact Lead, Forum for Social Innovation Sweden).
In the second part of this 90 minute session, participants will be able to join breakout sessions and discuss outcomes of the eight national monitors with country experts. Breakouts will be led by: Per Bach, Sociale Entreprenører i Denmark, Lina Palmer, Eugenia Segerstedt and Gloria-Karin López from Forum for Social Innovation Sweden, Katri-Liis Lepik, Social Enterprise Estonia and Tallinn University, Teo Petričević and Jelena Andjelic from Act Grupa, Davorka Vidović from the University of Zagreb, Drazen Simlesa from the Institute Ivo Pilar, João Baracho and Sofia Silva from EsLider Portugal, Filipe Santos from Católica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics, Guillermo Casasnovas from ESADE, Emily Darko from Social Enterprise UK, Michael Wunsch, Pablo Hoffmann from SEND, Matthias Raith from OVGU and EURAM and Wieteke Dupain and Oriana Pilia from Euclid Network.
Supporting social economy and social enterprises: Can local and regional authorities make a difference?
When? 26 May, 15:00 – 16:30 CEST
EN is honoured to be organising a session at EUSES in collaboration with the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), the European Commission and RTES France. The session will bring together those working on the ground in the social economy with elected representatives from across Europe’s regions and policy makers from the EU Institutions. The session aims to highlight the importance of cooperation with social economy actors, encouraging cities and regions to strengthen their engagement with them, consequentially fostering an increased resilience to our societies.
The session will open with an introduction from Anne Karjalainen, Chair of the CoR’ SEDEC Commission and include two panels of fantastic speakers. Our first panel comprises: Peter Kurz, Mayor of Mannheim, host of the EUSES Summit and CoR member; Christophe Bolot, Head of the EU delegation of Lille Metropole; and Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of the City of Łódź and CoR member. Our second panel will be made up of: Ann Branch, Head of Unit in the European Commission’s DG EMPL; Jeanne Barseghian, Mayor of the City of Strasbourg; and Hermineke van Bockxmeer, director of urban development at the City of Rotterdam.
These two panels will be ably moderated by Antonella Noya, Head of the OECD’s Social Economy and Innovation Unit. There will be opportunities to ask questions to our esteemed speakers, moderated by Euclid Network’s very own Veerle Klijn and a closing statement from our CEO, Suzanne Wisse-Huiskes.
Investing for impact in Central and Eastern Europe
When? 27 May, 10.00 – 11.00 CEST
EN is delighted to organise the session on “Investing for Impact in Central and Eastern Europe”at EUSES on May 27. The aim of the session is: (a) to raise visibility for first impact funds in the Central and Easter European (CEE) region; (b) to high-light concrete steps for developing a conducive impact investing ecosystem in CEE; and (c) to attract investors to the CEE region.
In CEE countries, in fact, social investment is becoming ever more important for nurturing and financing the growth of nonprofits and social enterprises. In a 45-minute panel discussion key social investment experts from the CEE region will highlight concrete steps for potential private and institutional social investors to engage in developing a conducive social investment ecosystem in the region.
The session will be hosted by EN’s President and Director of SMart Kolektiv (Serbia) Neven Marinovic together with Cristina Pojoga, the Senior Consultant & Partner at fonduri-structurale.ro (Romania). They will both ably moderate the session and invite our four experts to discuss about impact investment in the CEE region: Elitsa Barakova, Manager of BCause (Bulgaria); Maciej Podyma (Fundacja Łąka, Poland); Pirkko Valge, CEO at Good Deed Foundation (Estonia); and Laura Catana, European Investor Relations Manager at FASE (the Financing Agency for Social Entrepreneurship, Luxembourg).
From the Social Business Initiative (2011) to the Social Economy Action Plan
When? 27 May, 11:30 – 13:00 CEST
EN is proud to participate in the panel hosted by the European Commission discussing the road towards the new Social Economy Action Plan. The conference session will be opened by Ann Branch and Anna Athanasapoulou, who will focus on the political context of the Action Plan from DG EMPL and DG GROW’s points of view. After that, the Social Business Initiative study consortium will give a presentation on the areas where action is still needed.
Finally, our very own Suzanne Wisse-Huiskes will be invited to give her feedback on the presentations, after which the floor will be opened for questions and discussion with the audience.
Opportunities and challenges for Buy Social
When? 27 May, 15:00 – 16:30 CEST
In light of an increasingly strong global trend to shift procurement from traditional enterprises to diverse and social enterprises, EN is hosting a panel focused on social procurement and #BuySocial. Efficient and effective access to (international) markets and customers is very important for (social) entrepreneurs. Shifting to social procurement and buying from social entrepreneurs are the key steps to take in order to reach the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The session will be moderated by Chris Gordon, CEO of the Irish Social Enterprise Network, together with Wieteke Dupain, EN’s Head of Knowledge, Research & Development. The panel will consist of: Charlie Wigglesworth (Deputy CEO, Social Enterprise UK); Stefan Panhuijsen (Director, Social Enterprise NL); Alexandra van der Ploeg (Global Head of CSR at SAP); Anna Lupi (Legal and Policy Officer, DG Grow, European Commission); Joost de Kluijver (Director and Founder, Closing the Loop); Caroline Gardner, CEO, We Make Good; and Cecilia Crossley (CEO, From Babies with Love).
Get involved
If you would like any additional information, please contact the team!
