The digital revolution is reshaping Europe’s economy and society, and social enterprises (SEs) are at the forefront of this transformation. These are businesses that put people and the planet before profit, delivering positive social and environmental impact while remaining economically sustainable. Euclid Network (EN), the European Social Enterprise Network, represents social enterprise support organisations (SESOs) that help SEs thrive.
The European Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) is particularly relevant to SEs. The twin transitions – digital and green – are reshaping the business landscape, impacting how SEs operate and how they deliver social value. Digital technologies can increase social and economic inclusion but without proper support, they also risk widening existing divides. SESOs and SEs are therefore both beneficiaries of and contributors to the digital transition, using new technologies to create inclusive solutions while mitigating the risks of exclusion.
SEs Driving Digital Social Innovation
Social enterprises are active participants in digital social innovation. From artificial intelligence (AI) to blockchain, SEs are using technology to develop inclusive digital solutions. But innovation is built on a foundation of basic digital skills, without which advanced technologies cannot be effectively leveraged, and social exclusion may worsen.
Projects like DIGI SEII (Digital Scaling for SEs: Empowering Impact and Innovation), funded under the Single Market Programme, demonstrate the value of supporting SEs in their digital journey. By strengthening the digital capacity of SESOs and SEs, these initiatives help enterprises scale, become more resilient, and contribute to inclusive and trustworthy digital ecosystems.
Strengthening Lifelong Learning and Digital Skills
SEs and SESOs are deeply engaged in lifelong learning, re-skilling and up-skilling their workforce, and reaching individuals distant from the labor market. DIGITAL can play a key role in enabling SEs to provide education and training in emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, and blockchain. Supporting SEs in this effort contributes to the EU’s goal of having more than half of the population engaged in education or training each year, fostering an inclusive digital transition.
Harnessing Data for Social and Environmental Impact
Many SEs collect extensive data on citizens and communities, but these datasets are often siloed. DIGITAL could support the social economy by fostering better data management practices, increasing interoperability, and promoting data ownership, privacy, and sovereignty. Developing a code of conduct for data in the social economy would strengthen both ethical standards and the capacity for cross-sectoral collaboration.
Linking DIGITAL with Other EU Initiatives
DIGITAL complements a wide range of EU programmes, including the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), ESF+, SMP, ERDF, Erasmus+, and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. By creating synergies across these funding streams, SEs can access resources more effectively, boosting participation in the digital and green economy. Coordination with programmes such as Horizon Europe and the LIFE Programme can further enable SEs to adopt sustainable digital tools, enhancing environmental and social outcomes.
Driving the Green Transition
Digital tools also support SEs in achieving green objectives, from improving energy efficiency to tracking environmental impact. Aligning DIGITAL with the EU’s Industry 5.0 strategy ensures that digital solutions contribute to sustainability, human-centered innovation, and resilience. By integrating green and digital priorities, SEs can maximize both their social and environmental impact.
Recommendations to Maximize DIGITAL’s Impact
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Simplify access to funding: Reduce administrative complexity and streamline grant procedures across DIGITAL, EEN, and other programmes to enable broader participation by SEs.
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Expand capacity building: Provide training and support in digital and green technologies for SEs and SESOs, including both basic digital skills and advanced tools like AI and cybersecurity.
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Strengthen programme synergies: Enhance collaboration between DIGITAL and other EU initiatives to integrate resources and support cross-sectoral innovation.
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Mainstream social and environmental impact: Recognize the social economy as a key stakeholder in DIGITAL, ensuring that inclusion and sustainability are central to digital transformation efforts.
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Support green digitalisation: Enable SEs to leverage digital tools for environmental monitoring, resource management, and climate action, aligning with the EU Green Deal.
A Call for Continued Collaboration
DIGITAL has enormous potential to empower SEs and SESOs, enhancing their efficiency, innovation, and capacity to deliver positive social and environmental impact. Euclid Network welcomes the opportunity to work with the European Commission to ensure that SEs are fully supported in the digital transition, driving an inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered European economy.
