From Research to Reality: Reflections from EMES 2025

Returning to Erasmus University for the 10th EMES Conference brought a mix of nostalgia, excitement, and curiosity. With Billy Groom having studied and then researched & lectured at Erasmus, it was good to be back on campus, this time however presenting external research. This brought a combination of nostalgia for the past and excitement for what was to come during the week ahead.

Euclid Network researchers and project managers Billy Groom and Adeline de Jong were present to showcase their work on the SESO Development Framework and Toolkit, the culmination of months of research, interviews, expert sessions, and learning labs, all distilled into a single poster. The energy at the conference was lively, with researchers, practitioners, and social-economy actors from across different fields sharing ideas in the same space. Many in attendance were curious about how Euclid Network links supporting SESOS and ecosystem research to practice, and numerous said the work felt timely and needed. Their enthusiasm reinforced confidence in the research overall.

The academic sessions resonated strongly, including comparative studies of ecosystems in Norway and Estonia, and discussions in Utrecht on the expansion of social economy initiatives across Africa, Asia and the global south more broadly. The conference facilitated rich exchanges of ideas, reinforcing connections between research and practice, researchers and practitioners.

One of the standout moments of the conference was the Wednesday excursions around the city of Rotterdam. Witnessing social enterprises and circular economy initiatives in action, from industrial hosepipes turned into fashion accessories to community hubs like the Wijk Palais, reminded us why this work matters. It grounded the policy language we often use in real, local energy and creativity.

There were also a couple of unexpected challenges, with one coming in the form of an impromptu “60-second pitch” in front of the whole conference. Trying to summarise months of research in a minute was daunting, but it turned out to be a great way to sharpen how we describe our work and engage with other participants during the conference.

By the end of the week, the SESO Framework and Toolkit had demonstrated its relevance and is clearly arriving at the right time. The event highlighted a clear appetite for practical tools that connect people, concepts, and ideas. It also underscored that whilst academic research is vital, it must travel more easily into practice, a key goal of the toolkit.

The sessions, excursions, and the opportunity to meet our members were both insightful and energising. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the event was the sense of hope. The social economy is full of people building better systems, and events like EMES give that work a space to connect and realise greater goals and initiatives. It was encouraging to see so much thought and enthusiasm across Europe and beyond, focusing on how to make those ecosystems thrive and empower individuals and communities to create better systems