Closing the gap between social enterprises and EU decision-makers

Launched in 2020, the aim of the European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM) is to close the current gap on social enterprise data to inform decision-makers in government, civil society and the economy.

The European Commission is proud to support this year’s ESEM, the second edition covering the period 2021- 2022. This report builds on the seminal work of the first ESEM 2020-2021 and has impressively scaled from eight to 21 countries in just one year across the EU and the wider European neighbourhood. It provides key data and insights for policy-makers, investors, support organisations, academia and social entrepreneurs themselves.

The Project

Over the past 5-14 years, country monitors in Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom have delivered in-depth data on social enterprise and start-ups leading to important changes in policy-making, investment decision-making and an increased visibility and understanding of the social enterprise model and its crucial role in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Building upon this success, Euclid Network (EN) in collaboration with its members and partners launched the European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM). ESEM is the first social enterprise monitor on the European level. The project intends to close the current gap on social enterprise data and inform decision-makers in government, civil society and the economy. The aim is to communicate, support and promote the needs and interests of enterprises in the social and solidarity economy across Europe and beyond. The ESEM gathers participants’ insights on social entrepreneurship and makes them available for decision makers, government officials, investors, researchers and impact practitioners.

Since the inaugural study was launched in 2020, the ESEM is an annual meta study, describing the results of an online survey, comprising social enterprise and start-up data at European and country level.

The project produces elaborate country reports (xSEM) and European comparison, which allows for profound insights on the social enterprise ecosystem across Europe, and highlight the opportunities for development of the sector and its impact.

If you would like to become a founding sponsor of the project, please consult the ESEM Executive Summary Project Outline and contact Toby Gazeley at toby@euclidnetwork.eu.

If you would like to become an outreach partner of the project and get featured as an official partner, please reach out to ines@euclidnetwork.eu.

The Project

Over the past 5-14 years, country monitors in Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom have delivered in-depth data on social enterprise and start-ups leading to important changes in policy-making, investment decision-making and an increased visibility and understanding of the social enterprise model and its crucial role in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Building upon this success, Euclid Network (EN) in collaboration with its members and partners launched the European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM). ESEM is the first social enterprise monitor on the European level. The project intends to close the current gap on social enterprise data and inform decision-makers in government, civil society and the economy. The aim is to communicate, support and promote the needs and interests of enterprises in the social and solidarity economy across Europe and beyond. The ESEM gathers participants’ insights on social entrepreneurship and makes them available for decision makers, government officials, investors, researchers and impact practitioners.

Since the inaugural study was launched in 2020, the ESEM is an annual meta study, describing the results of an online survey, comprising social enterprise and start-up data at European and country level.

The project produces elaborate country reports (xSEM) and European comparison, which allows for profound insights on the social enterprise ecosystem across Europe, and highlight the opportunities for development of the sector and its impact.

If you would like to become a founding sponsor of the project, please consult the ESEM Executive Summary Project Outline and contact Toby Gazeley at toby@euclidnetwork.eu.

If you would like to become an outreach partner of the project and get featured as an official partner, please reach out to eva@euclidnetwork.eu.

Supported by

Are you a social entrepreneur who wants to influence the next generation of social enterprise strategies, policies and funding?

Sign up to be notified when the Social Enterprise Monitor Survey becomes available in your country. 

ESEM in the Media

European Academic Research Board

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Professor Johanna Mair
Hertie School of Governance, Stanford

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Professor Matthias Raith
Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg (OvGU) – Faculty of Economics and Management, EURAM

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Professor Niels Bosma

Utrecht University – School of Economics

Country Partners

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Research Partners & Research Board

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Founding Partners & Sponsors

Contact Toby Gazeley to find out more about ESEM.

Related Projects

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