The European research institute on cooperative and social enterprises (Euricse) is co-organising the second online event of the ICA International Cooperative Entrepreneurship Think Tank (ICETT) series in the run-up to the World Cooperative Congress.
Themed "Cooperatives for an Environmentally Just Future", the event takes place at 2pm CET on 3 June, ahead of World Environment Day on 5 June.
Euricse’s Secretary General Gianluca Salvatori will highlight the thematic findings of the recently published World Cooperative Monitor (WCM). Produced with the ICA, the monitor is one of Euricse’s most important international projects which marks its tenth anniversary in 2021.
What do you know about Euricse?
In addition to co-producing the World Cooperative Monitor, Euricse is carrying out several international projects in accordance with its mission to promote knowledge development and innovation for the field of cooperatives, social enterprises and other nonprofit organisations. Euricse’s recent research and projects with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), among others, have developed important knowledge for cooperatives.
Its comprehensive study “Social enterprises and their eco-systems in Europe”, conducted for the European Commission, provides a historical background of the emergence of social enterprises, their existing legal framework, the scale and characteristics of social enterprise activity, and the resources available to social enterprises.
Euricse’s study, “Impact of the Social Business Initiative and its follow-up measures”, which was carried out in collaboration with Spatial Foresight and the European Center for Social Finance, analyses the impact of the SBI on the development of social enterprises and other social economy organisations and their operating environments at national and EU levels.
The “Financial Mechanisms for Innovative Social and Solidarity Economy Ecosystems” project with the ILO, sponsored by the government of Luxemburg and presented at the international conference “The SSE Momentum: Finance for Inclusion and the Future of Work” in Trento, also provides important insights into key drivers and trends, decent work and financial resources for the SSE.
A key feature of the institute is its ability to work at different scales, from local to global level. At the regional level Euricse is working on social impact measurement, strategic planning, network development and highlighting the cooperative difference in areas ranging from work integration to finance. This effort goes hand in hand with education initiatives: the Master’s in Social Enterprise Management – celebrating its 26th edition this year – has created a community of over 400 alumni, who are now working in a wide range of sectors.
Last but not least, Euricse advocates for and promotes the social economy, believing that another way of doing business is possible.
