Summary of Policy Summit 1

After a welcoming introduction by Nicole Miquel-Belaud, metropolitan councilor in charge of the social economy at Toulouse Métropole, which emphasized the need for social innovation as part of the just transition, Massimo Gaudina from RTD at the European Commission provided an overview of the European Innovation Agenda. He reminded that ensuring an economy for the people is a priority of the Commission along with the green and digital “twin transition”.

Massimo Gaudina highlighted the New European Innovation Agenda, focusing on deep tech innovation to tackle global challenges, supported by, for instance, Regional Innovation Valleys focusing on 5 sectors: food security, digital development, circularity, energy, and healthcare. Emphasis was placed on European Innovation Ecosystems and EU Missions developed under Horizon Europe, including specific actions for social innovation.

Lucia Radu, CRAFT project coordinator from Impact Hub, and Mathilde Pellizzari from Toulouse Métropole introduced the CRAFT project and initial research results. Lucia described CRAFT as an initiative to shift the economy towards prioritising people, planet, and purpose by improving social innovation support tools and fostering a digital ecosystem and community. Mathilde highlighted insights from 34 support organizations and 60 entrepreneurs in Croatia, Latvia, and Romania, revealing needs to strengthen capacity in sales, finance, investment readiness, marketing, impact measurement, and business development. Co-creation sessions in the CRAFT Living Lab are already addressing these gaps by focusing on providing enhanced support tools for social innovators.

The panel discussion on “Entrepreneurs’ Journeys and Archetypes of Success” highlighted the evolving landscape of social entrepreneurship through diverse experiences and innovative approaches. Cristina Căluianu from Asociatia CED emphasized the importance of accessibility in contents and services and the role that all enterprises should play towards this goal, setting an inclusive tone. Domagoj Boljar discussed Earthbound Sneakers’ ecological approach to sneaker design and the challenges of aligning consumer and investor expectations, stressing the importance of authenticity and avoiding greenwashing.

Tatiana Glad from Impact Hub Network discussed the increasingly blurred lines between traditional and social entrepreneurs, emphasising the crucial role of involving beneficiaries in decision-making and ensuring diverse approaches coexist to achieve systemic change. Cristian Ormindean from Enterprise Europe Network Romania noted shifting consumer values towards sustainability and predicted a transformative impact on mainstream business practices and policies.

During the panel discussion on tools used in social entrepreneurship support, the speakers highlighted innovative approaches and tools driving meaningful social change and fostering sustainability. Elsa Brander shared insights from the SKIFT project coordinated by her organisation Kooperationen, which employs tools like Theory of Change and Sustainable Transformation Compass to aid cooperatives and social economy enterprises in their green transition. Octave Kleynjans from Impact Lab Academy, a training platform on impact-driven entrepreneurship for business support organisations, emphasised the Impact Score tool for quick impact assessments and the Avoided Cost calculation, which monetizes positive impacts to bolster project credibility with policy makers and impact funds.

Daniel Krüger provided a both practical and academic perspective drawing from his work at Dortmund University but also for the German Competence Center for Social Innovation and the German Platform for Social Innovation. He stressed the importance of an ecosystem approach in social innovation beyond social entrepreneurs only. The speakers advocated for inclusive tools that support impact measurement, reporting, and foster a culture of co-creation among stakeholders to sustain social enterprises and engage investors effectively.

The panel on “The Role of Social Entrepreneurship Policy in Promoting New Archetypes of Success” highlighted the critical role of effective policies in advancing social impact and sustainability through social entrepreneurship recognition and support. Mathilde Pellizzari introduced the CRAFT Better Entrepreneurship Policy Group, which focuses on gathering data to inform policy recommendations for social entrepreneurship in Europe, emphasizing areas like finance, impact assessment, and skills development. Melis Aslan from OECD discussed the Better Entrepreneurship Policy Tool (BEPT), detailing its use in assessing social economy development across countries like Croatia, Latvia, and Romania, and highlighting the need for legal recognition and supportive institutional frameworks.

Toby Gazeley from Euclid Network addressed challenges in Croatia, Latvia, and Romania, including lack of political support and financing options, and discussed upcoming European legislation’s potential impact on social enterprises. The discussions underscored the importance of data-driven policy-making and the significant role of social enterprises in driving sustainable economic growth.

The CRAFT Policy Summit highlighted critical perspectives for advancing policy recommendations in support of social entrepreneurship and innovation. Key insights emphasised the need for robust frameworks that include legal recognition, supportive ecosystems, and data-driven approaches. Initiatives like the New European Innovation Agenda and European Innovation Ecosystems support sector-specific innovations in addressing global challenges. Moving forward, policymakers should prioritise strategies that strengthen financial support, enhance skills development, and improve impact assessment frameworks to nurture sustainable economic growth and societal well-being across Europe.