1. European Research and Development Service for the Social Economy
DIESIS COOP
European Research and Development Service for the Social Economy
Diesis coop scrl-fs
Boulevard Charlemagne 74
1000 Bruxelles
Tél : +32 (0)2/

2. DIESIS - European Research and Development Service for the Social Economy
Mission Since 1997 DIESIS has supported the development of the social economy in Europe through the implementation of knowledge-based activities, such as training, project design, consultings and advisory services, technical assistance and research.
Membership
DIESIS members benefit from a network of more than 80,000 social economy enterprises all over Europe.
Fields of action
Social integration
Active citizenship
Participatory democracy
Social housing
Social dialogue
Sustainable energy
Social enterprise development
Local development
Sustainable and social tourism
Gender equality
Fighting poverty and discrimination
Services
Networking and partnerships: exchange
Information and communication (Study Visit, Organisation of events: conferences and seminars, Business to business contact, Contact with European institution) : visibility
Research: knowledge
EU projects: (Identification of client’s needs, Drafting of projects and budget proposal, Administrative support and coordination of projects, Partners’ research): expertise
Trainings: skills and competences

3. DIESIS’ strategic partnership / membership
GECES European Commission expert group on social entrepreneurship that assists the EC in the implementation of the Social Business Initiative.
ESF SE Thematic Network: composed by ESF Managing Authorities, National and European stakeholders, operates until 2019 to enable mutual learning among countries and stakeholders and facilitate coordinated ESF calls for proposal.
EARTH/OITS: European Alliance for Responsible Tourism and Hospitality, the first European Network of responsible and sustainable tourism, that in 2017 will merge with OITS (International Social Tourism Organisation) creating one worldwide network.
European Migration Forum: platform organised by the EC and the EESC to foster dialogue between civil society and the European institutions on issues relating to migration, asylum and the integration of third-country nationals.
UnionMIgrantNet: network promoted by a consortium led by the ETUC. Its contact points provide info and assistance to migrants and would-be migrants that are in Europe or wish to come in Europe.  DIESIS is one of its founder members bringing along its network of social economy enterprises.

4. Social economy and social innovation
In order to promote a 'highly competitive social market economy', the Commission has placed the social economy and social innovation at the heart of its concerns.
Social entrepreneurship and social innovation aim to meet unsatisfied social needs and to respond to social challenges. There are tight links between the two fields. Social entrepreneurship is a vehicle and agent, though not the only one, of social innovation; social innovation very often originates inside the social entrepreneurship sector and can be taken up by other sectors later on. (Source: SMEs, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION © OECD 2010).
Social Business Initiative wants to create a favourable climate for social enterprises, key stakeholders in the social economy and social innovation.

5. Trends and challenges to face
Social economy actors are natural players of social innovation: entrepreneurial culture, business models, empowerment of users/customers, etc.
Develop new social economy/enterprises business models and appropriate support mecanisms (community enterprises, social/responsible/accessible tourism, public-social partnerships)
Social economy/enterprises as a crucial actor to face migration issues both for assistance and socioeconomic/labour market integration

6. Added value of Social Economy/Entrepreneurship projects
Enhanced focus on concrete products/services and results
A strengthened focus on the user/customer’s experience
Job creation and facilitated access to labour market for low skilled-workers
Empowered individuals and groups, community-led local development
More flexible and adaptive services
More cost-effective services and products
A reduced dependency on public budgets for contributors to common good

7. Project idea: enabling ecosystems for social entrepreneurship - smart use of Structural funds
Peer learning and supporting innovation among Dev Agencies based on the experience of ESF SE network (ESF managing authorities network supported by the European Commission)
To identify and examine a selection of innovative good practices from around Europe to gain a deep understanding of the elements of a comprehensive support environment for the creation and growth of social enterprises.
To help LAs and Development Agencies to support the development of SE in OPs and new programmes.
Implement innovative solutions bridging social innovation/entrepreneurship, social/impact finance,

8. Project idea: boosting local development via social economy /social enterprise: social inclusion, +jobs, migrants/refugees assistance+integration
To help LAs and Development Agencies to boost local development via close partnerships with Social Economy, Social Enterprises, Changemakers, Social and Ethical finance organisations
To identify and examine a selection of innovative good practices from around Europe
To gain a deep understanding of the state-of-the art and future scenarios
To create synergies and partnership with private sector

9. Project idea: Sustainable, Responsible, Accessible tourism, Cultural and natural heritage to boost local development
To help LAs and Development Agencies to boost local development via close partnerships with private organisations (NGOs, SMEs, national and international networks) active in the responsible accessible sustainable tourism
To identify and examine a selection of innovative good practices from around Europe
To gain a deep understanding of the state-of-the art and future scenarios
To create synergies and partnership with the private sector

10. Funding opportunities to be explored together
INTERREG EUROPE
INTERREG MED, CENTRAL EUROPE,
CROSS BORDER COOPERATION
H2020
COSME
ESF/ERDF at national level

11. Thank you for your attention Gianluca Pastorelli luca
Thank you for your attention Gianluca Pastorelli