ISEDE NET – INNOVATIVE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT NETWORK

Project starts 11 March 2009
Ends 30 September 2011
http://www.isede-net.com/

Total budget:: 2.426.790,00 €

• European regional development fund 2.062.772,00 €
• Co-financing 363.228,00 €

Social enterprises (SE) are businesses set up to tackle social or environmental needs: increasing their presence means providing SEES with the opportunity for a prosperous, fair, inclusive and environmentally sustainable future.

The challenge is the overcoming of a number of problems summarized in the uncertainty of the legal framework in which SE operate, reduced capacity of access to public/private financial sources, lack of dedicated business support services and particularly the restriction to local markets.

The overall objective of "ISEDE-NET" is to support the development of SE across the SEES thus contributing to the strengthening of social and economic cohesion over the transnational area of the project. The specific objectives of the project are:

1. Identification of the driving forces for the development of SE
2. Mobilizing a transnational network of SE and promoting their participation to a web based network
3. Finding new solutions for the SE sector by implementing pilot innovative actions (finance, Business support services and market development)
4. Promoting the internal innovation of SE in terms of professionalization and  creation of new socially oriented businesses
5. Creation of a transnational network of public and private partner institutions committed to the development of the sector
6. Providing a chance for social inclusion of disadvantaged groups including ethnic miniroties (such as Romas) across the SEE space

PARTNERS

• 	ASSOCIATION FOR WASTE PREVENTION  - ARGE ARGE was Established in 1982 as a non profit association with the mission of contributing to sustainable development in its economic, environmental, social dimensions. Through its activities focusing on the SE sector and specifically on waste prevention/waste management, ARGE is constantly in contact with an extensive network of SE partners. This makes it an ideal subject for involving SE in the ISEDE-NET platform and activities at Austrian level. Furthermore ARGE will lead a particular pilot activity, i.e. the examination in detail of the Rapid Manufacturing technology with reference to whether it’s a suitable business field for SE and the preconditions for being successful there.
  	SAVARIA REHAB-TEAM Szociális Szolgáltató és Foglalkoztatási Kiemelkedően Közhasznú Társaság REHAB-TEAM is a non-governmental organisation, which creates social economy by employing people who are permanently out of the labour market (low school qualification, Roma, homeless, disabilities, etc.) and selling their products on the primary market. It holds high credibility at national level and comprehensive relations with economical organisations, municipalities and with the Regional Labour Office. With its wide network of partner organizations it is an ideal partner for mobilizing target groups at nation wide level for their involvement in the ISEDE-NET portal and for bringing project results to the attention of policy makers. In terms of HRs, it is worth mentioning that the managing director of REHAB-TEAM is a national level expert and researcher on the topic SE.
  	PROVINCE OF BRESCIA The territory of PRBS has a long history in SE, born in this area over 30 years ago, fact proved by the presence of the most important Italian umbrella organisations (e.g. Solco network, CGM network, with 5.000 associates in Italy. Since the competence of SE policy has been attributed in Italy to Provinces (NUTS 3 level) PRBS has built an innovative structure of government for SE including a legal framework, TA, funds, special projects. PRBS has a long tradition in the management of EU Programmes and projects both as LP and as PP: with specific reference to the Economic Sector of the Province, it is worth mentioning the experience in Community Initiatives and the implementation of Italian ESF Projects and projects for SME innovation. Due to such fact, PRBS is networked to many other provinces, regions, RDAs and SE in Italy and EU. PRBS is the ideal organization to lead an ambitious project like ISEDE-NET, also in consideration of its financial capacity, human, technical capital.
  	Inštitut za ekonomska raziskovanja-Ljubljana IER is an autonomous non-governmental research organisation with a long tradition in the field of macroeconomic and microeconomic analysis. It has developed specific competences at national and international level on issues of SME development, welfare economics, SE and management consulting. Its capacity to mobilize staff with cross-sector competences from the different departments of the Institute make it an ideal partner for all the WPs of ISEDE-NET. In particular as research institution specialized in management consulting it will lead the WP6, coordinating the collection and delivery of Business Support services and producing new ones if required.
  	Fondazione Caritas Ambrosiana CARITAS was founded in 1974 to promote charity in forms consistent with the times and the needs. Nowadays it is a professional organization, employing high standing experts and delivering professional projects related (but not exclusively) to social inclusion, SE, ethic finance, also beyond the national borders. With reference to the objectives of the project, it is worth mentioning that CARITAS is able to activate a wide multilevel network including target groups such as Social Cooperatives, Foundations, Associations, Consortia, Association of Cooperatives, but also stakeholders such as Public bodies at local, Provincial and Regional Level, Banks (Banca Etica) Universities. Moreover owing to its presence on the Lombardy Region, one of the most developed in EU in terms of SE, it is able to contribute to the project with a wide set of experiences in terms of financial tools, business support services, market niches developed over the past 30 years.
  	European Movement in Serbia EMinS was founded in 1992, and in the same year started with its activities with the mission to influence the public in Serbia to commit itself to building a democratic pluralist society, to achieve equality among people and their communities and to promote the European heritage and values. In order of achieving its basic mission, EMinS is organizing, implementing and supporting activities such as public discussions, round tables, seminars, organization of international conferences, educational programs, research, campaigns, advocacy. EMinS has been promoting the concepts of Alternative Economy and Social Cohesion in Serbia, Social Dialogue, communication between the Parliament and citizens, managing the European Integration Fund and raising awareness about new EU IPA funds. It is a professional organization, strongly embedded into the Serbian economy, non-profit networks, with connections at different levels governments.
  	EOMMEX - Hellenic Organization of Small & Medium sized Enterprises and Handicraft S.A. EOMMEX is a state Organization which operates under the supervision of the Ministry of development and is the main national instrument for the support and the development of the Greek SME’s. EOMMEX was founded in 1977 and plays a very important role in the promotion and support of entrepreneurship of sensitive social groups, such as people with special needs , emigrants, Rom and women. Eommex has participated in many projects in the framework of the initiatives like EQUAL , NOW , HORIZON , YOUTHSTART , INTERREG , from which have resulted in many enterprise creation, observatories ,welcoming and consulting structures , methodologies and exchange of experiences. Eommex has launched many national programs to support and finance enterprise creation by persons which belong to sensitive social groups. EOMMEX has 180 employees who have a grate knowledge and experience in enterprise creation and follow up and most of them a significant experience in people of sensitive groups.
  	City of Venice The City of Venice holds the status of one of the most developed areas of the country. During the last years, it has been paying an increasing attention towards the collaboration with the Third Sector, in order to give integrated answers to the needs of the community and its inhabitants. Coherently with this objective and in line with its Strategic Plan, the City of Venice supports entrepreneurial initiatives that pertain to the ethic and solidal economy. These initiatives must have the social and economic development of the city as mission. Of particular interest within the ISEDE NET project, for COVE is the delivery of feasibility study on innovative financial tools for SE, capitalizing the fruitful experience it holds in the field of micro-credit for people in need, gained also within the Equal project 2004-2006 Ec.co.mi. – Share in-Economy and microcredit.
  	BARDA - Bulgarian Association of Regional Development Agencies and Business Centres BARDA is the only decentralized non-government umbrella organisation of independent RDAs and business centres in Bulgaria whose activities are focused mainly on the development of the regional economies and the SME sector. BARDA was established in 1997 by 7 RDAs and now has 20 members – agencies situated in all regions of Bulgaria. BARDA cooperates with ministries, state agencies, foreign donors, other public and private organizations on the design and implementation of the regional development policy, SME support and economy restructuring. BARDA members work in concert with economic development strategies of regions and participates in regional development policy making. BARDA activities contribute to the development of the civil society, science and technologies in Bulgaria.
  	Association of Economic Development of Ivano-Frankivsk AEDIF is a non-profit organization founded as an NGO in 1997, to facilitate socio-economic development of Ivano-Frankivsk Region and its communities, with experience in building social partnerships at regional, national and transnational level with non profit organizations and public bodies. Among its objectives are strategic planning and implementation of development programs, training, EU integration, trans-border and regional cooperation. Its network includes more than 30 active NGOs in the City of Ivano-Frankivsk, local communities of the Ivano-Frankivsk Region, Ivano-Frankivsk City Administration, Ivano-Frankivsk State Regional Administration, a number of national, regional, and local mass media. AEDIF is a modern organization, employing experts from social-economic-legal background and equipped with modern facilities, hardwares and softwares.
  	ASPMD - Association for support of people with mental disabilities, Bulgaria The ASPMD was established in 1994 as a non-profit organization supporting people with mental disabilities and their families in terms of setting up conditions for their social integration, training in social, life and creative skills, gratifying social needs, changing public attitude towards people with mental disabilities. With reference to this project, the observation on the national social enterprises, the analysis and their inclusion in a network of similar enterprises in the partner countries will work out a common concept to encourage, enhance business capacity and master the market niches. Such activities present a very high level of relevance the mission of ASPMD and contribute to its further achievement.
  	NES - National Employment Service he Law on Employment and Unemployment Insurance (Official Gazzette of RS No 61/03) states that NES is: ‘an institution for performing the works of providing the realisation of citizens’ rights to employment and insurance in case of unemployment’. In pursuit of this, the law confirms the Service’s competence in relation to the administration of unemployment registration and unemployment insurance, job broking, jobseeker advice, counselling, additional education, training, working licences and employment abroad. The NES is considered the key element of successful implementation of employment strategy and has an essential role in the transition process. It is devoted towards creation of a modern public service with the capacity to implement, in a prompt and quality manner, the measures intended to directly decrease unemployment and all other necessary administrative tasks. It represents at National level one of the most important stakeholders for the capitalization of ISEDE-NET results.