European Action Plan for the Social Economy launched

December 16^th 2021, the European Action Plan “Building an economy that works for people: an action plan for the social economy “ (2021-2030) was launched by the European Commission. Built through the contribution of more than 130 organisations and experts, the document can be seen as a key tool to systematically incorporate the social economy into the different socio-economic policies of the EU, including industrial, innovation and cohesion policies.

The Commission proposes 38 concrete measures to be implemented in the coming nine years, in different core areas, including :

• promoting social economy at local, regional, and international levels,
• business support, skills, youth entrepreneurship,
• access to funding and finance,
• social impact measurement,
• social economy contribution to the green and digital transitions,
• social ​innovation.

The implementing phase of the Action plan thus offers new opportunities for the members of EBN, Impact Hub and EVPA, with the Better Incubation project referred to in the document as a good practice and inspiration.

In the Action plan, the European Commission also recognises, an importance that the mainstream business incubators have in the support of social economy entities (p.14) :

The Commission calls on Member States to encourage mainstream business incubators to extend their support to social economy entities, to improve business investment readiness support opportunities. The ‘Better Incubator’ pilot launched by the European Commission can serve as inspiration’. 

The partnership and cooperation of the three networks through the Better Incubation project should contribute the Action plan through development of social economy and social innovation ecosystems on local and regional levels. Throughout 2022, the project will continue supporting the  business incubators as catalysts of the entrepreneurial support ecosystem, experimenting with the inclusive incubation practices across Europe.