Purpose

Socialenterprisebsr.net: Empowering Social Entrepreneurship Across the Baltic Sea Region

Socialenterprisebsr.net was launched in 2014 as an innovative platform to support and promote social entrepreneurship across the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). Its origins trace back to the Erasmus+ project “Social Entrepreneurship Development in the Baltic Sea Region,” which brought together seven social enterprise support organizations to address critical challenges faced by the sector. What began as a project has since evolved into a dynamic hub for education, collaboration, and innovation in the social economy.

Recognizing the potential of social entrepreneurship (SE) to tackle pressing societal challenges such as job creation and poverty reduction, the platform continues to drive efforts aligned with the EUROPE 2020 strategy. Social enterprises aim to create positive societal impact through financially sustainable business models, offering a unique solution to these challenges.

The platform’s foundation was rooted in addressing key barriers identified in the Social Europe Guide Volume 4 (2013), which highlighted the social economy’s struggles with visibility, training, support networks, access to finance, and regulation. Socialenterprisebsr.net was designed to overcome these barriers by fostering an ecosystem that supports education, research, and cross-border collaboration in the BSR.

Core Objectives of Socialenterprisebsr.net:

  • Facilitating SE Growth: Providing tools and resources for adult education and public awareness to strengthen the social enterprise sector.
  • Educating Stakeholders: Offering guidance to municipalities, NGOs, and other entities on SE support tools and strategies at both regional and national levels.
  • Driving Research and Policy Development: Conducting and sharing research on SE to inform legislation, education, and support frameworks.
  • Promoting Cross-Border Collaboration: Serving as an open educational platform to connect social enterprises and initiate joint activities across the BSR.
  • Building Networks: Establishing a stable support network for SE organizations and enterprises.

A Growing Movement for Positive Change

Socialenterprisebsr.net continues to champion the role of social enterprises as drivers of social and economic change. Built on the principles outlined in the EU Social Business Initiative, the platform highlights businesses with a clear social purpose, limited profit distribution, and transparent governance. These principles are embedded in the platform’s efforts to support enterprises that address social and environmental challenges, reinvest profits to further their missions, and engage stakeholders in their operations.

The concept of social entrepreneurship has deep roots in Europe’s social economy, evolving from cooperative and mutualist traditions of the 19th century. Today, social enterprises in Europe employ 14.5 million people—6.5% of the workforce—and contribute significantly to diverse sectors, from agriculture and manufacturing to social services and advanced technologies. Socialenterprisebsr.net reflects this evolution, serving as a catalyst for growth, inclusion, and innovation in the BSR.

By offering educational resources, fostering collaboration, and advocating for the potential of social entrepreneurship, Socialenterprisebsr.net ensures that the movement continues to thrive. From its humble beginnings as part of an Erasmus+ project, the platform remains committed to empowering social enterprises and building resilient communities across the Baltic Sea Region.