The two years since the launch of the SocialTech4EU project are almost over: a journey that set itself the ambitious mission of strengthening the innovation capacity, competitiveness, and sustainability of startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that make up the social economy ecosystem, with particular focus on technological enterprises.

Today, social economy organizations face multiple challenges related to access to new digital and green business models. Examples include precarious financial sustainability, access to funding, inability to attract talent, or low market competitiveness compared to traditional SMEs.

The project’s mission was to help address social challenges on a larger scale, inspiring systemic changes in the traditional economy to accelerate the realization of impactful innovative solutions that would not have been achieved otherwise.

A networking event

On May 16, the Open Incet spaces hosted the event “SocialTech4EU: Innovate & Connect with Italian enterprises. Presentation of project results and networking session”, a meeting to illustrate the results achieved so far and to create connections between social enterprises and local stakeholders.

Organized by the Giacomo Brodolini Foundation Srl SB and Torino Social Impact, the event represented an opportunity to explore the SocialTech4EU project, which is now the largest support and training program for social enterprises in Europe, co-financed by the European Union under the Joint Cluster Initiatives (EUROCLUSTERS) for Europe’s recovery.

From knowledge exchange to new collaboration spaces

During the event, thematic tables were organized where companies, providers, and stakeholders could share their experiences and ideas. The goal was to promote the exchange of knowledge and open up spaces for collaboration, starting from the activities of the companies and reflecting on the sector’s opportunities and policies.