Action plan for social economy

actors involvement in MED smart

specialization strategies

Progress Report Presentation –

Avril 2014

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CITEK : Be smart, innovative, open and online …

CITEK project -“Capitalization Initiative for the Innovation and

Internationalization of the MED economic and knowledge system »

• promote the setting up of innovation system in the MED area involving

public administration, research centers, innovation drivers, categories'

associations and SMEs (the triangle of innovation)

• capitalizing the results coming out by the projects of the CITEK

partnership previously implemented (ICS, IKTIMED and R&D)

TITLECITEK

Project partners 9 organizations

from 6 different

countries

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Med smart specialization strategies observatory

One of Citek's activities is Med smart specialization strategies’ implementation observatory.

In this activity, Oxalis Coop, Citek partner, coordinates the elaboration of an action plan to include social economy actors and cooperatives, in Smart Specialization Strategies drawing up.

TITLESocial Economy in Europe : economic influence • Paid work for more than 14.5 million Europeans,

• 6.5% of the active population of the EU-27,

• 20% of 500 million Europeans are volunteers in a structure of social economy,

Organizations of the social economy are present in the majority of economic sectors and territories.

Statistical data from CIRIEC International Report – 2012 « The Social Economy in Europe »

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Social Economy in MED Area : a wide variety

Countries % of total employmentChypre 1,32%Espagne 6,74%France 9,02%Grèce 2,67%Italie 9,74%Malte 1,02%Portugal 5,04%Slovénie 0,73%Croatie 0,59%

Social Economy in MED Area : a wide variety

Countries where the concept of social economy is widely accepted : Spain, Greece, Portugal, France, Italy.

Countries where the concept of social economy has a medium level of acceptance : Malta, Cyprus.

Countries where the concept of social economy is not well recognized or not recognized at all : Croatia, Slovenia.

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Social Economy : definitions in motion Definition by legal status, four major categories: cooperative enterprises, mutual societies, foundations and associations.

Definition by practical observed : democratic decision- making processes, non-profit, equality of men and women, general interest activities, solidarity, respect for the environment, the fight against poverty …

Social entrepreneurs and social enterprises multiply and are highlighted in some countries. Sometimes these are NGOs.

All these organizations are often those that develop social innovations.

TITLEMED Social Economy processing

Croatia example national strategy to promote social enterprises.

The government has published 7 March 2014 a strategy for the period 2014-2020 to promote social entrepreneurship, which should be adopted by the end of the year, for implementation in 2015.

With 41 million euros, it establishes the creation of a directory of social enterprises and provide a regulatory and institutional framework for these companies.

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Social Economy and Smart Specialization Strategy A survey among eight regions of six countries participating in the program Citek (all the Med area except Malta, Cyprus and Greece)

Presence of the social economy in the RIS3 is considered rather low

Presence of social innovation in the RIS3 is considered rather average

Social innovation is well considered by the RIS3 in the regions. It is mentioned in all the strategies in the finalization phase of the RIS3. Social economy is not as well integrated, so we can consider that social economy is not sufficiently considered as a contributor of economic development in MED region.

TITLEBrakes for the integration of the social economy to the RIS3

• Social economy actors not assimilated to business and economic sector by public authorities

• Small dimension and no good representation of the sector himself

• Not all have access to information and support at regional economic level

• State and regional policy is focused on technology innovation

• Legal constraints for testing of an idea or new activity

TITLEAdvantages for the integration of the social economy to the RIS3

• Economic activities for the real needs of local people

• Give human values to business activities and development

• Experience in networking and partnership

• Provide more labour opportunities

• Providing new, more efficient answers to meet grown social needs

• Mobilization and involvment of the population about local economy

TITLESocial Economy and Smart Specialization Strategy

Involve Social Economy actors- Marche Region expérience

1. The establishment of a Regional group of stakeholders composed by the socio-economic actors and by the representatives of scientific and the credit system.2. The organisation of targeted focus group, aimed to deepen objectives,

contents and action plans of specific priorities.

3. Initiative: “Suggest your innovative idea for the Marches”In order to develop a broader and more open dialogue not only with businesses, but also with all citizens , the Marche Region launched the initiative: “Suggest your innovative idea for the Marches”. The objective of this innovative web-based communication tool was:- to collect innovative ideas of policies- to give a further impetus to the debate on regional innovation,

TITLESocial Economy contributions to Smart Specialization Strategy

Rhône-Alpes region has included social entrepreneurship and social innovation in its strategy approved in October 2013

- Development of social entrepreneurship and supporting social innovation within companies.- Develop and promote the social value within the company.- Promote innovative practices for economic purposes, social and territorial cooperation, encouraging practices intercompany cooperation strengthening the competitiveness of enterprises, the local economy, and welfare at work.

Social Economy : Innovations for the RIS3

Some of the basic ideas and practical of Social Economy can provide new approaches to the regional economy.

• Networks, strategic alliances and franchising are examples of cooperation used by cooperatives

• In a high competitive context many companies are also seeking to gain customers’ loyalty and generate a sense of belonging through forms of ”membership” or to differentiate themselves from competitors through claims of social responsibility and ethics.

• Profit social enterprise mainly reinvested in the company or its territory. There is no capital flight.

Best Connecting Social Economy to the RIS3

Some good pratices of Citek partners region :

• Prior analysis of the role of social economy in the region. • The organization of targeted focus group, aimed to deepen objectives,

contents and action plans of specific priorities• Presentation seminars• Working groups• Collection of idea and suggestions• Web forms• Brainstorm exercises aimed at identifying the specific focus of the RIS 3

in the domains of social economy

Recommandations to Connecting Social Economy to the RIS3

• Study more precisely the actors of the social economy, their strengths, their organizations, innovations,

• Explore the process of innovation by custom, involving citizens and organizations in the social economy, and collaborative economy

• Diversify forms of innovation in integrating social organizational innovations, environmental, with clusters and associated research labs

• Develop new business models, closer than territories, with a better distribution of wealth, and a weaker recovery requirement on capital employed.