On Thursday, November 29th, 2018, in Thessaloniki, the Region of Central Macedonia and the Regional Development Fund of Central Macedonia held an Information and Awareness Event, in which representatives of organizations related to Social and Solidarity Economy participated, on subject “Tools for the Development of Social Entrepreneurship – European and Greek institutional framework“. This event was an activity within the framework of the project “Cross border Action Plan for the Development and Operation of an Executive Mechanism for the Support and Promotion of Social Entrepreneurship in the context of the Social Economy and Social Innovation” with acronym “Action Plan for Social Entrepreneurship“. The project is co-funded by the European Cross Border Cooperation Program INTERREG V-A “GREECE-BULGARIA 2014-2020” and the Region of Central Macedonia participates as the Lead Beneficiary.
During the event, whose main goal was to disseminate and, in parallel, to support the Social Entrepreneurship and the Social and Solidarity Economy in general, were presented the important tools that will be generated by the project “Action Plan for Social Entrepreneurship”, which addresses the way that Social and Solidarity Economy can provide a model for the development of an economy with an emphasis on the social impact, on the cultivation of social solidarity and on the promotion of democratic management principles. The international experience shows that the Social and Solidarity Economy can mobilize and leverage the social forces, gaining multiple benefits for all the people involved.
Mr. Michailidis Konstantinos, Head of Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support of the Region of Central Macedonia, welcomed the attendees of the event and highlighted the commitment of the Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia, Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, to support the existing Social Enterprises and the new ones as well, through a Social Entrepreneurship Support Structure that will be formed in the Region for that purpose.
Subsequently, Mr. Tampakoudis Ioannis, Assistant Professor of the University of Macedonia, presented the Project “Action Plan for Social Entrepreneurship” and put emphasis on the important tools that will be brought forth within this project, such as the development of a Social Entrepreneurship Support Structure in the Region of Central Macedonia, the Geospatial Database in which social enterprises’ data will be recorded, the open Advisory Platform, where online counseling will be provided, Seminars for the social education of people who want to participate in Social and Solidarity Economy organizations, the Advisory Entrepreneurship Program for executives and shareholders of existing social enterprises, and finally, the Excellence Awards, where successful forms of Social and Solidarity Economy enterprises will be awarded.
Consequently, the Electronic Platform for Counseling Support of Social Entrepreneurship was presented by Mr. Mihelakos Ioannis, on behalf of the technical advisor of Democritus University.
Mr. Damis Konstantinos, on behalf of the technical advisor of the Regional Development Fund and the Region of Central Macedonia, presented the EU framework for the Social and Solidarity Economy, which is a guide for both existing Social Enterprises and for those who would like to be involved in the Social Economy.
The presentation of the actions for the Support and Development of Social Entrepreneurship in the framework of Central Macedonia’s Operational Programme (OP) and the current situation of Social Entrepreneurship was presented by Mr. Apostolopoulos Charalampos, Economist, specialized expert on the actions of the European Social Fund (ESF).
Finally, Mr. Tsitsopoulos Ioannis, Head of Publicity and Information department of KEPA-ANEM organization, made an analytical presentation of the Financial Means, both on those that have been announced till today and on those that are expected in the near future, in which Social and Solidarity Economy organizations can accede to. Particular emphasis was put on the challenges that will be faced by the potential investors of Social and Solidarity Economy organizations as well as the points they need to pay attention to when joining an investment program.
The presentations of the Event are available on the official website of the Project: http://www.apfse.gr.
For any information about the project and its actions, please contact Ms. Ellie Platsiouri, tel. 2310403004, e-mail: apfse@rdfcm.gr.
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