Knowledge and innovation
for the social economy

Research, training and consulting regarding cooperative and social enterprises and other nonprofit organisations
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Latest News

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Statistical report on the social economy in the EU
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The social economy in Italy: a new in-depth webpage
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Last call for the 16th International Workshop on Cooperative and Responsible Finance for Development
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European Commission launches the EU Proximity and Social Economy Platform
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EURICSE and CIRIEC present the new report on the Social Economy in the EU on 7 February in Brussels
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2025 UN International Year of Cooperatives
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The EU Proximity and Social Economy Platform is online
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New research report on Italian agricultural cooperatives
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Euricse mentioned in the UN Report on social and solidarity economy
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First national meeting of Community enterprises
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Accelerating start-ups in the social economy
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Scientific Colloquium: abstract submission deadline extended
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SOCIAL ECONOMY IN ITALY

Explore the panorama of organisations that make up the social economy, an increasingly relevant sector that combines value creation and social engagement, producing goods and services of common interest by putting people and the community at the centre rather than profit. Find out how many workers are involved and the occupational weight of these realities, with interactive charts offering a detailed analysis by sector and region.
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398 612

ORGANISATIONS (2022)

1 529 185

EMPLOYEES (2022)

4 661 269

VOLUNTEERS (2021)

Recent Publications

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Report on Council Regulation (EC) No. 1435/2003 of 22 July 2003 – Statute for a European Cooperative Society (SCE)
This synthesis report presents the results of the study conducted by Euricse on behalf of the European Commission on the implementation of the European Cooperative Society (SCE) regulation in the 30 EU/EEA member states.
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WP 134 | 24 Social cooperatives, between data and narratives
Il paper esplora l’evoluzione delle cooperative sociali italiane, evidenziando il calo delle nuove costituzioni, la crescita delle imprese sociali non cooperative e delle cooperative ad oggetto plurimo, e la concentrazione di redditività in poche realtà maggiori.
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Youth, activism and the social economy in Tuscany: trends, challenges and contrasts
This report explores the socio-economic context of the provinces of Siena and Arezzo to align the development of the local social economy with European policies, through data analysis and field research, with the aim of supporting innovative social entrepreneurship.
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Italian agricultural cooperatives: characteristics and relevance in the agrifood sector
The report, a collaboration between CREA - Policy and Bioeconomy and Euricse, takes an in-depth look at the situation of agricultural cooperatives in Italy, highlighting their potential, challenges and fundamental role in supporting the rural economy and the agrifood system.
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Intermediate communities, opportunity for politics
This volume analyzes the role of political parties in democracies and their difficulty in engaging citizens. Chapter XI edited by Gianluca Salvatori and Jacopo Sforzi explores how communities can redefine political participation through general interest-oriented initiatives.
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Food Coop. Operating Instructions
The research "Le Food Coop: Istruzioni per l'uso" is a practical and scientific guide for aspiring entrepreneurs that outlines the characteristics and development of food coops, particularly in Italy, and emphasizes their potential for replication in other contexts.
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Benchmarking the socio-economic performance of the EU social economy
This European Commission study, coordinated by Euricse in cooperation with Ciriec International and Spatial Foresight, aims to understand the weight of the social economy in the European context and its contribution to the creation of a sustainable, innovative and resilient environment.
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Non ho mai smesso di ragionare. Social enterprise and entrepreneurial biodiversity
This volume is a valuable collection of speeches, publications, interviews and unpublished writings by Prof. Carlo Borzaga, who in his forty years of professional activity has explored the role of cooperatives and social enterprises, defending organizational biodiversity against the standardization of the market.
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Community hubs: multifunctional spaces between urban regeneration and social regeneration
The report analyses Community hubs, multifunctional and multi-purpose spaces that accommodate different activities and social actors. These initiatives respond to community needs by developing community services and encouraging active participation and co-creation of new projects.
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Community enterprises in Italy. Distinctive traits and development pathways
This report focuses on the study of Community Enterprises in Italy, with particular attention to their development over the past two years, analyzing their territorial and organizational characteristics.
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WP 133 | 24 On the concept and relevance of the social economy
The paper explores the growing recognition of the centrality of the social economy, highlighting the need to analyze its specificities, including legal forms, regulation, governance and supportive policies, in order to address crucial challenges such as social cohesion, ecological transition and the creation of decent jobs, while also emphasizing its potential contribution to civic participation.
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WORKING IN COOPERATIVES TODAY. The voice of new care professionals and turn-over in social enterprises
This research aims to explore the different causes of youth turnover, analyzing motivations, job attractions, organizational dynamics, and the ability of cooperatives to engage and retain young people, with a focus on the context and the relationship between private social and public administration.
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Upcoming events

30/05/2025 - 31/05/2025
Trento
Research Conference
International Research Colloquium on Cooperatives
11/06/2025 - 13/06/2025
Helsinki
Research Conference
ICA CCR Europe 2025 Conference
19/06/2025 - 20/06/2025
Trento
Workshop
16° Workshop on Cooperative and Responsible Finance for Development
03/11/2025 - 07/11/2025
Rotterdam - Utrecht
Research Conference
10th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise

EURICSE CAN SUPPORT YOU IF YOU WORK...

In research or accademia

  • You can have access to data collected by the Institute, as well as reports and publications on the social economy.
  • You can be a visiting scholar.
  • You can publish your work with Euricse in our scientific journal JEOD or in our working paper series.
  • You can collaborate in theoretical and applied research projects.
  • You can find support in training and in local and European projects.

In the social economy 

  • You can find materials and documents that may interest you.
  • You can increase your skills through our training courses.
  • You can find updates and strategic and policy advice to manage your organization and improve efficiency and outcomes.
  • You can find support for your social reporting needs.
  • You can join the MasterGIS community, a solid and broad network of companies and trained alumni.

In Public Administration

  • You can find studies on the relationship between Public Administration and the Third Sector.
  • You can find local, national and European policy analysis.
  • You can find strategic consulting and a multidisciplinary approach.
  • You can find training and support on co-design and co-programming.
  • You can compare best practices in the sector on an international scale.

If you are interested in our topics

  • You can find information about what is happening around the social economy.
  • You can explore training opportunities.
  • You can download Research Reports, Working Papers and our publications.
  • You can keep up to date with our news.
  • You can subscribe to our newsletter.
  • You can get in touch with us…

Featured

JEOD
The Journal of Entrepreneurial and Organizational Diversity (JEOD) is Euricse's scientific journal. JEOD is indexed in Scopus since 2021.
Go to the official website
SIBEC
The Italian School for the Management of Common Goods promoted by Euricse, Labsus and the University of Trento and its educational opportunities.
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WORLD COOPERATIVE MONITOR
The annual global research report on cooperatives produced by the International Cooperative Alliance with the scientific support of Euricse.
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STORIES.COOP
Stories of cooperatives told independently. A Euricse and ICA project.
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