The cross-border project ‘Spark Social Enterprise’ is a collaboration between partners in Belgium, Holland and France, the Social Innovation Factory, De Punt, Seinwezen, Kennisland and Region Pas de Calais, and in the UK by The Platform as lead partner, ¹ú²ú̽»¨ and West Sussex County Council.
The ¹ú²ú̽»¨ is leading on researching the blocks and drivers for social enterprise innovation and growth by engaging with 45 key social enterprise stakeholders, 90 social enterprises and 30 social enterprise support organisations across the four regions.
Once completed, this research will help create a cross-border social enterprise innovation strategy and action plan, a new model for social enterprise innovation, an innovation accelerator network including cross-border ‘Social Entrepreneur’ safaris, and an online tool for start-up social enterprises.
Dr George Tsekouras, Principal Research Fellow at the university, said: “This project offers a unique opportunity to connect the world of social enterprises with the management and support of innovation. Supporting the growth of innovation strategies by social enterprises will empower them into much more sophisticated trading activity and more eloquent pursuit of their social or environmental aims.”