Experiences of Social and Solidarity Economy: Networks of Incubators as TerritoriAL development Strategies

Project Information

ESSENTIALS

Grant agreement ID: 101031632

DOI

10.3030/101031632

Project closed

EC signature date 1 April 2021

Start date 1 March 2022

End date 29 May 2025

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 229 767,36

EU contribution

€ 229 767,36

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA DELLA CALABRIA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ESSENTIALS (Experiences of Social and Solidarity Economy: Networks of Incubators as TerritoriAL development Strategies)

Reporting period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The recent global economic and health crisis has revealed the shortcomings of our current development system. This has led to the need for an alternative or complementary paradigm, identified by several scholars in Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). Indeed, SSE may provide a viable solution to re-balance the economic, social and environmental objectives of the development system. Particularly, in Europe, SSE has gained political visibility representing an important pillar especially in terms of employment and social cohesion, focusing on the social enterprise hubs, incubators, and other scaling-up mechanisms. Specifically, several studies have shown that incubators, which are still increasing worldwide, encourage socio-economic development of a specific area or of a whole country, as for processes of social innovation and transfer of knowledge, and entrepreneurship.
In light of this, this project has a twofold objective: (i) examine the contexts in which social incubators developed by investigating the case studies of Argentina and Brazil, where incubators have been promoting SSE networks since the 1990s; and (ii) carry out a comparative analysis with the European context, including the gender perspective. The main purpose is to identify and understand all the elements that allow social impact incubators to facilitate processes that contribute to the SSE networks promotion.
The research involves two steps: Step 1 – to analyse the processes that underlie the development of an incubator and document its impacts through a comparative study; Step 2 – to understand how SSE networks can be replicated to promote European Goals, by running a pilot study at the University of Calabria (UNICAL).

The main objective of the project is to provide insights into the study and interpretation of processes that contribute to the promotion of networks of Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). The research also aims at identifying models that can lead to social inclusion and local development. Moreover, the project ESSENTIALS focuses on a specific experience: Social Incubators, in an attempt to encourage socio-economic development of a specific area or of a whole country, regarding processes of social innovation and transfer of knowledge. In particular, the specific objectives, of the project are:

Objective 1. Map the incubators and compare the characteristics in Latin America and EU, understanding if there is a relationship between gender and organizational characteristics of an incubator (through WP1)

Objective 2. Identify the factors that contribute to the creation of incubators and the impacts of incubators, including the elements that ensure gender equality, through a comparative study (through WP2)

Objective 3. Analyse the European context considering the strengths and weaknesses identified and thus develop a pilot study (UNICAL), including the gender perspective (through WP3).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

A quantitative survey of nationwide incubators and accelerators in Argentina and Brazil was conducted. This survey contributed to having an updated mapping of these experiences. Through the results of the online survey, it was possible to identify the main characteristics of the incubators present, type, legal form, services offered to incubatees, number of projects incubated and type, local ecosystem of reference, role of the university, number of employees. In this regard, an in-depth study was carried out on the relationship between gender and organizational characteristics.
In Argentina, 91 incubators were found to be active, distributed mainly in the Pampeana regions for 40.0% and in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) for 36.4%. Other regions also have experiences with the following percentages: Cuyo and Northwest both with 6.8%; North - East and Patagonia both with 4.5%.
In Brazil, 186 active incubators were identified, with a prevalent distribution in the Southern regions of 37.7 percent and 32.5 for the Southeast; 20.8 in the Northeast, 5.2 percent in the Central West and 3.9 percent in the North.
Following the quantitative research, qualitative research was undertaken. The methodologies and techniques used were semi-structured interviews, focus groups, shadowing and participant observation. This made it possible to identify the characteristics of local contexts and networks that are capable of generating social, solidarity and popular economy projects.
Four social incubator cases were identified, specifically two in Argentina and two in Brazil. The case studies investigated were particularly interesting for the innovative incubation model adopted, the activities proposed and the type of projects supported.
The relevant aspect appears to be the ecosystem model adopted, with particular reference to the role of the actors (public and private) involved. The process innovations that emerge from the Brazilian and Argentine experiences concern the ability to involve other actors from the perspective of Open Innovation.
In this way, in both urban and rural contexts, it is possible to trigger projects that promote decent work and economic growth, social inclusion, and projects capable of reducing inequalities, aiming at environmental protection, and responsible consumption and production, the creation of social enterprises and cooperative forms of work.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The ESSENTIALS project aims to contribute to the scientific debate on social innovation processes with the results of research conducted in Argentina and Brazil. In particular, the reference is to the urban studies strand, which has emphasized the value of the territorial element in supporting innovation. In the territories, in fact, thanks to the cognitive heritages present (knowledge, knowledge and practices), it is possible to trigger innovations in their relational components, foster the circulation of knowledge and activate of processes of hybridization and interaction. Studies on innovation, as theories on National System of Innovation, Open Innovation, System of Innovation to name a few had already pointed out, are oriented on understanding its systemic nature, and the functioning of the context in which the innovation itself develops.
The research carried out in Latin America will be compared (quantitatively and qualitatively) with European incubation activities. The relevance of this research is linked to understanding how to promote models capable of building a more Social and solidarity Europe, and closer to citizens. Thus, this project represents an important innovation for two reasons: (i) the study contributes to the debate on the role of social incubators and the most effective model to adopt, bringing new knowledge in Europe on the topic of social incubators oriented to the territory, a topic not widely investigated in Europe; (ii) it suggests a practical solution for the implementation of social incubators in Europe, through the pilot study of creating a social incubator at the University of Calabria, that will provide feedback for new theoretical and cognitive elements.

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