Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CRAFT (European Action for Social Entrepreneurship Support)
Reporting period: 2023-07-01 to 2024-12-31
The Social Innovation Ecosystem Strengthening project (CRAFT) is designed to bolster social entrepreneurship and expand the impact of social and purpose-driven initiatives across Europe. By hosting events, summits, and developing a digital ecosystem, CRAFT fosters stronger collaboration and knowledge sharing among diverse actors within the social innovation landscape. Central to the project is the creation of a European peer-to-peer academy and the curation of best practices and tools, all aimed at empowering social entrepreneurs and their support organizations for sustainable growth and systemic change.
The context for this project is the urgent need for robust, interconnected ecosystems that can effectively address pressing societal challenges. Social innovation holds vast potential to tackle complex issues—from social inclusion and health to environmental sustainability—but its impact is often limited by fragmented support systems and lack of coordinated resources. CRAFT seeks to bridge these gaps by forging connections between social entrepreneurs, SMEs, accelerators, investors, philanthropy groups, academia, and public entities, enabling these actors to work more synergistically.
CRAFT’s objectives are threefold:
European Peer-to-Peer Academy: Establish a collaborative academy owned by European support organizations to enhance capacity building. This academy will deliver training, facilitate knowledge exchange, and provide best practice sharing, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem.
Tools and Best Practices Platform: Develop a digital knowledge-sharing platform offering free access to practical tools, templates, and guidance for social entrepreneurs, sourced from across Europe’s social innovation landscape.
Events and Summits: Facilitate local events and high-profile summits to nurture networking, exchange of innovative practices, and engagement with emerging trends, helping to build a vibrant, supportive community.
The expected impact includes:
Registration and assessment of best practices to curate impactful tools.
Organization of two social innovation policy summits and a final conference to convene key stakeholders.
Development of a freely accessible digital ecosystem hosting all tools and resources.
Strengthened European network enabling deeper collaboration and sustained momentum within the field.
By weaving together these elements, CRAFT not only enhances the practical capacities of individual entrepreneurs but also cultivates a connected, resilient ecosystem. This project contributes meaningfully to inclusive economic growth and sustainable societal transformation, leveraging the collective power of Europe’s social innovation actors.
The context for this project is the urgent need for robust, interconnected ecosystems that can effectively address pressing societal challenges. Social innovation holds vast potential to tackle complex issues—from social inclusion and health to environmental sustainability—but its impact is often limited by fragmented support systems and lack of coordinated resources. CRAFT seeks to bridge these gaps by forging connections between social entrepreneurs, SMEs, accelerators, investors, philanthropy groups, academia, and public entities, enabling these actors to work more synergistically.
CRAFT’s objectives are threefold:
European Peer-to-Peer Academy: Establish a collaborative academy owned by European support organizations to enhance capacity building. This academy will deliver training, facilitate knowledge exchange, and provide best practice sharing, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem.
Tools and Best Practices Platform: Develop a digital knowledge-sharing platform offering free access to practical tools, templates, and guidance for social entrepreneurs, sourced from across Europe’s social innovation landscape.
Events and Summits: Facilitate local events and high-profile summits to nurture networking, exchange of innovative practices, and engagement with emerging trends, helping to build a vibrant, supportive community.
The expected impact includes:
Registration and assessment of best practices to curate impactful tools.
Organization of two social innovation policy summits and a final conference to convene key stakeholders.
Development of a freely accessible digital ecosystem hosting all tools and resources.
Strengthened European network enabling deeper collaboration and sustained momentum within the field.
By weaving together these elements, CRAFT not only enhances the practical capacities of individual entrepreneurs but also cultivates a connected, resilient ecosystem. This project contributes meaningfully to inclusive economic growth and sustainable societal transformation, leveraging the collective power of Europe’s social innovation actors.
Data-Driven Ecosystem Mapping
Developed multilingual surveys targeting SIMs and SIAs in Romania, Croatia, and Latvia, capturing baseline data on practices, tools, and capacities. Fully GDPR and ethics-compliant.
Tool Identification, Co-Creation & Validation
A systematic methodology enabled identification, classification, and refinement of social innovation tools. Twelve tools were co-developed via Living Labs, enriched with real-world feedback, and published on APPA.
APPA Digital Ecosystem Development
Launched a multilingual, modular platform offering tools for social innovation. UX was iteratively optimized based on real-time feedback and integrated analytics, ensuring smooth onboarding and interaction.
Stakeholder Testing & Feedback Loops
Workshops and hybrid sessions enabled hands-on testing and refinement of tools. Adaptive engagement strategies strengthened feedback loops. One SIA evolved into a SIM, reinforcing system resilience.
Impact Measurement via Survey Analysis
A two-stage survey framework captured pre- and post-intervention data from 95+ stakeholders, informing both tool improvements and policy insights.
Policy Integration & Knowledge Translation
Survey, workshop, and interview data were synthesized into actionable insights. The first Policy Summit generated 25 key findings for policy development and replication guidance.
Ethics & Data Governance
Established strong GDPR-compliant data protocols overseen by an Ethics Advisor, safeguarding data security, consent processes, and FAIR compliance.
Technical Communication & Dissemination
A data-driven communication strategy (D6.1) guided evidence-based dissemination. User feedback, analytics, and tool usage stats informed continuous improvements and knowledge sharing.
Technical Outputs:
12 validated, co-created tools integrated with field data.
Operational digital platform.
Robust two-stage impact measurement framework.
WP Highlights:
WP1: 16 online and 2 in-person meetings; Project Handbook and Data Plan approved; Advisory Board engaged; lump-sum financial processes ensured smooth fund distribution.
WP2: Recruited 33 SIMs; onboarded and engaged 95 stakeholders; 12 new SIAs joined in Croatia; robust data collection and workshops enhanced feedback loops.
WP3: Validated 12 tools; enriched and updated them on APPA; draft toolbox live and evolving.
WP4: APPA launched (March 2024); tutorials/workshops drove engagement; 165 members, 774 logins; tool testing ongoing.
WP5: 95 survey responses analyzed; SWOT and policy work in progress; 93 attended the first Policy Summit, generating 25 findings.
WP6: Strong visual identity; active web/social media presence; 20,000+ reached; stakeholder conference preparation underway.
WP7: Ethics Advisor appointed; D7.1 submitted/approved; GDPR-aligned processes embedded.
Developed multilingual surveys targeting SIMs and SIAs in Romania, Croatia, and Latvia, capturing baseline data on practices, tools, and capacities. Fully GDPR and ethics-compliant.
Tool Identification, Co-Creation & Validation
A systematic methodology enabled identification, classification, and refinement of social innovation tools. Twelve tools were co-developed via Living Labs, enriched with real-world feedback, and published on APPA.
APPA Digital Ecosystem Development
Launched a multilingual, modular platform offering tools for social innovation. UX was iteratively optimized based on real-time feedback and integrated analytics, ensuring smooth onboarding and interaction.
Stakeholder Testing & Feedback Loops
Workshops and hybrid sessions enabled hands-on testing and refinement of tools. Adaptive engagement strategies strengthened feedback loops. One SIA evolved into a SIM, reinforcing system resilience.
Impact Measurement via Survey Analysis
A two-stage survey framework captured pre- and post-intervention data from 95+ stakeholders, informing both tool improvements and policy insights.
Policy Integration & Knowledge Translation
Survey, workshop, and interview data were synthesized into actionable insights. The first Policy Summit generated 25 key findings for policy development and replication guidance.
Ethics & Data Governance
Established strong GDPR-compliant data protocols overseen by an Ethics Advisor, safeguarding data security, consent processes, and FAIR compliance.
Technical Communication & Dissemination
A data-driven communication strategy (D6.1) guided evidence-based dissemination. User feedback, analytics, and tool usage stats informed continuous improvements and knowledge sharing.
Technical Outputs:
12 validated, co-created tools integrated with field data.
Operational digital platform.
Robust two-stage impact measurement framework.
WP Highlights:
WP1: 16 online and 2 in-person meetings; Project Handbook and Data Plan approved; Advisory Board engaged; lump-sum financial processes ensured smooth fund distribution.
WP2: Recruited 33 SIMs; onboarded and engaged 95 stakeholders; 12 new SIAs joined in Croatia; robust data collection and workshops enhanced feedback loops.
WP3: Validated 12 tools; enriched and updated them on APPA; draft toolbox live and evolving.
WP4: APPA launched (March 2024); tutorials/workshops drove engagement; 165 members, 774 logins; tool testing ongoing.
WP5: 95 survey responses analyzed; SWOT and policy work in progress; 93 attended the first Policy Summit, generating 25 findings.
WP6: Strong visual identity; active web/social media presence; 20,000+ reached; stakeholder conference preparation underway.
WP7: Ethics Advisor appointed; D7.1 submitted/approved; GDPR-aligned processes embedded.
Built APPA, a multilingual digital ecosystem for cross-border collaboration, tool sharing, mentoring, which is evolving into a sustainable, network-building infrastructure; Y3 focus on business model & scaling.Platform supports transnational peer learning; 165+ ecosystem actors engaged
Living Labs methodology closed tool gaps (e.g. finance, team alignment); and 12 were co-created, validated tools tailored to SIM/SIA needs; tested via workshops, refined with feedback.new tools
2-stage survey model deployed across 3 countries, capturing robust baseline and follow-up data.
Living Labs methodology closed tool gaps (e.g. finance, team alignment); and 12 were co-created, validated tools tailored to SIM/SIA needs; tested via workshops, refined with feedback.new tools
2-stage survey model deployed across 3 countries, capturing robust baseline and follow-up data.