Month: September 2025

On 18 September 2025, a session on Research and Innovation in the Social Economy Ecosystem took place during the Murcia 2025 Social Economy European Summit. Co-organised by four EU-funded projects — ASSETS, DICES, EMCCINNO, and WISESHIFT — the session showcased how research and innovation can support the growth, resilience, and policy recognition of the social economy across Europe.

The discussion created a dynamic exchange with participants and policy officers, including representatives from the European Commission’s DG Employment, who stressed the importance of providing robust policy evidence to shape EU measures in support of social economy actors.

A shared effort to showcase impact

Speakers emphasised that research is not just about producing outputs, but about building strong relationships, empowering communities, and opening pathways for collaboration. The four projects presented their contributions:

• ASSETS is advancing tools to measure social and environmental impact, establishing Living Labs, and creating evidence-based knowledge to inform regulatory frameworks and policies.
• DICES is strengthening governance frameworks in social economy organisations, with a particular focus on combating exclusion and improving working conditions, including in the care sector – a theme closely aligned with SONYA’s mission.
• EMCCINNO is exploring how cultural and artistic social enterprises can drive sustainable climate transitions, bringing creativity into the social economy.
• WISESHIFT is providing new insights into Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs), addressing their role in employment, inclusion, and sustainable practices in areas such as circular economy, agri-food, and community care.

Together, these projects are working to reshape the perception of research as a process of co-creation and collective intelligence, rather than a closed “black box”.

Why it matters for SONYA

The themes discussed, co-creation, improved governance, Living Labs, and the role of WISEs, align closely with SONYA’s mission to empower social economy organisations (SEOs) to improve care services for older people in rural areas.

SONYA’s ongoing work and pilots complement this ecosystem by demonstrating how SEOs can deliver accessible, inclusive, and high-quality care while contributing to social inclusion and sustainable territorial development.

Looking ahead

This collaborative experience will not stop in Murcia. We are preparing for upcoming joint sessions in Rotterdam and Utrecht, where they will continue to explore synergies, present results, and advocate for policies that strengthen the social economy.

As highlighted by participants, policy officers value initiatives led by practitioners and real-life examples of impact. By contributing its on-the-ground knowledge and engaging with its sister projects, SONYA is helping to ensure that the voice of rural communities and care-focused SEOs is heard at European level.

The SONYA project is delighted to announce a landmark achievement that directly reinforces its mission to strengthen the social economy in Northwestern Bulgaria. On 4 August 2025, by order of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy, the municipal company “R-Ruzha” Ltd. was officially entered into the National Register of Social Enterprises.

This development is not only historic for the Vidin region — where “R-Ruzha” is the first social enterprise of any kind — but also for SONYA. The registration provides tangible proof of impact, showing how the project’s Living Lab in Ruzhintsi can successfully serve as a real-world testing ground for innovative models of social entrepreneurship and community support.

Why This Matters for SONYA

The inclusion of “R-Ruzha” Ltd. in the national register marks a turning point for SONYA’s objectives:

• Validation of the Living Lab model: Ruzhintsi’s Living Lab has moved beyond experimentation to concrete institutional recognition. This confirms SONYA’s approach of co-creating solutions with local stakeholders.
• Scaling opportunities: The registration sets a precedent for replicating SONYA’s methods in other municipalities across Northwestern Bulgaria and beyond.
• Policy alignment: By operating within the framework of the national project “Development of Social Economy”, SONYA demonstrates how its activities integrate into broader national strategies for social inclusion and local development.

Building Social Impact Through “R-Ruzha”

Although established in 2019, “R-Ruzha” Ltd. began operations in 2025 with a dual focus: agricultural production and the employment of people from vulnerable groups. Its work will now be embedded in municipal social policies, contributing directly to programmes such as the “Warm Lunch” initiative, food provision for kindergartens, and support for the municipal Home for the Elderly.

Future plans — including the revival of a farmers’ market that connects the enterprise with local producers — will further expand the impact. Each of these initiatives aligns with SONYA’s mission of fostering community-driven, sustainable solutions.

A Showcase for SONYA’s Vision

The registration of “R-Ruzha” Ltd. is more than a local success: it is a showcase for the SONYA project’s capacity to drive systemic change. It illustrates how rural communities can leverage social enterprises to achieve social inclusion, economic vitality, and resilience.

This milestone strengthens SONYA’s role as a catalyst for innovation in the social economy, proving that the project’s models are not just theoretical, but practical, recognised, and replicable.

Read the full announcement here