European Social Enterprise Monitor
The European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM) is Europe’s first comprehensive survey on social entrepreneurship and is run by the Euclid Network in collaboration with national partners. Sweden participates through Forum for Social Innovation Sweden and a broad partnership aimed at enhancing understanding of the conditions and development of social enterprises in Sweden and Europe.
European Social Enterprise Monitor
To strengthen the development of social entrepreneurship, a deeper understanding of the prevailing conditions is needed—both in Sweden and across Europe. To address this need, ESEM has been established as the first European survey to systematically collect data directly from social enterprises. The European survey is led by the Euclid Network in collaboration with partners in European countries.
The first survey was conducted in 2020–2021 in eight countries. In 2023–2024, the scope of the study was expanded to include 31 countries, underscoring the growing interest in knowledge and comparable data in this area.
ESEM’s overall goal is to provide a clear and comparable picture of the needs, challenges, and opportunities facing social enterprises in Europe. The results are used to:
- enhance decision-makers' understanding of the conditions facing social enterprises
- contribute to the development of relevant regulations
- develop support measures and funding opportunities
- promote a more sustainable and inclusive business and innovation landscape in Sweden and Europe
Forum for Social Innovation Sweden is the lead agency for the Swedish component of ESEM. We manage the implementation of the project, provide input to the Euclid Network regarding the development of the survey, and produce the national report.
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Partners in Sweden
The work is being carried out in collaboration with the following partners, who contribute their networks and insights:
- Ashoka Nordic – the world’s largest network for social entrepreneurs and changemakers.
- Coompanion – promotes the social economy, cooperation, and local development.
- Impactful – strengthens organizations’ ability to measure, analyze, and highlight impacts.
- Fremia – an employer organization for cooperative and values-driven companies as well as non-profit welfare organizations.
- Microfund Sweden – supports social enterprises with financial coaching and venture capital.
- THE NETWORK – brings together non-profit organizations in Skåne to strengthen collaboration.
- The Partnership for Social Innovation (PSI) – a regional collaboration forum for civil society, the public sector, and universities.
- Reach for Change – supports social entrepreneurs who improve the lives of children and young people.
- Social Entrepreneurship Sweden – works to build a stronger ecosystem for social innovation.
- Skoopi – an advocacy organization for work-integrating social enterprises.
About the project
- Project Name: European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM)
- Subject: Social entrepreneurship
- Partners: Euclid Network, Ashoka Nordic, Coompanion, Effektfullt, Fremia, Mikrofonden, NÄTVERKET, PSI, Reach for Change, Social Entrepreneurship Sweden, Skoopi
- Lead Forum for Social Innovation Sweden node: Malmö University and Luleå University of Technology