collaboration by laptops

Encouraging cross-sector collaborations for increased social impact and sustainable growth

December 1, 2019 - News

SE Forum has received funding from Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) to carry out a project to increase and strengthen collaborations between social enterprises and the traditional business sector across Sweden.

The Swedish ecosystem for social entrepreneurship is growing but there’s a lack of engagement and collaboration with the traditional business sector. This project aims to champion social entrepreneurship by increasing the awareness amongst the private sector where there’s somewhat a lack of knowledge when it comes to the possibilities of collaborating with social enterprises.

We’re seeing social enterprises requesting collaborations, and we’re hearing from regional players wishing for increased interest from the local and regional business sector. But we’re also speaking to a lot of companies within the private sector that are looking at ways to work towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and want to create social impact. This project aims to explore and establish what’s missing and what’s needed to connect these various players, to help them take the necessary steps, together, towards greater social impact and sustainable growth.

The project

SE Forum will initially gather knowledge, insights, suggestions and tips in a report that will be shared across our channels and that will also be used as a basis for the educational material SE Forum plans to develop at a later stage in the project. The main aim is to increase the knowledge around collaborations between social enterprises and the more traditional business sector as well as to develop and spread educational material that can help increase and strengthen future collaborations.

To get the most out of the initial stage, we’re open to suggestions of social enterprises and companies across Sweden that we should interview. We’re looking for those who have previously had or are currently in collaborations or partnerships as well as those who are interested in collaborating to create greater positive impact. You’re also very welcome to get in touch if you’re interested in finding out more about the project or how you could get involved to champion business for good. Please email any suggestions or questions to Tove Nordström at tove.nordstrom@se-forum.se