EU funding for strengthening cooperatives, social economy, and social entrepreneurship

The call for proposals is expected to be published on 7 February 2025. It aims to encourage social economy organisations to deliver services generating social impact in line with the principles and business models of social economy and social entrepreneurship. It seeks to foster the development of social economy projects and supports the start-up of social enterprises.

The call for proposals has two lots.

• Lot A: cofinancing of projects on cooperatives and social economy that aim to develop new services and products or significantly scale up services and products already on the market while tackling challenges related to the development of social innovations and/or the silver economy to contribute to the achievement of the goals of Slovenian Development Strategy 2030.
• Lot B: cofinancing of start-up of social enterprises tackling challenges related to the development of social innovations and/or the silver economy to contribute to the achievement of the goals of Slovenian Development Strategy 2030.

The call for proposals seeks to build capacities of social economy actors to allow them to better tackle societal, environmental, and economic challenges in line with the Social Entrepreneurship Act. Furthermore, it boosts social innovations, supports delivery of additional products and services in the in public interest and creates opportunities for new jobs and social inclusion and reintegration of vulnerable groups.

The budget of the call for proposals amounts to 4,800,000 euros, of which 2,950,276.80 euros come from the European Regional Development Fund.