The SE2MARKET Project – Social enterprise as an opportunity for regional development.

Social enterprise needs a functioning ecosystem

The conference opened with a presentation of the SE2MARKET project. The launch was attended by Aneta Šulcová, project manager at RERA; Petr Holý, head of the regional development department at the Vysočina Region; and Mustafa Özer, expert and content manager at Impact Hub Vienna.

One of the key topics was the need to create an environment in which social enterprises can not only be established, but also grow, secure funding, develop their business models, and find new customers.

The Austrian experience offered an interesting perspective. Unlike the Czech Republic, Austria does not have a legally defined definition of a social enterprise. Nevertheless, support for social entrepreneurship is developing there through collaboration between various stakeholders, business communities and organisations focused on social impact.

One example is Impact Hub Vienna, which connects social innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and other organisations. Its approach to supporting businesses at each stage of their development – from the initial idea through to funding and growth, right up to market entry and the expansion of activities – is particularly inspiring.

Systematic mapping of the needs and barriers faced by social enterprises is crucial for the sector’s further development. An interesting resource for follow-up activities is, for example, the 2025 questionnaire survey of social enterprises, published on the Czech Social Entrepreneurship portal. The production of a regional analysis will also be one of the outputs of the SE2MARKET project. 

Real-life stories demonstrate the genuine benefits of social enterprises

The conference also featured stories from social enterprises, which showed how economic activity can be combined with addressing social needs. 

Aleš Kozák from the Institute for Monuments and Culture, Jan Šesták from Aditus Pro, and David Hrdlička Andrlíček from Domov sv. Anežky shared their experiences. Jozef Zetěk from EKOVYSOČINA and Michal Kučera from Lilacosta offered further insights into how social enterprises operate. 

A common theme was working with people, their abilities and individual potential. Social enterprise is not merely about creating jobs for people with disabilities or other disadvantages. It is also about finding ways to develop their skills, strengthen their independence, and enable them to participate actively in working and social life.

New opportunities for the South Moravian Region 

For JINAG, which is dedicated to the development of public innovation in the South Moravian Region, the conference provided inspiration for its future work. 

One of these is the need to gain a better understanding of the regional social enterprise ecosystem. It will be important to identify organisations, institutions and other stakeholders that can support social enterprises at various stages of their development – from formulating a business plan through to securing funding, attracting customers and expanding their activities. 

Another opportunity lies in linking social enterprise with the specific needs of towns and municipalities. Analytical data on the region, the needs of local authorities and development priorities can help to identify areas in which social enterprises can offer solutions that are both economically viable and socially beneficial. 

The potential of social enterprise need not be limited solely to traditionally perceived target groups. It can also play a significant role in the integration of other population groups, such as foreign nationals.

Measuring social impact is another interesting avenue. This can help us better understand the value that social enterprises, public innovation or new technologies create for individuals, communities and public institutions.

The SE2MARKET project provides an opportunity to share experiences, transfer proven approaches from abroad and seek new forms of support for the social economy.