Diesis Network

24/08/2026

🌱 How can rural businesses contribute to a more competitive and resilient Europe?

On 17 September, the European Rural Pact Support Office is bringing together policymakers, practitioners, financial actors and rural business networks for a Good Practice Webinar dedicated to competitiveness in rural areas.

The discussion will explore some of the key conditions for stronger rural economies.

A dedicated exchange will look at the role of the social economy in rural competitiveness.

Gianluca Pastorelli, Executive President of Diesis Network, will contribute to the closing stakeholder panel, discussing what is needed to strengthen rural competitiveness and economic diversification across Europe.

📅 17 September 2026
🕘 09:00–13:00 CEST
💻 Online

👉 Expressions of interest are open until 28 August:
https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/deb73579-d0d2-d2d6-241b-94572103f9cd

How can rural businesses be strengthened for a more competitive Europe?

Join the upcoming Good Practice Webinar: https://bit.ly/3TCO8Zg - discover successful initiatives that foster rural competitiveness through:
🔶business support
🔶access to finance
🔶local value creation
🔶social economy approaches

Sign up by 28 August to exchange practical examples and lessons on building resilient, diversified & competitive rural economies!



Diesis Network SMEunited Social Economy Europe European Network of Social Integration Enterprises - ENSIE REVES aisbl - European Network of Cities & Regions for the Social Economy European Microfinance Network Future Economic Rural Network FERN EESC - European Economic and Social Committee

14/07/2026

🙌 Time to thank our amazing community!

Last week, more than 300 participants joined us in person and online for The Future of the Social Economy, Diesis Network's annual event.

Over three days, policymakers, researchers, practitioners and social economy organisations from more than 25 countries came together for , Diesis Network's annual gathering, which featured the DO Impact Final Conference & 8th Transnational Workshop and the baSE Final Event.

One thing became clear: with the right skills, the social economy can drive Europe's digital transition, and steer it towards the common good.

Digital capacity and skills are fundamental issues for the future of Europe. The social economy belongs at the centre of the debate on competitiveness, resilience and prosperity, and has the capacity to move the needle for a fairer and more competitive transition.

Thank you to every speaker, partner, member and participant. More insights coming soon!

29/06/2026

🌊 From 18 to 19 June, we spent two days in Kiel exploring what a Blue Economy of the Common Good can look like in practice.

🎙️ Hosted by our member innova eG, the event brought together cooperatives, researchers, digital innovators, and blue economy practitioners, sharing what they're building and reflecting on what comes next.

This edition of the Bluedots Living Lab covered a lot of ground: from cooperative models and digital sovereignty in the blue economy to a keynote by Christian Felber (founder of the Economy for the Common Good), and even a visit to oceanBASIS GmbH and the garbage collection ship Seekuh.

Couldn't attend? All the presentations, interviews and photos are now available!

👉 Find them here: https://prosperity.diesis-network.coop/bluedots/germany-living-lab/

📅 Stay tuned, the call for the next Bluedots Living Lab is coming soon!

Legacoop FVG Coceta innova eG Irish Social Enterprise Network Baltic Sea & Space

25/06/2026

🇱🇹 Lithuania is building a national strategy for the social economy.

A working group bringing together eight ministries, social partners, social enterprises and academia has been launched to shape a Strategy for the Development of the Social Economy, with the idea of embedding the sector in long-term public policy.

The group's first meeting focused on assessing the current state of the social economy and identifying key priorities. Our member, Lietuvos socialinio verslo asociacija (LISVA), is taking part in the process alongside four social enterprise representatives from its community.

This is a great step towards treating the social economy as a competitive, thriving economic actor.

15/06/2026

📚 Agents of Change Library Series

This time, we are here with a strategic toolkit for all creative and cultural professionals: the NEB Compass, a guiding framework for implementing the NEBA: New European Bauhaus Initiative.

Are you a social economy organisation or any other actor active in the cultural and creative industries? Are you wondering how to align your projects with the NEB values of beauty, sustainability and inclusion? Would you like to up-scale your practice to become more NEB-sih? Then the NEB Compass is for you!

✨ Why it matters:

📌 It unpacks what “beautiful, sustainable, and together” really means across three levels of ambition

📌 It guides you through principles of participatory process, multi-level engagement, and transdisciplinary approaches — essential when culture meets sustainability & tech

📌 It helps frame your project or creative practice in a way that is forward-looking and grounded in the NEB’s values, even if you are starting small or working locally

📌 It helps you identify gaps and design projects with real local impact

🔍 Explore the NEB Compass here: https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/tools-and-resources/use-compass_en and follow the Agents of Change website for more updates: https://agentsofchange.erasmus.site/



Drivhuset, Ipogeos - materahub

10/06/2026

🌊 The new agenda for the Bluedots Germany Living Lab is out!

On 18–19 June in Kiel, social economy organisations from across Europe will come together to co-create solutions for a blue economy that works for the common good.

Two days of workshops, site visits, and networking with practitioners, experts, and innovators working across fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism, marine technology, and more. Plus a keynote by Christian Felber, co-founder of the Economy for the Common Good, and the chance to experience the opening of Kieler Woche, the world's largest sailing event.

📋 Applications for financial support are now closed, but stay tuned. Resources and materials from the event will be available on the Bluedots website in the coming weeks.

👉Learn more here: https://prosperity.diesis-network.coop/bluedots/financial-support/

Legacoop FVG Coceta innova eG Irish Social Enterprise Network

01/06/2026

Wondering how culture and creativity can bring about real change? Our latest edition of the Agents of Change library might provide some answers!

🌍 Creative Industries: Pioneers of Sustainable Innovation in the Baltic Sea Region

A recent study published in Sustainability explores how cultural and creative industries (CCIs) are driving sustainable macro-regional development in the Baltic Sea area. By acting as innovation brokers, these industries bridge gaps between sectors, fostering collaboration and promoting sustainable transitions. Their role in shaping policies and engaging communities underscores the transformative power of creativity in addressing environmental challenges.

For young changemakers, this highlights the potential of CCIs to inspire innovative solutions and lead the way toward a greener future, all in line with the New European Bauhaus principles of sustainability, inclusion, and beauty.

🔗 Read the open-access article here: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/17/9742?fbclid=IwY2xjawKIBm1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFFaHpvb1pGNlVRZWpwSmJTAR6vDEeecPkGQPcLTPQaNoSV4k-oY5JzyYLSIgzxJeuyP-LPZes4czuRbdKd3A_aem_ysoPdLy-yHwp90h1J0uDYw and follow the Agents of Change website for more updates! https://agentsofchange.erasmus.site/



Drivhuset , Ipogeos , materahub , Mosaic // Culture & Creativity

29/05/2026

🌊 Last 2 days to apply!

Free, tailored coaching for 40 social economy SMEs across the European blue economy. Deadline is 30 May 2026.

If you're a cooperative, association or social enterprise working in fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism, marine energy, blue biotech or other marine and coastal activities, the Bluedots project is offering tailored coaching and mentoring to help you transition to more digital and sustainable business models.

🧑‍💻 Sessions cover blue economy strategy, circular marine value chains, digitalisation (IoT, AI, monitoring), and change leadership for sustainable transformation. Held online or on-site, in English, Italian, Spanish, German or Polish.

Europe's blue economy generates nearly 5 million jobs and €900 billion in turnover (EU Blue Economy Report 2025, European Commission). Many of the small social economy organisations at their heart still lack the tools to grow sustainably.

📋 Only a few spots left!

⏰ Applications close 30 May 2026 at 5 p.m. (CEST).

👉 Read the full call and apply:https://prosperity.diesis-network.coop/bluedots-open-call-for-coaching-and-mentoring-services/

Legacoop FVG Coceta innova eG Irish Social Enterprise Network

28/05/2026

🇮🇹 From Matera to the world!

The Agents of Change project is entering its most exciting phase: local labs across Europe, a live learning platform, and a growing community of creative changemakers.

Last week, our full partnership gathered in Matera, Italy, a city well known for harnessing the power of culture to transform communities. We left with clarity, energy, and a shared roadmap for what comes next.

Local Labs are launching this September. Pilot programmes will kick off in partner countries across Europe, putting our learning platform to the test in the real world, with creative youth tackling genuine local challenges using the skills and tools we've built together.

After all the work that went into the NEB Competence Framework and the NEB Map, we're finally putting them to use where they belong: out in communities, with the people who'll actually use them.

And this is just the beginning, local labs feed into a European gathering in Novi Sad, Serbia, in early 2027, where creatives from all partner countries will collaborate across borders on shared challenges.

👉 If you work in the cultural and creative industries, explore the project's resources on our website: https://agentsofchange.erasmus.site/



Danmar Computers Kulturanova Ipogeos materahub Drivhuset Göteborg Markeut Skills SL

27/05/2026

🌿 Join "Made in Rural Europe: From Plans to Action", the RURAL RiSE Final Event in Brussels.

The RURAL RiSE project has been working alongside local authorities and Social Economy Organisations to build more resilient and inclusive rural economies. Drawing on lessons from Italy, Serbia and Spain — how Miglionico, Palilula and Valdefuentes brought municipalities and communities together through local action planning.

This will be a great chance to connect with peers, meet the project partners, and exchange ideas on social economy, rural development, and new opportunities for youth and women in rural areas.

✨ The event also coincides with the NEBA: New European Bauhaus Initiative Festival, creating an inspiring European setting for learning, dialogue and networking.

📅 10 June 2026, 9:30–12:40
📍 Maison des Associations Internationales, Rue Washington 40, Ixelles

👉 Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsXoXJ648abW5q-3sjajxn_i-ZE5Hjzy9MuXEn48ovVnVXFg/viewform

hashtag