On 23/24 May, the EIB Institute took part in Portugal Economia Social, an event organised in Lisbon to showcase and expand the potential of the social economy sector, its organisations and financing, in order to boost the socio-economic development of the country.
Luisa Ferreira, Instiitute’s Head of Social, was a member of the jury of the Innovation Shaker pitch where five Social Innovation Tournament (SIT) finalists – Adopta un Abuelo, Aprendices Visuales, Altoida, Koiki, and The Freebird Club – pitched their projects together with Portuguese projects. The Institute had a stand where it showcased its activities such as the SIT and the Social Incubator.
In 2017 the Institute launched the first Regional Social Innovation Incubator in partnership with EMPIS (Estrutura de Missão Portugal Inovação Social), Portus Park, and with the support of other partners. Based in Amarante (Northern Portugal), this European pilot project helps local social businesses to start-up, test and grow by offering them all the necessary conditions for accessing knowledge, networks of partnerships and social investors.
Currently 61 268 entities employing 260 000 people are working in the social economy sector in Portugal.
