The mission of Euricse (European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises) is to promote knowledge development and innovation for the field of cooperatives, social enterprises and other nonprofit organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. The Institute aims to deepen the understanding of these types of organizations and their impact on economic and social development, furthering their growth and assisting them to work more effectively. Through activities directed toward and in partnership with both the scholarly community and practitioners, including primarily theoretical and applied research and training, we address issues of national and international interest to this sector, favouring openness and collaboration. Specifically, Euricse focuses on all forms of private organizations and enterprises that pursue purposes other than profit, are characterized by participatory management models, and adopt a development approach that blends social and economic well being. Euricse combines multidisciplinary research, training, and consulting services, in order not only to develop better knowledge on this kind of enterprises, but also to create and promote ownership, governance and management models uniquely tailored to their characteristics. Euricse is a haven for study and reflection that fosters dialogue between researchers and practitioners and encourages their active and direct participation. Euricse is committed to the practical application of the knowledge developed through its research. Moreover, its activities aim to reduce the fragmentation in the research on cooperative and social enterprises, and to enhance the visibility of this sector in the scientific and political debate. Euricse was founded in 2008 by Cooperatives Europe, the Federazione Trentina della Cooperazione (Trentino Federation of Cooperatives), the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Trento e Rovereto (Trento and Rovereto Bank Foundation), the Province of Trento and the University of Trento. While Euricse is rooted in the Italian region of Trentino and is closely connected to the organizations that operate there, its activities address issues of national and international interest, and its approach favours openness and collaboration with other research centres, both domestically and internationally. Euricse carries out four different types of activities:
- Research: Euricse conducts and supports theoretical and empirical research projects that are interdisciplinary and comparative in nature, organised in six research areas.
- Training: Euricse designs and organises training programs specifically aimed at the professional development of young researchers and at enhancing the skills and knowledge of those who work in non-profit enterprises and cooperative organizations.
- Consulting: Euricse offers consulting services to non-profit organisations, including in particular cooperatives and social enterprises, as well as to local, national and international public institutions.
- Communications: Euricse shares and promotes research and findings through publications, presentations, conferences and seminars for researchers as well as for the general public.
