How to create connections between research-practice-policymaking? This remains one of the key issues for academic research.
In addition to incorporating practitioners and policy-makers in the research process itself, it’s important to generate spaces where information can be shared freely. The 10th EMES International Research Conference (10EMESconf), held in the Netherlands two weeks ago was one of these unique spaces of interaction.
Participants gathered to discuss the role of socialentrepreneurs and socialenterprises in boosting societal transitions across fields. Indeed, during the four-day long event, researchers, practitioners and policymakers gathered to discuss the importance of SEresearch to advance the SEfield.
One of the highlights of the 10EMESconf were the “PractitionersLabs“. Three networks members of WISESHIFTproject, ENSIE NETWORK, Social Economy Europe and RREUSE – Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises, participated in one of these labs. They consisted of a 90-minute session in which a committed group of practitioners -who had previously raised relevant questions for their field- delivered brief presentations about their organisations. A lively, open discussion with other participants followed.
All the labs were organised around a specific topic; in the case of WISESHIFT the discussion was around “Accelerating and funding social enterprises across the globe”, led by Universiteit Utrecht professor Karin Geuijen. The Three networks shared their experiences from the WISE, reuse and wide socialeconomy perspectives as well as the challenges and future issues related to their sustainability and transformation potential.
After the introduction to the challenges, the participants of the lab, practitioners, policymakers and academics had an interactive session and debate about issues raised by the speakers.