Would it be right to say there is a certain set of factors determining the success of social entrepreneurship in the country?
First of all, it is the overall economic climate. New challenges pave the way for social entrepreneurship for several reasons. For example, foreign manufacturers leaving. This opens up niches for import substitution, which small and medium-sized businesses can fill. In addition, the search for new economic models is often discussed as an alternative to the existing relations. The business needs to change its mindset: from the “sell fast and cheap” approach to the philosophy of meeting the needs of people, specific social groups, addressing specific social problems. People have become more active and courageous, the new generation is more empathic and more determined to change the world for the better. We have high hopes for them.
Second, cross-sector interaction is very important. The government is currently “probing” the field of social entrepreneurship at the legislative level. There is a potential for expanding the scope of the law on social entrepreneurship. Perhaps by increasing the groups it applies to. Or perhaps through unification and merging of different registries.
Thirdly, a rich information field, with high-tech services offered proactively, is of great importance as well. In simple terms, with the development of Big Data we need to identify potential social entrepreneurs and introduce them to the topics, possible models and ready measures of support. Our Foundation, for example, created an information portal for social entrepreneurs “New Business”, where you can find best practices, news, interviews and other useful information. This was done as much as 10 years ago. In addition, we are operating and regularly updating the Social Ideas Bank, where you can see how different business models work.
Social entrepreneurship is based on the most urgent social problems that differ from country to country.
“My Business” centers and the regional Social Innovation Centers have done a lot of work to identify and assist social entrepreneurs in Russia.
Are regional social entrepreneurship development strategies similar, for example, between the European countries or within the Asian region? Which one is closer to Russia’s way in the development of the institution of social entrepreneurship?