06 September 2024
Collaborating for Enhanced Resilience: Social Example
Written by Elena kolosova
Discover how Interreg Baltic Sea Region projects are enhancing social resilience. Together, these initiatives are crucial for building a stronger Baltic Sea region. With these projects, we also support the aspirations of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, aiming to create a more prosperous and interconnected region. Meet us at the EUSBSR Forum in Visby!
Building Social Resilience
Interreg Baltic Sea Region projects are enhancing social resilience in our region in various ways. Project partners foster a more inclusive and dynamic society, by opening up regional ecosystems to social innovation and entrepreneurship in the projects RESIST and We make transition!, integrating refugees into our communities in the projects BSI_4Women and Prosper BSR, and piloting active citizen engagement in the projects BSR Cultural Pearls, BaMuR, BALTIC UKH.
Project Highlight: BSI_4Women
| The BSI_4Women project empowers refugee women from Ukraine and beyond through entrepreneurship, facilitating their economic integration within the Baltic Sea region. Through training, mentorship, and a supportive network, the project helps refugee women develop viable business ideas and enter the market. Despite facing significant challenges, these women demonstrate remarkable resilience and determination. With the right support, they are well-positioned to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to their new communities. Having started in January 2023, the project partners have been tailoring support programs that address both the professional and personal needs of refugee women. By fostering an environment of inclusion and empowerment, the Baltic Sea region countries can help refugee women not only survive but thrive, turning their aspirations into reality. |
What support do refugee women need to start a business?Based on the project survey in Sweden:
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Interreg Baltic Sea Region and the macro-regional strategy
Interreg Baltic Sea Region provides a unique framework for advancing the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region across different topics. By funding both large and small projects, the Programme integrates knowledge, expertise, and experience from around the Baltic Sea to implement the macro-regional strategy. Interreg Baltic Sea Region stands out not for the funds it allocates but rather for the multitude of organisations it engages and the innovative solutions it fosters across various themes. In the current funding period of 2021-2027, the Programme has supported 86 projects with over EUR 150 million in EU funding. These projects actively address challenges outlined in the Strategy, focusing on saving the sea, increasing prosperity, and connecting the region. Together with the EUSBSR, we can achieve more by leveraging collective strengths and fostering collaboration across borders.
Important for the EUSBSR
The topic of social resilience actively emerges across different policy areas in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). Policy Areas Education and Innovation drive social innovation and explore ways to integrate migrants, addressing today’s pressing challenges. Meanwhile, Policy Areas Culture and Tourism strengthen the role of cities and regions in involving citizens in the revitalisation and regeneration of communities.
The Coordinator of the EUSBSR Policy Area Innovation, Esa Kokkonen, the Baltic Institute of Finland, stated:
Innovation policies at the EU, national, regional, and local levels are increasingly focusing on citizen-driven approaches and social innovation. This is emphasized by ambitious goals for the twin transition and the urgency of its promotion, particularly in the midst of ongoing crises. Keeping people engaged in the transition is crucial, and inclusive approaches and citizen participation are key to achieving a successful and sustainable transition. Resilience, support, and recovery measures in response to crises demand inclusive and innovative solutions. Social innovation and resilience are central themes in IBSR-supported projects under Policy Area Innovation, such as the BSI-4Women project. The experiences and results from these projects provide highly valuable evidence and a foundation for updating the EUSBSR action plan, particularly its social innovation-related priorities and actions.
Explore other projects building up social resilience:
- In RESIST, regional authorities and business support organisations develop a model of how to open up existing regional innovation ecosystems for social innovators and entrepreneurs.
- In We make transition! public authorities work on social and ecological initiatives with civil society, and co-create changes.
- Prosper BSR empowers business support organisations to integrate refugees and immigrants into labour markets.
- BSR Cultural Pearls helps smaller cities be more attractive to live in by engaging people in cultural activities and developing a stronger sense of commonship.
- BaMuR helps cultural and heritage institutions maintain their consolation role to people in times of crisis.
- BALTIC UKH increases digital literacy by designing attractive hybrid spaces for people to learn, interact and exchange reliable information.
Meet the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme and the EUSBSR Policy Area Innovation Coordinators in Visby on 30 October 2024 at the Annual Forum of the EUSBSR:
- Time: 11:00-12:30, Panel discussion “Financing Cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region”: meet the Programme and the BSI_4Women representatives who will share experiences in developing solutions for the Baltic Sea region and connecting them to the EUSBSR.
- Time: 11:00-12:30, Workshop “Business-Driven Cooperation for Sustainable and Resilient Bioeconomy in the Baltic Sea Region” will discuss how we can make macro-regional innovation ecosystem cooperation work and better match business sector needs.
- Time: 16:30-18:00, Workshop “Have Your Say on Interreg Funding in the Baltic Sea Region After 2027”: join us and help shape the future of Interreg cooperation in the Baltic Sea region.
- Time: 16:30-18:00, in the workshop “Digital and Smart Solutions for Supporting Sustainable Business Environment”, which will to pinpoint key sectors in digitalization and data management.
Register NOW!
Meet us and other EUSBSR stakeholders in the Networking village during both days of the EUSBSR Forum, on 30-31 October 2024. Registration to the EUSBSR Forum is open at https://eusbsr.eu/annual-forum/registration-inquiries/.
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