A social business contest in Taiwan

The “Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition” was organized by the National Central University of Tayouan and the Ministry of Labour and was held on the 25th of September in Taiwan. Mr. Enrico Testi, our Executive Director and Director of the Yunus Social Business Centre University of Florence, took part in the event serving as a judge for the contest. The YSBC is deeply committed to spreading the theories of the social business, commitment that involves taking part in international activities and events.

Before the competition, a seminar on social business and social innovation took place. Together with Adrea Grove, Professor at the California Institute for Social Business, Enrico was invited as keynote speaker at the event. He mainly focused on the historical evolution of social enterprises in Italy, how they started and developed over the years. But how is it possible to encourage the birth and development of social enterprises? How do you create the so-called enabling ecosystem for social businesses? These were the questions the audience was most interested in.

The creation of an enabling ecosystem for social enterprises is the main objective of the Social Business City Program, the three-year program elaborated by the Yunus Social Business Centre University of Florence and implemented in Pistoia and Barcelona.
A wide variety of activities are involved in the creation of the enabling ecosystem, ranging from awareness raising activities, research, to support to new social enterprises and consultancy for the development of new social business ideas. The participation of all the different voices and components of the community – young people, enterprises, local administrators and citizens – is crucial, as Enrico pointed out.

After the seminar, the vote took place and three ideas out of five were awarded! In the picture: our exective director with the young winners !