

The project
Launched in 2020, the European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM) is the first social enterprise monitor on the European level. The project closes the current gap on social enterprise data and informs decision-makers in government, civil society and the economy.
The Aim
The aim is to communicate, support and promote the needs and interests of enterprises in the social and solidarity economy across Europe and beyond. The ESEM gathers participants’ insights on social entrepreneurship and makes them available for decision makers, government officials, investors, researchers and impact practitioners.
Profound Insights
The ESEM is a bi-annual study, describing the results of an online survey, comprising social enterprise and start-up data at European and country level. The project produces elaborate country reports and European comparison, which allows for profound insights on the social enterprise ecosystem in Europe, and highlight the opportunities for development of the sector and its impact.
Impact created
The ESEM will make a positive impact on social enterprises and social finance across Europe. The continuous impact of this monitor is that:
- Data on Social Entrepreneurship is readily available for researchers and decision makers;
- EU policies and funding are more responsive to the needs of (aspiring) Social Entrepreneurs;
- Country policies and funding are more responsive to the needs of Social Entrepreneurs;
- Social investors and support organisations are more responsive to the needs of Social Entrepreneurs;
- Country partners are more aware of each other’s context and policies and learn from each other;
- More effective social finance and social enterprises accelerates reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

Read The European Social Enterprise Monitor Report, 2021 – 2022
The European Commission is proud to support this year’s European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM), the second edition covering the period 2021- 2022. This report builds on the seminal work of the first ESEM 2020-2021 and has impressively scaled from eight to 21 countries in just one year across the EU and the wider European neighbourhood. It provides key data and insights for policy-makers, investors, support organisations, academia and social entrepreneurs themselves.
Read The National Social Enterprise Monitor Reports 2021-2022

Read The European Social Enterprise Monitor Report, 2020 – 2021
The European Commission is proud to have supported the first inaugural European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM). It serves as a testament to the extent social enterprises already contribute to the European community and how much potential they still have to offer.
Read The National Social Enterprise Monitor Reports 2020-2021
Join Us
If you are a social entrepreneur looking to make a difference, we want to hear from you! Get involved by signing up for the European Social Enterprise Monitor Study and Community.
Forthcoming Reports
