On November 28, 2019, EPIC, as a partner, participated in organising the conference “Climate Crisis – a New Opportunity for Municipalities, Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation?”. The conference took place at the University of Economics, Faculty of National Economy in Bratislava. The conference was co-organized by the Department of Social Development and Labour and the Department of Economic Theory of the EU BA and the Green Foundation. The topic of social enterprises, which are reducing the consequences of the climate crisis, was also discussed, and not only in sparsely populated areas. The issue of social agriculture and its Action Plan to mitigate the impact on the environment was a hot topic as well.

The participants discussed the following questions:

  • What is the role of social entrepreneurship and social innovation in the green economy and adaptation to climate change?
  • What problems and challenges do Slovak municipalities and experts identify in connection with climate change?
  • What are the barriers, but also visions for the future in solving the problems of adaptation to climate change?

The main topic of the conference was Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation as one of the tools for solving the climate crisis, which can be characterized as a question and a proposal at the same time. Representatives of the non-governmental sector, scientists, experts from private companies, representatives of municipalities, state bodies and investors showed that it was possible and shared their experiences in three panel discussions. The non-profit organization EPIC presented the international project INTERREG SOCENT SPAs at the event, especially its part on the development of the Gemer region in Slovakia, as well as the possibilities, potential and experience in supporting the social economy and establishing the social enterprises, especially, with an emphasis on social agriculture. An important step in the development of the Gemer region was the elaboration of the Action Plan for Gemer, where the representatives of the non-governmental sector, municipalities, local entrepreneurs and the state administration participated on its creation under the leadership of EPIC n.o.