Română 08:00
until 09:00 (EET)
REGISTRATION & WELCOME COFFEE
Start the day in a friendly atmosphere, with fresh-roasted coffee, provided by OPYA® Coffee Roasters, and a selection of local treats.
A warm welcome that sets the tone for a day built on connection, collaboration, and shared purpose.
09:00
until 09:30
WELCOME ADDRESS
The 2026 edition opens with a moment that reflects the strength of the partnerships built around the social economy. Joining the conference are leaders and organizations from social entrepreneurship, banking, finance, and the corporate sector, people who understand that real impact is built through collaboration, vision, and trust. It is a powerful signal for the entire ecosystem: the social economy now has important allies and an increasingly visible place on the development agenda.
Conference moderators
09:30
until 11:00 (EET)
A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT: THE SOCIAL ECONOMY AS A EUROPEAN PRIORITY
A headline panel with the decision-makers who set the rules.
Senior European Commission officials, European leaders in social economy share what’s coming next. Learn about the priorities and opportunities in the social economy ecosystem directly from the people writing and implementing the policies.
Part 1 | 9:30-10:15
Part 2 | 10:15-11:00
11:00
until 11:30
11:30
until 12:30
ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ACCESSIBILITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
Special insights from the "EU4UA:A Comprehensive One-Stop Service for Refugees!" project will demonstrate how these approaches can be replicated at scale across Europe. Special insights from the Cross-border Inclusive Communities project will bring into discussion key challenges in the cross-border area: the growing demand for quality community-based social services, the limited capacity of social systems, and the specific needs of people with intellectual disabilities and mental health conditions. Special insights from the "SUPPORT - Supported Employment for Reducing Long-Term Unemployment among Persons with Disabilities" project will spotlight socially innovative Supported Employment practices across various EU regions.
12:30
until 13:30
HUMAN RESOURCES & DIGITALIZATION IN THE SOCIAL ECONOMY — EUROPEAN TRENDS
Panel organized within the DIGIT ABLE project, in synergy with the ESIC and BASE projects, bringing validated solutions in HR and digitalization: micro-credentials, blueprints, development pathways, practical assistive tools, and AI that social economy enterprises and service providers can adopt starting in 2026.
13:30
until 14:30
SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE PROCUREMENT
A focused discussion with Romania’s key public procurement leaders and local authorities, joined by practitioners from the field. Together, they explore how social-value criteria, local needs, and practical procurement tools can translate public spending into inclusion, stronger communities, and real opportunities for social enterprises.
14:30
until 15:30
15:30
until 16:30
SOCIAL FINANCE & IMPACT INVESTING
A conversation with Europe’s leading voices in ethical finance, banking, and investment. From UniCredit to EIF, FEBEA, Phitrust/MicroEurope, NESsT, AFIN, and international partners, this panel explores how blended finance, guarantees, and responsible investment models accelerate inclusion, strengthen social enterprises, and unlock capital for community impact.
16:30
until 17:30
17:30
until 19:00
ACCELERATOR OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISES GALA
A festive moment to conclude the day.
Social enterprises from Romania and Moldova will take center stage to showcase their achievements, share the stories behind their impact, and be recognised for their results. The Accelerator of Social Enterprises Award Gala celebrates the most promising initiatives in the ecosystem and creates new opportunities for visibility, partnerships, and future growth.
19:00
until 22:00
COCKTAIL — BUSINESS MATCHING EVENT
An energising close to the day where ideas meet opportunities. Join participants, speakers, and social entrepreneurs for an informal gathering designed to spark meaningful conversations and open doors to new collaborations.
EU FUNDED PROJECTS
EFT2026 CREATES SYNERGIES BETWEEN SEVERAL EU FUNDED PROJECTS AND INCREASES THE REACH AND IMPACT FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
Co-funded by the European Union under the ESF+ Social Innovation+ (SI+) initiative.
EU4UA project brings together partners from five countries to develop, pilot, and promote a complete blueprint for refugee integration—uniting research, public services, and community support to build pathways from crisis to stability.
Co-funded by the European Union, under the SMP-COSME-2023-SEED call.
The DIGIT-ABLE project aims to promote digital inclusion by enhancing the digital skills and capacity of Social Enterprises: WISEs and service providers, with a specific focus on those providing services to people with disabilities on the groundwork laid by previous initiatives, such as the B-WISE.
Co-funded by the European Commission, under the Erasmus+
The BASE project aims at setting up an alliance for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills for the Social Economy and proximity ecosystem, to facilitate knowledge exchange between universities, VET and social economy actors, contributing to the growth of the ecosystem.
Co-funded by the European Union, under Erasmus+
European Social Innovation Campus (ESIC) contributes to the challenge of upskilling and reskilling 5% of the workforce and entrepreneurs of the sector each year to tackle the green and digital transitions in the social economy by boosting social innovation capacities.
Co-funded by the European Union, under the Interreg Europe Program.
PROSECO project aims to create jobs for people with significant distance to the labour market using social clauses in public and private procurement as a key tool.
Co-funded by the European Union, under the Program Interreg VI-A NEXT Romania–Republic of Moldova.
The overall objective of the project is to improve health and social care for people with intellectual disabilities and mental health conditions in the Republic of Moldova and Iași County, Romania, by rehabilitating and modernizing at least 13 community care units for people with disabilities.
Co-funded by the European Union, under the European Social Fund+ (ESF) / Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI).
The AFIN – Social Investment Fund project aims to bridge the financial gap for social enterprises in Romania by establishing a dedicated private Social Investment Fund. This initiative will improve access to finance, build the capacity of social enterprises, and strengthen the social economy ecosystem.
Co-funded by the European Union, under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
The project aims to tackle the persistent issue of long-term unemployment among persons with disabilities in the open labour market. The project will scale up and transfer socially innovative Supported Employment practices across various EU regions, addressing the significant employment barriers persons with disabilities face through immediate job placement and ongoing support.
Co-funded by the European Union, under the ESF+ Social Innovation+ (SI+) initiative.
ALL.D supports people with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and mental health conditions in overcoming barriers to employment. The project brings together personalised support, real working contexts and digital tools to make inclusion practical and sustainable over time.
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MAY 19, 2026
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