Scaling Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Zooming in on Multidisciplinary Interconnected Challenges

ongoing

The SEIZMIC Doctoral Network represents an ambitious endeavor to catalyze scalable social entrepreneurship (SE) across Europe. Addressing a critical gap in the social entrepreneurship landscape, SEIZMIC aims to unravel the complex dynamics of scaling social enterprises, focusing on external replication and imitation to magnify societal impact. This project is particularly pertinent given the noted scarcity of SE scaling, a phenomenon that limits the societal reach of innovative solutions. At the core of SEIZMIC's mission is the development of an interdisciplinary and cross-sectorial research framework. The network harnesses expertise from diverse fields such as entrepreneurship, finance, education, and technology management, aiming to synthesize these into a cohesive theoretical framework. This integrative approach is designed to overcome entrenched interdisciplinary barriers and equip a new generation of researchers with the competencies necessary for advancing SE scaling. The research program is structured around five key Work Packages (WPs), each addressing a distinct aspect of SE scaling: Shifting paradigms to Social Business Model Design (WP2), Impact Investing for SE Scaling (WP3), Competencies and Education for SE Scaling (WP4), and the Role of Digital Ecosystems and AI in SE Scaling (WP5). These WPs involve innovative methodologies, including case studies, surveys, AI-driven mentoring, and digital transformation analyses, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of SE scaling.