One year after the Federal Cabinet approved the National Strategy for Social Innovations and Companies for the Common Good, 72 percent of the 70 measures have been successfully implemented or completed. Many other measures to strengthen social innovations and companies for the common good are in preparation. This is the result of internal monitoring under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK).
State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Sven Giegold: We are making great strides forward. We are making political recognition and support for public welfare-oriented companies the norm. In this way, we are unleashing the potential of the approximately 80,000 public welfare-oriented companies in Germany. One year after the start of implementation, many of the measures in our strategy are tangible. For example, from November 1st, we will be supporting non-profit start-up projects with loans of up to 125,000 euros, while established non-profit companies will benefit from improved interest rates. From 2025, the Micro Mezzanine Fund III and the INVEST grant will specifically address the financing needs of public welfare-oriented companies. Since August, we have been promoting suitable advice, information and networking offers with “Sustainable Impact” and we are improving the legal framework in cooperative and procurement law. We want to build on this foundation in spring 2025 with the “First National Summit for Social Innovations and Public Welfare-Oriented Companies”: “Working together” is the motto.
Zarah Bruhn, Commissioner for Social Innovations in the Federal Ministry of Education and Research: Our strategy acts as a catalyst and opens up new access to funding and resources for courageous future designers. With the DATIpilot funding guideline, the SPRIND Freedom Act, the “Society of Innovations” program or the “Social Impact Republic” from UnternehmerTUM and other partners, we specifically support impact-oriented entrepreneurial approaches and increase the transfer of socially innovative ideas from science to application. A first practical handbook for measuring the impact of social innovations is available and with the sigu-plattform.de A central contact and advice point was created. It is noticeable that the ecosystem for social innovations and companies that serve the common good is developing.
outlook
In the coming months, further measures from the strategy will be implemented on an ongoing basis. Another milestone is the First National Summit for Social Innovations and Companies for the Common Good, which will take place in Berlin on April 8, 2025. The Federal Government is thus creating a forum for all relevant stakeholders to take stock together and develop further approaches for the coming years.
background
On September 13, 2023, the Federal Cabinet adopted the National Strategy for Social Innovations and Companies for the Common Good. A total of 70 measures will reduce disadvantages, improve framework conditions and provide appropriate support in order to mobilize social and economic forces and develop solutions to the major social challenges. The National Strategy is being implemented by all federal ministries involved under the joint leadership of the BMWK and the BMBF. In order to comprehensively promote social innovations and companies for the common good, both economic and educational and research policy framework conditions must be designed. The BMBF and the BMWK have therefore taken the lead in developing the strategy together.
Further information
www.sigu-plattform.de/nationale-strategie-sigu
www.bmwk.de/foerderprogramm-gemeinwohlorientierte-unternehmen
www.imv-lab.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Praxishandbuch_IMV-Lab.pdf
www.social-impact-republic.org/
