Social Innovation Country Report:
Greece
In Greece, there is a working definition for social innovation used by policymakers but not legally recognized.
Legal and Policy Frameworks

Greece has adopted the following legal frameworks, strategies, and vision documents related to social innovation:

  • Social Entrepreneurship
  • Social Innovation
  • Social Businesses
  • Social [and Solidarity] Economy
  • Welfare sector
Current stage of implementation:
Stage5: Social Entrepreneurship / Innovation / Businesses / [and Solidarity] Economy
Stage6: Welfare sector Stage7: Welfare sector

with:

  • Stage1: “No Policy or Recognition: No formal recognition, discussion, or policy exists. The sector operates informally or without government involvement.”
  • Stage2: “Initial Discussions & Awareness: The government acknowledges the sector and has started discussions or consultations, but no formal policy framework or regulation exists.”
  • Stage3: “Draft Policy or Framework in Development: A draft policy, strategy, or regulatory framework is currently being developed. The government may be conducting research, stakeholder consultations, or legislative drafting.”
  • Stage4: “Pilot Programs or Limited Implementation: Some initiatives, pilot projects, or partial government-backed programs exist, but full implementation has not yet been achieved. Policies may be tested in select regions or for specific groups.”
  • Stage5: “Policy Adopted but Not Fully Implemented: A formal law, policy, or regulation has been passed, but it has not been fully implemented, enforced, or funded. Gaps in execution may still exist.”;
  • Stage6: “Policy in Effect & Actively Implemented: The policy is fully enacted and actively being implemented. There is clear government support, funding, and enforcement mechanisms in place.”
  • Stage7: “Policy Reviewed & Strengthened: The existing policy has been evaluated and improved over time based on feedback, data, or evolving needs. New funding, incentives, or structural reforms may have been introduced.”; and
  • Stage8: “Leading in Policy Innovation: The country is recognized as a leader in this policy area, with best practices, strong regulatory frameworks, and incentives that actively promote and support the sector.”
More details:
  • We have a National Action Plan for the Social Economy, which includes social innovation, and we also have a law for the social economy
  • The welfare sector is linked to the social economy and innovation, as the law recognizes WISE (Work Integration Social Enterprises).
Ecosystem Actors
Key Actors in the Ecosystem

The leading actors driving social innovation in Greece include government ministries, social enterprises, NGOs, philanthropic institutions, academia, and other ecosystem builders. The top three most influential actors are:

  • NGOs
  • Social entreprises & social innovateurs (Impact hubs)
  • Foundations & philanthropic organizations
Education and Capacity Building

Formal and informal education programs that support social innovation exist in the following forms in Greece:

  • No formal programs: “ There are no government-recognized education, training, or capacity-building initiatives for social innovation.
Coordinating Bodies

A centralized body responsible for coordinating social innovation efforts across sectors does not exist in Greece.

Details:

The Directorate of Social Economy from the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs and the Special Coordination Service of the ESF from the Ministry of Economy and Finance are the responsible bodies for coordinating social innovation initiatives.

Ecosystem Communication
The level of communication and coordination among key actors in Greece’s social innovation ecosystem is currently Moderate: "some collaboration, but existing gaps in coordination."
Support Mechanisms for Policy and Finance
Policy Incentives and Support Mechanisms
Financing Mechanisms

Social innovation in Greece is financed through a variety of mechanisms including:
International funding (e.g., EU/bilateral/multilateral funds)

Impact
Flagship Programs and Achievements

Notable achievements and flagship programs in social innovation in Greece include:
Seed is an EU-funded program (https://www.seedeuproject.eu_) and various initiatives on different topics, such as on long-term care.

International Collaborations

Greece is involved in international collaborations on social innovation through the following initiatives:

  • Greece participates in social innovation initiatives only at the EU level. One notable collaboration is the Seed EU-funded program.
Tech for Good Innovations
Impact Measurement Frameworks

Greece has a formal framework or methodology for measuring social innovation impact.

Further details:

Social enterprises provide an annual report to the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, which is responsible for social economy and social innovation. We are in the process of designing an impact measurement framework with specific KPIs.

Economic Contribution of Social Innovation
Reports on Social Impact

There are no Reports and studies that assess the social impact of innovation in Greece.

Policy Momentum

Momentum for social innovation as a public policy issue in Greece is currently rated as:
Some Momentum: There is growing awareness and initial efforts in public policy, but implementation remains limited or fragmented.

Barriers to Growth

The following barriers are currently hindering the growth of social innovation in Greece:

  • Lack of sustainable funding model,
  • Regulatory and legal barriers,
  • Lack of awareness and understanding of social innovation,
  • Weak collaboration between public, private, and civil society sectors,
  • Difficulty in measuring and demonstrating impact
Collaborative Ideas
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