Where the research happens
The Social Entrepreneurship Index, the Observatory’s own studies, a reading list on social entrepreneurship in South-East Europe, and the recordings of the SE Talks series.
SEI 2026, provisional edition
The SEI measures the conditions a country offers social enterprises — political, economic, legal, institutional and financial — rather than the size of the sector. The 2026 edition, developed with SENIC and published in November 2026, covers 45 European countries. Version 0.9 scores the 40 indicators that public data and policy documents can fill; the survey-based indicators follow in version 1.0.
- 45 countries
- 5 dimensions
- 40 of 63 indicators scored
- Time series 2015–2024
- Open data, CC BY 4.0
- SEI ExplorerMap, ranking and country profiles.
- Methodology noteDimensions, indicators, sources and version history.
- Open dataScores, raw values and policy codes (CSV, JSON), CC BY 4.0.
- SEI 2021 pilot archiveThe first country notes for ten South-East European countries.
The Observatory’s studies and papers
Surveys, analyses and papers published by the Observatory since 2020. The statute and annual reports are on the About page.
A reading list on social entrepreneurship in South-East Europe
Academic papers, country reports and mapping studies on the region, and the texts that defined the field. Papers on ResearchGate and Academia may ask you to sign in before downloading.
Social entrepreneurship in South-East Europe
- How is social entrepreneurship pursuing the path of development? Regional perspectives in the Western BalkansChichevaliev, Debarliev & Janeska Iliev · 2023 · Emerald
- Social economy as a main driver of economic and social development in the Western Balkans and Visegrad regionTosheva & Garanová Petrisková · 2020
- Current challenges and future potentials of social economy in CroatiaBabić & Baturina · 2020
- Društveno poduzetništvo: glavne odrednice i prikaz slučajaŠajfar & Strmota · 2020 · HR
- Key factors for a conducive environment for the development of social entrepreneurship in North Macedonia (PhD thesis)Chichevaliev · 2020
- Conducive factors for development and promotion of social entrepreneurship in North MacedoniaChichevaliev · 2019
- Examples of good practice of social enterprises (handbook)Dejanović · 2019 · SR/EN
- Social enterprises through the prism of cross-border cooperation between North Macedonia and AlbaniaAssociation Public · 2018
- Social enterprises like the right step for economic development for Kosovo*Gogiqi & Qehaja · 2018
- Profil socijalnih preduzetnika u Srbiji: motivacija i socio-demografske karakteristikeKrstić, Aleksić Mirić & Žarković Rakić · 2017 · SR
- Social entrepreneurship in Serbia: the entrepreneurial spirit leading to social changesDamjanović et al. · 2017
- Social entrepreneurship in Croatia: from recognition to implementationŠimleša, Bušljeta Tonković & Puđak · 2017
- Social enterprises in Serbia: analysis of key development factors, major actors and their relationshipsAleksić Mirić & Krstić · 2016
- The influence of social entrepreneurship on the increase of social inclusion in Bosnia and HerzegovinaŠimundža, Knez-Riedl & Čančer · 2016
- Social entrepreneurship in Bulgaria: barriers to growthTerziev et al. · 2016
- Facts and figures on social enterprises in BulgariaTerziev et al. · 2016
- Social business in Macedonia: concepts, developments and perspectivesStojilovska & Selami · 2013 · ZIP Institute
- Definitions and potentials of social entrepreneurship in Croatia in comparative contextVinćetić, Babić & Baturina · 2013
- Social entrepreneurship in south-eastern Europe: comparative analysis of Croatia, Serbia and GreeceZoehrer · 2012
Mapping studies for the European Commission
- Social enterprises and their ecosystems in Europe: country report BulgariaJeliazkova · 2019
- Social enterprises and their ecosystems in Europe: country report Croatia2019
- Social enterprises and their ecosystems in Europe: country report Romania2019
- Social enterprises and their ecosystems in Europe: country fiche MontenegroJanković · 2018
- Social enterprises and their ecosystems in Europe: country fiche North Macedonia2018
- Social economy in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans: AlbaniaRosandić & Kusinikova · 2018
- Social economy in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans: Bosnia and HerzegovinaRosandić & Kusinikova · 2018
- Social economy in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans: Kosovo*Rosandić & Kusinikova · 2018
- Social economy in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans: North MacedoniaRosandić & Kusinikova · 2018
- Social economy in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans: MontenegroRosandić & Kusinikova · 2018
- Social economy in the Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans: SerbiaRosandić & Kusinikova · 2018
- The state of social enterprise in Turkey (full report)British Council · 2019
Foundations of the field
- The meaning of social entrepreneurshipJ. Gregory Dees · 1998, rev. 2001The paper that introduced social entrepreneurship as a field of study.
- The process of social entrepreneurship: creating opportunities worthy of serious pursuitGuclu, Dees & Battle Anderson · 2002
- Social entrepreneurship: the case for definitionMartin & Osberg · Stanford Social Innovation Review · 2007
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Opinion
Columns by the Observatory’s team and collaborators. The views are the authors’ own.
Conversations with the people doing the work
A webinar series bringing social entrepreneurs, researchers and support organisations into one conversation. Season 1 ran with Young Ambassadors from Niš; the recordings are on the Observatory’s YouTube channel and at setalks.org.
Season 1 · March–May 2021
With Young Ambassadors (Niš). More than 20 speakers from seven countries. Dates are when each recording was published.
- #1 Why social entrepreneurship?15 March 2021
- #2 How to become a social entrepreneur?22 March 2021
- #3 Why are social entrepreneurs called agents for change?26 March 2021
- #4 Development of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem2 April 2021
- #5 Needs and challenges of social entrepreneurs9 April 2021
- #6 Innovation in social entrepreneurship16 April 2021
- Final event: “Let’s talk social entrepreneurship”May 2021
Season 2 · November–December 2021
One practitioner per episode, moderated by Stefan Chichevaliev.
- #1 Motivation for entering social entrepreneurshipElena Bozhinovska, Walkiie · November 2021
- #2 Social entrepreneurship and eco-tourismAykut Subasi, Discoversavsat · November 2021
- #3 The principles of social entrepreneurshipVictor Branagan · December 2021
- #4 The road to becoming a social entrepreneurOlga Rajchich, Challenger · December 2021