Ecoprise: Future-oriented social entrepreneurship through Ecovillage Design
Across Europe, the shift toward sustainable and regenerative business models is accelerating, and the Ecoprise project is emerging as a valuable contributor to this transformation. Complementing broader European initiatives such as TRIANGLE, Ecoprise focuses specifically on cultivating ecopreneurs: professionals equipped to drive sustainability-centered change through innovative, community-rooted practices.
Ecoprise partners from Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, and Serbia conducted 106 interviews and 16 focus groups with ecovillages, social enterprises, and sustainability educators. These engagement was fruitful in gathering insights from ecovillages, social enterprises, and sustainability educators to provide a deeper understanding of their practices and challenges in the field of sustainability and environmental, social, cultural and economic regeneration. The insights gathered were integrated into the Ecoprise SWOT Analysis, “Social Enterprises vs. Ecovillage Experiences”, which identifies transferable best practices, emerging opportunities, and potential risks for those wishing to embed regenerative approaches into entrepreneurship.
This analysis forms the foundation for a new professional profile: the Ecoprise Designer. This role is envisioned to support the upskilling of existing or aspiring entrepreneurs, enabling them to adopt sustainable, resilient, and community-centered practices. By blending experience from ecovillages with the needs of modern social enterprises, the Ecoprise Designer contributes to shaping a new entrepreneurial model that prioritizes long-term ecological and social wellbeing.
Building on the SWOT analysis, the newly published Ecoprise Prototype outlines the features of next-generation sustainable enterprises. Integrating principles from ecovillage design, permaculture, and circular economy, it proposes multifunctional business models designed to enhance community value, self-sufficiency, and social cohesion. Alongside it, the Skillset for Ecoprise Designers defines the competencies required for this forward-looking role—green, entrepreneurial, digital, and resilience skills aligned with established EU frameworks.
Together with large-scale initiatives like TRIANGLE, which seeks to enhance knowledge exchange, develop entrepreneurial competences, and strengthen EU-wide entrepreneurial ecosystems, Ecoprise contributes to a growing movement toward innovation that is not only technologically driven but ecologically grounded and socially regenerative.
To access the full Ecoprise reports, visit: https://ecoprise.eu/results/
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