Partners of EU project Social UP I Design Thinking for Social Enterprises meet and co-create in Vaasa, Finland, hosted by Vaasa University of Applied Sciences and MUOVA at their inspired and design thinking oriented workspace in the region of Western Finland, home to the majority of enterprises and to the national energy industry. 

Partners discussed the extensive research findings and the next steps for the development of the Design Thinking Field Guide for Social Enteprises, accoding to the registered European input.

Key findings: 

  • Social enterpreneurs across countries are thinking social but not business, think they know their customer, are not aware of DT methods and tools and would need skills training on a variety of fields
  • Social partners (advisers, VET, associations) think social enterprises are demonising profit and need skills training, are partly aware of DT and need tools to help train them, increase and measure impact
  • Design thinkers are not closely working with SEs because it is less profitable for them but they see an opportunity

More photos here

SocialUP PM2 Vaasa2

SocialUP PM2 Vaasa