Germany: new impulse for social economy

Germany has launched seven national thematic networks in the second half of EQUAL. The network for the social economy has attracted some 25 members and has spawned three working groups. These will meet quarterly to prepare tools and recommendations on working with short-term job subsidies, the best vehicles for spinning off viable businesses from subsidised training schemes, and monitoring and marketing tools. The German EQUAL network in the social economy took off with renewed energy at a meeting held on 6-7 December 2005 in the new offices of the Science and Technology Ministry alongside the Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal. With 25 people present, interest far outstrips the nine development partnerships that are formally classified in the social economy theme. www.equal.de