According to the research project Study on Practices and Policies in the Social Enterprises Sector in Europe, published in 2007 by the KMU Forschung Austria – Austrian Institute for SME Research for the European Commission, Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry, in Sweden there are 400 to 500 social enterprises. Their aim varies, but often their main scope is to integrate individuals who are excluded from society and labour market. Many of the social enterprises are started in sparsely populated area, and have their origin within local society associations.
The statistics of social enterprises are only estimates, there is any official register as such and registration is normally done by legal form. In Sweden, social enterprises are commonly organized as co-operations (that is: economic associations) or non-profit associations, though there are also joint-stock corporations and foundations; therefore, social enterprises pay taxes and have to adjust to the same law and regulations as regular enterprises. Additionally, they also have to fulfil the criteria of co-workers involvement.
An example of social enterprise is Basta, a large company that offers rehabilitation through work or living arrangements to individuals with an addiction.
