Ecoprise: Future-Oriented Social Entrepreneurship through Ecovillage Design

The Ecoprise Model, developed under the EU co-funded project Ecoprise: Future-oriented social entrepreneurship through Ecovillage Design, aims to promote a new entrepreneurial model and skillset tailored for a professional figure known as the Ecoprise Designer. This role is envisioned to support local regenerative development and foster enterprises that harmoniously integrate human life with nature.

A foundational step in the project involved a comparative analysis of social enterprises and ecovillage practices. Focus groups and interviews conducted across several countries engaged representatives from both sectors to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for collaboration. The resulting SWOT analysis revealed shared challenges and highlighted opportunities to better integrate these models. It also identified critical skills gaps, particularly in sustainable management and multifunctional enterprise development, calling for targeted educational responses.

Building on these insights, a new entrepreneurial model has been designed. This model brings together key principles of social enterprise with ecovillage design, circular economy, and permaculture. The Ecoprise is envisioned as a future-oriented, multifunctional enterprise rooted in community values and designed to be resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable.

At the heart of this approach is the Ecoprise Designer: a figure capable of establishing an enterprise that integrates and is aligned with the four pillars of regeneration: cultural, environmental, social, and economic. The associated skillset is structured around four core competence areas, aligned with EU frameworks:

• Green Skills: enabling ecological understanding and sustainable practices - GreenComp framework
• Entrepreneurial Skills: fostering innovation and opportunity recognition - EntreComp framework 
• Digital Skills: leveraging digital tools for sustainable enterprise development - DigiComp framework
• Resilience Skills: promoting adaptability and systems thinking in uncertain contexts - LifeComp framework

By integrating principles of social enterprises with the holistic approaches of ecovillages, Ecoprise offers a novel model for ecopreneurship. Ecoprise model supports the emergence of enterprises that are not only focusing on minimizing environmental impact but can also address complex societal challenges while fostering justice, inclusivity, participation, and regeneration.

The three resources: SWOT Analysis - Social Enterprises vs. Ecovillage Experiences, Ecoprise Prototype, and Skillset for Ecoprise designer presented here are available as attachments and offer further insight into the model, the skillset, and the analytical foundation of this approach.

To explore translations of these resources and discover other outcomes from Ecoprise, visit the project’s Website, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.