09:30 - 17:30
Climate change, increasing social inequality, demographic changes, security threats, and global health crises are the challenges we are facing every day. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine lasting more than two years now and the energy and economic crises have exacerbated the situation and led to the understanding that we need to strengthen our civil societies, promote inclusion, reduce poverty, and boost our resilience.
In today’s fast-changing world with its many challenges, it is crucial to explore ways of applying technologies to tackle social and environmental issues. In response to the urgent need to harness technology in addressing emerging crises, this year’s Social Enterprise and Innovation Forum will bring together representatives from various fields to discuss these matters and inspire the leaders of change to create technological innovation. This event also gives an excellent opportunity to engage in an open dialogue with policy makers about the immediate action that can be taken to empower social business in the nearest future, thus contributing to Lithuania’s international commitments in the implementation of the European Social Economy Action Plan.
The Social Enterprise and Innovation Forum will also contribute to bringing the social and the technology ecosystems closer together, unlocking their potential to address current challenges more creatively and effectively. Such synergy will not only contribute to a more sustainable and more equitable world but also ensure that the technological progress of our time leads to positive changes in our societies.
Holding Social Enterprise and Innovation Forum at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania is an important tradition, for it allows to directly involve policy makers in conversations about the vital role of social business and technological innovations as well as to strengthen the political will to support such initiatives. Parliament is a place where policies are made and key decisions are taken. Therefore an event hosted within its premises offers a platform for an open dialogue, raising awareness and increasing involvement of the public and business community. Finally, this event is also an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the outgoing Parliament and to outline the road map for the next political cycle after the Seimas election this autumn.
The event, held under the auspices of Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, is co-organised by the Lithuanian Social Business Association and the Seimas Committee on Economics, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation and the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania, Innovation Agency Lithuania, the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania, the Parliamentary Forum for Democracy, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, Lithuanian Innovation Centre, Hub Innovazione Trentino, Grünhof e.V. – Social Responsibility Association, Trentino Social Tank, the Lithuanian National Radio and Television, and other partners.