---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Ridley-Duff, Rory <[email protected]> Date: Mon, Mar 25, 2019 at 12:24 PM Subject: Blog Text for EMES Research Conference Solidarity Fund To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Michel, ---- Start ----- *Help unfunded PhD students and early career researchers participate in a conference on social enterprise, cooperative and voluntary action* After six successful conferences, the 7th EMES International Research Conference on Social Enterprise Research <https://emes.net/events/conferences/7th-emes-international-research-conference-on-social-enterprise/> will take place between 24-27 June 2019. The organisers have received over 375 proposals of exceptional quality, reflected by the high acceptance rate. Many of the submitted papers come from scholars who are at an early stage in their career, and who live and work in the Global South or regions outside Europe. Unfortunately, every year, many of them are unable to participate in the EMES International Research conference due to a lack of funds in their home countries. EMES have been thinking about how to address this situation, which is why they have launched a crowdfunding campaign to build a solidarity fund. Many researchers who have participated in past conferences, plus those interested in the topic of social enterprise and the solidarity economy, have expressed an interest in supporting unfunded colleagues. EMES are putting their trust in these scholars to make this scheme viable. We are calling on all scholars in the field of solidarity economics, the commons and social enterprise to support the fund. Contributions start from €10. The crowdfunding will cover the travel, accommodation and conference fees of people who would otherwise not be able to attend. This support goes beyond what is currently available to European scholars through the EMPOWER-SE COST Action <http://www.empowerse.eu/>, (a co-organizer of this event). *Main features, strengths and differentials* 1. To allow at least five researchers from Africa, Asia and non-OECD countries to participate in the EMES International Research Conference by covering their travel, accommodation and registration costs. 2. To demonstrate that solidarity exists within the social enterprise research community. 3. To showcase beneficiaries' work in a special video communication. *Why this is important* Scholars in some countries get little or no support to present their research beyond their own university or college. This fund enables them to do so. This is important because social enterprise scholarship has already proved vital in transforming public policy and entrepreneurial practice in many countries. Over the last 10 years, we have seen the EU support the *Social Business Initiative* and the United Nations champion a new set of *Sustainable Development Goals* (accepted by 193 countries). About 30% of enterprises created today now have a social focus on achieving a mission. In addition, many new business models are emerging based on the growing need for sustainable development. These changes are partly the result of articles, books and evidence-based policy papers written by scholars contributing to social economy research. This year's conference theme of "Sustainable development through social enterprise, cooperative and voluntary action" will produce further research contributions that shape the development of the field. By supporting this fund, you will add to the diversity of our research community and redress imbalances in the funding available for people to present their research at this global conference. *Please support the campaign* Make a contribution and share the campaign by visiting the crowdfunding page at: https://en.goteo.org/project/7emes-research-conference-solidarity-fund ----- End ----- -- P2P Foundation: http://p2pfoundation.net - http://blog.p2pfoundation.net Connect: http://p2pfoundation.ning.com; Discuss: http://lists.ourproject.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/p2p-foundation Updates: http://del.icio.us/mbauwens; http://friendfeed.com/mbauwens; http://twitter.com/mbauwens; http://www.facebook.com/mbauwens