ENSIE NETWORK

What ENSIE NETWORK does

ENSIE (European Network of Social Integration Enterprises) is a Brussels-based non-profit association (ASBL) registered in Belgium that functions as the pan-European umbrella network for national and regional networks of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs). Its members represent WISEs in more than 20 European countries, and WISEs themselves are defined by three pillars: social and professional integration of disadvantaged people as the main objective, positioning at the core of the economic system, and a strong pedagogical dimension. ENSIE does not sell a unified product; instead it operates a portfolio of data and resource platforms (the European WISEs Database mapping platform, the Responsible Public Procurement Database, and the Resource Hub) and coordinates advocacy, knowledge sharing, and policy representation at EU level.

ENSIE's revenue model combines recurring membership fees from its national and regional WISE network members with project-based co-funding from European Union programmes including Erasmus+, Interreg Central Europe, and Europe for Citizens. Its core technology is a set of web-based databases and project platforms, complemented by a MOOC-style training platform developed through the Erasmus+ Net-Works project; no proprietary AI or software product is central to the business. The go-to-market motion is community-led: ENSIE acquires and retains members through EU-level advocacy, policy consultation participation, collaborative project work, events, quarterly newsletters, and the annual ENSIE Award, reaching stakeholders through its website (ensie.org) and direct engagement with EU institutions including DG EMPL and DG GROW.

The organization is governed by a board led by President Nieves Ramos, with an Acting Director (Massimo Privitera) and a small operational team of approximately 11 staff. ENSIE's strategic activity is anchored in a long-running cadence of EU-funded consortia projects (Elexies, INNO-WISEs, PRESS, Rights to Grow, Job Coach+, Net-Works, RESPEC, 3e4se, Europe4All!, RE:DIALOGUES, The Autonomy Paths, Social Economy Romania) alongside partnerships with research networks such as EMES, peer confederations such as CECOP and RREUSE, and academic institutions including the Politecnico di Milano. The organization has no parent company, no institutional investors, and operates on a non-profit basis with all surplus reinvested into its mission.

Name

ENSIE NETWORK

Legal name

European Network of Social Integration Enterprises (ENSIE) ASBL

Website

https://ensie.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ENSIE is a Brussels-based non-profit association that serves as the pan-European umbrella network for national and regional networks of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs), advocating for inclusive employment policies and coordinating EU-funded projects across more than 20 European countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. European Union Project Funding: ENSIE receives significant funding through co-funded European Union projects and programs, including Erasmus+, Interreg Central Europe, Europe for Citizens, and other EU funding mechanisms. The organization coordinates and participates in multi-partner European projects addressing WISE development, training, and policy.
2. Membership Fees: ENSIE operates as a membership organization with national and regional networks of WISEs as members. The organization encourages networks to join and participate in EU-level advocacy, knowledge sharing, and collaborative projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ENSIE is a European non-profit network that represents and advocates for national and regional networks of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) at the EU level. It provides EU-level policy representation, coordinates collaborative EU-funded projects, publishes knowledge resources (databases, position papers, impact assessments), and facilitates cross-border knowledge exchange among its member networks across 22+ European countries.

Product overview

ENSIE is a network organization representing national and regional networks of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) across Europe. Rather than offering a unified software product, ENSIE provides a portfolio of databases, resources, and collaborative initiatives. Key offerings include the European WISEs Database (an online mapping platform), the Responsible Public Procurement Database, a Resource Hub with policy documents, and coordination of EU-funded projects like Net-Works (which includes a MOOC platform and web-based tools for WISE networking). The organization focuses on advocacy, knowledge sharing, and facilitating cooperation among social enterprises working to integrate disadvantaged people into the labor market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• European WISEs Database Online mapping platform that documents and displays Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) operating across Europe, allowing users to search for WISEs in specific areas and fostering cooperation and exchange of good practices among organizations.
• Responsible Public Procurement Database Database providing information and resources on responsible public procurement practices related to social enterprises and WISEs.
• Resource Hub Centralized repository of resources, position papers, policy documents, and informational materials related to WISEs and social economy topics.
• WISEs are with Ukrainian people Initiative Solidarity initiative documenting and coordinating support efforts by WISEs across Europe for Ukrainian refugees, including employment opportunities, housing, and humanitarian aid.
• WISEs Impact Assessment Framework Benchmarking framework developed through the Elexies project for evaluating and comparing the performance, policies, and innovations of work integration social enterprises across EU member states.
• Project Collaboration Platform Coordination of multiple EU-funded projects (such as Net-Works, INNO-WISEs, WISE for Digital Upskilling, WISEs4Youth) that provide tools, training materials, and networking opportunities for WISEs.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

75 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RREUSE (European Network of Reuse and Recycling Social Enterprises)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2022RREUSE is the European network of reuse and recycling social enterprises. ENSIE and RREUSE jointly organized an online discussion in April 2022 with their members and European Commission representatives (DG EMPL, DG GROW) to address challenges and share information on EU policy developments and funds available to support solidarity efforts for Ukrainian refugees.
• ISEN (Ireland)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Lead partner of Net-Works project (Erasmus+) establishing networks of adult education providers. Partners included Ateliere Fara Frontiere (Romania), Galileo Progetti (Hungary), CDI (North Macedonia), A3S (Portugal), SocioForum (Slovakia), IDC (Serbia), and ENSIE.
• Ateliere Fara Frontiere (Romania)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Romanian partner in Net-Works project on adult education networks.
• Galileo Progetti (Hungary)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Hungarian partner in Net-Works project.
• Community Development Institute - CDI (North Macedonia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020North Macedonian partner in Net-Works project.
• Associação A3S (Portugal)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Portuguese partner in Net-Works project.
• SocioForum (Slovakia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Slovak partner in Net-Works project.
• Initiative for Development and Cooperation - IDC (Serbia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Serbian partner in Net-Works project.
• DIESIS Coop (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017Coordinator of Rights to Grow project mapping governance models of social enterprises in Europe. Partners included CECOP, ETUC, Social Economy Europe, NOTICE (France), Social Enterprise Coalition (UK), CGM (Italy), COCETA (Spain), FISE (Poland), ACT Group (Croatia), RISE Romania, and Legacoopsociali (Italy).
• ETUC (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017European Trade Union Confederation partner in Rights to Grow project.
• Social Economy EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017European social economy organization partner in Rights to Grow project.
• Social Enterprise Coalition (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017UK partner in Rights to Grow governance mapping project.
• FISE (Poland)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017Polish Foundation for Social and Economic Initiatives partner in Rights to Grow project.
• Fondazione Politecnico di Milano (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2017Lead partner of INNO-WISEs project (Interreg Central Europe) improving WISE competitiveness through innovation. Partners from Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, Austria, and ENSIE worked on ICT platforms, training, and business development tools.
• Medjimurje County (Croatia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2017Regional public authority partner in INNO-WISEs project on WISE innovation.
• Institut of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar (Croatia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2017Research partner in INNO-WISEs project contributing to innovation framework development.
• ACT Group (Croatia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2017Croatian WISE consortium partner in INNO-WISEs innovation project.
• Gruppo Cooperativo CGM (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2017Italian WISE representative consortium partner in INNO-WISEs project.
• Politecnico di Milano Foundation (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2017University research foundation partner in INNO-WISEs project.
• ANIMA Investment NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partner with ENSIE in studying work integration in Mediterranean countries, in collaboration with La Fédération des entreprises d'insertion (France).
• Central European Initiative Countries PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Multiple partners from CEI countries including Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia participated in The Autonomy Paths mutual learning seminar on social and work inclusion.
• La Fédération des entreprises d'insertion (France)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017French federation commissioned ENSIE to conduct study on work integration in Mediterranean area, with collaboration from ANIMA Investment Network.
• Galileo Progetti (Hungary)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2016Coordinator of PRESS project (PRomoting European Social Economy Strategies) focused on social entrepreneurship for disadvantaged women. Partners included A3S (Portugal), FAEDEI (Spain), ACT Group (Croatia), ULISSE (Italy), RES (Belgium), and ENSIE.
• A3S (Portugal)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2016Portuguese partner in PRESS project on social economy strategies and women's inclusion.
• ACT Group (Croatia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2016Croatian consortium partner in PRESS project.
• ULISSE (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2016Italian social cooperative partner in PRESS project.
• EEA (Slovakia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partner in PROFIT project developing financial awareness platform. Other partners included CERTH (Greece), University of Glasgow (UK), DUTH (Greece), SWC (Austria), FEBEA (Belgium), and ENSIE.
• CERTH (Greece)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Greek research center partner in PROFIT financial literacy project.
• University of Glasgow (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Academic partner (Adam Smith Business School) in PROFIT financial education platform project.
• DUTH (Greece)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Democritus University of Thrace partner in PROFIT project.
• RES (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2015Promoter of Job Coach+ project developing training modules for job coaching in WISEs. Partners included LUDEN (Latvia), CAUTO (Italy), Galileo Progetti (Hungary), FAEDEI (Spain), University of Valencia, and ENSIE.
• LUDEN (Latvia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2015Latvian partner in Job Coach+ project contributing to training module development.
• CAUTO (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2015Italian partner in Job Coach+ project on job coaching training for WISEs.
• FAEDEI (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2015Spanish federation of insertion enterprises partner in Job Coach+ project.
• University of Valencia (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2015Academic partner leading development of training modules in Job Coach+ project.
• A3S (Portugal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014Promoter of EPP project (Erasmus+) strengthening emergent professional profiles in third sector. Partners included BDV (Austria), SCF (Italy), SEE (UK), and ENSIE.
• BDV (Austria)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014Austrian federal umbrella organization for social enterprises partner in EPP project.
• SCF (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014Italian middle school education partner in EPP project on professional profiles in social enterprises.
• SEE - Social Enterprise Europe Ltd (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014UK partner in EPP project focusing on emerging professional profiles in WISEs.
• SEFEA (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014European Company of Ethical and Alternative Finance partner in 3e4se project on ethical financial ecosystems for social enterprises.
• FEBEA (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks partner in 3e4se project.
• REVES (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy partner in 3e4se project.
• DIESIS COOP (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014Cooperative development organization partner in 3e4se financial ecosystem project.
• FAEDEI (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014Spanish federation of insertion enterprises partner in 3e4se project.
• COOMPANION (Sweden)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014Swedish local partner in 3e4se project testing financial tools in Västra Götaland.
• Confcooperative - Unione Regionale di Puglia (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2014Italian cooperative union local partner in 3e4se project.
• SKOOPI (Sweden)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partner in the Europe4All! project co-financed by the Europe for Citizens programme, focused on promoting EU citizenship among WISEs and exchanging best practices.
• RESIT (Portugal)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Portuguese partner in the Europe4All! project, working on exchange of experience among WISE networks.
• DublinNet (Ireland)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Irish partner in the Europe4All! project facilitating networking among WISE stakeholders.
• CSAL (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Italian partner (Consorzio Social Abele Lavoro) in Europe4All! and other ENSIE projects.
• SENT (Slovenia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Slovenian partner in Europe4All! project, representing work integration social enterprises.
• FECLEI (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partner in RESPEC project (financed by European Commission) studying profitability of social enterprises and employment forecasts.
• RES (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Belgian network of social enterprises partner in RESPEC project on financial sustainability of social enterprises.
• Galileo Progetti (Hungary)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Hungarian partner in RESPEC project on social enterprise economics and employment.
• Groupe Terre (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2013Groupe Terre developed the RE:DIALOGUES project financed by the European Commission on industrial relations in social economy enterprises. Partners included ENSIE, CSAL, Le Relais, AFF, FECLEI, BBS, Social Firms UK, and others.
• Le Relais (France)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2013French partner in RE:DIALOGUES project on social dialogue in social economy enterprises.
• Ateliere Fara Frontiere (AFF) (Romania)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2013Romanian partner in RE:DIALOGUES project, contributing to social enterprise governance and worker participation research.
• FECLEI - Fundacion LESMES (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2013Spanish partner in RE:DIALOGUES project, focusing on industrial relations in social enterprises.
• Netzwerk BeschäftigungsBetriebe Steiermark (BBS) (Austria)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2013Austrian partner in RE:DIALOGUES project on social dialogue in work integration enterprises.
• Social Firms UK (United Kingdom)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2013UK partner in RE:DIALOGUES project representing social firms and work integration enterprises.
• IDEES (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2013Institut de Développement Européen de l'Economie Sociale provided expertise on social economy development in the RE:DIALOGUES project.
• Centre d'Economie Sociale, Université de Liège (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2013Academic partner providing research expertise on social economy and industrial relations in the RE:DIALOGUES project.
• Solidarité des Alternatives wallonnes et bruxelloises (Saw-b) (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2013Belgian civil society organization partner in RE:DIALOGUES project on social dialogue.
• SPF Social Integration BelgiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2011Belgian public authority (SPF Intégration Sociale) financed the 'Work but not only!' project promoting Italian good practices in Belgium.
• RES (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2011Wallonia network partner in 'Work but not only!' project, promoting worker education and responsible consumption.
• SST (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2011Flanders network partner in 'Work but not only!' project working on similar objectives.
• Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Protection (Romania)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2008Romanian government ministry partner in Social Economy Romania project (2008-2011) promoting social economy as innovative inclusion model.
• Bernard Brunhes InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2008International partner in Social Economy Romania project on social economy development.
• National Employment Agency (Romania)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2008Romanian national employment agency partner in Social Economy Romania project.
• Integra RomaniaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2008Romanian partner in Social Economy Romania project.
• General Department for Social Assistance and Child Protection, Bucharest Sector 1 (Romania)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2008Romanian public social services partner in Social Economy Romania project.
• Department for Social Assistance, Timisoara (Romania)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2008Romanian local authority partner in Social Economy Romania project.
• City Hall, Piatra Neamt (Romania)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2008Romanian municipality partner in Social Economy Romania project.
• EMES (European Research Network about Social Economy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMES is a European research network focused on social economy research. ENSIE partnered with EMES on the Elexies project to study WISEs across 12 EU countries, using EMES network definitions as guidelines for identifying and describing social enterprises.
• CECOP (European Confederation of Workers' Co-operatives, Social Co-operatives and Social and Participative Enterprises)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCECOP is the European confederation representing workers' co-operatives, social co-operatives and social enterprises. ENSIE collaborated with CECOP on the Elexies project studying work integration social enterprises across Europe.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA): European membership network for venture philanthropy and social impact investing. Adjacent peer to ENSIE — overlapping stakeholder base around social enterprises and impact funding, but focused on impact investing rather than work integration policy.

Direct peers

• RREUSE: European network of reuse and recycling social enterprises. Direct peer to ENSIE as a thematic social-enterprise network active in EU policy advocacy and joint crisis-response initiatives (e.g., the 2022 Ukrainian refugee discussion co-organized with ENSIE).
• REVES (European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy): European network of local and regional governments supporting the social economy. Comparable as a peer EU-level network operating at the intersection of public authorities and social economy actors, frequently co-participating in EU projects with ENSIE (e.g., 3e4se).
• DIESIS Coop: Cooperative development network supporting social and cooperative enterprises across Europe. Comparable as a peer EU-project coordinator (Rights to Grow, 3e4se) working with similar member federations and EU institutional counterparts.
• Euclid Network: European network of social enterprise support organizations. Comparable to ENSIE as a pan-European intermediary network engaging in EU policy advocacy and capacity-building for the social enterprise ecosystem.
• Social Economy Europe: Umbrella platform representing the broader European social economy to EU institutions. Comparable as a Brussels-based social-economy advocacy network engaging EU policymakers, often overlapping with ENSIE on projects like Rights to Grow and on social economy policy positioning.
• EMES International Research Network: European research network on social enterprise and social economy. Direct peer to ENSIE on the research and definitional side, having co-led the Elexies project and provided the WISE identification framework used by ENSIE.
• CECOP-CICOPA Europe: European confederation of workers' co-operatives, social co-operatives, and social enterprises. Directly comparable to ENSIE as a Brussels-based EU-level network representing a related segment of the social economy, frequently co-participating in EU projects such as Elexies and Rights to Grow.

Broad incumbents

• Ashoka Europe: Global organization supporting leading social entrepreneurs. Comparable as a broader social-entrepreneurship ecosystem player active in EU advocacy and network-building, though operating at greater scale and with a broader mandate than ENSIE's WISE focus.

Regional players

• Social Enterprise UK: UK national membership body for social enterprises. Comparable as a member-driven social-enterprise network doing policy advocacy, but primarily UK-focused rather than pan-European like ENSIE.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ensienetwork
• Facebookfacebook.com/ensienetwork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ensienetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ENSIE NETWORK