CIES is a non-profit foundation established in 1992 in Barcelona that conducts research and training on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social economy. It partners with universities and organizations to promote CSR and a sustainable economic model. CIES analyzed the socioeconomic impact of social economy enterprises in Spain, finding they generate billions annually for social cohesion, provide over 2 million jobs, and support workers from vulnerable groups. The disappearance of these social enterprises would significantly affect employment and social services. CIES recommends strengthening collaboration between the third sector and universities, consolidating the values of social economy, and improving representation and identification of the third sector.

1. Research Center on Economics and Society (CIES) www.grupcies.com By Julio Martinez, TheIRENE.T Network: Training for Third Sector in EU: skills implementation through networking, Naples, 29th September 2011

3. Promoters: multidisciplinary team of professors from differents universities and professionals

4. Type: private, non profit organization

5. Legal form: foundation

6. Mission: Raising the awareness of leaders and top managers regarding the importance of combining economic effectiveness with the social interest

8. Life-long training courses on CSR and Social Economy

9. Networking with public and private organizations on CSR and Social Economic issues

10. Giving support to the private and public organizations in the design and development of their strategic plans in CSR and in conducting their sustainability reports

11. Doing evaluation reports of the action of public policies mainly in the topics of work integration.

12. Organizing international conferences, seminars and symposium .

14. CIES is part of Barcelona Science Park

17. 45,000 companies,

18. 2,350,000 jobs and

19. Turnoverof around 100,000 million euros,

20. Direct benefits: 2.845 million per year (from net revenuesgenerated and collected by families, businesses and government agencies related to the contribution of these companies to social cohesion).

22. In relation to territorial cohesion, the results indicate that the direct benefits amounts to 393 million euros, (mostly net wage income of workers and also personal income tax revenues and fees for the Social security.

23. The above figures are added 132 million euros in indirect benefits, saving for the contributory and assistance related to unemployment.

25. A large number of workers would see their working conditions changed, some 6,800 employees (not included in the collective above) would be forced to change its current full-time part-time to an unwanted one and about 156,000 workers would have their wages reduced.

27. If you cancel the offer of the social economy of social services or social interest, that is, if your interest in these services was similar to that of ordinary companies, around 1,000 companies currently providing services to elderly and people with disabilities and about 2,500 companies in the field of education and other social services (including childcare) would disappear, significantly affecting both the level and the diversity in supply in these activities.

29. There is a distortion being produced in the identifying features of the Third Sector, especially regarding the definition as a specific public and social utility. For this reason, the Third Sector should consolidate and deepen the traits and values ​​that make up the core of the "brand" of the Social Economy.

32. the adjustment between services and needs,

33. the valuation of economic activity in the service of social needs,

34. the more equitable distribution of income and wealth,

35. the correction of imbalances in the labor market, and

36. the deepening of economic democracy. However, the Third Sector cannot end its institutional visibility. An invisibility that is not only explains by the emerging nature of the Third Sector as a new sector in the economic system but also by the lack of conceptual identification of the same, that is, the lack of a clear and rigorous definition of the common characteristics of different kinds of businesses and organizations in the Third Sector and the specific traits that distinguish them from other entities.

37. Research Center on Economics and Society (CIES) Thank you for your attention By Julio Martinez, TheIRENE.T Network: Training for Third Sector in EU: skills implementation through networking, Naples, 29th September 2011