COGITA

Corporate social and environmental responsibility through public policy

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

The COGITA project, which brings together 13 regions of Europe, aims to promote the social and environmental responsibility of small and medium-sized enterprises. EUR 2,547,790 is earmarked for the project, with more than EUR 1.9 million coming from Eurofunds.

The project will ensure interregional exchange with the involvement of local stakeholders. The project will support regional development with tools that support corporate social responsibility as a tool for competitiveness, growth and the creation of better jobs in our small and medium-sized enterprises.

www.cogitaproject.eu

Funded by:

INTERREG IVC

Project description:

The main goal of the COGITA project is to improve public policy to support the implementation of the integrated concept of corporate social responsibility – CSR (combination of social and environmental aspects) in small and medium-sized enterprises in order to promote responsible and sustainable regional development and growth.

Partners:

CISE – Centre for Innovation and Economic Development – Agency of Forlì-Cesena Chamber of Commerce – lead partner
Lower Austrian Government, Dept. Economic Affairs, Tourism, Technology
Bretagne Development Innovation
Cyprus University of Technology
Entreprise Flanders
Birmingham City Council
Athens University of Economics and Business –Research Centre
Green Network
Local Development Agency Ltd. Gliwice
Agency for the Support of Regional Development Košice
Kaunas University of Technology
Eindhoven City Council
General Council of the Catalan Chambers of Commerce

Project duration:

01/2012 – 12/2014

Activities:

Component 1: Management and coordination
The first component is dedicated to the tasks of project management and coordination.

Component 2: Communication and distribution
Broad awareness of the project and the Integrated Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSF) among regional stakeholders across the EU (through various communication tools, including events, publications, cooperation and activities at regional level).

Component 3: Exchange of experience
Exchange of experience dedicated to the identification and analysis of examples of good practice and best practices between project partners leading to the definition of an integrated SZF concept and the elaboration of detailed implementation plans.

Component 4: Verification in practice
Feasibility check in all partner regions aimed at testing a new integrated approach to corporate social responsibility.

Outputs:

1 Regional good practice document on the integrated approach of the CSR;
13 feasibility checks on the application of the integrated approach of the CSR, each of which includes at least 5 public actors and at least 10 small and medium-sized enterprises;
13 implementation plans defining how each region will integrate the integrated approach of the CSR into its policies and practices;
1 CSR manual providing input to improve policies and corporate practices supporting an integrated approach to the CSR of SMEs;
195 public / private entities with awareness of the SZF (through participation in feasibility checks);
increasing social / environmental responsibility in 13 regions, thanks to improved policies and practices of small and medium-sized enterprises

KONFERENCIA:

COGITA AT THE CONFERENCE ON RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS AND MARKET SOLUTIONS
2012 Agency for Regional Development Support Košice, n.o.

On 10 May 2012, she participated in the international conference on responsible business, which took place in Bratislava and was organized by the Pontis Foundation together with the Business Leaders Forum. After introductory inspirational presentations, the conference took the form of discussion tables on various topics – examples and inspirations from communication about responsible business, how to create a responsible business strategy, environmental responsibility, employees and how to create a great workplace, philanthropy. In the afternoon, the Solution Marketplace offered the best Slovak examples from the field of responsible business. In the premises of the shopping center for the general public, 19 companies applying the principles of corporate social and environmental responsibility presented themselves. Participation in the conference contributed to gaining new inspirations and contributed to the creation of new contacts useful in the implementation of the COGITA project.