Investigating Potential Synergies Among Social Entrepreneurship And Public Transport Through Experts' Consultation In Greece

Not all of the travel needs are adequately covered by the existing commercially oriented Public Transport (PT) services, while public funding is gradually being reduced. At the same time, disruptive global societal and market trends create new social challenges at local level. By activating the catalyst group of social entrepreneurs, new innovative solutions, with high social impact and value, could be applied filling the existing gaps in uncovered needs. At the moment, Social Entrepreneurship has not really been leveraged in PT in Greece, despite its potential. The involvement of the social entrepreneurs and social innovators towards the creation of more attractive, inclusive and sustainable PT related service for all, comprises an emerging and crucial topic. This was explored in the Greek national context by consulting professionals and experts coming from the mobility sector and social economy field, in the frame of an interactive, participatory workshop. The aim of this structured interaction that was based on the methods derived from collective innovation and focus group processes, was (i) the identification of potential synergies among Social Entrepreneurs and Public Transport, and (ii) the identification of potential barriers that such initiatives may face. Indeed, participants explored the fields where social entrepreneurs could be involved for the provision or the improvement of PT services and came up with some policy recommendations to overcome the identified barriers.