Retrospective
In his statement on the 2009 governmental programme, former Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker stated that:
We are giving a new significance to what is known as the solidarity economy. By assigning it to a minister, the Minister of Economy, we are giving it a recognition in Luxembourg that it receives in few countries on earth. By appointing a Minister responsible for the solidarity economy, we are showing that we consider this area of policy to be an essential mission of government.
Topics related to social innovation, social enterprises and the solidarity economy were thus included in the government's strategy during the 2009-2014 legislative term.
On 24 November 2010, the Department of Solidarity Economy of the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade organized the conference “Towards new perspectives for the solidarity economy in Luxembourg”.
One year later, on 24 November 2011, the national action plan for the solidarity economy was presented, targeting three key objectives for the promotion and the development of the solidarity economy in Luxembourg:
- a better understanding of its characteristics;
- a better economic solidity;
- a better integration in the national economy.
In its coalition programme of 2013, the Government mentioned the social and solidarity economy for the first time and took the step towards the social and solidarity economy as we know it today. The ministerial department was transferred from the Ministry of Economy to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity Economy, which has been responsible ever since.
At the time, the announcement was made: “[…] the Government will introduce a bill that will establish the legal basis for the creation of societal impact companies”. This bill would be finalised three years later.
In the context of the conference "Boosting Social Enterprises in Europe", the former Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity Economy, Nicolas Schmit, adopted for Luxembourg, together with France, Italy, Spain, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia the "Luxembourg Declaration for the Social Solidarity Economy" in Europe.
Conclusions on the promotion of the social economy as a key driver for economic and social development in Europe were adopted on 7 December 2015.
It was "a political message to the Member States, and also a clear invitation to the European Commission to be more concrete and active in the promotion and development of the social economy".
On 23 November 2016, the Parliament adopted the bill that established the societal impact companies (SIS). The law introducing societal impact companies provides official recognition of the social and solidarity economy in Luxembourg and a legal framework dedicated to its activities.
Following the entry into force of the law and through a tailor-made programme, a first incubation programme was set up to support social entrepreneurs throughout the process of creating and launching their social or societal activity.
In October 2018, MESIS opened its doors in Luxembourg-City. It was born from the desire to position the social and solidarity economy in the broader context of economic development and diversification.
Luxembourg has created this specific space to provide a platform for information, meetings, exchanges and co-creation for all those interested in the social and solidarity economy, social innovation and, more generally, in social entrepreneurship.
The National Reform Plan 2021 aims to make the social and solidarity economy a key player in a fair and responsible recovery.
The Social Business Incubator (SBI) was established in Luxembourg to support the development of social entrepreneurship and social innovation. The social and solidarity economy department provides project leaders with a social impact vision a structured and personalized support framework covering every stage of their journey, from the initial idea to the creation of their enterprise.
By fostering training, knowledge sharing, and collaboration among entrepreneurs, the SBI aims to encourage the emergence of innovative solutions that address social and environmental challenges. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to promote a sustainable, inclusive economy focused on the common good.
In April 2025, Luxembourg hosted the first global summit bringing together governments, leaders, and key stakeholders in social innovation. The event highlighted a strong conviction: in the face of global challenges, social innovation is a major driver for building a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient economy.
By fostering collaboration between public and private actors and breaking down traditional silos, the summit helped lay the foundations for a global agenda aimed at creating a fairer and more environmentally responsible economy.
This event builds on Luxembourg’s longstanding commitment to the social and solidarity economy (SSE), where it has played a pioneering role for more than a decade through a dedicated policy framework, legal advancements, support for social entrepreneurship, and active engagement at both the European and international levels.
An inspiring momentum for the future of the social and solidarity economy and social innovation.
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