Digital Horizons for Social Impact –Peer Exchange for Social & Digital SMEs

🔍 Join us for the 1st Transnational Capacity Building (TCB) session of the DIGISET project — a new peer-to-peer format designed to foster practical exchange, minimize presentations, and maximize real conversation.

This 3-hour online event is structured into three interactive 1-hour blocks, each exploring a key theme with the support of an expert guest:

1.Tech Talk – Generative AI for Social SMEs

Artificial Intelligence is no longer just for big tech companies. In this session, we explore how Generative AI (GenAI) can support the mission of Social SMEs—making content creation, communication, and service delivery faster, more inclusive, and more effective.
Our guest, Liliana, will guide us through real-life examples of GenAI in use by social-purpose organizations, showing how these tools can reduce workload and enhance creativity—without losing sight of ethics or equity.
This is not a lecture—come with your questions, concerns, and ideas, and let’s explore together:

• What GenAI tools exist (e.g. ChatGPT, DALL·E, Claude, etc.)
• How they can be applied responsibly in social enterprises
• Tips for reducing bias and ensuring ethical use
• Quick wins and use cases (e.g. grant writing, content generation, translations)

Why this topic matters:
GenAI has enormous potential to level the digital playing field—but only if social organizations understand it, shape it, and use it on their own terms.

Takeaways:
You’ll leave this session with a clearer sense of what GenAI can (and can’t) do for your team, and where to start experimenting.

2.Measuring What Matters – A Pathway to Meaningful Impact Metrics

Impact measurement can feel like a burden—but it doesn’t have to be. In this session, our guest Suzanne will reframe impact measurement as a tool for learning, improving, and communicating the value of your work—not just ticking boxes for funders.

Together with our guest expert, we’ll explore:

• What makes impact frameworks actually useful for small teams
• A practical, step-by-step pathway to align measurement with your mission and decision-making
• Opportunities to involve stakeholders in the process
• A few simple tools that can support your journey

This session is about building clarity and confidence to measure what matters—when it matters.

Why this topic matters:
Being able to measure and communicate impact helps Social SMEs build trust, secure funding, and refine their work. But the process must serve your purpose—not distract from it.

Takeaways:
Leave with a stronger sense of how to tailor impact measurement to your context, and how to balance accountability with learning.

3.Digital Commons in Action – Tools for Circular Economy and Digital Inclusion

In this session, we explore how digital commons—shared digital infrastructures, open-source tools, and community-managed platforms—are driving innovation in the circular economy and supporting inclusive digital participation.
We’ll focus on real-world applications that empower social and circular enterprises to:

• Track and optimize resource flows (e.g. reuse, repair, redistribution)
• Engage communities in sustainable practices
• Build collaborative platforms for shared value creation
• Promote access to technology for underserved groups

Our guest expert, Charlotte, will share experience from the field, including examples of open platforms used in zero-waste initiatives, circular supply chains, and local sharing economies. Participants are invited to bring their questions and challenges for an open exchange.

Why this topic matters: Social SMEs working in a circular economy or digital inclusion often face barriers to accessing costly digital tools. Digital commons offer a powerful, cooperative alternative that aligns with the values of the social economy: openness, solidarity, and community empowerment.

Takeaways: Participants will leave with practical ideas for integrating digital commons into their work and building collaborations that enhance both ecological sustainability and digital equity.

👥 Who should join?
Social SMEs and Digital SMEs from across Europe interested in digital innovation, AI, and impactful collaboration. Each Transnational Capacity Building activity aims to bring together participants for deep dives, open exchange, and inspiration.