There is a growing awareness of the role community-led social enterprises play in addressing rural challenges. The services that social enterprises provide in remote rural areas improve the quality of life of local people and affect their ability to remain in rural areas. However, the lack of knowledge and understanding of the prerequisites and conditions for rural social enterprises and the need for business models adapted to the growing prevalence of for purpose-driven entrepreneurship hinders sustainable regional and local development in rural areas.
MERSE have generated methods, models, tools and policies needed to better support the prerequisites and conditions for rural social entrepreneurs. Learn more about the MERSE project: Go to the MERSE “mini website” | Download the MERSE leaflet
The MERSE Team
Mid Sweden University
Lead partner
Higher education and research organisation
Coompanion
Project partner
Business support organisation
KBT Vocational College
Project partner
Interest groups including NGOs
Údaras na Gaeltachta
Project partner
Local public authority
Vestfjarðastofa
Project partner
Local public authority
Ruralia Institute at University of Helsinki
Project partner
Higher education and research organisation
Co funders of the MERSE project
Region Jämtland Härjedalen
Associated partner
Regional public authority
Region Västernorrland
Associated partner
Regional public authority
Associated Partners
Östersund municipality
Associated partner
Local public authority
Härjedalen municipality
Associated partner
Local public authority
Region Jämtland Härjedalen
Associated partner
Regional public authority
Sundsvall municipality
Associated partner
Local public authority
Timrå municipality
Associated partner
Local public authority
Region Västernorrland
Associated partner
Regional public authority
Frøya municipality
Associated partner
Local public authority
Indre Fosen municipality
Associated partner
Local public authority
Halti Naeringshage
Associated partner
Business support organisation
Comhlachas na gComharchumann Gaeltachta agus Comhlachtaí Pobalbhunaithe
Associated partner
Interest groups including NGOs
Comhar na nOileán CTR
Associated partner
Interest groups including NGOs
Kehittämisyhdistys Mansikka ry
Associated partner
Business support organisation
Yhteiskunnallisten yritysten liitto ARVO ry (Arvoliitto)
Associated partner
Business support organisation
Lapland University of Applied Sciences
Associated partner
Higher education and research organisation
