Circular economy, sharing, and sustainability: challenges for the social economy in a territory that wants to become a smart region

Abstract

Thisstudy aimsto analyse the predisposition ofsocial economy agentsto resource sharing. To achieve this, it was chosen to implement an exploratory qualitative approach directed to managers and an exploratory quantitative approach directed to employees. The results allowed the authors to estimate that they do have a significant economic impact on number, paid work, and business volume. The relationship between the interest demonstration on sharing and the appropriate qualifications for the jobs of managers and employees was shown. The practice of informal and non-regulated sharing of own and third parties’ resources, among close partners, without the existence of a management model of knowledge, assets, time, use/reuse, and exploitation was demonstrated. It is anticipated that the study could serve as a scientific/methodological basis for a regional investment project, R&D, and establishment of partnerships, reconciling interest in a smart region, as well as the application of circular economy principles.