Research projects

BASE (2022-2026) - European Union, Erasmus+ programme: Training social economy players in the challenges of inclusive, digital and ecological transition: assessment of the current situation and needs; development, testing and implementation of a training programme. Website: https://socialeconomyskills.eu/.
Inter-ChairES coordination (2022-2025) - SPW, social economy department: Coordination of the dynamics of the various ChairES in social economy and launch of related doctoral grants.
Management of the educational dimension linked to the ChairES (2022-2025) - SPW, social economy department: Creation of an inter-university certificate (ULB, UMons, UCLouvain, ULiège) in management of social economy enterprises linked to the ChairES in social economy.
EcoSource : The EcoSource project aims to develop a digital platform for due diligence, in line with the European regulation banning the import of goods linked to deforestation. It combines academic and field expertise to help companies assess and document their agricultural supply chains. The project is being carried out in collaboration with BF Consult, the Earth and Life Institute at UCLouvain and IT developer Deuse.
Tobongola Mokili: Tobongola Mokili examines the business models supporting a ‘new climate economy’ in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Supported by a consortium of Congolese and Belgian universities, it explores entrepreneurial innovations capable of reconciling ecological sustainability, social justice and local economic dynamics. The project is funded by ARES and co-coordinated by Virginie Xhauflair and Raoul Sambieni.
HABIMO - Raw earth construction: As part of the PRD HABIMO coordinated by prof. Luc Courard, this project is developing an economic model to promote improved mud brick construction in Ouagadougou. It aims to design bioclimatic, modular and accessible housing, while structuring a local and sustainable value chain, from the production of materials to on-site implementation. This work is being carried out in partnership between ULiège, ICHEC and Thomas Sankara University.
Digi Bx (2022 - 2024) - Brussels Region - Study of the impact of digitisation in tnon-profit sectors in the Brussels-Capital Region: Development of a digital strategy in the Brussels-Capital Region aimed at encouraging and supporting associations to make a positive digital transformation in a context of recovery from the health crisis.
Brasero (2021-2024) - SPW, social economy department: Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the public funding scheme for cooperative societies in Wallonia.
Integra Num (2022-2024) - MiRe DRESS: Integration of digital tools and quality of work in the field of autonomy: study of the effects of digitalisation on workers in social economy enterprises active in the personal services sector.
Les Scouts (2023) - Social impact assessment of Les Scouts: Analysis of the results of a social impact assessment carried out at Les Scouts.
Groupe SOS (2023) - Training in social impact assessment: Development of training in social impact assessment for the Groupe SOS.
ValorisES (2022 - 2023) - SPW, Social Economy Directorate: ‘Capitalising on and promoting social impact assessments’. Capitalisation and valorisation of social impact assessments carried out in social economy enterprises that have benefited from social impact assessment grants. Website: https://impact.concertes.be/.
DigitalEES (2021-2023) - SPW, social economy department: Support for social economy enterprises in their digitisation process and capitalisation on lessons learned. Website: https://digitalwallonia.be/ees/.
Benchmark DigitalEES (2023) - SPW, Social Economy Department: Benchmarking study on foreign public policies supporting social economy enterprises in their digital transformation
DENIS (2020-2022) - SPW, Social Economy Department: ‘Develop and assess ou social impact’. Analysis and methodological monitoring of social impact assessment initiatives carried out in the Walloon Region.
A4I (2019-2022) - European Union, Erasmus+ programme: ‘Alliance for Inclusive Investment in Social Care and Support’. Knowledge transfer project aimed at facilitating meetings between social economy enterprises and private and public funders.
Cyno-venture (2019-2021) - King Baudouin Foundation: Research-action on the employment of low-skilled people as part of the ecological transition. Benchmarking and feasibility study and construction of a pilot scheme in partnership with the ASBL Cynorhodon.
Social economy incubator (2018-2021) - W.ALTER: Creation of a funding and support scheme for cooperative projects in the pre-seed phase. Opportunity analysis, feasibility study, implementation of a pilot project and validation of the pre-seed scheme, comprising a financial product component and a support component.
Evaluation of Titres-Services (2021) - Le Forem: Evaluation of the Walloon Titres-Services scheme for Le Forem. Support for the various evaluation phases of the Walloon Service Cheques scheme.
Sustainability of associations in a changing environment. Towards the construction of a 360° diagnostic tool (2019-2020) - CBC: Consultation of the voluntary sector, identification of “future proof” practices and construction of a pilot self-diagnostic tool, evaluation and adaptation of the tool.
Study aimed at clarifying and objectifying the competitive position of social economy integration enterprises in public contracts in the Walloon Region (2019-2020) - SPW, Sustainable Development Directorate: Quantitative and qualitative survey of insertion enterprises, centres for socio professionnal integration and adapted enterprises, analysis of their economic models and assessment of their participation in public contracts.
VISES (2016-2020) - European Union, Interreg FWV programme: ‘Valuing the social impact of social enterprises’. Methodological steering of the research dimension of this research-action project, involving 21 social economy organisations and over 60 enterprises in Belgium and France. Website: http://www.projetvisesproject.eu/.
DIGI-SERV (2018-2019) - Walloon Region, Digital Agency: Study of the effects of digitalisation in the personal services sector on employment (in quantitative and qualitative terms), on organisational processes, and on the nature and quality of services.
Coop-Pilot (2017-2018) - European Commission, DG Growth: International benchmarking and co-construction of a cooperative entrepreneurship education programme.
SECOIA (2016-2017) - SPW, social economy department: Construction of a common reference framework for social economy enterprises in the Walloon Region. Analysis of business models, highlighting of specific practices, construction of a recognition scenario, international benchmarking.
Social enterprises and their eco-systems: A European mapping report (2015-2016) - European Commission: Belgian contribution to the mapping of social enterprises in Europe, with a particular focus on the relationship between enterprises and their ecosystems.

updated on 8/11/25