The Institute for the Development of Non Profit Organisations (ISSAN) in Milan (Italy) was founded in 1994 as a research and study centre for non-profit organisations. ISSAN has carried out several national and international studies and other activities, as well as made publications.

 In collaboration with the Faculty of Economy of the University of Trento, ISSAN provides graduate  courses and “permanent education seminars” for the non-profit sector, university centres and public authorities.

 ISSAN is one of the founders of the EMES Network, the research of which has enhanced the understanding and analysis of the emergence and growth of social enterprises, and about their socio-economic performance in the European Union. Over the years, ISSAN and EMES have held joint events, such as a seminar on The Emergence of Social Enterprises in the Enlarged Europe held within the framework of the First European Conference on Enlarging the Social Economy.

 ISSAN has carried out research on Human capital and work quality in the social services that provided qualitative information on the characteristics of social service organisations in Italy and their capacity to create employment, which concluded that employment potential can be optimized if organisations create “incentive structures” that meet the employees’ expectations. Presently, ISSAN is carrying out a project on Mapping of the Misericordie phenomenon in Italy.

Contact Details 

Address:

Istituto Studi Sviluppo Aziende Nonprofit –

The Institute for the Development of Non-Profit Organisations -  ISSAN

Via Inama 5

I-38100 Trento

ITALY

Tel.:

+ 39 0461 8831 03 

Fax.:

+ 39 0461 88 22 94

E-mail:

issan@economia.unitn.it

Web-page:

www.issan.info

About Carlo  Borzaga

From the Institute for the Development of Non-Profit Organisations -  ISSAN

Carlo Borzaga is presently full Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Trento in Milan, Italy. He has graduated in Sociolog and  has held a post-doctorate scholarship from the Italian Research Centre. Carlo Borzaga has been Assistant Professor of Economics and Associate Professor in Economic Policy at the University of Trento.

 His main interests lie in the fields of economic growth and development with emphasis on regional and local aspects; analysis of the labour market, of labour policy regulation and management; the economic role of non-profit organisations from a theoretical and empirical point of view with emphasis on social enterprises and their impact on the supply of services and on the labour market. In these fields, he has undertaken research projects, both for the European Community, the Italian Government and local authorities. His research activities on non-profit organisations are mainly undertaken at ISSAN, University of Trento.

 In recent years, Carlo Borzaga has published on human capital and social services, the emergence of social enterprises and on the economics of the third sector.