Foundation of Economy and Public Administration

The mission of the GAP Foundation is to support sustainable development by generating and disseminating knowledge in the field of the economy of values in activities and public debate. We care that social values, concern for the environment, and the future of generations will become superior over short-term thinking focused solely on profit. We distinguish five main areas of our activity: 1) creating a substantive basis and educating (including young people) in the economy of value by running the OEES HUB think-tank and publishing and expert activities, 2) organization of international, national and local events aimed primarily at disseminating knowledge and promoting the economy of values. 3) supporting the development of non-governmental organizations and small and medium-sized enterprises from Kraków and Małopolska through consulting, training and networking activities, 4) activation of youth and seniors in terms of their civic involvement, 5) supporting students and academic staff of the University of Economics in Krakow, in particular the GAP College, through activation and integration activities. The GAP Foundation conducts scientific, research, counselling and publishing activity targeted at a wide group of representatives of public, non-governmental and private sectors. We have for years been successful in research and implementations related to social and economic development, including, in particular, social economy, social participation, entrepreneurship, innovation and public administration. We closely cooperate with the academic staff of the Cracow University of Economics, as well as with a number of other institutions of higher educations, experts or government and local government authorities. With such an enormous pool of highly qualified experts, we are in the position to undertake initiatives in a number of different fields. Our activity: 1. Organization of an international congress “Open Eyes Economy Summit” (https://oees.pl/en/they-talk-about-us/) aimed at promotion and dissemination of the ideas behind value economy. The International Congress of the Economy of Values, the Open Eyes Economy Summit, is a summit we reach through numerous paths leading through various thematic areas and cities. We hold debates, seminars and conferences.The OEES is a melting pot of new ideas, a fusion of various horizons and a modern agora. It gathers and confronts the views of recognised politicians and social activists, scientists and students, journalists and artists. It is also a top opportunity to get to know the most important and the hottest trends in contemporary social and economic thought. During last year’s fifth edition of OEES, we talked about artificial intelligence and commons goods. We raised the topic of solidarity in development and sustainable architecture for the new times. Moreover, we debated the need to change the education system and adjust it to the current needs of the labor market. There were also ecological topics that we touched upon especially in the context of the Anthropocene Furthermore, we will address the international governance which we will be discussed at the top level. The Open Eyes Economy Summit means meetings with inspiring people of business, science and politics, discussions about the new economic model, intellectual battles, inspirational sessions, direct confrontations of extremely different views and an opportunity to talk to the speakers in more intimate conditions as well. We invite you to the discussion! We like listening and we want to talk; we want to inspire and be inspired. We want to create values and we are open to those for whom they are also of utmost importance. The next Open Eyes Economy Summit 6 – 16 and 17 November 2021! 2. Organization or over 50 scientific symposia in the series: “Contemporary Public Economy and Administration” for students, scientists, experts, politicians, enterprisers and business people. Each symposium organised by GAP is attended by more than 300 participants. The central themes of the recent symposia included: “Circular economy”, “Economic value of design”, “Climate policy”. 3. One of our main activities is the social economy. Since 2010, we have been acting as a Małopolska Social Economy Supporting Center (Małopolski Ośrodek Wsparcia Ekonomii Społecznej, MOWES), and we have the status of accredited High-Quality Social Economy Supporting Center granted by the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy. Furthermore, we are a permanent member of the Malopolska Committee for Social Economy Development, taking an active part in plenary sessions and working groups on education and promoting the social economy. In December 2020, the Foundation was awarded the Social and Solidarity Economy Seal of Quality by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy. It was granted in the category of market success. We have many foreign partners, but we have never implemented larger projects, including Erasmus. We invite you to cooperate and participate in the next congress Open Eyes Economy Summit 6.