The conference "Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Enterprise from an international perspective", organized by the Research Centre for Economics and Society (CIES) - based at the Barcelona Science Park- and the Georgia State University, was held from 7 to 11 May 2012 at the auditorium of the Georgia State University in Atlanta (USA). The forum provided an opportunity to establish a space for reflection and debate on the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), one of the main challenges of this century.

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The conference featured that participation of prominent figures in the field of CSR and Social Enterprise from various countries, such as Isabel Vidal, president of the CIES Foundation and professor (EU) of Economic Theory of the University of Barcelona; Ramón Mullerat, ex-president of the Bar Associations Council of the European Union and the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee of the International Bar Association; Victor Pestoff from the Erswta Sköndal University of Sweden, and Steve Olson, director of the Center for Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility of the Georgia State University.

The meeting analyzed the different CSR strategies that American companies are implementing, as well as new trends, management and accountability in social enterprises in international contexts.

As part of the conference there were presentations of their experiences in CSR by the Coca-Cola Company, Interface, and Starbucks Corporation as well as from U.S. companies executives who explained the measures being taken to address the social consequences of their activities. The event was attended by representatives from social enterprises such as Goodwill Industries, Points of Light and The Community Foundation, among others.