Smart Kolektiv and the Forum for Responsible Business have presented Banca Intesa with a recognition for the support that Intesa Foundation Philanthropic Organisation provided to social entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship with social impact. The recognition was presented as part of the Social Innovation Forum, a traditional annual event that has focused on key societal challenges for more than a decade.

"We strongly believe that entrepreneurship with a social purpose can make a difference by empowering communities, creating new opportunities and fostering inclusivity. Intesa Foundation was formed out of the belief that such initiatives deserve systemic and strategic support in order to become drivers of a stronger and more resilient society. That is why this recognition is a confirmation for us that we are on the right track, but also an incentive to continue providing support to those who create new value for the community", Intesa Foundation Manager Marija Savić said at the award ceremony.

Banca Intesa established Intesa Foundation with support from its parent group Intesa Sanpaolo with the aim of providing systemic and strategic contribution to the development of the community through long-term, sustainable initiatives. In the year and a half since its establishment, Intesa Foundation has donated 1.6 million euros to various social initiatives, focusing on empowering women in need and combating social inequalities, education, child and youth development, health and social protection, climate change mitigation and local community projects.

In 2008, independent non-profit organization Smart Kolektiv, a pioneer in the promotion of corporate social responsibility, initiated the establishment of the Responsible Business Forum as a network of leading companies dedicated to corporate responsibility and the promotion of cross-sectoral dialogue and cooperation.