Founded in 2007, the centre of expertise for economic, social and political entrepreneurial cooperation was based at the headquarter of the German Trade Union Confederation in Saxony-Anhalt during the last two funding periods, until it settled at the Otto-von-Guericke University. The partners have searched for an independent, neutral player to locate the centre and therefore have asked for the approval of the University to apply voluntarily for a project position.

The centre serves as a key agent between currently 26 different stakeholders (such as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, German Trade Union Confederation) on the one hand, as well as the European administrative authorities for the European Structural and Investment Funds (Ministry of Finance located in Magdeburg) on the other hand. All partners contribute and share their valuable expert opinions about topics that influence and trigger political decisions on a communal, regional and national level. For instance, workforce / employment / labour market, internationalization, sustainability, agriculture, environment, mobility, education, poverty reduction and gender equality.

These associations are able to shape priorities and funding guidelines (Operational Programmes) through their participation and voting right in the so-called WiSo-Beirat (Advisory Board) and the Begleitausschuss (Monitoring Committee). The Advisory Board is a meeting that takes place regularly, at least once every annual quarter, usually 1-2 weeks before the Monitoring Committee. Its goal is to prepare and to discuss major topics within the plenum that need to be addressed to the European administrative authorities and the representatives of the European Commission. By virtue of this procedure, existing initiatives and challenges on a local level in small and middle-sized companies and administration offices concerning the implementation and realization of ESIF are put in place of a higher authority, and consequently, strengthens the concept of Multi-Level-Governance.

Furthermore, the centre encourages transparency, gives guidance and supports to build up networks as well as projects within the huge landscape of European Funding Programmes. It advises, interacts and cooperates with the partners and the ministries of the state. Due to a variety of tasks that the centre covers, it offers the perfect possibility for citizen of Saxony-Anhalt to get to know the importance of the European institutions and gather information about funding possibilities and the European political culture.