NEWSLETTER No. 1 Winter 2010/2011

2010

01 | Winter 2010/2011

CONTENT Networking – A key for

Internationalization of BI ………….………………...….. 1

The main facts on BSR Program ……….…… 2

Status quo of BI‟s services in the

project territory ……………………………………………………………… 3

IBI Net Study Visit, cooperation

undertaken with DISKE project …………..……4

Riga Planning Region ………………………………….……..… 5

Development of IBI net web-site ………. 5 Centre of technology Western – Pomerania ……………………………………………………………………..……… 5

City Commune Elblag ………………………………..……….… 6 IBI Net kaleidoscope ……………………………………………… 6 Leningrad region business support center …………………………………………………………………………………….……. 6

Teknikdalen Foundation ……………………………………. 7 Riga Technical University ……………………….…….. 7 Scientific-Technological Park BNTU “Polytechnic” …………………………………………………………….………. 7

Innovation Center Hedmark ……………………….. 8 Did you KNOW? The business

incubation

in the Republic of Belarus ……………..………….… 8

Further activities of IBI Net ………….……………. 9 Recreation zone ………………………………………………………….. 9

IBI Net IN FIGURES Launched on December, 2009

Duration: 30 months

Number of partners: 7 from Latvia,

Norway, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Belorussia and an Associated Partner from Russia

Total budget: 677 050 EUR, incl. - ERDF: 507 800 EUR - ENPI: 100 450 EUR - Norwegian National

Funding: 68 800 EUR

Business Incubators, as one of the most effective instrument for regional economic development, have more than 60 years history.

Business Incubation was pioneered in the USA in the 1950s. It gets its name from the first Incubator which was established in a failed chicken hatchery. Originally a means of finding new uses for old buildings, business incubation is now a powerful economic development tool helping a wide range of businesses. Just 20 years later the

first Business Incubators were created in Europe and other continents: UK (1969), Australia (1972), Asia (1974), Scandinavia (1982), Germany (1983), Latin America (1986) and Japan (1993) Since 1990 the fast development of Business Incubators began the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Africa. The first Business Incubators were established in the Baltic States in this time period: Estonia (1991), Latvia and Lithuania (1993).

Cont. on page No 2

WELCOME IN IBI Net!

We are glad to present you the first issue of IBI Net newsletter. In this issue you will find information about the project, its partners, highlights about development of business incubators in partner countries and results so far.

People say that the start of something new always is difficult. Yes, it is, however the first common steps to the creation of the new network for common business support activities around Baltic Sea are made – welcome in the IBI Net!

IBI Net Partners during the Kick-off meeting in Riga, Latvia (January, 2010)

NETWORKING – A KEY FOR INTERNATIONALIZATION OF

BUSINESS INCUBATORS

Information on IBI Net

Project now is available in

the internet!!!

www.ibi-net.eu

02 | Winter 2010/2011

Networking – An Instrument to Promote Internationalization of Business Incubators Continuation from page No 1

In 80‟s European Commission initiated setting up of the network of “Business and Innovation Centers” – BICs which practically were the same Business Incubators, but stimulating the establishment and growth of knowledge-based companies.

Irrespective to geographical location, level of economic development, national peculiarities and so on, all Business Incubators had been created for

promotion of regional economic development;

solving unemployment problems;

increasing social welfare. As the most effective results

achieved in the business incubation could be pointed out the following:

business incubation is an effective tool in new job creation;

increased business activities and fast growing middle class in the society;

increased competitiveness of regions (cities, rural areas, etc);

increased cooperation between new companies and research institutions (technology business incubators);

decreased “brain drain” and migration of skilled workforce from region to region;

increased survival rate of new companies (up to 80 - 90 %), etc. There is no any need to persuade

anybody in the principal efficiency of Business Incubation to day. The problem, only remains, is to find interested in it public institutions and/or private companies (persons) and how to set up and manage a Business Incubator in the most efficient way. In another words, Business Incubators have become globally recognized instruments of regional economic

development promotion through the support of entrepreneurship and enterprise development in a wide spectrum of environments. An important strength of Business Incubators is their adaptability to different situations, resources, aims and tasks.

In general, Business Incubators support companies to grow and survive. There are several definitions but the three core characteristics are:

Selection – Business Incubators have a process by which they select clients;

Support – Business Incubators have to do something for their clients;

Time-Limitation – Business Incubation is a process, not an end, clients grow to become viable free-standing companies, and leave. If the first and third characteristics are

very individual and specific for every incubator, the second one “Support” is very changing during the last decade and has get more and more new parameters most of them which are in relation to the international cooperation.

In to-days Global economy internationalization of businesses becomes more and more important issue and, in terms of that, international cooperation between companies as well as service providers (Business Incubators) to-day is one of the key issues for successful operation of Business Incubators, in particular, and economic development, in general. For this as important tools which has justified themselves very well till now are networks and networking. In terms of that, one can say that there are well known professional associations on international (International Association of Science Parks – IASP, European Business and Innovation Center Network – EBN) and national level (LTICA in Latvia, ADT in Germany, UKBIA in UK, PBICA in Poland, NBIA in USA) dealing with defined subjects and target groups and, besides that, great and wide range of possibilities to use new electronic communication systems. Nevertheless development of the high-tech

business demands more and more direct communication between potential business partners (product developers, producers, suppliers, distributors, etc.) and the problem to find the right and reliable partner becomes more and more crucial.

To create new and reliable partnership in neighboring countries also is a subject which sometimes is forgotten as a, for the first sight, very small and easy issue. On contrary, the strong ties between regional partners are strengthening regional economic development and in this way we can get certain preferences in the global

competition. Our project IBI-NET has a goal to

create new, strong and reliable Business Incubator network in the Baltic Sea Region. Strengthening cooperation ties between Business Incubators in the project partner countries is just the initial phase in implementation of the project idea. The following steps, even after the project time, is to capitalize gained partnership in new joint ventures, new markets, new SME support programs as “soft-landing”, regional level “innovation vouchers”, etc., and improved innovation culture and environment for innovative business and expand this initiative to other countries to get new partnerships and cooperation

links. All these measures should be in line with the new Europe 2020 Flagship initiative “Innovation Union” which stated that “our future standard of living depends on our ability to drive innovation in products, services, business and social processes and models”.

Dr.habil.sc.ing. J. Stabulnieks Latvian Technological Center

Latvian Association of Technology Parks, Centers and Business Incubators

THE MAIN FACTS ON BSR PROGRAM

The European Union's Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 promotes regional development through transnational cooperation.

Eleven countries around the Baltic Sea work together to find joint solutions to common problems: Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, Norway, Russia and Belarus.

Strategic objective: To make the Baltic Sea region an attractive place to invest, work and live in.

The Programme co-finances projects in fields of:

Fostering innovations, Internal and external accessibility, Baltic Sea as a common resource, Attractive and competitive cities and regions.

Total funds available at Programme start: 236.6 million EUR, including

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): 208 MEUR

European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI): approx. 22.6 MEUR

Norwegian national funding: 6 MEUR

As defined in WP 3 of the

IBI Net project an analysis on

status quo of Business Incubator

(BI) services is underway.

The results of it will be used to

identify development needs of BIs in

Baltic Sea Region in order to deliver

state of the art business support

services fostering development of

innovative and export oriented SMEs.

The analysis shall further

elaborate on recommendations

regarding possible development areas

of each BI to strengthen their capacity

to support SME‟s growth. Furthermore,

the analysis shall form the baseline for

creating an open and innovation driven

business support environment in the

BSR.

The task has been given to the

Swedish partner Teknikdalen

Foundation (TF) and planning of the

activity started during autumn. It was

early identified that the best

knowledge and competence regarding

Business incubation in our region was

to be found in-house in our own

organisation. Therefore it was decided

to use our best, but also most

occupied, resources in order to ensure

a high quality output.

For preparation purposes a

questionnaire had been developed and

distributed to all project partners

together with the task to identify two

representatives and motivated BI for

more in-depth interviews. After having

received the replies our preparation

work begun.

The replies were analysed,

further questioners identified and an

extensive travel plan which had to be

matched with our in-house work

schedule as well as the selected BI‟s

schedule were produced.

The idea was that two experts

from TF should visit the BI‟s and hold

informal interviews in order to get an

overall view of the situation.

03 | Winter 2010/2011

As a base for the interviews we

used the received replies but also tried to

identify areas not covered by the

questionnaire with the aim of getting to

know the BI more in detail.

In October our travel began with a

visit to Riga where we met BI from Hub

Riga, Ogre Business and Innovation

Incubator, Ventspils Business Incubator

and Riga Region Business Development

Incubator. This was followed by a visit to

Poland where the Project partner had

selected one BI in Mielec and one in Kalisz

for our interviews. The week after having

visited Poland we went to our partner in

Germany where we had the privilege to

visit BI‟s in Schwerin and Warnemünde.

Our next interviews took place in Belarus

where we met the Institute of Technology

of Metals and the Technology Park

Mogilyov. Finally, Hamar in Norway was

paid a visit and ended an extensive work

and travel period for Teknikdalen

Foundation. Unfortunately, we did not

receive any replies from our Associated

Project Partner in St. Petersburg and were

therefore forced to cancel our planned

visit.

During our visits we have met

competent colleagues from BI‟s working

under very different conditions.

It is encouraging to meet such dedicated

and forward looking people which also

create a good baseline for the coming

activities in the project. Furthermore, we

have been very well taken care of by our

project partners during our trips and we

are grateful for all the efforts made in

order to help us in the work. Without

your support we could not have done it.

We have now entered into a period

where we are analysing our findings and

evaluating possible ways forward. This

also requires us to identify and set some

basic limitations to the work. Already now

we have concluded that our energy

should be focused on areas where the IBI

Net project can have an impact. Areas

where no or little impact can be achieved

should for the time being be left to other

forms.

Our conclusions will be discussed

at a forthcoming Task Force meeting in

Stockholm January 18th. During this

meeting the Project partners will have a

chance to give their input to any

suggestions we might have. Or come up

with own suggestions. Since the IBI Net

project is, among other things, an

exercise in co-operation it is important to

listen to all involved parties prior to any

decision. Hopefully we will make some

good decisions in Stockholm!

S.Ericsson

Project Coordinator of TF

Task force meeting in Greifswald, Germany

(August, 2010)

STATUS QUO OF BUSINESS INCUBATORS’ SERVICES

IN THE PROJECT TERRITORY

04 | Winter 2010/2011

IBI NET STUDY VISIT, COOPERATION UNDERTAKEN WITH

DISKE PROJECT

PROJECT UNDERSIGNED PROJECT COOPERATION introduced by Ms. Anett Dahms and Mr. Fabian Feldt as representatives of the town. They presented Greifswald as a business location. Later on Dr. Stefan Seiberling gave a short presentation about the work of the Centre of Research Support and Commercial Services & Center of Knowledge Interchange. Following there were an interesting discussion about the future work and how this knowledge could be use by the project partners. The last two presentations were hold in the Technology Center by Mr. Mario

Kokowsky, managing director TZV and by Mr. Ralf Kammann, managing director Economic Development Corporation Vorpommern. Both speakers presented in special their organization and how they

support the region.

The second day started with the IBI Net and DISKE project meeting. Thereby the two Lead Partners of the projects, Riga Planning Region (IBI Net) and the City of Elblag (DISKE) signed a Letter of Intent for further project cooperation. “Cooperation among projects is essential to generate synergies for better support of SMEs,” said Inga Brieze, Project Manager IBI Net, Riga Planning Region.

Anna Zelinska, Project Manager DISKE, City of Elblag, added, that the cooperation will strengthen the networks in the Baltic Sea Region. And this will be a big advantage for the SME in their „Going-international-process‟.

After the project meeting a workshop with the purpose „Going International – The role of technology centers in BSR‟ took place. For the presentation of the results also the Prime Minister of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania Mr. Erwin Sellering and the Marshall of the West Pomeranian

Voivodeship Mr. Wladyslaw Husejko participated at this event. The results of the workshop showed how important such projects are and therefore the cooperation between those two projects.

1. Technology Centers are responsible for the regional economy

● Survival rate of

Business in a technology center: 90%

● Survival rate after

leaving the technology center: 52%

2. Many Start Ups try to go international

3. Technology Centers have to accompany this going international.

4. International Project work in Technology Centers is important to support Start Ups for going international

The Prime Minister of Mecklenburg Western

Pomerania and the Marshall of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship listened very interested and supported this cooperation and the work of the technology centers.

B.Techen Project Coordinator of TZV

Representatives of the different regional and local authorities, business incubators as well as other institutions providing business support in Baltic Sea region visited the Technology Centre of Western Pomerania (Germany).

The Event was organized as a study visit within the BSR program‟s project “Intercountry Business Incubator Network”. The main aim of the visit was an exchange of different

experiences in the area of supporting activities for the small and medium enterprises as well as creation of new networks for cooperation in the common business support network around the Baltic Sea.

During the 18th – 20th August the first study visit of the EU project IBI Net took place at the Technology Centre of Western Pomerania in Greifswald, Germany. This event was combined with the 10th German Polish Meeting, which took place at several venues in Greifswald. Since the project partner of the EU DISKE project also participated at this event, the project managers decided to have a combined meeting between those two projects with the main aim to determine project cooperation.

On top of the agenda of the IBI Net Project were the reflections about the first project results and also discussions about the further steps. Furthermore the Technology Center as the host arranged several presentations to show the other partners how the technology center works and how the business location Greifswald is positioned.

After a warmly welcome by the municipality of the Hanseatic city of Greifswald the project partners were

Cooperation Agreement is signed! Greifswald, Germany (August, 2010)

From left side: E.Bartkevičs (Chairman of PSC, RPR), I.Brieze (Project Manager, RPR), A. Zielińska

(Coordinator of the DISKE Project)

Interesting on DISKE project:

http://www.diskeproject.eu

Riga Planning Region (RPR) leads the implementation of the IBI Net project. RPR is a derived public entity established on 12 October 2006. RPR’s mission is promoting the development of Riga region by facilitating regional development planning and matching it with international and Structural Fund’s projects.

The main functions of the RPR are:

regional development planning,

coordination, cooperation between local municipalities and other state institutions,

elaboration, implementation as well as monitoring of the development planning documents on local and regional level,

evaluation of the projects submitted by local municipalities and private persons,

consultation services provided by EU Structural Funds Information Centre,

coordination of public transport‟s network and culture issues in Riga region. RPR experience shows that regional development brings results more efficiently if it is combined with practical activities in

projects where added value is brought by cooperation and transfer of experience and knowhow among local and foreign partners. RPR currently implements a number of projects focusing on development of business environment in various sectors SIB Net (motivation and support schemes for potential SMEs), EU Strategy Goes Local (Lisbon agenda), Cult Identity (tourism), Global vision (support to „green‟ SMEs). RPR has developed fruitful cooperation with partners from Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Russia, Canada and other countries. RPR‟s strategy is to complement regional development with concrete projects also in future; therefore, RPR always is open for new ideas and offers to cooperate.

IBI Net is also one of the practical activities within the framework of which cooperation among business incubators around the Baltic Sea will be strengthened to facilitate creation of common business environment and competitiveness. RPR is the Lead Partner of the IBI Net project – one of two projects approved by the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 where institution form Latvia is the Lead Partner.

More information on RPR: www.rpr.gov.lv.

The Technologiezentrum Fördergesellschaft mbH Vorpommern (TZV) was founded in 1991 as an independent, success-oriented service provider and as an incubator for companies in the region of Vorpommern.

Its special expertise is linking technological knowledge with an extensive understanding of specific markets. It offers best conditions for implementation of ideas for the creation of a technology company or an innovative service. Also it assists young and established companies in its growth phases, in search for business partners and helps entering new markets. Currently, more than 2,600 square meters of laboratory and production space and 3,600 square meters of office space are used by 58 companies. The companies can expect customer-service and expert advice in the area of hiring, funding procurement and financial assistance as well as on the subjects‟ innovation, consolidation, and product and market development.

In the project the TZV is responsible for the following activities: Developing ICT tools for management and operations of business incubators. Modern technologies will help the partners to use best practice methods and therefore they can give an even better business support for start-ups.

Developing finance instruments for business incubators in the BSR. The work package gives the partners a guideline and instruments for sustainability funding force to support businesses.

Therefore the TZV will work with external expertise to offer the project the best fitting solutions.

More information about Partner: www.technologiezentrum.de.

05 | Winter 2010/2011

DEVELOPMENT OF IBI NET WEB SITE

In accordance with Project Steering Committee‟s decision of 20th August 2010, Riga Technical University has started work on development of Project‟s web page.

In the end of November 2010 the web page www.ibi-net.eu is fully introduced and contains information on Project‟s activities, aims, results, current events as well as general information about Project partners. The web page is considered as a central place for all the information regarding Project‟s progress.

Development of the web-page is a start point for the next step – development of the IBI – Net portal which will be used like e-platform for Business Incubators network in the Baltic Sea Region. Portal is one of the main activities of the project since coordinated framework of the cooperation is a base for the further development of IBI Net network and providing of better business support services in the project‟s territory and BSR.

B.Endzele Project Coordinator, RTU

Associated partner of IBI Net PI “Leningrad region business support center” was established uniting resources and operational experience of two organizations: State Institution “Leningrad Region Legal Bureau” (LenUrBuro) and Leningrad Region Fund for Support of Small Business “Recept”.

LenUrBuro was established in 2002 with support of TACIS project “Legal Protection for Economic Operators”. Fund “Recept” was the executor and resource administrator of the Regional Program “Development and support of small business in Leningrad region 2003-2005”.

Presently, organization is subordinate to Leningrad region Administration Committee on development of small and medium business and consumer market and our main function is to serve as a technical facilitator for the realization of Long-term target program ““Development and support of small business in Leningrad region 2009-2013”. We as organization implement such business support measures as: distribution of start-up grants, compensation of credit rate and leasing expenses, compensations of exhibitor‟s expenses, compensation of certification expenses and etc.

In regard to the IBI Net, our Institution, with help of our relations in local municipalities, will make its best in cooperation between business incubators of Leningrad region with the neighbors, and try to eliminate the administrative and other obstacles, with which SMEs of the region face day-to-day.

More information on Partner is available in the web-site: www.813.ru

City Commune of Elbląg is a local self- governmental commune, with the area of approx. 79.83 km2 and 126,419 inhabitants.

The Partner represents the Elbląg Incubator of Modern Informatics Technologies, created for supporting SMEs development, co-financed by the European Union. It was launched to create the best opportunities for start-up-companies in a field of advanced technologies, especially for the graduates of the State Higher Vocational School in

Elbląg and the Technical University in Gdansk, as well as other informatics schools. There may also act other companies, indirectly connected with the informatics, but using computer specialized software and hardware.

The Partner will participate in implementation of all Work Packages of the Project. It will co-operate to establish efficient network of business incubators in BSR. Elbląg Incubator‟s role will be supporting the incubator with specialist trainings in order to strengthen incubator‟s management team‟s competence. The active participation in study visits will provide the partners with expertise and experience of Elbląg

Incubator. In order to facilitate cooperation and development of innovative SMEs as well as support SMEs operating in incubators, the Partner will actively take part in all study visits, meetings and trainings. Dissemination good practices and arrangements different kinds of seminars and meetings will enable establishing business contacts between entrepreneurs from all countries involving in the project.

More information on Partner is available on the web-site: http://www.umelblag.pl/en/.

06 | Winter 2010/2011

IBI NET KALEIDOSCOPE On 9 June, 2010 IBI Net project was presented by the Project Manager Inga Brieze to the audience of the workshop „Implementation of EU Strategy for the BSR‟ in Riga, Latvia organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and INTERACT Information Point in Turku. The workshop focused on the implementation of the Action Plan of the EU Strategy for the BSR in Latvia, sharing vision of the European Commission on further steps and available funding instruments. IBI Net project was presented as a showcase project being implemented in BSR contributing to the aims and objectives of the Action Plan and EU Strategy for the BSR in Latvia.

15th Annual International Conference on Innovation “Baltic Dynamics 2010” took place in Riga on 15th – 17th September, 2010. Representatives from more as 15 countries of whole World participated in the event with the main aim to discuss different issues on sustainable development of innovation systems on national, regional and local levels. Education and research as components of innovation system, existing

instruments to support Added value

Production and other relevant topics were also discussed during several lectures and seminars. Project IBI Net was also presented during the conference promoting information of project goals and activities. More information on results of “Baltic Dynamics 2010” is available on web-site www.balticdynamics.com.

Elblag, 28th of October 2010: colloquium “The Role of the Science and Technology Parks, Incubators and Clusters in the Economic Development of the South Baltic

Regions” was organized by DISKE project‟s lead partner where entrepreneurs, self-government‟s representatives and economists participated.

City Commune Elblag organized study visit in two Polish business incubators (Kalisz and Mielec) on 2nd -3rd of November 2010. Study visit made on necessary to collect detailed information in order to identify the current incubator situation in BSR. Representatives of City Commune of Elblag (Poland) and the Teknikdalen Foundation from Borlänge (Sweden), representatives of the incubators in Kalisz and Mielec (Poland) participated in the visit.

BUSINESS DICTIONARY

A business incubator - This is a form of mentoring in which workspace, coaching, and support services are provided to entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses at a free or reduced cost.

An export- oriented company - enterprise which produces goods mainly for exports, rather than for the domestic market. The term is commonly used to describe factories in developing countries. producing goods for developed countries.

07 | Winter 2010/2011

Scientific-Technological Park BNTU

“Polytechnic”is the leading innovative enterprise in the system of the Ministry of Education in the Republic of Belarus.

It was created in 1992 as an educational, scientific and production centre, in 2002 “Polytechnik” got the status of the Scientific & Technological Park – the first in the

Belarusian universities.

In 2008 “Polytechnic” has got status of STP in accordance with the new legislation (certificate No 1). Since 2004 the Park has the status of the Entrepreneurship Support Centre.

Mission of the Park is the support of entrepreneurship at the universities, technology transfer and the organisation of Hi-Tech SMEs.

As the main tasks the Park considers the following:

Providing the information, marketing, engineering, consulting services. Promoting the international cooperation of the universities, high-tech SMEs and innovation centres through the bilateral centres activity (China, Latvia, Kazakhstan, etc), the exhibitions and event participating.

Creating the e- platform for R&D data-bases and monitoring of innovation activity of Universities.

The main tasks in the project are to make the environment for BI in Belarus more favourable with the help of knowledge sharing and benchmarking, the dissemination of the information about project activity and best practice of business-incubation among all interested parties in Belarus, to involve Belarusian BIs in the network of BIs (IBI Net) and thus to improve the business support services and foster innovative SMEs development.

More information on Partner is available in the web-site: http://www.metolit.by.

Besides co-participation in most

of activities, Riga Technical University‟s (RTU) role in the Project is mainly related with two activities - activity No 3.4 “IBI Net portal” and activity No 2.7 “Organization of the Contact

Exchange”. It means that within the period of December 2010 – December 2011 development and launch of the portal should be managed and assistance to the leading partner in preparatory works for Contact Exchange planned for March 2012 should be ensured.

RTU has an experience in a number of projects dealing with innovation support both on international and national level. Within the National State Support program for SMEs, in 2007 RTU opened and is still operating Riga Innovation Incubator, which main goal is to support new innovative companies and spin-offs as well as to assist in commercializing of scientific researches? It has also participated in more than 300 projects run in various fields - building and architecture, engineering, computing and information sciences, material and applied sciences, energy. Several projects have been implemented for support of SMEs.

RTU is willing to benchmark its experience in innovation and project development area as well as to participate in development of new instruments for cross-border cooperation of business incubators,

including IBI Net network and portal.

More information about Riga Technical University is available on web-site: www.rtu.lv.

BUSINESS DICTIONARY

An innovation – a process within which new scientific, technical, social, cultural or other ideas are developed into a competitive and marketable product or service.

Teknikdalen Foundation initiates, runs and participates in regional, national and international projects, as well as supports new business concepts and innovations from idea to market.

The long term objective of the foundation is to establish a regional arena for sustainable growth encompassing entrepreneurship, innovation, new ideas and SME‟s.

Teknikdalen Foundation provides SME‟s with services to help them grow in a sustainable and innovative way. Over the past years Teknikdalen Foundation has developed a structure for new enterprises based on our Business Incubator. The development of the Business Incubator has been successful and is part of the Swedish national Incubator program.

Foundation is a partner in the Enterprise Europe Network which offers support and advice to businesses across Europe.

Foundation participates in different international projects which can bring experience and business contacts to our region. We are currently partners in the following projects: JOSEFIN, FEM project, IBI Net with responsibility for the analysis on status quo of Business Incubator services and identifying their development needs.

Institution has an excellent long term relation with the local, regional and national policymakers. This gives them a strong influence on the regional policies regarding sustainable growth and business development. Teknikdalen Foundation is partly financed directly by Innovationsbron AB, a government agency with national responsibility for funding incubators and pre-commercial seed investment.

More information on Teknikdalen Foundation in the web-site: www.teknikdalen.se.

Incubator is part of the Hedmark

Innovation Center, called also as Gründerhuset (Entrepreneur Hall), offers a stimulating environment, physical facilities and customized advice to newly established businesses.

Networking (Cluster) Hedmark

Innovation Center is to build business-enhancing and competence-developing network of individuals, businesses, research and educational institutions and public bodies with expertise. Project Management Hedmark Innovation Center is to identify, organize and implement concrete development projects. In addition to taking their own initiatives, we established systems and assist individual companies where it is desirable. Education Innovation Centre Hedmark offers training and education within the focus areas. It is particularly relevant to contribute expertise measures in recruitment and mentoring area above entrepreneurs and others who require assistance related to business development in the region. Consulting Hedmark Innovation Center offer tailored advice where requested and needed, or where the employees of the Hedmark Innovation Center have experience and/or knowledge that make them sought after in the mark.

Our main scope of focus:

Biotech mainly within plant and animal sector,

Cultural based and tourist business,

Games Studio Hamar. A cluster for gaming and creative arts.

Hedmark Innovation Centre will

participate actively in WP 3 and WP 4 in transferring the best practice on management of the business incubators using modern technologies. The partner will participate in activities for establishment and sustainability of IBI Net.

More information about Partner: www.k-h.no

08 | Winter 2010/2011

DID YOU KNOW?

THE BUSINESS INCUBATION

IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

The process of business incubation in the Republic of Belarus started in 1997 when the Regulation "On small business incubators" was approved by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus. It called for the recommendations to the local authorities to provide premises to small business incubators for free or concessional rent, as well as assisting incubators to get land for construction.

The business-incubators were organized and supported by regional authority bodies, universities, research institutes, and industrial enterprises. BIs in the university allowed to launch the technologies and knowledge transfer and to attract researchers and students to commercialization of innovations,

provide the methodological support for training of entrepreneurs. The first organization that received the status of small

business incubator was the JSC "Mogilev Technological Park" in 1998.

Joint program of UNDO and the Government of the Republic of Belarus "Formation of support infrastructure and SME development in Belarus" had a considerable influence to the development of a network of business incubators in Belarus. 5 projects were selected for

granting. BI “Center” on the base of Scientific and Productive Concern “Belmashpribor”, which at present successfully works, became the

pilot project. Three BIs were organized on the basis of existing business support centers, "Gomel Business Innovation Center” was created as a not-public joint company.

The next step of BIs development was supported by UNDP and the Government of the Republic of Belarus in the frame of the project “Creation of business incubators on the basis of restructured enterprises”. In 2004 Small Business Incubator “Brestsky innovative business center” was created by Brestsky Machinery Plant and at present it mainly supports SMEs in industrial field and provides mostly engineering services. In 2009 “Youth Business-Incubator” started in Minsk.

At present in Belarus there are

10 business incubators.

Continuation of the article in the page No 9

BI - Mogilev Technological Park

Riga Planning Region Phone: +371 67559823 Fax: +371 67226431 E-mail: inga.brieze@rpr.gov.lv Web site: www.ibi-net.eu

Sources: Yu.Alekseev The History and Experience of Foreign Countries in the Organization and Activity of Science Parks and Business-Incubations”//Workshop “The Experience and Prospects of Organization of Innovation Infrastructure Elements in the Republic of Belarus” proceedings, Mogilev, 2006.; M.Gil “About business-incubation in Belarus”// Follow-up “Innovation Management and Transfer of Technologies” proceedings, Minsk, 2007; 2009 “Youth Business-Incubator” has founded /http://www.interfax.by/article/44475,2009; http://mapzao.by, http://b-incubator.org; www.technopark.by, www.polytechnic.by

L. Shmygova Project Coordinator, STP

Did you KNOW?

The business-incubation in the Republic of Belarus

Continuation from page No 8

09 | Winter 2010/2011

FURTHER ACTIVITIES OF IBI Net

Task Force meeting will be organized for sharing of experience among partners and common decision making on further activities regarding analyses on status quo of BIs‟ services and SMEs‟ demands as well as management capacity and development needs of BIs. Meeting will take place in Stockholm on January 18, 2011; the host of event will be Teknikdalen Foundation.

Development of IBI Net portal – portal will be developed on the base of designed project‟s web-site and will be used like virtual platform for cooperation of entrepreneurs as well as business incubators and other business support structures. Testing and launch of the portal will be processed during whole 2011. Responsible partner for development of portal will be Riga Technical University.

New tools of Information and communication technologies‟ will be developed by Centre of Technology Western- Pomerania in the close cooperation with other project

partners. Tools are forecasted for increasing of effectiveness of management and operational capacity of business incubators. Activity will be implemented during the first half year of 2011.

They work as commercial enterprises - companies, LLC, divisions of a unitary enterprise, state enterprises. The “life” of small businesses as tenants in the incubator lasts 1,8 - 3 years in average and up to 5 years. The rent price is bit lower than the

average.

Premises of the Belarusian incubators are still not enough large (1500 sq. m. in average) that is why most of BIs concentrate mostly on consulting and legal services delivering to both internal and external customers.

At the same time the range of services provided by incubator, is “classical” and includes: rent services, business consulting, training and workshops, legal

services, including registration of small business, office services, public utilities supply, and communication and information services.

But the burden of strict legislation and the lack of venture capital and financial support for Hi-Tech SMEs and innovation infrastructure still prevent the fostering of BIs.

BI “Mapzao”, Minsk

The new employee stood before the paper shredder looking confused.

- “Need some help?” a secretary asked.

- “Yes,” he replied. “How does

this thing work?” - “Simple,” she said, taking

the fat report from his hand and feeding it into the shredder.

- “Thanks, but where do the copies come out?”

Picture made by

Randy Glasbergen, 1996

RECREATION ZONE