Client: RF Ministry of Industry, Science and Technologies
Country: Russian Federation
Period: January 2003 – June 2004

The Project’s objective is to support local co-operation initiatives in the Baltic Sea Area. In particular improving the business environment. By enhancing the efficiency and intensity of the co-operation particularly in the field of innovation, the project goal is to promote the innovative SMEs in the region.

The results are:

• Creation of a network of ITCs (Information Technology Centres) in the North-West of Russian with 14 partners. Activity includes identification, assessment and selection of support centres in St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Petrozavodsk and Murmansk in order to develop the Innovation Support Network in the Baltic Region. Organisation of three study tours to Finland, Estonia and Netherlands/Belgium.
• Training of managers and staff of the selected centres and related regional and local organisations in innovation development and commercialisation to ensure that the training, consulting and business service capabilities of the centres are adequate. The training component included assessment of training needs; selection of training providers; training of trainers and business advisors; support in development of training materials and support to delivery of pilot training courses to SMEs.
• Development of financial support schemes for innovation development covering all stages of the innovation process, with a particular focus on ITC companies with a potential for rapid growth.
• Organisation of High Level conference, attended by newly appointed Minister of Education, Mr Fursenko. Preparation of press releases and press interviews.

Services provided:

• Develop network of support centers for promising and innovative SMEs.
• To develop formal and informal connections between the project’s participants.
• To provide advice and legal support documentation on the establishment of new funding schemes.
• To support the financial (competitions, venture fairs) and technological (ICT combines with incubators) infrastructures.