Train-the-Trainer Program - SEE IFA Network

In the period of 7-11 of June 2010 “Train of the Trainers” training took place in the premises of the National Centre for Development of Innovations and Entrepreneurial Learning. This activity was organized by the AWS (Austrian Wirshaft Service) Lead partner in „South-East European Co-operation of Innovation & Finance Agencies“ project, part of the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme funded by the EU.

The target group of the training were all stakeholders: experts from companies, agencies, administration and universities who are interested to train small and medium sized entrepreneurs and start-ups.

In the frame of the training the following goals were achieved:

- To support innovation projects of existing entrepreneurs and start-ups effectively
- To prepare and run an initial client interview properly
- To identify supporting partners successfully
- To proceed in a success control correctly
- To be familiar with the principles of HRD
- To get an overview of SME innovation support in Macedonia
- To develop procedures for clasifying innovation projects
- To get examples for new innovation programs and support mechanisms
- To discuss about procedures and needs for setting up new agencies’ programs

In the frame of the 5 working days the following topics were covered:

Training agenda

7-8th of June 2010 - Peter Kowar - Train the trainers and HRD

9-10th of June 2010 - Igor Nikoloski - Private Public Partnership

10-11th June 2010 - Roswitha Mosburger -  AWS instruments

World Entrepreneurship Day - Macedonia 2010

The National Centre for Development of Innovations and Entrepreneurial Learning and the Business Start-Up Centre at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Skopje (www.mf.edu.mk, www.ukim.edu.mk) are  joining the worldwide celebration of entrepreneurs and their contribution to society on World Entrepreneurship Day (WED) by the organization of several events. 

World Entrepreneurship Day (WED) is 24 hour world-wide celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation (taking place on April 16th, 2010.) The mission of WED is to infuse entrepreneurial optimism into the world when it needs it the most and remind everyone that it is entrepreneurs who have consistently led sluggish economies back to prosperity and growth through innovation and job creation.

This year, Macedonia will join WED with several events which will celebrate the entrepreneurship in our country. The first event is the Promotion of the report of the conducted research on the topic “Women and entrepreneurship”, conveyed by the “Capacity Building Towards Knowledge Based Economy” project funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation in cooperation with the National Centre for Development of Innovations and Entrepreneurial Learning and BASME - consulting company. The research covered more than 200 students and 100 women entrepreneurs.

The main event that will be part of the program on the 16^th of April is the presentation of the best business plans of the Business Plan Competition for gymnasiums and art high schools in the Republic of Macedonia 2010, organized by the National Centre for Development of Innovations and Entrepreneurial Learning in cooperation with the Business Start-up Centre at the Faculty for Mechanical Engineering and the Bureau for development of the education. In total, more than 30 high school teams across Macedonia will take participation in the competition. In the preparatory phase, more than 600 students passed the training “How to prepare a business plan?” The best ten high school teams will present their business plans in front of the Jury and the top three will receive prizes from our sponsors - Saving House "MOZNOSTI" and the telecommunications company "ONE" on May 11, 2010.

Third event that will take place on the World Day of Entrepreneurship in Macedonia is the “Start-up experience”. The main objective of the event is to increase the cooperation between the start-up companies and to raise the awareness of the entrepreneurship with the experience of the successful business stories in Macedonia. This networking event will be among the start-up companies of the Business start-up centre and the companies that are in the incubation phase from the YES incubator (more than 10 start-up companies are expected to share their experiences). Young and enthusiastic potential entrepreneurs will be invited to this event in order to gain more experience and self – confidence in opening their own business. The YES incubator and the Business start up-centre will also present their services offered to the start-up companies.

The WED celebration in Macedonia will not be limited only to events in the capital city. We are expanding our agenda to include events in other cities. The USAID Competitiveness Project & Capacity Building Towards Knowledge Based Economy Project in cooperation with municipality of Strumica and the Regional Support Center Strumica are organizing workshop on “Successful Access to Finance” in Strumica. The workshop will be held on Friday, April 16^th, at 10:30 in the Hotel Sirius, Strumica.

Agenda Skopje

Agenda Strumica

Agenda for Ideas Generation Event

 World Entrepreneurship Day Macedonia – EVENT “Start-up experience”

This networking event will be among the start-up companies of the Business start-up centre and the companies that are in the incubation phase from the YES incubator. They will share the experience of starting their own business and the benefits of the self-employment.  Young and enthusiastic potential entrepreneurs will be invited to this event in order to gain more experience and self – confidence in opening their own business. Yes incubator and the Start up-centre will present their services offered to the start-up companies.

 Research of Women and Entrepreneurship

“Capacity Building Towards Knowledge Based Economy” project funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation in cooperation with the National Centre for Development of Innovations and Entrepreneurial Learning and BASME - consulting company is finalizing the report of the conducted research “Women and entrepreneurship”. The research covered 200 students and 100 women entrepreneurs, which through answering on detailed questionnaires expressed their needs of support and trainings for creating better climate for women to start own businesses in Macedonia. The research also includes correlations with secondary data, using the GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) research conducted in Macedonia 2008.

Business Plan Competition for high school - Sponsorship agreement MOZNOSTI
 

 The saving house Mozhnosti signed agreement for sponsorship with the National Centre for Development of Innovations and Entrepreneurial Learning for support of the organization of the event and for the awards on the “National Business Plan Competition for Gymnasiums and Art high schools 2010”

The awards from the saving house Mozhnosti will be for the best high school students, business plans, in the competition:

I place = 1000 euro
II place = 600 euro
III place = 400 euro
Best Business Plan Presentation = 500 euro

Dear participants of the competition, thanks to the support of the saving house Mozhnosti and there will and ability of recognizing young and potential entrepreneurs in Republic of Macedonia this year the event become much more competitive and huge challenge to be achieved.

Business Plan Competition for high school - Cooperation with ONE

The communication operator One, signed agreement for sponsorship with the National Centre for Development of Innovations and Entrepreneurial Learning for support of the event and for the awards on the “National Business Plan Competition for Gymnasiums and Art high schools 2010”

 
One will provide the following awards to the best Business plans:

1st  Place:
- 1 year free broadband internet access (100 GB, 14 Mbps download/per month), Business package
- Samsung C270 mobile phones, one for each team member

2nd & 3rd place:
-  3G USB modem for wireless internet access including free credit, one for every member of the teams