About

The consortium of this project is consisted of 7 partners, each with long experience and knowledge about entrepreneurship and networking.

UNIVERSITY OF WALES TRINITY SAINT DAVID ROYAL CHARTER

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) was formed on 18 November 2010 through the merger of the University of Wales Lampeter and Trinity University College Carmarthen, under Lampeter’s Royal Charter of 1828. On the 1 August 2013, Swansea Metropolitan University became part of UWTSD.

The University’s Royal Charter is the oldest in Wales and England after the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. The UWTSD Group includes Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion as part of a dual sector group structure comprising further education colleges and the university. The UWTSD Group has over 25,000 learners across 17 campuses in rural and city locations. Together we deliver clear, tangible benefits for learners, employers, industry and communities by offering a vocational approach from entry level to post-doctoral research.

UWTSD has a clear and exciting strategic plan which places emphasis upon applied learning, strong academic disciplines, including Engineering, Art and Design, Built and Natural Environment, Archaeology and Social Sciences and Humanitites, and a clear commitment to innovation, enterprise and knowledge transfer. This connected university is driving through structural and strategic change which is closely associated with industry, business and enterprise. The University has a clear national profile – delivering for Wales and celebrating its distinctiveness on a UK and international stage.

The learner experience is at the heart of our mission. We have placed sustainability at the core of our planning. Developed through our award winning Institute of Sustainable Practice, Innovation and Resource Effectiveness (INSPIRE), we have embedded sustainable development through our learning, teaching, curricula, campus, community and culture. Our aim is to inspire individuals and develop reflective graduates and practitioners who can make a difference in society. Through work-based learning, research of international excellence and knowledge transfer networks, we aim to play a pivotal role in the promotion of social justice, economic renewal and the development of social and cultural capital.

UWTSD, as a teacher training institution, is an acknowledged leader in the field of ‘training the trainers’ for entrepreneurship education, having the UK’s first accredited training program, developed in collaboration with and funded by the Welsh Government. This module was chosen to include as a best practice case study by the Higher Education Academy (2015). UWTSD students and staff participate in Tech Hub activities and they help UWTSD to develop their entrepreneurial curriculum by sharing their ideas. This direct access to the target group will be beneficial to ECO-SystemApp by including the feedback received and assuring the user needs are met.

NATIONAL CHAMBER NETWORK WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

The National Chamber Network of Women Entrepreneurs is a nonprofit making organization, governed by public law. Members of the Network are the 59 Greek Chambers, which are bodies governed by public law too. The Network is a Public Equivalent Body, supervised by its members and the Central Union of the Greek Chambers. It has been established for the purpose of meeting needs of women entrepreneurs, in the general interest and it does not have an industrial or commercial character.

EEDEGE signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the GREEK GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF LIFELONG LEARNING to promote entrepreneurship as lifelong learning transversal skill, EEDEGE has provided many training activities for entrepreneurs through vocational education and training (VET). The Network’s purpose is the development of women entrepreneurship, the promotion of the equality of sexes in business, the creation of an equal opportunity environment, the development of the female population’s skills and abilities in order to contribute to the productivity of the economy and the identification of the obstacles, which prevent women from participating fully in the working bodies of society, the most important of which are: financial aspects, childcare and household problems. Finally, we must make clear the benefits that would derive from the complete involvement of women in the work force of a country.

In this framework, the National Chamber Network of Women Entrepreneurs undertakes and implements community projects and has considerable experience in the fields of the following activities: career counseling methodologies, organization of training programs, apprenticeships and seminars for its members (i.e. the Chambers) and representatives of the corporate environment, and the promotion of networking among the European organizations and enterprises. The Network is at the disposal of all women entrepreneurs and all those women who want to be productive, but need help in finding solutions to issues related to the business market, competitiveness and employability.

The National Chamber Women Network is the extension of the Eurochambre Women Network. It is a fact that the President of the National Chamber Women Network is the President of the Eurochambre Women Network as well, what brings the two organizations in close co-operation. It also gives our National Network a universal profile and orientation towards the activation of the decisions of Lisbon. The Network cooperates with research, academic and vocational training bodies, for the development of an innovative and effective career counseling and promotion to the labor market system.

INNOGATE TO EUROPE

Innogate to Europe is an SME, created in 2011 by two female entrepreneurs. It provides ADULT EDUCATION with focus on entrepreneurship education and active citizenship. In this sense, it is specialized in promoting entrepreneurship, EU project development, training, technology transfer at EU level and enhancement of international collaboration among the different actors involved in the value chain of the innovation process of smart entrepreneurial ecosystems. The company has a broad knowledge of project management as well as dissemination, communication and exploitation activities. It also provides support in the design of the methodological approach, monitoring of project development, preparation of joint action plans and roadmaps, SWOT analysis, assessments and databases.

The company’s staff has a broad experience in supporting entrepreneurship and the competitiveness of SMEs through the participation in transnational collaborative projects, networks and initiatives and the access to EU funds. As local contact point, it provides support to new and experienced entrepreneurs who wish to participate in knowledge and experience transnational exchanges within the program, advising them to maximize the impact of this experience in the development, improvement or review of their business plan through peer learning and the exchange of experiences, knowledge, skills and innovative ideas with entrepreneurs in another stage of the entrepreneurial process (new vs. experienced). Innogate also helps entrepreneurs to put their innovative ideas into practice and find funding for their initiatives.

The company is specialized in actions aimed at increasing the awareness of entrepreneurs, SMEs and intermediary organizations (public-private organizations, foundations, clusters, associations, etc) on EU policies and programmes supporting SMEs and encouraging the internationalization of innovation and research activities and collaboration with relevant stakeholders such as public authorities and civil society. This includes information actions, adult training, awareness campaigns and personalized advice.

Innogate to Europe offers support and training in the whole project cycle of EU funded actions. It has vast experience in the launching of collaborative projects, consortium building and drafting of project applications. As in-house consultant for the regional association Madrid Network, Innogate to Europe provides support to companies through the National Information Points on R&D Activities and Innovation National Network (PIDI Network) and Enterprise Europe Network.

Innogate to Europe’s executives are members of the Enterprise Europe Network Working Group on Women Entrepreneurship, the Professional Women’s Network Global (PWN Global) and the Network for Professional Women (WOMENALIA).

REGIONALNA RAZVOJOVA AGENTURA SENEC – PEZINOK

Regional Develpoment Agency Senec-Pezinok (RDA) is an interest association of legal entities engaged in regional development since 2002. It is a member of an integrated network of 52 regional development agencies established by the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development of Slovak Republic. The main mission of the Agency is to provide technical assistance for development of regional plans, strategies, projects and programmes.

Main activities: VET training in Lifelong learning context, organisation trainings and exhibition for entrepreneurs in the region, consultancy and support service for elaboration of socio-economy development plans/strategies related to labour market, project management and specialised re-qualification for vulnerable groups, sustainable regional development and support for increasing the competitiveness of SMEs.

RDA has proven record in VET and LDV project design and implementation with developing more than 130 projects, including leading role in big international projects (projects with budget more than 1mil Eur), RDA collaborates with 73 municipalities, more than 12 VET schools, social partners, public, SMEs & NGO sectors in Slovakia and abroad.

NCDIEL

National center for development of innovation and entrepreneurial learning (NCDIEL) was established in 2009 as a nongovernmental, non-for-profit organization, with financial support for the period from 2009 to 2012 from the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC). The Centre is also following the recommendations from the project “South-East European Co-operation of Innovation and Finance Agencies 2009-2012”. SEE-IFA Network aims at strengthening capacity for effective provision of innovation, technology and financial support to micro, small and medium sized companies. NCDIEL is supported by the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Macedonia, the three biggest chambers, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, the Centre for Research, Development and Continuous Education, Bureau for Development of Education. It is also supported by the Roma youth NGO, the Roma Resource Centre, the Regional South-east European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning and by the students’ organizations ESTIEM, BEST and AIESEC.

NCDIEL Vision:

To become a key national actor in the processes of creation of a competitive knowledge-based and innovative economy.

NCDIEL Mission:

Promotion, support and development of innovation and entrepreneurial learning, with the aim to decrease unemployment through creation of new innovative businesses and strengthening the SMEs sector in the Republic of Macedonia. This will be achieved through increasing the skills for innovation and technology know-how in the Macedonian economy.

NCDIEL aims to:

• Analyze and evaluate the current state in the area of innovations, entrepreneurship, technological development and competitiveness of enterprises and national economy,
• Stimulate development of new entrepreneurial culture to match the knowledge and innovation society,
• Encourage entrepreneurial learning at all levels of education, both formal and informal, in order to spread entrepreneurial spirit among the population,
• Facilitate understanding of innovation as a way how our society changes and improves,
• Spread acceptation that innovation is the way we do business, the way we work, the options we choose as consumers and citizens,
• Support conduction of feasibility studies and establishment of business start-up centers, incubators and technology parks,
• Provide start-up training and financial support for the most innovative business ideas and coach them to become profitable high growth businesses,
• Create/develop strategies for innovations, entrepreneurship and competitiveness at all levels (company, cluster, municipality, region, state, etc.)
• Provide soft landing services for foreign technology based companies that want to invest in Macedonia (innovation related diligence, staffing support for engineers, local partner search, etc.)
• Provide technical support to the SME policy makers.

Quality control system:

At the establishment of the center various internal quality control mechanisms have been developed, all in line with the international quality systems. In 2009, the NCDIEL have been awarded with ISO 9001: 2008 certificate, which was confirmed with recertification in 2013.

ARTEVELDEHOGESCHOOL

Artevelde University College Ghent, Member of the Ghent University Association (AU GENT) is one of Flanders’ largest university colleges. It offers study programs in teacher training, business and graphic education, health care and social work: 16 Bachelor programs, 5 Advanced Bachelor programs, 14 Postgraduate programs and 4 Masters in cooperation with Ghent University: Master of Occupational Science; (Bachelor and) Master of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy; Master of Social Work; Master of Nursing and Midwifery

Artevelde University College Ghent is a knowledge center for education, research and services, where students, collaborators and strategic partners cooperate and develop their talents in a stimulating and internationally oriented environment.

As an institute based on a culture of internationalization, Artevelde University College Ghent is an active partner in diverse regional, national and international networks, attends various international conferences and collaborates intensively with international partners for educational and for research purposes.

Moreover, Artevelde University College Ghent stimulates outgoing staff and student mobility and warmly welcomes international incoming staff and students. Besides the regular study programs, Artevelde University College Ghent offers a wide variety of international courses, often with a clear emphasis on interdisciplinary themes.

The university college educates professionals whose creativity, innovative way of thinking and sense of entrepreneurship cross borders. Artevelde University College Ghent aspires after excellence and durability and is stimulated by its collaborators to do so.

Artevelde University College Ghent is known for its excellent student-oriented services, education and counseling.

MATERAHUB

MATERAHUB is an aggregator of people and business encouraging the creation of new job opportunities and the promotion of sustainable development. Through MATERAHUB different subjects provide their expertise and ideas to valorize the local and regional community, which becomes the starting point and meeting place of national and international creative realities related to the HUB. For this reason, MATERAHUB provides spaces and resources, links and knowledge, talents, opportunities and investments to help people to turn ideas into reality. MATERAHUB’s primary objective is a better quality of life, made of the rediscovery of traditional values and innovative solutions to emerging needs, with social innovation and creativity at the center of each project. MATERAHUB promote know-how exchange and co-working activities with the aim to create and plan creative yards in which give birth to new projects.

Learning processes are vital for the development and empowerment of creativity and related skills, so MATERAHUB promotes new methodologies where creativity is used to make the learning path participated by trainees/learners.

MATERAHUB wants to develop a social economy of culture: an alternative way for each community who wants to exploit its skills and distinguishing social, cultural and environmental factors solving critical problems like youth unemployment and brain drain.

MATERAHUB is working on:

• Entrepreneurship Education for young entrepreneurs, wanna-be entrepreneurs, students through mentoring initiatives (in particular tailored on CCS and social enterprise)
• ICT applied to Cultural sector
• Start-ups
• EU funded project design, management, monitoring
• training for public and private bodies
• managing cultural heritage sites in the UNESCO heritage of Matera (promotion, development of innovative approaches on safeguard, restoration and valorization)
• Supporting Creative and Cultural operators to transform their projects into sustainable economic activities
• Supporting Cultural Centers at regional level to connect and enter into EU networks to promote competencies, resources and people exchanges

Main project activities are defined as following:

Outputs		Lead	Participants
IO1	Blueprint of entrepreneurial ecosystems (peer-to-peer learning guide for entrepreneurship educators)	INNO	All
IO2	Open on-line course for entrepreneurship educators	RDA	All
IO3	Open on-line course handbook (text book)	EEDEGE	All
IO4	Develop and pilot a Service Structure Kit (SSK) for a Virtual Exchange Programme (VEP) between entrepreneurship educators and entrepreneurs	UWTSD (co-lead INNO)	All
IO5	Develop an assessment tool for validation of learning outcomes	NCDIEL	All
IO6	Repository of educational resources for entrepreneurship education	AHS	INNO, RDA
IO7	Creativity Kraken Tool (linked-in network)	EEDEGE	All
IO8	ECO-SystemApp VLE (website/VLE for Outputs 1-7)	NCDIEL	All