Innovation Competencies and Entrepreneurial Skills

External view:

Marika Paakkala

Helsinki School of Economics, Small Business CenterNew Business Center (NBC) Business IncubatorHelsinki, Finland

BaltMet Inno Final Conference 6 - 7.11.2007 in Tallinn

The role of HSE Small Business Center and New Business Center business incubator

The Small Business Center (established in 1980) is a service unit at the Helsinki School of economics

• Special areas: entrepreneurship and small business development

• Business areas: 1. Training and development programmes for SMEs2. Research 3. Business incubator activity

New Business Center (established 1997) offers business development, facility and equipment services to new or recently started companies.

• The main focus group: Knowledge-intensive business services• The incubator`s aim is to promote and accelerate the incubate

companies`growth and business success in both domestic and international marketplace

• Total 20-25 companies, 1000 s.m premises

Successful projects- Some Important aspects

1. General development frame exists and the project fits into that smoothly

2. Cultural understanding between the groups3. Partner selection and co-operation4. Enough time and resources to investigate the

needs of regions and the target groups related to development of co-operation

5. The project concept itself, keep it simple and modify according to participant needs

6. Have the vision and long term strategy for the project organization and make it a continuous mode of operation

7. Follow up, evaluation and promotion

Transnational incubator development programme- Some important points

• Arrange education in innovative thinking• Discuss a lot: Exchange of experience is important• Use practical case studies• Participate actively and show strong commitment• Increased and strenghtened cooperation between

partners• Be open for new innovative ideas• Arrange shared training sessions• Benchmark best practices• Make the network work actively• Provide better services for incubated companies• Focus on concrete, measurable business benefits• Create innovative learning environments and

forums for cooperation

Project idea for innovative transnational organisations and companies

1. Market survey• Analyse the need and expectations for transnational cooperation • Target group: personel from dirrerent innovative organisations and

companies

2. Workshop/seminar for potential partners• How to develop innovative cooperation?• What are the resources ? Needs for cooperation ? Commitment?

3. Action plan for each company• Identify company`s specific expectations for the project• Action plan should be related to their business plan

4. Arrange shared meetings and trainings• Match suitable companies together• Follow-up the results

5. Create innovative learning environments and forums for cooperation, follow-up and evaluate the effectiveness continuously

New Business CenterPohjoinen Rautatiekatu 21.B, 7th Floor00100 Helsinki FINLAND

Project Director Marika PaakkalaMobile +358 (0) 40 829 2286Fax +358 10 217 8629E-mail marika.paakkala@hse.fi nbc@hse.fi

Web - Information about Business Incubator: www.nbc.fi- Information about Small Business Center training and services: www.hse.fi/smallbusinesscenter- Information about Helsinki School of Economics: www.hse.fi

NBC contact information