Entrepreneurship Support Measures in Vidzeme Planning Region (Entrepreneurship in Vidzeme)

 

 

 

With the population declining in the region, the shrinking local market is urging companies in the region to penetrate foreign markets more and more. In order for the companies in the region to be able not only to ensure their operations, but also to develop and promote the economic growth of the region, including employment growth and wage growth, they need to increase their competitiveness in penetrating new markets, developing innovation and new products/services and promoting them on the market. The activities planned as part of the project will improve the business environment of the region in order to increase the competitiveness of the companies on local and international markets.

 

As the companies become more competitive, they will also be able to have positive impact not only on reducing unemployment, but also on changes in the average income level of employees by providing higher paid jobs with positive consequences for changes in poverty rates in the region. The project activities are aimed at developing the innovation ecosystem in the region and offsetting the negative differences in the availability of services between the capital and the region.

 

The project will be implemented in the framework of the Programme for Local Development, Poverty Reduction and Culture Cooperation, funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through EEA grants. The project implementation area is the territory of Vidzeme planning region in Latvia and Elverum Municipality in Norway, as well as it is planned that cooperation with other EEA donor countries will take place.

 

 

 

 

Title

Entrepreneurship Support Measures in Vidzeme Planning Region

Abbreviation

Entrepreneurship in Vidzeme

Lead partner

Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR)

Project number

Nr.LV-LOCALDEV-0002

Programme

European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism

Partners
  • Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR) |Latvia|
  • Elverum Municipality |Norway|

Objective

To develop the entrepreneurship environment of Vidzeme Planning Region (VPR) and reduce social exclusion by promoting employment and competitiveness opportunities in the region

Activities

1. Strengthening the capacity of the Vidzeme Entrepreneurship Centre (VEC) and local governments of the Vidzeme planning region

The objective of this activity is to activate resources and partnership between the participants of quadripartite cooperation of the innovation ecosystem (entrepreneurs, science/universities, public governance and civic society), to enhance the capacity of local governments in the field of entrepreneurship promotion, to increase the development level of the region, as well as to facilitate business.

To achieve the goal of this activity, following sub-activities will be organized:

  • Capacity building of entrepreneurship specialists;
  • Development of services offered by VEC by fostering technology transfer and internationalization;
  • Development of services offered by municipalities;
  • Promotion of innovation and internationalization and development of co-working/co-creation spaces.

2. Promotion of Vidzeme region and it' s identity locally and internationally

The objective of the activity is to promote local products and find a new market through enhancing cooperation, to improve the development level of the region, as well as to promote entrepreneurship.

To achieve the goal of this activity, following sub-activities will be organized:

  • Foreign trade missions for NGOs representing entrepreneurs;
  • Development of Vidzeme Inspiration Stories concept;
  • Incoming specific media visits;
  • Widespread investment attraction campaign.

3. Regional mentoring of youth entrepreneurship

The objective of the activity is to develop the business capacity of young people and to promote their motivation to start business.

To achieve the goal of this activity, following sub-activities will be organized:

  • Competitions for product idea development marathon (hackathon);
  • Training for product idea development based on voucher concept.

4. Support to increase employment and competitiveness, implementing region-specific activities

The objective of the activity is to promote employment, to improve the competitiveness of the region, as well as to create innovative solutions related to developing the potential of the region.

To achieve the goal of this activity, following sub-activities will be organized:

  • Organisation of product idea development marathons (hackathons) in the smart specialisation areas defined by VPR;
  • Entrepreneurship promotion activities in cooperation with the clusters of the region;
  • Networking events between entrepreneurs and educational and scientific institutions.

Results
  • Entrepreneurship support capacity strengthened in local governments
  • The entrepreneurship support capacity of VPR enhanced
  • 4 co-creation/co-working spaces created within the territory of VPR
  • Local produce market promoted and strengthened
  • The identity of Vidzeme region strengthened
  • 3 foreign trade missions organised
  • 2 visits by foreign sector-specific media organised
  • 3 events of Vidzeme Inspiration Stories organised
  • The development of local companies has been supported, ensuring the attraction of the necessary experts
  • 4 youth product idea development marathons organised
  • 3 product idea development marathons organised for entrepreneurs in smart specialisation areas defined by the VPR
  • 6 networking events for entrepreneurs, educational and scientific institutions organised

Budget

Total budget: 974 133 EUR

  • whereof EEA Financial Mechanism co-funding: 974 133 EUR

VPR budget: 864 443 EUR

  • whereof EEA Financial Mechanism co-funding: 864 443 EUR

Implementation period

21.06.2021. – 30.04.2024.

Contact person in VPR

Ineta Tauriņa

Project Manager

Head of Vidzeme Entrepreneurship Centre

Tel. +371 26382820

ineta.taurina@vidzeme.lv