Venture Initiative in the Balkan Europe

VIBE

Call Priorities addressed Priority Axis 1: Facilitation of innovation and entrepreneurship Area of intervention 1.2. Develop the enabling environment Complementarity/Follow-up to existing SEE projects - FIDIBE Project Development of Innovative Business Parks - SEE-IFA Project South East European Cooperation of Innovation and Finance Agencies The VIBE project is highly complementary to the 2 above projects funded from the First Call and strengthens their outcome. Strengths of the project proposal VIBE Clear geographic roll out o The actions to first address actors and SMEs in the former Yugoslav republic and Albania (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia) and Central Macedonia o In the 2nd year, the actions would open up to the full SEE region, connecting the company, expert and investor network mobilized in the former Yugoslav republic in the 1st year to companies, investors and experts across the SEE EU countries o To gain exposure across Europe and the international markets notably through WP2 Communication Pragmatic organization and an innovative methodology on: o Mapping existing actors, activities and needs for coaching, financing and publicly supporting innovative companies (work package 3 Mapping Track WP3) o Coaching companies to fast-track investment and growth readiness of selected 48 showcase companies in 4 sectors in the 1st year (ICT, new media, life sciences and cleantech) through a combination of peer group seminars/webinars, assignments and expert and peer group feedback involving 48 experts who can act as a coaching/mentoring group and will function as a trainers group for follow-up programmes (work package 4 Coaching Track Year 1 WP4) o In Year 2, this would be rolled out to 70 companies and experts involving all SEE countries o Financing networks by involving angels, regional funds, corporate investors, banks, venture fund investors though a webinar and dialogue programme as well as portfolio review peer group sessions and access to the relevant component and results coaching programmes (work package 5 Investor Track WP5) This would be in all SEE countries o Discussing, defining and testing pragmatic new potential investment incentives support actions by public support agencies especially at the cross-border (co-)investment level through a meeting and dialogue programme (work package 6 Investment Incentives Policy Track WP6) This would be in all SEE countries o Bringing it all together on - A website for external information/communication across the 4 different Tracks - A bi-annual event, rotating through the SEE region (Slovenia, Croatia / Serbia, Macedonia and another one - to be specified) - With the help of an external contractor in the EU to efficiently bring in international investor networks and functional expertise (investor promotion, web platforms, matching) - Excellent reputation, relevance and experience of the core consortium with all relevant stakeholders.

Call: 4
Priority: Facilitation of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Area of intervention: Develop the enabling environment for innovative entrepreneurship