European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG EurOffice Services Opening new markets for small innovative firms Gérard Bonnes EOS Coordinator Skopje, Sept. 27, 2007

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG New markets needs = Internationalisation needs  Financial support  Management of HR and skills development  Marketing and sales strategies  Personalised coaching and mentoring => Worldwide Contacts & Networking

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG 3 EurOffice has the solution  EurOffice Services is a kit of pragmatic services for small innovative companies which facilitates access to international markets  EOS allows any company or start-up referred by the EurOffice Network Members to use the EurOffice Services at any location within the network  The EON members are Business Innovation Centres, High-Tech Incubators…

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG 4 A two way network  Outbound Services - prepare SMEs at their home location for the challenge of developing international markets personal advice, mentoring, tools, coaching programs, networking and matchmaking services..  Inbound Services - assist SMEs when visiting new regions to develop their international business. offices, assistance in trade shows, contacts, organising meetings and networking, support for lodging

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG EOS SERVICES

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG BASIC SERVICES  Each company willing to internationalise needs a "soft landing“: offices, assistance with participating in trade shows, support for accommodation, assistance in organising meetings and networking, information services on locations business contacts

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG BASIC SERVICES Infrastructure and soft landing services FOR FREE 3 days:  Office,  Internet  Meeting room

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG 8 A Huge Network  23 Countries  More than 60 EON Members  More than 150 international advisors  5 Services Groups for Internationalization => More than 600 users

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT  assisting companies in successfully tackling every stage of their international business growth.  from the start-up phase to global player by offering personal advice, mentoring, coaching programs, networking and matchmaking services..

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT  Personal Business Advisor: support and assistance to connect entrepreneurs or client companies with the necessary value added services, tools and skills available in its target region.  Training and Coaching: pragmatic personalised paths to tackle every stage of companies business growth.  International Business Development tools: enter new markets, develop business in existing markets establish new international business relationships

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG MARKETING & SALES NETWORKING  connecting entrepreneurs with investors, business angels, scientists, universities, clients and partners  Networking events and matchmaking opportunities i.e. Torino International matching event Sophia Antipolis Rugby World Cup event Oct 19-20,

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG  Networking events : motivating meetings between companies with potential synergies, facilitating a first contact that could be the door that leads to new business opportunities MARKETING & SALES NETWORKING

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG HR BUSINESS ACCELERATOR  Boosting companies performances with the help of skilled human resources Mentoring services Support of skilled human resources

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG HUMAN RESOURCES  Mentoring Services : Mentors helps companies to better understand their business get contacts to clients, partners and investors through international networking  Staff Boosting Services : Allow start- ups and SMEs to work & develop with the help of unemployed executives, students, MBAs, young graduates retired people for free for a few months

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG EARLY STAGE FINANCE  Entrepreneurs accompaniment for meetings and negotiations with venture capital or corporate investors  Investment forums & presentation training, partnership European Venture Contest

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG EARLY STAGE FINANCE  Pitching to International Investors : one - two-day workshops during which highly qualified experts help entrepreneurs to improve their presentation skills and to discuss their business ideas with potential investors  Investment Forum Services: high quality networking events bringing together the Pan- European Venture Capitalist community and the most innovative companies in Europe

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG A well-structured consulting process is supported by the IMP³rove online platform Key characteristics of the IMP³rove consulting process Valuable benchmarks from the assessment Fully integrated end-to-end consulting process SAT designed to the Innovation Management needs of SMEs High efficiency of the consulting process due to the combination of online self- assessment, personal consulting and integrated evaluation and monitoring of the business impact of the services rendered SAT Self Assessment Tool support Controlling process Benchmarking process Consulting processFollow-up process Quick assessment Feedback loop (direct IMC evaluation) Long-term impact review In-depth assessme nt IMC service provision Recurring assessment

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG The reports will give SMEs a detailed understanding where their strengths and weaknesses are Innovation organization & culture How would rate your company‘s readiness for innovation? Innovation strategy Is your innovation strategy fully communicated, understood and implemented by all hierarchy levels? Innovation lifecycle What is the average time-to-market for your most important products/services? Enabling factors What percentage of your innovation projects have you completed within the defined time, budget and quality? Score per dimension (Example)Question per dimension (Example) Profile of each dimension (Example) Innovation strategy Innovation organization & culture Innovation lifecycle Enabling factors Innovation Management success Innovation strategy Innovation Management Success Over the last 4 years, what was the revenue of your product or service innovations that are not more than 3 years old? Vision for innovation Dissemination of innovation strategy Innovation project(s) Success rate

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG 19 Success stories...  A secure wireless transaction system start-up based in Germany, first visited Sophia-Antipolis & the Antipolis Innovation Campus  Being aware of the EurOffice basic services, the start-up benefited from a fully furnished office for some days in order to prospect the French market. They used the Welcome package as well including full secretarial services, flat rental, car rental, etc. on top of Euro-office.  After just 1 month, the start-up was setting up in Sophia-Antipolis to develop its market in France. Since, the start-up has hired 3 unemployed executives.  Finally, to raise capital, they met several Venture Capitalists and Business Angels thanks to the EOS networking events. “Here in Sophia we have an infrastructure second to none and a business network that most regions only dream about. Here we are supported. It has been so easy to connect to the extraordinary network here thanks to the help of the great people at Cicom & the AIC. Here at the AIC I have not had to deal with slow utility companies and slow government agencies. All of that is taken care of for us. Here in Sophia I can function comfortably in the English language until I learn French. Here we are nurtured and our company is already well on its way to being successful in just a few weeks.”

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG EOS Vision USA / Canada China The Service Cube India

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG 21 Our major asset... The Network & YOU  23 Countries ++  More than 60 EON Members ++  More than international advisors  5 Services Groups for Internationalization => More than users

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG  Existing members: a dozen + all EOS consortium partners having appropriate facilities: incubator, BIC or SP  Recruitment: Under Consortium Members responsibility Up to 3 EON members per EOS partners (under direct coaching) WW geographic coverage Innovative industry areas coverage 1. Be the best candidate in the concerned geographic area (1/small country) 2. Find a coach among the current EOS Consortium 3. Send the signed LoA (Letter of Application) which contains the choice of selected services 4. Fill in the Membership info form, which shows how this member will appear on the EOS web site 5. Keep serious in terms of delivery in order to remain in the network, i.e. fill in the SUR form with relevant info regularly. 6. Produce nice & illustrative success stories as appropriate.  Responsibilities: (“beta tester”) EurOffice Services pre-releases, for free Experience report in return  Participation to board meetings, workshops and conferences Explanation of rules, goals etc… return experiences EurOffice Network Members

European Commission Enterprise and Industry DG 23 Let’s work together... Gérard Bonnes, EOS coordinator