1. Regions for Economic Change Mobilising investments in the Baltic Sea Region CONNECT Baltic Sea Region Workshop 2 A Jon-Gunnar Aasen Project manager Oslo Teknopol

2. Connect Baltic Sea Region (CBSR) WHAT IS CONNECT? - CONNECT HELPS ENTREPRENEURS AND SMES REALISE BUSIENSS IDEAS - CONNECT ACCELERATES ACCESS TO EXPERTISE, PARTNERS AND CAPITAL - CONNECT IS A PRIVATE INITIATIV - CONNECT BSR SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OF A NETWORK OF EXPERTS THROUGHOUT BALTIC SEA REGION

3. CBSR – mobilising investments PROJECT RATIONALE: 4 ASSUMPTIONS 1. INFORMATION GAP BETWEEN ENTREPRENEUR & INVESTOR 2. INSUFFICIENT COMMUNICATION & PRESENTATION SKILLS 3. EXPERTS WILL VOLUNTEER 4. BRANDING OF CONNECT IS NECESSARY

4. CBSR – mobilising investments HOW IS IT DONE? - CONNECT PARTNERS FIND PROJECTS/BUSINESS CASES - COACHING; DEVELOP BUSINESS PLANS AND PRESENTATIONS - MEET THE EXPERTS IN SPRINGBOARDS (PANEL DEBATE) - MEET THE INVESTORS

5. CBSR – mobilising investments WHY DOES IT WORK? - CONNECT IS (must be) ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH QUALITY - CONNECT IS A BRAND - BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES ARE CONTINUOUSLY CREATED FOR ALL - EXPERTS MEET OTHER EXPERTS - EXPERTS LEARN ABOUT TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT - IT IS FUN AND GOOD THING TO DO!

6. CBSR – mobilising investments RESULTS 2002 - 2006 - 24 REGIONAL CONNECT NETWORKS IN 8 COUNTRIES (10 countries during 2006) - SPRINGBOARDS: 1000+ - NETWORK OF EXPERTS: 5000 in BSR - RAISED VENTURE/INVESTMENT CAPITAL: 1000+ Million - NUMBER OF JOBS: 1000+ (directly)

7. CBSR – mobilising investments CONCLUSIONS: - CONNECT REDUCES MARKET FAILURE IN EARLY STAGE INVESTMENTS - CONNECT WILL WORK – ONLY IF BUSINESS WANTS IT TOO - BALTIC SEA REGION IS SMALL MARKET – CONNECT ACCELERATES GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES - INTERNATIONAL NETWORK – INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT - NEXT STEPS: CONNECT IN REST OF EUROPE?