Bovec 2.-3. September 2010

1. Bovec 2.-3. September 2010 Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze

2. Administrative issues10.00 – 11.00 • Agenda of the Workshop - Marko Š. • Goals of the iCON, WPs - Marko Š. • Reporting (FLC/JTS, dates), training in sept. by JTS/4PM, - Tanja • formulars, prepaymentd, 4PM (reporting), - Tanja • 4PM (wwwreporting)presentation – Arctur

3. iCON • Increase competitiveness of SMEs through cooperation • Cross-border Business Networks (SMEs, institutions, …) • Cooperation of of business support institutions • Joint services for internationalisation • Crossborder internships and involvement of Seniors/Juniors into the entrapreneurial environment

4. WP – Work Packages • WP1 Management and Coordination • WP2 Network of business support institutions • WP3 Knowledge management system and pilot DBE (Digital Business Ecosystem) • WP4 Establishment of business networks • WP 5 Territorial mktg and support to internatioanlisation • WP6 Support to the experiences and development of future competences • WP7 Communication plan

5. WP leaders/co-leaders

6. WP7 iCON logo, web tool and www11.00–11.30

7. WP 4 Business network analysis, further activities, partners involvement 11.30–12.30 ESTABLISHMENT OF NETWORKS/CLUSTERS Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze

8. WP4ESTABLISHMENT OF NETWORKS/CLUSTERS • Objectives (3 PHASES) • Identify business areas with potential for CB networking • Motivate businesses for CB (Cros-Border) cooperation and creation of networks (10) • Support CB networking (min 10) Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze

9. WP4 • Leader + co-leader • RA ROD experience in CB cooperation • EINE more than 3.000 members Partecipation of all partners .

10. Workshop • Gant WP4 • Terminology (clusters, platforms, »distretti«, networks) • What is networking • Presentation of preliminary analysis (Adding to the questionars + new networks) • Discussion CB networking (3 groups) • iCON Tools to support networks (WP4, WP5, WP6)

11. WP4Establishmentofnetworks • Contribution of each partner • One person trained to support networks • Identification of potential networks • Motivation event • Support to one network • Informations, contacts, … etc. (BUDGET in WP4: 70 – 90 Man-days )

12. What is a network? • Network = Regional concetration of specialised companies and institutions • EU week in transformation of new ideas into business • Also improve cration of new ideas • “Innovation is heavily concetrated geographicly” *The EU Cluster memorandum

13. Business Networks • Regions with no clusters risk falling behind • Location – provided by regions • Co-opetition (Co-operation + Competition) • Stenghtening trans-national cooperation between clusters *The EU Cluster memorandum

14. Preliminary ICON analysis • Situation in • Italy • Slovenia • Identify new networks ….

15. WP4 • Discussion (3 Groups) • Additional potential areas for CB networks (What have we missed in thepreliminaryanalysis?) • Methodsfor identificationofpotential CB networks (How partners can contribute to identification?Availabledata?) • Confrontation SLO/ITA – potential for CB cooperation (Key factors for CB cooperation? Make a list!) • Proposalof “min 5” potential CB networks (What criteria? How to check interest ?How to motivate?) Pleasediscusandpresentanswers.

16. 20 minutes discussion • 5 minutes presentation

17. Results • Potential networks - DISCUSSION • “Green” economy • Tourism (1 network) • Nautical industry • …. other … • Use forum and “kick-off” conference to invite network rapresentatives from both sides SLO/ITA? • Alocate PP to facilitate?

18. Workshop • Gant WP4 • Terminology (clusters, platforms, »distretti«, networks) • What is networking • Presentation of preliminary analysis (Adding to the questionars + new networks) • Discussion CB networking (3 groups) • iCON Tools to support networks (WP4, WP5, WP6)

19. Thank you for your contribution!

20. Bovec 2.-3. September 2010

21. Why to network? 1/3 • Improve strategic decision-making by increasing the exchange of strategic information • Stimulate creativity and innovation using contacts • Strategic supply chain management to improve reliability, delivery times and quality • Improve co-ordination between the region’s actors to compete with potential rivals • Create capacity to anticipate customer needs • Negotiate prices with common suppliers • Jointly organize logistics • Jointly organize commercial activities • Jointly organize a foreign representation • Jointly organize outsourcing in lower wage countries • Sharing orders with competitors if the production capacity is not sufficient

22. Why to network? 2/3 • Sharing orders with competitors if the production capacity is not sufficient • Jointly become a strategic partner for local authorities in order to improve transport, scientific, technological and information infrastructure and business climate in general • Organize or lobby for vocational or executive training programs • Create positive image for attracting subcontractors or suppliers • Create positive image and other conditions for attracting more qualified staff • Share information about staffing needs to strengthen the match between supply and demand • Share resources to become more familiar with labor market and use it more effectively • Create a pool of specialized staff • Use positive image of region in marketing strategy • Harmonize production quality standards in order to become a joint sub-contractor for a large client

23. Why to network? 3/3 • Jointly prepare for EU environmental requirements • Collect centrally relevant information about machinery, suppliers, trade fairs, social events, etc. • Share or collect together information about sources of financing and rules on how to use them • Exchange information on clients that do not pay and shop around • Equalize fluctuations in working capital • Facilitate interaction between researchers (local / in Italy) and enterprises • Attend seminars and technology fairs as a network • Invest jointly in a new pilot production facility for testing purposes • Set up jointly a R&D unit or a laboratory • Develop the availability of labor force in R&D and design • Strengthen technology in the core business • Improve technology management • Jointly protect technology / regional brands