Enterprise Accelerator Satakunta University of Applied Sciences Estonia Visit May 2011

1. Enterprise Accelerator Satakunta University of Applied Sciences Estonia Visit May 2011 Hanna Rautava-Nurmi Tarja Mäkelä

2. Satakunta Region Profile • Satakunta is located on the southwest coast of Finland and is one of the 19 regions in Finland. • The total population of the region is 240 000. • The regional centre is the city of Pori, which has 76 000 inhabitants. • Finland’s fifth longest river, the Kokemäenjoki, flows through the region into the Gulf of Botnia.

3. There are about 12 000 enterprises on the Satakunta region. • From those 12 000 enterprises there are about 900 social- and • healthcare enterprises. • Satakunta represents 4,7% of the Finland’s population, but 8% of total industrial production. Faculty of Technology and Maritime Management

4. Global Enterprises in Region

5. Locations of educational units: • Pori, Rauma, Huittinen and Kankaanpää (before also Harjavalta) • Established: 1997 • 20 degree programmes in Finnish + 2 in English • Bachelor and Master degrees • Almost 900 degrees taken annually • Over 500 members of staff • Total number of students: 6500 • In Faculty of Social Services and Health Care we have about 1500 students and over 110 members of staff. Satakunta University of Applied Sciences

6. Enterprise Accelerator - Centre of Excellence in Education in SAMK The Enterprise Accelerator operates within all degree programs at SAMK. It helps students become entrepreneurs before their graduation. During its fourteen years of operation the Enterprise Accelerator has created near 200 enterprises and near 250 new entrepreneurs so far.

7. The Enterprise Accelerator helps students who have a business idea or an operating company. • They will also be assisted in enterprise succession or in the acquisition of an enterprise. • A cooperation agreement and an individual study plan in entrepreneurship will be prepared for each student in the Enterprise Accelerator.

8. The student will be supported by a mentor network. • An expert mentor will encourage and advise the student entrepreneur. • The student can obtain as many as 60 ECTS credits for completed studies related to the setting up and development of his or her own enterprise.

9. The Enterprise Accelerator provides a unique opportunity for combining studying and entrepreneurship. • Currently, the accelerator creates at least one enterprise each month

10. New Business for Traditional Industry New Applications Software Automation New Technology Communications Logistics Electronic Production Health Care Technology Opportunities for new Entrepreneurs New Business Opportunities New Services New Applications New Services New Products New Services New Business Opportunities New Products New Business for Traditional Health Care

11. Entrepreneurial Intentions among students in SAMK • Starting a firm 380 • Buying an existing firm 328 • Generational change 92 • Responses 1790 • 45% have entrepreneurial intentions (2010)

12. What Was The Most Important in The Process of Becoming An Entrepreneur? • Evaluation and development of the business plan with the mentor • Just in time services of the incubator • Personal interaction with the mentor • Encouragement • (response from 32 incubator entrepreneurs, 2010)

13. Possible ways to activate an Accelerator Enterprise • The student has a business idea of her or his own. • A business idea is developed during the University´s research and development project. • A business idea is developed during a University’s partner’s project. • The student already manages an enterprise and joins the Enterprise Accelerator. • The Generational Replacement Accelerator Process: the student continues the activities of a family enterprise. • The Generational Replacement Accelerator Process: the student purchases an already existing enterprise.

14. The role of the mentors • The mentors are research and educational experts of Satakunta University of Applied Sciences and experts specialized in generational replacement processes. • The mentors coaches the student entrepreneurs in their process of developing the business idea and business plan. • The mentors guides the student entrepreneurs in the planning of their personal study plan for professional and entrepreneurship studies. • The mentors advices the student entrepreneurs with the acquisition of facilities and devices • The mentors leads the student entrepreneurs to the fields’ special experts for further information. • The mentors encourages the student entrepreneurs for cooperation with regional, national and international projects and companies.

15. Results Since 1997 Contracts nearly 250 Enterprises nearly 200 Entrepreneurs nearly 250 Employees nearly 350 In Social- and Health Care Contracts nearly 50 Enterprises nearly 20 Employees nearly 100 (May 2011)

16. How Can Staff Develop Their Competence? • By supervising business cooperation projects and theses (continuous) • By doing applied research (part-time) • By being a project manager or expert member in publicly financed large projects • By mentoring studentsin the Enterprise Accelerator

17. ”Have a smiling face and good humour- in everything. Working can be fun!” Says Tuukka Nieminen Young entrepreneur of the year 2006 in Finland

18. Thank You for Your Interest! Hanna Rautava-Nurmi: hanna.rautava-nurmi@samk.fi Tarja Mäkelä: tarja.makela@samk.fi www.samk.fi