CERIecon works towards changing the way entrepreneurs are inspired, trained and supported by developing and implementing new-type comprehensive regional innovation ecosystems (called Playparks) and a transnational innovation ecosystems’ network to advance economic and social innovation in a majority of central European Member States.
Change is still needed to make the cities and regions in central Europe better places to work and live. Daring young entrepreneurs with brilliant ideas could contribute considerably to this change. But they cannot. Factors such as lack of an entrepreneurial culture and mind-set leading to a limited interest in entrepreneurship are hampering their efforts. There is also inadequate training to improve their skills and entrepreneurial competences and innovation in general is being hampered by the lingering effects of the historical east-west divide and the recent economic crisis through an underinvestment in R&D. And yet, entrepreneurs must be empowered to create change; they “form the majority of business entities and are the biggest employers” in central Europe.
“It is important to provide, at regional level, the right mix of financial and non-financial support to assist entrepreneurs to create new firms.” “And this is the goal of CERIecon. By mid-2019, the project will contribute to a change in the way entrepreneurs are inspired, trained and supported through a balanced package of strategies, actions plans, pilot actions, training, and tools to create new-type comprehensive regional innovation ecosystems in seven Central Europe regions. With their three-step logical project approach (Development – Implementation – Improvement), they want entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to benefit the most from what they do. But also their regions will benefit because from now on regional smart specialisation strategies will be further used to develop novel technologies, and brilliant products and services for economic and social innovation.