Content Entrepreneurship programmes of EU EXIST – Entrepreneurship out of Science

1. Promoting Entrepreneurial Spirit – Case StudiesStefan ThuisTU Dortmundstefan.thuis@cs.uni-dortmund.de

2. Content • Entrepreneurship programmes of EU • EXIST – Entrepreneurship out of Science • G-Dur – A network at TU Dortmund

3. EU goals and actions in promoting entrepreneurship • Develop a more entrepreneurial culture among young people starting from school education • Administrative requirements need to be entrepreneur friendly • Easier access to investors for entrepreneurs • European Commission launches various campaigns to promote the image of entrepreneurship • Co-operation with Member States to facilitate sharing of experiences • Difficulties of ethnic minorities have to be overcome • All actions have a comprehensive framework: “The Small Business Act for Europe (SBA)”

4. Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs • Young entrepreneurs can work for 1 to 6 months with an experienced entrepreneur in another EU country • Exchange of experience between experienced and new entrepreneurs • Access to new markets and potential business partners for new entrepreneurs • Enhances Networking • Experienced entrepreneurs can also profit by developing new contacts and discovering business opportunities in other countries

5. Entrepreneurship in Education • Mini-companies run by students at school deliver a realistic insight into the functionality of economy and stimulate entrepreneurial attitudes • Entrepreneurship education at universities should be accessible to all students, also of non-business disciplines • Promoting entrepreneurial spirit also to trainees in vocational education • Call for project proposals lead to various EU projects in this context • “Oslo Agenda” was elaborated as the policy framework to promote entrepreneurial mindset in education

6. Entrepreneurship in audiovisual media • Entrepreneurial gap between Europe and other countries • Media can help to promote entrepreneurship • A project was initiated to analyze the relation between media and people’s attitude towards entrepreneurship • Member States co-operate with media to promote entrepreneurship

7. Promotion of Female Entrepreneurship • The “European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors” was founded was founded to encourage more women to become entrepreneurs • “WES”, a network to promote women’s entrepreneurship was launched to: • Raise visibility of existing female entrepreneurs • Create a climate that is favorable to female entrepreneurs • Increase the number of new women entrepreneurs • Increase the size of existing female run businesses • “Woman Entrepreneurship Portal” aims to provide a link between networks, projects and events that relate to Female Entrepreneurship

8. Entrepreneurship for migrants and ethnic minorities • The number of entrepreneurs among migrants and members of ethnic minorities compared to nationals is disproportionately high • They face particular problems in addition to those problems all entrepreneurs face: • Access to financial support • Language barriers • Limited business, management and marketing skills • Over-concentrated in low entry threshold activities

9. EXIST – Entrepreneurship out of Science • EXIST is a program of the German Ministry of Economy and Technology which is co-financed by European Social Fund • Main goal is to sensitize university students and scientific assistants to entrepreneurship • Support is provided by consulting, coaching and infrastructural help • Other goals of EXIST: • Spread entrepreneurial spirit • Improve entrepreneurial climate • Enhancement of formation of technology orientated and knowledge based companies

10. The 3 pillars of EXIST • Culture of Entrepreneurship: • Universities are supported in finding and implementing a strategy of entrepreneurial culture and spirit • Business Start-up Grant: • Financial support for preparation of technology orientated and knowledge based entrepreneurship projects of students, alumni and scientists • Transfer of Research: • Promotion of development work to prove technical feasibility and preparations for formation of companies

11. EXIST networks • 15 networks were funded at universities: • “Start 1998” was a project where 5 model regions offered the conditions to motivate, support and train entrepreneurs • An adjusted program was developed for students, alumni and scientists • “Start 2002” established 10 more networks and incorporated experience of Start 1998

12. Network to promote academic entrepreneurship Regional support offers Business development agency Exchange of experiences across all networks Entrepreneurs Chambers of industry and commerce Public consulting facilities Venture capital companies Training facilities Research institutes Business angels Professors / Promoters Project co-ordinators Financing of formation Regional press Chair of Entrepr.ship Universities Banks Corporate consultants Infrastructure Companies Practitioner Public relations SMEs Supra-regional co-operation Trusts Concerns Federal states Alumni Required:- business climate- stimulus to co-operate- goal and task orientated co-operation- transparency, communication and trust Policy Promotion State

13. Stages of EXIST • 1998: Ideas competition EXIST I • Universities who have to co-operate with at least 3 partners from science, economy and politics can submit their ideas. 5 model regions are picked by a jury among 200 submissions • 2000: EXIST-SEED • Students, alumni and scientists of the 5 selected model regions receive money to make a living and a fixed amount for coaching and preparation of formation to convert their business idea to a business plan at university • 2002: EXIST II • 10 additional networks were selected • 2006: EXIST III • Non-academic public research institutions can participate

14. EXIST-SEED Evaluation after 6 months Universities and Mentors Universities and Mentors Guidance by mentors Formation of companies Business idea Business plan Use of university resources External coaching Entrepr. ship network at university Funding by EXIST-Seed(max. 1 year)

15. Outcome of EXIST • The 15 regions could gain experience in implementing network concepts which stimulate entrepreneurship • Projects should be primarily carried out by universities • Knowledge transfer to students by regular teaching staff together with corporate staff proved to be most appropriate • Intensive marketing by EXIST initiatives is needed to sensitize students for the subject of entrepreneurship • Non-academic consulting institutions can enhance the flexibility and working capacity of the network • Participating universities have assured to permanently include the subject of entrepreneurship into their curriculums

16. Perspective of EXIST • Inspire other regions to copy the EXIST concept • Force the transfer of outcome and experience from the EXIST regions • Further enhancements to a culture of entrepreneurship at universities • Universities need further impulses from exterior to implement the necessary changes

17. G-Dur – A network at TU Dortmund • Founded in 2002 • Received funding as part of EXIST • Project partners: TU Dortmund, University of Applied Science Dortmund, the city of Dortmund and technology centers of the region • More than 60 enterprises where founded with support of G-Dur • Since 2007, G-Dur offers sector-specific support to cultural and creative industry

18. Activities of G-Dur • Teaching program for self-employment • Tutors offering guidance to formation of enterprises at Dortmund’s universities • Support of various entrepreneurship initiatives and contests • Offering of office space except from charges

19. Thank you for your attention!