Intro

Regional workshop took place in Neum, Bosnia and Herzegovina from 14-16 of May 2009with focus on transfer of knowledge and exchange experiences about different types of Tests that are used in different regions or incubators, finding more about their advantages and disadvantages and making milestone plane for creating unified Incubator Test. At the workshop 26 participants (incubator managers and tenant companies) from five different countries were present.

General conclusion

Regional workshop provides more in depth analysis for the lessons learned, good practices were recorded and recommendations for further development drafted.

The whole workshop was successful and justified from several aspects: common conclusions were brought and the need for more comprehensive and regional meeting has been recognized and some initial plans were also made in this regard.

Useful exchange of information and experiences, as well as most valued personal contacts between incubator managers and incubator tenants were established. Regarding the substantial part of the workshop, a majority of the participants agreed that they gained wider knowledge about numerous aspects within the discussed themes and obtained accurate information about the relevant Incubator situation in the region. Continuous exchange of information, as well as supportive and collaborative work among incubators and tenants in all five countries were recognized as crucial factors for effective work in general.

Morning session - Presentation on Incubator situation within the country and discussion about possible changes

At the morning session that covers presentation on incubator situation within the country most of the presenters (country coordinators) mentioned problems in the countries related to unemployment, lack of state support, business barriers and bureaucracy, lack of venture capitalist, lack of entrepreneurship knowledge.

Afternoon session – Incubator Questionnaires

Afternoon session has focus on Incubator test – Questionnaires that will be used for the further research. Draft questionnaires were presented and disused. After the presentation and discussion, final version of the questionnaires was agreed (final version enclosed).

Presentation of the incubator companies

At final session companies that are clients of the innovative centers (incubators, start-up centers and technology parks) presented themselves and that was great opportunity for their possible matchmaking.

Conclusions and recommendations:

At the second day of the workshop the following conclusions and recommendations were adopted:

• All participants expressed their interest for collaboration and active lobbying activities in order to influence the policy for improving entrepreneurship development
• Dealing with pressing regional problems related to youth unemployment, support of start-up businesses, lack of seed capital, venture capitalist, business angels and local economic development will be a priority of the partners of the project
• At the final conference that will be organizes in November in Skopje, to be present two or three success stories (example: BIT Center from Tuzla, BiH, PomurjeTechnology Park, Slovenia and another from some developed EU country)
• Supporters and holders of this initiative will work towards building partnerships for concrete projects and activities aimed at improvement economic environment and promotion of companies that are clients of the incubators in the SEE Region
• Generated reports will be used as benchmarks for innovative centers further development and improvement, as well as the methodology can be used as significant step towards creation of stabile innovative infrastructure that will enforce efforts aimed for job creation and preventing brain drain
• Members of this informal network will closely cooperate on provision of data and exchange of information as well as on education and strengthen business skills of the innovative centers tenants (client companies)
• This initiative is starting point for further possible cooperation, matchmaking and networking with the tenant companies from the region
• Business Incubators to organize regional thematic workshop / round table for the companies – tenants as opportunity for transfer of knowledge, experience and possible matchmaking as a part of this project (participation of ten incubator companies was great opportunity for their promotion in the region and possible cooperation with other companies)