The document summarizes various public policy tools used in Norway, particularly in the Agder region and Rogaland County, to facilitate business development and address skills gaps. It discusses the role of the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) in connecting labour supply and demand through services like job listings and training programs. It also outlines other organizations that support business development through initiatives like developing business parks, providing funding and subsidies, and collaborating with educational institutions. The tools aim to stimulate clusters, innovation, entrepreneurship, and help both local jobseekers and foreign workers fill local labour needs.
Scotland Interface - The Knowledge Connection for BusinessTR3S PROJECT
Interface provides a central point of access for industry to Scotland’s research base through its unique matchmaking service. Its aim is to maximise business potential by stimulating innovation and matching a company with the relevant expertise at universities, which can help develop solutions to solve business challenges.
In order to help the Finnish manufacturing industry prepare for the future, VTT executed scenario work under its For Industry spearhead programme. The target of the work was to develop scenarios for future ways for Finnish manufacturing companies to conduct successful business beyond 2020. Special emphasis was placed on manufacturing SME business models for 2025. The work was done in collaboration with entrepreneurs and managers of manufacturing SMEs.
Creative Value. Culture and Economy Policy paper, 2009Daniel Dufourt
Creative Value
Culture and Economy Policy paper, 2009
Published by
The Ministry of Economic Affairs
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
The Netherlands
September 2009, 60 pages
China education and training industry report, 2014 2017ResearchInChina
As of the end of 2013, China had boasted a total of 112,300 education & training institutions but few of them could achieve annual revenue of more than RMB1 billion. The companies with higher proceeds consist of New Oriental Education & Technology Group, Inc., Xueda Education, TAL Education Group, etc., and the three’s revenue in 2013 was respectively up to USD1.055 billion (RMB6.437 billion), USD347 million (RMB2.116 billion), and USD287 million (RMB1.764 billion). The overwhelm majority of companies sees their annual revenue of less than RMB1 billion.
Scotland Interface - The Knowledge Connection for BusinessTR3S PROJECT
Interface provides a central point of access for industry to Scotland’s research base through its unique matchmaking service. Its aim is to maximise business potential by stimulating innovation and matching a company with the relevant expertise at universities, which can help develop solutions to solve business challenges.
In order to help the Finnish manufacturing industry prepare for the future, VTT executed scenario work under its For Industry spearhead programme. The target of the work was to develop scenarios for future ways for Finnish manufacturing companies to conduct successful business beyond 2020. Special emphasis was placed on manufacturing SME business models for 2025. The work was done in collaboration with entrepreneurs and managers of manufacturing SMEs.
Creative Value. Culture and Economy Policy paper, 2009Daniel Dufourt
Creative Value
Culture and Economy Policy paper, 2009
Published by
The Ministry of Economic Affairs
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
The Netherlands
September 2009, 60 pages
China education and training industry report, 2014 2017ResearchInChina
As of the end of 2013, China had boasted a total of 112,300 education & training institutions but few of them could achieve annual revenue of more than RMB1 billion. The companies with higher proceeds consist of New Oriental Education & Technology Group, Inc., Xueda Education, TAL Education Group, etc., and the three’s revenue in 2013 was respectively up to USD1.055 billion (RMB6.437 billion), USD347 million (RMB2.116 billion), and USD287 million (RMB1.764 billion). The overwhelm majority of companies sees their annual revenue of less than RMB1 billion.
Business Services Hungary - 2019 (authors: György Drótos, Róbert Marciniak an...Robinson Crusoe
Written by György Drótos, Róbert Marciniak, Richárd Ránki-Kovács
Business Service Centers in Hungary in 2019 - Survey Report of HOA and HIPA and Corvinus University of Budapest
The Basque Science Technology and Innovation NetworkTR3S PROJECT
The Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network (RVCTI in Spanish) was established in 1997 in order to develop a market and client-oriented smart technological infrastructure for complementary and coordinated networking. It aims at providing an integrated, sophisticated and specialised technology offer to the Basque business sector.
Industry - and firm-level research into both innovations and productivity has long been limited to manufacturing. With this paper, we aim to contribute to the stream of literature that aims at extending the scope of such investigations to the services industry. To this end we analyze the innovation strategies in several service sectors in Poland in 2008 and examine their relationship to productivity. Our results show that service firms differ considerably in their innovation strategies, but that most of those strategies lead to productivity gains.
Authored by: Wojciech Grabowski, Krzysztof Szczygielski
Published in 2012
This paper aims to explore the factors influencing the ability of firms to compete in globalised markets. The Austrian and evolutionary economics and the endogeneous growth literature highlight the role of innovation activities in enabling firms to compete more effectively - and expand their market share. On the basis of these theories, and using a large panel of firms from several Central and East European Countries (CEECs), this paper attempts to identify the factors and forces which determine the ability of firms to compete in conditions of transition. The competitiveness of firms, measured by their market share, is postulated to depend on indicators of firms' innovation behaviour such as improvements in cost-efficiency, labour productivity and investment in new machinery and equipment as well as characteristics of firms and their environment such as location, experience, technological intensity of their industries and the intensity of competition. To control for the dynamic nature of competitiveness and the potential endogeneity of its determinants, and to distinguish between short and long run effects of firm behaviour, a dynamic panel methodology is employed. The results indicate that the competitiveness of firms in transition economies is enhanced with improvements in their cost efficiency, productivity of labour, investment and their previous business experience while stronger competition has a negative impact on it.
Authored by: Iraj Hashi, Nebojsa Stojcic, Shqiponja Telhaj
Published in 2011
EFFECTIVENESS OF MARKET DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SCHEME IN HANDLOOM AND GEMS AN...SCHOLEDGE R&D CENTER
India is continuously experiencing trade deficit for many decades. It is trying hard to improve its exports. Government of India under the Ministry of Commerce has designed several export promotional measures to give thrust to the export various sectors. Market development assistance (MDA) is one such scheme designed by the government of India to give impetus in developing and promoting exports. This study try to examine how this scheme has helped in reaching the exporters and is it successful in helping them for finding new export markets, buyers, attending more exhibitions, trade fairs, opening new outlets, and increasing variety of products. Also, intend to understand the perception of MDA beneficiaries under handloom and gems & jewellery sectors. Primarily the study is focused on MDA and its impact on gems and jewellery, and handloom exports. The analysis of MDA beneficiaries has shown how both gems and jewellery, and handloom sectors are benefited by availing the MDA scheme. They state that, after availing the MDA, it has helped to improve their performance. They were benefited by attending exhibitions, trade fairs, buyer-seller meet and visiting number of listed countries. This has helped them to increase in sales, up-gradation, finding new markets and improved customer acceptance.
Business Services Hungary - 2019 (authors: György Drótos, Róbert Marciniak an...Robinson Crusoe
Written by György Drótos, Róbert Marciniak, Richárd Ránki-Kovács
Business Service Centers in Hungary in 2019 - Survey Report of HOA and HIPA and Corvinus University of Budapest
The Basque Science Technology and Innovation NetworkTR3S PROJECT
The Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network (RVCTI in Spanish) was established in 1997 in order to develop a market and client-oriented smart technological infrastructure for complementary and coordinated networking. It aims at providing an integrated, sophisticated and specialised technology offer to the Basque business sector.
Industry - and firm-level research into both innovations and productivity has long been limited to manufacturing. With this paper, we aim to contribute to the stream of literature that aims at extending the scope of such investigations to the services industry. To this end we analyze the innovation strategies in several service sectors in Poland in 2008 and examine their relationship to productivity. Our results show that service firms differ considerably in their innovation strategies, but that most of those strategies lead to productivity gains.
Authored by: Wojciech Grabowski, Krzysztof Szczygielski
Published in 2012
This paper aims to explore the factors influencing the ability of firms to compete in globalised markets. The Austrian and evolutionary economics and the endogeneous growth literature highlight the role of innovation activities in enabling firms to compete more effectively - and expand their market share. On the basis of these theories, and using a large panel of firms from several Central and East European Countries (CEECs), this paper attempts to identify the factors and forces which determine the ability of firms to compete in conditions of transition. The competitiveness of firms, measured by their market share, is postulated to depend on indicators of firms' innovation behaviour such as improvements in cost-efficiency, labour productivity and investment in new machinery and equipment as well as characteristics of firms and their environment such as location, experience, technological intensity of their industries and the intensity of competition. To control for the dynamic nature of competitiveness and the potential endogeneity of its determinants, and to distinguish between short and long run effects of firm behaviour, a dynamic panel methodology is employed. The results indicate that the competitiveness of firms in transition economies is enhanced with improvements in their cost efficiency, productivity of labour, investment and their previous business experience while stronger competition has a negative impact on it.
Authored by: Iraj Hashi, Nebojsa Stojcic, Shqiponja Telhaj
Published in 2011
EFFECTIVENESS OF MARKET DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE SCHEME IN HANDLOOM AND GEMS AN...SCHOLEDGE R&D CENTER
India is continuously experiencing trade deficit for many decades. It is trying hard to improve its exports. Government of India under the Ministry of Commerce has designed several export promotional measures to give thrust to the export various sectors. Market development assistance (MDA) is one such scheme designed by the government of India to give impetus in developing and promoting exports. This study try to examine how this scheme has helped in reaching the exporters and is it successful in helping them for finding new export markets, buyers, attending more exhibitions, trade fairs, opening new outlets, and increasing variety of products. Also, intend to understand the perception of MDA beneficiaries under handloom and gems & jewellery sectors. Primarily the study is focused on MDA and its impact on gems and jewellery, and handloom exports. The analysis of MDA beneficiaries has shown how both gems and jewellery, and handloom sectors are benefited by availing the MDA scheme. They state that, after availing the MDA, it has helped to improve their performance. They were benefited by attending exhibitions, trade fairs, buyer-seller meet and visiting number of listed countries. This has helped them to increase in sales, up-gradation, finding new markets and improved customer acceptance.
Sri experinces from dangs and navsari 2013Yogesh Bhatt
Since 2012 AKRSP (I) a leading development organization in India is promoting SRI in Tribal districts Dang and Navsari in Gujarat. That pilot was financially supported by NABARD and now with in one year it has accepted by around 2000 farmers. Here sharing the findings of study conducted with 100 farmers in this season.
Please share your feedback on mail id yogi.bhatt20@gmail,com
Startup Saturday is held every other saturday at various locations, to help budding entrepreneurs with knowledge and in building "leverageable" networks. This time around, I was asked to present on Data Analytics. Assuming the predominance of web-based startups, I decided to present on the metrics that they can use
Presentamos el nuevo catálogo de BIC y Sheaffer para el año 2012!!! En él encontraras todas las novedades que nos traen para este año y su clásicos SUPERVENTAS.....
After hours of googling “URL redirection with Apache”, I found lots of resources but it is hard to understand and too much complicated information. To make people clearly understand, this presentation provides clear explanation on the difficult things and good examples. It will give you a basic knowledge that you should know before digging deep into the details such as “http status code” and “rewrite rule”. There are a few examples to guide you how to do. I really hope it will be useful not only for the beginners, but also for the more advanced developers. Please let me know if you have any comments or suggestions.
More than 99% of all companies are small and medium-sized enterprises, providing most training positions and creating the majority of new jobs. In the Baltic Sea Region SMEs account for around 55% of value added and 65% of employment
of all companies. This translates into over 26 million
people employed by SMEs. In times of economic
recession, supporting SMEs translates into supporting economic recovery and labour market stabilisation
in the EU. The innovation projects partfinanced
within the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013, in
2012, together formed a project cluster called Innovation in SMEs.
What do our SMEs need in the next few years or even the next
decades? How can we maintain highly innovative SMEs in the BSR and boost the innovation capacities of our companies? This brochure looks into three core areas of innovation
support: internationalisation and cooperation, qualification and education, and research and development.
I Entrepreneurship Forum, Initiatives in the Mediterranean by Sherif YounisASCAME
This section presented financial programs, initiatives aiding entrepreneurships and the important role of entrepreneurship culture in different Mediterranean regions
Local sustainability initiatives of Randstad in differents countries. 2016Dominique Gross
Our sustainability framework reflects the various activities we are undertaking with clients, candidates, employees, society at
large, and employment markets. At the same time, it addresses certain sustainability basics.
This section provides descriptions and examples of various sustainability initiatives, which are structured in line with the
framework we developed.
The best way to define a company is not by what it aims to be, but by what it actually does. By its ability to turn strategy into activities, and activities into results – or lack thereof.
The Oslo Business Region Magazine is an overview of the main activities we did in 2018 with an emphasis on its results in each area.
Our overall mandate – as given by the City of Oslo – is to build a stronger ecosystem for startups and new business- es, as well as to execute on Oslo’s international branding strategy and help Oslo become internationally recognized.
As a relatively small publicly owned company we have to raise the bar, work lean, measure outcomes, be digital, and live the future we want to create.
This magazine covers what we do, and we like to think we do it well.
Enjoy the read!
Digital Toolbox: Innovation for Nordic Tourism SMEsJuha Tuulaniemi
This report focuses on meeting the practical needs of tourism businesses in the Nordic countries
when adopting and employing ICT in their operations. Taking into account the structure and
challenges of the tourism industry in the Nordic region, the different case studies in this report
represent different approaches to efficient use of ICT, offering a toolbox consisting of suggestions
on how to take advantage of ICT for market communication, customer knowledge, service design
and innovation.
The report is a result of a collaborative project between 6 Nordic partners (research institutions and
business clusters based in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Southern Norway, and Northern
Norway) which focused on identifying and developing ICT tools for innovation in Nordic tourism
small businesses and destinations.
The main objectives of the project have been to generate knowledge on ICT tools, to create
improved commercial tools and concepts and also to build a strong Nordic cooperation between
academic institutions and business clusters. The tools in the toolbox created as the main
contribution from this project are all innovative and should as such serve as opportunities for both
commercial development and implementation in various subsectors of the tourism industry and
facilitate increased competitiveness. A strong Nordic cooperation between the tourism stakeholders
and development and research institutes involved in the project is also an important outcome.
The project has been implemented through parallel case studies which are all ground breaking in
terms of research and development for innovation in tourism. Regular meetings and workshops
have facilitated the exchange of knowledge and ideas between the case studies as well as the
identification of common ideas and results. Multiple methods have been employed in the different
cases of the project according to the nature of each case study. Two of the cases have developed and
implemented ICT prototypes in the form of a new innovative mobile application (Denmark) and a
business intelligence process for analyzing user generated content in a destination management
information system (Sweden). In the Finish case ethnographic methods were used to develop a
service design method and tool specifically for the tourism industry. The Icelandic case employed
an online survey and website analysis for the purpose of building a webpage-design toolbox.
Interview methods as well as review and participant observation was used in Northern Norway to
explore effects of implementing short films as digital marketing tools for experience based
businesses. Also, in the case in Southern Norway in-depth interviews were used to identify open
innovation practices for experience based tourism businesses.
BUSINESS INCUBATION AS ELEMENT OF BUSINESS SERVICE INSTITUTION AND SME DEVEL...Vasily Ryzhonkov
The core of the political and economic transformation of any country in transition (CIT) is
the creation of the private sector, the development of entrepreneurship and creation of small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They are consideredto be one of the principal driving forces in
economic development. SMEs stimulate private ownership and entrepreneurial skills, they are
flexible and can adapt quickly to changing market demand and supply situations, they generate
employment, help diversify economic activity and make a significant contribution to exports and
trade. SMEs also play an important role in innovation and the high-tech business, due to their
flexibility and creativity many of them became large businesses. In this process emphasis should be
laid on creation of a business friendly environment in which the transformation of the society
towards a market economy should be taken place
Want to move your career forward? Looking to build your leadership skills while helping others learn, grow, and improve their skills? Seeking someone who can guide you in achieving these goals?
You can accomplish this through a mentoring partnership. Learn more about the PMISSC Mentoring Program, where you’ll discover the incredible benefits of becoming a mentor or mentee. This program is designed to foster professional growth, enhance skills, and build a strong network within the project management community. Whether you're looking to share your expertise or seeking guidance to advance your career, the PMI Mentoring Program offers valuable opportunities for personal and professional development.
Watch this to learn:
* Overview of the PMISSC Mentoring Program: Mission, vision, and objectives.
* Benefits for Volunteer Mentors: Professional development, networking, personal satisfaction, and recognition.
* Advantages for Mentees: Career advancement, skill development, networking, and confidence building.
* Program Structure and Expectations: Mentor-mentee matching process, program phases, and time commitment.
* Success Stories and Testimonials: Inspiring examples from past participants.
* How to Get Involved: Steps to participate and resources available for support throughout the program.
Learn how you can make a difference in the project management community and take the next step in your professional journey.
About Hector Del Castillo
Hector is VP of Professional Development at the PMI Silver Spring Chapter, and CEO of Bold PM. He's a mid-market growth product executive and changemaker. He works with mid-market product-driven software executives to solve their biggest growth problems. He scales product growth, optimizes ops and builds loyal customers. He has reduced customer churn 33%, and boosted sales 47% for clients. He makes a significant impact by building and launching world-changing AI-powered products. If you're looking for an engaging and inspiring speaker to spark creativity and innovation within your organization, set up an appointment to discuss your specific needs and identify a suitable topic to inspire your audience at your next corporate conference, symposium, executive summit, or planning retreat.
About PMI Silver Spring Chapter
We are a branch of the Project Management Institute. We offer a platform for project management professionals in Silver Spring, MD, and the DC/Baltimore metro area. Monthly meetings facilitate networking, knowledge sharing, and professional development. For event details, visit pmissc.org.
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Modern Society.pdfssuser3e63fc
Just a game Assignment 3
1. What has made Louis Vuitton's business model successful in the Japanese luxury market?
2. What are the opportunities and challenges for Louis Vuitton in Japan?
3. What are the specifics of the Japanese fashion luxury market?
4. How did Louis Vuitton enter into the Japanese market originally? What were the other entry strategies it adopted later to strengthen its presence?
5. Will Louis Vuitton have any new challenges arise due to the global financial crisis? How does it overcome the new challenges?Assignment 3
1. What has made Louis Vuitton's business model successful in the Japanese luxury market?
2. What are the opportunities and challenges for Louis Vuitton in Japan?
3. What are the specifics of the Japanese fashion luxury market?
4. How did Louis Vuitton enter into the Japanese market originally? What were the other entry strategies it adopted later to strengthen its presence?
5. Will Louis Vuitton have any new challenges arise due to the global financial crisis? How does it overcome the new challenges?Assignment 3
1. What has made Louis Vuitton's business model successful in the Japanese luxury market?
2. What are the opportunities and challenges for Louis Vuitton in Japan?
3. What are the specifics of the Japanese fashion luxury market?
4. How did Louis Vuitton enter into the Japanese market originally? What were the other entry strategies it adopted later to strengthen its presence?
5. Will Louis Vuitton have any new challenges arise due to the global financial crisis? How does it overcome the new challenges?
This comprehensive program covers essential aspects of performance marketing, growth strategies, and tactics, such as search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, content marketing, social media marketing, and more
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Explore Careers and College Majors is a new online, interactive, self-guided career, major and college planning system.
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For more Information, go to https://bit.ly/3SW5w8W
1. 1
Overview of public policy tools for facilitating business development: The
Agder region and Rogaland County, Norway
The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration’s role in facing the gap
between available labour/skills and the needs of public and private enterprises
A central challenge for the public sector are the inequalities between available
labour/skills and the needs of public and private enterprise. There are several bodies
and organisations in Rogaland County and in the Agder region that are involved in
addressing this issue, one that has been highlighted by the recruitment of a
considerable number of foreign nationals to fill technical vacancies in the region in
the past three years.
One very important stakeholder in this context is the Norwegian Labour and Welfare
Administration (NAV), whose mandate is to monitor and address current labour
issues at all levels. NAV is thus a natural focal point of any public initiatives and
planning with regard to the labour market, and is often seen in the role of „agent of
change‟. In order to bring together labour supply and demand, NAV provides several
information services, for example a job vacancy database. In addition, NAV posts
monthly labour market statistics on its website. The statistics serve to determine
qualification shortages and help direct schemes aimed to meet specific demands, as
they not only list labour surplus and shortage in relation to sector, but keep an eye on
the long-term unemployed including those on full or partial benefits.
NAV also provides information about Norway in general and the Norwegian labour
market in English (and partly other foreign languages). Thus, people from foreign
countries, who can fit specific labour shortages in different regions and branches, are
addressed. With its EURES (EURopean Employment Services) Service centers NAV
offers information and other assistance to Norwegian employers who want to recruit
staff from other European countries, as well as to foreign jobseekers who are
interested in working in Norway. This also includes the organization of employment
fairs.
In Rogaland, NAV posts a monthly internal listing of available posted jobs alongside
the types of jobs sought by registered jobseekers, by order of prevalence. Known as
the “Top 20” list, it shows a persistent imbalance in the local labour market in that
available jobs do not match available candidates. While this kind of imbalance is
common in many countries, its nature indicates specific needs in the region in
question and can suggest trends to be addressed.
Different organisations and companies, inclusive NAV Rogaland, publish the regional
“Industrial Barometer” – a printed business activity survey – which presents the
status of public and private enterprise and the labour market, including forecasts. A
recent issue of the Industrial Barometer explored the question of how Rogaland
presents itself to highly skilled foreign jobholders, suggesting that more can be done
for Rogaland to portray itself as an attractive place to relocate and stay, with
prospects of worthwhile career development. This question has been referred to as
2. 2
“the Battle for Skills”1 in various media, indicating apparent pressing needs in
different fields of specialisation.
In any economic downturn, unskilled young men have been the first to be hit when
unemployment begins to rise. NAV‟s primary means of addressing the needs of this
group is its catalogue of Labour Market Training courses. Targeting the long-term
unemployed, this is a regular set of schemes aimed at reintroducing jobseekers to
the job market through courses given in conjunction with market developments and
local employers‟ needs – often large industrial enterprises. Besides offering valid
employment opportunities, this allows unskilled labour to be streamed into module-
based courses that in some cases lead to an upper secondary equivalent skills
diploma. NAV is the key agent in this scheme, and is in continuous dialogue
regarding unskilled labour with the qualifications authority.
The central issue is how to raise skills levels and reintroduce unemployed labour to
working life, in tune with market needs for labour. NAV has a number of means,
including vocational courses, vocational rehabilitation programmes, work practice
schemes and other individual programmes. The organisation has come through a
major fusion and restructuring process in recent years, and continues to improve and
develop its tools with which to address the skills gap.
One such tool is a new job and skills profile used by case workers assigned to
individual jobseekers. In the past, training schemes for the long-term unemployed
have been available to the individual based on the type benefit they were receiving,
while with the current model this is directly based on their needs, as determined by
their job and skills profile. The jobseeker completes a self-assessment form
consisting of a series of questions over 12 pages, the end result of which makes part
of a skills and opportunities „survey‟ intended also to help the jobseeker to gain
awareness of ways forward with support from their case worker.
Information and public relation tools
Bedin
The business information website bedin.no provides comprehensive free-of-charge
information about starting and running business enterprises in Norway. It is supplied
by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Kompetansetorget
The website Kompetansetorget is an open and free-of-charge information tool which
serves as a contact forum between students at the University of Agder and the
business sector. Private companies and public institutions can publish project
proposals or part-time jobs on the website and students can easily search for offers
that fit their interests and education.
1
“Kampen om Kompetansen”, presentation, IRIS 2008
3. 3
Development of business sites, infrastructure and public transportation
SIVA
SIVA, the industrial development corporation of Norway, is a state-owned enterprise
which was founded in 1968. SIVA‟s main objective is to account for economic growth
and business development in the Norwegian districts. SIVA cooperates with many
partner institutions like the Norwegian Research Council, Innovation Norway and the
Norwegian county councils. One important concept for reaching the main objective is
to develop strong regional and local industrial clusters through ownership in
infrastructure, direct investment and knowledge networks as well as innovation
centres.
To stimulate the development of clusters and to foster innovative start-ups SIVA has
created different concepts of business environments like business and industry
incubators, business gardens, as well as research and science parks all over
Norway. Today SIVA owns and operates 44 business gardens and is co-owner of
another 52 business gardens, 25 science parks and 18 industry incubators
nationwide.
Within the different types of business environments SIVA and respectively the local
co-owners support entrepreneurs and small and medium sized companies with
modern infrastructure (like for example broadband and meeting rooms), business
experience, knowledge, financing and business networks.
Business gardens are generally located in less developed areas with slow growth or
specific economic challenges. They consist of different knowledge-based companies
that shall form an innovative and economically successful network. Three of SIVA‟s
business gardens are situated in the Agder region (Lindesnes Business Garden in
Mandal, Lygna Business Garden in Lyngdal and Risør Business Garden in Risør)
and five in Rogaland County (Dalane Business Garden in Egersund, Finnøy
Business Garden in Finnøy, Hå Business Garden in Hærbø, Rogaland
Ressurssenter in Avaldsnes, Suldal Business Garden in Sand).
Science parks have a stronger focus on innovation and skill-intensive companies.
Unlike business gardens they are located in bigger municipalities and are normally
either co-owned by or located near a university. Science parks shall serve as
incubators for research-based start-ups. There is one science park in Stavanger in
Rogaland County (iPark) and two in the Agder region (Sørlandet kunnskapspark in
Kristiansand and Arendal kunnskapspark in Arendal).
The industry incubator concept differs from the regular incubator / science park
concept with respect to company size. An industry incubator is usually directed to just
one large already existing industry enterprise and is supposed to stimulate spin-offs.
The concept was developed for regions that are dominated by either just one or few
large traditional industries. It is intended help these regions to build up a more
diversified industry structure in order to secure future economic growth. Both the
Agder region and Rogaland County locate one industry incubator each.
4. 4
Regular business sites that do not have a special focus on existing clusters or on
innovation, are not developed by SIVA, but by the respective municipalities or
municipality-owned enterprises (e.g. Kristiansand næringsselskap).
Tax measures, subsidy schemes and public investment funds
SkatteFUNN
SkatteFUNN is a tax reduction scheme that is intended to enhance the economy‟s
research and development activity. Business enterprises that are engaged in
research and development activity on their own or in collaboration with others may
apply for a tax reduction under this scheme. The SkatteFUNN scheme, which was
introduced in 2002, is an indirect funding scheme which is qualification-based and
regulated in the statutory framework. It is open to all industry branches and all types
of companies that are subject to taxation in Norway. Support takes the form of a tax
deduction up to 20% of the costs related to R&D activity. The intended R&D projects
have to be approved by the Norwegian Research Council.
There is a multitude of agencies and other institutions in Norway with a
complementary set of policy tools in order to support entrepreneurship, innovation
and clusters. The national institutions often have regional units. Among the most
important institutions are:
Innovation Norway
Innovation Norway (Innovasjon Norge) is a state owned company with offices in all
the Norwegian counties and in more than 30 countries worldwide. Innovation Norway
is the largest financer of development programmes and projects in Norway. The core
group of clients are Norwegian companies, predominantly SMEs. Innovation
Norway‟s aims are to boost innovation in business nationwide and to foster regional
development. This is done by providing or arranging financing, linking customer
enterprises to know-how and helping them to build networks for their innovation
projects. Financial tools include loans for innovation projects and for investment in
machinery, equipment and buildings; founding subsidies; grants for use of advisory
services, education, and R&D; as well as investments and guarantees for loan /
payments for interests on investments.
Research Council of Norway
The Research Council of Norway (Forskningsrådet) is the country‟s official body for
the development and implementation of national research strategy. It is both a
research funding agency, a strategic adviser and an initiator of meeting places and
networks. The RCN has an operational role in financing research by the business
sector.
The county councils
The county councils of East- and West-Agder have a common act programme for
regional development which includes funding for business development. Parts of the
funds go to support the science and business parks in the region or are used for
measures to strengthen certain prioritized business sectors. The counties‟ tools
include both indirect and direct measures that go directly to individual companies,
e.g. small innovative start-up firms. The counties make also financial contributions to
5. 5
the existing clusters in the region. They get special grants for regional development
from the Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development (so
called “551.60 measures”).
Coventure
Coventure is the regional operator of the Industrial Development Corporation
Program SIVA in Agder. Coventure invests in start-ups with innovative business
ideas. It operates as an active co-owner in these companies and supports them in
their early stage of development by offering advisory services and by getting them in
contact with important private and public institutions. In a later stage of the
companies‟ development Coventure helps to find new investors.
In addition to the mentioned institutions there is a long range of programmes that
were designed to boost R&D and that directly or indirectly contribute to the
development of clusters:
Arena programme
The Arena programme, established in 2002, is a national programme for long term
development of regional business clusters with a budget frame of 30 million NOK. It
is owned by Innovation Norway, SIVA and the Research Council of Norway. The
programme offers both advisory and financial support to regional clusters. The
objective is to strengthen the clusters innovative ability through a stronger and more
dynamic interaction between the industry, R&D institutions, universities and the
public sector. Support is normally not granted for more than three years. There are
about 20 regional clusters within the programme of which two are located in Agder
(the EYDE process industry cluster in West-Agder County and a leisure boat cluster
in East-Agder County), and three in Rogaland county (Integrated Operations, Centre
for Smart and Safe Wells, and Offshore support vessels, all related to the oil
industry).
NCE programme
The NCE programme (Norwegian Center of Expertise) includes twelve clusters
consisting of “world class enterprises in their fields”. The NODE cluster (Norwegian
Offshore and Drilling Engineering) in Agder and the Culinology food cluster in
Rogaland are two of these. As the Arena programme NCE, too, is jointly owned and
implemented by the three main Norwegian innovation agencies Innovation Norway,
the Research Council of Norway and SIVA, it has a common board with the Arena
programme. The programme budget is about 45 million NOK. The companies
participating in the NCE network are offered both funding and professional support.
Financial support is given for network construction within the cluster and with external
operators, for the development of ideas, strategies and project proposals and for the
marketing of the cluster. With the programme up to 50 % of eligible costs for up to 10
years can be financed.
Regional research funds
From 2010 on this new instrument for enhancing research and innovation in the
Norwegian regions comes into operation. The Regional research funds will be
administered by the county councils and are intended to finance research projects in
the business and the public sector. As the annual total amount will be distributed on
6. 6
only seven funds, the 19 counties in Norway are stimulated to cooperate for joining
one of the seven fund regions.
Trade initiatives
Eksportfinans
Eksportfinans is the Norwegian credit institution for export financing. It is owned by a
consortium of banks operating in Norway and by the Norwegian Ministry for Trade
and Industry. Eksportfinans is the exclusive operator of government supported export
financing in Norway offers long term financing to the export industry. It provides both
export financing for foreign buyers interested in purchasing Norwegian goods and
services as well as for Norwegian buyers with strong international links.
Eksportfinans finances up to 85 per cent of the contract amount for capital goods and
up to 80 per cent for Vessels. Moreover the institution arranges export loans for
goods, ships, shipping services, as well as commercial loans for export credits. Not
least Eksportfinans offers investment loans to Norwegian exporters in order to help
financing foreign investments, purchases and other international expansions.
Kristiansand Chamber of Commerce
The Kristiansand Chamber of Commerce (Næringsforeningen i
Kristiansandsregionen) supports companies in their export activities by offering, for
example, practical help with formal documents, and by issuing a special toll pass that
allows temporary toll- and tax-free export of product and equipment samples.
Public private cooperation in education and R&D
The Vocational Training Office
In Norway, the 19 county councils are responsible for upper secondary, vocational
and adult education, including apprenticeships in their region, and are key agents in
this work. Adult education involves both private and public training institutions. The
Vocational Training Office (“Opplæringskontoret”) gives courses and conferences on
career counselling efforts, within the confines of upper secondary schools locally and
at four dedicated Career Centres in the county.
NAV has agreed on a statement of intent with Rogaland County Council‟s Vocational
Training Authority (“Avdeling for fagopplæring”) to collaborate in the field of career
guidance and upper secondary training for adults. The aim is to strengthen the
position of job and education seekers in the labour market by offering a
comprehensive training and career service with relevance to the individual. The
Vocational Training Authority can assess a person‟s qualifications based on their
particular career and training and determine the appropriate way forward in terms of
further schooling.
Nationally, NAV has put in place a scheme for supporting the internal re-qualifying of
staff in large enterprises that face transitional or structural problems (“Bedriftsintern
opplæring”). The goal is to prevent redundancies, and targets enterprises that are
willing to keep existing staff members, or hire new members, that need training,
providing this training within the organisation according to specific guidelines. This
training can then be eligible for subsidies from NAV. A related programme has been
7. 7
used in the past, targeting individuals at risk of losing their jobs due to illness or
injury.
The University of Stavanger (UiS)
UiS is relatively young (2004) and profiles itself with an agenda informed by creativity
and innovation. Its stated aim is to educate in key with labour market needs and to be
a close partner with regional business communities. To this end, and with an eye to
keeping foreign jobholders in the region, the university‟s division for continuing
education has been renamed and re-profiled as “UiS Pluss”.
Since 2005-06, a high level of growth in Rogaland has seen a related rise in
employment of foreigners in the technical/industrial sector. The issue of retaining
these jobholders, who supply needed skills, expertise and contribute to the region‟s
cultural diversity, has become an important issue to all recruiting and developing
agents operating in labour market. While high-level technical expertise is still sought,
lower-to-middle level technical staff has become at-risk due to insecurities regarding
projected industry/oil and gas developments in the near future.
In 2009, UiS Pluss has liaised with public and private partners with regard to skills-
update schemes for foreign specialists facing redundancy due to the international
recession. Several for-purchase schemes have come into place in the space of a few
months as individual courses or tailored course packages. UiS also offers classes in
Norwegian language and society to foreigners with higher education2.
Professional courses could be given (in English) within HSE, management and
economics, and include sector regulatory framework, the Norwegian Working
Environment Act, understanding local culture and more. Particular focus would be on
furthering the region‟s expertise on environmental issues and environmental
sustainability in offshore activities, with UiS as a world leader within petroleum
technology education and geology. This sector is known to drive research forward,
and the activity level in oil and gas largely determines the academic offerings of
learning institutions.
UiS is also in a position to include research bodies and enterprises, both public and
private, for development and entrepreneurship in education. One example is the
iPark business innovation cluster, located adjacent to the UiS campus, spearheaded
in this regard by the International Research Institute of Stavanger (IRIS). Since
September 2009 UiS Pluss and the project group have addressed in more detail the
shortcomings in regional education as affects these jobholders, in order to develop
courses and supplementary qualification packages together with its project partners.
They also actively compete with other course providers.
The University of Agder (UiA)
In September 2007 the former Agder University College received university status.
With approximately 8500 students and 1000 employees it is the largest research
institution in the region. The new University of Agder (UiA) cooperates extensively not
only with other research institutions, businesses and civil service institutions, but also
with technology, research and commercial networks in the region. Several
2
Norwegian classes for foreign adults with higher education are given at a cost of €400 for 52 hours.
8. 8
businesses and organizations have signed memorandums of understanding with the
university, and many faculties cooperate with the companies on student projects. The
Centre for Entrepreneurship at the University of Agder, a cooperation with the
research institute Agder Research, Innovation Norway and the Competence
Development Fund of Southern Norway, offers courses and academic studies in
entrepreneurship for international students.
Competence Development Fund of Southern Norway (CDFSN)
The Competence Development Fund of Southern Norway (CDFSN) supports public
and private research and educational institutions, local authorities, as well as
enterprises to secure jobs by raising the level of competence in the region. CDFSN is
organized as a public foundation and was created in 2000 by the fifteen local
authorities in the county of Vest-Agder. CDFSN funds can be invested in shares,
bonds, unit trusts or real property. Companies and institutions that receive support
must develop knowledge at the university college / university level.
CDFSN has a main focus on four industries where the region already has a certain
weight. This is the process industry (esp. material technology), maritime industries,
information and communication technologies and creative industries. One example of
CDFSN‟s investments was the new-founded NODE competence centre: The
companies within the NODE-cluster cooperated with Agder University and the
Kristiansand branch of the Norwegian School of Management in developing
advanced vocational training courses that fit the companies‟ specific needs. Main
focus was on courses in project management, mechatronics and logistics.
The East-Agder development and competence fund (Aust-Agder utviklings- og
kompetansefond), established 2003, is a public foundation which is financed by the
15 municipalities in East-Agder County. Main aims of the fund are to increase the
region‟s general competence, to secure existing and create new jobs. Another
objective in this context is to strengthen the academic environment. Eligible for grants
are public or private research institutions, higher education institutions, municipalities,
as well as public or private companies that are located in the county. The grants can
be given to projects or investments that fit the aims of the fund.
Programme for Regional R&D and Innovation (VRI)
The VRI-Programme, initiated by the Research Council of Norway, offers
professional and financial support to long-term, research-based development
processes in the Norwegian regions. The VRI programme is designed to increase
value creation in regional trade and industry by promoting R&D projects that both
expand existing business areas and create new ones. One of the main aims of the
VRI-programme is to foster cooperation activities between industry and R&D
institutions. This shall both enhance the companies‟ ability to develop their own
research projects and to stimulate professional researchers to interact with
companies on R&D projects. VRI-Agder and VRI Rogaland are the regional initiatives
of the programme. The VRI-programme in Agder, for example, is financed by the
Research Council of Norway, the counties of East- and West-Agder and Innovation
Norway. In Agder the fundings are concentrated on three areas: the information and
communication sector; the energy, oil, gas and process industry as well as the
culture and event industry. In Rogaland the programme focuses on the energy, the
food and the maritime sector.
9. 9
Research Council of Norway
Most of the above mentioned institutions that are active in facilitating and financing
clusters are also involved in public private cooperation projects in R&D. The
Research Council of Norway granted for example 6.3 million NOK to the project
"End Use of Photovoltaic Technology in Norway." This is a cooperative project
between the silicon producer Elkem Solar and the University in Agder with the
support of the municipality of Kristiansand. The project has a total budget framework
of 8.6 million NOK and also includes financing two PhD candidates.
Norwegian Centre for Offshore Wind Energy (NORCOWE)
Another recent example of public private cooperation in R&D was the founding of the
Norwegian Centre for Offshore Wind Energy (NORCOWE). At NORCOWE, key
industry players and research groups from Norway pool their efforts with leading
stakeholders from other countries in order to develop new, innovative solutions for
offshore wind power. The center is neither located in Agder nor in Rogaland, but both
the universities of Agder and Stavanger and several local oil and offshore-industry
companies, as well as energy providers are cooperation partners and will without
much doubt benefit from the centre‟s work in the future. The local stakeholder‟s
involvement in the centre‟s work will most likely strengthen the two regions‟ roles as
energy clusters.
Teknova
Teknova is a research institute for technology and science that carries out applied
research for regional firms while having a strong focus on university-industry
cooperation. It was established in 2007 as a result of collaboration between the
University of Agder, Agder Research, and world leading industrial companies located
in the south of Norway. Teknova offers contract research services both regionally and
nationally and aims especially at contributing to more environmentally friendly
solutions (e.g. solar cell technology). As a result of the cooperation with the
University of Agder Teknova can use the university‟s labs and facilities.
Young Entrepreneurship (Ungt Entreprenørskap)
YE, founded in 2001, is a set of programmes that educate pupils and students in
entrepreneurship throughout the educational system. Within these programmes the
regional business sector and the schools cooperate in order to give children and the
youth a deeper understanding of business activities. The young people are
encouraged to start an own business for one school year under realistic
circumstances, with teachers and representatives from local companies as mentors.
The YE organizations in Agder and Rogaland are part of the YE-Norway organization
which itself is part of a European initiative with 37 member states. In Agder, for
example, more than 10.000 pupils and students take part in the different YE-
programmes every year. The programmes are managed by representatives of both
important companies, public authorities and other institution in the region. The
programmes‟ ulterior motive is to stimulate young people to found a company in the
future by giving them the necessary knowledge and motivation in an early stage of
life.
Trainee Sør
Trainee Sør is a regional trainee programme in Agder that has the aim to support
high-skilled young people in finding an adequate first job in the region and by this
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avoiding these people to move to other regions. Within the 18 months trainee period
the candidates work in three different private enterprises or public institutions in the
region. By joining the trainee programme the trainees build up contacts than can be
useful in the future job seeking process. The programme is also useful for the
cooperating companies, because they can “test” the trainees‟ abilities before a
potential regular employment in the future. The trainees‟ salaries are paid by the
Trainee Sør programme.
Public and industrial research and development contracts
Public research and development contracts (OFU) are binding and goal-oriented
cooperations between business enterprises and public bureaus about the
development of a specific new product or service. Enterprises with a corresponding
know-how can receive grants for developing the requested product or service. By this
measure the public stakeholders can stimulate the local economy to develop a more
diversified product portfolio. An important requirement is that the requested product
or service is not available and that it will be developed in Norway.
Industrial research and development contracts (IFU) work in the same way as
public research and development contracts, with the difference that IFU are
cooperations between two or more business enterprises. The objective is to foster
the position of SMEs as suppliers to large companies in Norway and abroad, which
means that the company that develops the requested product or service has to be a
small or medium-sized one under certain definitions. The product shall preferably
have an international dimension, i.e. that it is orientated towards overseas markets.
Both the OFU and IFU-regulations are administrated by Innovation Norway.
Network meetings / platforms and b2b matchmaking
There are by far too many stakeholders in Rogaland and Agder that are organizing
network meetings and creating network platforms to mention all of them. Almost all of
the agencies and institutions so far mentioned in this overview support firms in
networking processes.
Innovation Norway is, of course, one of the most important providers of network
activities, but also SIVA, the industrial development corporation of Norway, has
established networking initiatives in order to foster innovation, especially for
enterprise start-ups in the incubator projects and in the business gardens.
To give just one more example the companies that join the NCE programme
(Norwegian Center of Expertise) get professional support for organizing conferences
and seminars.
The numerous network initiatives in Agder and Rogaland contribute to a closer
interaction between the business sector, the R&D milieu and state actors and make
an important contribution to regional development.