byBusiness Initiative a.s.b.l.

Luxembourg

1,2,3,GO« An Interregional

Stimulation Programme for Entrepreneurship  »

Certified by the European

Commission as an example of

Best Practice, Berlin – June 2007

Certified by the European

Commission as an example of

Best Practice, Berlin – June 2007

What is the purpose of 1,2,3,GO ?

• Programme for entrepreneurship stimulation

• Business plan contest

• A network of 295 coaches

• Start bonus

• Dedicated exclusively to innovative projects

• Interregional: covering 4 european countries

• Multicultural

• Multilingual with 3 different languages

Grand-Duchy ofLuxemburg

Rhineland-Palatinate(Germany)

Saarland(Germany)

Lorraine(France)

Wallonia(Belgium)

The Greater Region

65.401 km211,2 Millions Inhabitants53 000 new businesses per year 257 000 Millions GDP in 2003

Origin and set up of 1,2,3,GO

• Inspired by a German contest in Munich where a methodology by Mc Kinsey was used

• Extended to the Greater Region :

• Centrally managed from Luxembourg

• Relayed in each region by 7 local offices

• Initiated by major Luxembourg employer’sorganisations (FEDIL, Chamber of Commerce and Luxinnovation)

• Formalised in 2000 by a non profit organisation « Business Initiative », located in and supported by the Chamber of Commerce of Luxembourg

• Financed by public and private funds (more than 50%)

Interregional: special value of 1,2,3,GO

• Synergy effects between the 4 different regions

• Interregional events

• Each time in a different area of the GR (speed-coaching, business plan booster, award ceremony)

• Events are simultaneously translated into French and German

• Multilingual and multicultural

• Exchange of best practices in the entrepreneurial field

• Transborder business opportunities

To be taken into account

Steps to follow:

1. Implement and take care of the networking

2. Create a strong management team

3. Show a constant presence with events

4. Elaborate an attractive web site

5. Develop an efficient marketing campaign

6. Insure a very professional communication between entrepreneurs and coaches

Key success factors:

• Permit the know-how transfer between the central organisation and regional representations

• Insure the implication of every relay

• Dynamise the network with coaches, sponsors and professionals

• Initiate a win/win situation between all stakeholders

167 new businesses with 868 new jobs

We regularly monitor the number of businesses created and the number of jobs created

6536 40

26

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133

183

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Created businesses since 2000 Created jobs since 2000

Our partners

Some of our new sponsors used to be 1,2,3,GO projects !