Erasmus for Young EntrepreneursHow to make the EU more entrepreneurial

Christian WEINBERGER, Senior Adviser - Entrepreneurship & SME Policy European Commission - DG Enterprise & Industry

Danube Region Competitiveness Seminar

Stuttgart, 11 December 2013

A – How it works

... to facilitate exchange of experiences, learning and networking for new EU entrepreneurs through periods spent at SMEs of experienced entrepreneurs in another country.

EYE in Practice

Benefits for Host & New Entrepreneurs

• Get experience & advice from seasoned entrepreneur

• Develop international contacts

• Get knowledge about foreign markets

• Providers, clients, co-venturing opportunities

• Access new skills and innovative knowledge

• Work with a young fresh mind contributing new ideas

• Gain knowledge and intelligence about the foreign markets

• Opportunity to establish new business partner-ships with entrepreneurs from other countries

Benefits for New

Entrepreneurs

Benefits for Host

Entrepreneurs

STEP 1: Online application

1.Application from NE (business plan, CV, motivation);

2.Application checked by IO;

3.HE states interest to participate (CV and motivation);

4.File is checked by IO.

5.Admission to on-line catalogue

How to apply? :

www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu

STEP 2: Searching & Matching

1.Entrepreneurs search for possible partners with tools in the on-line-catalogue

2.IOs contact other IOs in other contries to "recruite" a suitable Entrepreneur

3.Automatic matching by the computer based on profiles

4.Proposals are established

STEP 3: Contracting and preparation

1.Draft relationships are formed

2.Negotiations on duration, objectives and content

3.Agreement on "Committment document"

4.NE does pre-departure induction;

5.NE receives a grant.

STEP 4: Stay abroad

1.Duration: 1-6 months;

2.On-the-job training, work on concrete projects

3.On-site support provided to the NE by the Host IO;

4.Reporting about the exchange.

STEP 5: Feedback and final payment

1.Electronic feedback questionnaiers for HE and NE

2.Final payment to NE upon sucessful completion

3.Re-insertion of HE into the catalogue (if inter-ested to continue)

Main Actors Involved

11

The 4 Steps of an Exchange

B – Expected Output

14

C – Results

Feedback from New Entrepreneurs

Would you consider hosting another NE in the framework

of this programme in the future?

Feedback from Host Entrepreneurs

Feedback from Host Entrepreneurs

EYE Growth path(based on completed relationships by YE)

YE Relation-ships

2009 54

2010 310

2011 626

2012 1.157

2013e 1.820

2013 Call for Intermediary Organisations (cycle 6) Submission Deadline 9 July 5 Mio € budget available 91 proposals submitted 35 Mio € funding request Following previous experiences not all

proposals will fulfill the quality standards (2012 ca. 55% above)

Severe shortage of budget

D – Conclusions & Status

Achievements

Sucessful proof of concept

Excellent Feedback from both NE and HE

Indications of direct effects on EU competitiveness

Positive initial evaluation report

Sound base to start into the future

Direct answer to the youth unemployment problem

Info & Contacts

• Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs - General info http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/support_measures/erasmus

• Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs – Detailed info & Registrationhttp://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/

entr-erasmus-entrepreneurs@ec.europa.eusupport@erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu