THEMATIC WORKSHOP “ Financial instruments and finances: How to make the financial instruments work for the first-time entrepreneur” ON-LINE 17-18.11.2020

The 5th thematic workshop according to the timetable of the OSS project had to be held in Kranj, Slovenia but due to the COVID-19 situation and travel ban for most of the partners, the event was organized as an on-line meeting. 
The host organization, BSC Kranj, Regional development agency of Gorenjska region proposed a wonderful agenda with many good examples of microfunding tools, supporting the startups and entrepreneurs, inspiring examples of successful startups, opportunity for each of the OSS partners to present good practices from respective regions: Slovenian grants for starting innovative companies (P2 grant); Small grants for SMEs – Slovenian voucher system; Private investment fund for local economy growth; Banks and start – ups: Tradition meets flexibility.

Best practice presentation by OSS partners

1. Norway: Innovation Norway. Mari Dorte Jonland Michaelsen, Innovation Norway and Anja Solevågseide, Pir Invest.

2. Great Britain: Access2Finance Week. Shelly Collins, Programme Delivery Manager (11.15)

3. Bulgaria: Leveraging public and private partnerships to finance start-ups and social enterprises at reasonable cost. Georgi Breskovski - executive director of Mikrofond  JSCo, Bulgaria

4. Spain: “Grants for Industrial development, improving competitiveness, digital transformation and job creation”. Björn Jürgens, Innovation and Development Agency of Andalusia  

5. Slovenia: SIO 2020-2022, Kovačnica - Business Incubator Kranj. Rok Starič and Nives Justin, BSC Kranj, Regional development agency of Gorenjska region

6. Poland: Business Initiator - an example of joint support for new entrepreneurs. Marek Duda, Regional Project Manager of Rzeszow Regional Development Agency

7. Belgium – slot for advisory partner: Hilde Hoefnagels

Bulgarian partner identified a good practice “ Leveraging public and private partnerships to finance start-ups and social enterprises at reasonable cost” as a most relevant and with success in NW region for many years. The executive director of the Mikrofond AD, Mr.Georgi Breskovski presented the good practice and answered the questions of the participants.