HOME MARKET

Single CBR Home market

Thematic cluster:
SMEs
Programme:
Central Baltic Programme
Priority:
2. Economically competitive and innovative region
Direction of support:
Supporting innovation and improving competitiveness
Duration:
Aug 2011 - Dec 2013 (2 years, 5 months)
Total funding:
1 734 310 €
ERDF funding:
1 340 700 €
EUSBSR Priority area
Promote entrepreneurship and strengthen the growth of SMEs

Development idea

Despite the common market within the EU, entrepreneurs from countries of the Central Baltic region face considerable challenges in introducing their activities to or starting up new business in neighbouring countries. Common difficulties relate to considerable differences in business legislation, business environment and ethics, and cultural differences, as well as integration into the local business community. The result is that many promising innovative ideas stay local and entrepreneurs fail to implement them on a cross-border level.

Aim of the project

The Home Market project had the aim of enlarging the market where SMEs operate from local level to the level of the entire Central Baltic region, in order to unite the region so that it is viewed as one single market area.

Main project activities

To reach this aim, the project partners conducted studies to identify the opportunities and shortcomings related to the investment environment by trying to remove the political, legislative and psychological barriers. A large part of this consisted of developing the guidelines for a regional cross-border incubation system and implementing the pilot projects amongst participating business incubator companies. Ultimately, the project created a platform for cross-border partner search in the Central Baltic region.

Partners

Investment and Development Agency of Latvia

Country:
Latvia
Region:
Riga
ERDF funding:
235 809 €
Amount of eligible national funding:
68 381 €

Valmiera Business and Innovation Incubator

Country:
Latvia
Region:
Vidzeme
ERDF funding:
87 118 €
Amount of eligible national funding:
25 222 €

State Regional Development agency

Country:
Latvia
Region:
Riga
ERDF funding:
54 100 €
Amount of eligible national funding:
10 350 €

Society KBI

Country:
Latvia
Region:
Kurzeme
ERDF funding:
98 608 €
Amount of eligible national funding:
28 547 €

Seed Forum Latvia Foundation

Country:
Latvia
Region:
Riga
ERDF funding:
301 934 €
Amount of eligible national funding:
87 406 €

Seed Forum Estonia Foundation

Country:
Estonia
Region:
ERDF funding:
183 026 €
Amount of eligible national funding:
52 984 €

Foundation Tallinn Science Park TEHNOPOL

Country:
Estonia
Region:
ERDF funding:
96 744 €
Amount of eligible national funding:
28 006 €

Estonian Development Fund

Country:
Estonia
Region:
ERDF funding:
39 523 €
Amount of eligible national funding:
11 442 €

Aalto University Foundation, Aalto School of Economics, Small Business Center

Country:
Finland
Region:
Uusimaa
ERDF funding:
243 835 €
Amount of eligible national funding:
81 279 €

Results

Research on barriers for international cooperation for SMEs in Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden

The research includes an analysis on different aspects related to establishment and growth of small and medium sized companies.

The focus is put on similarities and differences in all target countries in order to determine what are the possible barriers for international expansion of small and medium sized companies and what kind of support would facilitate overcoming of those barriers.

Barriers for international cooperation for SMEs in Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden ENG
Pārrobežu sadarbības šķēršļi maziem un vidējiem uzņēmumiem Latvijā, Igaunijā, Somijā un Zviedrijā LAT

Reports on the Central Baltic region municipality investment attractiveness index

The reports aim to show the key factors of the investment climate, as well as quantitative indicators of the relative investment competitiveness of municipalities.

The first report is devoted to the formulation of the methodology to calculate the municipality investment attractiveness index, while the final report presents the results of a pilot project. The index can rank Latvian and other Central Baltic Sea Region municipalities by investment attractiveness, based on the input data by using MS Excel model, which has also been used during the pilot project to calculate the index for five Central Baltic Sea Region municipalities: Turku (Finland), Pärnu (Estonia), Uppsala (Sweden), and Valmiera city and Dundaga district (Latvia).

Creation of the Central Baltic Sea Region municipality investment attractiveness index - First Report ENG
Central Baltic Sea Region municipality investment attractiveness index - Final Report ENG
Centrālā Baltijas jūras reģiona investīciju piesaistes indeksa pašvaldībām izstrāde – pirmais ziņojums LAT
Centrālā Baltijas jūras reģiona investīciju piesaistes indeksa pašvaldībām izstrāde – gala ziņojums LAT 

A video about activities aimed at start-ups of new business

The video shows activities implemented aimed at start-ups of new business.

18 start-up trainings and seminars, as well as 18 investors conferences were organised in Finland, Latvia and Estonia. All together aprox. 500 start-up business plans are reviewed and 250 start-up business are taught during the project.

HOME MARKET video ENG