DEFINITION:
A European Business and Innovation Centre (E.C.BIC) is a centre
that operates with the goal to contribute to the progress of the
economy of the region. An E.C. BIC centre is an additional factor
that helps the development of those E.C. regions that are behind,
or experience significant industrial problems.
GOALS:
A European Business and Innovation Centre is a public and private
partnership offering and ensuring, within an area having sufficient
entrepreneurial potential, a complete and integrated range of excellent
services and activities to small and medium sized enterprises with
the intention of creating and developing innovative and independent
activities.
Parallel to the main goal, in the spectrum of strengthening the
local economy, the goal of the E.C. BICs is the optimum use of the
European incentives/programs in collaboration with the local bodies
and authorities.
LEGAL STATUS:
E.C. BICs, all over Europe, operate as non-profit organizations,
using the principles of the contemporary management. The public
and the private sector, according to the E.C. model of "local
sponsors", support every BIC locally.
In the Epirus BIC, sponsors are: the General Secretary of Epirus,
the Prefectures of Epirus, the Chambers of Commence, the municipalities,
some banks, and other private companies. The Ioannina Chamber of
Commerce has signed the contract with DGXVI, on behalf of all sponsors.
SERVICES OFFERED
BY THE BIC TO SMEs
In practice, BIC of Epirus is capable to advise and mentor the entrepreneurs
or persons who are trying to establish and create a new company
on matters of:
- Promotion of the entrepreneurial spirit and detection of innovative
business projects and prospective entrepreneurs.
- Development of management skills.
- Advice/support in project development.
- Support beyond the start-up phase
- Business development (business plan)
- Market research (marketing plan),
- Orientation and implementation of E.U. funding programs related
to the promotion of innovative ideas,
- Tracing the potential for new markets.
- Support in project development related to technology, patents,
technology transfer etc.
THE EUROPEAN
DIMENSION OF THE EPIRUS BIC:
The BIC of Epirus plays a key role for the region of Epirus toward
the effort of the region to come closer to the E.C. functions (understanding
the decision-making mechanisms, pushing forward the potentials,
and the problems of our region, communicating better with the officials
of the commission etc., participating more ''aggressively'' in the
community's competitive grant etc.)
In that general framework, BIC of Epirus, in order to increase the
environmental awareness of enterprises, is focused on the promotion
of actions, which encourage entrepreneurs to enhance their environmental
performance. One of these actions is mainly support the establishment
of environmental management system, which constitutes, for many
companies and organizations, a great strategic tool and a vital
component for a rational and cost effective environmental work.
The BIC of Epirus is currently implementing or is involved with
the following E.U programs:
- LEONARDO Da VINCI I
- ADAPT
- ECIP
- Jop Phare
- RIS OF EPIRUS
- RECITE II - Finestra Project
- EQUAL - Ministry of Athletics
- EQUAL - REGION OF EPIRUS
- ΚΕΤΑ OF EPIRUS
- Innovative Actions Under the ERDF 2000-2006
- LEONARDO DA VINCI II
|