Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia - three countries where EIT ICT Labs' Outreach Programme was presented this autumn by the Treno Node. Representatives of start-ups, universities, research centres and local authorities learned about opportunities that offer EIT ICT Lab. Outreach programme aims at developing fruitful collaboration with EU countries outside the EIT ICT Labs network.
Milena Stoycheva CEO of Junior Achievement highlights that "Outreach Programme is an opportunity to leverage the buzz and energy in the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Bulgaria. This programme will contribute to exchange of innovative ideas and practices and expand business model opportunities for the start-up companies". Milena points out that "is a great potential to implement some of the innovations and projects that have been carried out within EIT ICT Labs network and extend their application to the market. Bulgaria is becoming a hub for the region in attracting young entrepreneurs and investors that work jointly together for the development of new ventures."
"Collaboration with the EIT ICT Labs can empower innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in Slovenia by linking education, research and business" - says Andrej Kos, researcher at the University of Ljubljana - "Through Outreach Programme all involved stakeholders can benefit from exchange of information & knowledge. Number and quality of research activities in Slovania can be increased thanks to networking and collaboration between the researchers, students and companies from Slovenia with other countries". According to Anrey Kos, "EIT ICT Labs initiative can boost creation of new companies, facilitate the growth of existing SME’s, and help large companies to renew their business".
Dinko Begusic from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in the Split University perceives concrete collaboration opportunities: training for young researchers, study visits for university staff, support for study programmes development, as well as establishment of collaboration with other universities involved in the programme and organisation of lectures for doctoral students in the area of innovation and business development.
