| What is ił? |
Background
What is the i3 Project?
i3 is an innovative project as it is the first comprehensive online
training approach which is aimed directly at the managers
and staff of incubators, BICs (Business Innovation Centres)
and business advisors and which specifically addresses the specialized
support requirements of high growth SMEs. The project is based
on the premise that by improving the competencies of the managers
and staff of incubators, BICs and other business advisory organisations,
the quality of services provided to SMEs can be enhanced and
hence the growth of these SMEs can be greatly supported.
Where did the Idea for this
Project Originate?
The Lisbon European Council identified innovation and knowledge
diffusion as crucial determinants of Europe’s future wealth creation
and competitiveness. Incubators and EC
BICs are recognized as key players in this development
process.
However, evidence indicates that European incubators are not yet as effective as their international counterparts. Innovation statistics, specifically the number of patent applications in high-tech classes, also reveal Europe’s potential for improvement.
The I3 initiative responds to this innovation deficit by improving the core competencies of business advisers and BIC and Incubator personnel in responding to the specific and specialized requirements of high growth SMEs.
Aims
The aim of the project is to boost the business performance of business incubators by increasing the level of information and training available to their personnel. Specifically, the project aims to:
| • | Undertake a thorough analysis of the training needs of the target groups, through network links to incubators, BICs, micro enterprise agencies and academic institutions provided by the I3 partnership. During this phase all of the target groups will be consulted. Importantly, a range of incubatee companies will also be consulted in order to accurately assess the areas in which high growth companies require most support. | ||||||||||
| • | Devise
a multimedia training tool relating to the researched
training needs, comprising
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| • | Promote the widespread adoption of this product as a training tool through widespread dissemination process. | ||||||||||
| • | Carry out an in-depth evaluation of the project, the processes adopted and the results. |
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