YIE seminar in Rovaniemi

Information seminar within “Young Innovative Entrepreneurs YIE” project was organized in Rovaniemi Univeristy of Applied Sciences (RAMK) on 25 September, 2012. The aim of the seminar was to introduce wider audience to the project aims and main activities as well as to encourage entrepreneurship thoughts among young people. Within the project RAMK is responsible for creating an environment for business innovations under the working title Barents InnoLab. The aim is to encourage and support entrepreneurship especially initiated by young people in the region. InnoLab will be an environment or a workshop where new business ideas will be further developed with the help of business experts, teachers and other stakeholders. Further support for establishing a company will be given within the lab work. Students, who are not thinking their own business, at least not yet,  will also have a possibility to work on some business development projects. This is especially great opportunity for those who is thinking international business or looking for the possibilities to stay and work in Lapland or Barents region in the future.

 During the seminar, there were several real business cases presented by the owners or co-owners.  These were inspirational speeches that showed the participants of the seminar what kind of businesses are possible in this Northern area. Maxim Narbrough, a designer from Treeform Oy, gave an excellent example of an innovative business and social entrepreneurship. Janne Konttaniemi told the audience how the business developed from small company just few years ago and is grooving internationally now. 

Eija Jussila-Salmi, a business advisor from Rovaniemi Development Agency LTD, made all to think what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Veikko Keränen, Principal Lecturer from RAMK has got an interesting project idea and is planning to create a group of young people, who will work on the development of information system regarding the Northern Lights. Many small business cases can be developed based on this project idea.

After the seminar, the organisers (IBS students) have collected the questionnaire to find out whether there is an interest among participants to start own business and/or to participate in the project work of InnoLab. From 140 participants, about one third expressed their interest to participate in the project and InnoLab activities. Among them, some participants already have in mind a business idea. It proved the need for such support structures as InnoLab where people from different fields can get advice for the business development or to have a possibility to participate in real life business projects. This is now next goal of the project to create such a support environment for innovations and business development. 

Presentations by young, innovative and entrepreneurial people have encouraged other young people, in total 140 participants

Anzelika
Rovaniemi, Finland