European Enterprise Awards 2011: The Candidates

Category 1: Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit

Recognises actions and initiatives at national, regional or local level that promote an entrepreneurial mindset especially among young people and women.

Belgium: Stimulating entrepreneurial creativity at every education level

MyMachine allows children to realise their own dream machines: whether it is a ghost hunter or a canon that shoots French fries. Elementary school children come up with ideas that are then passed to university students, who further the concepts, after which technical high school students build the actual machines. MyMachine won the ‘World Summit Award 2009' of the United Nations and the ‘European Design Management Award'.

MyMachine vzw, www.mymachine.be

Bulgaria: Firsthand entrepreneurial experience for young people

The Graduate Student Company helps the students develop business ideas, create a prototype of a product and then advertise and sell their products. To date, almost 500 students from 45 student companies have participated and representatives from five student companies have started their own businesses. Participants won the innovation award at the ‘JA-YE Europe Enterprise Challenge 2010'.

Junior Achievement Foundation, Bulgaria, www.jabulgaria.org

Croatia: A platform for business based on regional uniqueness

Autumn in Lika is an annual international exhibition that raises awareness of environmental standards, conservation, the promotion of Croatian products and to promote employment. Today, it hosts 220 exhibitors and 24,000 visitors, and has encouraged the development of eco-tourism as well as contributed to employing and retaining the population.

Lika-Senj County, www.licko-senjska.hr

Cyprus: Commending innovative Cypriot enterprises

The Cyprus Innovation Award seeks to celebrate Cypriot enterprises and act as a catalyst to develop a culture of innovation. The competition is a part of the national and EU policy to promote innovation, and includes both the private and the public sector. The annual competition was recognised by the European Commission as a good practice in encouraging and rewarding innovation and creativity.

Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB), www.oeb.org.cy

Czech Republic: Supporting innovative enterprising

Innovation Academy is a training programme for owners, top managers and directors of companies from the innovation management sector, and places an emphasis on the practical side of innovations and their management. It serves to prepare managers and owners of companies to cope with new challenges. Alumni of Innovation Academy serves as an information exchange platform between the previous participants of the programme.

JIC – South Moravian Innovation Centre, www.jic.cz

Estonia: Profiling the technological landscape and start-up scene

TestMarket.eu is an English language website which acts as a gateway for the international community to the Estonian technology sector by showcasing and promoting national start-ups and the technology landscape as a whole. TestMarket is read daily by 600 people from 80 countries around the world.

TestMarket.eu, www.testmarket.eu

Finland: Using a new education model to improve young people's entrepreneurial attitudes

The project's mission is to coach young people in upper secondary school and higher level students in entrepreneurship in order for them to consider it for future employment. Collaboration with institutions sees teachers as well as students taught by gaining hands-on experience with entrepreneurship through a series of seminars, networking, camps and projects.

Voimala Coaching Centre for Entrepreneurship, www.voimalaan.fi

Germany: Merging the university and the business community for a co-operative IT start-up initiative

Exploiting potential business ideas and promoting sustainable IT start-ups is the aim of this project implemented in Northrhine-Westphalia. It also seeks to create a regional network that fosters technology transfer. The project is designed to combine the specific resources from the university, regional IT companies and (future) student entrepreneurs to facilitate the realisation of innovative business ideas.

UniConsult – Technology-and-Knowledge-Transfer at the University of Paderborn, www.upb.de/transfer

Ireland: Breeding a spirit of entrepreneurship among students aged 15 to 23

Sixty five percent of second level schools in Co Kerry currently participate in the Young Entrepreneur Programme & Award, which facilitates learning about entrepreneurship. Students develop skills by creating a business idea, writing a business plan and pitching it to a panel of entrepreneurs. Students sit a final exam as well as participate in an awards ceremony which sees the winners presented with attractive prizes.

Young Entrepreneur Programme, Institute of Technology, Tralee, Shannon Development and Tweak, www.youngentrepreneur.ie

Italy: Stimulating the regional ICT network in Emilia-Romagna

Developing a business culture for innovative enterprises in the high-tech sector is the aim of the WE TECH OFF initiative. Following its precursor (I TECH OFF), the programme consists of three phases that see companies enter pre-incubation, incubation and post-incubation periods, during which they are trained, advised and constantly assessed.

ASTERS S. Cons. P.A., www.aster.it

Latvia: A one-stop-shop for entrepreneurs

With its principal mission to encourage enterprising individuals to engage in business, Mentoring Programmes for Entrepreneurs functions as a one-stop-shop providing information and consultation services. Two mentoring programmes are launched annually, matching 10 pairs over the course of 12 months, free of charge, and have contributed to the growth of 72 existing businesses and the start-up of 25 new ones.

Association LIDERE, www.lidere.lv

Lithuania: Youth entrepreneurship education

Students in grades 9 to 12 and young people up to the age of 30 participate in Entrepreneur Academy, a programme that seeks to educate young people in entrepreneurship through seminars, a camp, visiting local businesses and active participation in a competition. Those individuals who comprise the best business plans are granted vouchers with which they are able to establish their own companies.

Taurage Business Information Centre, www.tbic.lt

Malta: Bridging the gap between practice and theory

The Company Programme sees students aged 16-21 learn by doing. Offered as an extracurricular activity, students develop real enterprises to discover first-hand how a company functions. The programme is structured around seminars, classes and role play to help students develop skills and capabilities for business and enterprise.

Junior Achievement (Young Enterprise) Malta, www.youngenterprise.org.mt

Norway: Building a culture of entrepreneurship

Preventing the export of competence and becoming an attractive city for business is the main objective of The Entrepreneurship Programme i2016, which facilitates the region's need to attract young people by strengthening the culture of entrepreneurship. The action plan consists of 19 projects, representing entrepreneurial activity from entrepreneurship in kindergarten to innovation projects in the established industry.

Team Bodø KF, www.i2016.no

Poland: Fostering entrepreneurship among the 50+

Mature Entrepreneur gives unemployed individuals, pensioners as well as employed individuals aged between 50 and 64 the opportunity to re-enter and remain in the labour market through self-employment. Those who qualify for the programme receive business skills training and business consultancy. Grants were given to those with the best business plans. The programme saw the creation of 33 new companies.

Gdansk Municipal Employment Office, www.pup.gda.pl

Portugal: Capitalising on bio-entrepreneurship

With 10 percent of Portugal's patents submitted from the biotechnology sector, investments in this sector needed to be capitalised upon. A National Strategy for Biotechnology saw the establishment of Biocant Park, a R&D centre and start-up incubator which focused on funding, creating clusters and defining innovation policies for the sector. Since its creation, the number of biotech companies in Portugal increased from 18 to 70 while venture capital investment has risen from 1 million to 30 million Euros.

Cantanhede City Hall (CCH) in partnership with APBio (Portuguese Association for Bio Industries), www.cm-cantanhede.pt, www.apbio.pt

Slovakia: Higher-level entrepreneurship education

Students enrolled in the university entrepreneurship course establish and operate a joint-stock company after receiving a €500 entry capital, and gain practical and theoretical knowledge of what entrepreneurship is about. For those who wish to continue after their studies, a technological incubator allows for the students to found their own companies with the help of advisors.

University of Žilina, www.uniza.sk

Spain: Transforming Barcelona's entrepreneurial landscape

With its mission to transform entrepreneurship and business growth in Barcelona, the City Council established the Barcelona Entrepreneurship Centre as a reference point and hub for entrepreneurs. More than 222.000 participants attend its events each year. Using an innovative model of both online and on-site services, the centre has coached more than 134,000 individuals and enabled the creation of 6,214 new companies since its establishment in 2004.

Barcelona City Council (BARCELONA ACTIVA SAU SPM), www.barcelonanetactiva.com

Sweden: Consultants for Stockholm's entrepreneurs

The project facilitates access to professional guidance for entrepreneurs and innovators – regardless of gender, background, industry or company form. Entrepreneurs are able to select consultants they feel are most appropriate to their situation. To date, 70,794 hours of consultancy have been provided by consultants of the entrepreneur's choice, helping the establishment of 3,463 new companies and 2,034 new jobs.

Stockholm City Council, ALMI Företagspartner (Business Partners), Stockholm AB Innovationsbron (The Stockholm Innovation Bridge) & Stockholm Business Region Development, www.entrepreneursthlm.nu

Turkey: Local honey bee spurs entrepreneurial buzz

The local Yiğilca honey bee is a unique species that produces three times more honey than other bee races. Since this discovery, the Düzce University has brought honey production to the local population by adapting 255 hectares of forest land and training disadvantaged groups in beekeeping. Many have now started up their own apiaries and the town now stands to make an annual income of €750,000 over and above its €6,000 in an annual government budget.

Düzce University Beekeeping Research, Development and Application Centre (DAGEM), www.duzce.edu.tr

UK: Integrating enterprise into every phase of education

By educating young people in entrepreneurship from the age of four, Rotherham Ready seeks to change the socio-economic situation of the town. As a result of the programme, educational attainment increased from 37.5 percent in 2006 to 74 percent in 2010 and 232 youth businesses were created. Rotherham was named ‘The Most Enterprising Place in Britain' in 2010 and currently has the second-fastest growing economy in the UK.

Rotherham Ready, www.rotherhamready.org.uk

Category 2: Investing in Skills

Recognises initiatives at regional or local level to improve entrepreneurial, vocational, technical and managerial skills.

Finland: Fostering entrepreneurship skills and education among women

The University of Applied Sciences in Oulu offers women in northern Finland the opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills by providing For each female entrepreneur group – whether seeking to establish a company, developing an existing business, coming from an immigration background or women in managerial position seeking to develop their skills, there is an applicable training programme offered by the university.

The University of Applied Sciences, Oulu, www.oamk.fi/fforum

France: Supporting regional craftsmanship through entrepreneurism

Lorraine is the "land of arts and crafts", boasting 1,000 ateliers and a strong tradition in this sector. In order to continue, develop and promote the success of this sector, the Promotion of Crafts in the Lorraine Region programme provides training and support for the creation of businesses as well as raising awareness of the sector by collaboration with unions, institutions and chambers of commerce.

INFFOLOR Mission Regionale Metiers d'Art Lorraine (Regional Craftsmanship Mission in Lorraine), www.metiersdart-lorraine.org

Greece: Fostering entrepreneurship among women in rural areas

Through its project Supporting Women's Rural Cooperatives, the Ergani Centre in Thessaloniki works to help organisations in the social economy and particularly women's cooperatives which constitute an important capital resource for the local community. The centre organises training, coaching and networking sessions which help improve the entrepreneurial, professional and management skills of the women's cooperatives members.

Ergani Centre for the Support of Employment and Entrepreneurship of Women (Ergani Centre), www.ergani.gr

Ireland: Growth acceleration initiative for women entrepreneurs

Going for Growth is for female entrepreneurs who wish to grow their businesses. With a focus on organic and cooperative learning, roundtables are facilitated with lead entrepreneurs: female entrepreneurs who have first-hand knowledge of successfully running a business and can pass on this information. The project fosters the advancement of women in line with the National Women's Strategy 2007 – 2016.

Going for Growth in an initiative of Fitzsimons Consulting, supported by the European Social Fund and the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs (Gender Equality Division), www.goingforgrowth.com

Netherlands: Learning about entrepreneurship through real-life practice in Amsterdam

The Centre for Amsterdam Schools for Entrepreneurship (CASE) has introduced multidisciplinary entrepreneurship education in all faculties and levels of study. CASE creates opportunities for students to experience entrepreneurship and improve their skills. While at university, students establish real companies and work together with successful entrepreneurs who provide valuable guidance, facilities and contacts.

Amsterdam Centre for Entrepreneurship, www.ace-amsterdam.org

Serbia: A TOP CLASS programme for top class entrepreneurship

This project seeks to support young "high expectation" entrepreneurs in their personal, professional and business growth. Implemented through a series of educational, networking and experience exchange events, TOP CLASS programme is mainly focused on SMEs that contribute most to employment and economic growth, and have the greatest need for sophisticated support.

Centre for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development – CEED Serbia, www.ceed-serbia.org

UK: Creative skills drive social change and enterprise in Newham

Newham is an area of London suffering from high unemployment and serious crime compounded by the high concentrations of a young unskilled population. In this context, APE Media Ltd was formed to provide much needed professional skills to local youth. Focused primarily on the creative industries, APE Media Ltd works with around 200 partners, forming strategic alliances within the private, public and voluntary sectors. To date, more than 2,500 young people have benefited from the programmes, with at least 30 percent of them currently working in creative industries including the BBC Radio 1 and Sky TV.

Apple Pie Enterprises (APE Media) Ltd., www.ape-media.com

Category 3: Improving the Business Environment

Recognises innovative policies at regional or local level that promote enterprise start-up and growth, simplify legislative and administrative procedures for businesses and implement the "Think Small First" principle in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Austria: Positioning Lavanttal as a business region

A group of dedicated economic actors started Quo vadis Lavanttal? To help the region to establish a plan for its economic future. Through a series of events that served to raise awareness about improving the region's economy, the Association has put together a concrete programme that includes actions in the area of education, networks and energy.

Lavanttal Economic Association (VLW), www.lavanttaler-wirtschaft.at

Croatia: Establishing a business-friendly community through competition

The awards programme Best Entrepreneurial Idea, with a prize pool of €100,000, aims to create an entrepreneurial climate that encourages business start-ups. With the county lagging behind the rest of Croatia in development and employment rates, it identified the reasons for the slowdown and recognised entrepreneurship as a "wheel that drives development".

Osijek-Baranja County, www.obz.hr

Denmark: MCEP cultivates future successful entrepreneurs

The Mads Clausen Entrepreneur Park provides a unique, innovative framework for technology-driven entrepreneurs to realise their business concepts, allowing them to form the companies of tomorrow. MCEP draws on Danfoss' experience and provides advice and guidance every step of the way, from conception through to business establishment. The 46 new companies borne from this project have a turnover of €27 million.

Sønderborg Industry and Tourism Centre (SET), www.set-sonderborg.dk

Germany: High-tech sector gets entrepreneurial boost

Baden-Württemberg is referred to as the "technological heart of Europe". Bwcon: Coach & Connect Plus+ seeks to support innovative and promising technologies and companies as well as establish a platform for an intense exchange of information and knowledge. In total, 480 companies and 4,600 experts benefit from the project, which lists 410,000 target group contacts in its network.

Baden-Württemberg: Connected e.V.: www.bwcon.de

Hungary: Helping local SMEs by save energy and money

The Heves chamber of commerce implemented a new energy policy to help local business meet the 20-20-20% targets for energy savings, share of renewable energy and Co2 emissions reductions. The introduction of modern, energy efficient technologies including geo-thermal energy has helped local companies make energy savings totalling 61 million HUF (about €233,000).

Heves County Chamber of Commerce, www.hkik.hu

Netherlands: Using networks to enhance innovation capabilities

FuturizedBusiness seeks to involve 2,000 SMEs in innovation networks. Targeting the "middle group" of SMEs, it initiates personal contact by sending consultants to visit the local companies. After establishing a company profile, the consultants determine which follow-up activities would be useful for the company to enhance its innovation. Eighty percent of the activated companies want to innovate.

Syntens, www.toekomstbedrijven.nl

Poland: Creating Poland's own Silicon Valley with Netcamp meetings

Netcamp meetings for ICT entrepreneurs are an important local business platform, facilitating dialogue between the various players of Szczecin's internet industry. Held once a month, more than 1,500 individuals have participated in the meetings that transfer knowledge and discuss business ideas. Before the project was initiated in November 2007, only 60 IT companies were registered in Szczecin: today there are 360.

Foundation of Internet Sector Development ‘Netcamp', www.netcamp.net.pl

Slovakia: Preserving traditional arts and crafts by establishing important connections

Traditional Slovakian craftsmen are given the opportunity to showcase their work at special fairs organised by the organisation Traditional Folk Art Crafts. Traditional Arts and Crafts is a project which seeks to connect craftsmen with gallery and shop owners, therefore allowing them to distribute their products throughout Slovakia and internationally.

Traditional Folk Art Crafts, www.tlur.meu.zoznam.sk

Spain: Accelerating the development of the technology sector

Created in 2007 to implement the region's innovation plan, the Madrid Network focuses on developing medium-high and high technology sectors. It creates an interface through which companies, clusters and institutions experience an enhanced transfer of knowledge and access services that promote competitiveness. It comprises twelve clusters, five Science and Technology Parks with over 580 partner including universities, reseach institutes, pubic administrations and associations.

Madrid Network, www.madridnetwork.org

Sweden: Stimulating rural entrepreneurship through e-trade and micro-investments

The E-factory project is based on a public-private partnership that has found creative solutions to increase entrepreneurship and create jobs in rural Uppsala County. It offers a platform for advisory services and business development targeting companies and those seeking to start a company. In addition, a unique financial tool allows local residents to invest in local companies for as little as €50 per person, thus giving the local population a stake and a choice in business development. In the last three years, 39 new companies and 179 new jobs have been created most of which are in e-trade.

The Uppsala Regional Council, www.regionuppsala.se

Category 4: Supporting the Internationalisation of Business

Recognises policies to encourage enterprises and particularly small and medium-sized businesses to benefit more from the opportunities offered by markets both inside and outside the European Union.

Czech Republic: An online portal to facilitate company establishment

FormCompany.eu is a platform that simplifies company registration considerably. The entire process of starting a company is transferred to the internet, thereby cutting costs and reducing the registration time by half. Since its inception, more than 1,200 companies have been formed using the portal saving up to €1 million in the initial costs of establishing a company.

Chamber of Economy of the Czech Republic, www.zalozfirmu.cz

France: Rhone-Alpes Region uses unique support model to boost exports

ERAI has developed a trademarked system, Implantis® to support the internationalisation of its companies especially in China. Its offices abroad offer a full incubation system including recruitment services, accommodation and supervision. To date, ERAI has helped more than 150 businesses register abroad and integrate fast into new markets.

Enterprise Rhône-Alpes International, www.erai.org

Greece: Promotion of local Cretan products to the Chinese market

Relations of cooperation with Chinese provinces were launched through collaborations that promote Crete. This bilateral contact achieved common prosperity and growth, with Crete and its products being showcased in and exported to China. After the signature of cooperation agreements with important Chinese provinces, exports grew by 14 percent.

Heraklion Prefectual Administration, www.nah.gr

Iceland: Boosting international exports

Iceland's Export Development Programme (EDP) is an initiative which seeks to train SME owners, managers or marketing personnel in establishing strategies to begin exporting or to consolidate existing export activity. The EDP runs for 12 months during which participants are guided and supported by counsellors, project managers and instructors to establish a strategic marketing plan for export oriented growth.

Promote Iceland, www.promoteiceland.is

Italy: Internationalising Prato's businesses through product experimentation

Rethinking the Product is a project designed by the Chamber of Commerce of Prato to encourage product experimentation and help companies find new uses and markets for their products. Companies from different sectors are matched to work together and create new designs and prototypes of products based on their area of expertise. The products are then presented at fairs and events domestically as well as internationally.

The Chamber of Commerce of Prato, www.po.camcom.it

Malta: International platforms for local businesses

The aim of the local council was to generate more business so as to make the locality more sustainable – not only during the summer months. The council offered SMEs a platform at international fairs and conferences to present their products, which resulted in Malta achieving a greater presence abroad. As a result, Mellieha was awarded the title of European Destination of Excellence by the European Union.

Mellieha Local Council, www.mellieha.gov.mt

Serbia: An inter-European exchange of entrepreneurial knowledge

With the PLATO project already successful in other nations, PLATO Serbia was implemented to help transfer professional know-how from managers of major companies to SME owners, thus fostering extensive networking in an international context. The particular learning network is formed between Flemish entrepreneurs (Voka Chamber of Commerce East Flanders) and Serbian partners.

Serbian Chamber of Commerce (SCC), www.pks.rs

Category 5: Responsible and Inclusive Entrepreneurship

Recognises regional or local actions that promote corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices in the social and/or environmental domain. This category will also recognise efforts to promote entrepreneurship among disadvantaged groups, such as unemployed, disabled or people from ethnic minorities.

Austria: Mentoring for migrants helps social integration and economic development

Mentoring for Migrants was established by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber in cooperation with a variety of partners to support qualified workers of ethnic background with their integration into the Austrian labour market, while also promoting the internationalisation of the Austrian economy. Since 2008, more than 450 mentoring pairs have been formed and many have led to successful jobs and enduring relationships.

Federal Economic Chamber, www.wko.at/mentoring

Belgium: Battling unemployment with entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship Works provides jobseekers in Flanders who would like to establish themselves as entrepreneurs with the necessary support to do so. The initiative facilitates education to those individuals qualified to participate in the programme, by providing them with information about all matters encompassing entrepreneurship as well as assistance with implementing the new businesses.

Unie van Zelfstandige Ondernemers, UNIZO (Union of Self-Employed Entrepreneurs), www.unizo.be

Denmark: Entrepreneurship to facilitate economic independence for refugees and immigrant women

The Get Started Camps for Ethnic Minority Female Entrepreneurs provides women with the opportunity to obtain professional counselling and the support they need to become independent business owners. The project works in collaboration with educational institutes, business consultants and financial institutions, and has so far seen 24 women start their own companies.

Copenhagen Municipality, www.kk.dk/erhverv

Hungary: Hotel gains a competitive advantage by employing disabled individuals

Hotel Panda is earning an outstanding position in tourism by using a unique employment model: a team of employees with different kinds of disabilities. The owners seek to integrate disabled people into the business world and to educate people about the special needs of employees with disabilities in order to facilitate the creation of jobs for disabled people and discourage societal prejudices. Currently, 95 percent of the staff is disabled and during this time the hotel has doubled its profit.

HOTEL PANDA LTD., www.hotelpanda.hu

Latvia: Pigman rescues Latvia's forests

"Don't litter the forest! You'll turn into a pig!" saw the creation of Pigman, a superhero who was turned into a pig when he littered in the forest, and won't be able to return to his human form until all forests in Latvia are clean. Working together with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, the campaign aims to raise awareness about the refuse problem in the forest, to promote being environmentally friendly and to motivate a change of legislation.

JSC "Latvia's State Forests", www.lvm.lv

Lithuania: Restaurant helps rehabilitation and integration of former drug addicts

This project seeks to integrate former drug addicts who have completed rehabilitation into the Lithuanian labour market. Working at Mano Guru restaurant in Vilnius, these individuals are provided with training as a chef, waiter or bartender over the course of six months. The restaurant simultaneously seeks to promote healthy eating habits while breaking stereotypes about chemically dependent people.

VŠĮ "Socialinai paramos projektai", www.manoguru.lt/guru

Portugal: Using entrepreneurship to improve the quality of life

Garden by the door allows residents of Porto to grow their own organic produce and increase their income through urban farming. The farmers are allocated plots, obtain theoretical and practical training as well as technical support. Currently, there are more than 3.5 hectares of cultivated organic farming plots that address both social and environmental concerns.

LIPOR – Intermunicipal Service Waste Management of Greater Porto, www.lipor.pt

Turkey: Increasing local agricultural income by 265 times

To combat the region's weak economy and high welfare status, the local union combined 1,200 parcels of land from farmers, which it rents from them for 25 years. Short fruit trees were planted and an irrigation system inserted in order to boost agricultural exports. Since its implementation, the price of land has increased from €125/hectare to €2,500/hectare. Fifty percent of villagers who used to rely on welfare, now can live on their own income.

Kadişehri Village Services Union, www.kadisehri.gov.tr