ISEDE NET – INNOVATIVE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT NETWORK

Project starts 11 March 2009
Ends 30 September 2011
http://www.isede-net.com/

BioCulture (399 973 EUR), 2007-2009: the project is related to the culture and language skills for both mobility and exports in the biotechnology sector. It involves partner organisations from: England (EEDA - East of England Development Agency and Dialogue Language Services), Bulgaria (BARDA), Denmark (Medicon Valley Academy) and Italy (Bioindustry Park del Canavese). There is a healthy transfer of scientists across European states, particularly in the field of bench-to-bench collaboration, yet insufficient language and culture resource to support those SMEs and other organisations which employ them. Equally, these SMEs are striving to export their expertise, which in itself requires language and culture skills in relation to key markets. This project aims to fill these gaps in accordance with the Lisbon agenda, as well as to provide a platform for both providers of professional language services and strategic funding partners in the partner countries to identify specific skills gaps and plan appropriate training programmes to address these needs. The project builds on the successful work of the HARVEST project.

The core project activity is implemented to the 3 main biotechnology regions in Europe, namely Silicon Fen (East of England), Medicon Valley (Denmark, Sweden) and Biovalley (Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy). The project runs along the audit – develop – test cycle, and engages with up to 140 SMEs with the aim of assessing existing language competence, skills gaps, degrees of strategic planning and readiness, and preferred methods of training. Materials development focuses on the creation and adaptation of language (max 2 language over 8 modules), cultural (up to 4 markets) and intercultural materials (1 set of materials). The project also develops an interactive road map of provision targeted at meeting the skills gaps identified in the audits, this road map being available in both paper, electronic and web-based format building on the Leonardo HARVEST roadmap.

VISIBLE: “Validation Issues Induct a Basis for Learning Evaluation” (479 249 EUR), 2007-2009: is aimed to develop a validation methodology for non-formal learning process in order to allow the European Development Agencies and the Local Development Actors to recognize organizational positions and related competences. The project involves partner organisations from: Italy (Sviluppo Marche S.p.A. EC Società Unipersonale and G.A.L. Ogliastra), Bulgaria (BARDA), Hungary (DEKUT Research and Innovation Non-profit Organisation), Belgium (European Consortium for the Learning Organisation), France (FIVAL - Interprofessional Federation of horsing sports, leisure horsing and work horses), Norway (NAAL - The Norwegian Association for Adult Learning), Romania (South-East Regional Development Agency) and Slovakia (Regional Development Agency Senec - Pezinok).

MINEM: “Meeting the Information Needs of Economic Migrants” (299 912 EUR), 2006–2008: The project aims to develop and test innovative instruments which facilitate the geographic and labour market mobility of workers and their families and remove existing obstacles to mobility. The project involves partners from: U.K. (Community Action Dacorum & East of England Development Agency), Bulgaria (BARDA), Poland (Regional Labour Office – Krakow), Portugal (Agencia de Desenvolvimento Regional de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro) and Spain (AFIES Foundation – Fondacion Asistencial para la Formacion, Investigacion y Estudio).

HARVEST: “Holistic Approach to Regional Vocational Sector-based Training” (490 940 EUR), 2006–2008: The project aims to provide a platform for both providers of professional language services and strategic funding partners in the East of England, Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria to identify specific skills gaps and plan appropriate training programmes to address these needs. The project is a direct response to overcoming common barriers to international trade as identified within the economic strategies of the partner countries/regions.

PRO-CHANGE: “Innovative Pan-European Structures for Managing Economic Change and Restructuring at Local Level” (1 351 342.36 EUR), 2005 –2007: The main idea of the project is the management of change (in terms of employment, employability and entrepreneurship) caused by the economic and social restructuring at local level. It involves partners from: Greece, Italy, U.K. and Bulgaria.

2005-2007 “Capacity Building for Sustainable Land Management in Bulgaria” Project - common initiative of United Nations Development Programme, Ministry of Environment and Water and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The project is financed by the Global Environment Fund and co-financed by MoEW and supports the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. BARDA is a partner in the frame of the project.

2005-2006 Strengthening municipal capacities for identification and preparation of partnership projects to be funded by the Structural Funds

The project is a common initiative of the Embassy of the United Kingdom, United Nations Development Programme and Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.

EU.CL.I.D.E.project: “European Cluster Industrial Development through Mobility Experience in Europe)” (83 300 EUR), May 2005 – May 2006. The project involves regional authorities, vocational training organizations, SMEs and RDAs from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.

Interreg III B CADSES Project “Improving the Access of SMEs from Rural Regions to the Knowledge and Information Society” (1 750 000 EUR), May 2004-December 2005. The project “EMBRACE” aims to design, develop and implement specific spatial development policies, initiatives and actions for the benefit of SMEs located in rural and undeveloped urban areas of Greece, Austria, Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria, in order to increase their access to Knowledge and the Information Society. The ultimate goal is to overcome existing barriers that these SMEs face, by providing assistance and value-added advisory, e-commerce and information services, which can boost their efficiency and competitiveness, and lead to the development of transnational cooperation and globalization of activities.

PHARE Project: BG 0004.02 "Investing in Business Incubators in Declined Industrial Areas", 2002 – 2005. The project is aimed at establishing business incubators in declined industrial areas of Bulgaria, and more precisely, in the towns of: Madan, Kardjali, Vratsa, Mezdra, Belogradchik and Montana. BARDA takes the responsibility for the management of the first five incubators supported by its members.

“Strengthening of Municipalities and Regional Capacity – Dissemination of Good Practices” (75 000 GBP), September 2004 – February 2005 – The project is funded by DFID and started in May 2001. It is its continuation because of the good results achieved in the implementation of preceding project activities. The project is managed by ITS Consulting Ltd. with significant experience in the municipal and regional development in various regions of the world including Bulgaria. The project aims to establish vertical and horizontal links among all stakeholders in the process of regional development at four levels – municipal, district, planning region and national. The main objective is to build up capacity at both district and planning region level in order to support the access of the regions to EU funds; to support municipalities in improving the strategic planning process; provision of services and use of their own resources.

EU PHARE Project “Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) as a Tool for Enhancing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development within the Enlarged Internal Market” (62 353 EUR), 2003-2004: The project is aimed to develop, promote and organise exchange of experience between participating RDAs and dissemination of the results to a wider public of regional, national and EU policy makers. At the same time it provides technical support, facilitates interregional project development and evaluates the business impact on the biggest enlargement.

Municipal and Association Capacity Improvement Programme (MACIP) (34 549 EUR), 2002 – 2004: the project is a result of the MACIP programme funded by the government of the Netherlands and their MATRA program and implemented by VNG Internation (The Dutch Association of the Municipalities) and their official representative for Bulgaria – Urban International Associates. The Programme is implemented by BARDA in partnership with some other organizations, which will continue to support Bulgarian municipalities and associations after the end of the project. The main objective of the project is to improve the environment and factors that impact the local economic development with a focus on creating new opportunities for active involvement and combining the efforts of the municipality, business and local community in the field of economic development.

EU PHARE Project “Capacity Building for the Accelerated Growth of the SME Sector in Bulgaria” (2.8 mln Euro), 2000 – 2002: the project aims to assist the creation of an improved climate for the growth of SMEs by helping to strengthen two institutions – the Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ASME) and BARDA who form an important part of the information, training and policy-making infrastructure for the Bulgarian SME sector.

Training Sessions in International Trade, 2001 – 2002: a joint project with the Walloon Region of Belgium and the French-speaking Institute for Administration and Management, which includes training in international trade, delivered in French, to French-speaking Bulgarian SME managers. Trainers were representatives of Belgian Universities – world recognized experts in the field of international trade.

CIDA Project: “Gender Mainstreaming in Social Policy and Programmes”, August 2004 – August 2005. The project is targeted as a support programme for the authorities in Bulgaria and Romania responsible for the design and implementation of social policy and programmes. It aims at improving the capacity among decision-makers at local level in relation to the implementation and monitoring of gender mainstreaming in various social sectors.