Project 2017-1-041 AYEN

The project 2017-1-041 AYEN "Active Youth Entrepreneurship Network" is financed by the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment, supported area: Innovation and exploration

The objective is to build a transnational entrepreneurial network that facilitates NEETs primarily in the age group of 25-29 to see needs/opportunities within their own community that can be developed into new businesses and jobs. Through a comprehensive set of innovative tools, the partners from five Southeastern European countries will use and strengthen existing regional entrepreneurial communities to foster sustainable job creation. Our innovative and exploratory activities are:

· Recruit, include and integrate NEETs into existent entrepreneurial environments.
· Assist in the development of individual and team business ideas, based on local needs, opportunities and resources.
· Provide to NEETs access to skills and markets through international study visits, local and transnational internships.
· Engage experienced entrepreneurs and retired experts in mentoring.
· Use and test digital tools in daily operations, networking and as input to product/service development and internal supply/demand.
· Establishment of a digital exploratory gamification motivation system and a Local Economy System to stimulate economic activity locally.

AYEN consortium includes 6 partners from the EU28 member states: Hellenic Management Association (GR), Tecnopolis Science and Technology Park (IT), Regional Agency for entrepreneurship and innovations – Varna (BG), Cluster for Eco-Social Innovation and Development (HR), IPA - Research and Development, Engineering and Manufacturing for Automation Equipment’s and Systems (RO), International Development Norway AS (NO) and represent the active stakeholders in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial skills.

The main output will be strengthened regional entrepreneurial support communities with integrated support schemes for NEETs with entrepreneurship potential. It will be achieved through 300 empowered former NEET youth establishing 150 startups and generating 600 new jobs across the five countries where the project is taking place.

Project duration: 01/06/2018 – 02/2020

The overall budget is € 3,010,321.10