Entrepreneurship Simulation Program for Silver Economy in Central Baltic

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Date of latest update: 2025-01-21

Description

Description (EN):

Silver Entrepreneurs project is a 30-month adult education and entrepreneurship-building initiative designed to empower and equip silver age persons (60+) with skills and confidence to develop their entrepreneurship projects and thus, remain socially and economically active. Eurostat data say people live longer, longer stay healthy and want to work longer. At the same time, Central Baltic (CB) region countries face the challenges of ageing workforce and outdated skills while not fully using seniors economic potential. Silver age persons have professional knowledge, skills and experience in many areas, but they need to upgrade and acquire new skills. Entrepreneurship requires a complex set of skills. To address these cross-border challenges, our project will implement a complex entrepreneurship simulation program with individual approach to each participant consisting of: - training workshops and coaching for entrepreneurship skills, confidence and creativity, entrepreneurship simulations to develop collaborative and individual projects; benchmarking activities with small enterprises in CB region, practical consultations, senior-to-senior expertise. Project will achieve such results and outputs: - 80 silver age persons of CB region have completed a complex program of Smart Seniors Academy for Entrepreneurship (40 from LV, 20 from FI, 20 from SE); - joint CB entrepreneurship training program (simulations) and materials; - individual and collaborative entrepreneurship projects with implementation potential; - involving at least 50 other organizations in project activities (benchmarking, promotion) The outputs will serve the benefit of seniors in CB countries, partner organizations, training and business support organizations, national/ local authorities authorities committed to promote entrepreneurship; employment, quality of life, CB region economy. Budget TOTAL: 878206,40 EUR; LCCI 178427,60 EUR; LAEA 164287,60 EUR; FU Uppsala 301651,60 EUR; TAMK: 233839,60 EUR

Actual Achievements (EN):

The Silver Entrepreneurs project is progressing smoothly, and we are pleased with the developments so far. Our team is comprising of different professionals from our partner organizations, and collaborating effectively, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the forefront. We are using Microsoft Teams for project management and communication, complemented by consistent email correspondence and regular online meetings. This approach ensures that all team members are well-informed and actively engaged in the project. The project's steering group has been formed and has shown considerable enthusiasm and interest, which reinforces the importance of our work. Their support is instrumental in guiding our efforts to address the needs of individuals nearing retirement or already retired. In terms of project activities, the diverse expertise within our team is one of the key strengths. Our initial focus has been on thorough research, establishing a robust foundation for the upcoming phases of the project. This early research as well as the team building is critical for the project’s future success and anticipated results and it has been successfully completed. The primary objective of Silver Entrepreneurs is to empower those approaching or at retirement age to venture into entrepreneurship. We aim to foster a supportive environment that nurtures their entrepreneurial aspirations, contributing positively to their personal development, social aspects and the broader economy. This initiative seeks to redefine retirement as an opportunity for new beginnings, innovation, and personal growth.

Project outputs: Developed Silver Entrepreneurship program through cross-border cooperation of 4 partners and 30 organizations from Latvia, Finland and Sweden.(EN)
10 SMEs from Latvia, Finland and Sweden host visits of participants and share business development experience(EN)
80 participants have developed entrepreneurship projects and have received certificates validating their entrepreneurship skills(EN)
6 organizations express commitment for continuation (transfer) of entrepreneurship simulation program for seniors to other sectors or other geographical areas(EN)

Thematic information

SME and entrepreneurship

Priority: (VI-A_CB_P3) Improved employment opportunities

Priority specific objective: RSO4.1. Enhancing the effectiveness and inclusiveness of labour markets and access to quality employment through developing social infrastructure and promoting social economy

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO4 A more social and inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights

Type of intervention: 134 Measures to improve access to employment

Partners (4)

Lead Partner: Latvijas Tirdzniecības un rūpniecības kamera

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 40003081501

Department: EU Project department

Address: Krišjāņa Valdemāra , LV-1010 Riga, Latvia

Department address: Kr. Valdemara , LV-1010 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: http://www.chamber.lv

Total budget: EUR 148 254.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 118 603.84

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 29 650.96

Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu Oy

Name: Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu Oy

Department: School of Business and Media

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FI10154281

Address: Kuntokatu , 33520 Tampere , Finland

Department address: Kuntokatu , 33520 Tampere , Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.tuni.fi

Total budget: EUR 215 968.20

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 172 774.56

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 43 193.64

Latvijas Pieaugušo izglītības apvienība

Name: Latvijas Pieaugušo izglītības apvienība

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 40008005805

Address: Merķeļa, LV 1050 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.laea.lv

Total budget: EUR 150 772.70

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 120 618.16

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 30 154.54

Folkuniversitetet, Stiftelsen kursverksamheten vid Uppsala Universitet

Name: Folkuniversitetet, Stiftelsen kursverksamheten vid Uppsala Universitet

Department: Department for international cooperation

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE817600705501

Address: Bergsbrunnagatan 1 - - UPPSALA, 75323 Uppsala, Sweden

Department address: Bergsbrunnagatan , 75323 Uppsala, Sweden

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Education/training centre and school

Website: http://www.folkuniversitetet.se/uppsala

Total budget: EUR 275 076.20

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 220 060.96

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 55 015.24

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Tampere University of Applied Sciences Ltd

Entrepreneurship Simulation Program for Silver Economy in Central Baltic

Partners and Projects info

Latvian Adult Education Association

Entrepreneurship Simulation Program for Silver Economy in Central Baltic

Partners and Projects info

Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Entrepreneurship Simulation Program for Silver Economy in Central Baltic

Partners and Projects info

Folkuniversitetet stiftelsen kursverksamheten vid Uppsala universitet

Entrepreneurship Simulation Program for Silver Economy in Central Baltic

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Entrepreneurship Simulation Program for Silver Economy in Central Baltic

Project acronym: Silver Entrepreneurs

Project ID: CB0100047

Project start date: 2023-04-01

Project end date: 2025-09-30

Project status: closed

Relevant linked projects:

NordPlus project “Older” in 2020 (EN) | LAEA in NordPlus project “Older” made the research of senior situation and education possibilities in Latvia and it confirm that:
-It is important to support seniors to stay in labor market as well as to improve their living standard. Important issue for seniors is socialization as well;
-The adult motivation to study increases if they see the new opportunities related to that. Therefore, it is reasonable to provide seniors with idea about specific opportunities that will open for them as a result of learning.;
-One more important issue is digital skills and safety in internet. Seniors are one of the less informed groups about e-services, as well as the group that expressed the least desire to apply for services electronically or use other opportunities of new technologies;
-We have to treat seniors with dignity, respect and honor and we have to design effective tailor made education programmes.
In this project we will improve the digital skills, most needed for successful entrepreneurship and safety in e- environment. We will work closely with local municipalities and encourage them to support silver age persons in their community.
(EN), NordPlus project “Age is not an obstacle II” in 2021 (EN) | In another NordPlus project “Age is not an obstacle II” LAEA together with project partners in winter 2021 designed 10 tailor made educational programmes for seniors and there were given possibilities to learn online or self learning. So, the expected number of trainees was overachieved several times. (EN), YEAP (EN) | The project YEAP! initiated by Folkuniversitetet have developed a flexible learning path to increase entrepreneurial skills and instils a spirit of (social) entrepreneurship– through initiative-taking, building confidence calculated risk-taking and creativity. (EN), WeCan (EN) | WeCan initiated by Folkuniversitetet focuses on building entrepreneurial skills among newly arrived immigrant women to encourage them to start their own businesses. Within the cultural sector and working with informal teaching methodologies which belong to the world of culture and specifically to the action of theater Folkuniversitetet have experiences from previous projects. (EN), Clap Hands (EN) | Clap Hands aimed at strengthening people with disabilities to access the cultural labor market. Overall, Folkuniversitetet have a long and solid experience working with entrepreneurship, the cultural sector and formal as well as informal teaching methodologies connected to theater. (EN), LCCI Erasmus + project EM2: Education in square marginality. Aim of the project - EM2 contributes to the strengthening of motivation and the improvement of job opportunities for low-skilled or low-qualified adults and NEET in marginal context, through a balance of competencies and self -awareness, in a co-responsibility approach that involves the local community, enterprises, educational centres. The project is closed. (EN) | One of the target audiences of the project was also elderly people and their continuous role in the labour market. (EN), LCCI: Creazone 2.0 (Interrg Latvia - Lithuania programme) and Creazone Matrix (Interreg Lat-Lit-Brus programme) The project is ongoing. (EN) | Both projects targeted to develop new companies as solution of youth unemployment, regional development and improve business environment. Synergy with the project is connected with organizational experience of promotion and support persons to establish their own companies, overcome personal insecurity. LCCI also has list of potential subcontractors, who can provide relevant trainings, mentoring etc. (EN), European Enterprise Network (EEN) - LCCI is coordinator. The project is ongoing. (EN) | EEN main purpose is to provide different type of consultations to the companies and start-ups.
The Network’s international business experts have the experience and resources to help :
- Search the right international partners as the Network manages Europe’s largest online database of business opportunities. The Network also sets up business matchmaking events at international conferences and trade fairs;
- Expand internationally by offering advisory services and innovation support.
The Silver Entrepreneurs project will have synergy with EEN for attracting experts, mentors, international best practices, when it will be necessary. (EN), LCCI: INBETS BSR, a project with a focus on business transitions in BSR region + INBETS BSR+ for further implementation of the business transition, including strategic tools for business owners and business successors. Implemented by LCCI. The project is closed. (EN) |
Business strategies, including HR, in the context of business transitions. One methodology also includes an option, that Silver generation continues to be active in the business environment as a small enterprise and most probably, in the personal hobby sector.
(EN), LCCI: DIFILIM, Erasmus + project about digital financial literary / inclusion in European micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The project is ongoing. (EN) | The project results and outputs will be shared also with the Project target audience.
The project has set the following goals:
- To contribute towards enhancing digital financial literacy/inclusion in certain European micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
- To identify digital and financial literacy needs and provide training to fill in this gap for both professional and unemployed people.
- To develop an attractive, training programme in the country language, that will allow digital financial literacy enhancement.
- To deliver a curriculum to meet the real needs of entrepreneurs in the areas of financial literacy and digital skills.
- To design and apply a curriculum to deliver skills in a combination of methods including an e-learning platform.
- To create networks at local, regional and European levels for spreading good practices of educational integration. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 790 071.90

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 632 057.52

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 632 057.52. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Information about Silver Entrepreneurs available online
Review report on promoting senior entrepreneurship in CB region
List of stakeholders in Latvia, Finland and Sweden as a reference group
List of SMEs in Latvia, Finland and Sweden as role models for benchmarking visits
Joint team of trainers and coaches for Silver Entrepreneurship program
Description of “Silver Entrepreneurs” program.
Information posts inviting participants to Silver Entrepreneurship program
List of 80 participants of 60+ with brief profile info: background, project idea and motivation
Training materials, presentations in Moodle platform;
Agendas of training sessions, lists of participants of each session, feedbacks of participnats
Short presentation of each visited SME with photos or video.
Report on participants’ cross-border mobilities
Posts in CB webspace, EPALE, Facebook and links to participants’ social media communications.
Participants’ presentations on their entrepreneurship ideas and project implementation
Online Catalog of Silver Entrepreneurs’ projects
Participants’ final presentations and awarding of certificates validating entrepreneurship skills
Participants’ blogs or social media stories
Video presentations of success stories.
Feedback summaries of participants, partners and Steering Group members
Silver Entrepreneurship Impact and Sustainability Report available in CB webspace
Video story of CB Silver Entrepreneurship program
List of events with agendas
Conference report: list of participants, program, presentations, photos

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion Our project is worked out according to EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).
It contributes to Central Baltic Program 2021 – 2027 documents 3. priority: Improved employment opportunities.
Our project will help to reach Programs 3. indicator- number of people with increased entrepreneurship.
Program stresses the challenge that the demand in the labor market develops faster than matching education can be provided and it is necessary to Identify future labor market needs and the needed skills, and integrate them into educational processes. Also gender gap is still in place and need solutions.
Our project will address these challenges by using advantages of transnational team work, non-formal education approach, giving necessary knowledge, coaching and cooperation possibilities for silver age persons.
This approach through joint efforts of the project partners in the region will promote possibilities of less competitive groups in the society to access work opportunities.
Our project will work according to the approach and scope of the Program, facilitating entrepreneurship development activities towards the less competitive age groups, organizing awareness raising among target group, designing and implementing trainings, promoting networking and dialogues inside project target group, organizing transnational mobilities of project silver age participants.
We will not forget about developing necessary digital skills for entrepreneurship needs and green thinking for sustainability. We will promote cooperation between participants to work together to enter new markets.
Other “Latvia's Sustainable Development Strategy 2030” one of challenges is - to tackle the structural causes of poverty, social exclusion and socio-economic inequality, creating equal opportunities for all members of society to participate in social, economic and cultural processes.
And one of the priority areas for long-term action is:
In order to make full use of Latvia's human capital, all forms of discrimination in the labour market must be reduced - ethnic, gender (both women and men) and age.
Our project will invest in silver age persons to promote the implementation of Strategy`s long-term priority to ensure the labour market participation of all potential human resources, in particular those at risk of poverty and social exclusion.
Entrepreneurship and a business-friendly environment must be at the heart of an innovative, eco-efficient and competitive economy. Our project will support the creation and commercialization of new ideas. Cross - boarded possibilities will motivate and encourage senior age persons to stay active, raise their well-being and give input in the development of the Baltic Sea regions economy.
Other Swedish National Strategy "Inclusive entrepreneurship policy framework": Swedish national policies build heavily on promoting and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. The Ministry for Enterprise and Innovation is primarily responsible for innovation and entrepreneurship policies and the broad objective is to "strengthen the Swedish competitive ability and create possibilities for more jobs in more and growing companies." Entrepreneurship policy objectives aim to support everyone in business creation and self-employment, including those groups who are under-represented and disadvantaged in the labour market (e.g. women, youth, seniors, the unemployed, immigrants and people with disabilities), through a support system that is open for all. In July 2015, a national strategy for sustainable regional growth and attractiveness for 2015-20 was published. Its priorities are: (i) innovation and entrepreneurship, (ii) attractive environments and access, (iii) skills availability, and (iv) international cooperation. This work with regional growth is developed further for 2021-27 and is aligned to the EU cohesion policy. Several organisations are responsible for supporting specific groups of entrepreneurs, specifically senior citizens. This includes, for example, municipalities, centres for elderly citizens, Our project will align with the "Inclusive entrepreneurship policy framework" strategy.
Swedish strategy in a Baltic region context: The Swedish Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region will focus on promoting entrepreneurship and changes that are needed for a long-term vision promoting start-ups in Baltic region in the context of EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region.
Other In National level Finnish government programme requires an increase in the labour market participation as well as it says that improving competitiveness is essential for Finnish enterprises and their employees, so attention is paid to employee education and skills, product R&D and investment, and services that seek to boost employment and incentives for entrepreneurship and self-employment. Economic development is expected to deteriorate. Ageing of the working-age population and a lower birth rate pose challenges for the Finnish labour market.
Government resolution on entrepreneurship strengthens the Government’s entrepreneurship strategy and one part of the strategy is to enable flexible transitions between employment and entrepreneurship, make regulation simpler and more predictable, and provide better social protection for entrepreneurs. Improve the wellbeing of entrepreneurs. Finnish National Programme of Ageing 2030 says: The key impact objectives of the programme on ageing 2030 are to direct to older people and risk groups preventive measures that improve functional ability; to extend the functional ability and working careers of older working-age people, especially in social and health care; to increase and enable voluntary work; to ensure the equality, more efficient coordination and economic sustainability of services for older people; to increase the age-friendliness of housing and residential environments; and to highlight the development and utilisation of Finnish technology for ageing.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 081 - Participations in joint actions across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR8 Number of people with increased entrepreneurship, Measurement unit: number of people

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-01-21

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

63 / 112 (56.25%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

251 / 446 (56.28%)

Notes on the data

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Entrepreneurship Simulation Program for Silver Economy in Central Baltic

Description

Thematic information

Partners (4)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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