Energy Efficiency and climate protection around the Mare Balticum
Energy Efficiency and climate protection around the Mare Balticum

Author: Max Hogeforster

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2013-06-25

Total Pages: 266

ISBN-13: 3848299690

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According to European and national schedules the Baltic Sea Region must cut its energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions dramatically within the next few decades. Substantial growth of renewable energy sources will be needed as well as a boost in energy efficiency. In this process small and medium sized enterprises (SME) play a key factor. The authors of this book – scientists, entrepreneurs and journalists – discuss how SMEs can make the best investment decisions to reduce their own energy consumption. Additionally the articles analyse new market opportunities opening up for SMEs, as implementing energy efficiency will happen mostly on a local level and on a rather small scale. For being able to seize these opportunities training and education of SMEs' staff are essential. The included texts are printed either in German or English.

Innovative SMEs by Gender and Age around the Mare Balticum
Innovative SMEs by Gender and Age around the Mare Balticum

Author: Baltic Sea Academy

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2014-03-12

Total Pages: 386

ISBN-13: 3735791190

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At the 9th Hanseatic Conference 2014 in Hamburg, representatives from business organisations, academic institutions and policy makers from all countries around the Baltic Sea exchanged their experiences. This book contains the presented papers and a summary of the discussion of the participants. The elimination of discrimination by gender and age in working life is an important social concern, regardless of economic needs. But increased labour force participations of women and older people are also essential for economic reasons in the light of demopgraphic developments and changed conditions. Currently high and ever growing shortage of entrepreneurs, managers and professionals are the factors that increasingly limit economic development. There is an urgent need to make better use of local labour potential, particularly via higher labour force participation of women and older people in general. Global competition requires high innovation and strong increases in productivity of the entire Baltic Sea region, and especially in the countries to the south of the Sea. The innovations and productivity of companies benefit from increased proportion of women. The greatest innovation and productivity reserves lie in the staff and organisational development, including education; improvements in this respect stipulate equal opportunities and strengthen competitiveness. This publication was developed as part of the flagship project of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region “Innovative SMEs by Gender and Age (QUICK-IGA)”.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Women's Entrepreneurship around the Mare Balticum
Corporate Social Responsibility and Women's Entrepreneurship around the Mare Balticum

Author: Baltic Sea Academy

Publisher: BOD GmbH DE

Published: 2013-09-11

Total Pages: 466

ISBN-13: 373227845X

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Vol. 10 of the BSA - Series “Shareholder value”, the old, egocentric mantra of business is obsolete. Modern entrepreneurs care about society and the environment – simply because employees as well as more and more customers appreciate fair and sustainable business conduct. Enterprises try to meet this demand by implementing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), a strategic tool to engage with important stakeholders, build trust and enhance long-term competitiveness. SMEs are predestined for such close relations to customers and communities. But still SMEs hesitate to fully engage in CSR, mostly for their tight time resources and budgets. The authors of this book demonstrate that for SMEs in the Baltic Sea region CSR is a key to future success, that does not need to be overly sophisticated or costly. Women are still underrepresented as entrepreneurs in the Baltic Sea Region. In the second part of this book the authors look into the barriers that hinder women from starting their own business and develop strategies to change this in order to tap two of the great resources of the Baltic Sea Region – the knowledge and creativity of half its workforce. The texts in the book are printed in German or English.

Strategies and Promotion of Innovation in Regional Policies around the Mare Balticum
Strategies and Promotion of Innovation in Regional Policies around the Mare Balticum

Author: Baltic Sea Academy

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2012-12-22

Total Pages: 432

ISBN-13: 3848272490

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A sound promotion of innovation is essential for the future of the Baltic Sea Region, in particular to support the small- and medium sized enterprises. For this purposes stakeholders from medium-sized businesses, science, politics, and administration met at the seventh Hanseatic Conference in May 2012 in Hamburg. For two days the participants discussed about "Innovation and innovative strategies in the regional policy around the mare balticum" to further strengthen the region. It became evident, that a sustainable promotion of innovation demands a closer cooperation within the regions, on a transnational level but also between administrations and especially between companies and R&D institutions. The Baltic Sea area will only be one of the most innovative and strong regions in the world, if the bordering countries build a unit. This publication included the presented papers and summarizes the discussion of the participants.

Work-based learning around the mare balticum
Work-based learning around the mare balticum

Author: . Baltic Sea Academy

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2015-03-19

Total Pages: 237

ISBN-13: 3734776155

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At the 10th Hanseatic Conference 2015 in Hamburg, representatives from business organisations, academic institutions and policy makers from all countries around the Baltic Sea exchanged their experiences. This book contains the presented papers and a summary of the participants’ discussion. Vocational training has dramatically lost its appeal. More and more young people rather opt for study programmes at the university, and refuse to learn practical skills in vocational education. However, the qualifications of the high number of academics do not match the demand of SMEs for skilled workers and entrepreneurs, as their knowledge is mostly theoretical. At the same, due to demographic changes, the number of school leavers in the Baltic Sea Region is declining. Both developments have led to a dramatic shortage of skilled workers and entrepreneurs which is severely limiting growth and innovativeness of SMEs. In order to overcome this crisis, dual vocational training and dual degree study programmes have to be promoted substantially. In dual vocational training enterprises can actively influence and improve the quality of the education their apprentices receive; and in dual degree study programmes students can test and apply their theoretical knowledge, which they acquire at the university, simultaneously in the enterprises. The contributors of this book describe how this reform of education policy can be implemented in practice.

Strategy Programme for Innovation in Regional Policies in the Baltic Sea Region
Strategy Programme for Innovation in Regional Policies in the Baltic Sea Region

Author: Max Hogeforster

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 242

ISBN-13: 384823047X

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This publication gives an overview of the current state and development potential of the Baltic Sea Region and proposes a concrete strategy programme for innovation in regional policies. One prerequisites is a strong cooperation between the regions and states, but also the promotion of regional competition while preserving and strengthening the specific regional cultures around the Mare Balticum. For a competitive Baltic Sea Region, it is also essential that the regional policy supports the innovation in the small- and medium sized enterprises, since 99,8 % of all companies are SMEs and thus the economic and social backbone. A creation of real knowledge-alliances between universities, public administrations and businesses is highly recommended. These political strategies are the result of intensive discussions and experiences of a three year running project with 40 partners from 11 countries around the Baltic Sea Region, called BSR QUICK. They are adopted and recommended by the 47 Members of the Hanse Parlament and 16 Members of the Baltic Sea Academy. The book contains the identical text of approx. 55 pages in English, German and Polish. The book concentrates on - Cooperation and integration - Regional competition and fiscal equalization - Equivalent living conditions and functional division of labor - Independent cultures and regional self-esteem - Endogenous potentials and smart specialization - Regional economic cycles and intense range development - Small and medium-sized enterprises and networks - Innovation and knowledge partnerships Decentralization and autonomy

Promotion of business transfers in the Baltic Sea Region
Promotion of business transfers in the Baltic Sea Region

Author: Max Hogeforster

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2021-09-21

Total Pages: 208

ISBN-13: 3754351214

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The ageing of society does not stop at company owners. More and more companies have to be handed over to the new generation. This process is a challenge for all parties involved. The support of business transfer assistance is just as essential for the European economy as the promotion of start-ups because both are critical to the development of the European economy. Over 450.000 firms with over two million jobs are transferred to a new owner in the EU-28 each year. Around one-third of these transfers fail, and the companies are closed. The future growth and sustainability of innovative companies in the Baltic Sea Region are severely limited by failed business transfers. Furthermore, due to a lack of available and appropriate successors, many firms are liquidated rather than transferred. This publication is part of the project INBETS (www.inbets.eu), highlights the background to the current situation of business transfers in the Baltic Sea Region, and proposes a policy program to promote business successions and open up new target groups of potential successors. Part-financed by the European Union (European Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) within the INBETS project. This publication does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Commission.

Common Vocational Training to Master craftsman in the Baltic Sea Region
Common Vocational Training to Master craftsman in the Baltic Sea Region

Author: Jürgen Hogeforster

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2018-08-27

Total Pages: 301

ISBN-13: 375282901X

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All countries around the Baltic Sea region face a great shortage of entrepreneurs and managers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This substantially limits economic growth and innovation capacity. Due to demographic reasons population and thus working age population is expected to decline in almost all European countries in the near future, so that this shortage will even increase and have a strong impact on the SMEs, that must compete with major industries for the few well-qualified talents. To tackle this pressing issue, experts from Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway teamed up in an EU-funded project to develop a common vocational training titled 'Master Craftsman' that reflects the needs for SMEs, in particular from the craft sector. This publication contains all relevant information, from the concept and background to the actual curricula and example for examination regulations.

Three-level Centers of Vocational Excellence: Qualification, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Green Economy
Three-level Centers of Vocational Excellence: Qualification, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Green Economy

Author: Jürgen Hogeforster

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2024-09-19

Total Pages: 332

ISBN-13: 3759727999

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Meeting the challenges in the fields of energy, climate and environmental protection requires comprehensive reorientation and forward-looking innovations. These tasks must be mastered by SMEs against the background of the following problems: - blatant & growing shortage of skilled workers - large qualification deficits, especially in the Green Economy - loss of attractiveness & low qualification of school-based VET - low rates of further training & insufficient orientation of offers to SME needs - ageing of entrepreneurs & high, growing shortage of young people (demographic change) - failure of business transfers & low rates of business start-ups - low innovation rates & insufficient productivity - not enough cooperation between universities and SMEs & a lack of teaching geared to SME needs - comparably low internationalization of SMEs & many vocational training providers To meet these challenges, 22 project partners from 7 countries and 70 associated partners from 13 countries have developed, operated and ensured the long-term continuation of eight centres of vocational excellence for the green economy. The centres introduce dual education and implement a wide range of measures in vocational training, further education and higher education, which are developed, tested and evaluated in the project. The eight center developed and implemented 7 Train the Trainer programs, 59 vocational trainings, further education and study programs, 5 tools and support programs and 10 concepts and political strategy programs. The educational measures cover Green Economy, Digitalization and Entrepreneurship. Vocational and educational counselling and innovation support for SMEs were developed and implemented.

Development of the enterprises’ competitiveness in the context of demographic challenges
Development of the enterprises’ competitiveness in the context of demographic challenges

Author: Marzena Grzesiak

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2013-12-30

Total Pages: 354

ISBN-13: 3732293939

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This publication relates to the subject of shaping and maintaining high competitiveness and innovation by businesses, with particular emphasis on the SME sector in the Baltic Sea Region. It is divided into three parts. The first part includes the discussion of women's economic activity and their participation in the creation and strengthening of the competitive position of companies. The second part is devoted to problems related to the ageing of population in the Baltic Sea Region countries and the potential socio-economic impact of this fast growing process. The deliberations contained in the second part refer also to the possibilities and conditions for realizing the potential of seniors in the development of competitiveness and innovation of enterprises. The third part is a fragmentary overview of achievements related to the factors of competitiveness and innovation of modern enterprises. The papers, that were presented at a international conference 2013 at the Gdansk University of Technology, are printed in English.