Increasing entrepreneurial culture and competitiveness among artisans and craftsmen in Võru and Pskov

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Cross-border project "BestNest" between Võru and Pskov cities will be implemented to boost small-scale and creative bussiness activity in both cities. Pskov city as an old historical city and Võru area with its unique culture and ethnic group have huge potential to use cultural heritage in business. There is an urgent need to strengthen and increase the competitiveness of the border areas, which are situated far from the capitals. The unemployment rate is rather high and the entrepreneurial culture is not well developed among craftsmen living in the border regions. There are many craftsmen in Võru and Pskov, who have the necessary skills to perform the traditional handicrafts, but who are lacking the facilities to develop their private businesses as successful start-ups, since there are no venues for exhibiting and selling the items of local craftsmanship. The objectives of the project are to encourage and support business start-ups, which are using cultural heritage in their high-quality products. With project there will be established business incubator for creative industry in Võru town and Pskov Business Incubator. In newly established business incubators during the project there will be developed a list of professional services offered for incubants and measures will be worked out to keep elderly people involved in business and support silver economy. Võru business incubator also emphasizes on youngster. In order to preserve local cultural heritage, it is important to pass on the skills to the younger generations of craftsmen and to revive interest towards old traditions. Both business incubaors, in Võru and Pskov, will be integrated space in the city centre, where souvenir producers and end-consumers could interact with each other.  In order to support long-standing cooperation among entrepreneurs who are involved in the business issues on the cross-border territories, it is necessary to create favourable conditions for business start-ups and to promote the growth of new SMEs as well as to assist them in finding new business partners. During the project there will be pilot groups in Pskov incubator and Võru incubator, who take part in study-visits, workshops and are supported with professional business services. After the end of the project  business-support organizations - Development Agency of Võru County and the Pskov Business Incubator- will keep long-term cooperation. One of the aims of the project is to establish a network and to develop cooperation between the craftsmen of Võru and Pskov and to encourage  craftsmen to go and sell their products on big fairs or festivals that take place abroad (in Russia and Estonia). In both cities one of the  challenges is to develop and promote a brand of authentic, high quality souvenirs produced by local craftsmen in line with ancient traditions and technologies.  The synergy and cooperation between the Võro Institute and Pskov State University (Department of Design and Materials-Processing Technology) allows to work out high quality local brand souvenirs that are based on local heritage and would be widely known and recognizable outside both regions. It enables to develop tourism in both areas, also increases attractiveness of the area for tourists. New approach in Võru incubation centre is that the centre is designed both for the younger generation and start-ups. Local handicraft skills can be passed on to the younger generation in the incubation centre and as a result they grow up with a feeling that entrepreneurship can be a lifestyle. Another new solution is to develop support measures for silver economy because of the aging population in Võru. The synergy and cooperation between the Pskov Business Incubator and Development Center of Võru County guarantees the best list of services which are provided for inbucants in Võru and Pskov incubators.  Final beneficiaries of the projects are: local inhabitants incl. students and younger generation, local artisans and handicraftsmen, beginning enterprises, elderly people and unemployed peple. Our incubators will be the best nests for starting up own business in field of creative industry.

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