"Introduction to the topic of the 27th PODIM Conference"
prof. Miroslav Rebernik, Conference Chair, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Maribor, Slovenia

Welcome address by: prof. Ivan Rozman, Rector of the University of Maribor, Franc Kangler, Mayor of City of Maribor and prof. Dušan Lesjak, State Secretary at Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology

"Creating Entrepreneurship Mindset"

prof. Alain Fayolle, Head of the Entrepreneurship Research Centre, EM LYON - Ecole de Management de Lyon, France

Entrepreneurship is not about creating companies but about changing the mindset. Universities should strive to build entrepreneurial capabilities that are applicable to real life situations in companies. New paradigms and methods of creating entrepreneurship potential and changing the mindset will be discussed.

"Nurturing Champions of Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Cambridge Phenomenon"
prof. Alan Barrell, Entrepreneur in Residence, University of Cambridge Entrepreneurship Centre, UK

Cambridge area is on the world scale one of the most recognised for successful turning research into viable businesses and the cooperation between university and industry is flourishing. Where do so many champions of innovation and entrepreneurship arise from? What is the lesson for less developed regions?

"Slovenian Higher Education System as a facilitator of (regional) development"

How to create a competitive network of higher education institutions? Contribution of higher education institutions to (regional) development. Delivering competitive, innovative and entrepreneurial higher education graduates.

"Academic spin-off companies: Myths and Reality"
dr. Ederyn Williams, Director, Warwick Ventures, UK

Can universities make lots of money out of spin-offs? Or is it easier to publish or license the results of research? Should entrepreneurship be part of a university’s mission? These are some of the questions Dr Williams will discuss.

"With knowledge, commitment and good ideas to successful innovative company: Microsoft's prescription for success"
Goran Radman, Chairman, Microsoft South East Europe

In accordance with its vision of exploiting creative potentials, Microsoft has developed many programs that enable young and partnering companies to access numerous opportunities for success. Participants at the conference will be introduced to different Microsoft's initiatives for technology transfer, supporting partners and fostering innovation and knowledge development that can form a solid base for young, succesfull, innovative and high-growth companies.

"Competitiveness based on Entrepreneurship and Innovation"

Maive Rute, Director, European Commission, Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry

99 % of all companies in EU are SMEs. What can be done with the support of EU that SME which are responsible for 75 million jobs in EU will grow and prosper? How to turn on the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of over 25 million SMEs in EU? How successful is the implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises in this endeavour?

"Trimo as Slovenian top innovative company: why and how they succeeded?"
Tatjana Fink, CEO, Trimo, Slovenia

Trimo is one of the innovativeness and performance leading Slovenian companies. Innovative solutions are sought among employees and in the environment. Tatjana Fink, CEO of Trimo and one of the most successful Slovenian managers will introduce the key motivation mechanisms at searching for innovative solutions and achieved results in their Company.

"Starting a new business with support of large corporation technology"
Vikas Sahni, CEO, Softedge-Systems, Ireland

Softledge-System has developed its products with help of Microsoft intellectual property. Director of the company will present the key characteristics of IP Ventures technology owned by Microsoft. He will also point out main advantages and weaknesses of cooperation with Microsoft.

"WHAT IS MISSING: TALENT, TECHNOLOGY OR TOLERANCE?"

Round table: Tatjana Fink, CEO, Trimo, dr. Alenka Žnidaršič Kranjc, Entrepreneur and CEO, Prva pokojninska družba, dr. Cvetka Tinauer, CEO, EBA, Zoran Živič, Entrepreneur and CEO, Keko-Varicon, Franc Kangler, Mayor of Maribor and Wolter Smit, Entrepreneur and CEO, TOPdesk, Netherlands.

Chair: Goran Novkovič, Business Daily Finance

Slovenian entrepreneurial contest: THE BEST ENTREPRENEURIAL IDEA AWARD 2006/07

Prize-winner award ceremony of the Slovenian entrepreneurial contest The Best Entrepreneurial Idea Award 2006/07 organized by Business Daily Finance and Venture Factory

PLENARY SESSION

Welcome addresses by H.E. Mr. John Groffen, Ambassador of the Netherlands, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in
Ljubljana and Michel Richter, Co-Director, Academic Training Association (ATA), Netherlands

"Keeping Entrepreneurial Dynamics and Spirit Alive: the Story of Netherlands' Gazelle"
Wolter Smit, CEO and Co-funder, TOPdesk, Netherland

A company that grows fast and at the same time employ new people difficult keeps entrepreneurial spirit and dynamic alive. TOPdesk is a good example of a company that grows fast and at the same keeps flexible and innovative entrepreneurial culture alive by introducing innovative methods and motivating employees.

"Leading Through Technological Innovation"
prof. David Birchall, Director of School and Director of Henley Management College's Learning and Teaching Services, UK

The author of the book on leading through technological innovation will discuss practical tools for future proofing, assessing innovative potential, capabilities review, cultural fit and knowledge management practices. The issues surrounding the implementation of innovation and using it to company’s advantage and how to make the innovation a "core capability" of business will be presented.

"HOW TO BECOME SUPERIOR or WHAT COULD BE LEARNED FROM SUCCESSFUL INNOVATIVE COMPANIES"

Representatives from selected innovative Slovenian companies will represent different tools and reflections for motivation and for fostering innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of employees.

Participants:

• Miloš Šturm, Director of Development & Strategic Projects, Hidria
• dr. Cvetka Tinauer, Entrepreneur and CEO, EBA
• Matjaž Čemažar, Head of R&D, Domel
• Boštjan Troha and Tibor Klajnšček, Entrepreneur and team member, ZootFly
• dr. Iztok Kramberger, Researcher, University of Maribor

Introductions will be followed by discussion, chaired by Best Entrepreneurial Idea Award project coordinator Stanislava K. Vabšek and project editor Andreja Basle, Business Daily Finance

"Transfer of Business Angels’ concept from Cambridge into Slovenia"
Enej Kuščer, founder of company ACIES BIO

"Who are Slovenian Business Angels, what projects are we seeking and how much are we willing to invest"

Branko Drobnak, Chairman of the Management Board of Poteza Group

In Slovenia, we are establishing first informal organised business angels’ team on the model of Cambridge. Project leaders Enej Kuščer, entrepreneur with contacts to business angels from Cambridge where he made his PhD research, and Branko Drobnak, successful entrepreneur and business angel, will answer the following questions: who are participants of the team; how they are operating; how to contact them; and in which companies and how much capital do they intend to invest.

Introduction of characteristics of equity-financing innovative ideas through business angels.

"WOULD THE NEW LAW OF VENTURE CAPITAL INDUSTRY IN SLOVENIA FACILITATE FINANCING INNOVATIVE IDEAS AND START-UPS?"

Participating are representatives from venture capital funds and from the Slovenian Government, who have taken an active role at the preparing the law of venture capital.

Round table:

• M.Sc. Andrej Šircelj, State Scretary, Ministry of Finance, Slovenia
• M.Sc. Janko Burger, Director of Dicterorate for Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Economy, Slovenia
• Boris Pfeifer, Director, Slovenian Entreprise Fund, Slovenia
• Jonathan Cooper, Director, Venture Capital Fund Poteza Ventures, Netherlands - Slovenia
• Roman Didovič, CEO, Venture Capital Fund Sivent, Slovenia
• Gvido Omladič, CEO, ERA, Slovenia

Chair: M.Sc. Matej Rus, Senior Lecturer for entrepreneurship at Faculty of Economics and Business and Director of Venture Factory

»Nurturing Champions of Innovation and Entrepreneurship: The Troyes’ Case«
Prof. Didier Calcei, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Department, and Prof. David Moroz, Economics Department, Champagne School of Management, France
»Promoting innovation and exceptional performance in the scottish construction industry«
Dr. Milan Radosavljevic, School of Construction Management and Engineering, University of Reading, United Kingdom

»Evaluation of idea management in Slovenian enterprises«
Mag. Peter Fatur, and Dr. Borut Likar, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, Slovenia

»Nurturing champions expiriences of Technology park Ljubljana«
Mag. Iztok Lesjak, Technology Park Ljubljana, Slovenia

»Laying the foundations for the european googles of the future«
Prof. Alessia Melasecche Germini, Faculty of Economics, University of Perugia, Italy, Eng. Andrea Di Anselmo, Director of Meta Group d.o.o., Slovenia, and Mrs. Maria Laura Fornaci, Responsible Department Italy, Business Unit Consultacy META Group S.r.l., Italy

»Business improvement system within high-technological development environment«
Uroš Prelovšek and Marjeta Pučko, Quality Department, Iskratel Ltd., Slovenia

»The Prerequisites for Growth through Technology Innovation in Small and Medium Size Countries«
Dr. Avi Messica, The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Holon Institute of Technology, and Dr. Tamir Agmon, Graduate Business School, The College of Management, Israel

»Education for innovation – an example of educational initiative stimulating creativity«
Prof. Zbigniew Klos, and Hanna Sawicka, Faculty of Machines and Transportation, Poznan University of Technology, Poland

»France: an example of champion of innovation and entrepreneurship«
Prof. Yannick Le Guern, Project Director in Advancia French Graduate School of Entrepreneurship, France

Break

»Development of entrepreneurial spirit among young population – Macedonian case«
Prof. Radmil Polenakovik, Director, Bojan Jovanoski and Aleksandar Kurciev, Assistants
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University Business Start-Up Centre, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Macedonia

»European project IMP³rove for Innovation«
Mag. Darja Zorko Mencin, Abis Ltd., Ljubljana

»Education and research as determinants of entrepreneurship: the case of selected Global Entrepreneurship Monitor countries«
Prof. Maks Tajnikar, Dean, Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, and Mag. Ksenja Pušnik, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, Slovenia

»Understanding the role of venture capital in university incubators: the case of University incubator of Ljubljana«
Dr. Jaka Vadnjal, Director of the Research Institute, GEA College of Entrepreneurship, and Mag. Borut Sterle, Director, University Incubator of Ljubljana, Slovenia
»Measuring outcomes of nurturing champions of innovation and entrepreneurship« DDr. Matjaž Mulej, Dr. Jožica Knez-Riedl, Dr. Vojko Potocan, Dr. Zdenka Ženko, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, and Peter Fatur, Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, Andrej Kokol, Unior d.d., Branko Škafar, Saubermacher&Komunala, Slovenia
»Innovativeness of nascent and new companies in Slovenia«
Prof. Polona Tominc and Prof. Miroslav Rebernik, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, Slovenia
»Strengthening the technological capacity of SME: multicriteria analysis of government policies of the western Balkans countries«
Mag. Admir Nuković and Doc. Dr. Bahrija Umihanić, Faculty of Economics, University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

»Entrepreneurship and intra-cultural variation: exploring the effect of diversity on national levels of innovation«
Dr. Aldo Cammarota, European Commission, Italy

TRACK 3 - SENSI

"Introduction to the topic of the Second South East European Business Start up and Incubator Conference"

Michel Richter, Co-Director, Academic Training Association (ATA), Netherlands

Welcome addresses by H.E. Mr. John Groffen, Ambassador of the Netherlands, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in
Ljubljana

SENSI PLENARY SESSION
• Presentations by members of SENSI.
• Presentation by Mag. Iztok Lesjak (director of Technology park Ljubljana and head of Slovenian incubator and technology park network

Open to all SENSI members and people interested in joining SENSI (registration on Thursday)