"Introduction to the topic of the 29^th PODIM Conference"
Prof. Miroslav Rebernik, Conference Chair, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Maribor, Slovenia

Welcome addresses: Prof. Ivan Rozman, Rector of University of Maribor, Igor Plestenjak, acting director of Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments, Andrej Verlič, Deputy Mayor of City of Maribor and Manja Skernišak, Member of the Management board of Nova KBM d.d.

"Innovation in Low-Tech Firms and Industries"
Prof. dr. Hartmut Hirsch-Kreinsen, University of Dortmund, Germany

Hartmut Hirsch-Kreinsen is Professor of Economic and Industrial Sociology at the University of Dortmund. His working fields include company strategies and company networks, development of work, and innovation studies and development processes of new technologies; a particular research focus is on the development perspectives of mature (“low-technology”) industries and low-skilled industrial work. In the presentation the features of low-tech innovation strategies will be summarized. Specific knowledge base, management capabilities of low-tech companies, and the development perspectives of this sector will be elaborated.

"Advanced technologies and platforms to support development of winning products" 
Jan Muehlfeit, Chairman Europe, Microsoft Corporation

Jan Muehlfeit started his career in the public sector as a programmer and information systems manager. Later he was director of international sales and marketing for Software602, a Czech software development company. He joined Microsoft in 1993 and, during his seven years in the company’s Czech and Slovak operations, headed a variety of departments including marketing and sales. He has received numerous awards, including "Best Manager of Czech Republic for 1999" and the "Czech Brain Award". Three times he was named the Czech IT Personality of the Year.

The I-Scout Method is based on 35 generic patterns (called trends of evolution), which can be used to generate ideas for the next evolution of a product or a systems. By applying this method it is possible to generate a very big amount of highly promising and feasible innovation ideas. At the same time this method is completely industry independent. Because of the efficiency of the I-Scout Method, the deducted innovation process becomes very compact and cost-efficient.

Janez Damjan is a senior lecturer in marketing at the University of Ljubljana, and runs his own strategic marketing consultancy, Sartes. From the very beginning he successfully balances his career as an academic researcher with being a practitioner in marketing  He was president of the Slovenian Marketing Association from 1991 to 2000, and programme coordinator for the Golden Drum Advertising Festival. His main research interest is branding and consumer behaviour in markets in transition, and in addition to academic papers he has also published several case studies on small and medium enterprises in Slovenia.

mimovrste=)

Mimovrste=) is the fastest growing Slovenian online shop. Rapid growth of the company since its establishment was the reason they earned the »Bronz Gazel« Award in 2008. Beside growth is one of the key company values also social responsibility what proves »family-friendly company« certificate. Company is also finalist in »Golden Thread« Award for the best employer.

LUNA brand
Groga Čenčič, Director, Orka d.o.o., Slovenia

Orka is a dynamic business group founded in 1991 which produces, sells and facilitates solutions in various specialized areas of the chemical industry and also offers consumer goods to end users. In 2008 Orka captured the imagination of consumers in Slovenia with a new range of cleaning products under the Luna brand.

 
Viva La Musica
Avguštin Penič, Entrepreneur, Viva La Musica, Slovenia

Viva La Musica is the third biggest shoulder rest manufacturer in the world. Apart from shoulder rests, they also make violins, high quality speakers with original designs, and other items. All the products come from a deep desire to attain perfection and from a profound love of music.

"Practicing Innovation"
Tomislav Čorak, Project manager, A.T. Kearney, Slovenia

A.T. Kearney developed “House of Innovation” framework, used for identification of the best practices in innovation management. In order to further investigate how companies practice innovation management, A.T. Kearney conducts European wide “Best Innovator Study”. After 4 years they have over 750 companies in their database and are able to identify five key value drivers of outstanding innovation management: optimized effectives of innovation spend, optimized “idea funnel management”, increased development efficiency, increased innovation speed and more effective continuous improvement.

Tanja Mohorič

International company Trimo

Tomislav Matusinović

19.00–20.00

Winners
statue by:

In the frame of the Conference the prize winner award ceremony of the Slovenian start-up competition Start:up Slovenija will take place. The prestigious annual award recognizes the efforts of early-stage companies that need informal and formal investors and business partners to create successful businesses. The selection of the Start-up of the Year is based upon the evaluation of business plans and presentations before the award committee. The award will be presented by Mag. Darja Radić, State Secretary with the Ministry of the Economy of the Republic of Slovenia.

Concert: Alya