"Introduction to the topic of the 30th PODIM Conference"
Prof. Miroslav Rebernik, Conference Chair, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Maribor

Welcome addresses by: Prof. dr. Mejra Festić, Vice-Rector of the University of Maribor, Igor Plestenjak, Director of JAPTI - Public Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investments, Manja Skernišak, Deputy President & Deputy CEO of Nova KBM, d.d.

"From suggestion system to entrepreneurship over 30 years"
Prof. ddr. Matjaž Mulej, Ex-conference Chair, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Maribor

"The art of selling innovative ideas"
Dr. Laurent Miéville, Director, Unitec - University of Geneva Technology Transfer Office, Switzerland

Universities are increasingly developing professional teams in charge of identifying, protecting and selling inventions generated through research. These academic technology transfer professionals have to convince their industry counterparts that their innovations are bringing added value to their business. How do they operate and what are the key factors to take into account when selling innovative ideas? An experienced professional from one of the most successful country in Technology Transfer will share the best recipes for success to market and price early stage technologies.

"Business innovations as a tool for growth and success"
Sandi Češko,

Co-owner and Chairman of the Board of Studio Moderna Sandi Češko, will present the importance of innovation in business models as a tool for growth and success of the Company. Company Studio Moderna started business in 1992 and is now already present on twenty markets in Central and Eastern Europe. It has more than 3.000 employees, out of which about 300 in Slovenia. Total revenue of all branches in 2009 is about 250 million euros. The company claims the fact that even in times of crisis it has achieved a 20% revenue growth, which resulted from smart work of company employees.

"Entrepreneurial turnaround with innovative ideas: Beat competition with new products"
Dr. Maja Makovec Brenčič,

Innovative ideas are the key drivers of development. But not all ideas become inventions or innovations, successfully developed, recognized and purchased on the markets. To enable this, we need efficient cooperation of all business areas in a firm and wide understanding of markets and their stakeholders, and most importantly customers. But in all these processes, we need to be different from our competition and different in the eyes of our customers; different not only in creative ideas but also in their efficient and effective implementation. To reach this goal, we often need to provoke turnarounds in a firm’s mindset and vision. As H. Ford once said: “If I asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses”. And he designed cars.

Coffee break and Opening of the Arena Exhibition

• POPRI; for children and youth,
• PODJETNA PRIMORSKA; for potential entrepreneurs,
• SIMGULARIS; for new start-up companies,
• START-UP SLOVENIJA; for start-up companies.

• Peter Ribarič, MSc., Ministry of Economy, Slovenia
• Dr. Uroš Merc, Entrepreneur, Bisol, Slovenia
• Roman Ferenčak, Entrepreneur, Ocean Orchids, Slovenia
• Jure Mikuž, VC Fund Manager, RSG Capital, Slovenia
• Matjaž Južnič, Nova KBM, Slovenia

  
          

Chair: Peter Frankl, Director and Chief Editor, Business Daily Finance, Slovenia

17.45–18.00

• Kristjan Pečanac, entrepreneur, Simgularis d.o.o.
• Boštjan Stražar, Microsoft Slovenija
• Sašo Zagoranski, entrepreneur, Semantika d.o.o.
• Matjaž Kofol, entrepreneur, Avivo d.o.o.
• Blaž Kos, entrepreneur, Poslovni angeli Slovenije
• Andrej Tozon, entrepreneur, Tactum d.o.o.