KHARKOV TECHNOLOGIES

CENTER OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Y2i winners 2009 announced

Baia Mare, 20 March 2009

The ecabit network Y2i contest ‚Youth to Innovation“ on innovative ideas in business and incubation management among young people announced its 2009 winners.

The Eastern European and Central Asian business incubators network (www.ecabit.org) announces the winners of the 2009 Y2i (Youth to Innovation) contest on innovative ideas in business and business incubation management addressing young people up to the age of 30. The contest aims to support innovative thinking and action among young people in both entrepreneurship and business incubation. The 21 applications of the 2009 Y2i contest included the following countries: Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, FYRO Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Russia.

Three winners were announced in the contest section of business incubatee innovation, business innovation, and innovation in business incubation. Eligible were young people between 18 and 30 years from Eastern European and Central Asian countries. Winners of the 2009 Y2i contest are:

• 1^st winner (section ‘Innovation in Business Incubation’): Alexei Leontiev (Russian Union of Innovation and Technology Centres) presented an innovative idea aimed to systematically consolidate required resources, direct entrepreneurial effort to specialized techno-hubs and coordinate the business incubation process into structured incubation cluster projects. Alexei is graduated in electronics and he has experience in business incubation. His application is based on an innovative idea, the stage been “pure idea”. The financial plan prove that the idea is sustainable, and it has capacity to generate profit. The application prove a very good understanding of innovation, the presentation been at professional level.
• 2^nd winner (section ‘Incubatee Innovation’): Dean Krstevski (Broker Inc. DOOEL Skopje, FYRO Macedonia; URL: www.broker.com.mk) presented an innovative idea aimed to develop a web-based platform that covers all sectors of the financial market and allow users to evaluate investment and loan options. Dean is graduated in economics and owns the company Broker Inc. The application is based on an idea that is on advanced planning stage already and in development phase. The financial plan indicates high potential sustainability of the project. The application showed a very good understanding of innovation.
• 3^rd winner (section ‘Business Innovation – non-incubatee’): Steliana Economu (Romania) presented an innovative idea aimed to improve the rural tourism combining different leasure activities with learning in a rural environment. Steliana is graduated in economics and obtained a master degree in project management. The application is based on a fully prepared concept and business plan. The financial plan indicates high potential sustainability of the proposed project. The application showed a very good understanding of innovation.

• 1^st selection: Pepovski Darko (student at University Cyril & Methodius, Skopje, FYRO Macedonia) presented an idea improving the design for glass bottles. It is made of stretch and strong, shiny, classy textile material. The aim of using stretch material is to provide a practical solution, in order to be well fixed on the shape of the bottle. This will in turn add protective packaging role, facilitating the transport and decreasing the transportation costs.
• 2^nd selection: Tatyana Shpuling (SODBI business incubator, Shymkent; URL: www.sodbi.kz) presented an idea aimed to the process of integration of energy saving solutions along with optimization of infrastructure of SODBI Business Incubator will enhance the quality of incubation services and reduce the incubator’s maintenance costs, thus making it a unique facility for local businesses.