Specific problems to be addressed by the related objectives
• Lack of cooperation between public officials, municipalities, educational institutes and other actors in society in encouraging entrepreneurship and removing obstacles to it

• Need of pro-entrepreneurship atmosphere in societies; e.g. regional programmes should be assessed from an entrepreneurship perspective

• Lack of support in generating and developing business ideas among SMEs.

• Need of start up support among young and beginning entrepreneurs

• Lack of information, cooperation and partners among entrepreneurs, when concerning international activities and relationships.

• Lack of cooperation (in practical level) between innovation players/organizations in Mid Nordic, St. Petersburg and Narva regions, both within and outside the regions and across country borders.

Aims / objectives
Overall objective:
• Boosting the ambience and culture of entrepreneurship
• Promoting and producing entrepreneurship (SMEs) in Baltic Sea Region
• Fostering innovations

Purpose of the project:
• Enhanced preconditions and attractiveness of entrepreneurship in society
• Improved cooperation between both entrepreneurs and innovation
players/organizations in Mid Nordic Region, Narva, St. Petersburg region and others.

More information:
Eeva-Liisa Koivumäki
Jyväskylä Regional Development Company Jykes Ltd
e-mail: eeva-liisa.koivumaki@jykes.fi
www.jykes.fi

Project background:
Initiated in 2003, the aim of the Y4 entrepreneurial ideology is to make Central Finland the most entrepreneur-friendly region in the world by appreciating, motivating and encouraging people to be innovative, work in an entrepreneurial spirit and be entrepreneurs, while at the same time complying with ethically sustainable values. Y4 involves local entrepreneurs, elected officials, civil servants, educational institutions, students, development companies, parishes and various volunteer organisations, which all encourage to entrepreneurship and remove on a practical level any barriers that prevent people being an entrepreneur. The region has a dedicated entrepreneurial delegate that coordinates the Y4 process. Altogether, 36 public organisations from around Central Finland have joined the Y4 entrepreneurial ideology, each formulating its own promises aimed at promoting entrepreneurship.
Y4 ideology was selected the most creative and inspiring entrepreneurship initiative in Europe 2006.

The Y4 ideology elaborating project idea comes from European Enterprise Awards competition. The success of the competition showed that the Y4 is something that may help other European countries.
The project starting point is to develop an action model of the Y4 ideology for international market.
The main goal of the project is to elaborate the plan for co-operation project in Norway, Sweden, Russia and Finland.

The aims of the project are:
1. To model the core of the Y4 ideology and its central actions
2. To find co-operation partner countries and organizations
3. To develop the Y4 to respond the international co-operation partners