Social Enterprise & Social Enterprise & Capacity Building in Capacity Building in

BulgariaBulgariaDr. Evgeni EvgenievDr. Evgeni Evgeniev

Co-Creating Social Entrepreneurship for GrowthCopenhagen Business School

2-3 April, 2014

Co-Creation in the Eastern Co-Creation in the Eastern

European ContextEuropean Context

• Emerging economies

• Two key ideas (Prahalad, et al.)- Focus on the centrality of the individual (N=1)- Focus to access to resources, not ownership

(R=G)

New competition challenge: The meaning of value has changed

Consumer-firm dynamics changed Consumer-firm dynamics changed dramatically in past hundred yearsdramatically in past hundred years

Momentum Hall, Salt Lake city, USA

Establishment: 1998 (Bulgaria)Ownership: BulgarianEmployees: Started with 3 workers, 300 professional staff today.Sales points: over 20 countriesGlobal market: 60 % shareRevenues in 2013 – 60 % increaseRevenues in 2014 – over 60 % expectedTop Markets: US, CA, DE, FranceInnovation: Unique Designs AppliedWalltopia Eco-System – creation and booking of routes (for climbers to share experience) in open online platform in gyms around the world.

Chris Sharma (best climber in the world) Chris Sharma (best climber in the world)

is working closely with Walltopiais working closely with Walltopia

Sender One Hall, near Los Angeles, USA

Figure 2: Bulgaria ranks last among EU Figure 2: Bulgaria ranks last among EU

member states in terms of Innovationmember states in terms of Innovation

Source: Innovation Union Scoreboard, European Commission, 2014.

Micro and Small Firms are Important in Micro and Small Firms are Important in

BulgariaBulgaria

Government as Innovation CatalystGovernment as Innovation Catalyst• Figure 7

7

Macroeconomic and regulatory context

Macroeconomic and regulatory context

Education and

Training System

Education and

Training System

Outcomes: Growth, jobs, competitiveness

Outcomes: Growth, jobs, competitiveness

State

Firms

FinanceResearch

National Innovation Capacity

National Innovation Capacity

ProductProduct

Communicational infrastructureCommunicational infrastructure

Market conditions

Market conditions

Source: World Bank, 2013.

Tested hypothesis:

“Firms with a higher degree of involvement in co-creation activities are in a better position to articulate the innovative aspects of their new products, processes and services.”

Source: Tanev, St. et. Al (2011), Journal of Innovation Economics

Sofia Tech Park as a Value Co-Sofia Tech Park as a Value Co-

Creation Eco-systemCreation Eco-system

1. EDUCATIONExisting educational programsDiaspora/New cooperation programsPartnerships with international universities

2. FUNDING RESOURCESEquity funds: JEREMIE (public and private funding)National Innovation FundOther (business angels, risk funds, etc.)

3. SCIENCEResearch teams /projectsDiasporaIndividual researchers5. TENANTSMultinationals Local (mature) companiesStart-ups

4. MENTORS AND SUPPORT NETWORKIncubation services for start-upsClustersGlobal partnership networks

Thank you!Thank you!

Dr. Evgeni EvgenievAssociate Professor, VUZF UniversitySofia, Bulgariaeevgeniev@vuzf.bgwww.vuzf.bg