Local

GenerationYouthYou

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Growth_

Innovation

Start-up

Grow

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Smart Cities

DigitizationDigitizationBig dataBig data

Entrepreneurship

Start-up

GROWTH

Smart

REPORT

cor.europa.eu/yfactor#YFactor

EUROPEAN UNION

Committee of the Regions

27-01-2016 | 9:30-13:00 | Atrium 6

Rue Belliard 99-101 | B-1040 Brussels

Y FACTORThink Smart, Think Regional…Let's Innovate!

[Y] Factor Conference is a youth event organised by the trainees of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in collaboration with the CoR services. The main idea behind [Y] Factor is to tackle the topics and issues that concern young people at the local and regional level.

The third [Y] Factor Conference organised on January 27, 2016 focused on the role of youth in local and regional innovation. Start-uppers, local and regional authorities, and experts in the digital and innovation sector were brought together to hold a discussion on two thematic panels:

I. Young entrepreneurs and local and regional authorities: New paths of cooperation?

II. Young generation and smart cities: How can big data drive innovation?

[Y]  Factor was held in an innovative format which aimed at generating truly unique ideas specific to

the participants’ and speakers’ experience. After each speaker’s introduction to the topic, the participants were given 10 minutes to discuss within their tables, and 25 minutes for an open debate with the speakers and the rest of the participants respectively.

STARTUPPER table

PARTICIPANT TABLES(80 people)

CoR MEMBER tableEXPERT table

The [Y]  Factor team consistently noted down participants’ comments and remarks, the speaker’s ideas and interventions, as well as the moderator’s conclusions derived from the table discussions; the following recommendations and proposals are thus solely based on the conference’s content.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

› Enhance cross-border public procurement

› Increase collaboration at local and regional level, and encourage the exchange of best practice

› Create more community-based platforms that enhance public-private collaboration on big data

› Harmonise the procedures for launching new businesses within the EU

› Help companies in finding their customers through grants, education programmes, and networks of local authorities

› Encourage the creation of Vibrant Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

Think Smart, Think Regional… Let’s Innovate!

What characterises Vibrant Entrepreneurial Ecosystems?

› Density of young entrepreneurs

› Diversity of skills, passions and inputs

› Mobility

› Interconnectivity

INITIATIVES FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES

› EDUCATION

Conference Message: Anyone can learn to code, and at any age, you can become an entrepreneur!

» Introduce coding lessons to elementary schools » Set up mentoring programmes at high schools » Promote entrepreneurial skills among citizens

› MINDSET

Conference Message: It is the duty of public institutions and local governments to become smarter and more connected

» Make innovation one of your priorities » Be flexible and responsive to new initiatives » Grasp the benefits that big, small and open data can offer you; data and innovation help you to connect

with the citizens

› SIMPLIFICATION AND FACILITATION

Conference Message: Create better synergies among the leaders of tomorrow and the policy makers of today.

» Better communicate the work and procedures of local and regional bodies » Develop incubators, one stop shops, and mentoring programmes » Create enterprise and start-up awards and prizes » Further promote the existing ecosystems, incubators, policies and opportunities

ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101

1. Check if your city or region has a one stop shop

2. Check if your regional body has funding programmes

3. Start from a problem you want to solve

4. Start at a location where you understand the needs and opportunities

5. Have a business plan

6. Use large organisations as your reference, customers and mentors

7. Know your area of expertise and don’t be afraid to ask for help

8. Be proactive, take advantage of the opportunities out there

9. Remember the role of local and regional authorities

10. Be prepared to fail!

Speakers: Daugilas Kakaras (Head of Sales and mCity, Itero IT), Neale Richmond (Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Councillor), Ingrid Willems (Entrepreneur in Residence – iMinds, Founder at DataScouts), Lorenzo Pregliasco (Director and Co-founder of YouTrend and Quorum), Anne Karjalainen (City Councillor of Kerava), Henriette van Eijl (Policy Coordinator for Smart Cities, European Commission (DG MOVE)

Moderator: Katrina Sichel

Edited by the Directorate for Communication of the CoR Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 101 _ 1040 Bruxelles/Brussels _ Belgique/BelgiëTel. +32 25468202 _ Fax +32 22822085 _ www.cor.europa.eu

4 STEPS to launch a great idea:

1. Research your market

2. Find an accelerator

3. Get a mentor

4. Just do it!

What makes a good entrepreneur?

› Education

› Teamwork

› Patience

› Perseverance

› Goal-orientation

TIP FROM THE PRESIDENT:

”YOU NEED TO DEMAND A REAL ACTION FROM YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT NOW!’’

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EUROPEAN UNION

Committee of the Regions