Evaluation of the Project First Solution - Main Highlights by Community Support Group in Finland.

In mid-June, the eRural resilience project’s Community Support Group in Finland held its second meeting, marking an important milestone as the first reporting period of the project came to a close. This meeting provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on the project’s initial progress and set the stage for future developments.

Reflecting on the Start

As the project partners reviewed the initial phase, the main focus was on evaluating the Competence Profile of business support organizations and validating the Methodology for Assessing e-Bio-Business Supporters as one of the main solutions of the project. The assessment revealed that the key areas of expertise required for these organizations are:

1. Business and Management
2. Digital Know-How
3. Biological Processes
4. Networking

A four-step assessment tool was utilized to gauge the competence levels of each organization and identify areas for improvement. The Finnish Community Support Group praised this comprehensive approach. “There are many different ways to assess the competence of organizations, and this is certainly one good way to approach the issue,” said Jukka Oravainen, Development Director from YritysKannus.

However, the group also acknowledged the high level of expertise required. “If someone can handle all that, she or he is quite a superperson,” noted Reijo Virtanen, Project Manager from Kase.

Looking Forward: Transnational Seminars

The Finnish Community Support Group is eager to participate in upcoming transnational seminars, which will offer a platform to enhance their capabilities further. Learning from international peers and networking across borders presents a significant opportunity for growth and collaboration. The group stated collectively that kearning from each other and networking over borders will be a great opportunity for all of the network members.

Strengthening Local Networks

Beyond international collaboration, the Community Support Group also serves as a networking platform for Finnish stakeholders. During the meeting, attendees were introduced to new bioeconomy projects launched in Central Ostrobothnia. Additionally, an interesting initiative called Suurhanketoimisto (suurhanketoimisto.fi/en) was highlighted. This initiative consolidates major investments and support services in the Kaustinen and Lestijärvi region, effectively combining a website and ERP system to support the local business network and SMEs in their development efforts.

Conclusion

The second Community Support Group meeting of the eRural resilience project underscored the importance of assessing and developing the competence profiles of business support organizations. With a clear focus on business management, digital know-how, biological processes, and networking, the project is well-positioned to support the growth of e-bio-businesses. As the Finnish Community Support Group looks forward to future transnational seminars and continues to strengthen local networks, the eRural resilience project is set to make a significant impact on the bioeconomy sector in Finland and beyond.

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