HANSE- PARLAMENT
Network for Small and Medium Enterprises
Bringing
people & opportunities
together
HANSE- PARLAMENT
The information exchange between old
and new EU member states in the Baltic
Sea region is essential for a common
economic growth.
Dr. Vytas Navickas | Former Minister of Economy, Lithuania,
Professor at the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences
Where competitors become
partners – working together
for the Baltic Sea Region
I welcome your network and announce that
the European Union is also prepared to support
qualification and establishment and expansion
of the infrastructure with its funding programmes.
I welcome this pioneering program, which was
developed. Please come to Brussels, so that we
can discuss its realisation.
Günther H. Oettinger | EU Commissioner for Energy
I’d like to highlight the “Baltic Sea Region
Quick” project, which is coordinated by the
Hanse-Parlament. The “Baltic Sea Academy”
was founded under this project. A network
of 15 colleges and universities offering dual
degree programs to support entrepreneurs
and managers and encourage research and
innovation for small and medium businesses.
Christa Goetsch
Former Deputy Mayor & Minister for Education & Vocational
Training of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
The Hanse-Parlament concentrates on
strengthening the competitiveness of
the Baltic Sea Region, in particular of
the SMEs which make up to 99 % of the
economy and provide 80 % of all jobs.
missler | Newspaper for medium-sized entrepreneurs
5
The Hanse-Parlament was founded in 1994 to promote
small and medium enterprises in the Baltic Sea region
and to strengthen the area’s competitiveness. 46 chambers of commerce, industry and crafts from all countries
around the Baltic Sea belong to the association, as well
as other institutions supporting medium-sized businesses. Altogether they are serving more than 450,000
small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Management and information processing are some
of the main challenges that SMEs are facing. Here
chambers and associations can provide tailored support and services: they have the know-how, work
closely with the enterprises and offer the assistance
needed – precisely and from a single source.
Hanse-Parlament –
promotion of crafts
and SMEs with
a common spirit
As part of the bottom-up strategy of the Hanse-Parlament
chambers and enterprises determine jointly their needs
in workshops and conferences. In collaboration with
members and universities the secretariat of the HanseParlament then develops suitable support measures
and tests these with companies. Tested measures are
transferred to all members and implemented locally,
so that SMEs in all Baltic countries may benefit from
the support actions.
The Baltic Sea region has an enormous growth potential.
In the Hanse-Parlament I see excellent possibilities to
make common projects, create new, dynamic networks
and receive more funding resources from the European
Union for the benefit of SMEs.
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen | Former Prime Minister of Denmark
and Member of the European Parliament
7
In the medieval times, the Hanseatic League was an
international community that allowed trade and skilled
crafts to blossom. Based on characteristics such as reliability, innovativeness and high training levels the Baltic
Sea region was successful for centuries.
These roots are still alive and will foster sustainable
growth in the Baltic Sea region if the values of the
historical Hanseatic League are revitalised in order to
guide the economy. These values include openness and
liberality, respect for initiative, a balanced combination
of common welfare and self-interest, trustful cooperation
across borders, tolerance and respect for other cultures,
and last but not least Hanseatic pride.
With such a rich economic culture, the Baltic Sea region
is likely to become one of the world’s most powerful
and innovative regions.
Baltic Sea –
an innovative
region of
global standing
Its joint history and respect for cultural diversity are
a solid foundation to shape the future. Following the
tradition of the Hanseatic League, small and medium
enterprises and the Hanse-Parlament are working responsibly to increase prosperity for all.
In North-Eastern Europe we have got the chance to build
an economic and cultural community on our common
history and tradition, on Hanseatic pride, cosmopolitan
liberalism and the spirit of the Hanseatic League.
Dr. Henning Voscherau
Former First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
9
Skilled crafts and medium-sized companies have a
long-standing history and family tradition that is reflected in the spirit of their work, characterised by courage,
commitment and creativity. They educate and support
young people and serve the common good.
The Hanse-Parlament promotes these unique qualities
of the companies as an association of diversity. Together,
the small and medium enterprises are the backbone
of the economy and society. They account for 99 % of
all companies and provide more than 70 % of total
employment. Additionally they are very innovative:
two-thirds of all new patents are registered by small
and micro-enterprises.
Small & medium
enterprises –
backbone of
economic growth
During the financial and economic crisis skilled crafts
as well as small and medium enterprises have once
again proven to be stabilisers of the society. Unlike
large enterprises they kept their staff as long as possible.
In recent years most new jobs were created in the small
and medium business sector; this trend will continue.
Only with powerful small and medium enterprises the
Baltic Sea region will have best prospects to be an innovative, economically strong region of global standing.
The small and medium enterprises are the sector of
our economy that we have to focus on. The European
Economy – that means skilled crafts, micro-companies
and medium-sized enterprises. It is only this sector that
will create new jobs.
Günter Verheugen | Former EU Commissioner & Vice-President
of the European Commission
11
The Hanse-Parlament promotes small and medium
enterprises and helps the Baltic Sea region to become
more innovative and competitive. The work is carried
out according to the following philosophy: the cultural
diversity of the Baltic Sea region must be conserved
and the regions should be developed according to their
respective strengths.
Based on the history and traditions of the Baltic Sea region, we want to develop a strong sense of community.
With a mixture of common welfare and self-interest,
we want to learn with and from each other and work
together across borders. Instead of ruinous competition, we strive for intensive cooperation that includes
a healthy competition.
Hanse-Parlament –
philosophy
and objectives
We want to develop the members of the HanseParlament to powerful funding institutions for small
and medium enterprises, their employees and executives. We want to promote the youth with excellent
training, as well as managers and entrepreneurs at the
highest level. With extensive investments in research
and development we want to tap the huge potential
for innovation in small and medium enterprises.
The work of the Hanse-Parlament to promote crafts
and SMEs in the entire Baltic Sea region is particularly
significant and requires all available support.
Josef Katzer
President of the Hamburg Chamber of Crafts
13
The Hanse-Parlament and its members have developed
and transferred a wide range of support measures for
SMEs. Some examples:
Dual Bachelor degree programme
Together with universities the member Handwerkskammer Hamburg has developed courses that
combine vocational training with a Bachelor study degree programme. Today the Berufsakademie Hamburg
and the Hochschule 21 in Buxtehude are running successfully 7 dual study courses. Via the Hanse-Parlament
the concept was transferred to Vilnius (Lithuania) and
Pori (Finland); similar courses are being prepared
for Poland.
Further education
Further education programmes were developed that are
being run by the chambers on a permanent basis, e.g.:
T
raining course for start-ups and
business management
Promoting SMEs –
tasks and examples
W
orkshops on renewable energy
and resource efficiency for SMEs
W
orkshops on export promotion
and international cooperation
Customers nowadays demand more professional
services. Therefore we must even further enhance
the already very high quality of the companies in
the Baltic Sea region.
Harry Bjerkeng | Norwegian Federation of Craft Enterprises
15
Tools
According to the specific demands of SMEs and
chambers, the Hanse-Parlament developed a set of
electronic tools, e.g.:
“Enterprises on track – Controlling in SMEs”
International cooperation
At trade fairs and conferences the Hanse-Parlament
offers international network-building and furthers
opportunities for cooperation. It runs a virtual
cooperation forum at www.baltic-cooperation.eu
as well as a cooperation and production platform
at www.eubizz.net.
Innovation
Through new competence networks with universities,
colleges and other research institutions, the HanseParlament promotes the innovative potential of the
Baltic Sea region. This includes:
Self-evaluation of companies‘ quality management
V
irtual market for training programmes to foster
international use of training facilities
Representing interests
The Hanse-Parlament represents the interests of its
members in international bodies and organisations.
It has developed strategic programmes and communicated these within decision-making processes.
Among these are:
O
bjectives and Strategies for the Development of
Crafts and SMEs in the Baltic Sea Region
A
genda 2020: Educational Policy Strategies and
Objectives for the Baltic Sea Region
O
bjectives and Strategies for Innovation in Regional
Policy
studies on SME-specific innovation clusters
c luster-orientated business forums on
new developments and technologies
development of business and investment plans
concrete R&D solutions for individual SMEs
c onception, applying for funding and realisation
of complex R&D tasks for SMEs
Energy efficiency is the key. Dear Hanse-Parlament,
I am grateful that it did not remain with you as a mere title,
but that you make it clear throughout your working groups
what opportunities energy efficiency offers in practice
and what challenges and efforts are associated with it.
Günther H. Oettinger | EU Commissioner for Energy
17
SMEs in the Baltic Sea region have a tremendous need
for innovation, at the same time they are lacking specific support measures. Therefore the Hanse-Parlament
teamed up with chambers and universities to bridge
this gap. Measures so far include for example:
realisation of R&D projects
transfer of knowledge and technology
qualification of management and employees
c ooperation within or between enterprises
and on an international level
In the beginning the Hanse-Parlament is focussing on
three SME-specific innovation clusters (others are
being prepared):
1. Innovation Cluster “Energy, Climate,
Environmental Protection”
Innovation And
qualification –
The key to
a successful future
2. Innovation Cluster “Resource Efficient
Construction Technologies”
3. Innovation Cluster “Personal and
Organizational Development”
Innovative enterprises require qualified personnel,
which represents the most important capital of SMEs.
There is already fierce competition for specialised staff
and qualified young employees, and SMEs are likely
to lose ground in comparison to large companies,
universities and governmental bodies. Therefore the
Hanse-Parlament is focusing on the promotion of education and training, and is cooperating with chambers,
associations and universities.
With high qualifications we must support our companies
to be better and faster than the rest of the world.
Wiesław Szajda | President of the Pomeranian Chamber
of Handicrafts and SMEs in Gdańsk
19
To foster innovation the Hanse-Parlament has built up
an SME-specific infrastructure consisting of chambers, similar SME associations and established an
unique academic network - the Baltic Sea Academy.
15 universities and colleges from nine Baltic Sea countries are working together at the Baltic Sea Academy
to offer solutions for SMEs in the Baltic Sea region.
Education
D
evelopment of Bachelor and Master degrees, in
particular dual degree programmes that combine
a degree programme with vocational training or
further education
E xchange of experience and information as well
as of lecturers and students; development of curricula; conjoint courses
Research and development
Hanse-Parlament &
Baltic Sea Academy –
strong partners
of SMEs
T
ransfer of innovation, technology and knowledge
(in cooperation with chambers and associations)
R
ealisation of tangible R&D tasks, focused on practical needs of SMEs
The Baltic Sea Academy realises projects on knowledge transfer and innovation, organises international
conferences and publishes books.
A cooperation of universities and institutions to work
together for the benefit of SMEs like the Baltic Sea
Academy is of great additional value for the region.
Prof. Dr. Piotr Szybek | Lund University
21
The Hanse-Parlament and the Baltic Sea Academy have
identified areas of economic growth in which SMEs
have got outstanding innovation needs. For each of
these areas a Center of Competence (CoC) is built up:
C
oC “Human Resources and Organizational
Development including Education”
C
oC “Energy Efficiency, Climate and Environmental
Protection including Resource Efficient Construction”
CoC “Health, Life Science, Commonality & Integration”
C
oC “Information and Communication Technologies
and Computer-aided Production”
C
oC “Marketing Research, Procurement
and Internationalization”
The Centers of Competence consist of cooperating
universities and colleges that offer important services
to SMEs directly, e.g.:
Realisation of research and development tasks
Future prospects –
Centers of
Competence
D
evelopment of dual Bachelor degrees
and further education programmes
Transfer of knowledge and technology
D
evelopmental tasks for chambers
and universities/colleges
All services and results are made available to all members
of the Hanse-Parlament and the Baltic Sea Academy.
On this basis a Baltic-wide innovation support for SMEs
is realised – comprehensively from a single source.
The University of Cooperative Education in Hamburg was
able to establish contact with educational institutions in
the Baltic Sea region that are of great value and will be
intensified within the Baltic Sea Academy.
Prof. Dr. Joachim von Kiedrowski
Director of the University of Cooperative Education
23
Since 2005 the Hanse-Parlament has realised several
EU-funded projects in cooperation with partners from
the entire Baltic Sea region. A selection:
BSME – Baltic Spatial Development
Measures for Enterprises
Focused on
E stablishment and operation of a Balticwide support network for SMEs
D
evelopment of cooperation with
universities and colleges
P
romotion of vocational training, development & implementation of curricula
for dual Bachelor degree programmes
Period
2005 to 2007
Budget
3,008,000 Euro
International cooperation events for
SMEs, development and operation of
a cooperation platform
D
evelopment, implementation of training measures & electronic tools for SMEs
Stepping stones –
successful projects
SME promotion in Russia and Belarus
Focused on
A
ims, scope and organisation of chambers and associations
Period
2006 to 2008
D
evelopment of promotion measures
as services for SMEs
Budget
299,546 Euro
E nhancement of vocational training
and further education
The Hanse-Parlament created an excellent platform for the cooperation of business chambers and companies in the region.
Ole von Beust
Former First Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
24
25
Baltic Education
Period
2007 to 2008
Budget
137,893 Euro
Focused on
A
nalysis and projection of economic
structures and mobility
E ducational systems and recognition of
professional qualifications in the Baltic
Sea region
D
evelopment of a BSR Qualification
Framework
D
evelopment of a European Credit
System for Vocational Training and
implementation for two professions
Dual Vocational Training for SMEs in
the Baltic Sea Region
Period
2008 to 2010
Budget
397,675 Euro
Focused on
D
evelopment of a curricula for dual Bachelor degree programme “Mechatronic”
T
ransfer of curricula for dual Bachelor
degree programmes and consulting
during their implementation in Vilnius
(Lithuania) and Pori (Finland)
D
evelopment of concepts for realising
dual Bachelor degree programmes in
Poland and Estonia
The project „Baltic Education“ on the harmonization of
professional qualifications in the Baltic region, which
was actually initiated by the Hanse-Parlament is a fine
example of mutual recognition of qualifications.
Dr. Klaus Rave
Member of the Board of the Schleswig-Holstein Investment Bank
Qualification, Innovation, Cooperation
and Keybusiness for Small and Medium
Enterprises in the Baltic Sea Region
Focused on
E stablishment of a Baltic Sea Academy
with 15 universities from nine BSR
countries
Period
2009 to 2012
Budget
3,688,000 Euro
E stablishment and operation of a Balticwide support network for innovation
via a cooperation of chambers, SMEs
and universities
D
evelopment of 3 SME-specific innovation clusters
Transfer of knowledge and technology
Realisation of R&D tasks for 75 SMEs
B
usiness and investment plans for
500 SMEs
Innovative SMEs by Gender and Age
Focused on
A
nalysis of education and labour markets
as well as occupation of women and
older people in the Baltic Sea region
A
nalysis of measures to support the
occupation of women and older persons; adjustment to regional conditions
and transfer to the entire BSR
C
onferences, agreements on cooperation, programmes to promote occupation of women and older persons,
development of a strategy programme
Period
2011 to 2014
Budget
1,643,900 Euro
members
Hanse–Parlament members
BELARUS
1. Belarusian Chamber of
Commerce & Industry
2. Brest Department of the Belarusian
Chamber of Commerce & Industry
3. Gomel Branch of the Belarusian Chamber
of Commerce & Industry
4. Minsk Department of the Belarusian
Chamber of Commerce & Industry
5. Mogilev Branch of Belarusian Chamber
of Commerce & Industry
DENMARK
6. Innovation Factory Kolding
ESTONIA
7. Estonian Association of Small &
Medium Enterprises
FINLAND
8. Baltic Institute of Finland
9. Satakunnan Yrittajät R.Y.
22
5
9
13
8
41 44
9
20 21
7
11
17
6
45
6
1
2 14 10
7
18
35
29 3
13
39 42
15
10
38
4
37
26
15
43
19
12
1 4
5
23 14
33
28 36
11
2
3
8
31
12
32
34
25
27
24
30
1. Hamburg University of Corporate
Education, Hamburg
2. University 21 non-profit limited
Liability Company, Buxtehude
3. Hanseatic Academy of Management,
Słupsk
4. Vilnius Gediminas Technical
University, Vilnius
5. Satakunta University of Applied
Sciences, Pori
6. Lund University, Lund
7. University of Latvia, Riga
8. Brest State Technical University, Brest
9. Saint-Petersburg State Unieversity of
Service & Economics, Saint-Petersburg
10.Hamburg Institute of International
Economics, Hamburg
11.Võru County Vacational Training
Centre, Võru Maakond
12.Lithuanian University of Educational
Sciences, Vilnius
13.Tampere University of Technology,
Tampere
14.University in Białystok, Białystok
15.Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk
40


16
46
Baltic Sea Academy members
GERMANY
10.Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Stade Chamber
of Skilled Crafts & Small Businesses
11.Cottbus Chamber of Skilled Crafts & SME’s
12.Dresden Chamber of Skilled Crafts &
Small Businesses
13.Eastern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Chamber of Handicraft
14.Hamburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts &
Small Businesses
15.Schwerin Chamber of Skilled Crafts
Hungary
16.Hungarian Association of Craftsmen
Corporations
LATVIA
17.Latvian Chamber of Crafts
LITHUANIA
18.Panevežys Chamber of Commerce,
Industry & Crafts
19.Vilnius Chamber of Commerce,
Industry & Crafts
NORWAY
20.Master of Crafts Norway
21.Norwegian Federation of Craft Enterprises
22.Organisation of Handicraft Businesses
in Trondheim
POLAND
23.Chamber of Craftmanship & Enterprise
in Białystok
24.Chamber of Crafts & SME in Katowice
25.Chamber of Crafts & SME in Kielce
26.Chamber of Crafts & SME in Szczecin
27.Chamber of Crafts in Opole
28.Chamber of Crafts of Mazovia,
Kurpie & Podlasie Regions in Warsaw
29.Chamber of Handicraft Middle
Pomerania in Słupsk
30.Craft Chamber in Rzeszów
31.Craft Chamber of Łódz
32.Handicraft & Small Business
Chamber Lublin
33.Kujawsko-Pomorska Chamber
of Craft & SME’s
34.Lower Silesian Chamber of Craft and
Small & Medium-sized Businesses
35.Pomeranian Chamber of Handicrafts
for SME’s
36.Small Business Chamber Warsaw
37.Warmia and Mazury Chamber of
Crafts & Small Business in Olsztyn
38.Wielkopolska Craft Chamber in Poznań
RUSSIA
39.Chamber of Craft Region Kaliningrad
40.Craft Chamber in Rostov/Don
41.Handicraft Chamber Leningrad Region
42.Kaliningrad Regional Economic
Development Agency
43.Russian Chamber of Crafts
44.St. Petersburg Crafts Chamber
SWEDEN
45.Företagarna Skåne Service AB
Ukraine
46. Handicraft Chamber of Ukraine
Sustaining members
Haus Rissen
Initiative e. V. – Fördergesellschaft
für evangelische Verantwortung in
der Wirtschaft Mittel- & Osteuropas
Marshal’s Office of the Pomorskie
Voivodship
Ost- & Mitteleuropa Verein e.V.
Signal Iduna Gruppe
Honorary member
Włodzimierz Szordykowski, Marshal’s
Office of the Pomorskie Voivodship
Executive Board
Dr. Jürgen Hogeforster
Chairman of the Hanse-Parlament
E-mail: [email protected]
Vaclovas Kontrauskas
Vice Chairman of the Hanse-Parlament
President Vilnius Chamber of Commerce,
Industry and Crafts, Lithuania
E-mail: [email protected]
Dariusz Gobis
Vice Chairman of the Hanse-Parlament
Director Pomeranian Chamber
of Handicrafts for SMEs, Poland
E-mail: [email protected]
Members
hanse-parlamente.V.
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