Access to efficient financial funds for supporting the innovative SMEs  represents one of the major challenges of today's European Union society. The specific period of economic crisis makes the challenges even more challenging for creation, survival, growth and development of innovative SMEs. The analysis of the needs carried out by UIP in 2011 have shown that financing  is one of the key obstacles in enabling dynamic development of SMEs in the region. For that purpuse the Medlab partner UIP in Slovenia covering the obalno - kraška region has taken the initiative to establish a Living Lab that will use the user-driven approach to satisfy the increasing financial needs of innovative SME. 

 

The Financial Living Lab in Slovenia »FIN LLAB« is looking at the development of a of living laboratory model for innovative services and products in financial sector.  

 

Organisation of the Pilot Action 

 

The introductory meeting of the FIN LLAB partnership was organised in the UIP premises in Koper on 16th March 2011 in the framework of the “Uni Business Day” event. Relevant representatives of the financial sector in the region have taken the initiative to sign the letter of intent LOI for the financial living lab - FIN LLAB and to actively participate within the further discussions and activities of the FIN LLAB. It was signed by: University of Primorska, Banka Koper d.d.,  Adriatic Slovenica d.d.- Insurance company, Municipality of Koper, KLUB 7 d.o.o., ZKB - Credito Cooperativo del Carso (Zadružna kraška banka), Trgo ABC d.o.o.,  NLB Leasing d.d., FIPOS d.o.o. - Acounting Services and Consultancy and UIP - University development center and university incubator of Primorska Ltd. as the coordinator of the FIN LLAB. The 2nd meeting of the FIN LLAB partnership was held on 24th April 2011 in Portorose within the framework of the final event “Podjetna Primorska 2011” competition. Following that, the partnership has taken the decision to invite more partners within the group. The FIN LLAB has been extended  on other coastal municipalities, public bodies and other interested organizations. Lately, the coordinator of the FIN LLAB in cooperation with selected representatives of the Innovative SME sector in the region has identified 3 main prototype proposals to be discussed further:

For more information: 

http://www.medlivinglab.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=72&Itemid=3&lang=en