Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a cross-border exchange programme which gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to learn from experienced entrepreneurs running SME enterprises in other Participating Countries. The exchange of experience takes place during a stay with the experienced entrepreneur, which helps the new entrepreneur acquire the skills needed to run a small firm. The host benefits from fresh perspectives on his/her business, and gets the opportunities to cooperate with foreign partners or learn about new markets.
The target group of the project are new entrepreneurs (with less than three years of independent work or with a plan of starting the business) and experienced entrepreneurs who are involved as a mentor (with more than three years of independent work). Althought the name of the programme says to young entrepreneurs, the age limit does not exist.
TERA Tehnopolis is involved in the seventh cycle of the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs through the project YOU ENTER IN EU 2 that leads Provincia de Pesaro e Urbino from Italy. Since its beginning in 2009., the programme has provided 2747 exchanges, 326 is still in progress, and 144 is in the arrangement. Most of the new entrepreneurs who have participated in the programme (81%) indentificated new bussiness opportunities during the exchange period. Almost 60% of them found the new ideas to provide their future business and more then half of the mentors increase the income in their companies.
The Erasmus programme is not just another students practice. It is not an exchange programme focused only on training, but training programme focused on achieving results, with reference to start a business after the end. The exchange period lasts round 3,5 months, and the important fact is that the mentor has no additional costs because the new contractor has the financial support.
Applications for participation are possible after selecting a local contact point TERA and following registration process, which consists of 4 parts: the application form, motivation letter, CV and business plan. After the evaluation and selection of candidates follows the search and selection of mentors. The last phase is approving of the exchange at the level of the consortium and the programme.
The consortium partners are Confederacion de Asociaciones EMPRESARIALES de Burgos in Spain, International School for Social and Business Studies INSTITUTE from Slovenia, City of Syracuse, Italy, Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro and Dubrovnik Development Agency and TERA Tehnopolis from Croatia.