PLATO SERBIA

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PLATO SERBIA

• Jun 01-07, 2009

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The Plato Concept
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Plato history

• 1990 Plato starts at Voka East Flanders Chamber
  of Commerce
• Since 1990
• 1700 SMEs have joined the Plato Project in the
  Province of East Flanders. ( 7500 in Flanders )
• 300 managers of 70 multinational companies
  participated
• Since 2000 Plato International
• Plato networks in Ireland, Denmark, Hungary,
  Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Poland,
  Slovakia, Serbia and South Africa

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Why do companies participate in learning networks?
The entrepreneur has a NEED for information and
contact with colleagues
But the entrepreneur has a LACK OF TIME AND MEANS
For expensive and time-consuming trainings
SME owners are responsible for EVERYTHING in
their company Finances management, HR,
purchasing,, marketing,
The project deals with BOTTLENECKS and practical
questions
PLATO
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What is Plato?

• Goal professionalization of SME owners
• Goal establishment of networks of SME owners
• Groups of 15-20 Entrepreneurs meet monthly
• Under the guidance of mentors/godfathers

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Plato is a learning network

• Learning networks networks of entrepreneurs
  that meet regularly
• Plato members decide themselves the topics they
  discuss during the meetings a topic/problem
  mapping occurs during the SME TB
• Plato members can't be competitors discussions
  remain confidential

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Mentorship project
MC
MC
MC
MC
MC
MC
20 SME group
20 SME group
20 SME group
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Plato starts from the practice

• Plato entrepreneurs discuss their everyday
  problems
• Belgium Accountancy, Sales, HRM, Subsidies,
  Taxes, Communication
• In order to increase their profit, turnover and
  growth rate
• Other countries SME owners have other priorities
  problems customized program adapted to local
  SME needs
• Entrepreneurs gain new knowledge from their
  colleagues, from their mentors and from outside
  experts

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Plato groups are guided by mentors and managed by
support organisations

• Mentors managers from large companies
• Develop skills in managing a Plato group
• Learn about SME practices
• Steer the group meetings
• Networking with other mentors and mentor
  companies
• Individual assistance to the participating SME
• Support organisations assist and complement the
  Plato project. They are brought together in a
  steering committee/ board.

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Why does a SME owner participate?

• Develop a good business plan for his/her company
• Gain knowledge confidence about all business
  aspects
• Learn techniques and methods to optimise company
  practices
• Participate in networking (advice, transfer of
  know-how, contacts, )
• Broaden their business horizon
• The will to bring their company to a higher level
• Create a local, regional, national and
  International network

Improve the company results!
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Key players Mentorshipproject
Mentors
entrepreneurs
Chamber of Commerce
Other socio-economic partners
Mentorcompanies
S(M)MEs
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PLATO Srbija

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overview

• Vision
• Terminology
• Timing and Milestones
• Stakeholders and synergies
• Roles and responsibilities
• Values

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Plato International vision

• To create an international network of SMEs and
  mentorcompanies
• In which the PLATO Srbija national network
  performs as an active player

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THE PLATO ELEMENTS AND TERMONOLOGY

• Co-ordinators
• Mentors
• Participants
• Experts
• Task team
• Steering committee
• Monthly meeting

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PLATO TERMINOLOGY

• Co-ordinators and the task team
• Mentors managers from large companies
• Develop skills in managing a Plato group
• Learn about SME practices
• Steer the group meetings
• Networking with other mentors and mentor companies

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PLATO TERMINOLOGY

• Participants
• SME owners or first level employees
• Experts
• Subject matter experts that are invited by the
  group to facilitate a session on a specific topic

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PLATO TERMINOLOGY

• Task team
• Steering committee/ board
• Support organisations assist and complement the
  Plato project. Through sharing information,
  Plato brings added value to the support
  organisations.

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PLATO TERMINOLOGY

• Monthly meeting
• Monthly get together or meeting where the
  participants and the mentors meet to discuss
  specific topics of interest

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THE PLATO CONNECTIONS

• Co-operation with
• Chambers of commerce,
• Governmental organisations,
• NGOs,
• Universities,
• Development organisations,
• Training centres,
• both nationally and internationally!

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PLATO SUCCESSES

• Concept sustainability - Plato is been funded by
  the Flemish Government for 20 years and is still
  a very successful formula.
• Plato Hungary got the State price of best
  entrepreneurial supporting project.

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2009 2010
fact finding
training coordinators
recruitment managers
recruitment SMEs
training managers
TIMING
individual interviews with SME owners
teambuilding SME-owners and mentors
managers appointed to group
creation homogeneous groups
monthly sessions
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monthly sessions
conclusion
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Proposed project timing

• Factfinding mission February 2009
• Coordinator visit 24-27/03/2009
• Mentor recruitment March-June 2009
• Mentor Coordinator teambuilding 2-5/6/2009
• SME recruitment April- September 2009
• SME teambuilding October 2009
• Start of the project November 2009

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Beyond Plato

• Economic missions to Serbia Flanders
• Economic seminars on trade partner countries
• Links with education centers
• Plato as a tool to stimulate SME development in
  other regions in Serbia
• Links with Serbian Belgian government.

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HOW IT WORKS ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• To be defined by the Task Team

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SOME PLATO VALUES
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SOME PLATO VALUES
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SOME PLATO VALUES
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SOME PLATO VALUES
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SOME PLATO VALUES
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Thank you for your attention

• Contact
• Wim Keygnaert Stefan Derluyn wim.keygnaert_at_voka.
  be stefan.derluyn_at_voka.be
• 32-9-2661446
• Aleksandar Nikolic
  32-479-901227
• 381-11-3300989
• anikolic_at_pks.rs