Creativity secures growth and prosperity

"We need creative ideas to develop our economy and thus ensure our growth and prosperity," said Kurt Beck, Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, at the opening of the fourth "Concepticus" at Mainz University of Applied Sciences. Over 600 idea exchange participants and financing partners put together ideas and concepts for this year's exchange. This unique national event furthers entrepreneurial activity and helps to implement it.

"It is an important task to encourage young people to become independent and to support them in this venture," continued Beck. "Both the economy and society need a constant supply of people who are entrepreneurially active and who develop new products and services," said the Prime Minister. According to Beck, more companies have been established in Rhineland-Palatinate in recent years than have closed down. Almost one third of these companies are being established by women. Although this figure of 31.9% is above the national average of 30.4%, the country still needs more female entrepreneurs. "This is why the new state government has increased its focus on the promotion of women," explained the Prime Minister, referring to the well-developed funding program for new companies in Rhineland-Palatinate, i.e. the free consultations offered by the IHK and HWK "starter centers" or the funding programs of the Rhineland-Palatinate Investment Bank (Investitions- und Strukturbank Rhineland-Palatinate (ISB) GmbH).

At the same time, the question of self-employment should be discussed in schools and universities at an early stage. "This is exactly what 'Concepticus' does - approaching students directly at the University of Applied Sciences," said Beck. 'Concepticus' once again forms part of the state campaign with which the government seeks to promote the idea of self-employment. "I am pleased to report that 'Concepticus' is represented in this proposal and cordially thank the initiators of the fair, its organizers and donors for their efforts," said Prime Minister Kurt Beck.

According to Professor Gerhard Muth, President of Mainz University of Applied Sciences, "Concepticus" has created an exceptional example of how applied science can become tangible to students while involving the public as well. "Mainz University of Applied Sciences is thus in an excellent position to teach its students entrepreneurial thinking and managerial activity in the sense of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship."

Richard Patzke, Executive Director of the Rhenish-Hesse Chamber of Industry and Commerce, pointed out that the Rhenish-Hesse region has also scored above average in rankings of the entrepreneurial environment. The chambers would also help: "In order to facilitate the establishment of a company, the IHKs and HWKs in the state now maintain a network of 30 starter centers." These contact points for people willing to establish companies are defined as "one-stop shops," i.e. the entrepreneur receives all services from one single source - from initial information to his application for registration. "This 'all-in-one package' appeals to its target group. Thus, each year, the Rhenish-Hesse starter centers in Mainz, Bingen and Worms alone provide consulting services to more than 2,400 entrepreneurs, either in a personal discussion or via telephone," Patzke said about the chambers' recipe for success.

The success of entrepreneurial activities also depends on the financial means available. Wolfgang Schmidt, head of the investment and finance center of Deutsche Bank AG in Mainz, maintains that Deutsche Bank supports entrepreneurs during all phases - from start-up to establishment and corporate succession.

Honored

The IHK and the HWK for Rhenish-Hesse both honored a student team that had won a competition organized by the Institute for Entrepreneurial Activity (IUH) at Mainz University of Applied Sciences with its convincing business idea. Lisandro Flores, Eva Hörner, Sebastian Schwarz, and Fabian Wolf showed brilliance in their concept "RelaxCube GmbH."

Their motto is: "We fight for the right of each flight passenger to relax while traveling!" In accordance with this motto, sleeping booths for privacy and relaxation which can easily be rented by passengers as part of a flexible system were developed at Frankfurt airport.

The ideas stock exchange

Fifty exhibitors, including innovators in the five aspects of succession, franchising, direct sales, ideas exchange, and self-employment, supported by financing and information providers, and media partners, provide the setting for a meeting of innovative people.

Innovators offer ideas and concepts for sale. Students at Mainz University of applied Sciences present concepts tested for marketability, school pupils from "Young researchers," "Young entrepreneurs" and "JUNIOR" demonstrate their own ideas, and companies show how they can help to implement ideas. Direct sales companies and franchisors promote their business concepts, while successors provide authentic reports about the risks and opportunities of succession management. Self-employed people offer their experience in exploring the possibilities of freelance work.

Who is behind the exchange?

The 4th "Concepticus" exchange, sponsored by Deutsche Bank, is being presented by the Institute for Entrepreneurial Activity (IUH) at Mainz University of Applied Sciences, 1stCONCEPT, the Chamber of Trade and Industry for Rhenish-Hesse, and the Rhenish-Hesse Chamber of Crafts.

"Concepticus," which has received the "Country of Ideas" award, forms part of the "Mainz - City of Science 2011" program this year and has also been incorporated into the entrepreneurship campaign being conducted by the Ministry for Agriculture under the title "Well Financed - Well Started."