Common Innovation Information Space CIIS Innovation journalism for

Common Innovation Information Space (CIIS) Innovation journalism for innovative technologies dissemination

Problems: Innovations is not so popular topic for local communities and local mass media both in EU and Russia (EU countries). As a result people on the ground are not able to get information about innovations from the local traditional mass media (newspapers, TV, radio). There is a gap between national (regional) information spaces in Europe in general and in Russia (in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) in particular because of a number of reasons (differences in culture, language, etc. ). Most of SMEs’ owners are unable to enter the Russian market due to a lack of good partners. In turn Russian SMEs have a lack of information about existing innovative businesses that have been proven successful in the EU countries. Besides, there administrative, psychological, language, customs and other barriers between Europe and Russia that complicate internationalization of green technologies innovations for SMEs

General target: Creation of CIIS in the BSR for enhancing cooperation between EU countries and Russia and encouraging the development, use and transfer of innovative practice based on Russian and European experience. Specific project target: Creation and launching an innovation journalism platform for CIIS in the BSR. Local communities are aware about innovations in the project area to support cooperation between EU and Russian SMEs, non state-actors and local authorities.

Target group: Local mass media from the selected regions of the BSR, Russia and the EU countries Beneficiaries: Local communities of the selected regions of the BSR, small and medium enterprises of Russia and the EU countries Partners: Innovations journalists and innovation support organizations (non-state actors and local authorities) from the project area, Technopoles, Technoparks, Associations, Chambers of Commerce and Industries, NGO and Foundations of Russia

Results: • Innovations are in the focus of local mass media • The innovation journalists network is established • The bilingual internet platform (in English and Russian) is created and used by the innovation journalists and local mass media • The bilingual internet platform database (in English and Russian) of innovation technologies in the area of new technologies of the Baltic Sea region is created and used by SMEs, local authorities and non-state actors for increasing their awareness.

Methodology: Actually the idea is to set a virtual international news agency and a database with the focus on innovations. The partners of the project from the different countries (regions) around the BSR create a network of bilingual journalists who focused on innovations topic in their own areas. The article shall contain and describe an innovation. All prepared content is put in English and Russian language into the platform created as a part of a social virtual network. The materials which are a matter of interest for local communities are translated into two languages and disseminated through traditional local mass media. To make the network stronger it is proposed to promote innovativonjournalism among universities students as potential volunteers. As a result we create a common database of innovations between EU countries to Russia. That common information platform will be used also for innovative business transfer support between Russia and EU countries.

Common Innovation Information Space

Activities • Creation and maintenance of a network of innovation bilingual journalists from the project area • Creation of the European-Russian database collecting information about innovative businesses (using BSR Quick database created within the BSC program financed project “Qualification, Innovation, Cooperation and Keybusiness for Small and Medium Enterprises in the Baltic Sea Region” (BSR – QUICK) • Creation of the internet platform on the basis of Facebook instrument • Adaptation and dissemination of prepared information products (articles, video/audio products etc. ) in the project area through local mass media • Promoting innovation journalism among universities students as potential volunteers • Promotion of the CIIS among the stakeholders and interested organizations (SME, support organizations, universities, relevant local, regional authorities) • Enhancing awareness of people on sites about environmental

Sustainability • It is expected that when the project period is expired the network will continue working on commercial base (through ads and selling high level content to the clients – local mass media, SMEs and other subscribers).

Common Innovation Information Space