On November 13, 2018, Anna Lavrinenko, Dean at the faculty of Finance and Economics, together with the lecturers and students of the same faculty at Polotsk State University visited conference-exhibition for innovative companies and start-ups. It was held within the framework of the Global Entrepreneurship Week in Belarus (GEW Belarus) in the halls of National Exhibition Centre “BelExpo”.
The exhibition GEW Belarus is the first event in Belarus that welcomes innovative and progressive companies and presents them to the international community at a high level. High-tech companies got their chance to present their brands and tell the audience, participants and potential partners about their new products.
United States Agency for International Development, Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus, Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus, International Finance Corporation and British Embassy in Belarus were the partners of the Global Entrepreneurship Week in Belarus. Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus supported the event.
Prime-minister Sergey Rumas and minister of economics of the Republic of Belarus Dmitry Krutoy, who showed great interest in the Global Entrepreneurship Week in Belarus, took part in the solemn ceremony of its opening.
Other prominent guests as Jennifer Moor (temporary charge d’affairs of the USA in Belarus), Fiona Gibb (British Ambassador), Jason Pellmar (Head of the Regional Office of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova) and Andrea Victorin (Head of the EU Delegation in Belarus) shared their opinions about entrepreneurship’s and innovations’ role in the country’s economy.
It was the 8th time Belarus held such a huge event. The start-ups and innovative companies exposition was this year’s innovation. About 100 enterprises and organizations took part in it. Moreover, the event organization was not typical. There were a lot of networking areas.
Working space was divided into 8 areas where the products were exhibited, master classes, workshops, presentations and discussions were held:
1. Innovations Area.
Belarusian innovative companies were presented here.
2. Business Support Area.
In this area, it was possible to get consultations, practical advice and tools for company’s development and setting up a business. Experienced consultants from the best law firms were ready to answer the questions. The centers of entrepreneurship support provided mentoring and presented convenient tools for business development.
3. Business Technologies Area.
The most viable solutions for running a business were presented here. The solutions were connected with the implementation of modern technologies such as Gamification, AI, VR/AR, Big Data, Blockchain and others.
4. Educational Area.
This area was for the most interesting ideas for businesspersons and future entrepreneurs training. In this area, one could find some business-schools and educational programs for modern businessmen. Besides, schoolchildren and young people were offered a wide range of modern educational programs.
5. Investments Area.
Venture funds and business angel investors were presented here. The best funds and financing companies open to partnership with start-ups were in this area as well. Moreover, there was a board with the information about Belarusian business-angels association and the ways of joining it.
6. Technology Communities Area.
This area was for the most popular technology communities that create knowledge base and technologies implementation cases in different projects and unite talents and IT-specialists.
7. Finance Area.
The best companies that have demonstrated modern solutions in the finance sphere, bank charges and cryptocurrency transactions were presented here.
8. Start-ups Area.
It was the central exposition where the best Belarusian start-ups were shown.
The conference-exhibition was organized very well. Our lecturers and students were happy to participate in such a huge event. Besides, they gained valuable experience and new knowledge in the sphere of start-up projects organization, business initiative and innovation activity, took part in discussions and master classes. Furthermore, they established new contacts needed for the development of the Start-ups and Business Initiatives Centre at Polotsk State University.
Petr Rezkin, Vice Dean at the Faculty of Finance and Economics, PhD in Economics
Photos: https://bel.biz.